MEDFORD (OREGON) MAIL TRIBUNE NINE
Jodksomi CoMpiys Woreless Mne (rovidtes P y
Wffikh IPrommpt AcfeirD Dim Ik
mmeirgeiniv At AM IHbws
Sunday July 6. 1951
bSk
Simpson Family
Voice of SOCTFA
Roxy' Radio Net
Fires, Broken Bones
All in Day's Work
(Editor's note: This story of
Jeckson county's unique pxi-alely-owned
radio network
was written by Arthur W. Pri
aulx, publie relations direc
tor of the West Coast Lumber
men's association, for The Mail
Tribune and the Portland Ore
gonian. It also appears today
in the Sunday Oregonian
Northwest Magasine.
Br ARTHUR W. PRIAULX
"There's hell to pay on Elk
creek." The voice was urgent
and vibrant. It came booming
out of short wave radio receivers
all over Jackson county, from
the cabs of logger's pickups,
from fire warden's cars, and
from land stations.
"Some dirty pyro has set a lot
of fires. You loggers near Pros
pect. Get every man and every
piece of equipment on those
blazes, but fast. This is Roxy,
KOB-320." .
"Roxy says to get going. Come
on you guys." Loggers poured
out of the woods near Prospect,
high in the mountainous east
end of the county. Pumper
trucks converged on the lncen-diary-made
hell hole. Trucks
lumbered to the area loaded
with bulldozers and fire fight
ing equipment.
Boxy Takes Charge
From Medford, 75 miles away,
Roxy took charge. For 24 tire
less, hours, the powerful voice
of "Doc" Simpson and the quiet
but effective voice of Mrs.
"Doc" Simpson never faltered.
What Roxy ordered was done as
a dozen mobile short wave trans
mitters around the fire kept the
nerve center informed.
By morning the 300 loggers
had the fires under control, by
night they were safely trailed,
with a loss of only 300 acres.
It was a miracle, no less, for
August 15 of last year was one
of the dirtiest possible days for
a fire to get underway in Jack
son county, or anywhere else in
Oregon, for that matter.
Roxy sort of specializes in
miracles, big and little. Maybe
.ho riicnatrhine of loggers was
a bit irregular and unorthodox,
hut ahout everything Roxy does
is off the beaten path,! unpre
dictable, exciting and coioniu.
Roxy is one of America's re
marVnWp industrial short wave
radio networks. Although only
two years old, it has already
cqvbH more lives, helped on
forest fires, saved more
fires from spreading by getting
instant action, and done more
"civic" lobs than even its most
enthusiastic srjonsors ever
dreamed.
Wireless "Party Line"
It is in truth Jackson county's
wirplfss oartv line. It is owned
equally by 23 Jackson county
lnmher and logging companies,
but the general public uses the
rtir tin network almost as
fr j -
much as the owners.
'. Like the time when Eric Al
lien, Jr., Medford Mail-Tribune's
ritv editor, sensed disaster as
three Trailwav buses loaded
with school children headed out
from Medford for Prineville for
a football game and dropped out
of sight, lost in the snowy wil
derness that is Crater Lake park
in the winter months. "Doc"
SimDson was called on for help
Roxv went into action. Mobile
" 71 at Red Blanket Lumber com
pany was ordered into action.
The buses were found snow
bound, and mobile units oper
ated bv Steve Wilson, E. E. Mc-
Grew, and Elk Lumber company
were ordered on the "alert," un
til state snowolows finally work
ed their way to fie Diamond
Lake-Crater Lake highway junc
tion. The students were cold, but
ntherwisp suffered no ill ef
fects.
The times when lives have
been saved by prompt action Of
Roxy are numberless, tub on
ney, of Kogap Lumber company,
renorted one night over his Mo
bile 46 that the lone occupant
of a wrecked car on Dead In
riian creek four miles out Of Ash
land appeared to be in bad shape
and asked for an ambulance.
Bonney stood by giving first aid
until help arrived.
Finds Blood Donors
Another time blood donors
were needed for a seriouslv ill
lumber worker's wife and Roxy
made the plea with astonishing
results.
A man offered to sell five
tires and trailer wheels to Steve
Wilson, a logger, who promptly
reDOrted same over his Mobile
105. "D6c" Simpson notifed
grateful 'state police, and armed
with license number they pick
Js,
t
BUSY MAN Lewis L. "Doc" Simpson, sec
retary manager of the Southern Oregon Conser
vation and Tree Farm association, is the man
behind the successful operation of "Roxy,"
j
"RADIOINEST" FAMILY Pictured above
are members of the Lewis L. Simpson family,
.who are responsible for keeping Southern Ore
gon Conservation and Tree Farm association's
1, 1 St'rc
A i z Si
1 kiJ?r- to&:&
"CALLING ROXY" Bob Reynolds, mike in hand, is shown
using one of Southern Oregon Conservation and Tree Farm asso
ciation's mobile units to get in touch with "Roxy" headquarters in
Medford. Driver of the truck is E. R. Cox, of E. R. Cox Logging
company. (Brainerd photo.) i . : . .
SOCTFA's county-wide radio network. Simpson
is pictured above relaying a telephone message,
by way of "Roxy," to a logging operation in
the field (Brainerd photo.)
"Roxy" radio
son, Judy, Susan, and seated in front, Ferris.
(Brainerd photo)
network on . the air 24 hours a
day. Left to right Ihey are Mrs. Simpson, Simp
er up the suspect and his com
panion in less than two hours
They had been trying for days
to locate the men without suc
cess.
So dependent have the people
of Jackson county become upon
this astounding "public service
radio network, that they use it
freely and without question. Oh
June . 16 Mobile 36 reported
neighbor woman sent a note
thai her husband was beating
her, had knocked some teeth out
and was offering to kill her.
Roxy kindly notified the sher
iff's office.
Logger Bailey had just in
stalled Mobile 5 in his car and
his first act averted a possible
tragedy. He reported a string
of freight cars had run loose in
the Medford yards, gone through
a derail switch, and were block
ing the Southern Pacific main
line. "Doc" Simpson in Mobile
1, on his way home, drove to
the railroad station and a switch
engine promptly went into ac
tion. Radio network Roxy is an out
growth of the Southern Oregon
Conservation and Tree Farm as
sociation, of which" Lewis L.
'Doc" Simpson, long-time forest
service and industry forester, is
secretary-manager. While spon
sored by the tree farm group,
actual ownership rests in the
23 lumber and logging compa
nies which own equal shares of
the industrial radio system.
Privately Owned Setup
Roxy-KOB-320 is the main
land station and the master con-
trol headquarters for the $40,000
setup which is completely pri
vately owned and has no federal
or state funds involved. The
transmitter is located atop Roxy
Anne, from which the Unique
network takes Its name. It was
organized in 1949, and applied
for a -license in 1950.
The network has grown like
topsy. tt includes 60 Motorola
units in operation in thS field
in cars, pickups and trucks, and
two portable sets at logging
camps and a remote control at
the Simpson home. All car and
truck sets are powered from bat
teries installed in the equipment.
While the network is licensed
under its operating permit to
handle 100 mobile and remote
units, "Doc" Simpson believes
the maximum efficiency will
limit field sets to probably 75
or 80. AH mobile units can send
and receive and the powerful
little- Roxy reaches every iso
lated corner of settled or wilder
ness jacKson county ana imo
Josephine county.
So successful has Roxy net
work been in fire prevention and
in general public service work,
that a number of tree farm mem
ber companies in Josephine
county opened up their own
radio network." a facsimile of
Roxv. on May 1 with between 20
and 30 mobile units. This will
relieve Roxy of considerable
load..
Simpson Family Slory
The real story of Roxy is the
story of the Simpson family, for
Roxy is a 24-hour a day opera
tion and is never silent, always
ready for any emergency.
When- Simpson leaves the
Southern Oregon Conservation
and Tree Farm offices in the
Goldy building in downtown
Medford, he switches control to
remote set in his home. As
soon as he gets to nis car nis
own mobile No. 1 is cut in.
Martha Simpson, tall blonde
wife of "Doc", mother of four
children, is a dominant part ot
this family success story. She
gives the teminine xoucn iu
Roxy's amazing public service
work.A licensed operator since
Roxy went On. the air, she han
dles di&oatching, trouble snoox-
ins. service work for member
firms, with all the speed ano ei-
ficiencv of an airport control
tower operator.
If Mobile 5fl sends in a rusn
order at midnight for a special
truck part for a piece of equip
ment immobilized by brea
down. Martha Simpson knows
just who to contact to get im
mediate action. A finger-tip
.nntrni telephone directory of
day and night numbers insures
results, especially when the de
mand comes from Roxy. sne may
even hold the mobile set on the
air until she makes her tele
phone contact and assures im
mediate action.
The magic of the Roxy name
is nothing short of astounding
In an automotive parts store, or
a machinery supply depot, a call
from Roxy gets top priority.
Hai Lots of Help
But. Martha Simpson has plen
ty of help in her own radio
minded family. Ferris, who
won't be 13 until August, has
heen a licensed operator, third
rfass. since October, 1950. Typi
cal boy. he knows the inside and
outside of the business and is as
efficient as dad or mom.
Not to be outdone by big
brother, nine-year-old Martha
Ruth will get her license this
summer to become one Of the
youngest licensed radio opera
tors in America, no secret in
Jackson county, where the Simp
son family is something of an
institution and the pride of the
logging and lumber fraternity,
is the fact that Martha Ruth has
been taking her turn on the
radio lor many months when
mom gets tied up with details
of raising two other blue-eyed
daughters, and when brother
Ferris is getting in a few licks
at baseball. Even five-year-old
Susan has to be watched to keep
her from trying to operate the
system.
When you land in the middle
of the Simpson family after the
master station has switched con
trol to the Simpson residence re
mote station at 801 King street.
Medford, you live, ea.t end
breathe radio. It's the "radio-
inest" family you ever encount
ered, part of their life, and part
of the life of all Jackson county
When Mobile 75 called in to
say that a small child was suf
f ering from . a severe append!
citis attack, Martha Ruth was
right at the radio to see what
she could do and much relieved
when Dr. Fonn at Murphy, up
in Josephine county, took charge
Mobile 75 followed through and
rushed the little girl to the Jose
phine General hospital at Grants
Pass. Another example of Roxy i
influence in community welfare
WINDOW SHADES
MADc TO ORDER
BARNARD'S
1171. Mala ffiene 24487
Dry Ice Used To Halt
Insects lor Pictures
Ithaca, N. Y.OJ.P.) Scientists
have found a new use for dry
ice. "
It's being Used to make insects
stand still long enough to have
their pictures taken.
After much experimentation,
the Cornell University visual
aids laboratory discovered that
dry ice "slowed down" an insect
sufficiently for close-up pictures
without killing it in the process.
That's all to the good of farm
ers and fruit growers troubled
by Insect pests.
"When they see what they are
fighting they can do a better job
of insect control and do it more
cheaply, too," said Prof. A. A.
LaPlante.
TRAFFIC TOO TOUGH
Naugatuck,- Conn. (U.P.) Po
lice got tired of dodging traffic,
For protection against careless
drivers, the city installed a
booth on the curb at a busy in
tersection. Instead of standing in
the middle of the street, the of
ficer on duty stays in the booth
to direct traffic.
Ties Industry Together
Roxy ' has tied together the
prawling lumber and logging in
dustry of Jackson county. Al
most from the first day the co
operation of companies has been
outstanding. Invariably, when a
fire is reported to the office, oth
er Mobiles hear the ca!l and vol
unteer raen and equipment with
out hesitation.
So rapid has been the action
on firfee as the result of Roxy's
fast communications contact that
all fires were held to a minimum
acreage even during 1951, which
was the worst fire season ever
experienced. ...
Loggers and state and federal
fire fighters are working to
gether with a teamwork that is
encouraging, for Roxy pitches
in and helps, whether a fire
breaks out on forest service, pri
vate or state land, and dispatches
loggers to these blazes with a
speed and efficiency that makes
old . timers blink their eyes in
amazement.
If you're in trouble in Jack
son county, and you need help
mighty badly, the word is "Call
Doc Simpson." Whether it's a
broken, leg, a bad highway acci
dent, a lost child, a forest fire or
mother-in-law trouble, chances
are good that Roxy can help.
o Current
Dividend
Rate
PER ANNUM
Investment plan for
- various amounts
Funds
Local
. - gages,
.homes
invested in
First Mort
principaliy Investments made
by the 10th of
the month Earn
Dividends as of
the first.
2 O
r-4 . .
Patent Sought for
Atomic Energy
Use in Welding
Cleveland, O. (U.R) George
Woodling, graduate engineer,
lawyer, author and politician is
seeking a patent covering a pro
cess whereby atomic energy is to
be used in welding.
Woodling, who holds an engi
neering degree from Purdue and
finished law here at Western
Reserve, explained that "I want
to see this new form of energy
used for the good of humanity,
rather than for killing."
Besides being a partner in a
law patent office, Woodling
holds 60 other patents, has writ
ten a textbook on the subject for
engineers and has sought politi
cal office.
Prefers Direct Use
His latest idea, he believes, "is
the first to make direct use of
atomic energy. So far, scientists
have talked only of using it in
directly. They use the heat gen
erated by nuclear reaction for
instance, to generate steam and
then power."
Woodling believes the intense
heat generated by atomic energy
has been the chief obstacle to
developing the new power
source.
The patent Woodling seeks
would make use of the heat di
rectly for welding and for melt
ing metal into ingots or making
it ready for casting.
Has Many Uses
Woodling has submitted draw
ings of proposed application of
atomic energy which generated
for welding studs to heavy steel
plates in shipbuilding, for ex
ample.
Another phase of the patent
covers a cupola, or crucible, for
RIGHT NOW!
SEE AD ON
SECOND
FCRTY-NINTH SEMI -
. MEDFORD, OREGON
Statement
ASSETS
First Mortoaoe Loans
Properties Sold on Contract .
Investments and Securities .....
Cash on Hand and in Banks ..............
Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment, Less
Depreciation .. .
TOTAL ASSETS
LIABILITIES
Members' Share Accounts . .
Undistributed Dividends -
Loans-in Process
Other Liabilities
Specific Reserves .. ......
General Reserves and Undivided Profits
TOTAL LIABILITIES
FIRST FEDERAL Wfc
Savings & Loan Assn. of Medford JJ
27 North Holfy R. F. Kylt, Secretary
Heart Massaging
Saves Patients
Chicago (U.P.) Prompt heart
massage saves six of every seven
patients in cases of sudden heart
stoppage in the operating room,
according to a specialist.
Dr. Frank Cole, chief of anes
thesiology at the Lincoln, Neb.,
Veterans hospital, outlined the
technique in an article in the
journal of the American Medical
Association.
"Cardiac massage is a life-sav
ing maneuver, he said, it can
be performed by any surgeon;
it can be started in one minute
and it requires no apparatus
foreign to the operating room."
He said sudden heart stoppage
occurs most commonly during
anesthesia and surgery and can
happen to anyone. Cole reported
on 322 cases of cardiac arrest,
in all of which artificial circula
tion was instituted by massaging
the heart.
In the most recent cases re
ported, in which massage was
begun within five minutes after
the heart stopped heating, 40, of
47 patients survived.
"It may be said." Cole re
marked, "that almost invariably
a patient who survives cardiac
arrest recovers completely.''
To massage the heart the sur
geon must open the chest cavity
and manipulate it with his hand.
After laundering, pull vertical
tucks taut and iron them, length
wise. For horizontal tucks, start
with the top one and work down
towards the bottom.
melting iron or steel to make
castings or ingots. .
Admitting the whole business
is complicated, Woodling insists
that "it's use as a new source of
power is coming in our life time
. . . we'd better begin to learn
everything we can about atomic
energy."
BACK PAGE
SECTION
ANNUAL STATEMENT
JUNE 30, 1952
of Condition
..$1,709,171.60
416.05
. 166,548.01
. 187,274.96
3.255.26
..$2,066,665.88
.$1,850.437.32
24,401.49
' 91,523.75
669.45
5,654.50
93,979.46
...$2,066,665.88