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Sheila McCarthy (Gardner)

Jack: So sorry to learn of your sister's passing. Our brothers and sisters were our first friends. So difficult to lose someone that close. Keeping your family in my prayers.

James Hamilton, M. D.

Fred Clem

I remember May 4, 1970 quite well.  I had been with the city of Columbus for 4 months.  Of the five field inspectors on staff, I was the only one under 50 years old.  I had heard of the incident on the car radio.  Returning to the office I said "did you hear that 4 students were killed by the National Guard at Kent State?"  One of my coworkers chimed in "Good, serves them right".  

He may have voiced a common opinion among the older generation.  The day after Kent State was primary election day in Ohio.  The biggest race was the Republican nomination for U. S. Senator, James Rhodes vs. Robert Taft, Jr.  Most polls showed Taft winning by 7-8 points, but Rhodes actually lost in a very close race.  Here's an article on the subject:

With all the national media broadcasting details of the incident at Kent State, citizens of Ohio absorbed the shocking news on the eve of the Republican senatorial primary which involved the Ohio Governor, James A. Rhodes, who had ordered the National Guard into Kent. Facing an uphill struggle against Robert Taft, the governor had chosen a tough "law and order" theme for his campaign, and had vowed in his press conference in Kent the day before the shootings to "use any force necessary" in order to keep the Ohio schools open. The governor lost the senatorial election by less than 0.6 percent of the total vote, but a poll taken one week prior to the shootings had suggested a disastrous defeat for him.

David Mitchell

In my post #3109 about Cambodia, I figured KSU would come up as a specific topic here. I'd sort of rather leave that one to the rest of the group, but let it be known we were hearing the news from back home and felt pretty sick about it. And most of us wished at that time that we could have shown you first hand what we were seeing on the ground - as if we could prove some point with which we could sway the demonstrators. But it blew up into something bigger than anyone anticipated - nationwide (worldwide). And in the end, not much lasting good came out of it.

David Mitchell

"Cambodia" left a big wound between me and my very best, and earliest friend in life (yes, even before Tom Litzinger) that never fully healed. My friend led the Sigma Chi house of Purdue University down the streets of West Lafayette, Indiana in a major protest demonstration against the Cambodian action, and always treated me with a slightly distant attitude after my return. He was my "best man" at my wedding a few years later. But I was never even invited to any of his three weddings.

Perhaps this is a topic we should move on from. My earlier post was simply to offer a piece of information that has bothered me for so long, and I though many would find it interesting - without getting further into it. For several good reasons, the whole thing still tears at me. I was simply adding a histotical note that seemed to have been "'lost" in our collective memory. 

David Mitchell

I realize it won't always be smooth sailing, so maybe I can help put this ship back on a happier course. (enjoy the whole thing)

HAPPY CINCO de MAYO EVERYBODY !

"Can ya hear me?"

Michael McLeod

I've said this before, Dave: Talk as much as you like.

It's a shared wound.

I'm no shrink but you do not sound to me like someone who is obsessed, neurotic.

Not sure if you ever had counselling but if that is a fear of yours -- being obsessed, not the counselling -- I would recommend it.

When I say "shared wound" I mean the things our generation went through -- and hopefully learned from. 

In places where we gather together it's only natural to speak of both the bitter and the sweet.

Which reminds me of an ice cream shop whose name I cannot remember that was at the far end of Indianola, near Morse. Don't recall seeing that place brought up in the recent spate of high-caloric-foods nostalgia here.

Was it "Knight's?"  I could be utterly wrong here.  

Bonus book recommendation: Forty Martyrs, by Phil Deaver.

He was a teacher and short-story writer down here whose eulogy I am working on. 

Forty Martyrs is the name of the church he went to as a boy growing up in a small Illinois town. 

It is named after an actual event of mass martyrdom. 

Mark Schweickart

Here's a name from our collective past that I just ran across, and wonder if it resonates with any of you--Ron Pataky. He was an entertainment writer for the Columbus Citizen-Journal in the 60's and 70's. I remember being very frustrated with his movie reviews, to the point that I eventually concluded that if Ron liked something, I should stay away, and if he did not, I should hurry to buy a ticket. But that was the extent of my recollection prior to learning recently that he is considered to have been a major suspect in the mysterious 1965 death of reporter and What's My Line panelist Dorothy Kilgallen, who had been covering the Jack Ruby trial and was working on the mafia connections to the JFK assassination. All of her files, as well as her life, dissappeared that night she "accidentally" overdosed. Apparently at that time, Ron was her lover (either sexual or Platonic, depending on whose point of view) and could have been the mysterious man in the shadows she was seen having drinks with at the Regency Hotel the night prior to her being discovered dead the next morning. Anyway, I had never heard of this before, and wondered if our resident historical expert (that's you, Fred), or our journalistic sleuth (yes, that's you Mike) or anyone else, of course, had heard of this seamy, steamy tale from '65. Supposedly he was also involved in a stormy relationship with singer/actress Anna Maria Alberghetti, as well as being arrested for shooting four times at a former football star Jim Otis who was fleeing from Pataky in Upper Arlington one night. Pataky only got a slap on the wrist and a $45 fine for discharging a firearm in public, or something like that. He apparently was fired from the paper in 1980 (I don't know why) and went on to become a born-again Jerry Falwell follower (doing I don't know what). Anyway, I don't mean to turn our forum into a grocery-store tabloid promulgating conspiracy theories, but I couldn't resist sharing a little of this juicy gossip from way back then and wonder if this rings any bells with anyone.

David Mitchell

Mark,

Could you run that by us again please? 

Michael McLeod

wow. remember the name but not the scandal.

Got heavy deadlines now but may poke around about pugnacious patacky later.

Timothy Lavelle

Mark,

Way to turn the corner here. I can easily believe that an influential person could get away with shooting a gun in Arlington back then. We used to call one of the UA cops "Barney Fife" back when Big Sally was working at City Hall across from Jones Jr. High. I never heard this story but I do remember the names, especially Dorothy Kilgallan (sp?) from either I've Got A Secret or What's My Line. Good fun, great job.   

David Mitchell

I can still picture Dorothy Killgallen sitting there on the panel with their masks on asking the questions; 

"Would we know you from a hole in the ground?"

Joseph D. McCarthy

Too keep up with the off-beat.  Can anyone tell me the name of the First printed book was, What facility in Columbus was given an original edition, and whether they still own the book?

David Mitchell

Okay Joe, I'll bite. Gutteneberg's bible? But how would a copy of that be connected in any way with Columbus?

Fred Clem

Mark,

I've never heard this story about Ron Pataky before. 

I did not know him personally but was very close to his mother and step-father, Day and C. D. Irwin (he went by his initials because his first name was Creth).  They along with Day's youngest son, Craig, were regular Sunday breakfast customers at Kingsdale Pharmacy. 

There was one other brother, Gordon, who died in the mid 80's.  It was rumored to be a suicide.  I wonder if that death could be called into question as well.

Mark Schweickart

Fred - your memory is astounding. You remember someone's name from their initials from encounters at a lunch counter fifty years ago. I knew you would have a comment, but did not expect that one. From your comment, are we to assume you worked at this breakfast/lunch counter in the Kingsdale Pharmacy, or did you just hang out there for some reason? I recall five-and-dime stores like Kresge's downtown having lunch counters, but did pharmacies tend to have lunch counters? The ones near me like Nicklaus and Walgreens did not, as I recall. 

As for the Pataky story, this came up in a book I recently read about Kilgallen called The Reporter Who Knew Too Much by Mark Shaw. There are also lots of wild surmises on the internet (as one would expect) about Pataky. The Shaw book does not conclude that Pataky was involved, but considers him to have been a very suspicious candidate.

Fred Clem

Mark,

Yes the pharmacy had a restaurant that seated over 30 customers.  My mother managed it for more than 10 years.  I worked there part-time as a grill cook.  I wasn't the sole Eagle to work there.  Joe Gentilini was the only other from the class of '66 but there were several others from '67.

Among them were Jodelle Keefe (Mrs. Kevin Ryan),  Mary Clark (married Tom Litzinger) & Elaine Caldwell (my mother's cousin).

The restaurant did good business at lunch during the week and breakfast on Sundays.  There wasn't a plethora of area dining choices in the 60's.  

Janie Albright (Blank)

Peggy Southworth is throwing a 70th Birthday Party for our Class!

Saturday, June 23, 4:30 - ?

Location 759 Drummond Ct., Columbus 43214 (by Riverside Hospital)

Cake and food provided.  Bring wine or beer if you like.
Please RSVP by June 15 so food quantity can be determined.

You can Text RSVP to 281-415-5752.   Please be sure to include your name. :)

Joseph D. McCarthy

To respond.  The "G" Bible is correct.  The book was given to a church just West of High Street South of Fifth Avenue; either West 2nd Ave or West Fourth Avenue ( between High Street and Neil Avenue).  There was a big write-up in the Columbus Dispatch or the Citizen Journal in the late 1950's (I think).  The Bible was available for public viewing back then.  Wonder if the church still owns it?

Go for it Peggy.  Sorry I won't be there to join in the fun of the "70's" party.

David Mitchell

IN WINE THERE IS TRUTH

IN BEER THERE IS JOY

IN WATER THERE IS BACTERIA

(yes I can spell - some of the time)

Linda Weiner (Bennett)

• Dr. Jim, Your photo is great.
• Dave, Please don't stop your story telling. I enjoy it, but even if I didn't, I could easily skip over. 
• Ron Pataky rings a bell but not the scandal. I too can still picture Dorothy Killgallen sitting there with the other panelists with their masks on asking the questions with the disgusting smoke from their cigarettes invading everyone’s air. Even Gary Moore does his monolog (I’ve Got a Secret) with a “coffin nail” hanging off the end of his fingers! (Both of these shows are currently running on cable tv as are some old game shows.)
• I would like to back-up a little (I know I’m usually behind on topic responses). Dave, I know you were being nice, but my post about family musicians was posted simply because someone was asking for it. I’m not trying to outdo anybody and I’m really not sure vomiting from a helicopter is not a better story, simply because that is something you experienced yourself. 

I can take no blame or no credit for my musical family if you want to call them that. I didn’t get to hear much for the most part because most of it happened before I was born. (I have heard some of the 78 RPM records which mother recorded at home of dad’s Saturday morning broadcasts.) But I really just shrugged off that kind of stuff when I was young. I did not like the fiddle as a kid, but have certainly grown to appreciate it over the years, and as it turns out it is my favorite instrument today.

I intend to post photos (before I forget how) of other familiar folks hope you guys find interesting enough.

David Mitchell

Linda,

I was the one who bugged you to put your Dad's musical history on here, and I loved it!  Seriously.

(And anybody who can recall "Midwestern Hayride" is aces with me.)

I can't believe there isn't more fun, cool, interesting stuff out there among us. I'm still waiting for Tim's "BMW motorcycle in a garage in Saudia Ariabia" story. 

Fred Clem

Dave,

My dad was a huge fan of Midwestern Hayride.  His favorite performers were Bonnie Lou and Helen & Billy Scott.  The show was produced by Crosley Broadcasting in Cincinnati and shown on their 4 tv stations in the area. It is believed to be the inspiration for the long running CBS show Hee Haw.

David Mitchell

Fred and Linda,

My mom and dad were not country music fans but they were into square dancing. We would sometimes catch a bit of "Hayride" and how well I remember those couples prancing and skipping to a song or a square dance "caller". 

"Dip for the oyster,  Reach for the clam. Then promenade home to the promised land."

But if I recall Hayride was on just before "Beat the Clock" with Bert Parks. I would watch that with my sisters, and that was followed by one of Dad's all-time favorites - "The Honeymooners" with Jackie Gleason, Art Carney, Audrey Meadows and ??? -- cannot recall that other lady's name?

But wasn't "Lucy" also on Saturday nights? Or Sid Ceasar? And which show was Imogene Coca on? Dad thought she was a comedic genius.

David Mitchell

I wanted to post this photo a few weeks back when we were were telling stories of our Mom's, beginning with the wonderful story about Big Sally, but I could not find it. So maybe today it's a better fit. Today is my Mother's birthday - May 10th. The photos depict somewhat of a historic landmark in my life and it's a segway into a kind of fun story.  

In the Spring of 1968 my parents had come to visit me while I was still in "Primary Flight School" (as opposed to "Advance Flight School", another step in the process) at Fort Wolters, in Mineral Wells, Texas - a booming metropolis somewhere out west of Fort Worth. (I'm told fort Wolters is no longer there, except for the front gate and signs, and two training helicopters mounted on each side of the old entrance).

The picture is the site of a peculiar ritual that was carried out by each flight class for the years that this facility was used for pilot training. Every time one of us made our fisrt Solo flight, the class bus would deviate from the normal trip back to our Company barracks area, and cross the highway into the parking lot of this meager little local Holiday Inn. The guys would grab those who had "Soloed" that day, drag them off the bus, carry them through this archway, and throw them head over heels into the pool - motel guests present, or not. (And you did your best to get one of your buddy's to hold your watch.) It was day celebrated with a great deal of laughter - and a deep sense of pride.

By now you can probably guess this next part. My day for the trip to the Holiday Inn came somewhat later than most in my "flight" (class). To "Solo" was another right of passage - like learning to hover - to which I have already confessed my struggles. It was the next "big deal", in the process and as before, I was falling behind. And as before, I was worrying, and sweating. We had taken the bus trip to the Holiday Inn pool quite a few times and about two thirds of the class had already soloed. Meanwhile "Wonder Boy" was getting anxious! And my I.P.  Captain Liss (you remember Larry) was too. Captain Liss used to pound me (hard) on the back of the helmet and yell, "You idiot!  We can teach Baboons to fly, we just can't get them to call "base" - (an expression about us forgetting our proper radio calls when entering the "traffic" pattern for landing. I seem to recall he pounded me on the back of the helmet an awful lot.

So about two and a half weeks into this, we are doing some practice landings, and he says something about wanting to put the ship down on the ground and check out some noise he was hearing on the side of the aircraft. We touch down, he gets out and stands beside the cockpit, leaning in. Suddenly, he yells out, "Okay you stupid  Baboon, Go fly this damn thing." with that he reaches up and jerks his microphone cord out of the plug above our seats, and walks away. 

You can probaly imagine the feeling of elation that came over me at that moment!

Oh, and by the way, flying a helicopter alone for the first time with tears (of joy) in your eyes is not considered the safest of practices.

And of course I really enjoyed explaining all this to my Mom and Dad at the Holiday Inn!

(I finally got the photo to stay, I just don't know how to make it smaller this time.)