1947 Retrospective

THE PLAIN DEALER . SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1998 5-D OURCENTURY 1947 ATA GLANCE Crashes everywhere during National Races Veterans flood college campuses The Plain Dealer called it “the wildest, fast- est 30 minutes of air racing in history.” When it was over, four planes had crashed, one pilot Cramped quarters can’t dull men’s diligence, thirst for knowledge was dead and two others, plus a woman watch- ing from her yard in Brook Park, were injured. assiduous in A number of other spectators had close calls. By Fred McGunagle preparation and The Thompson Trophy race of the 1947 Na- jealous of their tional Races drew a crowd of 75,000 inside Young men back from the service grades. My im- Municipal Airport and at least as many along were pouring into Cleveland — and pression is that the 100-mile route. The race was barely under its work force — at the rate of 3,000 a the seriousness of way when the motor of Jack Hardwick’s P-51 month. In a city that already had a se- the veteran has Mustang conked out. He headed for a field off vere housing shortage and many laid- the effect of mak- Riverside Dr. in Brook Park. As spectators off war workers who had not yet ing the nonvete- there ran for cover, he belly-slammed along found peacetime jobs, it was a dan- rans more seri- the ground, tearing off a wing and the tail of gerous situation. ous.” the plane. Across the country, Collier’s Maga- By fall, Spectators helped pull him from the burning zine found “bitter disillusionment The Rev. 1,164,000 veter- plane, after which he pronounced himself in among millions of veterans” in which Frederick E. ans were in U.S. good shape. “That’s not the worst one I’ve lay “the seeds of violence.” In Cleve- Welfle S.J. colleges — seven walked away from,” he said. land, veterans and their families dou- bled up with in-laws, lived over ga- times the 1944 es- Anthony Janazzo, a Clevelander, wasn’t so timate — and fortunate. He was killed instantly when he rages and overflowed “temporary” projects like Berea Homes, Seville even Conant had to admit they were plunged into a field on Royalton Rd. near “the most mature and most promising Marks Rd. in Strongsville on the seventh lap. Homes and Navy Park. A surprising number, though, did something else. students Harvard has ever had.” There was a terrific explosion, his decapitated Their classrooms were crowded, and body was thrown clear and the engine of his They headed off to college. Their decision was made much eas- their dormitories were Quonset huts, Navy surplus Corsair rolled 600 feet along the converted gyms or — for married vet- ground, narrowly missing an auto containing ier by a law many were unaware had been passed — the Servicemen’s Re- erans — trailers. At Marietta College, two couples. some lived on a surplus Coast Guard On the 11th lap, the engine of Woody Ed- adjustment Act of 1944, better known as the G.I. Bill of Rights. According to boat in the Muskingum River. But mondson’s P-51 exploded. Rather than bail they were getting an education — 2.2 out, he headed for a field near Albion and Milton Greenberg’s “The G.I. Bill: The Law that Changed America,” the million of them by 1956, including at Webster roads in Strongsville. The plane least 10 future Nobel Prize winners. bounced and rolled 130 feet in a grove of trees, educational provisions of the act had then caught fire. Edmondson suffered head drawn little attention in Congress; the Half were the first in their families and back injuries. argument was whether the country to go to college. Another 3.5 million A mystery pilot was the 13th entry in the could afford the “readjustment allow- veterans went back to high school or race. His identity was learned when the en- ance” unemployed veterans could to trade schools, and 690,000 took gine of his P-40 quit and he parachuted from draw — $20 a week for up to 52 farm training. Decades later, a study his plane in full view of the grandstand, land- weeks. indicated that for every dollar the ing north of Brookpark Rd. It was J.L. “Skip” PLAIN DEALER FILE There were objections to the col- government had spent for educa- Ziegler, who had failed to qualify but took off lege aid, though — from presidents of tional aid, it later received at least $8 anyway. A story that went with this photo of Ted Baskin and Elizabeth Klein read: prestigious universities. Greenberg in income taxes. Beyond that, the G.I. His plane, meanwhile, tore the top off a box- “Walking along the quiet pathways of Kent, one can pick out the reports: “James B. Conant of Harvard Bill had changed college forever from car on a New York Central siding, hit the ‘rehabilitation’ students. They look a little tired. A few wear Army shirts. feared that unqualified people would the preserve of a privileged few into a ground and exploded, ripping up several They are more intent about exams. This educational opportunity has to pay flood the campuses. Robert M. Hut- goal for all Americans. chins of [the University of] Chicago, tracks. Mrs. Melvin Patrick of W. 148th St. in off for them in future dollars and cents. It is more than a lark.” The government could afford it be- Brook Park was sitting in her yard when she in a widely noted article in Collier’s, labeled the bill an unworkable threat cause the readjustment allowance was struck by the plane’s Plexiglas canopy. cost less than 20 percent of what had Both were hospitalized, Ziegler with a broken to education, and warned that the lure of money would turn colleges been predicted. Few veterans joined leg and Patrick with shock. the “52-20 club” for the full year; only Flying above the wreckage, Cook Cleland into ‘educational hobo jungles.’ ” Congress included the provisions 9 million of 16 million drew any bene- finished the race first with an average speed of fits, and they averaged only 17 weeks. 396.311 mph, becoming the first Clevelander anyway, allowing students to draw up to win the Thompson Trophy. Despite the risk to $500 a year for tuition, books and By the end of 1947, the Veterans to spectators and nearby residents, officials fees and $50 a month support for sin- Administration also had made 1.1 announced that the race would be held in gle veterans, $75 for married men million home loans, 100,000 business Cleveland again the following year. (but not women) and an extra $15 for loans and 40,000 farm loans under the children. G.I. Bill. From Euclid to Brook Park, • After all, only 150,000 a year were vacant land turned into rows of tract expected to take advantage — per- housing, which critics called “ticky- haps 600,000 or 700,000 by the time tacky,” but buyers called “the Ameri- the act expired in 1956. can dream.” The first surprise was how many there were — about half the students Not that the return to civilian life in Ohio colleges by early 1947. The was all study and work. In Septem- second surprise was how well they ber, more than 58,000 members of the did. At Ohio State University, where Veterans of Foreign Wars swarmed 14,000 of 24,000 students were veter- into Cleveland for their national en- ans, amazed officials reported the campment. The convention passed veterans were doing significantly bet- resolutions calling for bonuses for ter than the other students. World War II veterans, pensions for It was the same all over the state. their World War I members and out- At Bowling Green State University lawing of the Communist Party. But (1,813 of 3,949), 33 percent of veter- they also had fun. ans made the dean’s list, compared The Plain Dealer reported that Larry Doby takes a swing in 1947. PLAIN DEALER FILE with 15 percent of nonveterans. The 10,000 members of the Military Order A line of veterans waiting to convert terminal leave bonds for cash at president of John Carroll University, of the Cootie paraded down Euclid Cleveland Trust Co. Bank at E. 9th St. and Euclid Ave. in 1947. the Rev. Frederick E. Welfle S.J., said Ave., adding “high jinks” by “such the veterans were “attentive in class, pleasant diversions as snarling traf- In his first full season as owner, Bill Veeck fic, squirting gals with water pistols, shook up the Indians. He also had a brain- shooting miniature cannon, peeling storm: a Stadium fence, that could be moved in potatoes in the center of the streetcar and out depending on the opponent. Second tracks, dusting off the windshields of baseman Joe Gordon, obtained from the Yan- passing automobiles with a broom, kees, hit 29 homers. Bob Feller again led the passing out tissue and other inge- league with 20 wins and 196 strikeouts. Even nious forms of amusement.” though Don Black pitched a no-hitter, the Indi- ans had little pitching behind Feller. They fin- After the parade, many of the cele- ished fourth, but Veeck’s promotions brought brators still thronged downtown 1,521,978 fans to the Stadium. streets, blocking traffic, rocking trolley buses and jeering police who In July, Veeck called in reporters to an- tried to move them on. “We’ve had nounce, “We’ve signed a new player. .. .He’s five or six bands march through the a Negro.” The Browns had broken the color lobby so far tonight,” said one hotel line in pro football in 1946 and Jackie Robin- manager, adding, “but, anyhow, they son had moved up to the Dodgers at the begin- are entertaining.” ning of 1947, but Larry Doby was the first black American Leaguer.

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