Paso Robles Area Historical Society

A Thank You to the Veterans of Paso Robles

Private Donald Brady Keefer Boyd Wendall Shaw Charles Edmund "Ned" Root Ralph M. Grady

By Camille DeVaul and Paso Robles Area Historical Society & Museum

One of the bonuses of volunteering at El Paso de Robles Area Historical Society & Museum is that many interesting secretary for the Planning Commission. From 1971-83, Don was city manager of Paso Robles, and in 2010, he held the honor of Pioneer Day people walk through the doors. One example was a woman who had lived in Paso Robles in the 1990s.

After leaving Paso, she moved to Oklahoma but knowing she was coming to Paso to visit, she brought with her some items she had acquired while living here and wanted to donate them to us. Among the items was a page from the Bear Cat News on February 13, 1933, and four photos of men who had some connection with Paso Robles. She relayed that she had lived in a bungalow behind Dr. Poe’s home at 303 16th St., and when she moved to Oklahoma, somehow, these items were packed among her belongings. We were able to identify four photos:

Private Donald Brady Keefer, photo dated January 24, 1945, son of Neil H. and Florence B. Keefer. When Don was 10 years old, he heard famous pianist Ignace Jan Paderewski play in the lobby of the old Paso Robles Hotel, and five years later, Don and his family watched flames burn down the old hotel. His family bought land covered with almond trees in the hills west of Paso Robles at the end of 16th and 17th streets. He was active at Paso Robles High School, attended Boys’ State, was student body president from 1941-42, and played football and basketball. After graduation, he studied at Pasadena Junior College from 1942-43 and then joined the Army and served from 194346. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for “heroic achievement in action against the enemy on April 26, 1945, in the vicinity of Auburg, Germany.” Don’s first job after the war was delivering ice, milk, bread, and bakery goods for Boyd Shaw Sr. from Shandon to Avenal to Lost Hills. In 1958, Don began working for the City of Paso Robles and served as city treasurer, tax & license collector, assistant city administrator, and Marshal. Boyd Wendall Shaw, the son of the man who employed Don Keefer after the war to make deliveries of groceries. Boyd was the son of Boyd S. and Edna Shaw, who lived at 2205 Park St. Boyd enlisted in the Army Air Corp on December 1, 1941, at Moffet Field. After the war, Boyd returned to Paso Robles for some time and worked as a junior baker with his father. He died in Sacramento in 1985. Charles Edmund “Ned” Root, who in 1942 lived at 310 15th St. He was the son of George Francis Root and Mable Louise McCord. Born in 1918 in Paso Robles, Ned married Natalie Russell. George Root’s first wife was Florence Edgar, daughter of John Edgar from the Estrella area. Ned was a half-brother to Glen Stanton Root, who was the father of Glen “Eldon” Root. Ned was a Major in the U.S. Army Air Forces. Ralph M. Grady lived at 721 Oak St. in 1942, and he was employed as a salesman. During the war, he served in the U.S. Navy. All four pictures were taken in Tyler, Texas, with the memo on the receipt stating, “Paso Robles.” There was a U.S. Army Infantry Replacement Center and prisoner of war camp near Tyler, Texas, called Camp Fannin. Camp Fannin opened in May 1943, operated for four years, and trained over 200,000 US soldiers. Whether these four servicemen were stationed at Camp Fannin is unknown. On July 4, 1945, a tribute was made in the Paso Robles Journal newspaper called the Paso Robles 20-30 Club, honoring members who were serving in the Armed Forces. Soldiers listed were: Jack Edwards, USNR; Raymond W. Barba, Corporal US Army; Donald B. Keefer, Corporal US Army; Ralph O. Hanson Jr., Lieutenant USAAF; Peter G. Frederickson, Ensign USNR; Boyd Shaw, S-Sergeant USAAF; Cliff O. Bickell Jr., Corporal U.S. Army; Edward Allen, Sergeant USMC; Gifford L. Sobey Jr., Lieutenant USNR; William Brown, Flight Officer ATC; Kenneth Duart S 2-C USNR; Ralph N. Grady, CPO USNR; David Morehouse, MMI-C USNR; Albert Gorham CCS USNR; Jack E. Wilson, Sergeant USAAF; Ned Root, Major USAAF; Joseph Hardesty, Corporal USAAF; Howard O. Claasen, AOM 2-C USNR; Charles Oliver, Corporal U.S. Army; Robert Coughron, USAAF; Pete Nelson, US Army; Kenneth Coates, Corporal U.S. Army; Robert Cousin, AOM 2-C USNR; William Coughran, U.S. Army; Bernard Chism, U.S. Army; Roy L. Barnes, S 2-C USNR; and Hector Banks, T. Sergeant U.S. Army.

Many thanks to these brave men who served our country with pride and education and to the thoughtful woman who protected these four photos for so many years, and for returning them to Paso Robles.

The El Paso de Robles Area Historical Society and Museum are honored to be located in the historic Carnegie Library at the center of City Park. To learn more, visit pasorobleshistorymuseum.org.