October 1962
WRH Diary October 1, 1962 (Monday)
The rain has stayed with us. All day and all night the rain drops fell. But they can fall in vain for all the good they will do to wash away the stains of Mississippi. This is a new low for citizens of the US. Not since the Mormons were driven from Nauvoo, Illinois has there been such mob violence. We support the Federal Government and the Supreme Court interpretation of the Constitution. (James Meredith a black man enrolled in University of Mississippi and went to class surround by armed officers. It was pretty ugly on campus and in the state) called at the hospital to say good morning to Teri. My but she has spunk ad spit. I hope I never forget the blessing given her and the feeling of power in her room that morning we administered to her. She was able to stand this morning – no crutches and no brace. She walked today with crutches and braces. Overdid it and tired. I had to carry her back to her bed. Lunch with Mr. Sorensen at the Omaha Club. we returned to the boys’ club office to meet with a Bob Mancini of Wash. Regard a Federal Program of assistance. We got the old political double talk and a no money left answer. After dinner with the family, Helen and I drove back to the hospital. Nice visit with Teri. We returned just in time to answer a call from Bill Cozart in Edenton, North Carolina. I called Shum Pratt in New York regard his steaks.
October 2, 1962
Still cold and raining. With the air-conditioner on in the boys’ club office and dampness outside I have contacted a slight head-cold. Hope I haven’t given it to Teri. Dr. Retelsdorf told Helen today that Teri is being held in the hospital only because of her lack of control of her bladder. They made an extensive test today to determine if she can come home tomorrow. She hasn’t recovered from the paralysis in that area as yet. The Dr. said that the sensory nerves may not come back to well-especially in her legs. But we still count on the blessings of the priesthood and hold her present level of recovery to the blessings and administration of Teri by the Bishop. It is a blessing to see her on her feet. My but she is a special child- blessed of God with beauty and a spirit of love and compassion. Truly one of his choicest queens. And rick shall be her blessings! I spoke at the Lion’s club luncheon at the Hotel Fontenelle today. Told the boys’ club story- I truly felt that I had a captive group and truly became wrapped up in telling the story. Many people came up to the head table afterwards to introduce themselves and express their appreciation for the fine way it was presented. Did some grocery shopping with Helen and took Debbie back to the hospital to visit Teri. We sure love her.
October 3, 1962
A day of great rejoicing in the Hinckley household. We brought Teri Ann home. Helen and I were at the hospital by 9 AM. We waited to talk with Dr. Lee Retelsdorf who told us 1- to give physical therapy to her foot and leg at home, 2-to catheterize Teri twice a day until Saturday as her motor control has not returned to her bladder, 3- let her do what she can, make no special restrictions but make certain she can do it first, 4- chances of reoccurrences- Dr.’s do not know but feel that there is only a slight chance of it ever coming back, 5- Dr.’s are most worried about her recovery of sensory factors. This will probably be her greatest area of deficiency. But she looks the picture of health and is very happy to be home. She loves getting outdoors- first time in nearly three weeks. We thanked our father in heaven for our many blessings. I have a bad heavy sinus head cold. I was the banquet speaker of the American Red Cross Teachers sponsor workshop. Enjoyed leaving a message of “Inspiration to do youth work”.
October 4, 1962-My sinus cold is a beauty! Hope by the time my grandchildren read this they have made a major breakthrough in the medical aspects of the simple cold. I slept late. Didn’t help a great deal. Picked up a transistor radio for Scott. He wants to listen to the world series. Of course everyone is talking about the spectacular finish of the San Francisco Giants and their victory over Los Angeles for the National League Pennant. Morning spent at the office. Picked up Mr. Reifschmider of the Gene Eppley Foundation and drove him out to the boys’ club building site. Had a nice visit and get acquainted opportunity. Dropped Mr. Reifschmider off at the Hotel Fontenelle and drove to Leo Daly’s office for a consultation with Jack Savage and Mitch ? (Japanese American). We planned the development of the athletic field, the hard surface play area, the playground area and the front of the building. The right way to do it isn’t the proper way to do it-simply because the boys club doesn’t have that kind of money. Since Daly’s office is just a few blocks from our home I was able to scoot home clean some windows and with Ron’s and Scott’s help put the four storm windows on Teri Ann’s bedroom.
October 5, 1962
Teri seems to be making good progress. Her sensory abilities still leave much to be desired. It is a painful ordeal for her to be in a tub of warm water. One side registers hot and the other side of her body is cold!! Drove the youngsters to seminary and was in my office at 7 AM. About 9:30 Donna Williams called from Idaho Falls, Idaho. What a shock and tragedy to learn Reed Williams had died. Reed and Donna and Helen and I were close friends. We were married couples going to Ricks College. Reed and I played college ball together and took Helen and Donna on trips with us. We went to Washington D.C. together to school. Bought a home and lived together in Washington D.C. we worked together at the boys’ club and played semi-professional basketball together in Virginia. Our children were born within days of each other. We hunted, camped and vacationed together. It was like learning of the loss of brother! Helen is really broken up. To take our minds off the matter I took her and Teri and Debbie and Bro. Summers to watch Scott’s freshman football team play. Scott quarterbacked a good bit- doing a pretty good job. (Bob Urosevich got injured) His team won there 3rd straight game. I drove to Benson High School to watch Ron play at night. North High beat his team 32-0. North had the finest high school backfield I have ever seen. Ron played a good bit-doing a fine job. He engineered a couple of good series but lost via fumbles.
October 6, 1962
Another weekend of rain. Helen took the girls to primary. Some of Teri Ann’s friends (scouts) and her scout leader were waiting for Teri when she returned. They had a gift ( plasticized copy of the scout law and promise) for Teri. I had emptied a lot of waste paper bags and cans and straightened up the house a bit. The boys slept un 12 noon. I had previously discussed with Helen the thought of having family representation at Reed’s funeral. I called Bro. Forsha- who works for the Union Pacific- and ordered a round trip ticket from Omaha to Pocatello, Idaho ($64.02). drove down to the office -Ron rode along to get a haircut and made a couple of telephone calls and went through the morning mail. Wrote a note to my secretary (Shirley Hickey) to help cover my calendar while I will be gone. Ron and I drove down to the Union Pacific railroad terminal (union station) and picked up my coach reservation. We had a family dinner together and then I packed a bag. The boys and I drove to the 2nd ward church where the stake priesthood bearers were gathered to hear the priesthood session of the General Church Conference in Slat Lake City via direct wire. I left early to reach the station, park my car and catch the Union Pacific Streamline “City of Portland”. We left Omaha at 11:35 PM. I found my seat and slept.
October 7, 1962
I slept fairly well. The coach cars are equipped with reclining seats and adjustable leg and foot rests. I had purchased a 35 cent pillow from the porter and had rested well. Awoke to find myself in Western Nebraska. Shortly, we headed South and were in Denver, Colorado. Had breakfast in the diner (Corva, muffins and jelly, oatmeal, grapefruit) and enjoyed eating and conversing with a couple from Los Angeles. They had been on a tour and had been in Iowa City, Iowa to see the University of Southern Calif and Iowa play football. They were headed for Seattle and then down the coast to Los Angeles. Saw several antelope alongside the train tracks. Saw the first snow of the year as we worked our way toward the Continental Divide- high in those Wyoming hills. Everything was dry and dusty. With a wind blowing it was a rather desolate day. We hit a hail storm as I ate lunch in the Vista Dome. We were held up in Green River, Wyoming 1 ½ hours waiting for mail from the city of Los Angeles. We made up ½ hour and was 1 hour late getting to Pocatello at 8:30 PM. Joann and Blair met me and we drove straight to Rexburg and visited with Ross and Madge and Art and Jean Harris.
October 8, 1962
Was up at 8 AM- spent the night with Joann and Blair Manwaring. Called and found Reed’s funeral was at 11 AM. Joann fixed a lovely breakfast- home made bread- toasted with strawberry jam- milk, juice, spam and eggs- American fried potatoes. Bathed and shaved and took off for Idaho Falls in Ross’s car (’59 Buick). Found the funeral home just 20 minutes prior to their taking the body to the church. This was a das and trying time. Sure was broken up to see my buddy laid out in that casket. Mr. and Mrs. Williams and Reed’s sister and cousins were all there. But, Reed had asked Donna not to see him and not let his boys see him laid out. Dick Williams asked me to say a family prayer just before they closed the casket. I wasn’t well organized but from the nice and warm spoken praises I must have done well. The funeral was jammed packed and the crowd flowed out into the streets. The services- Episcopal- were a shock to his LDS friends who had never attended anything but a Mormon funeral. He was buried in the Fielding memorial cemetery in Idaho Falls. I spent the rest of the day with Donna (Reed’s wife) and his family. Certainly a sad and tiring day. Drove back to Rexburg about 8:30 PM. And had dinner with Ross and Madge. Visited with them and then went on to visit with Joann and Blair.
( More on this relationship. Reed was a graduate of Madison High School as was dad and his wife Donna was a Beasley from Rexburg and friend of moms. At age 39 he went in for a deviated septum surgery and had a heart attack and died. We camped and fished in Yellowstone park (Beula lake) with them and there was no trip to Idaho that did not spend some time with them. We stayed in touch with Donna –his wife. She remarried in 1965 and moved to Twin Falls. Reed’s dad had been a Governor of Idaho in the 1940’s. Reed was an attorney. When Mom died Donna got a hold of me on my mission and arranged for me to come to her house and then drove me up to Rexburg for the burial.) Scott Hinckley , 2020
October 9, 1962
Again a fine breakfast with Joann and her boys Dwight and Bart. Both boys are fine specimens. Aggressive and full of boy spirits and ideas. Homemade bread, toasted, eggs, pancakes milk. Using Ross’ car I drove to Hibbard (my birthplace and boyhood home). The road was full of nostalgia – fishing holes, magpie nests etc! stopped Ed Sommer on the road. We agreed to meet in Rexburg at a café and have lunch. Drove on out past the Hubbard store and the old Hibbard school. Stopped in front of the old Hinckley house and farm. Leland Morris, Si Johnson and 4 women were harvesting potatoes. They were using a combine and pulling it with a tractor. Wind blowing and dust flying and snow in the air. Walked around the street and said hello to William Morris and his mother. Bill has a bad back and isn’t well. He is on oxygen a lot. Glad I stopped in. drove on down to Lovernia’s and gave her a pleasant surprise. She was cooking dinner for the potato crew. Hot biscuits, homemade gravy, steak potatoes, home made pickles and jellies, pudding etc. Lunch with Ed. Up to the dry farm for potatoes to take to Omaha. To St. Anthony to visit Julie and her husband and to Pocatello to catch a train for Omaha.
October 10, 1962–Long miserable night waiting in the Pocatello Idaho train depot. Joann and Blair drove me down from Rexburg. We had a bite of Chinese food and they took off for Rexburg. I waited from midnight until 4 AM to catch the City of Portland. Checked two boxes of potatoes through on my ticket. Sacked right out on the train and awoke in Wyoming about 8 AM. In a relative short time we were in Green River, Wyoming. Again the dry desert, bleached hills, sage hens, deer and antelope and desolate feeling of miles and miles with only an occasional ranch house to break the monotony. It was a long, long ride! To break the monotony I walked to the dining car and had breakfast in the vista dome. Delightful place to eat and watch the country roll by. Country is getting monotonous! As we hit Colorado the country took on a different aspect. Flat irrigated lands full of hay, grain, sugar beets and feeding pens. Lots of sugar beet harvesting was in progress. On to Denver where I bought a box lunch for $1. (running short of cash) and had dinner. Tasted good because I had not eaten lunch. Sleep came easily but I was awake several times as not to sleep through the Omaha stop. Omaha at last-good to be home. Picked up my potatoes and was home by 3 AM. Debbie was up to greet me!! Everyone else was asleep. Good to be with my wife and children -Ron awoke -to bed by 4 AM.
October 11, 1962
Was at the office at 9:30 AM. Warm welcome home from Shirley and Roger. Nice visit with Roger-just back from short course at New York University. I can tell that he got a lot out of the course. Called John Johnette and he came down at 1 PM. They were very thrilled at the reception afforded them at Locust Valley. I guess Woody gave them the red carpet treatment while they were in Locust Valley. They thoroughly enjoyed themselves. We drove to Omaha’s South Side looked at a church for sale and talked in terms of a South Side unit of the boys’ club. I gave the project to John and Roger as an assignment to study and to make a recommendation on. We drove out to the Gene Eppley boys’ club building site. Made a thorough inspection of all that was going on relative to building construction. Back to the office for a staff conference. A few moments of review with Shirley and out to the Hinckley homestead. Family dinner and a welcome night’s sleep.
October 12, 1962
5 AM rising. Took the boys and the Lawson girl to seminary. That put me in my office at 6:45 AM, a real stack (3 in fact) of mail awaited me. We receive about six letters a day from people inquiring about Teri. Vera Pratt wrote and mailed me a $25 check to be used anyway we wished. Pushed a lot of work and shoved off for Rotary at West Omaha Club. A make up to keep my 100% attendance up as a Rotarian-4 years. Program was on the Omaha hockey team and its forthcoming season. On out to Leo Daly’s office for a conference with John Savage and a review of some of our detail problems. Slipped on over to the house at 4 PM and took Ron to Westside High to watch Scott’s freshman team play football. Creighton Prep gave them their first defeat of the season 12-6. Bad coaching example of the extended use of an injured player-quarterback. Sad commentary on the leaders of youth. We went to the football game as a family that night. We saw Ron play a bit and help his team to their first football victory in 17 games. They did it up right and really hustled to a 30-12 victory over Fremont, Nebraska. They are a vastly improved team.
October 13, 1962
We enjoy Saturdays as our day of sleeping in. didn’t begin to stir until about 9 AM. Helen took the girls to primary. I showered and shaved and drove down to the boys’ club building site. The Laborer’s Union and the Bricklayers and Tile Setters Union had men on the job to give a full days labor as their gift to the club. the total value of the day’s labor gift was about $1200. Took some pictures for future use. TV people took and used quite a bit of footage for their news broadcasts. World-Herald ran a nice story and a two column picture. Took Debbie, Teri and a neighbor girl shopping. Debbie bought a birthday gift for Chuck Burns- her neighbor friend. Dropped Helen off at the Crossroads shopping center and Teri and I picked up some groceries. We had them home and put away before Helen called to be picked up. While Helen prepared a great dinner of smoked ham, baked squash, baked potatoes, salad, etc the boys and I washed and put up the four storm windows in the front room. The windows all needed a lot of scrapping with a razor blade to get the paint specks etc off. We read, watch TV and sacked out.
October 14, 1962
Fast Sunday for our ward-due to the TV viewing of the General Conference from Salt Lake City a week ago. We all observed a 24 hour fast except Debbie (age 7) who only fasted 12 hours. I was able to visit and attend the Jr. Sunday School in my home ward-Omaha II. Very fine fast and testimonies. Teri, bless her heart bore a very beautiful and tearful testimony expressing loads of thanks. Ron arose to the occasion and bore his first remarks in a testimony meeting. Ron and Scott stayed at church to attend a choir practice. Helen and I and the girls came home and prepared a light lunch. By the time the boys were home to baby sit with the girls Helen and I were ready to leave for the Dundee Presbyterian Church. We met with the Congenial Couples class, had a buffet dinner with them and partook of the scriptures and a song period. I was then introduced and shoed the boys’ club film and gave a talk about the value of the boys’ club work. Back at the house we found the kitchen in an untidy condition and loads of dishes to be washed. TV going strong and all 4 children relaxed and viewing it. Helen soon changed that atmosphere as she scolded them for the kitchen.
October 15, 1962
Today was catch up day. Realizing that I was never going to catch up unless I put extra efforts in I did just that and set the stage for good productivity. Weather is varied. After lots of rain and cool weather the temperature crawled up to 90 over the weekend. Sunday felt like a hot humid day of summer. Today by contrast was down in the low 50’s! Barbara Johnson of UCS (United Community Service)called and came up to my office. She was upset by the fact that our staff was doing a re-evaluation of our “Youth Survey”. She seemed quite upset that we were looking in near South and South Omaha area. Banking day. Pay day comes every two weeks. I had my Wittenauer watch given to me by Helen, repaired and a new band put on it for Ron’s birthday. Stayed late at the office. Called and tried to get some Senior Aaronic to attend tomorrow’s Gospel School. Not much success. Sure hard to get people to break bad habits. I had a nice leg of lamb dinner with the family and then attended stake auxiliary board meeting. Our Stake Sunday School is a mess.
October 16, 1962
Started the day by taking the boys to seminary and using the boys’ club movie projector I showed the seminary class the LDS film “The search for Truth”. It was a picture- produced by Brigham Young University- that was well done. It used outstanding modern day scientists- LDS as well as non Mormons- who bore their personal testimony of a belief in God and that science and religion were and are most compatible. (Dr. Harvey Fletcher, Dr. Henry Eyring, Dr. Werner Von Bran etc.) production day at the office and a very fine fall day- shades of the beauty of a New York or New England Indian Autumn. Our current office work is a gathering together of loose ends and a preparing for the onslaught of a good brisk fall campaign. We will use a Christmas Card to raise funds and will have a committee reviewing our youth survey of some 18 months ago to see what possibilities we have of going to the near South side of Omaha. Barbara Johnson of UCS was up to my office. She was visibly upset about boys’ club surveys etc. my evening was spent at mutual again showing the film The Search For Truth. This time to the first class of the senior Aaronic Priesthood group. Cake and ice cream later!
October 17, 1962
Weather is threatening rain. Got it about 4 PM and it stayed with us the rest of the night. Prior to that I spent a very productive morning at the office. I am sending out about 50 copies of a second bulletin concerning Teri Ann. We have had many many people from all over write and call about her. She is off from her crutches and using her leg braces at school. She walks about the house without her brace. Still no feeling had returned to the right side of her body. She has had good recovery of her bladder and bowels. Rotary luncheon featured a colonel from Offut Air Base as our speaker. He was an expert on missiles having fired more (twenty) than any other man in the United States. Am quite concerned with the figures Roger and John are pulling together from their near South side survey. Looks like they will be needing a boys’ club there. Helen and I and Mr. and Mrs. R. P. Callahan were special guests at the Dundee Presbyterian Church. Al Sorensen was the principal speaker for their first family dinner night program. Topic was delinquency. I assisted by showing the Boys’ Club film. Socialized with the Callahan’s at Kings afterwards.
October 18, 1962
This was the morning to sleep late. Leo A Daly’s office is just a few blocks from my home and my first appointment was there at 8:30 AM. Three people from Daly’s office and I went over the color scheme for the boys’ club. basically white, grey and blues. Left that conference to drive to the Castle hotel and set up my projector prior to a speaking engagement to the Concord Club at its regular weekly luncheon meeting. That finished, I reviewed some blue prints with the team captain of the boys’ club architectural team and payed a visit to the Sidewalk engineer for the city of Omaha-a Mr. Staven. We talked about the boys’ club property- the new road construction of Burdett street and the need for off street parking and sidewalks in the area. This was followed with a visit from the county health department and final approval – subject to a couple of changes- of our kitchen proposal. I took these blue print changes and hurried to the architect’s office to have them put into the works. Helen and I and Teri drove to Bellevue to watch Scott’s football team. Very cold night but the excitement of the game helped. Westside finally won 21-12 in what was some of the finest freshmen football I have ever seen played.
October 19, 1962
I got an early jump on things at the office by arriving at 6:45 AM. Had a lot of paper work finished by the time Roger and John came in for a conference on the near South Side study. We worked on this for several hours-until 1 PM. I spent another hour at the desk and then stopped at Mr. Sorensen’s office to talk for a few minutes relative to boys’ clubs in general. I then drove out to the boys’ club building site. Work is really progressing rapidly. The construction foreman told me that if he was not held up on materials that he could very possibly have the building finished two months ahead of schedule. This came as quite a shock- I am gearing staff programs and membership to a March 15 or April 1 date. I will really have to work to step up to meet this new date. Boy oh boy, what complications that will be. Brought Shirley out to the house and then let her take the car for the weekend. She was very thrilled with our house. Helen attended a stake YWMIA meeting and Debbie, Teri and I went to the Westside-South football game. Boy oh boy-what a cliff hanger- Westside won 13-12 to beat South who had been rated as Nebraska’s second best football team. Crowd went crazy. Fans mobbed the team. Rained all night.
October 20, 1962–Drove Teri Ann to primary. Debbie took a day’s vacation and watched TV. Looked for a place to have Scott’s shoes half-soled but to no avail. Only place I found wanted until Wednesday to do the work. Filled the Chrysler with gas and took a fan belt squeal out with some lubrication. Checked the cooling capacity of the Chrysler and found it holds 24 quarts. Mixing anti-freeze at the rate of 50% to the water it will take 3 gallons of anti-freeze to protect it against 35 degrees below zero weather. We had the Omaha II ward chapel to clean as a project. Took the whole family and spent a total of 14 adult hours doing the job. All the children worked very diligently and we were fatigued when 4 pm and the end of our job arrived simultaneously. Everything was dusted-floors were swept and polished- carpet vacuumed, windows washed bathrooms scrubbed etc. took the family to “Kings” a deluxe drive-in restaurant for a treat. Hamburger, French fried onions etc. Ron had the opportunity of paying a $1.40 ticket that had been the source of embarrassment when high school mates he had been with ran out without paying last night. Missed getting Scott a hair cut by a couple of minutes. Boy but he needs one. I attended the missionary meeting at Omaha II that opened the Winter Quarters stake quarterly conference. Real strong missionary theme to the talks given.
October 21, 1962
Again the luxury of sleeping in. we had a nice large family breakfast- first time together in ages. We drove to Central High School at 20th and Dodge to attend stake quarterly conference. Morning session was a bit rough due to a 1000 in attendance and no Jr. Sunday School facilities. This was the stakes first conference without a General Authority in attendance. Program was geared to missionary efforts. “Every Member a Missionary”!! we bought and ate box lunches provided by the relief society of the Council Bluffs ward @ 50cents each for lunch. Then we took Maurice Smith and his family and drove out to the boys’ club building site at 20th and Burdette. Took a little walk around and drove back to Central to attend the 1:30 conference session. Very fine session. Attendance dropped to some 600 plus people. Ron and Scott sang in the youth choir. Helen and I were real pleased with them. Helen and the boys attended the youth conference YMIA session at Omaha II ward. The girls and I relaxed at home. Talked to Scott about grades and school. He didn’t pick up with the best friends at school and has had some Geometry class problems.
October 22, 1962
No car-Shirley has it for weekend. I called Joe Sharp and he picked me up. Joe is brother in law of AC Nelson Co., a re-activated Mormon with 8 years in Omaha. We had a flat tire in front of Omaha University. Stayed with the desk work all day. Shirley brought me a sandwich and a cup of soup so I wouldn’t have to leave the desk. Cold weather is moving in. the kids notice it and remark, “It was never this cold this early in New York.” Two more football games to go and the boys’ will be inside in basketball. Scott had some boys from another Jr. High school give him a hard time when he left the locker room. Couple of blows were exchanged. He brought home two papers with good marks in Geometry. Hope he is on top of this problem. Met with Mr. Marquiss, Central High Basketball coach, and Mr. Howard Sorensen principal of Benson High School in the latter’s office, for a discussion of the possibility of getting state approval for a Nebraska All-Star basketball game for the benefit of the boys’ clubs of Omaha. Sorensen, who is on that Board was rather warm and encouraging. We left feeling things are favorable. After dinner-Teri Ann, Helen and I drove out to Boys’ town to attend a concert of the Boys’ Town Choir who are starting their annual US tour.
October 23, 1962
Drove Helen’s Chrysler down to Joe Sharp’s to have a new oil pan put on it. It has been leaking oil badly. When I picked it up at 4 PM he had taken some of the noise our of the front by taking some debris off the fan belts. He also made a carburetor adjustment but thinks I am about due for a carburetor overhaul. Seems to have a dry bottom in so far as oil and automatic transmission are concerned. World is in a great crisis with President Kennedy’s effecting a Cuban quarantine. However, it is long overdue and really most of the people are pleased that we have taken the backbone and straightened it out and stood up straight again. We have pursued co-existing to long while Russia has continued to infiltrate and take over. There comes a time when you have to stand up and fight-Americans don’t enjoy beating about the bush. This is one of them. We had MIA sandwiches for dinner and took all the family to Mutual. I took the boys’ club 16 mm movie projector and showed two Northwestern Bell telephone movies to the group for their activity program.
October 24, 1962–5:30 AM alarm. Had a good breakfast with Helen. We are all very thrilled with out new house full of curtains and drapes. It took the Nebraska Furniture Mart two months to make them up @ a cost of $500. But it is worth it just once to see the pure delight in Helen’s face and know that after 17 years she finally bought a complete set for her home and for the first time bought what she wanted! We have every room different. Horizontal stripes in the front house. (Lovely shade of green) beautiful matching stripes of blue and pink in the girls rooms with matching spreads. It is nice-and also nice to be different. (Scott and Ron lived in the below ground basement with one tiny window at the ground level) slowly but surely catching up with my paper work at the office. Roger and John are about finished with a couple of surveys in Omaha’s near South Side. Rotary was devoted to celebrating Navy day. King and Queen of Aksarben were our guests. The admiral who was to have spoken to us was confined to Offut because of the Cuban crisis. Very grave situation. Drove to Tech high school and watched Scott’s freshman team take a beating 21-0. Scott was only in for four offensive plays but he looked good and picked up a first down. (thanks dad for not saying it was because of a penalty) Helen took the girls to a school Halloween Carnival. It was dad’s night at the Westside-Lincoln Northeast football game and special ceremonies took the Dads down on the field where we met our sons. Westside lost 26-0.
October 25, 1962
Today starts 2 days of school holidays for the children. Teachers institutes and academic conventions. The girls had a wonderful time at their school carnival last night. PTA sponsored it was a “white elephant” sale, games, Halloween costumes, etc. with no one to get up at 5 AM we didn’t set an alarm and Helen and I slept through until 7:45 AM. Put me at the office at 9 AM. Took Scott’s shoes to be half soled. They were ready by 2 PM. $3.00 for half soles. Stayed at the desk until 4. Picked up Scott’s shoes and drove out to the building site of the boys’ club. they are really moving along. In fact much to my surprise and consternation the building superintendent said if materials did not delay him that he could turn the building over as much as two months ahead of schedule!! Scott and I drove back down town and visited all five of our ward teaching families. They are all senior Aaronic priesthood members. My how their lives could be changed if they would but surrender their lives and refresh at the fountain of Christ. We enjoyed making our visits. It is a good feeling to have 100% in ward teaching. We returned home in good spirits and had dinner together.
October 26, 1962
What a pleasant surprise came my way. Shirley found a bookkeeping error in my payroll figures and I had been under paid a net of $461 after taxes etc were withheld. What a windfall!!! Helen called to say that he Chrysler was really leaking oil. I had her hurry down to Joe Sharp’s. the new oil pan was faulty-the metal had separated. They couldn’t get to it until next Monday. She and Debbie came up to my office. Teri was at a birthday party (downtown movie). Helen and Debbie did some shopping-Helen found it hard to take $40 and believe me about the paycheck error, but who wouldn’t. I had left my Chevy at Rosen Novak’s for a lubrication and oil change. They also had to replace a broken spark plug. It was a good walk from my office to the garage but we all made it in good spirits. Still the letters and cards roll in to and about Teri. Heard today from LaMond and Violet Hinckley- long lost cousins. Took Ron and Scott to their seminary class party at the Lawson’s. Helen, Debbie and I had hamburgers and French fried onion rings at KINGS. We pent a pleasant evening together at home. We love our home and its furnishings.
October 27, 1962
I left the rest of the family sleeping and went outside to work with wheel barrow and shovel. Some fill dirt to be moved to the area where our new patio will be. I really enjoy physical labor. Honest sweat and vigorous physical experience make a therapy for me. Alas, I get not enough of it in my desk bound job. At 9 AM Bro John Lawson and I drove downtown and joined Bro. Andy Peace to move Sister Sollenger across the street to her new apartment. She is a very elderly sister. Her boarder, Henry Price is 78 years old. She is divorced from her husband and has two or three grown married sons and daughters living here in Omaha. And yet, she lives in filth and when heavy moving work was to be done she had to have the church do it for her. We worked very hard until 1 PM. Upstairs and down stairs-in and our of basements. We moved stoves, refrigerator, deep freeze, beds, dressers etc. Boxes, plants, chairs TV etc. we were bushed when it was all over. Back home we enjoyed watching Matt Snell, a former Locust Valley boys’ club member, playing football on TV. He helped Ohio State beat Wisconsin. Scott mowed the lawn while Ron and I cleaned and put up storm windows. Ron and Bro. Smith were in our home as ward teachers. Helen and I had dinner at the HillTop House and then drove downtown to the Orpheum theater to see “The Chapman Report”.
October 28, 1962–With the Chrysler in the garage my wings were clipped s far as making a Sunday School visit. I took the boys to Priesthood and then drove back to pick up Helen and the girls for Sunday School. Helen and the family enjoyed some good homemade stew for lunch. Our home is comfortable and we enjoy living in it. The world crisis generated over the Cuban incident is appalling. Many people fear a nuclear war. People react in many ways- panic buying of food, prayer meetings etc. we attended a special Primary program at the church in the middle of the afternoon. I had the pleasure of presenting Debbie with her compass as she moved up another notch in Primary work. My sister Wilma writes from Moses Lake, Washington that her husband Luther J. Brizendine has gone into business for himself. He is a painter and dry-wall man. Her youngest girl fell from climbing a pole and broke her arm. Ron has a real crush on the Bishop’s daughter. It is most unfavorably received by his parents. A puppy love affair that is out of place under the circumstances. Sacrament service was followed by a fireside at the Sharp residence. Helen and the boys attended while I bathed the girls and fed them their supper.
October 29, 1962
No school for the District #66 kids. Our boys attended seminary. I picked them up and had Joe Sharp give me a ride down town. Joe’s mechanic repaired the oil pan on the Chrysler. It was a defective pan. The metal separated and had to be braised. While he had it I had him put snow tires on the car. Captive air tires using my captive air units. All nylon, white sidewall- at AC Nelson cost price of $40 per tire!! Beautiful fall day. Temperature was just right to make it crisp and sun shiny. Made a run out to the boys’ club building sight. They are really making progress. I marvel at the speed with which P. Kiewitt & sons builds. I was back at the Sheraton Fontenelle Hotel by 5 PM. The Omaha National Bank played host to about 60 of Omaha’s outstanding business executives. Drinks and a buffet of cold cuts and hot hors d’oeurves . following this we marched upstairs to the ballroom where all of us became salesclerks for the “Friends of the Children’s Hospital Bazaar”. I sold for about three hours at the gift shop booth. Sales were lively. So was shoplifting!!! Amazing bazaar.
October 30, 1962
The emphasis at the office is on our staff to complete the listings necessary to prepare bid forms for the furniture and fixtures for our boys’ club. we finally cleared the blueprints for the kitchen. We had run into a snag with the Omaha Douglas County Board of Health. Circulated new sets of kitchen plans to several contractors. Left the boys’ club station wagon at Joe Sharps for snow tires. These people have made believers of me. When they say to be ready by November 1, I believe them. Bad snow storm swept through the Eastern end of the Great Lakes leaving heavy snow in Buffalo etc. Locust Valley had 6” snow for Halloween-first time since 1880’s. had a pleasant chat with Joe Sharp when I went to pick up the BC wagon. My Chrysler- including $80 for snow tires (nylon-whitewall-captive air by Goodyear) came to $120. The BC wagon ran $50. Hurried home-damp dark cold night and baby sat with the girls while Helen and the boys attended MIA. They had a Halloween party planed by Helen and Roy. Worked out very well. One of the best they have ever had. Kids had a ball-spook alley-etc. grapes for eyeballs, oysters for hearts, etc. Helen does a good job-very thorough.
October 31, 1962
Took the youngsters to seminary- our boys Ron and Scott, Linda Lawson and Joe Sharp’s daughter. Took the projector along and showed the class a film at Bro. Smith’s request. Very impressive film based on a true incident of a Mormon Bishop and some Indians who had received a vision about the Book of Mormon. Maurice Smith held us up as we struggled to free a jam on the screen tripod. Finally made it and after a good discussion of the Ron-Lonnie problem and Scott’s attitudes toward learning, I shoved off for the office. A full day of meetings and conferences. Had lunch with Ray Summers at Rotary and then John Johnette and Ray and I visited the building site. The boys club is really moving. John and I moved on to a meeting at Leo A Daly’s office. We are developing a master plan of the outdoor areas of the boys’ club. john and I caught the last three quarters of Scott’s freshman game. Westside beat South 28-6. Took the girls to Ray Summers home for trick or treat. They worked the area to fill their bags with goodies.