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PRR #299's little sister, as seen at Eureka Springs, Ark. It was built by Alco in 1906
for the Isthmian Canal Commission in Colon. One hundred of this type were built for
the construction of the Panama Canal, of which only three survive and only #201 is
operational. She was fired up for member Adrien M. Bouche', Jr. of Orem, Utah, who
operated the locomotive for about two miles. Note "Keep Our Canal" on the tender.
J. F. Warner
Albert F. Pate
Mrs. Anna T. Collins
Mrs. Jean B. Mann
Richard W. Beall
Mrs. Dorothy Yocum
William F. Grady
Legislative Representative
Paul Disharoon
Pauline Arnold
Albert F. Pate
Mrs. Anna T. Collins
Mrs. Jean B. Mann
Richard W. Pat Beall
Russell M. Jones
Troy Hayes
Victor H. May Jr.
Harry C. Egolf
Contents ...
The President's M message ....................................................................... 1
From the Secretary.................................................................................... 2
Editor's Corner................................................. ...................................... 2
Legislative Report................................................................................ .. 3
Highlights of M minutes of Scheduled M eetings............................................ 4
Activity Report................................................................................. ..... 4
Retirements........................................ .................................................. 7
News Clips ................................................................................................ 7
News Condensed from the "Spillway"...................................................... 9
Your Reporters Say:.................................................................................... 14
Alabam a...................................... 14 North Carolina..................... 23
Arkansas.................................. 15 Northwest............................. 23
California................................. 17 Panama................................. 24
Colorado................................... 18 South Carolina..................... 29
Florida......................................... 19 Texas ...................................... 30
Louisiana ................................. 22 Virginia.................... ............. 31
And the M em ory Lingers On .................................................................... 32
Congratulations......................................................................................... 33
W here Are You?......................................................................................... 36
W eddings ................................................................................................... 36
Births ............................................................................................................ 37
W ith Deep Sorrow .................................................................................. ... 38
Letters to the Editor ........................................................................... ... 44
Looking Back......................................................... ................................. 42
Notices........................................................................................... ...... 46
For Sale or W anted...................................................... ........................... 48
Favorite Cooking Recipes ................................................ Inside back cover
Vigilant Real Estate............. ................................ ..................................... 8
Back Cover: Pen and ink drawing of the tug Gulf Raider when she was
leading ships into Canal waters, provided by Isthmian artist, John B. Mor-
ton, of the Panama Canal Commission.
Regular Monthly Meeting of PCSOFL, 1:30 p.m., 5730 Shore
Blvd. Gulfport, FL.
West Coast Reunion, Catamaran Hotel, San Diego, Calif.
September Lunch and Regular Meeting, Duff's on Whiskey Rd., Aiken, SC
1:00 p.m.
1 October Box Lunch Chicken Dinner/Meeting of PCSOFL, 12:00 noon,
5730 Shore Blvd., Gulfport, FL.
4-7 October "Gas House Gang" Annual Golf Tournament, Dothan, AL.
12 October Regular Meeting, Houston, Texas (Slide Show on Canal).
19 October Fall Luncheon, Holiday Inn, Bentonville, AR. 1:00 p.m.
5 November Annual Picnic/Meeting of PCSOFL, Lake Seminole Park, FL,
10:00 a.m., Shelter #8.
3 December Festive Christmas Meeting, PCSOFL, 12:00 noon, 5730 Shore
Blvd., Gulfport, FL.
Delinquent Dues starts I Feb. 1983
The Panama Canal Society of Florida, Inc.
(A Non-Profit Organization)
To preserve American Ideals and Canal Zone Friendships '
*^ P.O. Box 11566 ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA 33733
The CANAL RECORD is published by the Panama Canal Society of Florida, Inc., for the good and welfare of its members, and is
published five times a year in March, June, September, November and December.
The subscription fee is $15.00 annually. Membership is granted to all those who subscribe to the CANAL RECORD and pay the
annual subscription fee. Entered as 2nd. Class matter and 2nd. Class Postage paid at the Post Office at St. Petersburg, Florida.
All photographs and correspondence sent to the Panama Canal Society of Florida will become the property of the Society and will
be retained in our files and archives.
Printed by ROBERTS PRINTING, INC. Dunedin, FL 33528
HEADQUARTERS of the Panama Canal Society of Florida, Inc.
5094 40th Street South
St. Petersburg, Florida 33711
The past few months have been very busy ones for your Officers, Committee Chairmen and Committee Members. It
has been one meeting after the other.
To fulfill an obligation of our Constitution and By-Laws, Article II, Paragraph 7, an Audit and Budget Committee was
appointed. This Committee worked very hard and presented a report and recommendations to the Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee met on July 12, 1982 and approved a review of all the recommendations made by the
Audit and Budget Committee. As a result of our review, you will notice your Canal Record has been reduced in volume
and using a smaller print in order to give you more information.
The Executive Committee members raised the dues to $15.00 a year commencing January 1983. This was done with
the authority voted by the membership at the Annual Meeting on April 27, 1979. We did a lot of study and soul searching
before even considering raising the dues, but as we all know the cost of everything has gone up and no relief in sight. We all
get a lot of pleasure from the Canal Record and it is our principal contact for keeping in touch and the lifeline of our Society.
Our Record Editor is doing all he can to continue the high quality and workmanship of our fine Canal Record, but due to
the high cost of the printing and postage, he will have to conserve and keep the Canal Record within the Budget. If you will
notice the Canal Record has been increased in size 100% and to continue to give you quality and quantity we have reduced
the weight of the paper and the size of the print making it possible to give you the same amount of information on reduced
number of pages. Thus saving on printing and postage. The bulk of the $15.00 a year goes toward our Canal Record. We
doubt if one could get 5 magazines of this quality for $15.00.
Now for the lighter side. We want to thank Joe and Anna Collins for the delicious luncheon and appropriate
entertaining program of July 2nd. at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club which was an outstanding affair.
Again on August 6th. we had another enjoyable luncheon at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort. Sarah Rowley and
Vera Jones were in charge of the delicious meal and unique "Brown Baggers" prizes and program. Both luncheons carried
through the theme of our 50th. Anniversary year.
Our Executive Committee and appointed Chairman have been working very hard and are planning numerous future
events for your enjoyment.
We hope that you will be as enthusiastic as we are on having our 1983 Reunion at the Holiday Inn Clearwater Beach
A special note to all members start planning now for a Great Reunion in 1983. We truly want to make it extra special
and worth while for our members that travel a great distance to attend.
Come join us at all our meetings. Take part and offer to be on Committees. We work hard but get a lot of enjoyment
and satisfaction for a job well done. It is your Society and you will get more out of it than what you put in.
We hope to see you all that can attend at our October 1st. 1982 Box Lunch Chicken Dinner. Don't miss the fun.
Love you,
Al Pate
From the Secretary
We are now in the process of preparing the annual
directory issue. If you wish to give a gift subscription for
1983, why not send it in this month (Sept) and have the
names listed in the annual issue. I must have these by the
25th of September or the names cannot be included.
As you will read elsewhere in this issue, the dues for
1983 have been raised to $15.00. For those of you who
have already paid 1983 dues, it will be necessary for you
to send an additional $5.00. Those who have paid several
years in advance can expect a letter from me telling them
how I have adjusted their advance payments to cover the
For information all new members receive a copy of
the current directory issue, while they last. We usually
order a few hundred extra copies, but usually run out after
three or four months. It is difficult to predict the number of
new members we will receive. It is not necessary to send
extra money for a copy of the directory when you give a
gift subscription. It would be a great help to me, and would
help save the PCSF money, if each of you would send a
stamped, self-addressed envelope when you pay your
dues. I could just slip your dues card in the envelope and
away it goes on its way back to you. Believe me it is time
consuming writing out each name and address for our
3300 plus members.
Thanks for your help and understanding.
Jean Mann
Editor's Corner
The Society received two very nice "Thank You"
cards and notes from Dolly Barbour and Eleanor Con-
nor, our dedicated and reliable Kitchen Crew, who
preside at the kitchen and prepare the coffee and
doughnuts after each meeting. They were both given an
Annual Luncheon ticket compliments of the Society for
their continued excellent support too often unnoticed
and taken for granted to the Panama Canal Society of
Florida. Thank you, Ladies, and THANK YOU. (Ed.
Note: Eleanor Connor passed away on 26 July. See "With
Deep Sorrow".
Just to keep the record straight, the Police Badge
#232 seen on the March issue of the Canal Record was not
that of David Stocker while on duty. It was found in the
waste holding area for the Canal dredging on the West
Bank of the Canal and given to him by the finder, some
years ago. Dave's duty badge number was #209 during
the 18 + years he was with the Police Division, and he
kept the #232 badge among his personal effects as a
The June Record was an exceptional one as far as the
number of pages was concerned. It had the makings of a
fairly decent book until all those mistakes cropped up.
Most of those mistakes were corrected once and they
showed up mysteriously at the printer at printing time.
The license tags and decals that are now on sale by
the Society are a new issue. The colors have been chang-
ed to conform with the official CZ Seal, so get yours today
before the prices go up again.
The Executive Board has requested the editor to limit
the September and December issues of the Canal Record
to 80 pages to meet rising costs. The editor will make
every effort to comply with that request by making the
book more compact, through eliminating blank space,
making headings smaller and eliminating as much as possi-
ble all unnecessary material. As a consequence, members
and reporters may find their news items condensed rather
sharply at times. The overwhelming support members
have given me for the new format has influenced my deci-
sion to retain as much of the March and June issue format
as possible. It will mean however, that the news content
may not be as verbose as before. Members and reporters
could be of great help in limiting their news items from
wordy and repetitive sentences. Members will find several
changes in this issue in support of the economy move and
will probably find more in the next December issue. This is
not done with the intent of radically changing the already
established format, but to streamline it a little. We are not
forgetting that you members are paying for this subscrip-
tion, and it's my job to see that you are getting your
money's worth. I must also add that the printers of this
book are assisting me immeasurably and also have your in-
terests at heart.
I have received many requests to publish articles from
various newspapers, news-letters and other periodicals in-
to the Canal Record. Many of these articles were of a
political nature and really had no place in the Canal
Record while others were informative and eye-opening in
many respects.
The mission of the Canal Record is to maintain and to
preserve American Ideals and Canal Zone Friend-
ships. In other words, we print news about the Panama
Canal Zone, the friends found and made there, and their
continuing friendships after retirement, wherever they
may be. Helpful news items of a non-political nature are
sometimes printed, if space permits, which may not be
Canal Zone oriented. (The choice is often difficult to your
amateur editor). Therefore, we are what might be called, a
"controlled press" in the sense that we print items of in-
terest only to Panama Canal residents and former Canal
employees and residents.
To reach our membership, we must remember that
10% of our members live outside the continental limits of
the U.S; 18.1% live in and around the St. Petersburg,
Tampa area; with 17% living in the remainder of Florida,
and 54.9% living outside of Florida, which includes Alaska
and Hawaii. A summerization: 35.1% living in Florida;
64.9% living outside of Florida.
To get additional news, such as: How much you are
going to pay for food; Public education; How your con-
gressman voted; Religeous beliefs; Economics: Taxes; and
many more informative items, there are several periodicals
that cover all or some of those titles. Membership to The
National Association of Retired Federal Employees entitles
you to Retirement Life magazine; membership to the
American Association of Retired Persons entitles you to
their Modern Maturity magazine and their AARP News
Bulletin; the Congressional Record is another informative
guide; The Spotlight, a weekly newspaper, printed by
Liberty Lobby, Inc., 300 Independence Ave. S.E.,
Washington, D.C. 20003 ($22.00/year higher outside
US) gives you "the other side of the news" and prints
many articles covering all "events vital to your welfare";
The Senior Consumer, published by the State of Florida
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Mayo
Building, 407 South Calhoun St., Tallahassee, FL 32301,
informs senior citizens of consumer interest matters ap-
plicable to persons over 60, and is mailed free of charge.
The Canal Record's only recommendations are that
members may examine these other periodicals for addi-
tional information that will not be printed in the Canal
Record. We are not advocating that you subscribe to
them in any way. It's your choice. What we don't print -
they do.
Pat Beall
The typographic error
is a slippery thing and sly;
You can hunt until you're dizzy,
but somehow it gets by.
Till the forms are off the presses
it's strange how still it keeps,
It shrinks into a corner
and never stirs or peeps.
The typographic error
is too small for human eyes,
Till the ink is on the paper,
when it grows to mountain size.
The boss, he stares with horror,
then tears his hair and groans;
The sad sack who okayed the proofs
just drops his head and moans.
For all the other printing
may be as clean as clean can be
But the typographic error
is the only thing you see!
Sent in by "Pete" Budreau, Panama City, Fla.
Legislative Report
Compromise Budget Resolution Approved by Congress -
Congress has approved a compromise budget resolu-
tion that calls for a 4% federal pay raise for both blue collar
and white collar employees for each of the next three
years, beginning October 1, 1982. A 4% annuity increase
was also approved for government retirees and
dependents for each of the next three years, starting March
1, 1983.
The Senate budget resolution had provided no pay
raise for federal workers and no increase for retirees until
1984, while the House resolution had provided for a 4%
federal pay raise and uncapped retiree COLA raise next
The compromise was not especially pleasing to
federal unions and retiree groups, but it was a lot better
than the original Senate version.
Incidentally, the 4% retiree COLA raise next March 1
will also go to persons under the Federal Employees Com-
pensation Act (FECA) rolls.
Members of the House Post Office and Civil Service
Committee are studying ways that might uncap the 4%
annuity increase next March, ordered by Congress as part
of the budget resolution.
If the committee can find ways of making other sav-
ings, it could trade them off for the estimated 6.7% raise
that annuitants normally would be due next March. But
finding ways to make alternative reductions could be very
The CPI for the first six months of 1982 shows an in-
crease of 3.2%. This may seem pointless as a result of the
Senate-House conferees capping the increase at 4%.
However, if by the end of the year the consumers price in-
dex for the preceding 12 months is less than 4%, retirees
and their dependents would get the lesser amount. This is
very unlikely, but still a possibility however remote.
William F. Grady
Legislative Representative
The following members have been appointed:
Jackie Linker
St. Petersburg, Largo, Seminole
Clearwater and surrounding areas.
Johanna Freudigmann
Tampa and surrounding areas
Mabelle Walker
Sarasota and surrounding areas
Chris Felps
We are interested and care about all our members.
Please let the Sunshine Chairperson in your vicinity know
when you are ill and when you know of another person
that is ill. If there isn't a Chairperson in your area please
notify your area reporter. We are all concerned about one
another and we can't help, visit or send cards to each other
unless we are informed.
Delinquent Dues starts
1 Feb. 1983
At the top of our dues card is the expiration date of
annualdues (Dec. 31, 19 ). Many of ourmemberspay
their dues prior to the expiration date, but most do not. At
the top of our dues card is also the statement "void after
Jan. 31, 19 ". This gives everyone a 31 day grace
period to get their dues paid.
In May 1982, the PCSF sent out 720 reminder
notices at a cost of $93.60. Most paid promptly, but quite
a few waited until after the June issue of the Canal Record
had been mailed making it necessary to mail copies of the
June issue at the single copy rate of $1.05. To date over
60 copies have been mailed at a cost of $63.00. These
unnecessary expenses are borne by all the members.
Therefore, the Executive Committee has voted to
impose a delinquent fee of $2.00 on those members
whose dues are not postmarked by 31 January of each
year. This is only fair! The delinquent members should be
the ones to bear the burden of the extra expenses.
Highlights of Minutes
from Regular Meetings
7 May 1982
109 members and guests were present. Guests in-
Vonna Huldtquist St. Petersburg
Robert Hicks St. Petersburg
Tess Owens Palm Harbor, Fl.
Thelma Reppe Long Beach, Calif.
Anna Wright Gulfport, Fl.
Bill & Gretchen Boren Port Richey, Fl.
Ruby Ford St. Petersburg
Martha "Mopsy" Wood Vancouver, Wash.
The President asked for reports from Committee
Chairmen of the Annual Reunion and thanked all who
served, including Past President Russell Jones.
Eight members celebrating birthdays in May were
presented a 50th. Anniversary Hi-Ball glass, while nine
couples celebrated anniversaries and were presented Hi-
Ball glasses also.
The Committee Chairpersons in charge of the July
Luncheon and the Annual August Luncheon reported on
their upcoming activities.
4 June 1982
90 members and guests were present. Guests includ-
Muriel Whitman St. Petersburg
Sugar Di Roma St. Petersburg
Pete and Marge Foster St. Petersburg
Ida and Jerry Fruth Clearwater
Norine Kaufer Los Gatos, Calif.
Dorothy Cantway St. Petersburg
Dorothy Jacks St. Petersburg
Helen and Dick Tomford St. Petersburg
Kathy Rogers St. Petersburg
John O'Connor Ft. Walton Beach
The Secretary read the minutes of the May meeting
which were approved as read. She also read the Financial
statements which were also approved.
The President reported on those members hospitaliz-
ed and their status.
The Editor stated that memorabilia was still for sale
and was collecting unwanted old copies of the Canal
Record that could be sold to requesting agencies.
The Legislative Representative reported that Rep.
C.W. "Bill" Young had introduced a bill that would ex-
empt the first $7500 of a single annuitant and $15,000 for
married annuitants from income tax.
Eight members celebrated birthdays during June
while six couples celebrated anniversaries.
Mr. Joe Collins reported on the July 2 Luncheon
and Mrs. Sara Rowley reported on the August 6 Lun-
The President announced that Mr. Richard
Danielson will be replaced by Mr. Harry Egolf on the
Budget and Audit Committee.
He also announced that the Holiday Inn, Surfside on
Clearwater Beach has been chosen for the 1983 Annual
Reunion on May 12, 13 and 14. Details will be announced
at a later date.
2 July 1982
The minutes for the July Regular Meeting is under
"Activities", The St. Petersburg Yacht Club Luncheon
Activity Reports
Washington, D.C. Area
The Fifth Annual reunion of the Statesiders was held
on June 26 & 27 at the Ramada Inn on Route 7 in Falls
Church, Virginia. There were 154 people for the Dinner
Dance Saturday evening, and 94 people at the Brunch on
Registration and the cocktail hour began at 6:30 in
the pool area with committee members Pat Norris,
Vickie (van'tVeld) Horning and Silver (Deignan)
Crossman presiding at the registration table. Empanadas
for both the Dinner and Brunch were provided by commit-
tee members Vickie, Rosemary (Millett) Gilead and
Elizabeth (Zent) Beall. Committee member Bob Hor-
ning saw to their distribution. Music for the dance was
again provided by Sonny Seixas and the Bamboo Lane
Boys. The Carnival King selected for the evening was
James Doran, Severna Park, Maryland. Our Queen was
Jo (Dennis) Konover, Princeton, New Jersey. We miss-
ed the rambunctious table of the Coffin family we had last
year, but representation was upheld by Thomas & Bar-
bara from Brooklyn, New York, and Margie from Red
Lion, Pennsylvania. At one point, all former residents of
Gamboa were asked to leave the room. It turned out they
weren't misbehaving, it was only to get a group photo in
the hallway.
During the dance breaks, door prize and lottery draw-
ings were held, plus an auction of selected Railroad Station
Sign decorations. All of our door prizes were items brought
up from Panama. Jorge Vallez and Norma (Small) War-
ren, two members of the Conjunto Folklorico were in at-
tendance. (We really must have the entire dance group
back again). Two of the founders of this Reunion group
were recognized. Barbara (Fritz) Reyle and Bucky
Millett. Also, our former committee chairman, Don
Boland, came up from Columbia, South Carolina to join
During the Sunday Brunch the remaining Railroad
Signs were auctioned off, together with more door prize
and lottery drawings. Following the Brunch the cayuco
races were held in the swimming pool. Due to size limita-
tions the cayucos were only about a foot long and had to
be propelled by our valiant swimmers (in the best tradition
and in memory of the former Red, White and Blue
Troupe), Tom Larsen, Norman Dugas, Kurt
Miessner, Brian Miessner, Margie Coffin and com-
mittee chairman Ted Norris. Successive heats of three
swimmers each were run. In the first heat Kurt barely edg-
ed out Margie and Norman. In the second, Brian arrived
first after he and Tom 'torpedoed' Ted. But Ted came back
to be one of the finalists. To uphold the honor of Balboa
and the Class of '48, committee member and race
manager Al Adams only went up against the two finalists
with Dink Dennis serving as substitute starter and judge.
Top honors in the finals went to Margie Coffin represent-
ing Gatun.
At the Canal Zone Statsiders 5th. Annual Reunion Din-
ner/Dance at the Ramada Inn/Tysons, Va. L to R: Bruce
Reyle, Barbara (Fritz) Reyle, Jim van'tVeld, Geneva
Boland, Edna Blevins, Ralph Blevins, Jr., Don
Boland, Robert Horning, Vickie (van'tVeld) Horn-
ing, Jorge Valdez. Standing: Pat Norris, Norma
We were very pleased to have a number of long
distance travelers for the event. Carl and Dottie
Meissner, with their sons Brian and Kurt, came up from
the Canal Zone to be with their daughter Denise
(Meissner) Collins of Virginia. Bobble Berger also
came up from the Zone to join her sister Diane of the
District, and her parents, Dr. I. Robert and Rida Berger
of Virginia. Gilbert and Lenore Joudrey came up from
Florida to join their daughter Susan (Joudrey) Rice of
Maryland. Anna (Warren) Setzer also came up from
Florida. Arden Cooke came in from Texas and Lucy
(Driscoll) Howe came in from Colorado. From the west
coast, Celeste (Powell) Fulton and her son Stephen
came in from California. Frank Szivos and his wife Lucy
came down from Connecticut to be with his brother
Julius Szivos and his wife Elizabeth from Maryland.
For further information about the Canal Zone
Statesiders contact Ted & Pat Norris, 1906 Prout Place,
Falls Church, Virginia, 22043. (703) 893-6853.
Avoid Delinquent
Pay Dues Now!
2 July 1982 St. Petersburg Yacht Club
Luncheon/ Meeting
President Pate welcomed 129 members and guests.
The Pledge of Allegiance was lead by the President to a
U.S. Flag flown over the Capitol on August 31, 1978.
After a delicious buffet luncheon, the President in-
troduced Mrs. Marie Wolf, widow of Roosevelt Medal
holder as well as childrenof Medal holders; Dorothy Wolf
Pate, Charles Hummer, John McConaghy, Anna
Kotalik Collins, Grace Williams, Muriel Whitman
Holmelin, Frances Violette Sharp, Mary Orr, and
Mary Bradney Egolf. There were ten members who
were introduced as having lived in the Canal Zone from
the time the Canal opened to 1920.
Daughters of Roosevelt Medal holders: Dorothy
Hamlin, Frances Violette Sharp, Mary Orr, Mary
Bradney Egolf.
Canal Zone residents, 1914-1920. L to R: Grace
Williams, Pauline Holmelin, Ralph Morales, Ber-
tha Scott, Marie Wolf, Myrtle Hughes, Mina Dee,
Esther Currier, ??, Dorothy Hamlin, Marion
Greene, and Sara Rowley.
Past Presidents Troy Hayes and Russell Jones
were recognized as well as other committee members.
The President requested a vote in selecting the month
for the Annual Picnic, resulting in the picnic being schedul-
ed for November 5, 1982.
He also stated that a By-Laws Committee would be
appointed and that the proposed amendments would be
printed in the Canal Record for approval and notice given
as to monthly meeting action on same would be taken.
Marie Wolf, widow of Frank Wolf,
Roosevelt Medal Holder.
Sons and Daughters of RM holders: L to R: John Mc-
Conaghy, Ralph Morales, Grace Williams, Anna
Kotalik Collins, Muriel Holmelln Whitman,
Dorothy Wolf Pate.
The President asked that all attend the August 6th
Luncheon Meeting to be held at the Sheraton Sand Key
Resort, with Sara Rowley and Vera Jones co-chairing.
Fifteen members celebrated birthdays this month
while five couples celebrated wedding anniversaries.
The President then turned the program over to Anna
and Joe Collins. Anna Collins acted as Master of
Ceremonies for a program where members would relate a
story, reminiscing their days in the Canal Zone. Those
relating stories or anecdotes were Anna Collins,
Dorothy Yocum, Kitty McNamee, Grace Williams,
Harry Egolf, Glenn Heath, Esther Currier, Sara
Rowley, Pete Foster, Carl Starke, Gloria Lord, Vic
May, Ralph Morales, Mary Orr, and Paul Disharoon.
The Door Prize was won by Marge Foster of St.
Petersburg. The prize was donated by the Security First
Federal Bank who also donated a pen and memo book for
each member present.
Fifteen lottery prizes, each a 50th Anniversary mug,
were won by the following: Gloria Lord, Dolly Bar-
bour, Edith Jones, Ernest Yocum, Mrs. Matheney,
Lilly Seidman, Grace Williams, Mary Orr, Mrs.
Allgaler, Bernice Jackson, Jessie Anderson, Sam
Rowley, Chris Felps, Evelyn Oster and Carl
Winner of Door Prize, Marge Foster, being presented a
crystal decanter with four glasses, bound in leather by Joe
Collins, Luncheon Chairman. The prize was donated by
1st. Security Savings & Loans, St. Petersburg, FL.
Anna thanked Grace Williams for decorating the
center-piece on the buffet table and all those who helped
President Pate called for a round of applause for An-
na and Joe Collins for an outstanding affair which was en-
joyed by all. Meeting was adjourned.
Charles "Tuck" Hummer received this little poem
from his mother-in-law in Canada and thought it fit him
pretty well and probably many other members.
The poem also appeared in the Largo-Seminole
Times section of the St. Petersburg Times on May 7,
It was also submitted by Ellen E. Johnson, Alpine,
Calif. who got it from Maggie Bailey, who got it from
Maxine Hood both former Zonians.
Just a line to say I'm living
That I'm not among the dead.
Though I'm getting more forgetful
And mixed up in my head.
For sometimes I can't remember
When I stand at the foot of the stairs,
If I must go up for something
Or I've just come down from there.
And, before the "fridge" so often
My poor mind is filled with doubt.
Have I just put food away, or
Have I come to take it out?
And there are times when it's dark out
With my night cap on my head.
I don't know if I'm retiring,
Or just getting out of bed.
So if it's my turn to write you,
There's no need of getting sore.
I may think that I have written,
And don't want to be a bore.
So remember I do love you
And I wish that you were here.
But now it's nearly mail-time,
So I must say "good-bye", my dear.
There I stood outside the mailbox
With my face so very red.
Instead of mailing you your letter,
I have opened it instead!
J ttip kznm2-2n ti
Mr. George H. Cotton
Mr. Donald W. Date
Mr. Joseph Garcia Jr.
Mr. Ned D. Morgan
Mr. Charles J. Peterson
Mr. John Baker
Mr. Domingo J. Bonilla
Mr. John V. Brown.
Mr. Jerry L. Carlton
Mr. Louis E. Cooper
Mr. Edward V. Dolan
Mr. Richard M. Gadbois
Mrs. Fannie P. Hernandez
Mr. Frank C. Kline
Mr. Brian K. Love
Mr. Howard J. Marks
Mr. Thomas E. Price
Mr. Paul E. Quackenbush
Mr. David E. Stocker
Mr. William R. Thrift
Mr. Leonard A. Wilson
Police Division
Engineering Division
Police Division
Locks Division
Locks Division
Magistrate Courts
Motor Transportation Div.
Police Division
Police Division
Police Division
Police Division
Police Division
Office of Public Affairs
Police Division
Electrical Division
Police Division
Locks Division
Police Division
Police Division
Police Division
Police Division
20 years, 3 days
25 years, 1 mo. 21 days
21 years, 6 days
10 years, 9 mo. 2 days
23 years, 6 mo. 5 days
43 years, 8 mo. 3 days
40 years, 3 mo. 28 days
20 years, 11 mo. 20 days
27 years, 2 months
20 years, 6 mo. 16 days
22 years, 5 mo. 24 days
21 years, 5 mo. 17 days
23 years, 2 mo. 20 days
23 years, 7 days
6 years, 13 day
21 years, 1 1 mo. 26 days
29 years, 9 mo. 18 days
21 years, 7 mo. 14 days
21 years, 2 mo. 10 days
20 years, 4 mo. 22 days
20 years, 5 mo. 3 days
News Clips
Time running out on U.S. era at canal
Americans adjust to Panamanian control under new system
By John Carroll
Special to The News
BALBOA, Panama The quiet, tree-lined streets of
Balboa show little evidence of the changes that have oc-
curred in the Panama Canal Zone during the past 30 mon-
With a YMCA and neat, sedate suburbs, Balboa is still
in many respects more American than Panamanian. But
time is slowly running out for the Americans who live in
Balboa and other towns in the Canal Zone.
The initial phase of the 20-year plan to transform the
canal from U.S. to Panamanian property was completed
March 31, and the weaning of Americans from control of
the canal has begun.
The U.S. district court that had administered U.S.
justice in the Canal Zone was closed recently, and the last
squad of the 78-year old U.S. police force was mustered
out of uniform.
Americans who work in the Canal Zone and are ac-
cused of crimes will be judged under Panamanian law and
protected by the Panamanian National guard.
Highly visible privileges that symbolized the U.S.
presence such as Canal Zone license plates and postage
stamps are only memorabilia now.
"It is the end of the government function of the United
States in Panama," said Fernando Manfredo Jr., the
Panamanian deputy administrator of the Panama Canal
Commission. "Panamanians resented the presence of two
governments in one country. It was the main cause of fric-
tion between the two countries."
The transition has been phased in during 21/2 years,
leaving little more than a ceremony to mark the end of the
first big step.
But even under the new system, Americans retain
some privileges. An American convicted of a crime will be
eligible for a prisoner exchange program between the
United States and Panama, and interpreters will be provid-
ed during any trial.
Although the most obvious signs of U.S. presence
have disappeared, Canal Zone residents still play a domi-
nant role in operating the canal.
The canal is run by the Panama Canal Commission,
which has a U.S. administrator and a 5-4 U.S. majority on
its board. Although Panamanians make up much more
than 70 percent of the skilled work force at the canal,
Americans fill most of the top positions.
But canal management will change as Panamanian
control spreads.
"Ports, railroads, harbors and docks are now under
the responsibility of the Panamanians, and Panama has
been able to operate it effectively," Manfredo said. "Some
of the town sites are under the complete jurisdiction of the
But many of the 1,600 U.S. workers and their
families do not share Manfredo's enthusiasm.
Most seem to be resigning themselves to the gradually
diminishing U.S. role, but some doubt the Panamanians'
ability to maintain high-quality service.
Other Americans are less critical of Panamanian
"I think on a long-term basis, the transition was plann-
ed very well," said a senior canal employee with more
than 20 years of experience. "There are a lot of isolated in-
cidents (of mismanagement), but the ships are going
through at a greater rate than before, and that's the pur-
pose of the canal."
Under the 1979 treaty, U.S. employees will be allow-
ed to keep their jobs until retirement or the final transition
of power in the year 2000.
But for young people without jobs, including the sons
and daughters of U.S. canal employees, the route to stay-
ing on in the zone is being blocked.
Manfredo said Panamanians are given preference in
hiring. Five out of six new jobs go to Panamanians, and
Menfredo said he expects attrition to eliminate almost all
remaining Americans before the year 2000.
The treaty "is fine for people like my father, who's
considering retirement, but what about me?" said a 22-
year-old Canal Zone resident who recently was turned
down for a canal job.
"For me, it's impossible," she said. "There is no future
here for Americans."
If you are planning a vacation that includes visits to
parks, monuments and recreation areas administered by
the federal government, why not get a Golden Age
Passport, a free life-time entrance permit?
You have to pick the passport up in person, showing
proof of your age at the time, but it is available at most
federally operated recreation areas where it may be used.
The Golden Age Passport provides a 50 percent dis-
count on federal use fees charged for facilities and services
such as camping, boat launching, parking, etc. It admits
the permit holder and any accompanying persons in a
single, private non-commercial vehicle.
Excerpts from
INSURANCE AND YOU: Hospital Bills Must Be Itemized
You have the right to know what you're paying for.
Hospitals provide complex services with thousands of
separate charges. In Florida, hospitals and nursing homes
are required to provide patients with bills that itemize all
Florida hospitals and nursing homes are required by
law to provide patients or their survivors or legal guardians
with itemized bills within seven days following discharge,
or seven days following the determination of charges,
which may be the case with long-term confinements.
You will be able to see each item of service and the
separate charges which make up your total bill. You then
will be in a better position to determine if, in fact, you ac-
tually received the items for which you are being billed.
The law also requires that your itemized bill contain
language understandable by the average person. Your bill
must also be identified by brand or generic name, not by
code number.
When therapy treatments are part of your bill, the
date, type and length of each treatment must be identified.
In short, you must be fully and accurately informed as
to each charge and service provided by the institution
preparing your bill.
If the bill which you receive is not itemized, ask the
hospital or nursing home to provide you one that is. You
have the right to contest any bill which you feel is incorrect.
And you have the right to have the information necessary
to make that decision.
The bottom line is that you have the right to know.
The Hospital Cost Containment Board, which is housed in
the Department of Insurance, can help you obtain an
itemized bill. Just dial 1-800-342-0828 and ask for help.
"The Senior Consumer"
June 1982
Panama City, Panama (AP) An estimated eight
million "killer bees" have been found in eastern Panama
since the first hive was found last fall, but they have yet to
cross the Panama Canal on their northward flight,
agricultural officials say.
A government agronomist, who asked not to be nam-
ed, said that at the current rate of expansion, "they would
arrive in the United States in the 21st. century".
One expert said that crossing with other species of
bees as they moved north from their start in Brazil and
Venezuela apparently was mellowing the aggressive in-
stincts of the bees from Africa.
Clearwater Sun
11 June 1982
Subscription Increase for 1983 (Dues)
See President's Message
JIM McCONAGHY, C.R.B. Owner
Two Offices to serve you
in the Clearwater, St. Petersburg Area.
5503 38th Avenue North, St. Petersburg, Florida
2468 State Rd. 580, Clearwater, Florida
Phone 347-3161
From the "SPILLWAY"
Canal organization recognizes
public service with twenty-one
Seventeen individuals and six organizations were
honored by the Panama Canal Commission at the 12th
Annual Panama Canal Honorary Public Service Awards
ceremony, held last week in the rotunda of the Ad-
ministration Building in Balboa Heights. This year 11
bronze, seven silver and three gold awards were
Chief Financial Officer Walter D. Bjorseth presented
the bronze awards to the following recipients: Lt. Col.
Ramoil Fernandez-Conte, USA, the Emergency Medical
Technicians (EMTs), Capt. Gilbert J. Hager, USAF,
Mr. Archie Hagy, the Howard Air Force Base/Albrook Air
Force Station Family Services Center, Col. David R.
Hughes, USAF, Mrs. Rose M. Rivera, Lt. Col. Kenneth L.
Seale, USAF, Dr. and Mrs. Ira Wiggins, Senior Master
Sgt. Frank E. Worsham, USAF, and the 24th Combat
Support Group Base Chapels at Howard Air Force Base
and Albrook Air Force Station.
Deputy Administrator Fernando Manfredo Jr.
presented the silver awards as follows:
Mr. and Mrs. Richard J. Gayer.
Mr. Scott Hudson
Lt. (jg.) Richard L. Koca.
the Panama Council Navy League.
Mrs. Jane Rascon
Col. Gilberto E. Varela, MC, USA.
Mr. Joseph J. Wood.
Administrator D.P. McAuliffe presented a gold award
to Mrs. Mary Ellen Bowerman for giving unselfishly of her
time and energy to the Gatun Residents' Advisory Com-
mittee as a member, committee chairman, treasurer and
vice president.
The Panama Canal Commission Police Division
received the award during closing-out ceremonies on
March 31, 1982, for its dedication since 1904 to maintain-
ing law and order and protecting life and property in the
Canal area in an exemplary manner.
The Panama Canal Society of Florida was
awarded the medal on April 17, 1982, in Tampa, Fla.,
during ceremonies commemorating its 50th anniversary.
The society has strived to preserve American ideals and
Canal Zone friendships since 1932 and has been a primary
force in fostering pride in accomplishment and
maintenance of lifelong friendships among those who
built, maintained, operated and defended the Panama
Canal. Its annual reunions provide present and former
Canal area employees with an opportunity to renew
friendships and re-establish ties with Isthmus, and its
publication. The Canal Record, keeps its membership in-
formed about people and events associated with the Canal
Travelers subject to U.S., R.P.
customs laws
Panama Canal Commission employees and
dependents are reminded that when returning to the
Isthmus they are subject to the customs laws and regula-
tions of the Republic of Panama. Panamanian customs
laws permit duty free entry on clothes and other personal
items brought in as accompanied baggage as long as the
total value of purchases does not exceed $500 per person
and does not exceed the quantity limitations listed below:
5 items of new clothing for men, women, or children
3 pairs of new shoes
3 bottles (fifths) liquor or equivalent in liters or half
gallons (importer must be 21 or older)
1 radio, portable tape recorder, or one portable
radio/tape recorder
1/4 liter of cologne or perfume or similar type toilet
5 records and 5 tape cassettes
6 toys
2 lamps
6 rolls of camera film and 6 rolls of movie camera film
1 pair of binoculars
Other new articles for personal use if the importation
is not restricted.
Automobile and air-conditioner parts, tools, etc., are
not considered personal items for the purpose of duty free
entry and you may be charged duty if you bring them into
the country as personal baggage.
Vessel tie-up station now under
construction in Cut
By Jennifer Jones
In order to increase overall Canal capacity and to
reduce average transit time, the Panama Canal Commis-
sion recently awarded a $3,943,090 contract for the con-
struction of a vessel tie-up station on the west bank of
Gaillard Cut north of Pedro Miguel Locks. The Panama-
nian firm Sosa y Barbero Constructores, S.A. is now hard
at work on the project, which is scheduled for completion
by next April.
According to Robert W. Adams, project manager, the
station will allow northbound vessels having special restric-
tions in Gaillard Cut due to their size to lock through Pedro
Miguel and tie up at the station awaiting due passenger of
similarly restricted southbound transiting ships.
During periods of heavy fog in the Cut, the station will
also provide vessels with a haven where they can wait for
visibility conditions to improve.
The tie-up station consists of a slot 1,200 feet long by
90 feet wide, cut from the Canal embankment, which will
accommodate either two 500-to 550-foot-long ships or
one large Panamax-type vessel. Specialized hooks will
secure the ships' hawsers to four small platforms in the
water, called breastingg dolphins," and to mooring stations
on the shore. A linehandlers' building will provide shelter
for the employees at the station.
Uprating project to boost electrical
output at Madden
With the recent dramatic escalations in the price of
fossil fuel, it is not surprising that the Panama Canal Com-
mission Power Branch generates as much power as possi-
ble through hydroelectric rather than thermal processes.
Also, when it became apparent that the three generators at
Madden Dam would have to be shut down for rewinding,
it was decided to use the opportunity to make some
changes that will increase each generator's electrical out-
"What we are essentially doing," reports Power
Branch Chief Rene Van Hoorde, "is repairing old units
having deteriorated windings and, at the same time,
uprating the units to generate more power."
The rewinding of the generators was recommended
in 1979 after inspection revealed that the windings were
beginning to show signs of deterioration.
Alaska crude Canal's largest single
By Oleta Tinnin
Alaska North Slope crude oil is the largest single trade
moving through the Panama Canal. Ships such as the
Overseas New York, the Cove Trader and the Arco
Prudhoe Bay have become common sights along the
Canal, as they move the oil through the waterway to
destinations on the U.S. East and Gulf coasts And Puerto
The Alaska North Slope crude oil trade accounted for
$29.5 million, or 15.8 percent, of the total $186.8 million
in tolls collected during the first seven months of fiscal year
1982. The average toll paid by tankers in that trade was
$31,860, and they carried 18.8 million long tons of crude
oil through the Canal, accounting for 17.4 percent of the
total 107.7 million tons of cargo that passed through the
waterway during the period.
The largest tanker used in the trade, in terms of
Panama Canal net tonnage, is the Overseas Ohio,
measuring 39,485 net tons and paying $65,939.95 at the
current laden toll rate. The record single voyage cargo ton-
nage was set on December 15, 1981, when the Arco
Texas transited carrying 65,299 long tons of Alaska North
Slope crude oil.
Although Alaskan oil shipments have shown yearly
increases since fiscal year 1980, the movement has
escalated substantially in recent months, with March
registering a record 3.5 million long tons, 182 transits and
$5.7 million in tolls revenue. It is expected that the move-
ment will continue to be strong until late this year when the
completion of a trans-Panama oil pipeline will shift the
Alaska North Slope oil trade away from the Canal,
resulting in a loss of some 1,500 transits and more than
$50 million annually beginning in fiscal year 1983.
Alaska North Slope Oil Traffic
FY 1977-1982 (7 months)
Year Transits Long Tons Tolls
1977 ...................... 23 431,798 $537,464
1978 ...................... 722 16,182,293 20,126,320
1979 ....................... 686 15,798,503 20,644,444
1980 ... ............... 995 22,114,943 36,371,446
1981 ..... ............. 1,444 24,576,854 40,407,760
1982 (7 months) ....... 927 18,778,489 29,533,875
Total........... 4,497 97,882,880 $147,621,309
Africanized bees here to stay
The African bee situation will be the subject of two
meetings to be sponsored next week by the Office of the
Ombudsman, at 7 p.m. on June 7 at the Gamboa Com-
munity Center and at 7:30 p.m. on June 9 at the Training
Center in Balboa. The public is invited to come and learn
about the bee's habits and activities, what to do when a
bee or bees' nest is spotted and how to handle bee stings
involving venom-sensitive people. According to Om-
budsman Georges Bouche', the bee is not just passing
through; it is here to stay, and we must learn how to deal
with it.
The meetings will feature Dr. Orley Taylor, an expert
on the African bee, in a 14-minute film followed by a slide
presentation and talks by representatives from local
organizations involved in the study and control of the bee.
Dr. David W. Roubik from the Smithsonian Tropical
Research Institute will discuss his experiences in studying
the bee in Venezuela and French Guiana and in following
its movements throughout South America. Dr. Ramon R.
Boyd of the Ministry of Health in Panama will define steps
being taken by Panama government agencies to handle
the bee situation, and Mr. Ernesto Cordovez will represent
the Commission's Grounds Management Branch in outlin-
ing the Commission's program for the bees' extermination
in its communities.
Transisthmian graduations
celebrated simultaneously
The Baccalaureate Exercises for Balboa High School
will be held in the school auditorium at 2:30 p.m. on Sun-
day, June 6.
The program will include an invocation by Major
Elizabeth Anderson of the Salvation Army, a speech by
Frederic Berest and musical selections by the Balboa High
School Choir.
Major Anderson will give the benediction and the
Baccalaureate Exercises will close with the Balboa High
School string orchestra, conducted by Edward Carwithen,
playing a recessional from "The Water Music."
The Baccalaureate Exercises for Cristobal High
School will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, 6, in the
school auditorium.
The Reverends Kenneth Bassett, Wayne L. Smith
and David Prout will take part in the ceremony, which will
include an invocation, an address, and a benediction.
There will also be a scripture reading by Juan Foster. The
Cristobal High School band, directed by John D. McLain,
will open the program with "Pomp and Circumstance" and
close it with Morrissey's "Royal Procession."
The 69th Annual Commencement Exercises at
Balboa High School will be held at 8 p.m., Thursday, June
10, at the Balboa Stadium. Of 318 seniors scheduled to
receive their diplomas, seventy are honor graduates.
Cristobal High School's 65th Annual Commence-
ment Exercises will take place at 8 p.m., Thursday, June
10, in the school auditorium. There will be 67 graduates,
including 20 honor graduates.
Former Canal governor dies
News has been received of the death of Maj. Gen.
John States Seybold, U.S. Army (Ret.), who served as
governor of the Canal Zone from June 1952 to June
1956. General Seybold died on April 19, 1982, in Wash-
ington, D.C., and he is survived by his wife, Mary. Con-
dolences may be addressed to her at 4201 Cathedral
Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20016.
General Seybold-
was inaugurated as
Canal Zone governor
less than a year after
the Panama Canal or-
ganization and the
Panama Railroad
merged into a single
operation called the
Panama Canal Com- A
pany. It was during his
administration that the
policies of the organiza-
tion were tested and
proved to be viable.
His term encompassed
such Canal milestones
as the completion of Former Canal Zone Governor
the Contractor's Hill
Canal widening project, the electrical conversion to
60-cycle current and a change from English to Spanish as
the basic language in Canal Zone Latin American Schools.
Gatun tug tie-up spot gets face lift
In a continuing effort to keep Canal facilities in top
condition, the Atlantic Maintenance Branch wharf-building
crew is busy renovating the face of the Gatun Landing tug
tie-up station.
Previously, the dock site included only one pile every
five feet, each one approximately level with the dock.
However, whereas Canal towboats once used the landing
only occasionally, the site is now a permanent tug tie-up
station. Because the Canal's newer tugs, like the Walker
and the Burgess, ride higher in the water and have hefty
overhanging rubber fenders, the old system of piling prov-
ed inadequate. The new design was developed in a joint
effort by towboat personnel and the Atlantic Maintenance
At a cost to the Marine 'Bureau of approximately
$85,000, which includes repairing the damaged hand rail-
ing and concrete curb along the edge of the dock, the pro-
ject is expected to be completed around the middle of
June. In the meantime, Atlantic-based towboats are dock-
ing alongside the completed portion as the work proceeds.
Administrator attends shipping
Panama Canal Commission Administrator D. P.
McAuliffe has been on an extended Commission-related
trip to Europe since May 26. During his absence, Deputy
Administrator Fernando Manfredo Jr. has been the Com-
mission's Acting Administrator and will continue to occupy
the position until Mr. McAuliffe's return to the Isthmus.
The trip began and will end in Washington, D.C., where
the Administrator will meet with Commission officials in
the Washington office. He will return to Panama on June
On June 1, Mr: McAuliffe conversed with the
American Consul in Hamburg, Germany, and from June
2 through 4, he met with shipping representatives in Lon-
don, England. He traveled to Athens, Greece, on June 6
to be on hand for "Posidonia-82", the International Shipp-
ing Exhibition and Convention being held there from June
7 through 12. On June 15, he left for Egypt, where he will
visit the Suez Canal before going to Rome, Italy, for a
discussion with the U.S. Ambassador.
An interesting aspect of the Administrator's visit to
"Posidonia-82" was the permier of "The Ounce of Preven-
tion," a film produced by the Commission's Graphic
Branch to illustrate the types of maintenance being done
on the Canal and the importance of this vital function to
the effective operation of the ocean-to ocean-waterway.
The very clear message is that maintenance matters.
Julio Cordovez assumes role as
branch chief
With his recent appointment as chief of the Engineer-
ing Division's Architectural Branch, Julio E. Cordovez will
be responsible for all architectural design and planning
within the Panama Canal Commission and for architec-
tural services rendered by the Commission to other agen-
cies in the Canal area.
A graduate of the University of California in Berkeley,
Mr. Cordovez grew up in Panama City where he attended
high school at Colegio La Salle. Returning to Panama after
receiving his Bachelor in Architecture degree in 1960, Mr.
Cordovez went to work for the Canal as a draftsman in the
Architectural Branch, working his way up through the
ranks to his appointment in March of this year to the chiefs
position. "This means he is now the Commission's chief
architect," Engineering and Construction Bureau Deputy
Director Melvin Bierman says, adding, "He oversees the
work of the other architects and offers his advice on
designs they are preparing."
Visitors to Panama should have
proper documentation
Panama Canal Commission employees who have
summer visitors entering the Republic of Panama with
tourist cards or tourist visas are reminded of the require-
ments for entry and departure.
Visitors staying 30 days or less are required to present
their tourist card or visa to Panamanian immigration
authorities upon entry and departure. Panamanian im-
migration laws require that in addition to a tourist card, a
visitor must have a document stating identity and citizen-
ship in his possession. Visitors should be advised to
safeguard the bottom "Salida" portion of the tourist card.
Visitors who stay more than 30 days must obtain an
extension before the initial 30 days have passed. Three
photographs and a xerox copy of the tourist card or visa
are required. The visitor may visit the Employee
Documentation Unit offices located in Building 5140,
Diablo and in Building 1105, Cristobal to obtain required
photographs and copies. The visitor should then go to
either of the Canal area Panama immigration offices,
located in Building 5051-X, Diablo or on Front Street be-
tween Eighth and Ninth Street, Colon to obtain the exten-
Departure with an extended tourist card or tourist visa
requires that the visitor obtain a paz y salvo (tax clearance).
This can be accomplished by the visitor presenting the ex-
tended tourist card or visa and a xerox copy of the card or
visa at the Direccion General de Ingresos located at the El
Dorado shopping center in Panama City or the paz y salvo
office located at Fourth Street and Bolivar Avenue in Col-
on. The paz y salvo is valid for a five-day period and there-
fore should not be obtained more than five days before ac-
tual departure.
After the paz y salvo has been issued the visitor
should take the extended tourist card or visa along with the
paz y salvo to either of the Canal area Panama immigra-
tion offices where a departure permit will be issued.
Cardenas phones to switch over
to PCC
On June 29, 1982, telephone subscribers in the
townsite of Cardenas will become the customers of the
Panama Canal Commission.
Starting at approximately 12:00 noon, Cardenas
telephone subscribers will have about a two-minute inter-
ruption in service as each individual line is being transfer-
red from the Army system to the Commission system.
After the change has been made, the Commission
will handle all requests for telephone service including
repair calls. No changes of present telephone equipment
will be accepted at this time. The Telephone Section will
announce in the Spillway and Southern Command News
when requests for changes will be accepted. This will in-
clude requests for push button (Touch Tone) dialing,
relocation of equipment and other telephone related ser-
Engineers meet June 30: New bridge
is topic
The Simo'n Bolivar Bridge that will span the Canal at
Miraflores will be the subject of guest speaker Michael S.
Parsons at a dinner meeting of the Panama Canal Society
of Professional Engineers at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday,
June 30, at the Fort Amador Officers' Club. Mr. Parsons,
from the consulting firm of Freeman, Fox, and Partners
Consulting Engineers, London, England, is in charge of
the design of the bridge. He will talk about construction
and design of suspension bridges and will show a film on
the construction of the Bosporus bridge in Istanbul,
Canal area to observe festive Fourth
of July
This year's Canal area celebration of the signing of the
United States Declaration of Independence 206 years ago,
begins with a "Firecracker 5000" run sponsored by the
193d Morale Support Activities on Saturday, July 3.
Registration for the 5000 meter race will take place right up
to the firing of the starter's gun, set for 5 p.m. in front of
Building 95, Fort Clayton. Awards for first place finishers
will be given in several categories.
The Pacific-side parade will start at 9 a.m. on Sun-
day, July 4, with the reviewing stand in front of Building
95, Fort Clayton. Lt. Gen. Wallace H. Nutting, Comman-
der-in-chief, U.S. Southern Command, will be the Parade
Grand Marshall, while Col. Manuel Antonio Noriega,
Deupty Chief of Staff/G-2, Panama National Guard, will
be the Honorary Parade Marshall.
The Atlantic-side parade begins at noon on Sunday, July
4, with the reviewing stand in front of the Fort Gulick Post
Office. Col. Neal R. Christensen, Deputy Brigade Com-
mander (Support), 193d Infantry Brigade, will be the
Parade Marshal.
Other top officials taking part in the annual Fourth of
July holiday observances on both sides of the Isthmus will
include Ambassador Ambler H. Moss Jr., U.S. Am-
bassador to Panama; D. P. McAuliffe, Panama Canal
Commission Administrator; Fernando Manfredo Jr.,
Deupty Administrator; Maj. Gen. William E. Masterson,
USAF, Deputy Commander-in-Chief, USSOUTHCOM;
Brig. Gen. Fred F. Woerner Jr., USA, Commander, 193d
Infantry Brigade; and Capt. John D. Thurber, USN, Com-
mander, U.S. Naval Station, Panama.
Fifty-gun salutes will follow each parade, with each
state being recognized in its order of admission to the
union. State flags will be carried on both the Atlantic and
Pacific side by native sons and daughters of the individual
Following the patriotic observances there will be fun
and food for all at both Fort Gulick's Parade Field and at
various areas near Jarman Field, Reeder Gym and the
Building 95 Quadrangle in Fort Clayton.
Tournament gives local anglers
crack at world records
By Jennifer Jones
Few people can browse through a publication like the
Guinnes Book of World Records without secretly dream-
ing of being recognized for setting a world record. Right
now in Panama, anyone with access to a rod and reel has
a rare opportunity to see this dream realized through an In-
ternational Game Fishing Association (IGFA) tournament.
Because IGFA tournament rules have recently been
modified to allow the use of a greater variety of test lines,
many fish caught will be world records until bigger fish are
caught on the same type of line, explains Hiran Garcia 0.,
Panama Yacht Club fishing commission president.
Jorge Carrasco, another commission member, points out
that this will be the first tournament in the world using the
new IGFA rules and, therefore, local anglers are getting
the first crack at setting the new records.
Panama bids Ambassador Moss
Ambler Holmes Moss Jr., U.S. Ambassador to
Panama since September 1978, will be leaving the
Isthmus on July 15, 1982, to return to private law practice.
He and his family will reside in Miami, Florida.
During his career as a diplomat, Mr. Moss participated in
many phases of the recent Panama Canal treaties. He was
a member of the United States negotiating team; as Depu-
ty Assistant Secretary of State he served as the State
Department coordinator for ratification; and as Am-
bassador to Panama, he has been involved in treaty im-
Mr. Moss was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on
September 1, 1937. He graduated from Yale University in
1960 with a bachelor of arts degree in politics and
economics and earned his law degree at George Washing-
ton University in 1970.
News for "Canal Record"
The "Canal Record," a publication of The Panama
Canal Society of Florida, Inc., is seeking news on Canal
area births, deaths, weddings, graduations, vacations, par-
ties, or other related events for use in the publication.
Anyone with information on these or other subjects of
interest should write to the area Reporter, Ann Wood
Suescum, Box 387, Albrook AFS, Republic of Panama
(APO Miami 34002) or call her at 52-3963.
Wet July night welcomes new
"Raining cats and dogs" is a phrase often used to
describe a heavy downpour. However, on the night of
July 3, it was also raining "mules," as three new towing
locomotives were swung by a heavy-lift boom from the
MS Stellaprima to the east wingwall of Gatun Locks.
The delivery completes the Commission's recent pur-
chase of 10 locomotives, 4 having arrived in December
1981 and 3 in March 1982. Bringing to 75 the total
number of "mules" manufactured since 1962 for the
Panama Canal by the Mitsubishi Corp., the latest arrivals
will join the unique force of locomotives used to guide
ships through the locks.
"Amistad" joins tugboat fleet with
christening ceremony
With the crack of a bottle and the spray of cham-
pagne, Kathleen McAuliffe, wife of Panama Canal Com-
mission Administrator D. P. McAuliffe, christened the
Amistad, the newest addition to the Canal's towboat fleet
in Gamboa last Wednesday.
The Amistad is the third of three tugs designed and
built for the Commission by Bollinger Machine Shop and
Shipyard Inc. of Lockport, La., and over 30 represen-
tatives and guests of the company traveled to the Isthmus
to attend the acceptance and christening ceremony last
After a few lighthearted opening remarks by Marc
Stanley, Bollinger's Vice President for New Construction,
Fred A. Cotton, General Services Director for the Com-
mission, and Donald "Boysie" Bollinger, Executive Vice
President, signed the acceptance documents for the tug. In
exchange for the "key" to the new boat, Mr. Cotton hand-
ed Mr. Bollinger a final payment check.
Mr. Cotton praised the Bollinger company for their
contract performance, noting that all three tugs had been
delivered ahead of schedule, the Amistad being 11 weeks
early. He also commented on the excellent condition in
which all three tugs had been delivered, saying that all
three were accepted without exception in meeting contract
specifications. Considering that it sometimes takes about 2
weeks of servicing a new tug before it is ready to begin
work on the Canal, it is a real bonus to receive boats that
are "ready to go" immediately upon arrival.
riunou uy Luii v joU e
The "Amistad" sprays forth a playful fountain of water
from her fire monitor after joining the Panama Canal
towboat fleet.
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Your Reporter Says. ....
The following officers for the Panama Canal Society
of Dothan were installed at our annual dinner held June
11th at the Holiday Inn Hugh (Bud) Thomas,
President; Ellen Shrier, Vice President and Catherine
(Whelan) Filo, Secretary-Treasurer. The officers were
installed by Mrs. Muriel (Moore) McGriff. A short
business meeting followed the dinner. Mrs. Dot Yost,
past president, was presented with a gift.
Ivan and Nina Jenkins of Deltona, Florida were
visitors to Dothan and houseguests of Elsie and Woody
Woodruff on May 19th through the 21st. This was the
first leg of their month long vacation trip to northern
Alabama, Missouri and California.
Daniel R. Basham has successfully qualified as a
marine engineer by graduating from the Calhoon MEBA
Engineering School in Baltimore, Maryland and passing
the U.S. Coast Guard licensing exam. Danny who lives at
803 Selkirk Drive in Dothan has completed a three year
post high school course of academic study and sea duty
which has prepared him for a career as an engineering
officer in the United States Merchant Marine. His job is one
of responsibility and leadership as well as demanding the
application of knowledge and practical experience. Daniel
is the son of Mrs. Martha Bradford of Dothan. He was
born and raised in the Canal Zone. He went to school
there and also attended the Canal Zone College. He is
now working with State Boat Corporation in Morgan City,
Martha Bradford and Fern Fugleberg drove to
Columbus, Ohio where Marty visited with relatives and
Fern drove around the country. We will miss Ken and Fern
as they will be leaving Dothan to reside in Florida where
Ken has accepted a job with the Space Program.
A tea welcoming Fran Hern from the Canal Zone
and Louise Spradlin from Escondido, California, who
are visiting in Dothan for the summer, was held at the
home of Muriel (Moore) McGriff. Co-hostess was
Margaret (Moore) Hem. Coffee, tea, punch and party
foods were served to approximately 50 women from the
Panama Canal community who now reside in Dothan.
Fran Hem with husband Jack and children, Johnnie and
Mitch, are visiting their respective parents in Dothan .
Dot Yost and Bud Yost and Margaret and John Hem. Lou
Spradlin is visiting Dot Yost. The table was overlaid with
an Army and Navy cloth and fresh garden flowers.
Catherine Filo presided over the coffee and tea service
and Maggie Janssen over the punch bowl. Everyone
enjoyed visiting. It reminded me of walking into the lobby
of the Holiday Inn in Tampa for the reunion. We had a
marvelous time.
The following were visitors in Dothan during the
summer Tom and Lorraine (Urey) Dugan and
children, Brian and Trish, visited with Lorraine's parents,
Mary and John Urey. John Mallia and his mother Mary
Mallia from the Canal Zone were guests of Earl and
Mary (Mallia) Mullins. While they were here in Dothan,
Mrs. Mallia's son, Louis Mallia and his wife also visited
on their way to their new home in Dallas, Texas after
Louis's retirement from the Army. Mrs. Ruth Strauss of
Burbank, California was a visitor in Dothan. She came to
see her daughter, Mary Hollowell and family. This was
the first time in nine years that Ruth saw all three of the
Hollowell grandchildren, Freeland Jr., David and
Laurie. Also visiting were Charles and John Fears who
came to see their brother, George and sister-in-law Jean.
Charles is now residing in Blairsville, Georgia. He is a
retired Canal Zone police captain. John lives in
Waterbury, Connecticut.
Sandy Hinkle and family stopped by for a week end
and stayed with Margaret and Jack Hern while the
Hern's family were here. Beverly Kinsey had as her
guests Bill Monzon from Panama, Bill's daughter Irene
Barnes and husband Grover and his son-in-law Ed
Rindfusz also from the Canal Zone. Beverly has been
named treasurer of the Diabetic Association of Houston
County (Dothan). Anyone wishing any information on
diabetes, please call Beverly.
Mrs. Gladys Sullivan visited with her son, Bill,
Helen and grandchildren. She lives in Ft. Lauderdale. Bill
and Helen Sullivan were in Panama in June for the
graduation of their son, Billy, from Balboa High School.
Billy returned to Dothan with them. They now have
Simon Blanks from Panama visiting them and to
participate in the Future Masters and Olympia Spa Golf
tournament. Simon graduated from Balboa High with
Billy. Also here for the golf tournaments are Bill
Nickisher and his son.
Our condolences are extended to John and Maxine
(Baggott) Martin and Henrietta Baggott of Ozark,
Alabama on the death of John and Maxine's son, Steve
and Henrietta's grandson. He died as the results of injuries
suffered in a motorcycle accident.
Our prayers for a complete recovery go to the
following members of our society who are hospitalized ...
Cecil Kovel and Luella High who are in Dothan
hospitals and to Bob Lawyer who underwent heart
surgery in Birmingham, Alabama. We hear Bob is doing
very well.
We welcome the following new family to Dothan ...
Babe and Bill Kessler and sons. Bill just retired as the
last Chief of Police in the Canal Zone. We are happy to
have you here. Babe is the former Marguerite Flynn,
born and raised in the Zone.
On May 11th, Alice Clark and Arlene Abbott
drove to Lawrence, Kansas by way of Parthenon,
Arkansas where they spent the night with Grace (High)
and Russell Lawrence. Alice went to the graduation of
her son Timothy Clark from the University of Arkansas.
Lawrence is now in Tallahassee.
Arlene Abbott went to Minomenee Falls, Wisconsin
to attend the 40th reunion of her graduation class.
Alice Clark attended the world's fair in Knoxville from
June 27th to July 6th. She went with the local chapter of
the AARP. Then from July 9th to the 10th, she drove with
Arlene Abbott and Kay Daniels to Callaway Gardens in
Georgia and to Warm Springs, Georgia. When are you
ever going to stay home, Alice?
Catherine Filo
Jessie Newhard and Virginia Favorite drove to
Baltimore and Washington, DC in May. Jessie visited her
sister in Washington, then flew to South Carolina to see
her son Brian and family and back to Washington.
Virginia arrived in Baltimore in time to help with
preparations for her granddaughter Wynne's wedding on
May 29th On their way home, Virginia and Jessie visited
another of Jessie's sisters in Ohio, then travelled to
Gallatin, Tennessee where they visited with Hope
Hirons, daughter Skeeter and her sons. They arrived
back in Bentonville, Ark. in time to celebrate the 4th of
July with ex-Zonians Sanders, Newhards, and Terrell,
picnic style.
Bud and Betty Balcer drove to South Dakota in
July to see brother Charles Balcer and wife, and
stopped at McGregor, Iowa on the return for a visit with
Bud's mother, Edna Balcer.
Nobby and Peggy (Magee) Keller have enjoyed a
couple visits from Nobby's sister and brother-in-law,
Laurena and Bill Powell, who live in Washington, DC,
and try out their new cars on a little more than round-the-
block cruises.
Bob Engelke says he has the smallest, weediest
garden in Bentonville. When the weather is good enough
to garden, it's also good enough to golf and guess
which gets precedence.
Visiting Howard and Evelyn Engelke from Panama
during the month of June were their son and daughter-in-
law, Louis and Wilma, and children (4-year-old
daughter Willie, and 4-month-old son Louis, Jr.) They
were joined for a few days by Ev's sister, Frances
(Dwyer) Abraham and her son John Elmendorf from
Princeton, Illinois.
Jack and Joan Corliss were still blissfully
recollecting their trip to the Panama Canal Reunion in
April. Quote; "One of the nicest ever!" Visitors to the
Corliss abode this year so far were Jimmy and
Diane Bradley and their daughter Eileen, age 11, on
vacation from Panama. They all went to Kansas City to
see the Royals play. Another exception to the family
routine Joan landscaped the front of their home, and
with groans, says it took more muscle than talent. (I can't
resist this Groany Joany?)
Cathy Engelke Crowell was in Florida for a couple
weeks, visiting her brothers, Bobby and Tommy
Engelke, sister Sue Engelke, and, far from incidentally,
fiance Chris Skeie. Grandmother (all grandmothers
should look so good!) Mary Lou Engelke babysat Cathy's
three beautiful daughters meanwhile.
Another Engelke garden gone to weeds? George
and Edith Engelke's dratted summer colds have not only
kept them out of the garden. They haven't been able to
visit their very young great-granddaughter in Siloam
Springs, Ark., for several weeks.
Maud and Lynn Cook have been extra busy in
house and yard, getting everything ship-shape for the
arrival and extended stay of son Bud and his wife
Caroline from Saudi Arabia. Bud is retiring and they will
stay in Rogers, Ark., with his folks for an indefinite period
while a permanent retirement home is decided upon.
Addie Colclasure's grandsons, Danny and
Freddy, traveled to Hawaii this summer to spend time
George and Edith Engelke, Bentonville, Ark.
with their mother and sister. Addie and family all attended
a big family reunion in Oklahoma in May, then Addie
visited her sisters and brothers in Kansas and Colorado in
Marion Colclasure completed a Special Topics for
Teachers course at the University of Arkansas this
summer. She is completing the requirements for teaching
at the high school level.
David Colclasure's expertise was recognized by his
being voted to be Employee of the Month at Boeing
Aircraft Company in Wichita, Kansas. With the
competition including thousands of employees, it is a
singular honor to be chosen for this recognition.
Dorothy and Bruce Sanders were happy to have
Bruce III and Sandy from the Panama Canal Area for an
all-too-short ten-day visit in May. In June, they enjoyed a
spur of the moment, two week trip to Michigan where an
enjoyable visit was had with family and friends. They
returned home in time for a quiet 4th of July. The Las
Cruces II is back in service and preparations are under way
at the Sanders Hacienda for summer boating and fishing
on Beaver Lake.
In April, on the way home from the CZ 50th
Reunion, Frances Whitlock and Minnie Burton flew
into Brandon, Alabama where they met Mike Burton,
Sr., who had stayed with son Mike, Jr., wife Caroline,
and daughters, Tracy Jean and Michele Lee.
In May, Mattielee White was house guest in the
home of her sister, Minnie Burton. Mattilee's
daughter, Jean Ann McGuinn son-in-law Charles
McGuinn, and daughter Carrie visited there at the same
In June, Petie and Carl Maedl enjoyed a visit from
their daughter and son-in-law, Pam and Vince
Gutowski and three grandchildren from Pittsburg, PA.
Vincent has accepted a teaching position at the University
of East Illinois. They will move to Charleston, IL in
January. In August, the Maedls will go to Minneapolis to
visit the other branch of their family, Pat and Jim Krough
and their three children. They will also attend a 50th
anniversary of a fraternity Carl helped to organize at
Moorhead State College in 1932.
Bill and Chi McCue had Cliff and Louise Rhodes
from Ocee, FL to visit for a couple of nights in May. They
met Gene and Elvira Breakfield in Oklahoma when
Gene and Elvira Breakfleld of Stockton, Calif.
they crossed paths going in opposite directions. The
McCues tried the two new golf courses at Bella Vista, Ark.
(Notice they didn't mention final scores!)
Rojo and Kathleen Huffman bought a new 75 h.p.
Johnson for MS Kathleen and still have not caught too
many fish. Still trying. Expanded the garden by 150 sq. ft.
and still don't have enough ground for gardening. Enjoyed
the reunion in Florida and meeting with a lot of people
with whom they worked. Son Will and wife Kathy are
expecting an addition to their family in January 83.
John (Tommy) Thompson and wife Gena are now
ranching in Arkansas. Son Steven is married and he and
his wife are back in Panama. Steven is a tugboat captain
on the Canal. Stuart is a tugboat pilot out of New Orleans
and part-time rancher in Arkansas. Daughter Elena spent
her junior year at college in Fayetteville (Univ. of
Arkansas) and is now in basic training in the Air Force.
Daughter Bonnie has been in the Navy a year and is an
ET3 (Electronics Tech.) and plans on attending language
school. It's her hope to be stationed in Panama.
Charlie and Gloria Malsbury flew to the west coast
in May for two weeks. They visited Charles sister,
Carmen, in Sacramento, and former Springdale
residents, Mr. & Mrs. Ed Rossi, in Stockton. They
thoroughly enjoyed the week they spent in San Fancisco
- with no rain as opposed to the very rainy and stormy
spring weather back home.
Karl and Fern Glass brought their handsome
grandson, Mike Mika, and his lovely wife to the NW
Arkansas Zonians' picnic in June. The Glasses were
looking forward to a visit from daughter and family, Sylvia
and Mack Landrum coming up from Panama to give
them the latest news of that area.
The Robert L. Hummers came from Belleville,
Ark. to the picnic. They report that their farm is doing well
with six head of cattle, 20 turkeys, 30 chickens, 3 geese, 4
pigs, and one cat. "All welcome to stop by." Their oldest
son, Robert, Jr., entered the Army on July 23rd. Second
son, Roy, was due for a cataract operation in September.
Harry and Lee Butz are still enjoying northwest
Arkansas, are currently busy with their gardens, trying to
keep one step ahead of the rabbits, squirrels and birds.
Pete Butz and family are progressing on their new area in
Oklahoma, working hard to improve their place,planting
vegetables, fruit trees and roses. Esther Butz is still in
Tulsa, taking flying lessons, and has successfully soloed.
Ralph and Marie Shuey have stayed home pretty
much this summer, but are getting ready to go to Germany
in the fall.
Raymond Shuey was hospitalized for about a week
following a fall from a ladder which resulted in several
broken ribs. Daughter Edith Lovell came from Florida for
a week to help her mother take care of her dad and routine
In mid May, Carl and Helen Newhard went to
Falmouth, Maine to visit Helen's cousin, Helen Naylor,
whose brother, Bill Naylor retired from the Zone to
California quite a few years ago. Bill's wife, Grace
Summeral Naylor survives him and is living with her son
in California. Back to the Newhards in Maine two and a
half weeks were spent enjoyably watching all the flowers of
spring coming out and eating sea food. After Memorial
Day, the Newhards went to Tiffin, Ohio to visit son Sam,
his wife Ann, and three daughters. While still in Maine,
they were notified of the death of Carl's mother, Mrs. C.
D. (Edith) Eppley, who passed away on May 24th at
Carl's sister's home in Sarasota.
Red and Alice Nail were visited for a few days in
July by Jerry and Pat Detamore. The Detamores were
homeward bound from a long, leisurely trip from their
home in Atlanta to the west coast. Traveling in their
Camper Special pickup and pulling their 32 foot fifth-
wheeler, they took a round-about route through southern
states on the way out, northern areas on the way back,
seeing everything of interest all the way, and taking movies
of it all. Red Nail has let his beard grow for (as of this
writing) about a month and it's beautiful white with red
Audra Dougan keeps busy, working at the Spring-
dale Hospital Gift Shop, taking care of her yard, and
visiting her children in Ames, Iowa.
Pat (Bain) DeVore is still keeping up with her
dancing activities. She is planning to attend a professional
dancing convention in Las Vegas, Nevada where she will
learn new steps. Her husband, Jack, is teaching off
campus during the summer, while their 16-year-old
daughter Tita spends five weeks with her grandmothers
Bain and DeVore in St. Petersburg, Florida.
The Earl Wrenns took a trip to Florida, picking up
Lottie Tinnin in Shreveport, Louisiana on the way. They
visited Fronie Fender at Bradenton, near Sarasota and
stayed with the Roths. Earl also attended a Shrine
convention in Orlando. Home again, they were delighted
to have Joe and Carol Coffin from York, Pennsylvania
visit them. Highlight of their news, was that their 7-year-
old granddaughter, Christina Wrenn, entered a contest
unbeknownst to her father. Yes! she won a suit, shirt and
tie for him! Congratulations!!
Boots Smithson has had the Brakefields, who
live in Stockton, California drop in on her and the Bill
McCues of Bentonville, Ark. in May. Otherwise, all is
Dick and Mary Condon are looking forward to an
exciting reunion with Mary's family in northern Michigan
for a week in August. The Joe Coffins also visited them
during their stay in this area.
The Joe Conklins are "still around". Glen keeps
busy with her vegetable garden and bridge, while Joe
absorbs the news and helps neighbors in time of need, a
blessing for sure!
Ed and Mildred Higgins had a mini-reunion with
her brother, Henry Makibbin and family at the annual
Blanche Shaw Picnic on Fathers' Day a gay time as
usual, she remarked. Ed and Mildred also attended her
50th Balboa High School reunion in Miami, picking up her
long-time friend, Hayden Hearne in Birmingham on the
way. Mildred found that years have a way of changing
people so that recognition was difficult (don't we all know
that!) except for definite characteristics, like dimples! Such
as ones were Billy Michaelson, Aggie Tonneson, and
Mary Bradley! Mildred keeps in trim with a refreshing
swim in their 18 foot tank pool, filled with spring water.
Let's go! She also keeps her hand in writing non-fiction
articles and poetry while Ed takes care of their garden and
is an active Mason.
Capt. Fred and Mary Jane Weade were visitors-at-
large in the Rogers, Arkansas area in late June, driving
from their home in Denver. During their brief stay, they
visited with Red and Alice Nail, Sam and Edith
Bircher, and Betty McGilberry.
Ron & Alice Jacobs, Panama and Mary & Dick
Duane and Edna Rigby and sons, Garrett and
Dwight, of Los Rios, Panama.
The annual Blanche Shaw Picnic, held in June at
Agri Park, Fayetteville, was just great! Congratulations to
Dick and Mary Condon for their excellent organization,
buffet table setting, conducting of the meeting, etc., etc.
They may even have had something to do with the perfect
weather! Ron Jacobs and Duane Rigby, visiting from
Stewart Thompson, West Fork, Ark. with "Zapata",
brought up from Panama. (Photos by Carl Maedl).
Panama, held the group's attention long past the usual
hour of departure with their comments and answers to
innumerable questions concerning current "Zone" living
conditions. Another attention-getter was a fellow named
Zapata, a native of Panama who was brought to the
picnic by Stuart Thompson. Zapata, a beautiful macaw,
added his comments occasionally in a typical raucous
tone. Carl Maedl was the official photographer for the
picnic, and managed to get some goodies despite the
shadiness of the area.
Alice Nail
The Panama Canal Society of Southern California
Well, we are planning quite busily for our West Coast
San Diego Reunion on September 10-11-12, 1982, and
although we are still in the growing stages and not quite the
Florida Reunion, our spirit is terrific! We're all looking
forward to seeing friends and dancing to that Panama beat!
If you haven't yet made a reservation and would like to
attend, please call Sheila Gilbert Bolke at
714-485-8246 or write 12707 Gibraltar Drive, San
Diego, CA 92128. There is always room for one or
two or three or more!
This letter was received from one of our members:
"In April, I visited with Mrs. Ralph Davis, (Lucille
Journey) for a week in Poulsbo, Washington. While
there, we attended two family dinners: one at Cele's
daughter's home, Kay (Davis) Pyeatt and the other at
Harriet and Bud Journey's home on the Hood Canal.
Other guests included Mrs. Ewing Journey, Sr., (Jane)
Mrs. Laura Johnson (Harriet's mother), Mr. Hayes
Journey formerly of Chula Vista, Calif; Kay's son, Brian
Pyeatt and Kay's fiance', Roger Schofield.
Cele and I also drove down to visit Al and Peggy
Rankin at their beautiful home in Tacoma, Wash. We had
been neighbors on Incubator Row in New Cristobal in the
1940's. (There were 56 kids on our block on Monte Lirio
Street the Perkins, Petersons, Browns, Allgalers,
Another day, we took the Ferry to Seattle and visited
Pike's family Market and the Seattle Art Museum to see
the "Art of Chivalry" on loan from the Met in New York.
Also made trips to Port Townsend and Port Gamble and
on leaving, I met Mrs. James Sullivan (Molly Journey)
at the airport to get to see her new son, Sean Thomas
Sullivan, born October 27th, one day after my own
After living the best part of the past twenty years
overseas in various countries, Mr. and Mrs. Louis
Pitney (Susan Taylor) will return from Tokyo, Japan to
the U.S. to make their home in California where Mr.
Pitney will go into business. Oldest son, Clarke, enters
Northeast Lousiana University in Monroe this September.
Several weeks ago, Sue was delighted to have a visit from
Gladys (Miller) Meade and Ann (Batchelder)
Richardson. Gladys was visiting the Richardsons who
are stationed in Yakosuka. They attended the big summer
festival at Asakusa and also went to the Kabuki theatre."
Catsy Taylor Schafer
San Diego, Calif.
Every year in August, the City of San Diego observes
a week-long festival called America's Finest City
Celebration. A key element is the annual "World's
Greatest Home States Picnic" which took place this place
this year on August 14th. At this picnic, all 50 states (and
associated areas) host tables from which they distribute
tourism materials, samples of state products, costumes,
music, cultural and local traditional items. This year, the
Panama Canal Zone was represented with a display by
David and Thelma Hollowell of San Diego, California.
David and Thelma put together a terrific display so local
Zonians had a "home state" display to crow about! It was
fun to see ourselves represented. very well too!
Bouquets to David and Thelma!
Malcolm Wheeler, a Kansas University professor of
law, has been chosen to help lead a U.S. Senate Abscam
Committee probe of alleged abuses of power by FBI
agents investigating members of Congress.
In 1980, Wheeler assisted successfully in defending
the Ford Motor Co., in the nationally prominent "Pinto"
case. Before returning to Kansas University law school, he
worked for a Los angeles law firm where he helped defend
Howard Hughes in a suit filed against him.
Wheeler received his undergraduate degree from
Massachusetts Institute of Technology and received his law
degree from Stanford University.
He graduated with honors from Balboa High School
in 1962 and is the son of Malcolm and Faye Wheeler of
Rancho Berbardo, California.
Sheila Gilbert Bolke
It all started in a super market in Wheat Ridge,
Colorado. Jane Dickson Cox was selecting some
tropical fruit when a young woman questioned her about
her selections. Jane answered and casually mentioned
something about how good the fruit was "back home".
The unknown young lady inquired "Where's back home"?
"Oh, Panama Canal Zone", Jane replied. The girl, then
insisted that Jane call her aunt and gave Jane a name.
Jane thought about it and decided, why not! The aunt
turned out to be Chickie Hobbs Satriano and that
started the "Did you know so and so is in this area"? Jane
remembered that her sister, yours truly, was receiving the
Canal Record from Dorothy and Andrian Webb of
Bristol, Maine. I remembered that my brother, Dabby had
mentioned that he knew of a few folks in the Rocky
Mountain area. Within 10 days and several phone calls,
the following list of Canal Zone alumni and spouses had
gathered at one of the Ramada Inn for dinner, March
27th. Twenty-six people out of a possible fifty-plus for a
spontaneous mini-reunion. It was incredible! I, personally,
want to thank Dorothy and Adrian Webb for sending me
the "Record" and Coach Leisy for his article about the
Pedro Miguel "Red, White and Blue Troup" members, for
these things rekindled a lot of interest. The results of the
mini-reunion were great, and a pot luck picnic is planned
for August 15th at Carl Morse Park in Lakewood, CO.
The welcome mat is out to all.
Those attending the March 27th Dinner were:
B '29 Mary Eleanor Latermann Becker
B '69 Tom Bircher
Laurie Bircher
B '39 Susan Ewing Bishop
Ed Bishop
B '37 Jane Dickson Cox
Dan Cox
B '52 Dave "Dabby" Dickson
B' 45 Donna Dickson Hudson
B '40 Dorothy Kalar Kennedy
Roy Kennedy
B '47 Bertha Jane Becker Law
Milton Law
B '38 Norma Evans Livingston
Al Livingston
B '52 Helen Edwards Magen
Ray Magan
Dan Meehan
Vallorie Meehan
B '68 Cathy McIntire Richey
Jim Richey
Lakewood, CO
Denver, CO
Colo. Springs, CO
Wheat Ridge, CO
Lakewood, CO
Golden, CO
Engelwood, CO
Lakewood, CO
Greeley, CO
Pueblo, CO
Golden, CO
Lakewood, CO
B '46 Helen "Chickie" Hobbs Satriano Denver, CO
B '49 Bette Farell Swearingen
B '47 Dick "Buckeye" Swearingen Ft. Collins, CO
B '43 Mary Jane Ugarte Weade
Captain Fred Weade (C.Z. Pilot) Littleton, CO
Donna Dickson Hudson
Reporter Pro-Tem.
Delinquent Dues starts 1 Feb. 1983
The Brown Baggers are working at top speed these
days to provide all sorts of surprises for the PCSOFL
August 6th. Annual Luncheon at the Sheraton Sand Key
Resort. Those involved want this to be a gala affair. With
Sara Rowley and Vera Jones as co-chairpersons,
others on the committee include Chaplain Dorothy Yo-
cum; Dorothy Pate, Mildred Hickey, Chris Felps,
Mary Egolf, Edith Cotton, Izzy Gibson, June May,
Barbara O'Connor, Grace Williams, Louise Pustis,
Allena Kelly, and Murial Whitman.
The Sam Rowley's have had their families from the
"Zone" during July and August. The Sam (Skip)
Rowley's with their children visited them and also Bever-
ly's parents; even took a side trip to Long Island visiting
more relatives.
Their daughter, Dorothy Gerhart and Jim with
their children visited for a few days after traveling coast-
to-coast which included a World's Fair stint. Now that
they have all left for home in the "Zone", the Rowley
Sr's, are planning on a trip to the Canyon lands with
AAA in August after the Annual Luncheon is over,
which is taking a lot of Sara's time.
Easter brought more than bunnies and dyed eggs to
the home of Walter and Marj McBride in Seminole this
year. Daughter Laurie and her Air Force Lieutenant hus-
band David Hazelip, with their three children, Kimber-
ly 9, Karin 7, and Jamie 21/2, arrived for a month's stay
prior to leaving for their new assignment on Okinawa.
The Hazelips left for Okinawa in May and on arrival
called the Randy Gangles. Randy is the son of Rudy
and Marie Gangle, formerly of Balboa, and is a Lieu-
tenant Colonel in the Marine Corps. He and his lovely
wife Dianne had been stationed in Okinawa and were
getting ready to leave in June for their next (hardship) as-
signment three years in Hawaii.
While visiting the Gangles in their home, Laurie and
Dianne were so busy reminiscing about the Zone that they
misplaced Jamie for a harrowing 45 minutes during which
time the whole base was alerted. Jamie turned up visiting
the Marine General's quarters. To quote Laurie, "How
embarrassing Brings back many "fond" memories to Marj
of trying to keep track of Jamie's wandering mama when
she was two in Gatun.
Mac and Marj are happily making plans to spend
Christmas of '83 in Okinawa if all goes well.
Sara Rowley
Jim and Virginia (Preston) Wood of Seminole
have had a houseful of guests this summer. "Tonito"
Suescum, son of Dr. Antonio and Ann (Wood)
Suescum of Panama spent the summer with his grand-
parents. Preston (Rogan) Warne, daughter of Ruth
(Preston) White and her daughter, Amy from Bethes-
da, Md. visited for a week. Ellen (Rogan) Cimicata,
also daughter of Ruth (Preston) White from Cookville,
Tenn. and her daughter, Jill also visited for a week.
Virginia Ann Suescum, on her way to Mt. Ida College
in Boston and Guillermo Suescum on his way to
Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey also
visited with their grandparents.
Betty Quintero had her sister, Mrs. Martha (Irvin)
Tanner as a recent guest, along with Martha's son, Ed-
die; her cousin Mrs. Marilyn (Bevington) Gayer; hus-
band, Dick, daughter Valerie and son Stevie, all of
whom were in the US on vacation from their homes in
the Canal Zone. Daughter Beth Brown Hilton and her
daughter Amanda also visited prior to moving to Silver
Spring, Md. from Orlando.
Betty Quintero
Pensacola does not have an organized Panama Canal
Society. However, there are a number of former Pan
Canal families residing here and most of us do stay in
touch. The following are news items concerning activities
that have taken place this summer.
Mary Grimes went to Evansville, Indiana for two
weeks at the end of June because of her Mother's death
but came back last week and has been entertaining house
guests herself since her return. Her daughter and son-in-
law (Mary Ann and Mike Reilly) live only a few miles away
so she can visit frequently with her grandchild.
Webb and Mildred (True) Hearne were visited in
June by their sons (Jim from Corpus Christi and John
from Houston) along with their girl friends, Shirley Gavlik
and Ephie Willis. Ephie lived at Fort Clayton when her
father was stationed there. Debbie True (Bruce True's
daughter) was also here at the same time so it was a busy
happy occasion. After a few days here they went to
Orlando and Disney World where they were hosted by
Cathy True (Bill True's daughter). During that same
period Bruce True, his wife Mary and two girls were
visiting his parents, Clarence and Laura True so we all
had quite a family celebration on Father's Day. Clarence
and Laura True are doing very well and will be cele-
brating their 65th wedding anniversary on the 13th of
Bob and Fran Russell enjoyed a week's visit from
their son and daughter-in-law, Bob Jr. and Cherly
(Peterson) on May 23-30. They were up for a few weeks
from Panama. Bob and Fran have been spending time on
the highways the past couple of months as they have
visited folks in Texas, Tennessee and the mountains of
North Carolina which is a great place to escape from the
Florida heat.
Barbara Kiley is on an extended vacation trip to
Maryland and Massachusetts and will be back in this area
around the end of Aug. Ruth and Caleb Clement
returned to Pensacola recently where they are currently
located at 6010 N. Sanders, Apt. A, Pensacola, FL,
32504. We are hoping they will decide to reside here per-
Robert and Marie Smith recently visited their son,
Lester and daughter-in-law Andrea (Byrd) in Baton
Route, as well as their daughter Terry Ann Flynn and
Husband Paul. The Smith's recent visitors included Kurt
and Monica Menzel with daughter Melissa from
Panama and their son Jack who lives in Houston. Their
son, Robert who is an Air Force Major visited here with
his wife, Carol and their children enroute to his next as-
signment of a four-year tour in England.
Greetings from George and Dorothy Krehll Any of
you folks who pass thru Pensacola, the Western Gate of
Fla, please phone us at 438-5465 to say "hello" and we'll
see if we can't get together and visit awhile. Best wishes to
Tinsy and Barney Barnes.
In June, Earl and Bea Sears camped their way to
Maine to visit their youngest son, Doug and his wife
Cathy, who recently bought an old farm house on 94
acres of rolling country and woods in Anson, Maine.
Cathy's mother, Shirley Pollis is living with them since
her husband Everett's death. He was an employee at
Gorgas Hospital and retired last year. Jeff, Kathy and
their two children came up from the Zone and Greg,
Deb and their children came up from Massachusetts. So
they had quite a reunion with three of their four sons with
families together for the first time in years. Doug and
Cathy returned to Pensacola to see Rick who was due in
from his job with Gulf International Marine. Also attend-
ing was Cathy's brother Allen who also graduated from
Balboa High and is now working for a hospital in Show-
hegan, and the "other" Kathie's Dad, Fred Lavalee who
now lives in Jackman, Maine after retiring from the Locks
Division. He loves to hunt and fish and took them in the
woods where they spotted a couple of moose but was dis-
appointed that they didn't see a bear?!
Earl looks great with an enviable tan from doing his
"thing" in the yard. At a recent organ extravaganza in Las
Vegas, Bea was appointed District Chairwoman for AOAI
(amateur organist) with a territory covering Florida,
Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and
Tennessee. The idea is to promote organ music, help form
clubs and increase existing ones. Please write Bea if you
are interested. She is quite busy playing for a Sunday
Mass, being Secretary for the DAR and keeping up with
bridge. Barbara Kiley (also from the Zone) and Bea have
been partners for duplicate and find it challenging!
Mildred Hearne
The summer brings many visitors to our Sarasota
area. This includes Don and Marjorie (Miller) Shiewe,
of Colorado Springs, Colo. for a visit with her parents,
Allen and Kay Miller. The Millers held an Open House
party for their many friends who enjoyed renewing friend-
ships and seeing an excellent travelogue of their travels
through Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii. Out of town
guests included her aunt, Mrs. Margaret of St.
Max and Robin (Hammetter) Suter and young
son, Alfred of Jacksonville, FL visited with her parents,
Bob and Dolores Hammetter. Both families went to
Lake Lure and Bat Cave in N.C. and commuted in their
son-in-law's plane from Ashville, N.C. daily to the
World's Fair in Knoxville, Tenn.
Vic and June May of Holiday, FL were guests of
Carl and Virginia Starke to share their 40th. Wedding
Anniversary dinner party with other family members and
friends. Later, the Starke's, with their daughter Cassle
Lou, drove to Holiday to celebrate June and Vic May's
41st. Wedding Anniversary. Carl Starke also enjoyed a
fishing trip with Jim and Melba Fox in Dunellon, FL and
visited with Harvey and Peggy Smith in Inverness, FL
Robert and Martha Messer of Venice, FL enjoyed
a week's visit with their son, Charles and his wife,
Susan of Fairfield, Ohio. Their daughter, Patty
Messer, who is on the teaching staff of the Bracket
School District in Ft. Clarke Springs, Texas, also shared
part of the summer with her parents.
Marilyn Gayer of Balboa, R.P. visited her mother
Joyce and Jack Clarke.
Maxine and Earl Wrenn of Springdale, Ark. were
the guests of George and Tommie Roth. Lottie Tin-
nen of Grand Cane, LA travelled with them and stayed
with Fronie Fender at her home in Plantation Village,
Bradenton, FL. Several parties were given in their honor.
The Harry Cains and Bill Dixons hosted an Atlantic
Side get-together for Lottie to renew her friendships of Old
Cristobal days and a fun time was had by all.
Bob and Lotty Orvis of Diablo Heights, R.P. were
the guests of his mother, Mrs. Fran Orvis while looking
for their future retirement home. As of this date they will be
arriving in late July to reside in their new home in Daytona
Beach, FL
Their younger son, Carl Orvis, on duty at the U.S.
Naval Air Station in Pensacola, attended his first P.C. reu-
nion in Tampa, visiting his grandmother, Mrs. Fran Orvis
in Sarasota and his brother, Bobby Orvis in Anna Maria
Island, FL later with his parents in Daytona Beach as a
guest of family friends, Jan and Ed Flood.
The family visited Bob's brother Jim Orvis in
Temple Terrace, FL and attended his son Andy's
graduation from Tampa Catholic High School.
Graduation time brought a series of departures for
many proud grandparents and relatives. Billie Gallo-
way accompanied by her sisters, Ruth Gatz, Maxine
Hitchcock and Robin Comer flew to Atlanta, Ga. to
visit her son, Joe Galloway and attend the High School
graduation exercises of her granddaughter, Kari Jo.
Another sister, Alice Jones from Rosedale, Miss. joined
the rest of the family for this special occasion.
Donna (Humphrey) Mann and her daughter,
Deannine, visited with her brother, Donald L. Hum-
phrey of Palm Bay to attend the High School graduation
exercises of her niece, Danna Lynne Humphrey.
George and Mayno Walker visited with their
daughter, Mabelle (Mickey Walker) Fitzgerald and
family to attend the High School graduation of their grand-
son, Patrick S. Fitzgerald.
Mrs. Jeanne Burgoon flew to St. Louis, Mo. to par-
ticipate in the National Bowling Tournament and later
spent a week in Tampa for the State Bowling Tournament.
Recently she visited her daughter and son-in-law, Karen
and Harold O'Neill and granddaughter Laura Jeanne
in Deerfield, FL.
Jay and Harry Cain have returned from a trip to visit
her sister and other relatives in Wayne, N.J. They also
visited a dear friend, Virginia Meara, age 94, in Exmore,
During their travels they visited a former neighbor,
Mrs. Felix (Helen) Williams in Wise, N.C. While there,
they reminisced about the days when they were neighbors
in Old Cristobal. A highlight of their visit was looking at the
many postcards (over 400) of the very early days in the
Canal Zone.
Mrs. Mina Dee spent three weeks in New York
visiting with her granddaughter, Helen Lang, who is
working as a photographer in N.Y. and also with a dear
friend, Olga Olsen in N.J. Mina had the pleasure of visits
with her son and daughter-in-law, Pete and Mary Lou
Lang of Balboa, R.P.
Rae and Joe Ebdon and "Pop" Ebdon accom-
panied Bev and Fred Ebdon in their new Midas camper
for an enjoyable summer visit with many friends. Their first
stop was with Jack and Jean Dombrowsky in Hender-
sonville, N.C.; then on to see Rae and Joe's son, Dick
and family in Wilmington, Del. Later they visited Jim and
Edna Million in their beautiful summer home in St.
Albans, Vt., and other former Zonites, Betsy and
Truman Hoenke and Ernie and Ruth
Zelnick. Then on to Nashua, N.H. to visit with Howard
and Arlene Osborn. Many picnics and gettogethers were
enjoyed during their visits.
Mrs. Gladys Conley enjoyed a wonderful tour
covering various areas in Canada, including Vancouver,
Western Toronto, Calgary and Banff.
Barney and Tinsie (Bliss) Barnes had a fine drive
to visit with Barney's sister, Elma Carder and other
Madge and John Hall enjoyed a recent visit with
Mrs. Raymond (Vera) Hills of Bradenton and her sister-
in-law, Marguerite Shula, who is visiting from Concord,
In May, the State NARFE Convention was held in
Jacksonville, Fla. The Allen Millers, Meyer Slotkins
and George Walkers were among the delegates
representing the Sarasota Chapter. While there, the
Walkers had the pleasure of a visit with Tommy and
Margaret (Barnard) Rankin of Jacksonville Beach and
enjoyed reminiscing over happy days in the CZ.
The George Walkers recently returned from a most
scenic and enjoyable trip to Anchorage, Alaska for a visit
with their daughter, Jeanne and Jack Wagner and
daughters. Several tours had been planned which made it
a most enjoyable and beautiful trip. In their return, they
visited with her sister, Zonella (Bliss) and Jack Field in
San Fernando, Calif.; with her aunt, Geneva (Bliss)
Shrapnel, and cousins, Dot and Bill Allen of Seal
Beach, Calif., and with brother Bud Bliss and family in
Campbell, Calif.
Gladys B. Humphrey
St Petersburg
Pauline Holmelin spent two weeks with her son,
Gus and family in Crosby, Texas, where she got to meet
her newest great-grandson, Victor Ryan Holmelin.
Gus and Gloria are now proud grandparents of three
grandchildren. Pauline had a very enjoyable visit there,
and is now planning to visit her granddaughter, Barbara
Whitman Graf in Atlanta, where Barbie is a nurse at
Henrietta Egelston Children's Hospital.
Vera Jones, of Largo, Fla. flew to Portland, Ore. on
May 27 to attend the funeral of her Aunt, Gladys Hub-
bard Cain. Vera's brother, Henry Hubbard joined her
in Dallas for the trip to Portland. Former Zonians Betty
Thomas with Grady and Margaret Hardison came to
Portland for a comforting and pleasant visit.
Capt. Andrew Stohrer and Dr. Freda F. Stohrer
announce with pleasure the graduation from medical
school of their daughters Anne Elizabeth and Carol
Stohrer Grench. Anne, who has completed her course
of study at Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, will
intern at the Jewish Hospital of St. Louis, MO. Carol com-
pleted her studies at the Bowman-Gray School of
Medicine in Winston-Salem, N.C. She will begin her
residency at the Family Practice Residency, Bowman-
Gray School of Medicine.
It was indeed my pleasure to hear from Dr. Freda.
She is on the faculty at Old Dominion University in Nor-
folk, Va. and doing a lot of consulting in management and
technical writing.
During the final days of Robert O'Connor's illness,
his older son, John was here from Ft. Walton Beach for a
few days and his daughter, Coleen O'Connor Law was
here from Austin, Texas. Gary, who lives in St.
Petersburg was with his mother during this time. T/Sgt.
E. Law joined them later as did John's family.
Tom and Kathy Rodgers of St. Petersburg
celebrated their 25th. Wedding Anniversary on July 22.
Congratulations and may we help celebrate your 50th. in
the year 2032!
Grace Williams
From the far corners of the state of Florida to the up-
per left hand corner of the US news does travel! After
reading the last issue of the Record, an old friend from
Cocoli days called me. Tom Smith, (BHS 48) was
calling from Seattle, Washington and what a pleasant sur-
prise it was. Tom and I shared many good time on the
West Bank and had quite a time recalling old friends and
times together. "Mock" was not aware of the PCS of
California group and I put him onto Conrad Horine so
he could share some good times with them during their up
coming get together in September.
The article last issue regarding making contact with
BHS Class of 50 members is working! Yesterday, I receiv-
ed another call from a reader of the Record. Martha
(Irvin) Tanner called from Dothan, Ala. She was up
from the Canal on vacation and of course was reading
the Record. Martha said she would work with other
fellow '50 classmates in the Canal to get a Class Reunion
organized for 1985.
4th of July Picnic John Steiner was the host for a
super picnic on the 4th of July. John has a very nice place
right on the edge of Lake Bradford here in Tallahassee and
although it must have been the "hottest/humid" day of the
year, about 50 people from the Zone and their
families/friends showed up for the occasion. Keeping a
record of everyone arriving was rather difficult but the best
4th of July Picnic at the home of John Stiener.
I could do was as follows: John Steiner; Micky & Anne
Harris, daughter Mary Eileen from Dothan; Debbie
(Eilich) & Neil Patton; Anne Rathgaber; Mike
Carpenter from Fort Walton Beach; Roy & Twila
(Darden) Wilson; Val & Mary Lynch; Tom & Lor-
raine Spencer; Courteny Spencer; John Myers;
Charles & Natasha Myers & children, Van & Anna;
Steve & Irene Bissell from Ocala; Curt Darden; Don
& Susan Darden; Ed & Ellie Husum, Greg, Mary,
George, Lorraine Husum; Janet (Husum) & Keith
Harringon; Todd Allen; Jim Coman; Ed's Mother,
Edna Sanford of Gulfport; Paula Fife; Kathy Shulte;
Chris Gordon; Pat Gordon; Pat & Bess Conley and
children Pat, Tom, Anne; Rick Mead; John Corrigan;
Beth Bell; Anita Bondurant; Mark Cicero; Don &
Karen Saarinen; Jan Whitney; Marcia (Whitney) &
John Nita and son Tony Chet; Stella Nita from
Dothan, Ala.; Tony (Nita) & Roy Kalb and daughter
Rene; John Schmidt and guests from Tallahassee,
Bettie and Lisa Hatcher.
Tallahassee, FL. 4 July 1982. Whitney and Nita family
get together at the home of John Steiner. Back Row:
John Nita, Stella Nita, Marcia (Whitney) Nita
holding son Tony, Jan Whitney, Rob Kalb. Front Row:
Tony (Nita) Kalb, Rene Kalb.
This reporter had his house guests for several days,
his brother Douglas and his wife Sharon (Booth)
Schmidt and also daughter Cheryl. They were on the
last leg of a "home leave" from the Canal and had visited
our parents John and Kitty Schmidt in Pasadena, Md;
Sharon's parents Ken & Jo Booth in Mission Viejo, Calif.
and our sister and family, Jackie and Dale Bishop in
Kerrville, Tex. While in Tallahassee, Doug visited with old
CZ friends, Mrs. Ruth Blitch, Libby (Blitch) Gray and
family and his nieces Tracy and Ruth Schmidt and
nephew John Schmidt and wife Betty and son Ryan.
John Schmidt
In June, Richard and Via Mae Dinkgreve heard
from Rita Strauss McAllister. Last minute change of
plans forced cancellation of their trip. They were looking
forward to seeing each other again after 30 years. They all
lived in a four-family in Hodges Place in Diablo Heights.
Rita, Via Mae and Mmes. Curtis, Tarflinger, Eisen-
hower, Clark among others, squeezed thousands of
Panamanian oranges for an evening rum or gin cocktails.
They all got many a laugh out of a rather novel beer keg,
I'm told.
A reminder letter for news to Timothy M. Garber,
3311 Edenborn Ave. #201, Metairie, La. has been return-
ed "Not deliverable as addressed; unable to forward".
Anyone knowing his whereabouts please notify me or the
Canal Record ASAP.
Gene Gregg of Mandeville reports the wedding of
his daughter Gail was "grand, great, a real blast". Dr. and
Mrs. (Lynn Gregg) Clayton G. Brown of River Ridge
hosted a bar shower honoring Gail and Robert Weien on
May 22. Henry Morel and his Brass 7 played at the wed-
ding reception. Karen Angelica, Jim Palumbo, Hal,
Chris and Dale Conway of Panama stopped by to help
make it a great gathering. The Greggs hope to go to
Florida in August for the wedding of Leo and Leona
Snedeker's daughter,, Elise. Then in October, atten-
dance is mandatory at the Gas House. Bob and Gail
honeymooned in Colorado. As a PSS, Gene says the
Tom Marine's of Texas and the Bill Ward's of Indiana
also came.
Pete Lang has sent me a large box (15 lbs.) of pic-
tures that were thrown out from Balboa High School. I will
send a few to the editor for publication in each issue.
Meanwhile if anyone is interested in having some of these
pictures, just let me know. The subject matter is mostly
sports track, basketball, swimming, football, archery,
tennis and the time frame appears to be in the 1930's into
the 1950's. We are certainly fortunate to have salvaged
these and owe Pete a sincere debt of gratitude for his
Speaking of pictures, I apologize to those of you
whose pictures I took at the Reunion with the idea they
might be published in the Canal Record. What is actually
published in each issue is an editorial decision which
reporters such as myself have no control over. We go with
the thought our stuff will be published but it may not
because of space limitations within the overall book. I hope
this satisfactorily explains our position.
Lester and Andrea (Byrd) Smith, daughter Chris
and Kim of Baton Rouge, and Tom Mallia of New
Orleans drove to the 50th. Reunion and "had a blast (to
put it mildly)", according to Les. Over the 4th. of July, the
Smiths drove their camper to Atlanta and visited Pat and
Penney McCarragher. A little 4th. party included Pat's
brother, Tom and his bride Debbie from Jacksonville;
Dionn Holland, also from Jacksonville and Jim
Schafer of Cardenas. They went rafting down the Chat-
tahoochee River and later drove to the World's Fair via the
Smoky Mountains. Andrea's parents, Hoyt and Frances
Byrd of Clearwater joined them and they had a great time
camping in the mountains and seeing the sights. Their
longest wait (30 min.) at the Fair was to see the China Ex-
hibit. On the way back to Atlanta, they saw the Lost Sea
Cavern with its 13 acre lake. Les dropped Andrea and the
girls off in Atlanta to go back to Clearwater with her folks.
"Yes," says Les, "she still thinks she is in the C.Z. and can
visit Florida for the summer. I came back to Baton Rouge
to a desk full of work".
Frances Walker of Marrero took the Amtrack from
New Orleans to Carterville, IL to visit her aunt, Edith
Primmer for a week early in May. On May 22 she attend-
ed the wedding of her granddaughter Patricia Flynn,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Abdiel A. Flynn (the former
Patt Walker). to Enrique Ocampo in Panama City,
Panama. The wedding reception followed in the Porto
Bello Room of the Hotel Panama. The newlyweds flew the
Concorde from Mexico City to Paris on their honeymoon,
then visited Germany and Spain. They are making their
home in Mexico City, Abdiel, incidentally is the sports
editor of the Star & Herald.
On May 26, Frances flew to Anchorage, Alaska to
spend four weeks visiting her nephew and niece, LTC
and Mrs. R. L. Dampier. Decoration Day they all drove
to tour the glaciers. "Alaska is truly beautiful" says Frances.
It's always fascinating to hear from my favorite jet-
setters, Bill and Gretchen Warren, because it's hard to
tell where the next letter will come from. In April it was
great to have them with us for the Reunion. In June, a
note came from Knoxville and the World's Fair. July
found them at Citadel Mountain, Glacier National Park in
Montana. Next stop who knows???
Patt Foster Roberson
North Carolina
We are happy to have our summer residents with us
again. Emily and Howard Johnson, Des and Julian
Hearne, Alice and Max Conover, are all here.
Ruth Sill's son Fred, from Panama, spent several
days with her in June. Ruth left in July to spend a month
with her sisters in Minnesota and California.
The Ebdons; Fred, Bev., Joe, Rae and Joe, Sr.,
spent several days with Jack and Jean Dombrowsky in
June. The Ebdons were on their way to Vermont. In July,
Jack and Jean's son Dale, and his wife, Lynn, and their
three sons from Lakeland, Fla, were here for a week with
Bill and Skip Hollowell with their daughter
"Tinker's" two sons are touring North Carolina and
stopped to see the Dombrowskys.
Joe and Lloyd Kent from Boca Raton, Fla, were
guests of Carmen and Charlie Howe for a week in
July. The Howes welcomed their 9th grandchild in June
(see Births).
Lori (Kent) and Jay Gibson and their two children
from Gamboa spent six weeks with Peanut (Howe) and
Don Bonner in June and July.
Marita (Joudrey) and Joseph Loftus, Ft. Lauder-
dale, Fla, were here to be with Rosita (Joudrey)
Suarez and her mother, Marina Joudrey.
Ross and Janet Cunningham and two grand-
daughters are here for three months at Connasstee Falls.
Alice H. Roche
I must give praise to all, who organized and diligently
worked to present a memorable experience for those at-
tending and thoroughly enjoying the Florida Society's 50th
Anniversary Reunion. It was fantastic! The friendly warmth
was instant and friends of half a century or less greeted one
another with sincerity. At the Ball, when Lucho began to
play, the enthusiasm of the dancers was overwhelming!
Whether one had a partner or not, the dancefloor was
jammed. Yes, I'm glad I attended. Even now, your faces
and my memories are present.
The remainder of my Florida vacation was spent
regaining my voice; losing weight; enjoying the company
of my daughter, Marcy Napoleon; family and good
friends. My son, Jim Wood, spent ten extra days trying to
get a tan pre-returning to the NW.
We went to the Sarasota Aborteum where we were
given a personal tour by A. J. Metzgar (formerly of
Gatun), who by the way is quite an artist. We viewed his
beautiful fantasy paintings titled "Gates of Heaven", which
won first prize at the Sarasota Shopping Mall Art exhibit. If
you haven't seen his work, I suggest you do so, for
another Zoner has made a contribution in the Art world.
I spent several days visiting with Olga & Paul
Disharoon. We had a good time rehashing the reunion
activities catching up on news of friends shopping for
familiar foods eating Olga's good food and meeting
their family. We also called on Howard & Emmy Lou
Clark and Betty Malone. Betty gave me some of her
Yellow Bonnet hot peppers, and I planted the seeds. So
far, nada has come up.
I returned to the NW to find my home in the process
of losing its roof. Son Jim had begun the extensive job of
repairing and reroofing same. Fortunately I had made ad-
vance plans to drive with my sister Betty (Bradley) Lon-
don to Tucson to visit my Dad, Fred W. Bradley, while
that messy job was being done.
We took off May 29 heading Southeast. Saw beauti-
ful country and sights through Washington, Oregon,
Idaho, Utah, Arizona and Nevada. Visited all the National
Parks enroute and enjoyed beautiful weather not too
hot nor too cold.
In Tucson, I found my Dad thin, tho recouperated
from surgery, and very glad to see us.
Anna Collins was also in Tucson, visiting her
daughter Lucy Graham, who presented her mother
with a new grandson shortly after her arrival. To give the
young family an evening alone, Anna treated Betty and
me to a good Mexican dinner. Afterwards we continued
our visit at our house, identifying some of my reunion
pictures, rehashed the reunion fun and activities and just
had a good time together. It was so nice to see Anna again.
Back in the Northwest received a letter from
Lucille Davis informing me of the marriage of her
daughter Karen. Also, she will be coming down ahead of
time before joining me when we go to The Dalles Reunion.
Glenn & Gladys Lasher had a visit from their
youngest son, Chris & Maggie Lasher from Atlanta,
Georgia. The couple were given the grand tour of the NW,
then visited Chris' brother, Tim Lasher and sister, Con-
nie Pennington in eastern Oregon before returning to
their home.
Tom & Betty Clarke have retired to Las Vegas,
Nevada and in the process of getting settled. As soon as
Tom recovers from his recent surgery, they plan to hit the
road and do some traveling in their motor home.
Evelyn Miesse has been busy photographing the
visit of the Grand High Priestess of the Ladies Oriental
Shrine, Mildred Slade of Sarasota, Florida.
The report of the 6th NW annual picnic Reunion will
follow after the event is completed.
That's the news from the NW. Oh yes my new roof
is back on and guaranteed to outlast me we shall see.
Martha B. Wood
Isthmian Newsreel
Interview with Mr. and Mrs. Emmet Zemer on their
60th Anniversary
Ann Wood Suescum
When I heard that Emmet and Mary Zemer were
going to celebrate their 60th Anniversary, I called Mrs.
Zemer and asked her if I could see them, take a picture
and have a small interview with them. They met me at
the Union Church in Balboa, that was also the church
they were married in 60 years ago. Mrs. Zemer told me
that the Church was a new church and it only had one
floor at the time they were married in July 1922. Mrs.
Zemer was the former Mary Milloy.
Mr. Zemer told me about his arrival to Panama as a
young man in 1913 at the age of 18. He arrived on the
4th of July and the 4th of July has been a big part of his
life from then on. His first job was held at the old townsite
of Gorgona, and he was a checker, then worked at Cas-
casdas, Empire, Gamboa, and Cristobal.
One of his most remembered moments of his colorful
and historical life was the day that President Wilson push-
ed the button that opened the dike that filled the water to
the Canal. Mr. Zemer also remembers visiting personalities
such as President and Mrs. Warren Harding and his visit to
the Washington Hotel. The biggest and most exciting day
of his life was when he was asked to be "Uncle Sam" dur-
ing the 200th celebration of the Fourth of July, so Mr. Em-
met Zemer, who during most of his life, was the organizer
of the 4th of July parades and activities, now was asked to
honor the most important spot for the 200th Anniversary.
Emmet and Mary Milloy Zemer 60th Wedding
Anniversary (Photo: Arthur Pollack, PCC)
The Zemers retired on June 30, 1957 with 44 years
of services.
They chose to stay and retire in Panama because
when they went back to the United States they had no
roots and felt like strangers so as Mr. Zemer had a Cedula
since 1935 and he had no place to go and call home,
they stayed and have had a wonderful life and glad they
They have a lovely home in Santa Clara and invite
all their friends that come to Panama to visit to please
stop in and have a cold Hamms beer, a company that Mr.
Zemer represents in Republic of Panama.
Mr. and Mrs. Zemer said: "They have sitnessed more
changes in Panama then he ever thought he would see in
this beautiful little country in 10 years."
Mrs. Zemer has been active with the Union Church
Auxiliary and was Past Matron of the Eastern Star, Mr.
Zemer was active with the Masons.
They celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary with
a reception held after church services at the Balboa Union
Church with many of their friends attending. Unfortunately
none of the four children could be with them, but they plan
to travel extensively in the month of September and see all
their children. The Zemer's children are: William E.
Zemer, Jr., Isabelle Zemer Lively, Phyllis Zemer
Wright that are now living in California and Shirley
Zemer Swenson residing in Mississippi.
I asked Mr. and Mrs. Zemer the secret of happiness of
60 years of being married. Mrs. Zemer said: "Attitude" that
"when you walk down the isle of the church you say: It
will work, not like so many that say, If it doesn't I'll just get
divorced". Mr. Zemer stated: "That young people feel that
money comes from heaven that young people have to
know where they are going".
We concluded our little interview with picture taking
outside by the Church they were married in 60 years ago.
Congratulations to Emmet and Mary Milloy Zemer!
Happy Anniversary!
Panama and the Canal Area is still in the middle of a
good ol' fashioned, and well remembered by some .
rainy season. On July 8th., Panama (mostly in the Forest
Preserve-Parque Soberana area) had what was classified
as a small tornado that caused one known death.
Some of the visitors that came and went since the
printing of the last issue were former residents who re-
turned for the 25th Wedding Anniversary of Curtis and
Virginia Jefferies, and the visitors from Port Charlotte,
Fla. were Mr. & Mrs. W.C. Reinhardt.
Carl and Dorothy Meissner of La Boca are proud
grandparents of their first grandchild. The new baby has
been named Megan Laura and arrived in time for her
father's graduation from Old Dominion University in May.
Parents are Carl (Rutsy) Meissner and his wife who
reside in Hayes, Va.
Mrs. Janice Grimson Scott was visiting Panama
to celebrate her birthday with her daughter and son-in-law,
Janice and John Herring at their home in Las Cumbres.
She returned home to Cocoa Beach, Fla. after a lovely
visit to Panama.
A few information sheets with Reunion Trip
memories were received with photo's for the next issue. As
the deadline was immediately after the Reunion, they
didn't make that issue, but here they are:
The next part of this report was submitted by
"Bronco" and most of you know who that is.
Part of the large (former) Zonian contingent that went
to St. Pete for the 50th. Annual Reunion was the group of
John and Mary (Moreland) Coffey, Joe and Bev
(Bowman) Wood and Burt and Carol (Moreland)
Mead. They were met in St. Pete by Jim and Patty
(Maedl) Krough who came from Deep Haven, Minn. for
the reunion. The Woods stayed with Jim and Marie Mor-
ris in Clearwater until moving into the hotel for the big
event. Lloyd and Margaret (Stevens) Spradlin and Al
and Jan Carr were also house guests of the Morrises. The
Coffeys, Kroughs and Meads moved into Fred Mead's
apartment in St. Pete for the few days before the hotel.
The husbands played in the 2nd. Annual Stew Brown
Open, which was held at Stew's home golf course in
Seminole, between St. Pete and Clearwater. For the se-
cond year in a row, Stew and Kaye Brown hosted the
group over for distribution of prizes and Ron cortez.
After the reunion, the Woods and Meads drove
up to Tallahassee (Home of Florida State University) for
Chadwick (Fruend-Suescum-Bradley) reunion trip to
Tampa. Note: All the boxes and bags were full of
Carta Vieja and Ron Cortez!
some visitations. They visited and saw Pat and Bess
Conley and family, Bill and Barbara Wichmann,
students, Jim Parthenais, Patrick Gordon, Martha
Bell, Beth Bell and Anita Bondurant.
While there, they attended a slow pitch softball game
to watch a team called The Hobbit, who is managed by
Burt (Rick) Mead) and made up of quite a few Zonites:
John Corrigan, Mark Cierco, Mike Coffey, Mike
Patton, Kevin Mayles, Chris Holt, Steve Tochter-
man and Marty Weaver. Their advisor and counselor is
former Canal Zone policeman, Ed Overstreet. The team
lost the game in extra innings, but the postgame team/fan
meeting went very well at the Hobbit (great sandwiches
and cold beer). Rick Mead, who is Burt Mead's son is at-
tending Lively Technical Training School in Talahassee,
and is studying air conditioning and heating, and should
graduate in late 1983.
After 4 days in Tallahassee, the Meads and Woods
headed back to Clearwater/St. Pete. On the way back,
they stopped at Gainesville and visited with Jerry
Halsall. He seems to be very happy and keeps himself
The "Men". Back row, left to right: Burt Mead, Steve
Tochterman, John Coffey, Lee Wade. Middle Row,
left to right: Ronnie Bowman, Jim "Smiley" Morris,
Jim Krough. Front row, left to right: Al Carr, Jim
Mckeown, Lloyd Spradlin, Joe Wood.
Back in Clearwater, they met up with the Coffeys,
Kroughs and Morrisses again. The Coffeys and Kroughs
had been relaxing, shopping and golfing. Also, they visited
several times with Milt (John) and Marynell Sanders
and son, John who live in Palm Harbor, just up the road a
piece from Clearwater.
A few days later the Kroughs returned to Minn. and
the others headed for Panama via Miami. In Miami, Reg-
gie and Bev Hayden had them over for lunch (which in-
cluded empanadas) and while there, Calvin and Ginny
Fishbough dropped in for a visit. Then it was back to the
airport for a calm and restful flight home on a big DC-10.
After one hour of flight they had to return to Miami as
there was a problem with the landing gear indicator light.
Everyone was calm except for Bev. She went through 400
rosaries and it sure paid off. The plane landed safely in
Miami, repairs were made and they headed home again.
Of course, the "second" trip was calmer as the flight crew
dispensed free spirits to the passengers. They finally arriv-
ed at General Omar Torrijos (Tocumen) airport at mid-
night, about 3+ hours late. It was a great vacation!.
The "Girls". Back row, left to right: Mary Coffey
(Morland), Jan Carr (Trent), Jean Wade, Mike
Blennerhassett (Coffey). Middle Row: Margaret
Spradlin (Stevens). Back row, left to right: Bev Wood
(Bowman), Carol Mead (Morland), Bev Hayden
(Boyer) Marie Morris (Cicero), Pat Krough (Maedl).
The Balboa High School Class of 1958 held a week-
long class reunion at the Holiday Inn-Tampa and from
what I hear, the Headquarters of the Class of '58 was in
Room 288, next to the pool. (Remember that room!) The
Class decided to have their own reunion held in conjunc-
tion with the Panama Canal Society of Florida's Reunion
in 1983. The organizers (unanimously decided) will be
Dorothy Miller Meissner, PSC Box 1528, APO Miami,
Fla. 34002 or Sonia Canas Valley, PSC Box 11, APO
Miami, Fla. 34002. Please check out the photo of the
Class of '58 that showed up impromptu at the 50th Annual
Reunion the spirit of '58 hasn't changed very much
over the years!
For those of you who remember Mirna Pierce from
BHS '59, you'll be interested to know that she has a paper-
back book out this month (July '82) called Panama Flame.
Congratulations to Mirna. I understand she is now living in
Austria with her husband who is in the Consular Corps.
Panama Flame is a romantic novel with a Panama setting
Poolside Room Crowd mostly with Class of 1958.
of tropical nights and sultry tropical jungles during the early
nineteenth century.
Graduation was held in the Canal Area for BHS and
CHS during the week of June 11, 1982. Balboa High had
318 seniors receive their diplomas and Cristobal High had
67 graduates, all a great bunch of kids! The rain held off
for the ceremony held at Balboa Stadium and they had a
Graduation Dance afterwards, held at the Officers Club at
Amador. The dance lasted until 3:00 AM and as we had
two that graduated this year, (Virginia and Guillermo
Suescum) we had a breakfast for forty after the dance.
Virginia will attend Mt. Ida College in Boston (Newton
Centre) and Guillermo will attend Steven Institute of
Technology in Castle Point, NJ. Congratulations to all
Pacific and Atlantic side graduates!
1982 B.H.S. Graduates Virginia and Guillermo
The "Cardiac Arrest" made a great surprise finish dur-
ing the Ocean to Ocean Cayuco Race this year. The crew
of the "Cardiac Arrest" was made up by Capt. Mike Gor-
don, Fred Cotton, Rolo Winberg, Dick Gayer, Don
Roger, Lou Reyes, Gus Pagonis, Gus Pagonis Jr,
Charlie Monaghan, Jim Wheeler and Bob Russell -
a few are members of the Panama Canal Society of Fla.
The odds were that this wonder boat wouldn't even
complete the race let alone from Cristobal Yacht Club
to Gatun Yacht Club. The colors of this surprising team
were Orange and Black and race veterans were heard to
say that they had a motor hidden in the cayuco. "No way"
said the boys in colors of their sponsor (ETS) Express
Transport Service.
When the team captain tightened his belt for the last
leg and gave the word to cast off, away they went singing
"Anchors Aweigh", and when they hit the finish line, those
on shore could hear them singing the words to the famous
song, "Nunca Mas!" Congrats to the crew of "Cardiac Ar-
rest" wait till next year!
The final appearance as a chartered organization clos-
ed the Sweet Adelines, Inc. after a historical and exciting
20 year career on the Isthmus. The Sweet Adelines was
joined by the Balboa High School Select Chorus, the Isth-
mian Men's Barbershop Chorus, the Ambassadors of Note
and the Cristobal High School Band. Their final perfor-
mance was enjoyed by all and their repetoire included "50
Miles on the Panama Canal", "Erie Canal" parodv. and
"Clone the Zone Back Home in Indiana" paraody. The
Sweet Adelines program of Music and Memories was a
lovely closing program to end a career from 1961
through 1981 of the very popular and admired group.
Since members of the Society are collectors and are
always requesting words of related things to Panama, the
words to "Cone the Zone Back Home in Indiana" (words
by Janet Winford) and the words to "50 Miles on the
Panama Canal" (arranged by Sue Carwithen, Parody by
Janet Winford) may be obtained by sending a stamped
self-addressed envelope to the Editor, Canal Record,
1408 Byram Dr., Clearwater, Fla. 33515.
Cardiac Arrest Crew and Crew and "Queen" Kneeling.
The winning cayuco of the Ocean to Ocean Cayuco Race
was the Due Process. Crew member, L to R: Eddie
Dolan; Guillermo Payne; Myra Linares, Queen:
Shawn Jordan and Luis Payne. Congratulations to the
team and their Queen. All entrants work hard and are
winners in their own right. (Photo: Cleveland C. Soper,
The Panama Canal Commission honored two of our
members, and of course the Panama Canal Society of
Florida at the 12th. Annual Public Service Awards
Ceremony this year.
Joseph J. Wood, for his many years of outstanding
service given to the Isthmian community, was presented a
silver award. The other was a bronze award given to Dr.
R. Antonio Suescum who accepted the award in behalf
of the Emergency Medical Technicians. Dr. Suescum
received a Silver Award in 1980 for outstanding work in
the community.
Sweet Adelines, from left: Betty Blanchette, Eva
Fround, Ann Beers, Janet Winford, Jan Riece,
Natalia Kinch and Sue Carwithen, Bottom row: Judy
Peterson, with Director Doug McLain and Donna
Murphy. (Photo: E. Carwithen, PCC).
Some news of interest: As you all know the TOF
result of the Treaty had transferred Doctors, Nurses,
teachers and Postal personnel to the Dept. of Defense.
The Pulse, a paper printed by the USA MEDDAC
Panama, published: "It was short and it was shocking. At 4
PM on May 10, the Commander of USA MEDDAC
Panama received a letter from Health Service Command
instructing him to reduce the full-time permanent civilian
work force by 317 prior to September 30, 1982."
There has been some reduction in the two hospitals
and according to HSC, this action is due to the numerous
mission changes which have not yet been supported in-
creased manpower resources. Also, recent changes in
Panama, such as the reduction in eligible population (due
to the treaty), and the conversion of Coco Solo Hospital to
a clinic also contributed to the reduction in force.
A new sight in the area is going up at the Ancon
Court House. A Helipad is being constructed by the US
Army for the Gorgas Hospital. They are digging out part of
the hill on the right where the three wooden French-style
large houses used to be. A new sight and a NEW
US citizens, residents of Panama and Colon and
Canal Areas celebrated the 206th. Anniversary of In-
dependence with many activities which began Sunday
morning with a parade at Fort Clayton with representatives
of all the US Armed Forces. The Guardia Nacional, the
usual Riding Clubs, Scouts, etc. were also in the parade.
They had parachute jumps and musical presentations with
the very popular fireworks display shot off from across the
Canal near Fort Clayton. It's just not the same if the
fireworks are not shot from Sosa Hill. Many left Friday for
the interior to enjoy the long week-end in various places.
A letter received from Daniel Pagenta:
"Daniel Arthur Pagenta Jr. has graduated with
honors from the University of Dallas with an M.B.A. He
has returned to Panama where he has entered our com-
pany's business. Our daughter, Yolanda Gutierrez
Holmes has just given birth to a baby boy. Yolanda and
family are living in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic,
where she and her husband, Bryan Holmes are engaged
as missionaries operating a Christian Book Store.
Our Church (First Baptist Church, Balboa) is anxious-
ly awaiting the arrival of our new Pastor, Rev. Wayne
Blackshear, who is arriving on June 7, 1982 from San An-
tonia, Texas.
Ida and I are enjoying our semi-retirement."
and famous for their spring flowers and their cities and
towns are clean and well organized and wonderful peo-
The Flower Arranging Competition in Monaco was of
world-wide interest and hosted by Princess Grace and
family. Everyone so attentive and nice it really made the
show. The Casinos were quite impressive and a well run
business. We hated to leave but so we did, bound for five
days in Paris, then on to London.
Lovely, cultural 01' London which we particularly like
and with many shows and places to chose from. The
crowds of tourists were something else hotels are full, as
well as stores, streets, airports, restaurants, etc. loaded
with people but all fun! Every spring the Royal Hor-
ticultural Society of England puts on a world-wife flower
show at Chelsea, just out of London. The show is quite
spread out over a large area and all under cover. People
- wall to wall, everybody pushing to get in, but fortunate-
ly, for a change, as members of the Horticultural Society,
we didn't have that problem. The show is well worth going
to see everything you ever saw or could imagine was
there in flowers, orchids, trees from all over the world -
South Arica with all their great array of superb flowers,
plants and trees was the easy winner.
Best of luck to all of you,"
Cecilia and Leon G. Greene
* You've learned to eat raw marinated corvina.
* You buy all your fruits and vegetables from the
Chinese Fruit Stand.
* You wear a light jacket when evening temperatures
drop below 70.
* You dream in Spanish
* You have forgotten that your car has a workable
directional signal device.
* You think $2.00 is an outrageous price to see a movie.
* You enjoy watching SCN-TV.
* You're hooked on "General Hospital".
* Your children think your maid is part of the family.
* You find yourself saying, "We do things (or don't) that
way because we're unique".
Your shell collection is so large that you've become
snobbishly selective.
* You understand "Panamanian Time" and have ad -
justed your lifestyle accordingly.
Cecilia and Leon Green at the Amsterdam Spring
Flower Festival.
Here is a letter from Leon and Cecilia Greene
about their lovely trip to Europe:
"Sorry we missed the Reunion but by prior committ-
ment we were in Amsterdam attending the "Floriade" Spr-
ing Flower Festival that is held only every ten years. The
weather was delightful (top coat cool) and the flowers;
especially Tulips and Cherry Blossoms, etc. were excep-
tional, many that we never knew existed. Also the
meticulously detailed miniature city of Madurodam was a
real surprise.
The following Spring Flower Festival was at Lisse's
Keukenhof, a park-like extravaganza and beautifully land-
scaped and manicured with innumnerable quantities of
colors and sizes of flowers spectacular! It is open to the
public for only eight weeks every year. The Dutch are great
Adios and Hasta Luego
Ann Wood Suescum
Panama Reporter
South Carolina
President Bill York and his wife Sis hosted our June
picnic/business meeting at their lovely home in Aiken. 46
attended, 5 of them guests Jack & Jean Dom-
browsky, Carolyn Holmes, Alice Pierce and Grace
Weller. The Alexanders, Brownes, Marybelle
Westman, Bolands & Don's Mother Marge, and the
Hartley's came down from Columbia, and Ed Barnes
joined us from Sparta, GA.
Our next meeting will be held at Duff's on Whiskey
Road, Sept. 16th at 1 p.m. for lunch and business
Carl & Blanche Browne are at their summer home
in Canaan, NH. They picked up their three grandchildren
from Panama (Grover Matheney), spent 3 days in
Boston sightseeing, then to Falmouth for two days to visit
Marge (Brooks) Tassanini, Betty Price was there and
she went on with the Brownes to Canaan. Grover and
Freddieann Matheney arrived for 2 weeks, and returned
to Panama with their children. Pete and Bob Johnson of
Ft. Lauderdale, FL, spent 4 days with the Brownes on
their way to their summer cottage at Torch Lake, MI.
Pete & Betty Barr visited the Fair in Tenn. and then
trout fishing, later spent 10 days at Myrtle Beach enjoying
the Sun and same. Betty's latest project is selling Mary
Kay cosmetics!
Eversons visited Dot's brother Jack Watson and
family in West Palm Beach. Jack had double by-pass heart
surgery and is doing fine. They also visited brother Emo
and wife, and son Robert. They are n ow visiting John's
brother Lewis and family in Hendersonville, NC, and
then plan to take a 7 day cruise out of Miami to Mexico on
the Norweigan line "Skyward".
Nora Greene has had a serious operation but is do-
ing fine. Sister Margaret Sapp from St. Pete came for a
visit, also daughter Virginia Ann and family. Virginia will
return here when Nora comes home.
Olga Holmes went to Ozark, AL, to see Henrietta
Baggott and they attended the Dothan luncheon. She
visited her daughter Carolyn in Jacksonville.
Verna & Andy Kapinos' daughter Carol and family
(Maj. Robert 0. Smith, USAF) have been transferred to
Bentwaters AFB, England for a 3-year tour. 1st Lt. Linda
Kapinos, USAF, and her fiance Capt. Chas A. Puchon,
Jr., USA spent a week with her parents in Aiken, Linda
and Charles will be married at Kessler AFB Catholic
Chapel in Mississippi on July 31st. They plan to take a
quick honeymoon trip to Florida, then go to Hawaii in
Russ' Percy had her daughter Ann Edwards
Willoughby and grandson Steve from Huntsville, ALA
and Gay Edwards Pridgen from Cordele, GA, for a visit.
Bob and Billie Rowe visited son Bobbie and family
in Fla. and on their way home stopped in Carrabelle, Fla.
to see Hilda & Jasper Myers. Later they drove to Atlan-
Canal Zone Society of South Carolina Picnic, June, 1982 and guests.
Badonsky's are happy to have their son Leo home
from Panama, and to meet his wife. Leo is out of the Ar-
my, Daughter Paula and family spent a week at Hilton
Head and Badonsky's spent several days with them..
Eletheer Catron baby sat her two grandchildren in
Miss. while daughter Penny and Joe Lotterhos traveled
for two weeks in europe. James Jr.'s 2 children came
up from Fla. to stay with the Catrons for a 10-day visit.
Jim and Eletheer went to Orlando, FL, to see son Billy
and family and watch Bill compete in a long-driving golf
contest. Sorry he didn't win!
Lee & Trudi Clontz went to Myrtle Beach with her
Brother and wife, Were sorry they couldn't make Reunion
but Lee wasn't feeling up to par.
ta, met Billie's sister and hubbie, saw two exciting games
between the Braves and Cinn. Reds, returned home and
toured Savannah and Charleston, and went on up to
Ohio. Bobbie and his family will be here for a few weeks -
they live in Pembrooke Pines, FL.
Ex-Zonites Sam and Teta Catlett from Tenn, and
sister Hilda Huddleston from Panama visited the Bill
Yorks and Lorna Shore. Lorna and son Stevie plan to
visit her three daughters in Fla.
Bill & Sis York will visit daughter Nancy and hus-
band in Keystone, Fla. Nancy is a school teacher, and ex-
pecting her first child in the fall. Daughter Norma
Holder and family of Thompson, GA, were here for Sis'
birthday, and went on up to the World's Fair.
Jim Westendorff is not well, doesn't get out, but
wife Carolyn did attend our picnic. Jim's sister, Edna Mae
Reavis and hubbie came from St. George, SC, for the
picnic, which Edna Mae attended while the two men
Harry and Dot Willenbrock visited daughter
Susan in St. Pete. Susan enjoys her new work at On-
cology Clinic, and likes St. Pete. Willenbrocks also stop-
ped by to see the Myers on their way home, after visiting
Dot's brother in Pensacola.
Gertrude Smouse had one eye operation and the
second one will be operated on shortly..
Lucille Drew visited the Fair with her son Russell
and family, returned with them to VA. then flew to CA to
visit relatives. We're happy to have her back here!
Virginia and Hazel Kilby visited family at Sunset
Beach, NC. They attended our picnic also.
Bud and Hazel Kilbey visited daughter Tina and
family in Indiana, and attended their granddaughter's
graduation, traveled on to St. Louis to visit Bud's relatives,
on to Kansas City to see more relatives and then to St.
Joseph MO to see friends. A great trip except that Hazel
returned with a sore back but is feeling much better.
We hear that Chas. Dubbs is very ill in the hospital.
His son Michael, stationed in Guatemala, is here, and
daughter Marsha and family from Panama are here. Our
prayers are with Charles and Virginia.
Suzie Ewing Bishop and hubby visited the Carl
Brownes. Hutchison's and Tate's spent a day with them
- the men played golf at Ft. Jackson and we gals played
bridge. The Bishops live in Colorado. Our grandson Wal-
ly graduated from high school and expects to go into the
Navy in January. Doris Hutchison visited us overnite on
the way up to N.C. and Jack and Jeannie Dom-
browsky came down from Hendersonville for our picnic
and a short visit.
I want to extend special congratulations to the com-
mittee who arranged the Reunion this year. It was super!
And very well run. To have Lucho and his two sons put on
that great show was the icing on the cake.
Peggy Hutchison
News from Houston
A called meeting was held on June 12, 1982 at
Wyatt's Cafeteria in Houston. Although attendance was
small, one and all enjoyed the usual good fellowship.
Mary Jo Yaeger gave us a very good resume of the
Reunion and reported that her family Lowe-Brown-
Yaeger-Whitlock had a private reunion as it were
since a goodly number of the clan were there.
Our California member, Robert L. Dill, was married
on May 4 in Yuma, Arizona. No doubt there will be full
details from the Southern California Society.
Lou Souder had good news as son Murrill is retiring
and returning to Houston to live with his dad. Helen Ray
McDougal made the trip from Guatemala to help dad
celebrate his birthday.
Our next meeting is scheduled for October 12.
George Lowe, brother of Mary Jo, will present a slide
show on the Canal, past and present history. We know
this will be worthwhile so hope to have a good turnout for
the occasion.
Jessie L. Bush
News from Kerrville
New in Kerriville are Helen and Austin "Buck"
Yoder who retired from the Zone in 1957 and have lived
for the past eight years in Laguna Hills, Calif. Helen is now
living with her daughter and son-in-law, Bob and Kathi
(Adams) Lessiack while "Buck" is in a local nursing
home. Friends may write them at 122 Crecent Dr. Kerr-
ville, TX 78028.
Jack and Marylee Davison, Atlantic siders, recent-
ly moved to Fredericksburg, which is a short distance from
Kerrville. We hope to see the Davison's at our August pic-
In May, Gene and Elvira Breakfield visited Iris
and Dick Hogan. The Breakfields live in Stockton, Calif.
and were just returning from a trip to Montreal, Canada. In
June, Iris and Dick Hogan, along with Louie and Bar-
bara Dedeaux will attend a family reunion. Louie and
Iris's brother Leon, and their sister Dorothy Pope will be
together for the first time in many years.
Ken (Red) Coleman has sold his home in Kerrville
and moved away. He is visiting his sister, Tina Matthews
in New Jersey for the present.
Anna and Benny Calvit were visited by Milton
(Bud) and Tommy Lu (Jordan) Horter of Austin. Also
visiting the Calvit's were their daughter, Helen Calvit.
Helen recently transferred from the Canal Zone Police to
the Miami Customs. She took special training at the
Federal School in Clynco, Ga. Helen lives at Miami
Shores and works at the Miami airport. Tim Calvit
graduated from Texas State Technology Institute of in
May., He now works in Bryant, Texas.
Verla and Robert "Pappy" Grier had a visit from
Larry Corrigan of California. The Grier's will be having
an extended visit in California with "Pappy's" family this
W.R. (Bob) Byrd and wife, Lois have a new home!
It sits on a hill and has a large deck. Bob sold all his lawn
care equipment. The Byrd's hope to do some travelling in
a year or so. Their new address is: P.O. Box 1118, In-
gram, TX. 78025. Tel: 512-367-5125.
The Byrd's say, "Phone us if you are in the vicinity".
Patty Givonetti recently was the assistant director
and leading star in the local play, "A Company of
Wayward Saints". Patty loves the theatre as a hobby.
This fall, she will move to Austin and work as a special
education aide.
Charles Stough won the Democratic Party's
nomination for Congressman in the 21st. Texas District.
Charlie was the C.Z. Regional Chairman of the
Democratic Party from 1972-1980. The 21st. district is
one of the largest in the U.S. Charlie and wife, Jeanne
(Flynn) have been preparing for the hectic 4 months of
campaigning. Several trips to Washington, D.C. for con-
ferences at the Democratic National Committee and the
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee have fill-
ed the month of June. Jeanne and Charlie live in Boerne,
To enjoy the July 4th. weekend, Kim Carter visited
her parents, Wade and Marilyn Carter. Kim is living and
working in Houston, Texas. Also visiting the Carter's for
this period was Renee (Carter) Collins, her husband,
Rick and their two children, Elizabeth and Christopher.
They live in Glenpool, OK.
John and Gene Littin were visited by Garnett and
Howard Anderson of Dunellon, Fla. The Andersons also
visited June Burns while in Kerrville.
In June, Joyce (Fayard) Bailey of Ft. Walton
Beach, Fla. surprised Jackie (Schmidt) Bishop with a
visit. The two old friends had not been in touch since they
were kids in Pedro Miguel. Joyce was visiting in San An-
tonio, Texas, when she decided to make the sixty five mile
drive to Kerrville. Over lunch, and later at Jackie's home,
the two tried to cover forty years in a few hours and were
amazed at the people they remembered from Pedro
Miguel days. Iris (Dedeaux) Hogan also joined the two.
Iris was a neighbor of Joyce's in Pedro Miguel. Joyce left
the Canal Zone in early 1914 with her parents. Over the
years she has kept in touch with some friends from the
Canal Zone and more recently attended the 50th. An-
niversary Reunion where she renewed acquaintenances
and subscribed to the Canal Record. Joyce's husband,
Frank, is retired military with an auto dealership in Ft.
Walton Beach.
Bea and Harvey Rhyne have been very happy and
busy with visits from family and friends. Daughter
Camille Rhyne from Balboa, Panama, came first in May.
Bea and Camille drove to Houston for a visit with Bobby
and Barbara Baldwin and their precocious daughter,
Laura. They were also able to visit their cousin's, David
Ellis; family.
Bea, Harvey and Camille drove to El Paso to visit
with the Harvey Rhyne, Jr. family and a quick trip
across the border.
Fay Stanford, recently retired from the Electrical
Division in Balboa, came for a few days to check out the
Hill Country before deciding to settle in Ft. Worth.
Camille's vacation overlapped her sister, Barbara
Stanford's arrival in June from Balboa, Panama with her
two children and friend, Karen Harrington of Diablo.
Fay Stanford (Barbara's mother-in-law) returned for the
Bienvenida-Despedida weekend, savoring the delicious
Panama lobster, shrimp, crab-claws and fish and enjoying
the family.
Bea's sister, Thirza Guttman of San Antonio, was
the tour guide for points of interest in San Antonio; The
Alamo, River Walk and Zoo. In addition to the shopping
trips in Kerrville, Bea and Harvey showed off the sights of
the Hill Country. Picnicking and swimming in the
Guadalupe River is a must. While there, Harvey Rhyne Jr.
and family joined them in a surprise visit.
John Brown, recently retired Canal Zone Police-
man, wife and son had a quick visit with the R. Calvit's
on their way to their new home in Albuquerque, N.M.
John promises to return for Kerrville's 2nd. Annual C.Z.
Picnic in August.
On June 22, the Kotalik family met at the home of
Helen (Kotalik) Barrett in Jacksonville, Fla. where
mother Susanna Kotalik and son, Michael Kotalik
were reunited after a twenty year absence. Michael and
wife, Rose, of Anchorage, Alaska flew in for the reunion.
Also present were Sue (Kotalik) and Bill Graham, who
drove from Kerrville, and Rita (Kotalik) and Perry
Washabaugh motoring in from Pennsylvania. Missing
L to R.: Rita (Kotalik) Washabaugh, Helen (Kotalik)
Barrett, Susanna Kotalik, Michael Kotalik & wife
Rose and Sue (Kotalik) Graham.
member of the clan was Anna T. Collins, who was in
Tucson, Arizona with daughter Lucy Graham. The
Grahams took the Kotaliks on a tour of St. Augustine dur-
ing their stay in Jacksonville, and while in Florida, Sue and
Bill drove to St. Petersburg and visited with Anna (who
returned home June 27th.) and Joe Collins. Michael
and Rose drove to Melbourne, Fla. where they watched
the shuttle take off while visiting with former Alaskan
friends and then drove to St. Petersburg to complete
Michael's reunion with his sister, Anna. Joe and Anna
hosted a Chinese dinner at a local restaurant and Michael
joined the PC Society.
Bill and Sue also visited with Bill's brother, Perc
Graham and wife Marion at Pinellas Park, Fla. and was
able to get in a round of golf with newphew Gerald
Graham. Perc hosted all the Grahams and the Collinses
to a wonderful fish dinner in Clearwater.
One of the highlights of the Grahams trip to Florida
was a brief stop in Inverness, Fla. where they enjoyed
lunch with Peggy and Harvey Smith.
Marilyn Carter
Dear Amigos! Your reporter had a nice surprise see-
ing her statement in the June Canal Record when she
mentioned the Editor's Luncheon for all his reporters at the
Reunion. "That we all had the same problems .
nobody calls or writes to give their news to the Area
Reporter. Help! call or write your stumbling
reporter". Well, as a result, I received a nice letter and
want to share it with you:
"Dear Stella: Since you have had such little news
from Virginia, I thought I would write you some. My
parents, Rosario and James Van Dyke retired from the
Canal Zone (Water Filtration Plant, Miraflores) and I,
Rachel (Van Dyke) Burke are new members of the
Canal Record. My parents bought a retirement home in
Salisbury, N.C.; my brother James lives in Charlotte,
N.C.: my sister Betty, married to Bob Wallace (ex-
Zonian) with 2 boys live in Cypress, near Los Angeles,
Calif. I live in Arlington, Va. with my husband Charlie
and 3 children. My parents come up every month,
weather permitting for about one week to visit and walk
around sight-seeing Washington, D.C.
I graduated from BHS '61 and would love to hear
from friends I knew both in BHS and CHS (2227 N.
Powhatan St., Arlington, Va. 22205). I am working for
the Interior Dept./Endangered Species Program and my
husband works for the Postal Service.
I will keep you and your readers informed about the
Van Dyke's now that we are subscribers to the Canal
Record. I really enjoyed the first issue I received and
hope to attend the "Carnivalito" at Tyson's Corner, Va."
Rachel Burke (703) 241-0971
Miss Vivacious Jenny Davison from Coco Solo is
residing in Georgetown for several months with a family
from Panama. Later she plans on moving to Texas where
her mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. Jack C. Davison
are living. Retired recently I think.
Charlie Heim's article in June's issue Looking
Back 'bout 37 kids and a halluvatime was great ...
keep writing more. About the Wirtz family? ... Robert
Wirtz and his wife, Virginia Caton lived in Arlington Va.
area for years 'till Bobby retired last year from the Court of
Claims, Washington, D.C. They disappeared to the hills of
San Francisco and we have never heard of them again.
Sad! We miss them because Bobby was a real Canal Zone
trouper, showing up at every party in his montuno with
Chacara hat and a badge from the Docks ... identification
of some kind that he once found in a trash can.
Col. Fern (Horine) Dabill (USAR) comes every
year to attend ROA meetings. In fact, a postcard tells us
she is visiting Washington D.C. with her daughter Carole
after their cruise to Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, etc. We shall
have some more fun with this bighearted great gal a
true friend!
Stella Boggs DeMarr
The Horine family first time in years for most of them.
Back row: Fern Horine Dabill, Conrad Horine, Mary
Ellen Stacy Horine, Larry Horine. Front row: Norma
Horine, Emily Horine Brooks.
Pedro Miguel gang. L to R: Bill Schmidt, Joan Powell
Arndt, Dick Mallett, Tom Peterson.
L to R: Bill DeLaMater, (Panama) Ed Reagan, Lois
(DeLaMater) Bates, (Hawaii) Barney & Betty
Forgeson, (Florida).
Another gathering of BHSers. L to R: Bea Reyes Gunn,
Choppy White, Jeannine Dorgan Carlin, Tom
Peterson, Joyce Dugas Joubert, Jane Warden
tfi A{/[slotL zLtn9ETI on 0 0 0 0
A group from the BHS Class of '36 at the reunion Dinner-
Dance. From left to right: Culbert Shedlock, Virginia
(Preston) Wood, Betty (Comley) Forgeson, Ruth
(Horter) Spooner, Jean (Coleman) Dombrowsky,
Phyllis (Buechele) Everson, Mildred (Seeley) Ham-
mond and Ed Coyle (BHS '35) Missing from photo
were Jack Kromer, Thomas Foley, Gene Clinchard,
Betty (Phillips) Gerhardt, Alma (Symonds) Burrow,
Robert Ridge and Dorothy (Wolston)?.
During the recent Panama Canal Society 50th Reunion
there was also a family reunion of one of the best known
Canal Zone families. the Quinns. Shown in the above
picture are: Back Row: Tristan Enjuto, James Quinn,
Gene Lombard, Alice (Quinn) Lombard and Rita
(Quinn) Crume. Front Row: Regina (Quinn) Enjuto,
Genevieve Quinn, Alberta (LeBrun) Quinn, Ann
(Quinn) Eder.
A quartet of Dugases Norman, Ralph, Dot and
Mrs. Mina H. Dee of Sarasota with her sons, Pete and
Bill Lang, BHS'50. Who hadn't seen each other in ten
-/ .... .
On May 10, 1982, Brent 0. Mitchell, an Industrial
Engineer with AMP Corporation, was promoted to
Manager of the Charlotte, N.C. plant. He is the son of
George and Boots Mitchell of Tampa, Fla., formerly of
Gatun, Canal Zone.
Brent graduated from Cristobal High School in 1967
and Northeastern University in 1972. He is married to the
former Carolyn Walker of Truman, Ark., and they have
two daughters.
In June, Mrs. Peggy (Sylvestre) Simpson of Ft.
Walton Beach, Fla., daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Tony
Sylvestre of St. Petersburg, received her Doctorate in
Education from the University of Florida at Tallahassee.
Her son David graduated during the same ceremony with
his degree. About 10 days later, the whole family flew to
Tulsa, Oklahoma to see Peggy Simpson's son, Chris
graduate from Law School at the University of Oklahoma.
Mrs. Barbara Brown Voss, daughter of Oscar 0.
Brown of Orlando, and Betty Quintero of Largo, Fla.
graduated cum laude on May 22, 1982 from Rollins Col-
lege, Orlando, Fla. with a degree in Criminology. Barbara
is presently employed as a Police officer with the Orlando
Police force and was with the Omaha, Nebraska Police
Force prior to moving to Orlando.
Mr. and Mrs. Frederick A. Mohl
Fred and Trudi Mohl were crowned King Neptune
and Queen Athena during King Neptune Frolic Week last
eastertime in Sarasota, Fla. King Neptune's Frolic is the
oldest continuing festival in the State of Florida and is com-
posed of business and professional people in Sarasota
County. Their sole purpose is to provide family fun 'n frolic
for the community and thousands of visitors annually.
Fred and Trudi joined the King Neptune's Frolic in
1978 as Executive Directors and have served the past four
years in that capacity. In addition to their current position,
Fred has served two terms as Treasurer and is a member of
the Board of Directors. Trudi was last year's president of
Ye Ladies of King Neptune, having been an active
member for the past four years.
Trudi and Fred were wed in Connecticut in 1976 and
moved to Sarasota shortly thereafter. Fred is retired from
the Panama Canal Zone where he served in the fire
department for thirty one years. Trudi is a former RN and
served in the Navy Nurse Corps in the Pacific Theatre of
War. She has a son, Donald, in Washington state and Fred
has two sons who live in Albany, GA.
Barbara Brown Voss
Shown above are Jim & Shorty (Hambleton) Morris
at 50th wedding anniversary party with their children.
Standing left to right are son Ken & wife Diane (Vestal),
Jim Sr., son Jim & wife Marie (Cicero). Kneeling left to
right are son John, Shorty & John's wife P-Nut
On May 14, 1982, Shorty & Jim Morris of Clear-
water, Fla. and Moneta, Virginia, celebrated their 50th.
Wedding Anniversary at a party given in their honor by
their children at George Alin's Restaurant and Lounge
in Dunedin, Fla. Cocktails, appetizers and a menu con-
sisting of Prime rib, Shrimp, Seafood platter and Chicken
was served in the private banquet room. One and all mov-
ed to the main lounge when the music started, and young
and old enjoyed dancing till the wee hours of the morning.
Granddaughter Cori (Morris) and husband Lennie
Wheeler came from Hawaii. Grandaughter Kelly Morris
came from La Boca, R.P. and her brother, Ken Jr. came
from New Orleans. Grandson Michael Morris flew in
from Houston, Texas. Shorty's sister, June and husband
Vic May, as well as sister Vonna Huldtquist attended
from Florida. Jim's brother Bill and wife Millie came
from Massachusetts, and niece Sandy (May) and husband
Tom Robinson came from Largo, FL. It was especially
nice to have cousin Thelma Reppe attending from Long
Beach, Calif. Lifetime friends, Phyllis Hummer of St.
Pete, Fl. also came. Others attending were Shorty & Jim's
children, Jim and Marie Morris of Clearwater, Fl.; Ken
and Diane Morris of La Boca, R.P., and John and
P-Nut Morris of Roanoke, Va. Jess & Judy Lawrence,
Lakeworth, Fl, along with children Kurt & Kelly, and
Carleton & Josie Hallett, Melbourn, Fl. with daughter,
Sandra were also in attendance. Sorely missed were
grand-children Brandi & Steffie Morris of Roanoke,
VA, and grandson John Morris of Houston, Texas who
was attending school.
Mrs. W. Van (Mary Kate) Underwood being install-
ed as Worthy Matron, 1982, of Rising Light Chapter
286 of the O.E.S. on November 15, 1982. She is
shown with her son, Bill Underwood, born and rais-
ed in the Canal Zone.
Betty Ledoux
Betty LeDoux has announced this week that she
plans to seek the District I School Board seat on the
Republican ticket. Betty is 21 years old and has lived in
Pasco County, Florida for four years. She graduated from
St. Leo College with an Associate of Arts degree and has
been working as a legal secretary in Dada City.
She was born in Rhode Island but came to the Canal
Zone when she was 3 months old, and completed all her
schooling there, graduating from Cristobal High School in
1978 in only three years. She also taught swimming and
was a qualified Water Swimming Instructor while in the
Canal Zone. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Warren
E. LeDoux of Deltona, Florida.
Patricia E. Bailey
Patricia Elaine Bailey, daughter of Dr. and Mrs.
William T. Bailey of Richmond, VA. will be entering the
freshman class of Tulane University, School of Medicine,
on August 20.
The Bailey's are former residents of Herrick Rd., An-
con, Dr. Bailey was Chief of the Nuclear Medicine Depart-
ment of Gorgas Hospital. His wife, Jean, was the Public
Affairs Officer for the Inter-American Geodetic Survey at
Ft. Clayton.
Pat graduated from Balboa High School in 1972, at-
tended Canal Zone Junior College and graduated from
the University of Tennessee in 1976 with a B.A. in Speech
and Theatre. After working three years as a professional
stage manager, she entered Columbia University's Post-
Graduate-Pre-Medical Program. Her address in New
Orleans will be: 624 Lowerline St. #G, New Orleans, LA.
Harry Akers (BHS '50) was invited to Jakarta, In-
donesia, to speak at an international workshop on assess-
ment of offshore oil and gas resources, February 22-25,
1982. Harry was one of two speakers, both from An-
chorage, Alaska, who represented the Minerals Manage-
ment Service of the U.S. Department of Interior.
The workshop was sponsored by the United Nations
and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and was
hosted by PERTAMINA, Indonesia's state oil company.
Midshipman Wilfred R. (Robbie) Morris, Jr. was
graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis,
MD, on May 26, and was commissioned an Ensign in the
U.S. Navy.
Joining his "Commissioning Week" activities were his
paternal grandmother, Margaret F. Morris of Wallace,
N.C.; his parents and sister, Mr. & Mrs. Bob Morris,
Bliss and Vickie, all of Panama, and his uncle, aunt and
cousins, Mr. & Mrs. Daniel J. Hanesworth, Brooks
and Holly, of Plano, Texas. Also attending were his
maternal grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. Francis Reimann of
Anyone who can, please write to me about the time
and events they shared with Arthur Thompson. Arthur
was born and attended schools in the Canal Zone. He also
married and had two sons. His parents were Mathis and
Lillian Thompson. Arthur was killed at the Atomic Plant in
Waverly, OH in 1955. His sons have made a name for
themselves in their respective fields. Bruce is an architect
and an associate in the firm of Mitchell/Giurgola of
Philadelphia, PA. Donald is a design engineer and now
has his own firm, Thompson's Industrial Design of New
York, NY. Arthur would be very proud of them.
As these young men were very young when Arthur
was killed, I would appreciate any small memo or story to
share their father with them. How about it, old friends, it
would be appreciated.
Mrs. Anna Thompson Hagen
1004 Gainsborough Rd.
Dayton, OH 45419
Dana (Ted) Haff
Cadet Dana (Ted) Haff, son of Capt. and Mrs.
Daniel M. R. Haff of Fiddler's Green, Argyle, New York,
graduated in May from the State University of New York
Maritime College at Fort Schuyler, Bronx, NY. Upon four
years completion, Dana received a 3rd. Mates Unlimited
Ocean license and a BS Degree in Marine Transportation
and Management.
Oliver (Pat) Paterson, Locks Division retiree
residing in New Port Richey, Fla. recently returned from a
lone cruise of the Antilles Islands chain on his thirty-two
foot yawl, Esthercita II. He expects to sail to the Canal
Zone and on to Villafranche in the Mediterranean.
Miss Catherine A. Neville, daughter of Edward H.
and Dorothy Neville of Seminole, and a 1971 graduate of
Balboa High School, recently graduated cum laude from
the University of South Florida with a degree in Accoun-
ting. Miss Neville previously received her B.A. degree,
cum laude, from Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas,
and her M.A. in Bi-Lingual/Bi-Cultural Education from
the University of Texas, also cum laude. She taught in bi-
lingual schools in San Antonio, Texas for three years
before returning to Florida. Since her recent graduation,
she has accepted a position with Arthur Young and Com-
pany in Tampa, Fla.
Where Are You?
I am searching for Mrs. Roslyn Stuart and Kenneth
Anyway that you may help me would be greatly ap-
Harry H. Nunley
Route 5,
N. Chatanooga, TN 37405
Robin Gibson and Mark Collins unite in marriage, with
Trudy and Noel Gibson, parents of the bride on the left,
with Anita and Albert Collins, parents of the goom on
the right.
On August 29, 1981, Robin Gibson, daughter of
Noel and Trudy Gibson (formerly of Gamboa) was mar-
ried to Mark Collins, son of Albert and Anita Collins
(formerly of Coco Solo) in the Cristadelphian Chapel in
Houston, Texas.
Robin graduated from Balboa High School in 1979
and Mark graduated from Cristobal High School in 1972.
A number of ex-CZ young people were in the wed-
ding party; Kyle Gibson, maid of honor; Winship
Dowell, best man; Guy Gibson and Richard Dowell
were ushers, and Anita Collins was a bridesmaid.
Hollie Gibson sang "Annie's Song".
Mrs. Marie Gibson helped with the reception which
was held at the apartment complex where the young cou-
ple returned after their honeymoon in Galveston, Texas.
Mr. and Mrs. Collins now reside at 605 Princess Ave.,
Fort Valley, GA. 31030, where Mark is employed as an
electrician, and would be happy to hear from any of their
Canal Zone friends.
Mr. & Mrs. Eugene Thomas Gregg of Mandeville,
La. announce the marriage of their daughter, Gail
Dolores to Robert Warren Weien on July 8, 1982 at
Our Lady of the Lake Church in Nandeville. The reception
was held afterwards at the Pontchartrain Yacht Club,
Karen Davis Pyatt and LCDR Roger F. Schofield
were married in Poulsbo, Washington on May 27, 1982.
Karen is the daughter of Lucille Davis and the late
Ralph L. Davis.
After the wedding ceremony, a reception was held at
the home of the bride's Aunt and Uncle, Harriet and Bud
Following their honeymoon in Cancun, Mexico, the
couple will make their home in Kingston, Washington.
The wedding of Miss Wynne Favorite and Philip
H. Pedlow, Jr. occurred on May 29, 1982 in Baltimore,
Md. Wynne is the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Banjamin E.
Favorite. Mrs. Favorite is the former Ada Louise Wynne.
The bride's paternal grandmother is Mrs. Virginia
Favorite of Bentonville, Ark. Among the out-of-town
guests at the wedding were Mrs. Marie Ayala (nee
Wertz) and her son, Stephen from Monterey, Mexico,
and Jennifer Davidson from Panama.
L to R: Debbie Ford, Beth (Wright) McDowell, Bob
McDowell, Greg Boyington.
Beth Louise Wright and Robert Michael Mc-
Dowell, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas McDowell, were
united in marriage on June 26, 1982 in ceremonies con-
ducted at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Frances (Ted) Young of Kerrville, Texas. A reception
was held immediately after the ceremony.
The Matron of Honor was the bride's sister, Mrs. Joe
(Debbie) Ford, who with her husband attended the wed-
ding from their home in Springfield, Va. The Best Man
was Gregg Boyington from Franklin, Texas.
Also attending, was the bride's other sister, Nancy
and her husband, MAJ. Walter Archibald and their
children from Racine, Wisc.
The newlyweds planned a honeymoon in Corpus
Christi and Port Aransas before settling down in Austin,
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas J. Burbine of Littleton, Mass.
are pleased to announce the marriage of their son, Mark
to Susan Hall Small on July 29th., 1982 in Bedford,
Mark and Susan both work for the St. Elizabeth
Hospital in Brighton, Mass.
After a trip to Italy, they will reside at 266 Concord
Rd., Bedford, Mass.
Mr. & Mrs. William H. Allen of Seal Beach, Calif.
announce the marriage of their daughter, Elizabeth
(Betsy) Allen to Dennis Kane, on July 2, 1982 in Ven-
tura, Calif.
Mrs. Kane is Deputy Jury Commissioner for Ventura
County and her husband is a pilot with Continental
Airlines. The couple will make their home at 2800 Sailor
St., Ventura, Calif. 93001.
Mr. & Mrs. Thaddeus (Todd) Lipzinski of Grand
Rapids, Mich. announce the birth of their first grandchild.
The baby is the son of John A. and Corliss Lipzinski of
Hazen, North Dakota.
Margaret and George Martin of Clearwater, Fla.
announce the births of their two granddaughters, Meghan
Ann, born December 31, 1981 to Mr. & Mrs. George
Henshaw (Margaret Ann Martin) of Cincinnati, Ohio;
and Cherilyn Anna, born July 2, 1982 to Mr. and Mrs.
Jerrold Smith (Elaine Martin) of Clearwater, Fla.
Mr. and Mrs. Gerald (Budd) Bliss of Campbell,
Calif. are happy to share the news of the births of their
10th. and 11th. grandchildren.
Daniel Andrew Stephenson was born March 19,
1982 to Andrew and Marjorie (Bliss) Stephenson of
Lakewood, Colo.
Jill Dynnae Vance, born July 2, 1982 to Michael
and Carolyn (Bliss) Vance of northern California. The
grandparents were present for the births of both grand-
Judith and Edward Cunningham of St.
Petersburg, Fla. announce the birth of their son, Patrick
Russell, born April 19, 1982. Maternal grandparents are
Jean and George Hudson, and paternal grandparents
are Janet and Ross Cunningham, all of St. Petersburg,
George and Gertrude Allgaier are the proud great-
grandparents of a baby girl, Stephani Dawn Allgaier.
She was born April 20, 1982 to their grandson, John I.
Allgaier, Jr. and his wife, Cheryl Lynn. Maternal grand-
parents are Mr. & Mrs. Charles Dees of Tampa, Fla.
Tom and Ann Moore of Japan, are proud to an-
nounce the birth of their daughter, Pamela Rose on April
22, 1982. The proud grandmother is Kathryn Argo
Molinaro of Hemet, Calif. and the great grandparents are
Emmett and Adele Argo of Laguna Hills, Calif.
Mr. and Mrs. William H. Allen (Dot Hoffman) of
Seal Beach, Calif. are proud to announce the birth of their
first grandchild, a boy, Derek Allen, on May 21, 1982,
weighing 11 lbs. 7 oz.
He is the son of Thomas and Nella Nan (Twinks
Allen) Webster of Turtle Rock, Irvine, Calif. Tom is a
pilot with Air California and Mrs. Webster is Vice-President
of Security Pacific Bank in Newport Beach, Calif.
Capt. and Mrs. J. Scott Graham of Tucson, Ariz.
announce the birth of their second baby boy, Paul
Michael, born on June 6, 1982 at Davis Monthan AFB
Hospital. Weighing in at 6 lbs. 12 ounces and beautiful.
The proud grandparents are Mr. & Mrs. Charles J. Col-
lins of St. Petersburg, Fla.; Mr. Gerald Graham of
Oldsmar, Fla., and Mrs. Doris Graham of Clearwater,
The great-grandparents are Mrs. John J. Kotalik of
Jacksonville, Fla.; Mr. and Mrs. Dwight VanEvera and
Mr. and Mrs. Perc Graham, both of Pinellas Park, Fla.
Mrs. Collins was in Tucson for the happy occasion
helping and taking care of all and especially the older
brother, Bradley John.
Bill and Sue Howe of Horse Shoe, N.C. announce
the birth of their son, Charles William, Jr. on June 8,
1982. He joins his sister, Caroline Ann. Paternal grand-
parents are Charlie and Carmen Howe of North
Moises and Jean De la Pena announce the birth of
their seventh granddaughter, Shelly June, born to
Stephen and Jean (De la Pena) Tsuya, in Bisbee,
Arizona on June 17, 1982. Shelly is welcomed by her
sisters, Stephanie and Ruth.
Mrs. Jacoba (Co) Joustra of Sarasota, proudly an-
nounces the birth of her first great-grandchild, Jennifer
Kathleen Valko, born to CDR Peter Valko, USN, and
Mrs. Valko of Hawaii on July 3, 1982.
CDR Valko is assigned to the U.S. Naval Station
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Mrs. Valko is the former Kathleen
Melville, daughter of William and Catherine
(Joustra) of Middletown, N.Y.
LT. and Mrs. Kevin J. O'Connor, USN, announce
the birth of their first child, daughter Erin Ann on July 20,
1982 in Pearl City Naval Hospital, Hawaii. Erin is the
granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward (Shirley Smith)
O'Connor and the great granddaughter of Mrs. Shirly
(Persons) Smith of St. Petersburg, Fla.
tth S4orro
a~nd /Su1tLeyea enui~e f/wn (Ain"'F
Word has been received from Henry and Mary Nagel
of Jacksonville, Fla. of the passing of Aldrich Lowe.
Details are lacking but it is known that Mr. Lowe was the
former manager of the Chase Manhattan Bank in Balboa.
James Langford, 77, died October 8, 1981 in Den-
ville, NJ. he was the former Chief Engineer in the Mer-
chant Marine and for the Panama Lines. He was a
member of the Panama Canal Employees Association, the
Elks and Marine Engineers Beneficial Association. He is
survived by his wife, Marion; a son, James of Atlanta, GA;
two daughters, four brothers, five sisters, and 5 grand-
Grace E. McCaslin, who lived with her son,
Donald in Bellevue, WA. passed away December 30,
1981. She is also survived by her daughter, Grace Laurie
of Palto Alto, CA. She was 93 years old and was a former
teacher in the Canal Zone Schools.
James D. MacLean passed away on January 5,
1982. He was a resident of Whiting, NJ, and is survived by
his wife, Betty.
Dr. James M. Lynch, 80, died on February 20,
1982 in Escondido, Calif. He spent several years in
Panama during the 1930's studying tropical diseases for
the United States and the Panamanian governments,
which won him recognition at a convention of the
American Medical Association. During WWII, Dr. Lynch
served in the Navy Medical Corps. Surviving are his wife,
Dell; a son, Nathaniel of Escondido; a brother, Frank of
San Diego, a sister and a grandson.
Beryl (Bobby) Hicks Levy, of Alexandria, VA pass-
ed away on March 20, 1982. The widow of the late Ed-
ward A. Levy, former Chief of Army Civilian Personnel in
the Canal Zone, she went to the Isthmus as a nurse at the
old Panama Hospital. She was a member of the Eastern
Star. She is survived by her son, Edward of Alexandria,
VA and two grandsons.
Robert L. Dwelle, 65, died 26 March, 1982 in
Alburquerque, NM. He was the son of the late Roy and
Ruth Dwelle, and graduated from BHS and Iowa State
University. He had been retired from the faculty at Cornell
University for nine months prior to his death. He is surviv-
ed by one brother, Dr. E.D. (Ned) Dwelle of Alice, Texas;
a sister-in-law, Mrs. Roy C. Dwelle of Dallas, Texas and
four nephews and their families.
Harry Whitehead, 77, died April 5, 1982 in
Tallahassee, FL. after a long illness. He is survived by his
wife, Viola (Stevens); two sons, Don, of PA. and the
Rev. Phillip of SC. and six grandchildren.
Rudolf Mans, 64, of Jacksonville, Fla. died on 28
April, 1982. He was a native of Osel, Estonia and was a
Stevedore Foreman with the Panama Canal Docks Divi-
sion from 1951 to 1973 when he retired. He was also a
member of Elks Lodge #1542, Margarita; a member of the
Knights of Columbus and the American Legion.
He is survived by his wife, Rose Marie, three sons,
Donald, Bernard who are still employed by the Panama
Canal Commission as Tugboat Captains, and Roland of
Jacksonville, Fla; a daughter, Mary Ann; daughter-in-law,
Maria; a sister, Alma Kalmut and a grandson, Christian
Paul; several nephews and nieces in Estonia and Sweden.
Helen C. Baker, 92, of Winter Park, FL. died 17,
April 1982. She retired from the Panama Canal Schools
Division as music teacher and later as Director of Music in
1964. She was a member of Winter Park Presbyterian
Church and a member of N.A.R.F.E. She is survived by a
niece, Mrs. W. H. Post of St. Petersburg.
Josephine Raymond (Baker) Dennis, 88, passed
away on April 20, 1982 in Princeton, NJ where she has
lived for the past 29 years. She left the Canal Zone in 1953
with Bill and Marge (Dennis) Bain after 42 years there and
was employed by the Commissary and Coupon Division
for 20 years. She was the daughter of Arthur E. and Annie
Baker and the wife of the late Wes Dennis who died in
1933 and whose ashes are buried in the middle of the
Canal opposite the site of the Commemorative placque to
the "Ditch Diggers". Both husband and father were
Roosevelt Medal Holders.
Sue is survived by four of her five children; Josephine
(Dennis) Kanover; Jean (Dennis) Herbert; Marjorie (Den-
nis) Bain; Robert "Dink" Dennis, Sr.; eight grandchildren
and six great-grandchildren.
Meta Coffey, 93, of Winter Park, Fl. died 21 April,
1982. Her husband was a construction employee with the
U.S. Army, and she operated the gift shop and notions
section of the Balboa YMCA in the 1930's and into the
WWII years when the YMCA became the USO. She is
survived by her husband, Joseph W.
Lucille Feeney, 77 of Harbour Heights, FL. died
April 25, 1982. She was a member of Punta Gorda Coun-
try Club and the Harbour Heights United Methodist
Church. She is survived by her husband, Harold; three
sons; Harold Jr. and Douglass of Naples, FL and D. Garth
of NJ; 4 sisters and 4 grandsons.
Julius E. Schriftgiesser, 90, of North Weymouth,
Mass. died 27 April, 1982. He served with the Navy in
both World Wars and retired as Chief Petty Officer. He liv-
ed in the Panama Canal Zone for many years before mov-
ing to Massachusetts in 1953. He was a Past Commander
of America Legion Post #1, Ft. Amador, and a Mason. An
18 gun salute was fired over his grave by an honor guard.
He is survived by his wife, Lorraine (Barnabe); a daughter,
Pauline M. Little of North Weymouth; a sister of Mt. Dora,
Fla.; and seven grandchildren and four great-grand-
Mrs. Freddie Lee Wirtz, 61, passed away on May
10, 1982. A former resident of Curundu, she had resided
in Horseshoe, NC for the past 10 years. She is survived by
her husband, Edison; a daughter, Sandra Ekburg of Elko,
NV; a son, Edison, Jr. of Mills River; two brothers and six
Harry W. Gardner, of Palm Coast, FL died on May
12, 1982. He was 75 years of age. He began work in the
Canal Zone in 1940 on the Third Locks Project and retired
from the Dredging Division in June 1964 due to an injury.
He was active in the Isthmian Masonic Lodge, Scottish
Rite and Abou Saad Shrine Temple.
He is survived by his wife, Helen I. Gardner; a
daughter, Joyce G. Kuhrt of Altamonte Springs, FL; a
brother, William 0. of California; 5 sisters and 4 grand-
Robert L. Knapp, of Panama, died 15 May, 1982.
He retired as a supervisor of the Wood Shop. Survivors in-
clude his wife, Ruth; a brother, Zeno of Lake Penasoffke,
FL. and sisters Alice Fowler of Alabama, Virginia Nelson
of Alabama and Mary Belle Hicks of St. Petersburg, FL.
John (Jack) Crone, 84, died May 19, 1982 in Harl-
inger, Texas. He was a former Planner and Estimator with
the 15th. Naval District in the Canal Zone, when he retired
on disability. He was an active Mason and Shriner.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret of Harlinger,
Texas; a brother, Robert, Nottingham, England and three
Edith L. Eppley, 98, of Sarasota, Fla. passed away
on May 24, 1982 at Wilhelm's Nursing Home.
Born in Montgomery, PA, she moved from Balboa,
Canal Zone to Sarasota, Fla. where she made her home
with her daughter, Rae and son-in-law, Joe Ebdon, Jr.
She was a member of the Rebekah Lodge and held a life
membership in Orchid Chapter #1, O.E.S.
Surviving her are two sons, Carl R. Newhard of Ben-
tonville, Ark. and N. Deane Eppley of Vienna, VA.; a
daughter, Rae Ebdon of Sarasota, eight grandchildren
and fourteen great-grandchildren.
Gladys Hubbard Cain, 88, passed away May 26,
1982 in Portland, OR. She is survived by a step-son and 6
nephews and nieces, including Vera Jones of Largo FL.
She retired in 1948 after more than 26 years of service
with the Canal Zone Schools Division.
James B. Schuber, 72, died 27 May, 1982 in
Naples, Fl. He was born in Panama in 1904 and subse-
quently graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in An-
noplis in 1928. He visited Panama often, thereafter, and
known as "Babe" Shuber, was credited as being one of the
greatest all-around athletes ever born and bred at the
ninth parallel. He is survived by his wife, Ruth; a stepson,
Gerald Glass of Calif. and several nieces and nephews.
Shelby R. White, 77, died at home on May 30,
1982. He resided in Mancos, Colorado at the time of his
death. He came to the Canal Zone in 1908 at the age of 3
and returned to Chicago when his father retired in 1921
and became a switchman and conductor for five different
railroads for several years. He returned to the Canal Zone
in 1939 with his wife, Lillian, to continue his railroad
career. He returned to the U.S. in 1951 and was
employed as Manager of the Eqlin A.F.B. railroads until
his retirement in 1969. He was a Mason, member of the
O.E.S., Elks, Panama Canal Scottish Rite and Abou Saad
Shrine Temple. He is survived by his wife, Lillian of Man-
cos; a daughter, Charlene of Stevens Point, Wis.; a
brother, Harry of Summerdale; six grandchildren and
seven great-grandchildren.
Maude (Teegarden) Reynolds, passed away on
May 30, 1981 after a long illness. She came to the Canal
Zone in 1941 and was a former employee of the Special
Engineering Division. She is survived by her husband,
Vince; a brother, Clark of Renton, WA., a daughter, Lynn
Price and 3 grandchildren of Hanover Park, IL; a son,
Peter and 2 grandchildren of Wichita, KS.
Robert H. "Bob" Bartram, 76, of Tampa, Fl. died
on June 5, 1982. He was a machinist for the Panama
Canal in the Industrial Division, both on the Atlantic and
Pacific sides. He was a life-time member of Cristobal Elks
Lodge #1542, Eagles Lodge and Machinist's Union. He is
survived by his wife, Carol.
Minnie L. Landreth, 65, of Bandera, Texas, died
June 5, 1982 in a San Antonio hospital. She was a resi-
dent of the Canal Zone and moved to Bandera eleven
years ago. She was a member of the First Christian Church
and the Fine Arts Club. Services were under the direction
of the Order of the Eastern Star. She is survived by a
daughter, Loraina O'Neill and a granddaughter, both of
San Antonio.
Ethel Hope Symonds, 87 of Gulfport, FL. passed
away on June 8, 1982. Her late husband, Orlando, was
retired from the Mechanical Division and she was a
Telephone Supervisor with the U.S. Army Signal Corps,
Quarry Heights at the time of their retirement in 1947.
They resided in Albuquerque, NM and in 1978 came to
Gulfport, FL. where she lived with her daughter, Alma
and son-in-law, Tom Burrow who had retired from the Ex-
ecutive Planning Staff. Other survivors include her sister,
Mrs. Nena McMillan, Gulfport and a brother, Horace
Bartlett of Baltimore, MD.
Elena Gooden, passed away in Shreveport, LA on
June 9th., 1982. She was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery,
Miami, FL. She is survived by her husband, R. Herber
Gooden, who served as Bishop of Panama and the Canal
Zone from 1945-1972; two sons, Reginald, of San Luis
Obispo, CA. and Richard, of Los Angeles, CA and five
Robert T. O'Connor Jr., 57, of St. Petersburg, FL.
died June 16th. 1982. He left Panama in 1979 where he
was a Customs and Immigration Inspector. He was also a
WWII Air Force veteran, a member of the National Rifle
Association, The National Sheriffs Association, Elks Lodge
No. 1414 of Balboa, Moose Lodge No. 1145 of St.
Petersburg, FL. N.A.R.F.E. and the Panama Canal Socie-
ty of Florida.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara R.; two sons,
John P., of Ft. Walton Beach, FL., and Gary W. of St.
Petersburg, FL; a daughter, Coleen G. Lau of Austin, TX;
a sister, Lila Meyers of Calif and two granddaughters.
Sadie Slaughter, of Lakeland, Fla. passed away on
June 19, 1982. She is survived by her husband, William
G. and a daughter, Eloise Murphy.
Rufus C. O'Neal, 63, of Titusville, Fla. died on
June 23, 1982. He was a Chief Marine Traffic Controller
for the Panama Canal Company. Survivors include his
wife, Ruth; daughters, Barbara Braun of Verona, NJ.,
Alice Grove and Margaret Welborn of Atlanta; a sister, Et-
ta Harville of Winter Springs and two grandchildren.
Arthur E. Schneider passed away in Ft. Myers, Fla.
on June 25th., 1982. He was formerly Chief Engineer,
towboat, and all his service with the Panama Canal was
with the Port Captain's Office, Cristobal.
He is survived by his son, Arthur Jr. of Gainesville,
Fla., and a niece, Phillis Curtis of Rochester, New York.
Ruth L. Baltozer, 88 of St. Petersburg, Fl. passed
away on July 2, 1982. She was the wife of the late Earl R.
Baltozer who retired from the Panama Canal in 1956. She
was a member of the Pasadena Community Church. She
is survived by a son, Richard, of St. Petersburg, FL; two
grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Porfirio Mendoza, 55, died July 12, 1982 in St.
Petersburg. He retired in 1975 with the rank of Sergeant
Major in the US Army in the Canal Zone. He served dur-
ing the Korean and Vietnam conflicts and had 30 years
Survivors include his wife, Elda M.; three daughters,
Martiza "Mia" and Sonia, and Diana E. Sarria; two sons,
Edwin J. and Mario D., all of St. Petersburg, Fla.; a
brother, Zoilo, Camden, NJ and a granddaughter.
Steve Martin, 18, of Ozark, Ala., died July 12,
1982 from injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident. He
was a graduate of Carroll High School; a member of the
Chess Club and the Health Occupation Students of
America Club.
Survivors include his parents, H.J. and Maxine (Bag-
gott) Martin; one sister, Helen Snyder; Maternal grand-
mother, Henrietta Baggott, widow of Frank Baggott, and
his paternal grandmother, Mrs. Louis Martin, of Madrid.
Charles F. Severson, Jr., 64 died July 14, 1982 in
his Long Beach home in California. As a young man, he
was offered a presidential appointment to West Point but
chose to attend American University in Washington and
Canal Zone Junior College in Balboa before graduating
cum laude from USC. He had a very distinguished career,
later founding Long Beach's largest general contracting
firm. He is survived by his sons; Jonathon E., Elliott R.,
Charles F. III, William E., and Robert S. Severson.
Rosetta G. Millett, of Arlington, Va. passed away
on July 9, 1982. The widow of the late John Millett, she
went by ship to Colon, at the age of 18 to get married in
1920. The family lived in Balboa, Margarita and Curundu.
During the War she worked at "WASPS" in Quarry
Heights (Air Warning Personnel). Surviving her are her
daughter, Rosemary Gilead of Arlington, Va.; and sons,
Thomas F. of Grandview, MO. and John J. of Takoma
Park, MD. Also thirteen grandchildren and eighteen great-
Eleanor A. Connor, 75, of St. Petersburg, Fla.
passed away on July 26, 1982. She was an accounting
technician for the Panama Canal Co. before she retired in
1973. She was a member of the OES Orchid Chapter 1
and the American Lelgion Auxiliary Unit 1. She was also a
member of the Northside Baptist Church and the Golden
Heirs Club. As a prominent member of the Panama Canal
Society of Florida, she served faithfully in the kitchen dur-
ing Regular Meetings in support of the Society. Survivors
include a son, Ralph of New York City; two brothers Virgil
and Gordon Arnold of Lopez Island, Wash., and a sister,
Marie Johnson of Rockland, Main.
Evelyn B. Fort, 86, of St. Petersburg died July 30,
1982. She was born in Staten Island, NY and left the
Panama Canal Zone in 1957. She was a member of
Transfiguration Catholic Church and the Panama Canal
Society of Florida. Survivors include her son, T. Roger, of
Kansas City, MO.; a sister, Irma Finnegan of Fairport, NY
and two grandchildren.
Letters to the Editor
During 1981 I1 enjoyed a ten weeks tour of the United
States. I visited with the Gene Greggs, June Clayton,
Mary and Herb Taake, Mary and Dick Condon, Flora
Varon, Lyle and Charla Roush, Grace and Jim Pfau,
Norman Slade, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Wrenn, Thelma
Godwin, Carl and Pedie Maedl and Dora Hardy, all
formerly of the Canal Zone. I talked to Virginia
Favorite on the phone. ... I have seen Stella Riefkohl
several times. Went to her son's wedding in Durham,
N.C. He is an assistant professor at the Duke Medical
Center. Plastic Surgeon.
I have just received a phone call from Jim and Doris
Hunt from Panama. They will be visiting me in a few
Bernard R. Mazzoni
Rexmont, PA.
I retired from International Telephone and Telegraph
(ITT) on April 1 this year, and Helen is scheduled to retire
from the Health Department (State of Georgia) in July.
We plan to launch our 58' ketch rigged sailboat later this
year and sail the seven seas.
Jim Replogle
Jessup, GA.
Andy and Margaret Barna, also daughter Stacy,
recently entertained Betty McGilberry, Dothan, Ala. -
Ann Laura Johnson, Washington State Capt. Joe
Beale and wife, Mary, daughter Mary Joe and son
Roger. They spent an entire evening remembering the
good ole' times.
Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Barna
Orange Park, Fla.
As the song goes, "How are you going to keep them
down on the farm?" It's easy. The farm, the residence of
Milton and Jane (Paulson) Martin of Wakulla, Fla. and
the occasion was a birthday party for her Mom, Mary
Jane Paulson. Sharecroppers attending the celebration
were Marty & Judy (Paulson) Weaver, Leo Paulson,
Cynthia Colburn, Nell & Debbie (Elich) Patton,
Caleb and Ruth Clement, Louis and Barbara Dedeaux,
Rose and Bill Deaton, and the latest resident of
Tallahassee, Fla., Ed Overstreet. After a Bar-B-Q
chicken dinner, an off-key but loud version of "Happy
Birthday" was rendered. L.C. "Cash" Paulson refused
to reveal Mary Janes' age on the grounds that he had to
go home that night. Hod and Janet Jenner were also
house guests of the Paulson's during their recent move to
Pensacola, Fla. from Ocala, Fla.
Ed Overstreet
Tellahassee, Fla.
S. Jimmy Coman and "Able" Anderson visited
me and my wife for a short while as a stop-over on their
way to Austin, Texas for a golf tournament. I must say
that neither of them had a trim 36-38 waist. but I must
say both looked great and we were so glad to see them. It
means so much when old friends stop by and see us. .. I
am still proud to have been a small part of the Canal dur-
ing my long stay there from 1913 to 1953, although I
broke my service during that time. Some may still
remember me as the Commissioner of the Atlantic Twilight
League .... Everybody who knows me up here calls me
"Panama"... Some of them got together and bought me
a cap with "Panama" on it, so you won't have any trouble
finding me if you ever get up this way. Hasta Luega.
Ernie and Helen Forsman
Spring, Texas
.. I was very much flattered to see my picture in the
March issue. Charlie Heim's stories are always good and
bring back memories of my high school friendship with him
and Burt Asensio. Would you believe that Charlie used to
come over to my house on New Cristobal Beach and help
me do the dishes after which I would thank him and then
go out on a date with one of the "older boys!".
I eventually married one of the "older boys", Bill
Bailey whose parents, Ruth and Bill (C.C.) were both
Roosevelt Medal Holders. I remember a story my beloved
mother-in-law used to tell. She had gone down to Panama
with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Clint Carty about 1905
when she was about 12 years old. Like many early settlers,
they lived "along the line" in box cars until quarters
became available. Some time about 1908-10, Ruth was
hired as a young telephone operator at Gatun when the
construction was in progress. According to her story it was
customary at that time for the young swains to call her up
and say "This is Colonel Goethals" to which she would
give a flip answer, "So's your old man" or something
equally silly. Well, one day when this happened, it really
was Col. Goethals, who made it a point to find out who
the fresh telephone operator was. This resulted in her be-
ing fired. She was later re-hired and after her marriage she
was the popular telephone operator at the Hotel
Washington and for many years at the General Manager's
Office at Mt. Hope until her retirement in 1943.
I hope your appeal for experiences and stories par-
ticularly about the priceless West Indians will bring forth a
good response. Here is one I heard at the Reunion tho' I
find it difficult to write "Bajun" and get a proper spelling for
the right pronunciation.
"Two West Indian women were coming into the City
from Rio Abajo on a chiva. One says to the other; "Iris, ya
does know me datah, Ivy?" The other replied, "Sure I
does know Ivy, how she keeping?" "Ya does know she
havh a baby?" "Oh she havh a baby, what she havh?"
First woman: "Guess" "She havh a giurl baby?" "No".
"She does havh a boy?". First woman: "Who tole' ya."
Ellen E. Johnson
Alpine, Calif.
Emily McGahhey, presented President Franklin D.
Roosevelt with an armful of roses, in return for a kiss on
both cheeks, during the President's July 1934 visit to the
Canal Zone. Emily is being held by Coach Henry
Greiser. Emily is now Mrs. Emily (McGahhey)
Crawford and the sister of Julius F. McGahhey,
Dothan, Alabama.
Your Editor received a call the other day from "Pete"
Budreau who told me she wanted to set the record
straight. Her father, Adrien Bouche, 83 years of age, of
Panama City, Florida, is also a Roosevelt Medal holder.
Both he and his father had anglicized their names from
Bouche to Butcher during the Construction days when
they were awarded the Medal. The younger Butcher
reverted back to Bouche when he became of age, which
he has kept ever since. Not finding the name Bouche
among the listing provided by the Panam Canal Commis-
sion, he was not listed in the June issue of the Canal
Record although his name appears in the Reviews of
April 2, 1954, page 17 and May 3, 1957, page 13, of
which the editor has neither.
Your editor is therefore happy and proud to add his
name to the LIVING KNOWN Medal holders:
Adrien M. (Butcher) Bouche, Sr. SR. #7356
3440 Game Farm Rd.
Panama City, Fla. 32405
Fred W. Bradley #7407
Stuart G. Carkeet #4695, 1st. Bar #2905
Robert L. Dill #6726
Thomas J. Ebdon #2683, 1st. Bar #1645,
2nd. Bar #1135
Gregor Cramlich #6898
Harry R. White #3873, 1st Bar #2786 CR
Adrien Bouche Still Part of Canal Scene
The Panama Canal Spillway May 10, 1970
Local historian, plant prospector, miner, and linguist
Adrian M. Bouche, who retired from the Panama Canal
organization 10 years ago, feels that he is still very much
part of the Canal scene.
When he retired as Chief Control House Operator at
Pedro Miguel in 1960 after 44 years service, Bouche was
the last Roosevelt Medal HOlder to be working on the
Canal. He had received it when he was 16.
Bouche, who recently returned to the United States
after one of his regular visits on the Isthmus, is going on
72, has a prodigious memory and spends most of his time
nowadays answering questions about the Canal, especially
the construction days.
West Virginia
Born in West Virginia, he spent his early years in
France with his French-born father and attended grade
school there. A. M. Butcher, who had changed his name
from Bouche, brought his family to the Isthmus in 1907
and went to work for the Canal on the construction of
Gatun Spillway and hydroelectric plant which supplied the
electricity and power to run the Canal. Butcher, who is 98
years of age and retired from Canal service in 1934, is liv-
ing in the United States.
The family lived at Bohio in the Gorgona area which
disappeared long ago with the construction of the Canal.
Young Bouche's first job on the Canal was a summer job.
He was an office boy in the office of Col. William L. Sibert,
who was in charge of the Atlantic Side Canal construction.
It was 1910 and Bouche was 12 years old.
Bouche became a full time employee in 1912 and
during his Canal career he was employed in the Electrical
Division, the Marine Bureau, the Lighthouse subdivision,
and the Locks, where he worked for 20 years.
Traveled Widely
From time to time during his Canal service, Bouche
would take off and go to work in Costa Rica or Colombia
or travel around South America. In 1919, he married
Marguerite Hess, whose father was the founder of the
Observatory at Miraflores.
During his many years on the Isthmus, Bouche spent
his spare time rambling around the country as a botanist,
researching local plants and passing on the information he
gathered to drug companies, research laboratories, and
other scientific institutions. For over 40 years, he con-
tributed therapeutic drug plant data to the Smithsonian
Institution, the Field Museum of Chicago, Missouri
Botanical Gardens in St. Louis, Mersk & Ciba (Swiss drug
firm) and other research agencies.
His extensive plant research has not been limited to
pharmaceutical plants alone. Bouche has also devoted
many years to collecting and studying flowering plants and
parasites and has several varieties of orchids named for him.
He also has been a leading influence in the community in
introducing many young people in the Canal Zone to take
up such fulfilling hobbies as rock hunting and bottle collec-
Masters Languages
While carrying on his various avocations, Bouche has
managed to learn French, Spanish, Italian, and several
Keeping busy, having an interestingproject going on
all the time, love of his work, and a genuine interest in the
world about him, characterize Bouche's life who says that if
he had the chance to live his life all over again, he would
live it exactly the same way.
The Bouches have three children: Georges, who is
now the Panama Canal Commission's Ombudsman;
Adrien Jr. a retired Marine Traffic Controller, now in
Orem, Utah, and "Pete" Burdeau, a retired statistical assis-
tant in the Executive Planning Staff, now in Panama City,
Mr. and Mrs. Bouche have been making their home
in Panama City, Florida, and spend some time visiting
their son, Georges in Panama. "It's always great to come
back," says Bouche, adding that he is still interested in his
old job on the locks and feels that it is his loyal duty to keep
up with what is going on at the Panama Canal.
PRR #299 on display, and inoperative, at Balboa Railroad
Station until 1979 when it was removed and sent to the
United States for display there.
COLONEL R. SELEE, U.S.A. (Ret.)
Assistant to General Manager,
Panama Railroad Company
From: The Panama Canal Safety Zone May, 1949
We took the time the other day to count all the dif-
ferent railroads in the United States, and while we have
been quite proud of our kingsize width for a long time, it
was somewhat of a surprise to discover that, percentage-
wise, we had something in the way of length too. Actually
there are 540 railroads in the United States, not counting
terminal lines, and of that total, 345 railroads are shorter
and only 194 are longer than the Panama Railroad.
Historically the Panama Railroad is almost in a class by
itself and if comparisons and associations in this regard are
to be made, they should be with only the most venerable
of railroads.
Back in 1831 the "De Witt Clinton," which was the
first locomotive in New York State, made its initial run on
the Mohawk and Hudson (now the New York Central)
from Albany to Schenectady. A few years later, by joining
a series of small railroads together, the railroads got as far
west as Buffalo on Lake Erie in the year 1842. This was
referred to as the first railroad to reach "Western" waters.
In 1848 the first locomotive arrived in Chicago not
under its own steam but aboard a sailing vessel, to go into
service on what is now the Chicago and Northwestern.
Not until four years later in 1852 did the first train enter
Chicago from the East under its own power. In 1850 the
railroad had joined Charleston with Chattanooga on the
Tennessee River to form the second railroad to "Western"
waters and the Federal Government had started in that
year to deal out the Federal railroad land grants which
were to do so much to inspire the building and extension
of railroads to the West during the next few decades.
In precisely the same year of 1850, less than 20 years
after the building of the first commercial railroad in the
United States, three Americans, Aspinwall, Chauncey and
Stevens had actually started the construction of our trans-
continental railroad here on the Isthmus of Panama. It was
a business venture, pure and simple, backed by a stock
company which was incorporated under the laws of the
State of New York and designed to cash in on a source of
wealth that the region inherited with its georgraphy -
namely the transportation of persons and things across the
narrowest strip of land between the Atlantic and Pacific
Oceans on the Western Hemisphere. This natural crossing
point had been discovered early in the game and had been
used for over three centuries. Basically the scheme for get-
ting across the Isthmus was to use the Chagres River from
the Atlantic to some place in the vicinity or where Gamboa
is now located and thence to travel by foot or horse to
the Pacific. It seemed good sense to build the toughest sec-
tion of travel first and that was the south section from the
Chagres to the Pacific. In that way supplies could come up
the Chagres and the land route to the Pacific would be
finished first and the income from the Railroad would start
that much sooner. The California gold rush fixed things so
this plan was never initiated because the rivermen who ran
the small boats up the Chagres were so busy and well paid
taking care of travelers on their way to California, the
Railroad builders couldn't afford to pay to have their
workmen and supplies brought up the river. As a conse-
quence the railroad was started from what is now Colon in
May 1850 out thru the swamps of Manzanillo Bay.
Autumn of that year saw 300 men at work and by
December the number had increased to 1000. April of
1851 found the railroad completed to Gatun and here, a
few months later, fortune began to smile on the Panama
Just a few miles away to the west of the railroad
line, the gold seekers and their belongings were going in
a steady stream up the Chagres. It took a whole day to
get from the mouth of the Chagres to Gatun by boat.
PRR #51 with passenger cars and baggage cars stopped
at overpass. At Paraiso in 1883.
The scheme of operation was to transfer the travelers
and their possessions from the ship on which they had
come from New York into small boats that could make
it up the river. The transfer from big to little boats was
made fairly well out from the mouth of the river in deep
water and even when the sea was calm such a pro-
cedure carried certain hazards. In November 1851 two
such ships arrived at the mouth of the Chagres for the
usual transfer of their cargoes and passengers but the
storms were so bad and lasted so long these particular
ships had to seek refuge in Navy Bay (Colon Harbor).
This was bad news for the impatient travelers, but they
soon found out that there was a railroad running as far
as Gatun and presently they had persuaded the
management of the Railroad to transport them to
Gatun, thereby speeding them on their way to the gold
of California. This pay load was probably the first ever
handled by a railroad south of the Rio Grande. On the
return of the two ships to New York with the report of a
safe harbor and the saving of one day
s time across the Isthmus, the terminal at Navy Bay was
made the regular stop for all boats with Isthmian pas-
sengers and thus a service was started that was to bring
the company more than two million dollars during the
early part of its construction and to make the line a
money-maker before it was half completed.
In January 1855, about 4-1/2 years after the start
of construction the rails were joined from one side of
the Isthmus to the other and daily trains followed soon
after. Most of us have heard how the advent of the
automobile, the country was going to be ruined because
the horse would disappear and the man power used to
make harnesses, saddles and carriages would have
nothing to do. A familiar note is found in the Daily
Courier of Colon on February 24, 1855, which wrote:
"When the train passed the Chagres, a thousand
rivermen were infuriated and the day the whistle of
the locomotive saluted the sands of the Pacific, 3000
mules became idle and their drivers cursed the
enterprise that would rob them of their jobs."
Many legends have grown up over the experiences
of the early days of the Railroad and among the most
persistent of these is the one about the Chinese whose
dead bodies, according to some yarns, constituted the
bulk of some of the fills. It's too bad to let the truth spoil
a good story but in all fairness to the foremen and
superintendents of these admittedly rough early days,
the facts of the Chinese coolie incident are these. Some
800 Chinese were brought over from China in the early
1850's. They made the sea trip in good shape but
shortly after reaching this part of the world they began
to ail and waste away and between disease and suicide
their number was down to about 200 in a very few
weeks. In all probability their troubles stemmed from
their failure to get opium and history has it that the
survivors of this tragic episode were sent to Jamaica
where they presumably finished their days in somewhat
happier surroundings.
The first years of the Panama Railroad were des-
tined to be prosperous. It has been explained how pas-
senger traffic was practically forced down the Railroad's
throat by the time the line had been built only to Gatun.
The management cold-bloodedly had deliberately put
what it thought was a prohibitive charge on every ser-
vice it rendered, with the hope that it would keep com-
mercial business down and thus let all its energies be
PRR #653 hauling the two 14" railways guns northbound. The train consisted of 15 cars plus the guns. There were amuni-
tion cars, tool cars and flat cars to spread the load. Bringing up the rear are two PRR coaches for personnel. One was fitted
up to supply rations for the trip. These guns were moved from the Atlantic side to the Pacific side and taken back again to
Ft. Randolph, presumably to test the time involved. The trip across the Isthmus took 21/2 hours. The photo was taken dur-
ing 1933/1934. Any members knowing the exact dates, Engineer's names etc. please notify Editor.
Photo by permission of Charles S. Small, author of "Rails To The Diggings". (See For Sale Section).
spent in finishing the railroad. But after the line was fin-
ished it was evident that the high cost of transport
across the Isthmus via the Railroad was no deterrent to
business and the same exorbitant rates were kept in
effect for 20 years. This is a sample of those charges:
First class passengers $25.00
Steerage passengers 10.00
Personal baggage (per pound) .05
Express (per cu. ft.) 1.08
1st class freight (per cu. ft.) .50
2d class freight (per 100 lbs.) 1.05
Mail (per pound) .22
Coal (per ton) 5.20
As a result of these traffic rates, earnings of 50 to 100
per cent on the original investment of $8,000,000 were
reached in some years and in the first ten years of its
operation the Railroad transported over $7,000,000-
worth of specie and 300,000 bags of mail. However,
between 1883 and 1892 the annual dividends averaged
only 7.2 per cent and in 1893, the year of the panic,
there was a deficit, the only loss to be recorded up to
that time.
The original company was privately owned and as
has already been mentioned was incorporated under
the laws of the State of New York in 1849. It remained
in this status until it was acquired by the French Panama
Canal Company for about 25-1/2 million dollars in
1883. In the hands of the French, the railroad deter-
iorated steadily so that by the time it was purchased by
the United States along with other properties and rights
in 1904, a great deal of money had to be spent to bring
it back to life. Of the $40,000,000 that the United
States paid the French Company, $7,000,000 was the
prorated value of the railroad itself. From the very be-
ginning, the railroad maintained its identify as a stock
company and operated under its original New York
charter up to July 1, 1948. From 1904 it was owned by
our government in its entirety and all dividends, which
have totaled more than $20,000,000 were paid into the
Treasury of the United States. As of July 1, 1948, the
company was reincorporated as a Federal Corporation
as prescribed and required by a new law under which it
now operates. Where there were formerly 70,000
shares of stock there is now virtually one and the
Secretary of the Army, who is a member of the Board
of Directors of the Company has been designated as the
custodian of it one of the most valuable shares of
stock in American business.
In common with railroads all over the country the
Panama Railroad turned in a magnificent performance
during the war. Right now it is having something of a
tussle financially to keep its head above water and this
condition is due partly to let-down experienced in so
many businesses following the war and partly to being
caught in the economic tug-of-war between rising
expenses on the one hand and the desire to hold-the-
line in the cost of service rendered on the other. We are
sure however that the patient is basically well and that
in its traditional role of strong right arm to The Panama
Canal it will live to serve and flourish for many years to
Editor's Note: In addition to the operation of daily pas-
senger and freight service from the terminal cities of
panama and Colon, the Panama Railroad Company
provides the same service weekly between New York
and the Canal Zone through operation by the Panama
Line of three combination passenger-cargo ships the
S/S Panama. Cristobal and Ancon.
Balboa Junior High School Presents DAWN BOY,
December 18, 1935
Adrien (Bud) Bouche found the above program
among his files. Members of the orchestra were as follows:
Charles Fair, John Davis, Neal Small, Billy
Moody, Xen Hosler, Vernon Seeley, Everett Hemin-
way, Robert Wertz, Woodrow Cheney, Robert Pro-
vost, Murray Wright, George Makibbin, Pat Beall,
Eloise Ramey, Delma Sala, John Clark, Gloria
Shelton, Donald Grimm, Matthew Cryan, Norman
Dugas, Priscilla Williams, Raymond Runyon, Jack
Brayton, Edgard Quintero, Richard Sanderlin,
Wallace Russon, James Sanders, Willard Lucy,
Maria Hernandez, Tommy Peterson, Margaret
Milliken, Bertie Shelton and Jean Rocker.
After 461/2 years, how many can still play whatever it
was they were playing? I don't think anyone else wants to
see the rest of the program naively dedicated as we
DECEMBER 3rd. 1982 FESTIVE
The festive Christmas Meeting, with a Spoon
Luncheon Buffet will be held December 3, 1982 at the
Gulfport Community Center, starting at 12:00 noon,
with the Meeting and program following. (Doors will
open at 11:30 AM).
Members are asked to bring any of the following:
Empanadas, or any other appitizers; Potato Salad,
Macaroni Salad, Congealed Salad, Finger Sandwiches,
Ham, Turkey, Chicken, Beanie-Weenies or any kind of
casserole; Cake, Cookies or Brownies for dessert.
Olga Disharoon and her Committee have
planned a delightful program with lots of surprises.
Come join us on this festive occasion and get into the
Christmas spirit.
The Olympia Spa is honored to host the Annual
Gas House Gang Tournament on October 5-6,
1982. Cost for the affair will be as follows:
PACKAGE PLAN: 4 days, 3 nights, October 4, 5,
6, 7, 1982.
Double Occupancy, $165 per person includes:
Room Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.
Breakfast Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.
Dinner Monday, Tuesday. Banquet Wednes-
day, preceded by Cocktail Party.
Green Fees and Cart: Monday, Tuesday, Wednes-
day, Thursday.
Check in time: 1:00 P.M. Monday, Check out
time: 1:00 P.M. Thursday.
For persons sharing a room and not golfing, the
cost for the non-golfer is $103.
Tournament and Entry Fee $12.50.
Green Fees and Cart, daily $13.00.
Non-resident Member $10.25 green fees and
cart, daily.
Banquet $13.00 per person.
The Olympia Spa will host a Cocktail Party the
hour preceding the Banquet on Wednesday evening.
We are hoping Elmer Orr will again entertain us with
his famous stories.
The Spa has set aside 70 rooms for us until
September 20th. We are limited to 144 for golf and 280
for the Banquet. People staying at the Spa under the
package plan will be given preference. Local golfers and
guests, second preference and those attending the Ban-
quet only will be given third preference. A $25.00 will
firm your reservations. Entry fee for the tournament will
be $10.00 and covers a 4-man team (A, B, C, D players)
for the Mexican Best Ball on October 5th. Medal Play
takes place on October 6th. Make up your own four-
some, if you wish. Checks are payable to the Olympia
Spa for room reservations but must be mailed to Bud
Thomas. Tournament entry fees and handicaps should
be maked to H.M. (Bud) Thomas, Jr. Address all reser-
vations and entry fees to H.M. Thomas Jr., 1903
Adrian Road, Dothan, AL 36303. Tel: 205-793-4760.
The Committee will make your reservations at the Spa
and you will receive your acknowledgment directly from
the Spa. Those wishing to check in early than the 4th,
please state so.
Panama Canal Society of Alabama
Dothan, AL
The Fall Luncheon will be held October 19, 1982
at the Holiday Inn in Bentonville, Ark, at 1:00 PM. The
place is easy to find right on Highway 71. The
weather should be great. The company assembled can't
be beat. Out-of-the-area travellers who would like to
attend can contact Dick and Mary Condon, 2019
Ranch Drive, Springdale, Ark. 72764; Tel: 501-756-
A BHS/CHS'63 Twentieth Anniversary
reunion is being planned for St. Petersburg, Fl., during
the summer of 1983. Pass the word to all BHS/CHS
classmates of '63. Hotel reservations will be made for
you. Support this to make it a success. Please contact
the following for details:
(BHS) Chris Skeie
5725 80th. St. #309
St. Petersburg, FL 33709
Tel: (813) 544-1014
(CHS) Bev Vaughn (Dockery)
3826 Briarcliff Dr.
Douglasville, GA 30135
Tel: (404) 942-1032
Those interested in a CHS'46 Class Reunion in
1983 a 37th. anniversary get-together, contact Mari-
lyn Marsh, 19520 South Central Point Rd., Oregon
City, OR 97045.
Plans are being formulated to hold this in conjunc-
tion with the CHS-'43 reunion to be held at the Annual
Reunion in Florida on May 12, 1983.
Cristobal High School, Class of 1943 and 1946 will
be hosting a Class Reunion celebrating their 40th. and
37th Year on Thursday, May 12, 1983, at the Holiday
Inn-Surfside, Clearwater Beach, Florida. All alumni from
Cristobal and Balboa High Schools are invited to attend.
We would like to include the Balboa High School
Class of 1943 and 1946 at the same time, so that it would
be an event not soon forgotten.
A Dinner-Dance is being planned and entertain-
ment with flash-backs of our school days.
It would be appreciated if someone from BHS'43 or
BHS'46 would call Muriel or Jean or Marilyn (below) to
help contact their classmates.
Pass this information on to other alumni who may
not be members of the Society and let's make it a great
evening of fun. We encourage all former Zonians to join
the Society, as it is very worth while. Come to one
reunion and you will find out!
Plan to attend. Contact Muriel Holmelin
Whitman at 5711 53rd. Ave. N., St. Petersburg, Fla.
33709. Tel: (813) 544-0214 or Jean Ward Gaches,
4500 37th. St. S. #210, St. Petersburg, Fla. 33711. Or
Marilyn Marsh, 19520 South Central Point Rd.,
Oregon City, Oregon, 97045.
The Class of Cristobal High School, 1973 will be
holding the 10th. Anniversary Reunion during the An-
nual Reunion in Florida during 12-14 May, 1983. Please
contact Edith Marsh Stribling, 3698 Northridge Drive,
Concord, Calif. 94518. Plans are already underway.
Any member who knows the names and addresses
of known and living Roosevelt Medal holders, whether
they are Society members or not, please drop the editor
a card with your information, so that we may up-date
our roster. Please send to Editor, 1408 Byram Drive,
Clearwter, FL 33515.
The Annual Picnic of the Panama Canal Society of
Florida will be held at Shelter #8, Lake Seminole Park,
#10015, at 74th. Avenue North, Seminole, Fla. on
Friday, November 5, 1982 from 10:00 AM to mid-
afternoon. Victor May will be one of the co-chair-
Members are asked to bring a covered dish and
other goodies to share, as well as your beverage and
utensils in your picnic basket. Suggest you bring a lawn
chair or two if you care to relax and enjoy the cool
breeze coming off the lake as you visit with friends.
Games and prizes will be provided. Bring food and
dessert to be shared with each other. As a County Park,
alcoholic beverages are not allowed. Restroom facilities
are close by. Come out and enjoy the delicious food,
fresh air and companionship. Hope to see you there.
October Box Lunch Chicken Dinner Meeting
The Panama Canal Society of Florida will have a
Box Lunch Chicken Dinner at our Regular October 1,
1982 Meeting at Gulfport Community Center at 12:00
noon. Some surprises are in store and the Meeting and
program will be held after lunch. The price is $3.00 per
person. Reservations must be prepaid and received by
September 26, 1982. Doors will be open at 11:30 AM.
Please clip out the form below and mail with your
check today.
Mail to:
Luncheon Chairman, Mrs. Paul Disharoon
3898 20th. Ave. N.
St. Petersburg, FL 33713
Please make ____ reservations for the Box Lunch
Chicken Dinner at $3.00 per person.
Total enclosed: $______
Reservation deadline Sept. 26, 1982
No refunds unless requested by Sept. 28, 1982.
Make Check payable to:
|The Panama Canal Society of Florida
IState Zip
ITel. No.
1,,, .. .... ..
Anyone interested in getting pictures taken at the
1982 Reunion please contact Pauline Arnold, our
Official Photographer. Phone: 544-0214 or 894-2776.
Class of BHS Reunion. Help is needed in locating
members of the Class of 1950. Plans are being formu-
lated to hold a 35th. Reunion in conjunction with the
Society's reunion in 1985. Anyone knowing the where-
abouts/addresses of members please contact one of the
following: Shirley (Smith) O'Connor 13942
Yankton Way, Westminster, Calif. 92683; Pete Lang,
PSC Box 1193, APO Miami, Fla. 34002; Jean
(Powell) Arndt, 677 Eletson Dr. Crystal Lake, ILL.
60014; John E. Schmidt, Jr., 2739 Vassar Rd.,
Tallahassee, Fla. 32308. Thanks for any help you may
provide for us.
0i WANT t
Charge for 1/20th. (Approx. 3-1/4" x 1")
page is $2.00; 1/5th. page is $4.00. Send all
ads to Editor, 1408 Bryam Dr. Clearwater, FL
33515. Ads accepted from members only.
For Sale: Video tapes, as follows:
#1) 50th. Anniversary Reunion tape -
30 minute tape, includes 20 minutes of
Lucho at the reunion Ball with 10 min-
utes of meetings, etc. Please designate
BETA or VHS format. Cost: $49.95.
($53.95 with postage paid and insured).
#2) "My Panama Canal" 1 hour
tape, with a minimal amount of stan-
dard and usual Canal scenes. Please
designate BETA or VHS format. Cost:
$93.95 postpaid and insured.
Buyers must agree that the video tapes are for per-
sonal home viewing and will honor all U.S.A. applic-
able copyright laws. No reproductions or duplication
rights are granted with tis purchase.
Glen & Sheila Heath
130 Overocker Circle
Frostproof, FL 33843
For Sale: Book "Rails to the Diggings" Construction
Railroads of the Panama Canal, 224 pages, soft bound,
8V1/2 x 11", color cover, 168 photos and 32 drawings/
maps, many never published before. Contents include:
Where first locomotives came from; The French Era
and their peculiar railroad operation; 2/3 book devoted
to the America effort, highlighting management
structure of railroad; changes to routes; the famous "R"
Tower covered in detail and many other facts and
figures never covered before. Not a rehash of hundreds
of other books about the Canal. Data carefully compiled
including on-site interviews and research. Write
publisher: Charles S. Small, 11 Dandy Dr., Cos Cob,
CT 06807. Cost $25.00.
For Sale: Replicas of GOLDEN HAUCAS OF
PANAMA in 22 Kt. gold plate over sterling silver. Cast
in various motifs and sizes. Made by Neville A. Harte,
3602 Brixton Lane, Holiday Lakes Estates, Holiday, FL
33590. Tel: (813) 937-7525.
For Sale: Panama Canal Buckles, Collector's
Series, solid bronze. Type A; Rectangular with Pedro
Miguel Locks and Seal. Type B; Oval with CZ Seal.
Unconditionally guaranteed. $10.00 each or two for
$19.00. Mike Carpenter, 3100 Thurman Rd. SW,
Apt. G-25, Huntsville, AL 35805. Tel: (205) 533-
Wanted: Royal Doulton Tobies, Lg. Devil (two faced)
$400.00, small $150.00; Clown $250,00; Tiny Jugs
$35.00; Figurines, Animals & China. Caludis Howell,
1205 Fountainhead Dr., Deltona, Fla. 32725. Phone
For Sale: A handbook of Tropical Foods and
How to Use Them: Tropical Cooking by Gladys R.
Graham. Send $6.00 to Jean Fears, 627 Wimbledon
Dr., Dothan, AL 36301 for your copy.
I am anxious to purchase whatever pieces I can lo-
cate of "Rose" Minton China. Would appreciate any
calls (collect) at 504-861-0797 or write to Mrs. Ora Vir-
ginia Ewing Stich, 7103 Maple Street, New Orleans,
For Sale: Pen Sets. (#1) Panama Railroad
Original Rail, Tie & Spike, 1853-1869 (#2) French Rail
on Tie, Construction Era, (#3) Panama Canal Matches
- Large cover & small box embedded in plastic on
mahogany Plus Panama Canal photographs of Con-
struction Days early 1900's to late 1930's Six
different sets, 10 photos per set. Pictures have dates
and identification on each. $4.75/set. Write for prices
and information on Pen Sets. Bee Winford, 1227 Oak
Hill St. Lakeland, Fla. 33801. Tel: 813-682-6350.
Wanted: Photographs detailing the old forts and
other Spanish constructions in and around old Porto-
belo, for a book about SPAIN IN PANAMA. If original
negatives are not available, I would appreciate original
photos which I can readily copy. Glad to tender remuner-
ation. Arthur R. Tolp P.O. Box 2073, Fort Myers, FL
33920. Tel: (813) 334-7413.
Wanted: Anyone having pieces of Royal Doulton
Coachman or Hunting Scene patterns to sell, please
contact Alice Strauss McLean, 7874 Spencer, #15,
Pasadena, TX 77505.
At~L c THE PANAMA CANAL SOCIETY OF FLORIDA, INC. zon
Application for Subscription _
Box 11566
em St. Petersburg, Florida 33733 o
I, hereby apply for subscription (renewal) to
the Canal Record of the Panama Canal Society of Florida, Inc. and enclose my
$15.00 annual subscription fee, which entitles me to membership for one year.
Name (Spouse)
Street Box
City State Zip Code_
CZ Affiliation
Amount Enclosed $ Check ____ M.O. Cash
Subscription fee is $15.00 per year, per family. (One household)
Please send money order unless check is on State's Bank
Delinquent charges of $2.00 will be assessed to those subscribers who do not
remit their renewal subscription fee prior to 1 February.
Subscriptions expire on 31st. December and renewal must be postmarked by
31 January in order to avoid delinquent fee.
New subscriptions will be accepted after 1 July in any year for $7.50 in
subscription fees for the balance of that calendar year, provided the following
year's subscription fees are paid at the same time (in advance).
Name should be exactly as you wish it to appear in the ANNUAL ISSUE.
Mr., Mr. and Mrs., Miss or Mrs.
Panama Canal French Fruit Cookies
2 cups Sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1-1/4 cups shortning
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. soda
4 cups flour
3 eggs
2/3 cup water
1-1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup glazed fruit cake mix tightly packed
1 cup raisins tightly packed
1) Cream together sugar, shortning, salt and soda.
2) Blend in blender, water, eggs, vanilla, glazed fruit and
raisins (well chopped)
3) Mix #1 and #2 together, then add flour and mix
well. Drop tablespoon size dough on ungreased
cookie sheet and bake at 3650 for 10 minutes or until
light brown. Yields about 3 doz.
Robert L. Hummer
Belleville, Ark.
Society Tag, $4.00 ea.
Society Decal, $1.50 ea.,
Please mail to:
State Zip Code
Number wanted, Tags
Number wanted, Decals
Total enclosed $_____
Dues Increase
1 January 1983
See President's Message
Panama Canal Society of Florida, Inc.
(USPS 088-020) 2nd Class Postage
P.O. Box 11566 PAID
At St. Petersburg,
St. Petersburg, Florida 33733-1566 Florida Post Office
h.- Information-
POSTMASTER: Change of address should be sent on
Form 3579 to Box 11566, St. Petersburg, Florida 33733.
.rf ^
- 4 ^
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