THIS WEEK IN LOCAL HISTORY
Hindman, Stamper made bets on MU’s Holiday Bowl

10 years ago

From the Columbia Daily Tribune

Dec. 20, 1997

In preparation for the University of Missouri Tigers’ Holiday Bowl contest with Colorado State University, Mayor Darwin Hindman and Presiding Commissioner Don Stamper have made their bets.

If MU loses, Hindman will send a Shakespeare’s pizza, a bottle of Katy Trail Ale and a carton of Tiger Stripe ice cream to Mayor Ann Azari of Fort Collins, Colo.

Stamper made a wager with Larimer County board Chairman Jim Disney of a smoked turkey. Bob Green of Smilin’ Bob’s Barbecue will smoke the turkey, if necessary.

Lt. Governor Roger Wilson has bet a Boone County ham against Rocky Mountain oysters wagered by Colorado Lt. Gov. Gail Schoettler. Disney’s wager is an offering of rainbow trout.

Dec. 24, 1997

MU beat Illinois 75-69 at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, giving Coach Norm Stewart his 700th coaching victory. He’s the eighth coach in Division I men’s basketball to reach 700 wins.

Kelly Thames led MU with 20 points.

25 years ago

From the Fulton Sun-Gazette

Dec. 22, 1982

Callaway Bank took up the challenge of the Callaway County United Way slogan: "Callaway cares enough to meet the challenge."

The United Way goal for 1982 was $94,000. Callaway Bank and its employees have pledged $12,300, the largest corporate-employee donation ever made to the Callaway United Fund, said Vicki Russell, a United Way board member.

Dec. 23, 1982

Terry Logue, public information director at William Woods University, stripped to his shorts and a T-shirt and dove into the frigid water yesterday at Senior Lake to hook a chain to a Ford LTD that sank to the bottom after the driver, Walter Vaughn, lost control. Both car and Logue survived. No summons was issued.

50 years ago

From the Columbia Daily Tribune

Dec. 20, 1957

Everett Green, "probably seen by more students, faculty and campus visitors than any other person connected with the University of Missouri," will retire tomorrow. He is the traffic watchman at the south entrance to Jesse Hall, where he has served for six years. He has been on the watchman staff at MU for 10 years.

Dec. 21, 1957

Elvis Presley received his draft induction notice to report for duty on Jan. 20.

His comment; "I’m kinda proud of it. It’s a duty I’ve got to fill, and I’m going to do it."

Tom Parker, Presley’s manager, said the draft notice would cost the singer half a million in gross income immediately, and after that it would be hard to estimate.

Dec. 23, 1957

Ruth Taylor, a 25-year-old registered nurse, became the first black flight attendant in the United States. She will fly with Mohawk Airlines, a New England airline, beginning Jan. 13.

Taylor was turned down earlier by TWA because of "intangible factors that have to be considered."

75 years ago

From Omar D. Gray’s Sturgeon Leader

Dec. 22, 1932

A fire, which started at noon, destroyed the Delta Gamma house at 904 Providence Road in Columbia. The blaze of undetermined cause started in the basement of the three-story colonial frame building. Much of the clothing and furniture was saved. All the residents were gone for the holiday, and no one was injured except for fire Chief Max Woods, who suffered smoke inhalation. The house was built in 1920 and remodeled in 1926.

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American Airways of Kansas City has announced it will make Columbia a stop on its Kansas City to St. Louis route. Two flights in each direction are scheduled. Rapid Air Transit of Omaha, Neb., is also considering service to Columbia.

100 years ago

From the weekly Columbia Herald

Dec. 20, 1907

More than 1,200 people were on hand for a charity fiddling contest at Columbia Theatre.

Dan Jones of Stephens Store won the $20 gold piece as best fiddler. Frank Shipe of Rocheport was runner-up and won a $15 violin. Columbian Mike Roberts was third.

Judges were Clarence Fisher of Deer Park, Dr. E.H. Chinn of Rocheport, Col. H.C. Threlkeld of Ashland and Lloyd Haden of Boone County. Proceeds were used to buy toys for needy children.

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MU beat Joplin YMCA 42-20 in a basketball game at Rothwell Gym before a very small crowd. The Herald reported: "The work of the referee was particularly displeasing to the crowd, he giving Joplin the better of all the close decisions.

"Unless the rest of the games at home are better attended, the number of games in the gym next season will be considerably decreased.

"The referee was Mr. Towsley of Joplin. The umpire was a Mr. Burkhalter of Columbia."

150 years ago

From the Missouri Statesman

Dec. 25, 1857

Two holiday parties were glittering occasions at Columbia’s college for women.

At Christian Female College, the Martha Washington Institute, the school’s literacy society, presented an evening of music and reading.

The Statesman was on hand: "The occasion was of rare interest to the large auditory and offered another gratifying proof of the high and well-merited reputation Christian College enjoys as an institute of learning.

"Long may it exist in prosperity to bless the daughters of our land with a liberal education."

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"The Hickman Institute at the Baptist College sponsored a social party, which drew a large crowd despite a winter storm. The college building is well-adapted to such an occasion.

"We understand that the proceeds of the party reached $129, which is appropriated to the purchase of books for the institution’s library."

180 years ago

From the Missouri Intelligencer

Dec. 21, 1827

"The chilling blasts of winter have closed upon us. The earth, the trees and their branches are bound in icy chains of sleet, snow and frost; the sound of the horses’ feet and the rumbling of drays, carts and waggons, as well as the shivering, silent and melancholy move of the oxen, the squawking and imploring swine, the clustering of the domestic fowls, and the bleating of the warm-clothed sheep all tell us that the storms of winter have visited us. …

"But to cheer us in this frozen gloom, we have warm fires, greasy frying pans and social evening chit-chat at our own and our neighbor’s grates; occasionally the sweet vibration of the violin or the melodious chance of the flute break upon our ears. …

"While our sons and daughter are vying with each other in the joyous and mazy dances, exhilarated by the sweet tones of the violin or the tinkling cymbals, let us not censure too harshly. We, too, once were young; we, too, felt there was no harm in this charming and gay amusement. Human nature is the same now as it was then."

The observation is assumed to have been written by Nathaniel Patten, the paper’s proprietor.

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Bill Clark is a Tribune columnist.

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