Springfield Leader and Press from Springfield, Missouri • 35

Springfield Family Prays Submariner-Son to Be Found Alive SPRINGFIELD (Ma.) LEADER-PRESS April 11, 1963 vj 35 4Oh, My God-Ronnie's on It- fiC rC V. .4 The message ended, "I join you in sincere wishes for his eventual recovery alive. Please accept the heartfelt sympathy of myself and your son's shipmates at this time of uncertainty and heartache." "There was no use for us to stay in bed," Solomon said, "when we couldn't sleep." The Solomons' third son, Richard Wayne, 19, is on board the 'TfS the Ray Halls. "We went in to watch the hillbilly show," Solomon explained. "The show was interrupted by the announcement of the Thresher being lost.

My wife cried out, 'Oh, my God. Ronnie was on that "We had to wait until the show was over and then we called the television station to try and get re-run on the news. They gave another report that was some different in that it gave some hope of survival." The Solomons returned home and called their son's wife. Fay, who lives at Exeter, N. a short distance from the submarine base.

Fay and Ronnie Solomon had three sonsr Richard, Robert, going on 2 years, and Ronald II, born Halloween, 1962. "Fay said she had called the base and knew about what we Solomon said. "She said she took him down on Monday and he boarded the Thresher and Tuesday morning they went out a run. The last report on the Thresher was when it submerged 9 a.m. Tuesday.

After talking to their daughter-in-law, the Solomons went to bed about 12:30 a.m. today. About 3:30 a.m. a telegram came from Vice Adm. R.

Smedberg, to the effect that their son was among the missing. BY FRANK FARMER Utirr tat Tmt SUH Writer Grief is a muffled sob and a quiver in the voice at the Hal B. Solomon home at 1811 West Olive today. The Solomons are the parents of one of the Navy men presumed lost aboard the nuclear submarine Thresher Ronald Hal Solomon 26, husband and father of three, ex-high school athlete, nuclear-power expert. "He would have made chief this fall," sobbed Mrs.

Solomon. "They told him he'd have it made' then. And now this. Think of those three little boys." Young Solomon was one of 129 men aboard the Thresher when it went down 225 miies east of Cape Cod, Mass. At least one other Missourian and three Kan-sans were aboard the sub.

They are Gerald C. Boster, St. Louis, a former student at the Missouri School of Mines arRolla who left school to completeliisr military service time; Larry W. Claussen, Topeka. Don R.

Dundas. Russell, and Douglas R. McClelland, Wichita, Kan. Hal Br Solomon, a 52-year-old ceramic tile setter, got up at 3 a.m. Wednesday and went fishing.

He returned late yesterday and he and his wife and youngest son, John Allen, 13, went to 1717 South Golden to visit friends, i. Southeast Location a us on at I I Also Being Sought Board Approves Summer Classes, Purchase of Grade School Tract Udrr iml Trfsi SUff PhU Mr. and Mrs. Hal B. Solomon, 1811 West Olive, hold a picture of their son, who was one of 129 mea aboard the nuclear submarine Thresher, reported missing at sea Wednesday.

Despite Immediate grief in learning the sub has not. been located, the Solomons have not given up hope that it will 1 be, and that their son will be recovered alive. Aimed at Residential Areas USS Proteus, harbored at Charle-4 C. So far, the parents have been unable to get in touch with him but they planned to continue trying today. Their fourth child is Mrs.

Arnold Moldenhaver, Baltimore, Md. She is 22. Ronald Hal parents said, was bor.ti at Coffeyville, Kan. He was graduated from Bar-tlesville, high school, where his 6 foot, 4-inch, 235-pound frame made him a standout athlete in basketball, football and track-He enlisted in the Navy in 1954 after graduation despite his "parents' plea to go into the Army, and completed his hitch in 1957. He joined his father in the tile-setting business in Springfield for about a year.

"He told me," the father said, 'this is for the birds. I'm going back into the Navy where I know what my check is going to He was subsequently sent to CU Manager Marvin Castleberry for a change in some schools' dismissal times as a means of lessening the strain on bus tran-portation facilities; Authorized business service director Kenneth Kraft to investigate accident insurance programs available for students at cost to their parents, on recommendation of Graff, a reversal of an earlier stand; Heard Dr. Roy Litle, deputy superintendent, explain slight modification of seven elementary school boundaries and de stage in Springfield, but from reading (state) guidelines, this program will advance to include ballroom dancing." Stockstill was accompanied by Sill Harris, the Rev. Phil Bashaw, pastor of Mt. Comfort Church, and the Rev.

Henry Vickery, pastor of New Testament Baptist Church. In response to a question by The Hoard of Education last night a.so hired 23 new teachers and appointed an interim attendance officer. Story on PAGE 46. Mr. Bashaw, Supt.

Willard Graff said ballroom dancing isn't taught or practiced in the school system and that he doesn't condone teaching ballroom dancing. At school social affairs, he added, students "are at liberty to dance and with my board voted to increase non-resident tuition rates for the coming school year from $265 to $320 for grades one through six; from $300 to $390 for grades seven and eight; from $375 to $397.50. The board also Approved Graff's recommendation to add two librarians at the senior high school level to keep libraries open at the four high schools until 5 p.m. on school days and Saturday mornings if the demand justifies or to upgrade junior high libraries; Agreed to meet with the City Utilities board, at a date to be set later, to consider request of Clean-Up Drive Opens Monday The annual city-wide clean-up drive sponsored by the fire department will begin on Monday, Fire War seven schools where' he further developed his electrician's trade and learned about nuclear power. Although his enlistment was up last May, he was ordered held' over, the parents said, because of his extensive nuclear knowledge.

"He didn't like submarine duty," his mother said, holding his picture in front of her. "I didn't know that until, last night," Solomon said. "Mother told me he was lying on the bed the last time, he- was -home-and told her if he had known what he knows now, he wouldn't have taken sub duty." Friends and neighbors began calling, and coming to the Solomon home early this morning and offering their sympathy. To one of them, Mrs. Solomon said, "John Allen (the 13-year-old son who had already gone to Study School) looks just like Ronnie: I often wandered why we had him so late in iifer Now I know.

This is the reason. It's just like raising Ronnie again." "Maybe he'll be found," the father said. "There's mountains in the ocean. Maybe the sub landed on top of one of those mountains and it's not a mile and half deep like they say. Maybe they can find them and get some of them out in a diving bell.

"Maybe one of them will be Ronnie ferred action on motion of Turner White to give affected parents time to be informed; Referred to administration for study these bids on plumbing and electrical work at CHS cafeteria, Lindman and Noening, $3799, Gold Construction, $4203, Hartman Construction, $3350, and Hoke, $4825, and these bids on food service equipment, Ozark Paper and Janitor Supply, $20,249.50 (with an alternate of $965.80 more for addition of a third tier of glass shelving), Southern Equipment, St. Louis, $16,464,43 and $464.95 on alternate, and Servco, and $514.14 on Stockstill said he would continue circulating petitions objecting to that part of the program and board president E. A. Martin, assured him that is his right. "Physical fitness is what we are after," Martin said.

"We think we have made strides. We are not teaching ballroom dancing, but folk games. I feel this is a very good program." Member Turner White told the delegation that "no one doubts your sincerity" and asked the group not to doubt the board's. White said he didn't want to quibble over use of words, that it is square or folk dancing which is being taught. "I don't think we ought to dodge the issue." White cited value of the physical fitness program developed here as a federal pilot project; pointed out that because of the numbers of parents who do approve, it would be undemocratic See DANCING, Page 44 1 1 r.

i I den Willard Sharp announced today. Board Overrules Parents' Objections QFF BEAT'S Ode of the WSeek-: Twas a Short Winter For Baseball Widows "Spring is here," Moaned our Frau. "I just heard Harry Holler "Holy rpIE 12-YEAR-OLD Springfield boy snorted when his teasing parents wondered if he wanted a basket from the Easter bunny this year. "Well, I want something." announced a 9-year-old brother. "Aren't you getting too big for that, too?" asked his mother.

"Oh, I Jinow you and Dad hide the. fines instead nf thfl. Flatter bunny." "They do not," put in a 6-year old brother hotly. "Santa Claus does." EAR GUARD Dep't- Missouri's state troopers are having their troubles these days. Recently, a Greene County circuit court ruling threw a monkey wrench into their spy-in-the-sky method of nabbing speeders.

Re cently, too, occurred an incident which was hushed up for awhile but which.1- like most tragi-comic occurrences finally leaked out. Christian County Sheriff Jack Monger was tipped off that a much-wanted character was hid-' ing out in his cabin in a wooded area north of Bruner, and quickly called for state troopers and Greene County Sheriff Glenn Hen-drix'. bloodhounds to lay seige on the place. The wanted man, however, decided to duck out the back door and hit for the woods. Monger was in hot pursuit when a state trooper mistook the sheriff for the fugitive and let loose with a shotgun blast.

Sheriff Monger is reportedly able to sit down now but the experience resulted in the rear of a pair of trousers being ruined by buckshot. rYV RFAT'S nominal inn fop headline of the month comes from the Northwest Arkansas Times, over a story telling of the Fayetteville High School band practicing to play a piece called "The Boston Mountain Suite" at the state music festival at Hot Springs: Bulldog Band to Toot Suite 'THIRST EXPENSE, affidavits of unsuccessful candidates in last week's councilmanic elections have been received at. the city clerk's office. Ray F. Roepke, who ran in Zone 2, spent $15 for cards.

The Rev. George F. Firiley, candidate in Zone 3, made no expenditures, and wrote on his affidavit "Nothing ventured, nothing gained?" PEW SPRINGFIELD IANS have spoken as widely in the interest of historical, civic and educational matters as has Dr. L. E.

a 0 esteemed profess emeritus of Drury College. But Monday night, 'for the first time in 30 years. Dr. Mcador failed to meet an appointment for a speech. He was scheduled to appear at Ash Grove at a Chamber of Commerce meeting to promote the pro-' posed Nathan Boone State Park.

Dr. Mcador suffered a slight illness at his home the day before, and his physician was firmjn saying the speech should be canceled. Dr Mparinr mm. plied then accepted an invitation to make the same speech at a meeting of the Greene County Historical Society April 25. QNE OF OFF BEAT'S travel-ing readers swears he saw this roadside sign a story of love, business and disappointmentin West Virginia the other day: "REG.

BEAGLE PUPS. CHEAP" And chalked in below, this, additional information: MUCH CHEAPER." VOU CANT MISS Her Dep't At one of the Springfield elementary schools recently, a first grader was observed wandering down the hall, looking somewhat bewildered. "Who are you looking for?" asked a teacher. Replied the youngster: "I don't know ner name, dui sne nas puis hair." And he eventually found her. of course.

f)NE OF OFF BEAT'S constant readers called the other day to say we'd get a kick out of reading the Yellow Pages in the t. 1 prone DOCK especially me- a combinations of headings at the See OFF BEAT. Page 44 Days Since Ust Traffic Fatality In Springfield la City This Year Same Time La4 Year 1 la Cntf This Year Same Time Last Year la State This Year 214 Same Time Last Year 21S BY' Missouri probably has 1000 caves, of which 500 have been catalogued and 25 are commercial, Thomas R. Beveridge of Rolla, state geologist, said in a talk to a class of Evangel College yesterday. He also called Missouri "the spring state of the United States." He said 11 are of first magnitude, flowing more than 64,000,000 gallons daily.

Beveridge also defined the boundaries of the Ozarks and Springfield was not included. -He said the Ozarks start 20 miles east of here and go into Illinois and north almost to St. Louis. -The geologist said Ozarks streams do not "wear" channels, but instead "dissolve" them. He spoke-ef the- many-sink- whose connection with springs can result in impurities reaching there.

They make it necessary, too, he added, for the well-driller to drill deeper than the depth of the sink holes and case the well, sealing off porous rock. Hall Votes Against Public Works Bill Rep. Durward G. Hall, Springfield Republican, was one of the 184 congressmen who voted against making $450 million available for an accelerated public works program as the House approved the proposal yesterday. Among the Missouri Democrats voting for the plan was Rep.

Richard. Ichord of Houston. PAUL REED, 31, Route 5, wishes his cows were more contented. While milking today, one kicked him in the leg. He was taken to St.

John's Hospital and admitted for treatment. Sll -Jk Distribution of some 10.000 pamphlets urging the elimination of home fire hazards is being completed through the city-schools. Sharp said. Mayor E. L.

Anderson today proclaimed "Clean-Up Week," April 15-20. The drive probably will continue until May 1, ac cording to Warden Sharp to be followed by the customary home inspection by city firemen, of fered 'to-all but -volun tary with each. The campaign will be concentrated in the residential areas of the city. Sharp said, since business places are regularly inspected. The department will be "checking up and down the alleys" for accumulations of debris which are unsightly and could cause fire.

All residents are urged to clear attics, basements, garages and workshops of accumulations of material old clothing, mat-resses, papers and magazines. Sharp said. "We have two purposes, to prevent fires, and to rid the city of things which are unsightly," according to Warden Sharp quoted National Fire Pro-1 tection Association statistics Every 12 minutes a home is destroyed or damaged byfire and a great many of these fires begin in trash accumulations. Old paint cans and rags, stored clothing and papers, old furniture all these things are "fuel for fire" in fire department experience. The warden urged that residents equip themselves with trash cans, brooms and rakes, and attack the "forgotten spots" in their homes to get rid of the debris.

A year ago, the fife department worked with health and other city departments in a city- Whether it's called rhythmic exercises or square and folk dancing, that part of the physical fitness program will continue in the Springfield schools, the board of education decided Wednesday night after hearing a delegation's objections. The board affirmed continuance of the program on a motion by member Dr. Arch Lowe, which emphasized that pupils whose parents object because of religious principles needn't participate. The delegation of objectors was headed by Bob G. Stockstill, 1453 East Livingston, who said he protested the dance exercises as a taxpayer and that "my own convictions are religious, democratic and patriotic." "I feel our basic rights are being violated," he said, adding that "the physical fitness program can be offered without this." Stockstill's voice grew tense as he said he feels the program "is in a compartively innocent I Site acquisitions for future expansion and a tuition summer school program were among items approved by the Springfield board of education Wednesday night at a busy monthly meeting.

The board authorized purchase of fi 10-acre tract from 0. T. Gil-lenwaters, for $15,000, as a site for a new southwest elementary school included in the $1,750,000 bond issue approved by voters April 2. The tract is in a new housing development north of Parkcrest Village just off South Campbell Road and it was noted that an adjacent farm tract is being sold for future development which will place the school in an area of residential expansion. The board also authorized Willard Graff to proceed with negotiations for a 10-acre tract on the east side of Hillsboro, easternmost street in Southern Hills, and to use condemnation procedures if necessary, Two of the 10 acres are owned by John Q.

Hammons and about eight by Robert Killian. Both are owners of sub-divisions. The board further voted to ask the county court open a section of road extending Seminole east from Southern Hills into Cambridge Terrace addition, providing better access to the new Glendale High School. The board deferred action on a 10-acre site in the Galloway area for a future elementary school. In real estate transactions on Jefferson, financed by the bond issue and providing for parking to serve Central High School and for future expansion, the board approved purchase of these five pieces of property: 1012 North Jefferson, from Mr.

and Mrs. L. Abney, for 937 North Jefferson, from Mr. and Mrs. J.

F. Newton, for 1020 North Jefferson, from Mr. and Mrs. Paul Bradford, 1030 North Jefferson, from Miss Minnie E. Hargis, 1034 North Jefferson, from Pansy P.

Sheedy, for $16,000. In other business relating to the April 2 bond issue, the board-Set a meeting for April 24 to draw up a bond sale resolution with bids to be received in May with a maximum interest rate of 3V percent; Made an official canvass of the ballots which showed a total vote of 7166 for and 2851 against; Okayed an administration suggestion to invite architects to appear before the board in connection with projects covered by the band issue, with architects for the two new elementary schools and for Hillcrest and Glendale additions to be. selected by May 1 and for all-purpose rooms by June 1. In view of an administration survey showing 627 students at all levels interested in a summer school program, the board voted to adopt it with a $15 tuition for elementary and junior high school courses and $25 for the longer high school program. Elementary sessions will be held at Weaver and Phelps; junior high at Pipkin, and senior- at Central.

Courses in basic read ing, arithmetic, spelling and language skills will be offered at Lhe elementary level; in reading, math and typing at junior high level, and in typing, algebra and chemistry in senior high, i Summer school teachers salar-: ies were set at $375 for the six weeks in Lhe lower grades and $500 for the eight weeks in senior high, with a pro-rata additicn-j al amount for lab hours, i A "program of summer music 1 instruction will be "continued for $5 for one hour. $7.50 for two hours, and $10 for three. Because of rising cos's computed by the administration, the wide "Operation Clean-Sweep. While the campaign was highly successful. Sharp had no doubt that this year's campaign is just as vital luu lull ki ui stuff in 12 months," he noted.

In the proclamation issued today, Mayor Anderson noted that "general health and welfare" requires clean surroundings, that fire endangers life and property. ana tna a ciean ana Deaninui community is a proud and prosperous ene." He urged the cooperation of all governmental agencies, civic, school and youth organizations, and individual citizens in the department's annual drive. County Officers Win Pav Boost In Senate Bill JEFFERSON CITY il'PP -The Senate today approved a bill raising the pay of several county officers in Buchanan, Greene, Jefferson, Clay and Jasper counties. The measure, one of two sent the House today, would raise Uc pay of county assessors, treas- ers by $1200 per year in seccwl class counties, and county prosecutors from $7200 to $10,000 -per year. The bill passed, 22-1.

Other bills receiving tentative approval would: Increase the salaries of county collectors in counties with township forms of government. Require most political subdivisions to file reports of fiscal transactions annually with the department of legislative reserach. Increase fees for second class county collectors: be required for construction. Sunderland said that City Council action, in adoption of an ordinance perrnitting the proposed construction under city jfoning regulations, helpful In making the project economically possible." He mentioned the encouragement of business and civic leaders as a factor in successful culmination of the first phase cf the project. i Springfield Security Company arranged the land acquisitkrs, and filed the initial zoning case involving the proposed building.

Chamber cf Commerce President S. E. Smith toiav termed i -t tfwii- vA Pti Lime Company Chief Heads Developers Builder Files Deeds OirHigh-Rise Units Deeds covering, property at the northwest corner of Elm and Dollison, site of a proposed high-rise apartment building, have been filed for record here, the FT 1 yf Chamber of Commerce announced today. i T-f-K it Title to the property, fronting 338.5 feet on Elm, is conveyed to the Tower Building Company of Kansas City, whose president is Paul Sunderland, formerly of Springfield. Sunderland is chairman of the board of Ash, Grove Lime and Portland Cement Company.

Architect for the project is Richard Stahl of Springfield. Sunderland, according to Don Heter of the Chamber's staff, said that an 13-story tower apartment building is contemplated, containing B7 units. One and two-bedroom apartments will be available in "luxury'' design, with individual-! K- rontro'l't hr.itinf anrl air mn- GFTTIXr" TTIF A 1 1 VFii iiiVF UlLi VIKJlllJ -jistractiaa preceding compelilioa are Future Farmers entered ia the field crops division of the 3SKh annual district FFA contest which epcBed today and win rontinne tomorrow on Southwest'JMissouri State t4er 4 Pre Staff FW campus. More than lftK) high school studenU are expected for the two-day event, according to Dr. G.

-E. Karls, head the SMS department of agriculture and contest supervisor. The event will qnalifv winning judging teams and individaals for the state Future Farmers contests to be held later at Columbia. Present plans indicate a tart on the project "sometime this summer," and about a year will) i city" and il is vince'f failh by those in financial circles in Springfield's future growth.