Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 3, 1962)
MONDAY. Early-day Woman Flyer Country In Viola Gentry i a woman with a cause. So dedicated is the to this cause that of bringing honor and continu ing recognition to men and women who made their mark in early-day aviation that she is touring the United States on her vacation from her job and using her own money, to further the project. Viola Gentry is herself one who made aviation news back in the mid-twenties. She was the first woman in this coun try to set an endurance flying record, she flew with famous aviators, was a friend of Ame lia Earhart, Clyde Pangborn, Jimmy Doolittle, and other well known aviation person alities, is a charter member pf the Ninety-Nines, Inc., in ternational organization of women pilots, has flown and plans to fly again next year In the annual Powder Puff derby. I Because Viola Gentry has! long-time friends living in Medford, she put this part of Oregon on her round-the-coun- try itinerary and recently spent four days here as a guest of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry R. Smith, 1033 Rcddy avenue. She was also a guest In the home of the T. E. Knackstedts, Renault avenue. When I h e Smiths were living near Roo sevelt field on Long Island, New York, as a newly-married couple, Viola Gentry was one of their close friends. In those days, Roosevelt field was the most important airport in the area and the flyers, barnstorm ers and stunt men all gathered there; many history-making flights originated at Roosevelt field. Jerry Smith and T. E. Knackstedt, both touched with the flying fever as were so many others, were a part of the aviation crowd. The two men "barnstormed" around the country doing parachute jumps, wing-walking and oth er stunt flying at fairs and other events where crowds would assemble to be thrilled. Came West As time went by and many of the young people left avia tion to earn a living in more established and possibly suicr pursuits, the Smiths and Knackstedts became separated from their Hying friends and both couples settled In Med ford. Mrs. Smith and Viola continued to correspond, but it took "the cause to bring the two women together a few days ago. Miss Gentry's tour around the nation this winter is to spread the news of The Medal of the Month club, founded by v her friend, Felicity Buranclli, of New York City. Described as an "educational hobby," the Medal of the Month club oper ates In this fashion: Plaques, designed by well known sculp tors, arc made to honor an outstanding man or woman. The originals go to public in stitutions, such as the Smith sonian and other museums, and a duplicate to families, cities or firms. From the plaques small medals are made and these arc used as gifts or awards nnd mukc up collections. With each medal goes a booklet with material about the honored Individual. Since Miss Buranelli's brother, Vincent, is credited with designing the first air plane that carried a payload in its airfoil section, and since she was interested in aviation. Miss Buranclli devoted the first series of plaques and medals to aviation. The six plaques honored the Wright Brothers, Captain Edwin C. Musick, Amelia Earhart. Capt. Frank Hawks, Glenn Curtiss and Gen. William Mitchell On her month-long trip around the nation Miss Gen try is making arrangements for the placement of addition al plaques to honor others notable in aviation. She began W VISIT... La Pointers Maternity STORK NOOK DECEMBER 3. 1962 Interest of Project is Roxbury, Mass., the home of Prof. Thomas H. Langley, who made a plane in 1908. In Boston she contacted per sons regarding Errol Boyd, known for his early-day non stop flight from New York to Bermuda in his Bellanca, "Miss Columbia." Honor Sikorsky Going to Stratford, Conn., Miss Gentry visited the firm of Igor Sikorsky, manufac turer of helicopters and maker of the first flying boat, con cerning the plaque in his hon or. At Mansfield, Ohio, Miss Gentry made contacts con cerning Gen. Frank P. Lahm, now 92 years old, who holds Balloon License No. 2 in the United States. When in Med ford the traveler said she had an appointment with the gen eral in Tucson, Ariz., where he is spending the winter. Her stop In Dayton, Ohio, concerned the Wright Broth ers, and in Chicago it was in the interest of Cmdr. Reed of Naval aviation fame, Walter Hinton, his co-pilot, and Lin coln Ellsworth, who was pilot for Roald Amundsen, the polar explorer. Dhe stopped in Mar shall town, Iowa, concerning Frank Hawks, who establish ed many trans-continental rec ords in his Becchcraft, "Mys tery Ship." Her slop in Wichita, Kan., concerned Walter Beech, mak er of the plane which bears his name, and there she had an Interview with Mrs, Beech. In Wenatchee, Wash., Miss Gentry arranged for the city to receive a plaque honoring Clyde Pangbord, Wenatchee man who put the small city in the limelight when he end ed his round-the-world flight there one night in the early 30's. Mr. Knackstedt and Pangborn were close friends, and the Medford man present ed some of the aviator's per sonal possessions which he has kept through the years, to Miss Gentry. These will be placed in a museum at Suf folk Air Force base, West hampton, L.I., which is being established by the Long Island Early Fliers club. One of Viola Gentry's most exciting visits, during the ear ly part of her trip, was In Se attle where she visited the famous Boeing plant. She fell privileged to have a first-hand look at Boeing's new plane, the 727, which was officially off the assembly line on Tues day, November 27. One of the Medal of the Month plaques will honor William Boeing, founder of the firm. Visits Yuba City After leaving Medford ear ly last week, Miss Gentry planned to stop next in Yuba City, Calif., home town of J. Montgomery, who made a successful glider flight way back in 1008. In Santa Clara, the traveler planned to visit Santa Clara university where an Interview had been ar ranged with the Rev. Father Patrick A. Donahue. Miss Gen try will present him a medal from a plaque honoring Fa ther Bernard J. Hubbard, known as The Glacier Priest, because lie had arranged for a bronze statue of Christ to be placed at an Eskimo com munity where he had lived and carried on both religious and scientific work. In San Francisco Miss Gentry Interviewed persons interested Lincoln Beachy, early-day (ly- Guests Prospect - Recent guests at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Mauler were Mr. and Mrs. Budd Twombly and fam ily of Klamath Falls. Mr. Twombly was the Union Creek ranger (or a number of years and is now with the Klamath Falls district. PONCHO BLOUSE m Jit Tours cr and stunt man. Her Los Angeles stop will be of par ticular interest since it con cerns the famous Gen. Claire Chennault of the Flying Ti gers. Other aviation person alities associated with that city are Donald Douglas, Rob ert Fleet and Alan Lockheed, manufacturers and pilots. Claude Ryan, designer, builder and pilot, called San Diego his home town and her interview there will concern him.. Ryan built the famous "Spirit of St. Louis" which was the plane flown by Lind bergh. Miss Gentry plans two stops in Arizon. In Phoenix her conferences will concern Frank Luke, experimental fly er who set altitude and dis- tance records, and in Tucson, the personage concerned is Calberth Rogers. When told today, Viola Gentry's 'acts about Rogers seem incrediole. This aviator set out in Sep tember, 1911, to fly across the United States, and it took him a mere 49 days. Every time the luckless Rogers at tempted to land, he would crack up or in some fashion damage his plane. Spare parts and equipment were shipped to him by train, and after repairs, he d take off again. Miss Gentry recalls that he was fjying a Wright X13. To Visit Ttxai Miss Gentry's "cause" also lakes her to Texas, where she will visit the city of Com merce, home town of Astro naut John H. Glenn, in whose honor a plaque will be made. From Texas she will pro ceed to Grand Saline, Okla., home town of Wiley Post, who flew around the world with Harold Gatty, and later made a round-the-world trip solo. Post's name is also remember ed because when he made his last flight, he and the beloved Will Rogers crashed and died together. In Alabama Miss Gentry's schedule calls for a stop at Ft. Payne in the interest of Eddie Stinson, manufacturer of planes and pilot, and in Rome, Ga., her visit will con cern Admiral Towers, Navy flyer. In Charleston, S.C., she will interview persons con cerning Frank Coffin, who died recently in Los Angeles. Coffin was an exhibition pi lot and a member of the Ear ly Bird club. To belong to this exclusive organization, a flyer must have been pilot ing planes as early as 1916. A trip to Baltimore, Md., will concern Glenn Martin, designer and manufacturer of the plane which bears his name, and her last stop will be in Gladwync, Pa., for in terviews concerning "Hap" Arnold, general in the United Stales Air Force. Travail By Bui II took the indefatigable Miss Gentry almost a year to lay plans for this excursion and to save money for it. And how is Miss Gentry trav eling? By bus. She confided that she could not often af ford to travel by plane, and in planning her cross-country schedule, hud decided that such a complicated itinerary would be best served by bus and highway. She bought one o the "99 days for S'J9 tick ets" and reports that the ticket is honored by cither Trailways or Greyhound, al though sometimes it takes a bit of adjusting at the depots. This reporter had been promised "an interesting eve ning'' with Viola Gentry, and it turned out to be all of that. Modest and friendly, she en joys talking about flying and the pilots and aviation per sonalities she has known. Miss Gentry list (lew in Santa Monica, Calif., in 1924 with Bub Fowler. "After the first $595 4 y,. --;.."l,';..r EJ ' ' " ' ' . j , " " I I I rV- v It MT""i - V J m fer in In ,--y! r";. I Si ykK " ;kyV Aviatrix Viola Gentry, who spent a four day vacation in Medford recently with long time friends, has been a flying enthusiast inct she was 12 years old and in 1928 estab lished the tirst endurance flight record for women, having taken off from old Roosevelt . field near New York City. Miss Gentry, now louring the United Slatei in the interest of the aviation leriei of the Medal of the Month club, ii pictured here during dedica tion ceremonies at Holmes airport many years ago. At her left is the late E. J. L 4 4 s, ."'.jit4, i-.in iliiliulPiir.i'in ' . T. E. Knackstedt, Renault late Clyde Pangborn, Wenatchee, Wash., who made aviation history by flying around the world in the early '30's, hai kept a number of the pilot's possession! throughout the yean ai mememtoei of their flying days together as'young men. .During the recent visit here of Miss Viola Gentry, woman pilot and another friend of Aviator Pangborn, Mr. Knackitedt presented a cap and other articles to Miss Gentry and they will be placed in a musoum ut Suffolk Air Force base established by the Long Island Early Flyers' club. (Knackitedt photo) time up. I knew I had to go on flying," she said, with great earnestness. She went cast and took more instruction at Roosevelt and Curtiss i fields. She holds Pilot's Li cense 1822. Before long even the nicn acknowledged that Viola whs a good pilot, even though she was a wuuiHii in ij.-o sin broke the world's endurance fliKbt record lor women out at Roosevelt, remaining up for 8 hours. 6 minutes and HU seconds. She teamed up with Jack Ashcraft in an attempt to set another endurance rec ord, and it ended in disaster. Ashcraft was killed and Vi ola spent nine months in a hospital with both arms and the upper part of her body in a cast Alter she had re covered, her license whs re newed and she was allowed to fly again. Viola Gentry recalled that when she first learned to fly, there were no paved runways, no lighted runway and no air maps "We flew by road maps," she said, with a sniilr. For several years she earned a living by flying, working for the Breeze corporation and in public relations. Since flvmg wouldn't always sup port Viola. s.he supported her flying as a hobby, and regrets never having had money enough to own a plane. Now Miss Gentry divides her lime between Brlleview Hotel. Clearwater, Kla . wbeic he is an assistant housekeep er during the winter resort season, and the Sea Spray inn, Kasthampton. l.nng Island The hotel sponsors her as an entrant in the annual Powder Puff derby tor women aia tors, and last two years she flew with Shirley M.trli,ill of Arizona es copilot. The two women are entering Ihe HM derby, and her Medford MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE. MEDFORD. OREGON famous Jimmy avenue, close friend of the friends are fervently hoping that they win. In her spare time Miss Gen try does aviation research for II, It. I.. I nt ,1.. XI ,1. iMiu.il ui nil: muiiwi (jiu- Kirfin, iino niiiy reuirn 10 me coast in the vpring to "pick up some loose ends." She hopes lo be able to spend a few more days in the Rogue vallev Vinla P.enlrv like the t West and Oregon "there's still room out in Oregon." says. O S. she Misi Viol. Gentry (a! left) City November 1 1 on a 'round 1 , i r p'.'im- wnt-y- .nen" s r "wv'! tmit mm imu w Htti m( " '. , I M) , , s terest ol the early aviation tenet of the Medal of the Month club. The medali which make up the necklace the wears are in honor of such persons as the Wright Brothers. Capt. Edwin C. Munck. Amelia Earhart, Capt. Frank Hawks and Gen. William Mitchell. Mm Gentry is pictured with Mrs. Jerry R. Smith. 1033 Reddy avenue: she wet a gueit in the Smith home lor a time betore continuing into California for appointments in several cities. A Iriend and admirer of Amelia Earhart. Miss Gentry ing memberi ol Zonti clufA club, to have the prut ollice department mue a commemore- live (tamp in Mm Earhart i Holmes, for whom the airport was named, and George Haldeman, flying partner of Ruth Elder, another woman who made avia tion history. The heavy leather flying suit had been loaned to Miss Gentry by the Doolittle. The picture came t from a photo album kept by Mr. and Mn. Jerry Smith, who in their early married dayi lived near Rooievelt field and were a part of the "flying crowd" that made the field its headquarleri. Party Is Given For Miss Ames; Gifts Presented Mrs. Burdette Dodge and Mrs. Richard W. Gray were hostesses for a party Friday, November 30. which celebrat ed the birthday anniversary of Miss Lucile Ames. The event was a dinner given at the Gray home on Cherry lane. The guests were asked to wear humorous costume ac cessories and these included such articles as toupees, polka dol hose and earrings hung from eyeglasses. One man ap peared at the event wearing long underwear with his busi ness suit coat. Humorous gifts to the hon ored guest included an old bird cage, a piece of her own jewelry surreptitiously taken from her home earlier and a two - fool high replica of a Confederate army cannon which shoots rubber cannon balls. Dessert included individual birthday cakes with candles, Ihe cakes having been pr pared by Mrs. Dodge. ProspecTHEU Prospect - A displa, of Christmas candles and otner decorations for the season will be shown at a meeting of the Prospect Home exten sion unit Tuesday, December 4 at 8 p.m., in the home of Mrs. Golden Anderson. Mrs. Harry Sanford and Mrs. Rich ard Masl are in charge of the program which will be on Christmas cookies and a cookie recipe exchange will 1 be held. started out from New York - the - country tour in the in points out that ihe is encouraa-! including those oi the Medtovd j honor, (Knackitedt photo) 'Christmas Carousel Fashion Show Theme Holiday gowns, winter va cation clothes and children's styles will be spotlighted at the "Christmas Carousel" fash ion show luncheon Saturday December 8, at 12:30 p.m. at the Rogue Valley Country club. It is sponsored by Med ford branch, American Asso ciation of University Women, to finance their fellowship fund and operating expenses. Added attractions will be a musical intermission provid ed by a singing group under the direction of Lynn Sjolund from Medford High school, a card party in the Top Flight room following the luncheon, and a surprise gift for one guest. Modeling women's fashions from Jean Hart will be Mrs Kenneth L. Brown. Mrs. Wil liam S. Cobb, Mrs; Herbert Security Benefit Club To Prepare Christmas Gifts Security Benefit club mem bers planned at their last week's meeting to prepare several baskets for delivery at Christmas and several of the women club members are refurbishing and dressing dolls for children's Christ mas gifts. Mrs. Maude Arnold is in charge of the doll project and other women of the group are asked to assist her. Six club members whose birthdays were in November were honored at the last meet ing. Honored were Mrs. Ada Coffman, Mrs. Essie Sikcs and her sister, Mrs. Winifred Fair, Mrs. Ann Lowry, Mrs. Rose Crawford and Mrs. Lau ra Weber. Mrs. Arnold, Mrs Sadie Pence, Mrs. Mary Smith, Mrs. Nellie George, Mrs. Ann Lowry and Mrs. Mamie Bry ant make up the December kitchen committee. The group meets each Wed nesday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the Pythian hall. A lunch- con is served and the after; noon is spent in dancing. Phoenix-Talent PTA Meeting Is Announced Talent - The program for Ihe Phoenix Talent Parent Teacher association Thursday, December 6 at 8 p.m., will cover a talk on home work policy of the schools, ' a re port on the first meeting of the rural school board re garding consolidation and a panel discussion by the sci ence teachers. The session will be held in the Talent Grade school gym nasium and the panel discus sion is a continuation of in formative programs to be giv en this year to acquaint the parents with latest develop ments in teaching skills. A question and answer period will be conducted. Child care for younger chil dren will be provided in the lunch room. Refreshments will be served by mothers of pupils in the fourth grade. Calendar Calendar notlres anil newa for r tociaty section of The Mall Tribune must be iiibmitted in wrmne and deadline for the bun- dav edition 11 1 p m. Friday Dead line for the week y calendar Is 9 a m rtl Ihe day of publication and for weet day news 1. 3 p m. in. day betore publication. Monday 7 p.m. Rogue Valley Land lords association. Room 33. Medford High school. 7; 1 S p.m. Warren assem bly, International Order ot Rainbow for Girls, Jackson ville Masonic temple. 7:30 p.m. Reames Past Matrons club, Mrs. John W. Esp, 889 Olympic ave. 8 to 10 p.m. Beginner square dance class. Country Square hall, one mile west of Talent. 8 p.m. - Olive Rebckah lodge. lOOF hall. Tuesday 10 a m.--Eastwood Baptist Women's Mission society, at church. 10 a.m. Women's Fellow ship of First Christian church. 12 noon Medford Gold Star Mothers. Mrs. Barbara Stone, 323 Havana st. 12 noon Women's guild, Zion Lutheran church. Social hall. 12:30 p m. Women's asso ciation of Central Point Pres byterian church. 1 p m. Ladies of Elks, Elks cll,b downstairs lounge. 1 p m. Central Point RNA. Mrs. Emma Collins, 266S Con nell ave., Medford. Stop Bad Breath S.tt'Hi leirt-stmca 1 TMn Faster re ll-.i takltti wMntw w tft"t ' " " St"i vtni.t. SJJ.'- iT'CJT'i t,rV." wie-aii'iii !i-'iiiiIi i-i, s-Tiv a. tV htartf tin Colley, Mrs. Donald Dcnman, Mrs. Everett Lasher, M r s. Kenneth Smith, and Mrs. R. Ren Taylor. Modeling little girls' fashions, also from Jean Hart's, will be Melinda Rich ardson Mimi Stong, Karen Dill, Susan and Charlotte Elm gren and Marion Cobb. Drews Manstore will provide little boys' styles to be modeled by Jeffrey Boshears, Rickie Doty, Jimmy Watson and Ralph Wiese. Ski outfits from the Rogue Ski shop will also be shown. Creating the hair styles are members of the Rogue Valley Beauticians association from Leon's Hair Fashions, Winnie's Beauty salon, Medford Beauty school, Hair Fashions, Mann's Beauty salon, Crater Beauty salon, House of Beauty and Stockton's Beauty salon. Makeup will be done by rep resentatives of Beauty Coun selor Cosmetics who will also provide gifts for three guests. Members of AAUW heading committees include Mrs. Hans Hess and Mrs. Donald Smith, general chairmen; Mrs. W. F. Roemer and Mrs. Kenneth Smith, models: Mrs. Peter Schmitz, decorations; Mrs. Glenn Schireman, entertain ment and hair styles; Mrs. Ralph Wiese, publicity. AAUW particularly invites teen-age girls to attend the luncheon as well as any other interested women. Reserva tions must be made by Wed nesday night with Mrs. Ar thur S. Anderson, 773-6813, or Mrs. Erling H. Loveness, 772-5090. Kerby Parents Invited to Hear Hospital Head Illinois Valley - Kerby Pa-: rent Teacher association mem-: bers have received an invita tion to attend a lecture on J the reorganization of the state ! mental hospital to be given Tuesday, December 4 at 8 p.m., in Room 100 in the Jo sephine county courthouse, I Grants Pas.. j Dr. Dean K. Brooks, su-1 perintendent of the state men tal hospital at Salem, will be the speaker. He is to report on the progress being made in the care and treatment of j patients. J. A. Rennebohn psychia-' trist in charge of treating pa tients from Josephine coun ty will discuss the role of the community in the treatment of mental illness. Lovely print dresses sparkle anew cleaning after cleaning dirt is "floated" away even the new "feel" of the fabric is returned! Try our Sanitone research-proven service . . . recommended by today's leading clothing makers. Call or stop by, today. CALL 772-9169 0 fc TT in an H. D, Indians Topic ror nuyiaui At DAR Meeting A program on American In dians was given by Miss Hel en Crumpton at a recent meet ing of Crater Lake chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution at Rogue Valley Manor. Miss Crumpton pointed out that she felt our first duty in helping the underprivileged was to our own Indian citi zens, who had shown their pa triotism in war and many oth er ways. She spoke of two In dian schools, St. Mary's high school, Springfield, S.D., which is an accredited high school and the only four-year high school for Indian girls; and Bacone college, Musko gee, Okla.. whose graduates hold excellent positions, shn explained. Interested DAR chapters contribute to tha two schools. An annual collection for Oregon Indians at Chemawa and Celilo was taken. The president general's message of patriotism and Thanksgiving was given by Mrs. Paul G. Weidner. Mrs. Cora Maxfield was an nounced as a new chapter member. Guests were Mrs. Mary D. McCullough of East brook chapter, Rockville, Ind., and Mrs. John B. Lynch. Mrs. Don S. Stevens, magazine chairman, described the DAR magazine. Mrs. Judd Greenman, re gent, presided. Dessert lunch eon preceded the meeting. Mrs. Ray K. Bailey, national defense chairman, spoke on that subject. Next chapter meeting will be a Christmas party at the Girls Community club on De cember 15. Members are re quested to take a Christmas gift for an Indian child at Chemawa instead of the usual gift exchange. HOW MUCH TO GET ON THIS VIYELLA KICK? Ask Barker's at Main and Central (about $17.95) Famous Fashion Houie recommends the Sanitone Dry Cleaning process vu " I I 601 t. Main FREE PARKING eiaHHaBau TRY OUR CUSTOM LAUNDCRED SHIRTS LOOK IETTER FIT ICTTEft FEEL BITTER CHRISTENSEN
