Basil "Stuffy" Walters, a Frankfort native, started his newspaper career as telegraph editor for the Indianapolis Star in 1920. After a year, he moved on to other city papers, earning promotions to assistant editor, editor, executive editor, and finally vice president of the Chicago Daily News. Walters retired to Frankfort in 1961 and was inducted into Indiana’s Journalism … Continue reading Notable Clinton Countians: Basil “Stuffy” Walters
Notable Clinton Countians: Zerna Addis Sharp
Zerna Addis Sharp, often called the “Mother of the Dick and Jane reader,” was born near Hillisburg in 1889. Although Sharp never wrote any of the stories for the popular reading books, she selected the subject matter and storylines and supervised the artwork and layout for each book. She also named the characters and decided … Continue reading Notable Clinton Countians: Zerna Addis Sharp
Notable Clinton Countians: Freddie Shaffer
Freddie Shaffer was born and raised in Frankfort. Shaffer performed with the Fred Waring and Paul Whiteman orchestras before returning to Clinton County to teach music. In 1938, Shaffer established an all-girl band, starting with about 15 talented girls. The Big Band era was in full swing, and the girls were selected for their musical … Continue reading Notable Clinton Countians: Freddie Shaffer
Notable Clinton Countians: Curley Myers
Gerald “Curley” Myers began his career at age 9 performing at area social gatherings. After high school, Myers formed the Hoosier Ramblers, regulars on WDAN radio in Danville, Ill. They later moved to WLW in Cincinnati and changed their name to the Buccaneers. Early in 1955, Indianapolis-based WFBM-TV started airing Indiana Hoedown, featuring the WLW stars. … Continue reading Notable Clinton Countians: Curley Myers
Notable Clinton Countians: Adrian Marks
Adrian Marks, who valiantly saved the lives of 56 men during World War II, is a true hero. The incident leading to Marks’ heroic rescue began 14 minutes past midnight on July 30, 1945, in the South Pacific, when a Japanese submarine torpedoed the U.S.S. Indianapolis. Within 12 minutes, the ship sank, and 800 of … Continue reading Notable Clinton Countians: Adrian Marks
Notable Clinton Countians: Jon Magnus Johnson
Jon Magnus Jonson designed and sculpted the three figures that adorn the exterior of the Purdue Hall of Music (Elliott Hall) and also cut a portion of the work on the Memorial Union Building. Among other work in Indiana are the artistic fountains in Frankfort and Richmond and a number of the sculpture of the George … Continue reading Notable Clinton Countians: Jon Magnus Johnson
Notable Clinton Countians: Will Geer
Will Geer was born William Aughe Ghere on March 9, 1902, but changed the spelling of his name in the early 1920s and became better known as "Grandpa Walton" of the Walton's TV fame in the 1970s. Geer graduated Frankfort High School in 1919 and went on to the University of Chicago on a horticultural scholarship. After … Continue reading Notable Clinton Countians: Will Geer
Notable Clinton Countians: Everett Case
Everett Case was born in Anderson, Ind., on June 21, 1900. Case began coaching basketball as early as 1915, when he coached a Methodist church team. He graduated in 1919 from Anderson High School, and according to the yearbook, he had decided his future occupation would be a basketball coach. Case went to the University of … Continue reading Notable Clinton Countians: Everett Case