The 'Iron Curtain' Descends in 1946-- Winston Churchill

I will be finishing my list of Chicago Bears head coaches, but yesterday marked an important date in an era I lived through and never thought would end (or has it?).  The Cold War.

MARCH 5, 1946

Winston Churchill delivered his famous "Iron Curtain" Speech at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri.

Liz and I accidentally found Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, back on one of our trips.  I came across a very informative article on this speech and a historic London church that has been rebuilt in Fulton and will write about it after Da Bears coaches.

--Cold War Coot

Twelve Discontinued Beers That Sadly You'll Never See Again-- Part 1: Good Ol' Falstaff

From December 7, 2022, Eat This, Not That!  by Tanya Adwards.

If you like beer like me, you'll find this of interest.  Fortunately, I had not ever heard of or had most of them.  I will start by listing the ones with which I  was familiar.

1.  Bud Dry--  Heard of it, but never tried it.  I'm not a big Bud fan, especially of Bud Light.

2.  Miller High Life Light--   Tried it, but no Miller High Life product out of a can hits it with me.  It's got to be in a Blonde or nothing.

3.  Pete's Wicked Ale--  Heard of it but never tried it.  Unfortunately craft beers are expensive and I tend to be a cheap beer drinker.

4.  Falstaff--  A favorite of mine--  and CHEAP!!!

5.  Meister Brau--  A Chicago beer bought by Miller and phased out.  Of interest, Meister Brau was one of the first breweries to feature a light beer, Meister Brau Lite.  This is where Miller Lite comes from, my favorite beer.

6.  Milwaukee's Best--   This became a favorite beer of college students because it was CHEAP.  Back in the 1970s at NIU in the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity, we drank Old Milwaukee for the same reason.  A six pack of Old Milwaukee went for 99 cents.  A six pack of Coca-Cola went for a $1.49.  As such, we were FORCED to drink beer.

7.  Red, White & Blue Lager--  Again, it was CHEAP!

**  Anybody remember Pickett Beer from Dubuque, Iowa.  I used to buy their beer for $5 a case!!  And, it was good.

Little Old Cheap Beer Drinker Me.  --CootDrunk

And My Best Two War Board Games: Stratego and Risk

I enjoyed the Milton-Bradley/American Heritage war board games, but my absolute two favorite games of this sort were Stratego and Risk.

I had excellent strategies for playing both of these.  You could always count on my spy to be somewhere around the general in Stratego.  That way if my opponents marshal came after my general, I had a shot at him.  My marshal would be around at least one of the colonels, maybe both, in case my opponent's general ventured forth.

Plus, I often played Risk in both high school and college.  These games could go on a long time, especially if there were only three players left or to begin with.  With just three players, you dare not go to war with one of the others and wear your armies down while the third person is just getting stronger by the move and preparing to wipe out what's left of the two warring parties.

--CootTego

May 1972: The Two Year Anniversary of the Kent State Killings

From the MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back" for May 4, 2022.

1972, 50 years ago. 

"On Thursday morning, students at Northern Illinois University will conduct an anti-war march into DeKalb  and will hold a moratorium on classes at the university.

"The march is being held on the second anniversary of the killings at Kent State University and the subsequent  death of 15 people in demonstrations at Jackson State and Augusta, Georgia."

The Kent State shootings caused some violent confrontations between students and various law enforcement groups.

--Cooter

Charles Willson Peale-- Part 2: A Prolific Painter

His estate is now part of the campus of LaSalle University in Philadelphia.  It can still be visited.

Peale also raised troops for the American Revolution and eventually became a captain in the Pennsylvania militia in 1776 and participated in several battles.  While in the field, he continued to paint. doing  miniatures of American officers.  After the war, he made many into larger paintings.

From 1779 to 1780 he was in the Pennsylvania state assembly, after which he returned to painting full time.

Peale was quite prolific as an artist and did portraits of scores  of historic  figures such as Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton to name a few.

He is probably best known for his portraits of George Washington.  The first time Washington sat for his portrait with Peale was 1772 and they had six other sittings.  Using these  seven as models, Peale produced altogether close to sixty portraits of Washington.  In January 2005, a full-length portrait of Washington at Princeton from 1779 sold for $21.3 million, setting a  record for the highest price ever paid for an American portrait.

--Cooter

46 Fascinating Facts About Our 46 Presidents-- Part 9: Bush to Biden

41.  GEORGE H.W. BUSH  (1989-1993)

While a student at Yale University, Bush was captain of the baseball team and a member of the Skull and Bones, an elite secret student society.

42.  BILL CLINTON  (1993-2001)

Clinton played the saxophone and famously on the Arsenio Hall show when he was a candidate for president.

43.  GEORGE W. BUSH (2001-2009)

Post-presidency,  he took up oil painting, exhibiting his work  at the Museum of Southwest Texas.

44.  BARACK OBAMA (2009-2017)

Prior to becoming the first black president, he won two Grammy Awards for "Best Spoken Word Album."  His wife, Michelle, has also won a Grammy.

45.  DONALD J. TRUMP  (2017-2021)

Before becoming president, he  was a real estate developer, entrepreneur and host of the NBC reality show, "The Apprentice."

46.  JOE BIDEN (2021-present)

He overcame a debilitating  childhood stutter after enduring bullying in grade school.

--CootPres

Must Be a Woke Thing: Going After Three More Colleges: Bradley, Florida State and Utah

I tell you, this Woke Thing is something else.  How could you go that long and not be upset enough to really make a protest.  Now, it is everyone jump on the bandwagon.

BRADLEY

The NCAA targeted Bradley in 2005 for its use of the Braves moniker.  The team has continued to hold firm in keeping the nickname and in 201 asked alumni if he name should stay.  (I wonder what they had to say.  Again, changing a school's historical bane should always be put to a vote of alumni and current students.)

*********************

FLORIDA STATE

The Seminoles were asked this summer about their name but said it wasn't offensive, citing a partnership with the Seminole Tribe of Florida.  Tribe spokesman Gary Bitner said it was a "multidimensional collaboration."

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UTAH

Utah has a similar agreement with the Ute Indian Trobe to honor the tribe with its nickname.  In March, the university and tribe reached a five-year agreement to use the name Utes.

--Cooter

Ten April Days of Tragedy (April 11 to 20)-- Part 2: School Shootings and Industrial Accidents

**  APRIL 15, 2019:  Notre Dame Cathedral fire in Paris.

**  APRIL 16, 2007:  Mass shooting at Virginia Tech  (32 killed)

**  APRIL 17, 2013:  West, Texas fertilizer plant explosion  (15 killed)

**  APRIL 18, 1906:  San Francisco earthquake.  (Est. 3,000 to 6,000 killed)

**  APRIL 19, 1993:  Branch Dravidian Siege, Waco, Texas  (About 80 killed)

**  APRIL 19, 1995:  Oklahoma City Bombing  (168 killed)

**  APRIL 20, 1999:  Columbine High School in Colorado murders.  (13 students and one teacher killed)

**  APRIL 20, 2010:  Deepwater Horizon explosion in Gulf of Mexico (11 workers killed)

--DaCoot

'Woke' Hits Sports Teams: University of Illinois

Illinois has taken steps to find a new mascot but has not committed to a name change.  In September 2020, the campus senate endorsed a change to the belted kingfisher, a blue and orange bird native to the state.  (I've never seen one or even heard of one.)  

The university retired Chief Illiniwek in 2007 after the NCAA found the mascot to be "hostile and abusive."  (Really, hostile and abusive?  Come on.)

So, you better go out and buy any U of I mascot-related items.  I know I have a sweatshirt, tee shirt and hat with the likeness.  As well as a couple bumper stickers.

If I were a member of the Illini tribe or an Indian. I don't think I'd find offense with the image.

--CootIllini

'Woke' Hits the Sports Teams-- Part 1: Valparaiso University

From the February 18, 2021, Chicago Tribune "Valpo not alone in changing nickname" by Andrew Golden.

It seems everywhere you look across the sports world everything is under attack.  Especially in the area of team nicknames for fear of offending indigenous, ethnic and religious groups.  

Valparaiso University in Indiana is the latest to announce a name, mascot and logo change.

In fairness, there have been efforts to remove the name Crusaders over the years, but you-know-who's killing last year turned it into a bonfire.

And, Valparaiso is not the only team in this situation.  

At least three are in the process of changing their nicknames.  One is a college, one is an NFL team and the other a NLB team.

There are also six teams holding the line on name changes.

--CootNameChange

Black History: Harold Baron 'Hal' Jackson, Disc Jockey and Radio Personality

HAROLD BARON "HAL" JACKSON (1915-2012)

American disc jockey and radio personality who broke a number of color barriers in radio broadcasting.

He began his radio career as the first black radio sports announcing, broadcasting Howard University home baseball games and local Negro League baseball games.

In 1939, he became the first black host at WINX Washington with the bronze Review, a nightly interview program.  He moved to New York in 1954 and became the first radio personality to broadcast three daily radio shows on three different New York stations.

Four million listeners tuned in nightly to hear Jackson's mix of music and conversations with jazz artists and celebrities.

NIU Makes Plans for Building Construction in 1970

From the March 4, 2020, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1970, 50 Years Ago.

"New buildings which NIU plans to construct in the next 10 years include a science building, student services center, liberal arts classroom, men and women's physical education buildings, a fine and applied arts structure, more student housing and a building with business affairs and computer services will be housed.

"Also to be considered would be the construction of a golf course, sports arena and auditorium and a building to house an engineering school."

This is Northern Illinois University's 125th anniversary.

In the Midst of a Building Boom.  --Cooter

About College and Valentine's Day Back in 1878

From the  June 3, 2020, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1877,  Lots and Lots of Years Ago.

"Fifteen or twenty young gentlemen and ladies of Sycamore went to school or college last week, and 15 to 20 parents are receiving letters this week saying, 'Send me a little more money, father, it takes more money than I thought it would."

******************************

"Valentine's Day sent  500 Sycamore children crazy, last Wednesday.  The amount of foolishness sent through the mail was enough to sicken the stomach of a dog.

"The glory of Valentine's Day has departed."

Bah, Humbug.  --DaCootTine

Death of Olivia Hooker in 2018-- Part 5: One of First Women in Coast Guard and a PH.D.

She was stationed in Boston and performed administrative duties before the SPARs program was disbanded in 1946.  She was discharged as a petty officer 2nd class, according to a Coast Guard report, then went on to complete her doctorate.

She became a senior clinical lecturer at Fordham in 1963 and retired from the university in 1985.

Thirty years later, the Coast Guard named a building on Staten Island after her, breaking a tradition of ship- and building-christening in honor only of those who have died.  The service said it was making an exception because of her "distinguished service to the Coast Guard and her wonderful efforts in serving and helping others."

Death of One of the Last Survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre in 2018: Olivia Hooker (1915-2018)

From the November 29, 2018, Chicago Tribune  by DeNeen L. Brown of the Washington Post.

Olivia Hooker called it "The Catastrophe," the notorious 48 hours of fire and death that leveled "Black Wall Street" in Tulsa, Oklahoma when she was six-years-old.

The Tulsa Race Massacre erupted on May 31, 1921, when a white lynch mob descended on the courthouse where a young black teenager was being held.

A group of black World War I veterans tried to protect the teen and in the ensuing violence, as many as 300 black people died and thousands more saw their homes and livelihoods destroyed by torch.

Some people were burned alive, and 40 square blocks of businesses and residential property -- valued then at more than $1 million -- were destroyed.

Dr. Hooker later was among the first black women to serve in the U.S. Coast Guard and retired as an associate professor of psychology at Fordham University in New York.  But by the time of her death on Nov,. 21, at the age of 103, she had also become one of the last known survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre.

An Amazing Woman.

George H.W. Bush Among a Long Line of American Presidential Military Heroes-- Part 1: George Washington Was the First

From the December 3, 2018, Chicago Sun-Times by Neil Steinberg.

The first president of the United States was a military man.  George Washington not only led the Continental Army during the American Revolution, but also fought in the French and Indian War.  As a matter of fact, 26 of our 44 presidents served the country in uniform in some capacity.

With the death Friday of George H.W. Bush, the most recent military president, this is a good time to take a look at the link between the armed forces and the Oval Office.

Washington was followed by two decades of non-veterans.  Washington left office in 1797, and the next military man to be sworn in was James Monroe in 1817, who had dropped out of William & Mary College to fight in the American Revolution in 1775 and was wounded in the Battle of Harlem Heights.

James Madison, while not in the military, saw more combat than many who were in the military and this will be discussed later.

--Cooter

Deaths: Charles Sanna-- Part 4: Parents Were Italian Immigrants, Served in WW II

Charles Albert Sanna was born in Philadelphia on Nov. 9,1917.  Both parents were Italian immigrants.  His father came to the U.S. at age 13 and later managed a dairy company in Philadelphia, and ice cream company in Washington and a gelatin operation in Chicago.

The family eventually settled in Madison, Wisconsin where Charles graduated high school and attended the University of Wisconsin and received a degree in mechanical engineering in 1939.  He joined the Navy two years later and rose through the ranks to become a superintendent of submarine construction at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Maine.

While there, he met Margaret "Peggy" McGee and they married in 1946.

After WW II, Sanna's father convinced him to join the family dairy business, then known as Sanna Dairy Engineers.  This proved crucial to the company as he designed a 60-foot-tall stainless steel dryer in Menominee  that powdered milk and died eggs.

Even though his postwar career was mostly involved with dairy, he never forgot the men who served on his submarines during the war.  I'll write about that in my Tattooed On Your Soul: World War II blog later today.

--Cooter

Mising the Boat May Have Saved George Halas' Life-- Part 3: He's Alive!!

Three days later, the Chicago Tribune ran a list of Western Electric employees who were still missing and possibly dead.  One of those listed read "Halas, G.S., Sept. 4110."  None other than our eventual "Papa Bear."

"Two of his fraternity brothers from the University of Illinois read the newspaper  with his name on the list, and they came to my grandfather's home to express condolences to my grandfather's mother,"  McCaskey said.  "They were delighted and surprised when my grandfather answered the door."

According to the Eastland Disaster Historical Society, Halas played on Western Electric's sports  teams and was going to play in the picnic baseball game.  His plan was to meet his best friend, Ralph Brizzalara, and Ralph's brother, Charles.  Both boarded the Eastland and both survived.

He's Alive.  --Cooter

Wayne Huizenga-- Part 3: Owned Waste Management, Inc.

Harry Wayne Huizenga was born in the Chicago suburbs on December 29, 1937, to a family of garbage haulers.  He attended Calvin College in Grand Rapids , Michigan, but dropped out and began his own garbage hauling business in Pompano Beach, Florida, in 1962.

He would drive a garbage truck from 2 am to noon each day, then go shower and go out and solicit new customers.  He eventually bought out several competitors expanding throughout South Florida.  In 1968 he merged with the Chicago sanitation company his uncles owned, creating Waste Management Inc. which eventually became the world's largest trash company.

That was his method of operation -- becoming the first national player in industries dominated by small and local operations.  he resigned from the company in 1984 and was paid $100 million in stock.

--Cooter

NIU Has Biggest-Ever Enrollment in 1968

From the November 7, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1968, 50 Years Ago.

"Northern Illinois University recorded its largest enrollment increase in history this fall with 20,719 students on campus."

And, to think, just a year later I was on campus.

Growing Pains.  --RoadNIU