Author Archives: wcihs

Rodd, Dee L. 1921-1980, DFC Recipient, Veteran of WWII and Korea

Posted on by December 17, 2013

Dee L Rodd 1921-1980Dee Larue Rodd, who resided at 1904 W. Warren Street in Marion, was born September 17, 1921 in Cambria, Illinois to the late Leonard Rodd and Kate Lipe Rodd.

A graduate of Marion High School in the Class of 1939, he attended Southern Illinois University from 1939-1942 and was graduated from the U.S. Naval Flight School in late 1942.

He was married October 11, 1943 to the former Ruth Anne Bowman in St. Louis, Missouri. Ruth was born October 7, 1925 to Virgil W. Bowman and Gladys Butts.

Rodd served in World War II and the Korean War as a combat pilot. A squadron leader, he flew 50 missions over Korea. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross and two Air Medals, among several decorations. He left the Navy with the rank of Commander. Continue reading →

Soldiers of 1776 Buried In Williamson County

Posted on by December 17, 2013

Philip T. Russell GraveSoldiers of 1776 Buried in County

More than a score of men who served in the Continental Army in the American Revolution lie buried in Williamson County, where they came to live after the war, forming a link between their adopted state and county and the nationwide Bicentennial celebration in 1976.

In rural cemeteries scattered throughout the county are the graves of these soldiers of 200 years ago, some of them marked with stone tablets allocated by the government, some of them not located by the painstaking search by persons engaged in efforts to pay them eternal tribute. Continue reading →

1975, Actor John Wayne Visits Marion

Posted on by December 18, 2013

John Wayne
John Wayne
John Wayne

Could It Be? Yes! It’s THE John Wayne

They tried to keep it quiet, but word got out quickly. John Wayne was in Marion. THE John Wayne. Duke. Movie STAR John Wayne. Drawl and all. Handing out pre-printed “autographs.”

Wayne and four business associates flew from Chicago to the Williamson County Airport Thursday morning to check out the possibility of locating a coal gasification plant in Southern Illinois. Continue reading →

1974, Marion Annexes Over 500 Acres Including East Lawn Cemetery

Posted on by December 22, 2013

Council Votes to Add Area West to Rt. 148

The Marion city Council Monday night accepted the grant of Egyptian Memorial Gardens Cemetery on Route 148 five miles from downtown Marion, and initiated steps to annex territory to include the cemetery and most of the Williamson County Airport nearby.

Councilmen voted to accept a deed to the cemetery property from Woodrow Dann, Carterville Rt. 2, who has operated for the last 17 years the perpetual care cemetery which was established in the 1930’s. Continue reading →

1974, Girls Want to Play Basketball

Posted on by December 17, 2013

Girls Want to Play Basketball 0ct 29 1974Girls Want to Play Basketball

This group of elementary school girls and their mothers gathered in protest outside the Logan School gym Monday afternoon, October 28, 1974, while tryouts for boy’s basketball teams were being held inside.

The mothers said the demonstration was arranged to protest the lack of similar athletic programs for girls. They said their daughters had been barred from tryouts. They said the board of education was sympathetic. Continue reading →