Looking back in 1978

For W.L. Mead, it started with a truck ride with his brother, John. W.L. liked that first trip and proved it by starting a trucking business of his own, one that would eventually log four million miles a year and run out of nine terminals. That would come to an end last night at the Cleveland Clinic when the 74-year-old Norwalk businessman died following surgery. The owner of Norwalk's second-largest truck line, Mead was taken to Fisher-Titus on Friday night at then transferred to the Clinic on Saturday. His wife, Bertha, was at his side when he passed away. Born and raised in the Olena area, Mead started his business with a Model G International tractor. His first load in 1923 was household goods. Today the firm services from the Midwest to the New England states. It employs 135 people. Mead, in addition to being president of the firm that carries his name, was the vice-president of Wyandot Dolomite Company, the Findlay Warehouse Corporation, The Hancock Asphalt Paving Company of Carey, Ohio, and the First Findlay Corporation. A member of the Ohio Trucking Hall of Fame, Mead marked his Golden Anniversary in the business on Feb. 23, 1973. On that date the Huron County Commissioners declared it "W.L. Mead Recognition Day." Mead's childhood ambition was to own a farm and be worth $10,000. He attained both by owning that farm at retirement and then becoming involved in the breeding and raising of Angus cattle. New Maplehurst Teachers There was quite a turnover in local grade school teachers in 1978. The Reflector carried the picture of 10 of them at Maplehurst, many of whom spent their entire careers in the Norwalk system. Among those were Ralph Ritzenthaler who came from the Monroeville district and will teach fourth-graders here. Mike Gordon came from Sandusky after four years there. He will also teacher fourth-graders. Martha Rice spent two years teaching in New York and will teach special education students. Pamela Maxwell moves in from Berlin-Milan where she taught for five years. She will teach third graders. Jeannin Bergeman taught eight years in Bellevue and comes with a Masters Degree from BGSU. She will teach first-graders as will Karen Meyer, who will teach students with learning disabilities. Marilyn O'Hara come from Huron. She will be a second-grade teacher as will Jill Wagner, a transfer from League. Judy Emmons is a returnee to Maplehurst where she taught five years. A former Eastwood District teacher, she will teach kindergarten students. Barker Fulfills Promise Ed Barker promised his father after losing in the Elks Club finals last year that he would make amends. He did that convincingly on Sunday afternoon, winning 9 & 8 over Terry Ludweig. It was Barker's third title. He had beaten both Mike Rice and Jim Widman in earlier finals. "I spent a lot of time in getting ready for this weekend," he stated."Dad passed away earlier this year and there was no way I was going to let him down." Barker was just about flawless in his 1978 match. He played the 28 holes needed in two-over par. He was seldom off the fairway, hitting just one truly errant shot, a punch-out that ended up in a double-bogey. He parlayed that hole with four birdies on the day. Other sub-flight winners in 18-hole matches included Dr. Hal Schultz victory over Al Shankman in A Flight, 6 & 4; Louis Frey stopping Harry Ludewig, 2 & 1 in B Flight while Don Benedict won a close match (2 & 1) over Holly Spangler in C. The D Flight match between Glenn Hammersmith and George Souslin was played the next week. Smith Wins Ladies Title Maxine Smith was the 1978 Elks Club Ladies Champion after she defeated Evie Fauber, 3 & 2. The champion recorded five pars and one brirdie in getting the job done. The A Flight title went to Barb Cole after she bested Ila Heaston. Mary Ann Adams one-putted the 18th hole for the margin of difference against Marion Edwards in B Flight. The D Flight title went to Pat Ramsey after her win over Lucy Berry. (No word as to who won in C Flight.) Other golf news as reported by Aggie Higgins included the fact that Bob and Dan McGuckin won the second half of the V.F.W. League by turning back another father-son team, Dan and Ed Major. Among those with two birdie rounds that night were Russ Holmes and Larry Coe. Steve and Mike Schneider combined to shoot a 3-under par 33 to win the two-man Best Ball event in the Monday Night League. Mike won the point race, amassing 135, 15 more than Charlie Peckham and Ed Barker, the latter recording 18 birdies and the low round of the campaign, a 33. Meat Prices at A & P Oh what a difference in meat prices a few years (In this case 44 years) can make. Strip steaks were $2.99 a pound and Swiss steak was $1.19. English cut roast was priced a $1.69, chuck steak at $1.09 and Spencer roast $1.49. The special was New York strip loins for $1.99. Ground beef was 99 cents per pound, the same as cooked hams per pound. Basted (Butter Ball) turkeys were 79 cents a pound. Also at 99 cents was chunk bologna and pork roll sausage. Other prices at the meat counter included A & P franks at $1.19 per pound, sliced bacon for $1.49. lunch meat for 99 cents, trout fillets at $1.09 and flounder fillets at $1.79. Willard Department Busy The Willard Fire Department spent a lot of time on three separate fire scenes on Friday and Sunday. The first was at a barn fire at the Lyle Smith Farm on Ohio 162. They were there all Friday afternoon. It was a particular bad day for firefighter Richard Myers. He suffered heat exhaustion and was taken to the Willard Hospital where he was kept over night. A faulty extension cord that ran power tools was said to be the cause of the fire that caused $33,000 loss to tools and straw. The department responded to a house fire on Sunday morning at 4 a.m. The occupants of the home owned by Everett Isaac were the Robert Brewerfamily. They lost everything and had no insurance. The fire started on the front porch and spread to the inside. It is under investigation. Damage was estimated at $16,000. Later on Sunday, fire destroyed a straw pile owned by Tom Schaffer on Town Line Road 26. The 225-long pile had an estimated loss of $2,000.