Volume XX, Number 30

Wednesday, February 23, 2005

Valley News at a Glance

Cancer Society seeking Road to Recovery coordinator

Scholar Notes

Scholarships available

Rapp Foundation grants available

Births

Obituaries

Cancer Society seeking Road to Recovery coordinator

One of the most successful American Cancer Society Road to Recovery programs in Montana is looking for a volunteer coordinator.

The Ravalli County Road to Recovery program presently has close to 30 volunteer drivers who offer their time to transport cancer patients to and from their treatments.

According to Cody Gould, District Quality of Life Relationship Manager for the American Cancer Society, the Road to Recovery coordinator is asked to recruit new drivers and to pair up those volunteers with cancer patients needing rides.

"A typical volunteer driver would only take one or two patients each month, while another might offer his or her services anytime there is a need," says Gould. "The volunteer coordinator would make sure there is always a driver available when the need arises."

Today, the percentage of Americans who survive their diagnosis of cancer is triple what it was in the 1930s. The advancements in lifesaving treatments, such as radiation and chemotherapy, have given hope to the millions of men, women and children who have been diagnosed with the disease.

However, while these treatments are of tremendous value to the patients, they often come with traumatic side effects, such as nausea and fatigue. That is why drivers are needed to assist the patients.

Anyone wishing to learn more about volunteering as the Ravalli County Road to Recovery coordinator can contact Cody Gould toll free at 877-488-7723, option 3.

The following local students were listed on the President¹s Honor Roll for the fall 2004 semester at Washington State University at Pullman. These students have earned a grade point average of 3.75 or better for the semester.

Florence: Frederick A. Hingst
Hamilton: Keeley Marie McKay and Micaela R. Whalen
Stevensville: Tyson Allen McLean

The Missoula Area Central Labor Council Scholarship Fund is pleased to announce the availability of College and Vocational-Technical School Scholarships for 2005. The following are offered:

€ 3 - $500.00 College Scholarships
€ 3 - $250.00 Vocational-Technical School Scholarships
€ 1 - $500.00 Bill Potts Memorial Scholarship

The student or one parent must belong to a union that is affiliated with the AFL-CIO or the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and must reside in, or be employed in Granite, Mineral, Missoula, or Ravalli County. The student must also be planning to attend a post-secondary school in Montana. For more information and applications contact your high school counselor. Questions for the Missoula Area Central Labor Council Scholarship Committee may be directed to James Weir at 549-1341 or Bruce Morris at 239-3659.

The Rapp Family Foundation is now accepting grant applications for the first quarter of 2005.

The Foundation makes grants available to Ravalli County non-profit organizations or individuals applying through a non-profit organization. The Foundation is receptive to requests from small organizations utilizing volunteer-based services and asking for matching funds for specific need instead of funds for general purposes, salaries or continuing support. Primary consideration is given to requests of $3,000 or less. Application forms can be completed by non-professional grant writers.

Application forms may be picked up from or delivered to Ravalli County Bank in Hamilton and Stevensville or Diane Thomas Rupert, Raymond James Financial Services, 172 Golf Course Road, Hamilton or mailed to Rapp Family Foundation, P.O. Box 2082, Hamilton MT 59840. Use of email forms is encouraged. Forms are available by sending a request to invest@montana.com or tom@montana.com and may be submitted back by email.

Completed applications must be received by March 4 for consideration in this quarter.

Isabelle Mary Morgan

Ryan and Jodie Morgan are the proud parents of a baby girl, Isabelle Mary, born February 18 in San Diego, CA. She weighed 6 lbs., 6 oz. and was 18-1/2 inches long. Grandparents are Mike and Norma Morgan of Stevensville and Jeff and Joanne Whisnant of Prospect, Oregon.

Richard McElfresh

Richard Joseph McElfresh, 83, passed away February 15, 2005, in Missoula. Richard was born on April 29, 1921, in Richards, Missouri to James Ward and Laura Alice (Duffey) McElfresh.

From 1925 to 1940, Richard lived in Wolf Point, MT. In 1940 he enrolled in the Forestry School at the University of Montana, Missoula. He entered military service through the advanced ROTC Program in 1942, graduating from OCS at Fort Benning, Georgia in 1944. He served in Europe during WWII, receiving the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Service, and was discharged as a Captain in the Army Reserve in 1946.

Following the war, Richard returned to college and graduated in 1948 with a degree in Forestry with the Range Management option.

He worked for the USDA Forest Service from 1948-1951. During the Korean War, he was recalled to military service through the reserve program. He served as a company commander at Camp Roberts, California and with the Seventh Calvary Regiment in Japan. In the fall of 1952, Richard returned to the Forest Service, where he served at White Sulphur Springs, Malta, and as District Ranger at Ennis, Wisdom, Stevensville and Camp Crook, South Dakota. He retired in July 1976, in Deer Lodge, MT.

Richard and Joanne Golden were married September 12, 1964, in the Church of the Holy Spirit, Missoula, Montana. They were both members of the Episcopalian faith. They had no children.

Richard's favorite activities were horse-related. Livestock management and range ecology were enduring interests. He loved to read and had an extensive personal library. He was a life member of the National Rifle Association and was a strong advocate for the safe and proper handling and use of firearms.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Ellen Diehl.

Survivors include his wife Joanne, sisters Audrey Linimon and Natalie Rector, nieces and nephews and his special families the Fileks, Lyons, Twedts and Sylvesters.

Memorial services for Richard will be held at a later date.

Memorials are asked to Community Medical Hospital or to St. Patrick Hospital.

Whitesitt Funeral Home and Cremation of Stevensville is in charge of arrangements.

Dan Jay Dwyer

Dan Jay Dwyer, 38, of Missoula, died of a heart attack at St. Patricks Hospital. He was born March 28, 1966 in Helena, MT, to Jack and Mickie Dwyer.

His hobbies included baseball and motorcross racing.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Mickie Dwyer.

Survivors include his father Jack Dwyer of Helena; sister Rebecca Wolfe of Hamilton, niece Sarah Glas of Hamilton, and extended family.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

The family suggests donations to At Home Assisted Living Center, 1300 Speedway Ave. Missoula MT 59802 where Dan was provided with wonderful, loving care.

Services are entrusted to the care and direction of Ronald Brothers with Dowling Funeral Home and Crematory, Hamilton.

William 'Bill' Gibson

William "Bill" Gibson, 82, a well-known combat cameraman/filmmaker and author, peacefully passed away in the night, Wednesday, February 16, 2005, at his residence in Conner, surrounded by his family.

Bill was born June 12, 1922, in Haddonfield, N.J. to James and Elsie Gibson. His education included post-graduate photography work, which put him on a career path that spanned the globe and lasted for more than a half-century.

He began his career as a combat cameraman with the U.S. Navy in World War II and extended it to the U.S. Army Air Corps, U.S. Air Force in the Korean War and the U.S. Marines as a civilian on assignment during the Vietnam War. For brave service to his country during combat, he was awarded the Purple Heart, Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal.

He was chief instructor for the Navy Motion Picture School, and his stories began with the harrowing retelling of a kamikaze and torpedo attack against the USS Hornet, on which he served, and continued through time and across space.

Bill's photojournalism went beyond war to include riots in Indonesia, uprisings in Africa and coverage of the 20th century's political and cultural luminaries, including FDR, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Charles Lindbergh, Albert Schweitzer, Charles DeGaulle, JFK, Ronald Reagan, Gen. Jimmy Doolittle and many others.

He provided insights into the frustrations and triumphs of America's space program from his vantage point as a consultant to NASA on the photographic coverage of Apollo 11. He invented and designed the first automatic tracking system used in spacecraft launches. He was a director of communications and advertising for Douglas Aircraft and he was the third man to stand on both the north and south poles. In his book "No Film in My Camera," Bill brought many of the scenes he had photographed to life enriching his photos with detail and emotion.

Bill spent more than a half-century in the motion picture and television industries, and his work as director of photography, director and producer ran the gamut of diversity from feature films, music videos, documentaries, scientific films, news, special effects, commercials and infomercials. His clients read like a who's who list of blue chip corporate America and included 20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers, Technicolor, Disney, General Electric, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Park Service, NASA, Boeing, United Airlines, Pan Am, TWA, Chrysalis Records, Financial News Network, Tokyo Broadcasting and more. His innovations in the scientific field and his pioneering work in television marketing earned him many major national and international awards. Bill was a member of the Director's Guild of America West for 34 years. He enjoyed an illustrious and award-winning 50-year career in the television and motion picture industries.

Bill loved the Bitterroot Valley where he was a member of the Hamilton Rotary, the American Legion and the Wildlife Film Festival organization. He was also a big Griz fan. Most of all he cherished the friendships and adventures he experienced here.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Magellan Gibson; and two brothers. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Harriet Hooper Gibson of Conner; son Ronald H.R. Taylor and wife Janet of Moorpark, CA; daughter Catharine C. Reed of Conner; grandchildren Robert Hooper Reed of Missoula, Thomas, Alexander and Lindsay of Moorpark, CA; stepdaughters Diane Lady of Boise, Idaho and Michelle Hall of Van Nuys, CA; in-laws Victoria and Thorton Sargent of Berkeley, CA; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Bill's life and memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., Thursday, February 24, at the St. Francis Catholic Church in Hamilton. The Rev. Father John Darragh will be the celebrant. The honor guard of the American Legion in Hamilton will present the United States flag following the service. The reception will follow at the parish center.

The family suggests donations to Aspen Hospice, 3972 Hwy. 93, Stevensville, or to the Darby Public Library. Services are entrusted to the care and direction of Ronald Brothers with Dowling Funeral Home and Crematory, Hamilton.

Robert R. Downing

Robert R. "Bob" Downing, 85, of Hamilton, passed away in the evening, Wednesday, February 16, 2005 at the Marcus Daly Hospice Center in Hamilton. A private family memorial service will be held at a later date. Letters of remembrance can be sent to P.O. Box 2097, Hamilton MT 59840. Services are entrusted to the care and direction of Ronald Brothers with Dowling Funeral Home and Crematory in Hamilton.