Newly elected officers for 1955 of the Tacoma Master Builders Association pose at the Tacoma Athletic Commission's headquarters on December 3, 1954. Art Manley, president, is shown pounding his beribboned gavel, the Master Builders hammer. Smiling broadly with Manley are Bob Good and Walter Witte. Also enjoying the camaraderie are (standing) Ralph Peltier, Howard Wilson, Gordon Korsmo, and Del Belfoy. Sepia photograph ordered by Tacoma Master Builders Association. (TNT 12-8-54, C-5)

Tacoma Master Builders Association (Tacoma);

1955 American Red Cross annual meeting. Dr. Charles G. Trimble is receiving an award from Gordon E. Tatum commemorating his 30 years of selfless volunteer service with the Tacoma-Pierce County chapter of the American Red Cross. Pictured, left to right, are Dr. Trimble, Vincent A. Carlstrom, Chapter Chairman and Tatum, member of the Board of Directors. Carlstrom was also re-elected this evening as Chairman of the organization. He stated during his acceptance that the Red Cross was not a charity organization, it was a service organization. "When help is needed, the Red Cross is there to help." (TNT 2/20/1955, pg C-10)

American Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Trimble, Charles G.; Carlstrom, Vincent A.; Tatum, Gordon E.;

1955 American Red Cross annual meeting. The annual meeting, in addition to the presentation of the annual report and the election of officers, included the capping ceremony of the new Gray Ladies to serve at the Veterans Hospital at American Lake. The ceremony was conducted by Olive (Mrs. C.E.) Bryan, Veterans Administration Volunteer Service Representative, seated left, and Mrs. Frank Pulito, Chairman of the American Lake Gray Ladies, seated right. The ladies in the white collared uniforms with the red cross and white nurses caps are the new Gray Ladies. They are, standing left to right, Mrs. Irene Stephens, Mrs. Bertha Elliott, Mrs. Dorthea Kenna and Mrs. Francis Pearson. They will serve with the Red Cross as volunteer workers to aid the veterans hospitalized there. (TNT 2/20/1955, pg. C-10)

Bryan, Olive; Stephens, Irene; Elliott, Bertha; Kenna, Dorthea; Pearson, Francis; American National Red Cross Pierce County Chapter (Tacoma); Charitable organizations--Tacoma; Community service--Tacoma--1950-1960; Uniforms; Women--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1956. Telephone Pioneers of America. A group composed of employees from the early days of phone service pose in a group picture around a sign stating "It's fun to be a pioneer." The annual banquet of the Telephone Pioneers was scheduled at the Top of the Ocean. Over 275 pioneers from Washington and British Columbia attended. (TNT 6-11-1956, pg. 26)

Telephone Pioneers of America (Tacoma); Banquets--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Mayor John H. Anderson (far left) and former Mayor and current Councilman Harold Tollefson hold the framed citation declaring Tacoma an All-American City at the recognition banquet held on January 15, 1957 at the Top of the Ocean, 2217 Ruston Way. Standing between them are: (l to r) City Manager David Rowland and Frank Backstrom, Tacoma's first City Manager. The award, presented to Tacoma by the National Municipal League and Look Magazine, noted the achievement that Tacoma had made, progressing from a 1952 "bad" rating to a model for city action. Effective June 1, 1953, Tacoma voted in a council-manager form of government. The council hired Frank Backstrom from Kansas City to serve as the first City Manager. He reorganized the structure of the city government and hired Police Chief Roy Kerr, from Topeka, to clean up the vice. Tollefson served as the first Mayor appointed by the Council, followed by Anderson. Backstrom had recently left Tacoma and was replaced by David Rowlands. (TNT 1/15-16/1957, pg. 1) G10.1

Awards; Anderson, John H.; Rowlands, David; Backstrom, Frank; Tollefson, Harold M., 1908-1985; Mayors--Tacoma--1950-1960;

All America City Banquet held January 15, 1957 at the Top of the Ocean. Entertainment for the event was provided by vocal soloist Margaret Myles and the Kiwanis Glee Club. Three selections were performed by the Glee Club (pictured.) The soloists in front are Delores Stewart and William Phillips, Glee Club director. Included in the picture are glee club members Bill McCallum, Cliff Myhre, Roy Bertheau, Elmer Hagen, Gene Rickabaugh, Tim Fox, Hal Murtland, Hal Thompson and Dr. Jim Wick, plus several unidentified members. (TNT 1/15/1957, pg. 1 & 1/16/1957, pg 1+, #C-9) G 10.1-046

Awards; Kiwanis Glee Club (Tacoma); Stewart, Delores; Phillips, William;

All America City Banquet held January 15, 1957 at the Top of the Ocean. George B. Leonard, pictured, was representing Look magazine during the presentation of the award. The Award, given jointly by Look magazine and the National Municipal League, honors progress through citizen action. Leonard, the western editor for Look, noted the exceptional progress Tacoma had made since its 1952 "bad" rating by the American Social Hygiene Association. Look magazine had once named Tacoma "one of the worst cities in the United States." Another magazine has termed the city "Seattle's dirty backyard." He felt energetic citizen action had made Tacoma a place to be proud of. Leonard had been an editor with Look for 3 years. One of his articles "What is a Teacher" had received the prestigious School Bell Award for distinguished service. Pictured to his right are Karen Anderson and her father Mayor John H. Anderson. (TNT 1/15/1957, pg. 1 & 1/16/1957, pg 1+, C-9) G 10.1-043

Awards; Leonard, George;

New and old officers of Marcetta-Ki pose for a group portrait at the Top of the Ocean restaurant on May 21, 1953. The girls belonged to a marching drill team from Lincoln High School. They participated in many events, including marching in the Daffodil parade. Photograph ordered by Mary Clinton.

Marcetta-Ki (Tacoma); Student organizations--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1950-1960; Group portraits;

Ben and Marian Cheney smile broadly as they pose with guest Andy Gilbert (left) at the 1963 Washington State Sports Hall of Fame banquet sponsored by the Tacoma Athletic Commission on February 6, 1963. Also at the top of the stairs on the upper right is Tacoma Athletic Commission president William (Bill) Gazecki. Mr. Cheney was a well known sports fan whose generosity allowed thousands of Tacoma youngsters to participate in organized sports. He was instrumental in bringing the Tacoma Giants Pacific Coast League baseball team to Tacoma to play in Cheney Stadium. Mr. Gilbert was the newly named manager of the Tacoma Giants. His pro career spanned twelve years as he performed at every position other than catcher. In his rookie season in the Ohio State League, Mr. Gilbert broke his neck sliding head-first into second base. Undeterred, he returned to baseball the following year. (TNT 2-4-63, p. 14-article) (Additional identification provided by a reader)

Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Awards; Washington State Sports Hall of Fame (Tacoma); Cheney, Ben B., 1905-1971; Cheney, Marian; Gilbert, Andy; Gazecki, William;