Forum Flashbacks: Jan. 8-14
MARYVILLE DAILY FORUM, JAN. 12, 2001
25 YEARS AGO: Snowtime Fun – This Snow Bug takes the “bite” out of Austen Mozier, who along with his sister, Megan Dennis and his mother, Kelly Leedom, made the cute little snow character.
50 years ago
Maryville Daily Forum, Jan. 12, 1976
R-I Dedicates New Facility
Between 150 and 200 people heard Dr. Arthur Mallory, state commissioner of elementary and secondary education, deliver a dedication address for the West Nodaway R-I School District’s new industrial arts facility.
“The dedication of a new school building, he said toward the end of his remarks, “is really a conversation about our children, their education and their upbringing.”
Dr. Mallory said that “I have never known a kid who is seeking to be a failure, everyone would like to be successful and the way a child feels about himself has a lot to do with how well they do in school.”
Dr. Mallory admonished the parents “to eliminate failure and to guarantee success as parents it is absolutely essential for you to have your children getting to their books.”
He further clarified this point saying, “There’s a set of books that goes with every responsibility in life — if you’re not up on your books then you’re going to fail.”
Dr. Mallory suggested that one lesson to be learned in the set of “books” for parents would be “to encourage the children every morning. If they leave their home feeling good about themselves they’ve already succeeded, but if they don’t feel good about themselves, they’ve already had their first failure before they even leave the house.”
75 years ago
Maryville Daily Forum, Jan. 11, 1951
Eckles to Head License Bureau
A representative from the state motor vehicle department today installed Ray Eckles, local attorney, as deputy motor vehicle collector for the Maryville branch of the state license bureau. Mr. Eckles replaces Verne Wray who recently resigned as secretary of the Chamber of Commerce. …
Mr. Eckles told the Daily Forum today that he didn’t know yet where he would take the license bureau, and for the time being it will continue to operate out of the Chamber of Commerce office.
Dispute Now Ended
The appointment of Eckles as deputy collector brings to an end a dispute that has raged for several weeks between Charley Baumli and his Chamber of Commerce board of directors and Ellis Cook, local lawyer, and Democratic boss.
Several weeks ago Lauris M. Eek was hired as secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, replacing Verne Wray. It was assumed Colonel Eek would be named deputy motor vehicle collector for the Maryville office, and the license bureau would remain a part of the Chamber of Commerce, as it has for years. But at that point Ellis Cook entered the picture and indicated to the Chamber of Commerce directors that under no consideration would he recommend the names of Eek as deputy collector, and furthermore he would not permit the license bureau to be a part of the Chamber of Commerce as long as Eek was the local secretary.
Eek is State President
Mr. Eek is at present the state president of the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Cook’s drastic action indicated to the Chamber board that Mr. Cook, for political reasons and also personal reasons would have no part of Colonel Eek.
Then the negotiations started between the Chamber of Commerce and Boss Cook. …
Boss Cook Won’t Listen
The Chamber of Commerce went so far as to ask Mr. Cook to name any Democrat, just so long as the revenue was available to the civic organization. But the political chieftain again indicated that so long as Colonel Eek was secretary the actual license bureau must be divorced entirely from the Chamber office, or at least in separate offices.
Charles Baumli, president of the Chamber of Commerce, said today that the loss of the license bureau and the revenue there-from was a serious blow to the civic organization. “For years the license bureau has paid the office expense, hired help, and paid the secretary’s salary, and left us a small net return besides. That in turn enabled us to use all the money received from members in the promotion and welfare of our city and community.
Baumli Says They Tried
Mr. Baumli further said, “We tried every way in the world to get along with Mr. Cook, and save the license bureau, but we failed. We did not think we should let any partisan political influence enter into the matter at all of hiring a satisfactory secretary. In fact, we did not realize that the license bureau had any political significance, or was a so-called political plum.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: The 50- and 75-year flashbacks are courtesy of the Missouri Digital Newspaper Project from the State Historical Society of Missouri, accessible at shsmo.newspapers.com.
