618 Hometown Magazine August 2021

(618) MAGAZINE HOMETOWN AUGUST 2021

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from the

EDITOR

EDITOR Andrea Howe ahowe@mtcarmelregister.com

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Maegan Saalwaechter

CONTRIBUTORS Kim Bayless

Get your carnival food appetites ready for all the fun of August in our 618 Hometown Magazine neighborhoods! With the Edwards County Fair just wrapped up, there’s the White County Fair in Carmi and Ag Days coming up in Mount Carmel. Check out Corey Woolsey’s story about some of the plans for those events, and make plans to have some good family fun!

Kim Bayless whips up some vintage summer dishes, from Waldorf Salad to Watergate Salad, with a BLT Chicken Salad thrown in for good measure in this issue, and Erin Zinzilieta-Pennington shares her miniature quilt work.

Some of us knew him as Mr. Teen Town, and some of us knew him in the classroom. Mona Warrick brings the story of soon-to-be centenarian James Endicott, the tenor-turned Marine and teacher.

Guest writer Toby Brown brings the astounding story of a never-quit athlete, Ty Barbre. It’s an amazing account of perseverance and grit.

We have many more stories to share with you in coming issues. Enjoy this month’s issue, and be sure to thank the advertisers who make it possible to bring these stories to your mailbox each month.

— Love and blessings to you!

Toby Brown Mona Warrick Corey Woolsey Erin Zinzilieta-Pennington

TO ADVERTISE Courtney Shuttle courtney@pdclarion.com 812-220-4861

CONNECT WITH US Find us on Facebook @618HometownMagazine P.O. Box 550 Mt. Carmel IL 62863 618-263-1005 Email: news@mtcarmelregister.com

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Community Events AUGUST 4-7

AUGUST 19

Market St., Mount Carmel

West End Summertime Cruise In

Ag Days

6 p.m. - West End Reception and Events, Newton

AUGUST 5

AUGUST 21

Emi Sunshine

Carmi Chanber of Commerce Annual Golf Tournament

6 p.m. - Fraternal Order of Eagles, Olney

8 a.m. - Carmi Country Club

AUGUST 9-14

AUGUST 21

White County Fair

Jesi’s Ride Against Domestic Violence

White County Fairgrounds

8 p.m. - Fraternal Order of Eagles, Mount Carmel

AUGUST 18-22

AUGUST 28

Walldogs Mural Painting

AGS Back to School 5K Dash

Olney

1 p.m. - Main St., Albion

GET ON THE CALENDAR

Want to see your event on the (618) Hometown Magazine Event Calendar?

Send us an email at: news@mtcarmelregister.com * Event listings are on a first-come, first-served basis

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Miniature quilts WRITER: ERIN ZINZILIETA-PENNINGTON Miniature quilts are defined as small versions of full sized quilts, and range in size between 12 to 24 inches on a side to being no larger than 24 inches square (https://thequiltshow.com). The first miniature quilt on record dates to 1890 and was a rather primitive doll quilt, possibly made in Pennsylvania. It consists of twelve 1 to 1.5 inch blocks in the “Four –Patch” pattern, quilted in a chevron pattern, 3- 4 stitches per inch (https:// american history.si.edu). It is believed that most miniature quilts were made for dolls so that fabric would not be wasted.

I made my first bed size quilt in 1999. At that time, my husband’s grandmother was still alive and she gave me advice over the phone on how to piece and sandwich the quilt together. I also checked out every book on quilting that I could at the local library; studying and reading all. In the 90s there was a popular publication titled “Miniature Quilts Magazine” by Chitra publications. For a mere $9.95 a year subscription, inspiration would

released new patterns called “little quilts” or “big

competitive and have won ribbons at local fairs for

arrive at your door with up to 60 pages of patterns

block” quilts. These had larger pieces guarantee-

my miniature quilts. My favorite is a red Dresden

and pictures. I caught the “miniature bug” imme-

ing more success; especially for the beginning

plate fan quilt.

diately and made my first mini quilt in 2002.

quilter that wanted to try a new skill. Before Chi-

I recently spent seven hours making a min-

Some people think that making a quilt that

tra publications went out of business, patterns

iature quilt. A local reader gave me 16 four-inch

small would be less time consuming and require

included strip piecing and rotary cutting, which

blocks. I sashed them together and appliqued

little skill; when actually the opposite is true. In

I personally am not a fan of. I find that I do not

Sunbonnet Sue and Sam on top. It turned out to be

order to piece blocks on such a miniscule level

maintain accuracy when using these methods. I’m

a darling mini. I call it “Meet Me under the Stars.”

seams have to be perfect or the pieces will not

an old-fashioned “templates and scissors” type of

Quilters will always quilt. Satisfaction comes from

align. I never wanted to make a masterpiece min-

girl.

taking a pile of scraps and making a beautiful project.

iature quilt, but I have seen numerous examples,

Miniature quilts appeal to me because I like a

that probably belong in the Smithsonian. I mean,

challenge. I enjoy trying new patterns and work-

If you are interested in miniature quilts, there

who knew that a quilt block can be four inches or

ing on a wide range of sewing skills. I love color

is a free Facebook group that I belong to called

less and appliqued?

and pattern and placement of blocks. The design

“Small and Miniature Quilts”. The work displayed

aspect of a quilt is my favorite part. I am also a bit

there is amazing. Check it out.

It wasn’t long before Chitra publications

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(618) HOMETOWN MAGAZINE AUGUST 2021 3

running the race

OF A LIFETIME

4 (618) HOMETOWN MAGAZINE AUGUST 2021

WRITER: TOBY BROWN Editor’s note: This is an abridged version of

the state cross country and golf meets during

the story of Ty Barbre’s astounding career. See

his senior season (though he did meet the

the full version published online Aug. 1 on our

qualifying standards for each at the respective

Facebook page and at hometownregister.com

sectionals in his senior year).

Don’t tell Ty Barbre he can’t compete.

You might just as well tell the sun not to shine.

The recent Carmi-White County High School graduate has a fire that transcends normal bounds of what a teenager’s body can, or should do.

That’s why, when told by a doctor earlier this summer that he has a condition called left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) just a few days before the final race of his high school athletic career, he never really considered not running that race.

“I told my mom if my life was at risk, I

to relax. And I couldn’t do it.”

Ty and his mother headed to the emergency room.

“They have done scans on my heart before

His senior track season was pushed back,

and they had never found anything,” said Ty.

which turned out to be a factor, too. The track

“So, at first, I thought all the stuff they were

season normally concludes in early May. This

doing was kind of pointless. I was like ‘They’re

year, it didn’t finish until June 17.

not going to find anything.’

The sectional meet was held in Du Quoin

“But then, they came back about 45 min-

just eight days earlier. Barbre had high hopes

utes after they did the scans. They said they

of qualifying for state in the 3,200 and the

found a red flag on the EKG scan and I was

1,600. He posted personal-best times of 9 min-

kind of shocked. They said it indicated left ven-

utes, 36.7 seconds in the two-mile and 4:24.7

tricular hypertrophy.”

in the mile earlier in the season. Those times

LVH is a term for a heart’s left pumping

would have put him in the top five in the state

chamber that has thickened and may not be

in Class 1A.

pumping efficiently.

But a couple of laps into the 3,200 at the sectional, something happened.

“We had him checked with a pediatric cardiologist three years before,” added Cherie,

wouldn’t do it, but I thought about it for a few

“My first two laps, I was right on the pace

“because he had those symptoms while he

I needed to be,” said Barbre. “I felt, obviously,

was golfing a few times. I remember there was

more minutes,” said Barbre. “I can’t even go

not great, but I felt comfortable and relaxed

a time when it was really hot and we were in

into detail about all the adversity I’ve been

at that pace. Then, I could just tell about 200

Bloomington at a golf tournament, and we just

through in the past year and a half. It would

meters later, it started to hit. I started hearing

left from there and went to urgent care, where

take forever. But with everything I had been

the breathing inside my ears and my body

they said it had to be his heart by the symp-

through, I was going to do it, no matter what. I

just started feeling really weak. That’s how I

toms. But they tested everything and couldn’t

was going to race.”

knew it was coming on. Then shortly after that,

find anything wrong with him. So we were

And race he did.

by about the fourth lap, my vision was going

both shocked when they came back and said

Barbre closed his career by taking 14th

black.”

something showed up on his EKG.”

place in the 3,200-meter run at the Illinois High

Barbre, who had a comfor table lead for

School Association Class 1A state track meet in

most of the first half of the race, ended up

Charleston June 17.

As frightening as the diagnosis was, it also explained a lot.

finishing third and collapsing at the end of

“Honestly, I was relieved that someone

It was the final chapter of an athletic career

the race. The top two in each sectional race

finally found something,” said Barbre’s father,

unlike any other in the history of Carmi-White

automatically qualify for state, but one can also

Lance. “There was just so much that didn’t

County High School. And it is likely there will

earn a spot by meeting a qualifying standard,

make sense. He’d have a good race, then he’d

never again be a career like Barbre’s.

and Barbre’s time of 10 minutes, 5.8 seconds

have a bad race, then he’d have a good race.

did qualify him for state.

We were just so confused by what was going

On the official record, he was: a three-time state qualifier in track, a three-time state quali-

He was unable to regain his strength and

fier in cross country, a four-time state qualifier

had to scratch from the mile, arguably his best

in golf, a two-time state medalist in track, a

event.

on.

The emergency room doctor warned Ty that if he ran that next race, he might collapse

two-time top 20 finisher at the state golf tourna-

“We thought it was just heat exhaustion,”

ment, a four-time All-South pick in golf, a three-

said Barbre’s mother, Cherie, of the sectional

“He had nothing left to prove, so at first,

time All-South pick in track, a three-time All-

performance, which took place on an unusually

we both didn’t want him to run it,” said Lance.

South pick in cross country, a three-time Black

hot, humid day. “So we didn’t see a doctor that

“But then again, you think about the fact he’s

Diamond Conference champ in the 3,200, a

day. But the next day, he went to do his work-

got 10 years of hard work that he’s put into

two-time BDC champ in the 1,600, a two-time

out in the evening when it was a little cooler

this. He’s 19 years old, so it’s his choice at that

sectional champ in the 3,200, a sectional champ

and he came back and said, ‘Mom, I couldn’t

point.”

in the 1,600 and a BDC cross country champ.

even do my workout. I need to see a doctor

What won’t go down on the record is that

tonight.’”

and go into cardiac arrest.

The following day, Ty visited a cardiologist who gave him a heart monitor to wear.

COVID-19 squashed some opportunities for

“And it was just a recovery workout,” added

The monitor showed nothing unusual. He also

Barbre at the peak of his career. His entire

Ty. “It was real easy, just like time on my feet…

passed a stress test the day before the state

junior track season was called of f, as were

Super easy pace, just supposed to be out there

meet with flying colors.

(618) HOMETOWN MAGAZINE AUGUST 2021 5

Those facts helped ease the anxiety for his

Carmi, a standout baseball and football player at

“I felt so guilty about not letting Ty do that

CWCHS. He was a starting outfielder for Brad

the year before,” said Cherie, “so Lance said,

“He promised me multiple times he would

Lee’s 1993 baseball team that took third place

‘Let’s just have him run through it while wearing

quit if he started to feel any symptoms,” said

at the Class A state tournament. Ironically, the

a T-shirt that says ‘I’m running for Uncle Jonny’

Cherie. “But I didn’t really think that he would

‘Dogs lost to Steeleville in the semifinals of that

and we’ll do it to support Jonathan.’

quit regardless. That’s just not him. I just hoped

tournament.

parents, but certainly didn’t eliminate it.

“I was still like, he’s just so small. He’s barely

that he wouldn’t push himself as hard as he did

The Barbres settled in Carmi with their two

6 years old. If it had been for any other reason,

at sectionals. I knew that he now knows how

children, Ty and his younger sister, Sloane. In

I would have said no. And I really didn’t think it

dangerous it is, that if he feels the symptoms

the mid 2000s, Lance took up running.

would go very well. You figure a 6-year-old kid is

coming on, he’ll just finish the race without

“It was really just to stay in shape,” said

pushing himself as hard as he can. That was my

Lance. “I would run in the mornings with guys

hope at that point.”

like Thys Bax, Brock Bolerjack and Mark Stan-

At Charleston, on a 93-degree afternoon

ley.”

with high humidity, Ty stayed about 100 meters

The elder Barbre, quite a competitor in his

behind the lead pack for the first couple of laps,

own right, took things up a notch by starting to

then made his move to close in on the lead pack

compete in half-marathons.

for the next couple of laps.

The family usually went to Cherie’s home-

But the symptoms did come back and Ty

town on the 4th of July to attend Steeleville’s

held true to his promise of not trying to push

annual parade and festival. As part of that cele-

himself like he did at the sectional. He finished

bration, the town also holds a 3K race.

13th in his heat (14th overall) in a time of 10 minutes, 6.58 seconds.

“It was a very emotional day for me,” said Lance. “I’ve seen the work that he has put into

going to run about 100 feet, then die out and go, ‘Ok, let’s go get some popsicles now.’”

To get an idea of how far Ty might be able to run, Lance took him to the track to test out his endurance before the race. It was evident that Ty was a natural.

So with his tiny T-shirt bearing the words “I’m running for Uncle Jonny” on the back, Ty ran the race.

“I wasn’t worried at all about him that day,” said Lance. “He was never breathing hard. He

In 2007, while the Barbres were in Steele-

never even broke a sweat until two or three

ville, Lance was getting ready to go for one of

years later. He’d finish a race and be like, ‘OK,

his usual morning runs when Cherie’s father,

what are we doing now?’ He was just never

Willard, suggested he run in the town’s 3K.

winded.”

this. That’s why I just think it is so incredible what he has accomplished. I don’t know if people realize what distance runners do… To run 50 or 60 miles a week, and what that does to your body… The distance stuff is just a whole different rodeo from anything else.”

It was also an emotional finish for Cherie, who had to leave the stands at O’Brien Stadium while the race was going on. “It was the first

“He just wasn’t getting around too well at that point. You could see that he wasn’t doing very well, but he made sure he was there to watch Ty and he was just beaming with pride over it.

It was pretty special.” — Cherie Knop

time I have ever not watched him finish a race,” she said. “I just got up, left the stands and went to the gate where I knew he would eventually be coming after the race. I was just praying the

“Willard said, ‘You ought to just go down and

Cherie was watching the race that day from

run in that race,’” said Lance. “I told him I hadn’t

the street. She was about midway through the

“So when I got down to the gate, I could see

registered or anything. He said, ‘Aw, it’ll be fine.

course, and had her brother at her side.

two people kind of carrying him with his arms

They won’t care. Just go down there and give

over their shoulders, so I knew he finished and I

them ten bucks and run it.’”

whole time.

“He was in remission at that point, but he was doing such hard chemo,” she said. “He just

knew it wasn’t good. It was heartbreaking to me.

So he did.

wasn’t getting around too well at that point. You

But he has handled it way better than I have.”

Cherie’s younger brother, Jonathan, also ran

could see that he wasn’t doing very well, but he

Knowing they were watching the last race

in the 3K that year.

made sure he was there to watch Ty and he was

their son would ever r un was justification

In 2007, Ty was just barely 5 years old. Jona-

enough for the emotion felt by the Barbre par-

than asked Ty if he would run the 3K with him.

ents.

Knowing how young and how small Ty was,

“During the race, I was just so ner vous,

Cherie felt her son was just not ready for some-

thinking, ‘Where is he?’ Then you see this little

thing like that, so he didn’t run the race.

bitty kid coming down this big hill and running

But, considering the circumstances that led to Ty’s first race ever, it’s even more understandable.

Cherie Knop grew up in Steeleville, a small town in southwestern Illinois. Lance grew up in

6 (618) HOMETOWN MAGAZINE AUGUST 2021

just beaming with pride over it. It was pretty special.

By the time the July 4th 3K rolled around

up the next. I couldn’t believe it. It was just such

in 2008, Jonathan was diagnosed with leukemia

a big deal to me that he ran that whole race

and too sick to run the race.

without stopping. I never would have thought

that would happen.”

would play all day (running — instead of walking

“I felt horrible from the start of the round,

Once the crowd saw Ty, read his T-shir t

— to his ball between shots) and refuse to leave

but for the first 12 holes, it was just kind of

and figured out who he was, they erupted in

in the evening until he made a certain number of

lingering around in my stomach. I actually felt

applause.

putts in a row.

slightly better after I started puking, but not

“The crowd just went nuts,” said Cherie. “It was so great to witness.”

Ty took a photo with his uncle after the race in 2008. That photo still hangs in Ty’s room.

“When he started playing in the Southern

much better. I was on the back nine and it’s

Illinois Golf Association junior golf tournaments,

super hilly on that course. That’s when every-

it was him and a kid named Noah Smith from

thing hit me. The tournament officials were try-

Eldorado who were always the top two,” said

ing to take me out of it. I can’t remember exactly

After such an unforgettable debut, Ty started

Lance. “Usually no one else was even close. That

what the tournament director said to me, but it

running in more races with Lance, improving

first summer he started playing, he was shooting

was something to the effect that I was going to

with each race, and eventually was too fast for

in the mid-40s for nine holes. Then he started

have to quit. I said, ‘No, that’s alright. My team

his dad to keep up with him.

breaking 40, then he started shooting even-par

probably needs my score, so I’m going to try to

at these courses.”

make it through if I can.’ It was a 12-team invita-

“When I really knew he had something special was in 2013 when he broke 20 minutes at

Barbre continued to excel at running and

a 5K that the University of Illinois held,” said

golf throughout middle school. In high school,

Lance. “We couldn’t believe his time that day. He

it appeared something would have to give, since

was just 10 years old. There were 6,000 people in

golf and cross country are both fall sports.

it and he finished 34th.

tional and we were undefeated at the time, so my mind was just on us winning the tournament.”

“Later on, he’s on a long par 5 and he falls down on a big hill...So we figured he’s proba-

“That never even occurred to me until the

bly done. We’re going to have to cart him out

“They put you in bins at the start, based on

summer before high school,” said Ty. “I honestly

of here. ... I asked him if he wanted me to go

your speed, so you’ve got your 4-to-5-minute

hadn’t ever thought about it. It was that August

get the cart and he said, ‘No, I’m finishing this

mile people in one bin, your 6-to-7-minute mile

before I realized that cross countr y and golf

thing.’ Then he pulled his putter out, barely drug

people in one bin, and so on. So Ty is sitting

were both in the same season. I just couldn’t

his putter up to the green, then made the putt

here with the 6-to-7-minute mile people, and he’s

choose between them, so I ended up doing them

for eagle. I told my dad, ‘This is like watching

this little bitty kid. And the guy is like, ‘Son, you

both.

Rocky.’ He kept going down and getting back

need to be back here.’ And Ty is like, ‘No, I’m in

“I ended up going to state my freshman year

up. And he still had three holes left after that.

the right one.’ So I had to walk over and tell the

in golf and I wasn’t that far off in cross country,

That was definitely my favorite memory of his

guy he’s probably going to run this in close to 20

so I wasn’t going to give one of them up. I just

career,” said Lance.

minutes. And the guy is like, ‘Really? OK!’ And

wanted to keep on improving in both of those

sure enough, he did.”

sports.”

Ty finished the round, shot a 76, earned medalist honors for the tournament and helped the

“From a very early age, I knew with Ty that

Carmi has had state-level runners before.

he wasn’t going to do something unless he could

Carmi has had state-level golfers before. But a

Bulldogs to the team title.

Despite the severity of the news about his

be the best at it,” said Cherie. “I can remember

state-level golfer AND runner? This was some-

heart, Barbre remains upbeat about his future in

one summer when he was little, someone tossed

thing never been seen before, or likely ever seen

athletics. He will play golf this fall for Rend Lake

him a hula hoop. And a week later, he’s got 10

again.

College, where his former SIGA mate, Noah

hula hoops going on his arm and down his legs.

One of Barbre’s most memorable days on the

He’s just not going to do it unless he can be the

golf course (and another example of the futility

“I kind of stepped out and took a little per-

absolute best at it. And he had this uncanny abil-

in asking him to quit something) came his junior

spective about all that I’ve been through and I

ity to be the best at anything he tried. If he put a

year at an early-season multi-team invitational in

was like, you know what, this could have been

goal in his mind, he was going to do it. And that

Olney.

worse,” said Ty. “I could have had my junior

was pretty evident from a young age.”

It turns out, it was evident in more than just running.

Smith, will be his roommate.

On the way to the meet, Ty apparently ate

season and reached my full potential, which I

a bad batch of undercooked chicken nuggets,

still believe would have been a sub-4:20 mile and

which caused him to start puking while on the

a sub-9:22 2-mile [the CWCHS school records].

Lance took up golf after college, and his son

course. Toward the end of his round, he was

“I still firmly believe I could have gotten to

took an immediate liking to it, too. Ty shot an 88

puking so bad, the tournament director tried to

that point and had a Division I college pick me

the very first time he played a full 18 holes.

make him withdraw from the tournament.

up, then all of this would have happened and

The same held true for baseball and basket-

That just wasn’t going to happen.

where do you turn to? In your senior season,

ball. Cherie, a teacher in CWC schools, recalled

“It was over 100 degrees with the heat index

all of a sudden, you find out you have a heart

many times that Ty stayed in the gym after

that day,” remembered Ty. “It was just misera-

problem. Then what do you do? By that point,

school shooting, refusing to leave until he had

ble. My stomach hurt like it never had in my life.

all the golf rosters are filled up, so you can’t turn

made a certain number of baskets in a row. It

It was hard to walk or do anything. Finally, by

to that. You obviously can’t run in college with

was also common in the summer for Cherie to

the 13th hole, I ended up throwing some of them

a heart problem. It really could be worse, even

drop Ty off at the golf course in the morning. He

[chicken nuggets] up.

with everything that happened.”

(618) HOMETOWN MAGAZINE AUGUST 2021 7

Area festivals, fairs mark a return to normalcy WRITER: COREY WOOLSEY One sign of the decline of the COVID-19 pandemic is the return of local events and activities. Two local events making their way back are Ag Days in Mount Carmel Aug. 4-7 and the White County Fair in Carmi Aug. 9-14.

While the White County Fair was completely canceled last year, patrons should expect and event in 2021 full of fun for everyone.

The fair kicks off with the queen contest, and other events planned include harness racing, go kart racing, a tractor pull and two demolition derbies. As always, visitors can expect a great selection of food, games and rides as well.

For Ag Days in Mount Carmel, 2020 was not a totally lost year, as the Wabash County Chamber was able to host a handful of mini events.

Wabash Chamber Director Lesley Hipsher said that the process was a whirlwind.

“We first received notice that the State of Illinois was not going to be inspecting rides,” Hipsher said. “Without rides, you know you are not going to have as big of a crowd; people come for those attractions. We were also under a semi-lockdown. We could do some things outside and we could do some things with mask, but we couldn’t do a normal scale event.”

The first mini-Ag Days event came together after just over a week of planning. “ We were lucky to have so many great sponsors to commit right away,” Hipsher said. “We had different food offerings and entertainment at each of the four events. It ended up being really good.”

As restrictions have eased a bit, Hipsher said that changes made in past years should help keep a bit of social distancing just in case a small surge was to return.

“Three years ago we changed a little bit of the layout and increased the size of the fire lane,” she said. “When we did that, it kind of naturally spaced things out a little more.”

The company that handles the rides are continuing to sanitize after each rider, and Hipsher added that she thinks everyone is now a little more conscious about hygiene and will do their part to stay safe at the event.

“The pandemic has really changed the way society thinks about germs and the spread of them,” Hipsher said.

For visitors to the event, Hipsher said that this could be a year of change for Ag Days.

“We have had some vendors that have expressed an interest in offering a new food, or changing their spot at the event,” She said. “It is a year to change things up. It should be a really exciting event.”

8 (618) HOMETOWN MAGAZINE AUGUST 2021

Nancy J. Winter Certified Public Accountant

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TEACHING AND LIVING HISTORY WRITER: MONA L. WARRICK

“Blood, sweat, and tears, and nothing is ever settled.”

This is James Endicott’s description of war. He knows first-hand, having ser ved in the Pacific during World War II. Until recently, Endicott didn’t speak of the war, which is not uncommon for veterans.

“I taught histor y for 34 years, but I never told my students that I served in the war,” he said. “And, they never asked. The biggest war in world history, and I never spoke of it.”

A few years ago, Endicott’s son, Bob, asked his dad to share his wartime memories. “Bob said if I didn’t tell him about the war, he would never know what happened.” Endicott shared his experiences with his son, an intermingling of the bad and the good. “The war was a messy, horrible experience,” said Endicott. He remembers the stench of death in Saipan.

“A year after the attack, it still smelled. They hadn’t been able to bury all the bodies.” All these years later, tears well up in Endicott’s eyes as he shares stories of the war.

“I was no hero,” said Endicott. “I was given orders and I followed them; that’s what Marines do.”

Endicott’s stories are a treasure. According to the Veterans Administration, 245 veterans of World War II die each day. Of the 16 million Americans who served in the war, an estimated 100,000 are still living; the youngest of them are 95-years-old.

Born and raised in Carmi, Endicott will celebrate his 100th birthday on September 30. The soon-to-be centenarian will once again be a member of an elite group. Living to the age of 100 is a rare feat. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, only .70% of men, born in 1921, will live to blow out 100 candles on his cake!

Endicott said that several of his great-grandparents lived well into their 90s. “I guess I grabbed some of those good genes,” he said.

Endicott’s father, Cyril, who served in World War I, was an attorney.

“My father realized he could make more money in real estate than practicing law, so we moved to Bradenton, Florida. I was about three-years-old,” said Endicott. “We went to Anna Maria Island. There were no houses there. There weren’t any paved roads between here and Florida. In 1926, my dad sent my mother (Madge) and I home on the train. It took him seven days, in a Model T, to return to Carmi on those gravel roads.”

Endicott’s parents welcomed his sister, Elizabeth, in 1928. She died in 1972 at the age of 44.

Endicott shares his home with wife, Virginia Williams Endicott. The home, built in 1906, was built by his grandfather. “There was a radio sitting in the living room. I remember sitting here, in 1927, hearing that Charles Lindbergh had piloted the Spirit of St. Louis over the Atlantic Ocean to Paris.”

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After graduating from Carmi High School in 1940, Endicott furthered his education at Murray State College (now Murray State University) in Kentucky. A trumpet player and accomplished tenor, Endicott majored in political science and minored in music.

got married, her father would buy me a hotel to run. That did it! I put my foot down! I didn’t want to be owned by anyone!”

That fall, Endicott returned to Murray to finish his degree. “I was in the gym, signing up for classes. I looked across the gym and saw

As a freshman, Endicott decided to audition for an operetta at

Virginia.”

Murray. “I got the lead part.” The following year, he was one of two

Love at first sight?

lead tenors in the college’s production of the Italian opera, Gondoliers.

Virginia chimes in, “I don’t know about that!”

Endicott was cast as Marco. To this day, Endicott sings beautifully and remembers much of the music.

Even so, the couple married on March 28, 1947. They will celebrate their 75th anniversary next year. They have one son, Bob, who lives in

In 1943, he and a friend decided to audition for the St. Louis Opera Chorus. “We were both accepted into the chorus, but I’d already signed up for the Marine Corps,” said Endicott. “I was called into duty three

Carmi; two grandchildren, Matt and Stephanie; and several great-grandchildren.

After graduating from Murray, Endicott returned to Carmi, where

weeks later. I didn’t get to perform with the opera.

he taught political science and histor y classes

I got called too quickly.”

at Carmi High School. He and Virginia traveled

Instead of St. Louis, Endicott headed for boot camp in San Diego. “I wasn’t an athlete. I had a lot of trouble doing what they wanted. There was a 10-foot wall I couldn’t climb over, we had to jump 40 feet from a platform into the water, like jumping from a ship. I finally made it,” he said. “I was a musician, I played in the band and sang in the choir.”

In 1944, Endicott found himself in the middle of the battle of Saipan. He recalls a horrible battle.

From being poisoned by coral (after being thrown from a boat) to kamikaze attacks, Endicott had a few close calls. “The first kamikaze strike was headed toward my ship. If it hadn’t been for my gunners, I wouldn’t be here today.”

After the battle, Endicott said movie stars began coming to enter tain. He spent several minutes talking with actress Betty Hutton. “When we went on stage to sing, she got a better hand than I did,” said Endicott. “I also sat behind Glenn Ford once.

He was a very quiet man.”

The Japanese surrender was on September 2, 1945. In December, Endicott headed back to San Diego aboard the President. “There were 10,000

“Paulette flew in to see me. She wanted to get married. I had been working as a clerk at the Lewis Hotel in Mt. Carmel. Paulette said if we got married, her father would buy me a hotel to run. That did it! I put my foot down! I didn’t want to be owned by anyone!”

of us on board. It took us two weeks at 28 knots to return to San Diego,” Endicott said.

By the time he returned home, Endicott had been on eight ships, “I felt like I was in the Navy!”

extensively. “I often used photos I took of Civil War battlefields in my classes,” Endicott said. “That brought history to life for my students.”

Spending Monday through with teenagers wasn’t enough for Endicott. For 29 years, he managed Carmi Teen Town. “They needed a manager, they interviewed me and it stuck. I was definitely burning the candle at both ends.”

Booking bands for Teen Town was one of Endicott’s duties. “I spoke with agents all over the world,” he said. “I had connections. We had some big name bands here. The kids came from all over the area and they had fun, that’s what mattered. I still get cards and letters from them. They remember their good times at Teen Town.”

“Ron Kingery, one of my favorite boys, thought a lot of Teen Town,” Endicott said. “He talks to me about it every time I see him.”

In 1981, after 34 years of teaching, Endicott retired.

Endicott has kept in touch with many of his students over the years. “One of my students, Robert Setser, loved my classes and my history. He graduated from Murray State and made a career in the United States Marine Corps. He was a Lieutenant

Colonel. Sadly, he died last October from exposure to Agent Orange.

He ser ved in Vietnam. His ashes were buried in Arlington National Cemetery and his wife sent me pictures of his service.”

Among the crowd of 5,000, awaiting the ship’s arrival in San Diego,

“Another student, Glenn Poshard, blames me for his interest in pol-

was “a young lady from L.A.,” said Endicott. “Paulette waited with her

itics,” said Endicott. Poshard, who graduated from Carmi High School

parents. We had dinner on the rooftop of the El Cor tez Hotel. Her

in 1962, served in the Illinois Senate and the U.S. House of Representa-

father and I didn’t get along very well. He was a millionaire and I didn’t

tives. From 2006-2014, Poshard served as president of Southern Illinois

fit in.”

University.

Endicott left California and headed to Great Lakes to be discharged

Looking back to January 1946, “I will never forget that night before

from the Marine Corps. From there, he took a train to Evansville where

we were to land in San Diego. We were up all night peering into the

he was met by his parents. Shortly after returning home, Endicott said,

dark looking for lights on the coastline. Near daybreak, we could see

“Paulette flew in to see me. She wanted to get married. I had been

the range of mountains behind San Diego. Somehow, God had let some

working as a clerk at the Lewis Hotel in Mt. Carmel. Paulette said if we

of us return.”

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Vintage summer salads!

WRITER: KIM BAYLESS

PHOTOS: TIM MARTIN

It’s been said that “Everything Old is New Again.” This month

Take time to make and enjoy Watergate Salad, Orange Jello

I’m resurrecting some favorite sweet salads that I remember my

Salad and Waldorf Salad, as well as an amazing BLT Chicken Salad.

Mom and grandma preparing, as well as a main dish salad that takes advantage of fresh tomatoes.

There’s nothing like the dog days of summer to give the oven a much needed rest.

WATERGATE SALAD 1 box Pistachio pudding mix

1 small carton whipped topping

1 medium can crushed pineapple

1 cup miniature marshmallows

Mix all ingredients thoroughly and refrigerate.

BLT CHICKEN SALAD ½ cup mayonnaise

2 large tomatoes, chopped

3 to 4 Tbsp barbecue sauce

1 ½ lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, cooked and cubed

2 Tbsp finely chopped onion

10 bacon strips, cooked/crumbled

1 Tbsp lemon juice

2 hard boiled eggs, sliced

¼ tsp pepper 8 cups torn salad greens

In a small bowl, combine the first 5 ingredients; mix well. Cover and refrigerate until serving. Place salad greens on a large serving platter. Sprinkle with tomatoes, chicken and bacon; garnish with eggs. Drizzle with dressing.

WALDORF SALAD 6 Tbsp mayonnaise

2 apples, cored and chopped

1 Tbsp lemon juice

1 cup red seedless grapes, sliced in half

1 Tbsp sugar ½ tsp salt Pinch of fresh ground black pepper

1 cup celery, thinly sliced

ORANGE JELLO SALAD

1 cup chopped pecans

1 lb carton cottage cheese 1 small box orange jello (dry)

1 can mandarin orange segments, drained

In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, sugar, salt and pepper. Stir in the apple, celery, grapes and pecans.

1 small carton whipped topping

*My Mom always added some mini marshmallows to this mixture and sometimes made up a bit more dressing, if she felt it needed it.

Mix cottage cheese, dry jello and pecans. Add whipped topping and mandarin oranges. Mix well and refrigerate.

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