Hamilton Herald Masthead

Editorial


Front Page - Friday, April 12, 2013

50 Years Ago...


What was going on in Chattanooga in 1963?



Saturday, April 13

Property fronting on Market and Broad Streets between West Eighth and West Ninth Streets has been designated as a “pilot block” in a movement seeking modernization of the downtown area, W.G. Brown, co-chairman of the Greater Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce Public Affairs Committee, reported Friday.

Approximately 76,500 automobiles and trucks have been licensed for 1963 in Hamilton County in the period ending April 1, County Court Clerk David M. Ramsey reported.

Mrs. Elizabeth Evaline Phillips York, widow of Thomas Jefferson York, died Friday in a local hospital after an illness of several weeks. Mr. York was layman secretary for the Southern Baptist Convention at the time of his death in 1932.

Sunday, April 14

Mrs. Bradford Duncan of Jackson was re-elected president of the Tennessee Baptist Woman’s Missionary Union Saturday at the closing session of the 75th anniversary meeting, held at the First Baptist Church here. Next year’s meeting will be held at First Baptist Church in Memphis.

Lt. Col. Carl E. Cone of Atlanta, a leading Salvation Army executive, will direct the round table unit of the Chattanooga Health and Welfare Day symposium April 24 at the Hotel Patten, Sam I. Yarnell, general chairman for the event, announced.

Monday, April 15

Coroner Robert M. Summitt will serve as acting sheriff of Hamilton County until a special called meeting of the County Court to choose the sheriff to succeed James E. (Bookie) Turner, who was elected Commissioner of Chattanooga’s Fire and Police Department. Mr. Summitt, Monday, swore in some 80 deputies and process servers as deputy coroners and law enforcement officers.

Inauguration of Chattanooga’s new city administration was held Monday in the Tivoli Theater. The city officials were sworn in by Judge Robert E. Cooper of the Tennessee Court of Appeals. Howard Sompyrac, president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, was master of ceremonies.

Tuesday, April 16

The University of Chattanooga and Moccasin Bend Psychiatric Hospital are jointly embarking upon a one-year study of schizophrenia, one of the most baffling mental illnesses known to medical science, Dr. Leroy A. Martin, UC president, and Dr. Nat T. Winston, Jr., hospital superintendent, announced Tuesday. The research project is being financed by a grant to UC of $7,938 from the National Institution of Mental Health.

Glenn Stoutt was re-elected president of the Chattanooga Library Association at its annual meeting Tuesday. Other officers are: Ben Seessel, vice president; Mrs. Ben Duggan, secretary; and Laudon Gammon, treasurer.

Wednesday, April 17

Hamilton County’s 233-acre lakefront park will be opened May 1 for the 1963 season, the County Council decided Wednesday.

Sam M. Fleming, president of Third National Bank of Nashville and immediate past president of the American Bankers Association, addressed a luncheon in the Read House given by Murphee Mortgage of Nashville. More than 150 Chattanooga bankers, insurance company executives, industrialists, and businessmen were present. John W. Murphee, president of the Mortgage Company, presided.

Thursday, April 18

James S. Callaway, associate state news editor of the Chattanooga News-Free Press, died early Wednesday in a local hospital after a long illness.

Friday, April 19

Gov. Frank Clement has reactivated the Governor’s Emergency Traffic Safety Committee, naming nine private citizens to the group. Hugh Abercrombie, Chattanooga businessman, is one of the appointees.