National 4-H Congress in Chicago DRAFT COPY – November 2017 National 4-H Congress Chicago, Illinois 4-H Congress in Chicago DRAFT COPY Page 1 of 178 November 2017 National 4-H Congress in Chicago DRAFT COPY – November 2017 Table of Contents Introduction 5 In the Beginning 6 First Annual Club Tour 7 1920 Junior Club Tour 9 Let =s Start a Committee 12 The 1921 Junior Club Tour 13 Rally at the 'Y' 16 Visit to the Packing Plants 17 Swift & Company 17 Morris & Company 18 The Wilson Banquet 18 Mr. Wilson's Address 19 Wednesday BLoop Day 20 National 4-H Club Congress - The 1920s 20 1922 20 1923 22 1924 23 1925 24 1926 27 1927 29 1928 31 1929 34 National 4-H Club Congress - The 1930s 35 1930 35 1931 36 1932 39 1933 43 1934 44 1935 46 1936 46 1937 47 1938 48 1939 49 National 4-H Congress - the 1940s 50 1940 and 1941 51 1942 51 1943 53 1944 54 1945 55 1946 58 1947 60 1948 61 1949 62 National 4-H Congress - the 1950s 62 1950 63 1951 64 1952 67 1953 70 1954 71 1955 74 1956 76 1957 77 1958 78 1959 79 National 4-H Congress - the 1960s 81 1960 81 1961 82 1962 83 1963 85 4-H Congress in Chicago DRAFT COPY Page 2 of 178 November 2017 National 4-H Congress in Chicago DRAFT COPY – November 2017 1964 86 1965 86 1966 88 1967 89 1968 90 1969 92 National 4-H Congress - the 1970s 96 1970 96 1971 98 1972 102 1973 105 1974 107 1975 108 1976 109 1977 110 1978 112 1979 114 National 4-H Congress - The 1980s 115 1980 115 1981 116 1982 119 1983 121 1984 123 1985 124 1986 125 1987 126 1988 127 1989 128 National 4-H Congress - The 1990s 129 1990 129 1991 129 1992 130 1993 130 1994 130 Congress Traditions and Highlights 130 Opening Assembly 130 Sunday Evening Club/Central Church Special 4-H Services 131 Firestone Breakfast 131 National Live Stock Exposition Parade 132 National 4-H Dress Revue 132 National Awards Donor Banquets and Events 132 "Pop" Concert with the Chicago Symphony 134 Auditorium Theater Concerts 135 Congress Tours 136 Thomas E. Wilson Day 137 Friendship Parties at the Trianon and Aragon Ballrooms 139 4-H Congress Final Banquet 140 Conrad Hilton Hotel 141 National 4-H Awards Programs 142 Awards Record Judging 142 National 4-H Alumni Awards Recognition Program 143 Congress Operations 145 Leaders' Programs 147 Allied Groups at Congress 150 Speakers, Entertainers and Other VIP's 150 International Guests at Congress 152 National 4-H Congress and Its Media Coverage 153 Congress Stories Worth Remembering... and Re-telling 156 New Club Greeting Song and a Night to Remember 156 Four Friends Re-Unite for 50th Reunion 157 A Gift to CARE 158 4-H Congress in Chicago DRAFT COPY Page 3 of 178 November 2017 National 4-H Congress in Chicago DRAFT COPY – November 2017 The Greatest 4-H Story Ever Told 158 A Dinner to Remember... Words Never to Forget 159 Mary Roebling's Stay Over 161 A Place in the Sun - Its First Performance! 161 I am Going to Talk About Sex 161 Paul Harvey News... and 4-H 162 The 50th Anniversary National 4-H Congress 163 National 4-H Congress is a Pathway to Greater Dreams 163 4-H Club Congress Has Meaning for You 165 The Time of Their Lives 167 Time of Your Life National 4-H Congress Story Program - 1951 167 Time of Your Life National 4-H Congress Story Program - 1952 170 Time of Your Life National 4-H Congress Story Program - 1953 173 Time of Their Lives - National 4-H Congress Story Winners.- 176 National 4-H Congress High Points and Memories 176 Conclusion 177 4-H Congress in Chicago DRAFT COPY Page 4 of 178 November 2017 National 4-H Congress in Chicago DRAFT COPY – November 2017 INTRODUCTION Guy Noble, director of the National Committee on Boys and Girls Club Work, who conducted the first Armour Tour of boys and girls in Chicago in 1919, and continued on with National 4-H Club Congresses for over 30 years, explained that 4-H Club Congress cannot be described on paper. One has to be a part of it and Afeel" it to fully comprehend it. Perhaps Noble was correct. For the 10's of thousands who were fortunate enough to attend one or more of the 70+ 4-H Congresses held in Chicago it was, indeed, an experience of a lifetime. For the delegates it was awe-inspiring - new friends, new experiences, perhaps a time to think in ways they had never thought before. For the adults - the Extension leaders, representatives of donor companies, speakers and entertainers, even the media, it was inspiring - a week that often regenerated you to do your job better, lead your life more fully. These were the words written in the Federal Extension Service weekly newsletter for Dec. 10, 1970 by Walter John, director of information services, FES, U.S. Department of Agriculture, upon returning from Chicago. In referring to 4-H Congress, he explained, AIt had just about everything that appeals to youth - serious discussion, entertainment, awards, good food, music, dancing and lots of public attention." He went on to express his admiration for the tremendous interest and participation shown by the individual national and regional donors. AThe National 4-H Congress is the epitome of success in joint action of government, education and industry in helping youth find its role in this world." The delegates to Club Congress were the top achievers in the National 4-H Awards programs, year after year. Many of them had worked untiringly for six, seven or eight years to win their trip to Chicago. They had diligently assembled project record books which were judged by a national 4-H record judging committee. For many, if not most, their trip to Chicago to attend 4-H Congress was the crowning achievement of a 4-H career as a member. It was their goal. For those who received 4-H award scholarships while in Chicago, Club Congress had even more meaning. It often helped them to go to college and to choose a career. Conrad Hilton Hotel So what made 4-H Congress so very special? For many delegates, it was a week of firsts. Some had never traveled on a train or airplane. Staying in the largest hotel in the world. Some had never ridden in an elevator... and the Conrad Hilton Hotel had an elevator lobby with at least 10 or 12 elevators... in the early days all manned by courteous elevator operators. For many, to sit down at an elegant banquet and be served by dozens of waiters in white coats and gloves, live music playing and face a place setting with china and crystal and six or eight pieces of silverware... definitely a new experience. To chat with the representatives from donor companies, the captains of industry, who truly had an interest in 4-H Congress in Chicago DRAFT COPY Page 5 of 178 November 2017 National 4-H Congress in Chicago DRAFT COPY – November 2017 hearing your story and about your plans for the future. To meet people like Raymond Firestone, Thomas E. Wilson, Myrtle Walgreen, Ruth Kerr and the presidents of Ford Motor Company, International Harvester, Sears-Roebuck, duPont, Montgomery Ward, Santa Fe, U. S. Rubber, General Motors, Westinghouse and dozens of others. To listen to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in Orchestra Hall, conducted by Arthur Fiedler of the Boston Pops, or visit the Chicago Art Institute or Chicago Museum of Science and Industry; the speakers scheduled throughout the week; and, the never ending presence of the media... hundreds of working press, radio and television, many of them there for the entire week. And, of course, the opportunity to meet and get to know delegates from other states and visitors from other countries, to share laughs, to dance to large orchestras, to discuss social topics of the day - both in organized discussion groups and during free time throughout the week. Many friendships were formed that lasted a life time. But these highlights still do not convey the Afeel" that Guy Noble was referring to. Perhaps it cannot be put on paper... or even on the Internet, but the history of National 4-H Congress in Chicago is far too important to let slip away without documentation. This record of National 4-H Congress in Chicago can be read, page by page, like a history... but it will be a long read. It was written year by year so that those interested in recollections of a particular Club Congress could easily go to that area. Additionally, 4-H Congress in Chicago is well known for the recognition of achievers... winners, and for the entertaining hospitality provided by the delegates = awards donors. An attempt has been made to highlight some of the other features of Congress, as well - the educational values through the assemblies, workshops and speeches; and, the true love of Congress and the delegates displayed by the donor representatives and corporate officials as they planned out their meal events and programs and as the corporate heads bestowed advise to the young winners and attempted to learn more about them through earnest discussions. The 70 years of National 4-H Congress in Chicago are rich in history. Obviously, we could not tell it all; and, unfortunately many of the records have been lost.