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diff --git a/old/65372-0.txt b/old/65372-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index db2bd12..0000000 --- a/old/65372-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1008 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, by -Otto H. Adams - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum - -Author: Otto H. Adams - -Release Date: May 18, 2021 [eBook #65372] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: Stephen Hutcheson and the Online Distributed Proofreading - Team at https://www.pgdp.net - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ALLEN COUNTY WAR MEMORIAL -COLISEUM *** - - - - - THE ALLEN COUNTY WAR MEMORIAL COLISEUM - - - An address delivered before the Quest Club by Otto H. Adams, November - 6, 1953, at the Chamber of Commerce, Fort Wayne, Indiana - - - Prepared by the Staff of the - Public Library of Fort Wayne and Allen County - 1954 - - [Illustration: Boards of the Public Library of Fort Wayne and Allen - County] - -One of a historical series, this pamphlet is published under the -direction of the governing Boards of the Public Library of Fort Wayne -and Allen County. - - BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE SCHOOL CITY OF FORT WAYNE - - _Mrs. Sadie Fulk Roehrs_ - _B.F. Geyer, President_ - _Joseph E. Kramer, Secretary_ - _W. Page Yarnelle, Treasurer_ - _Willard Shambaugh_ - - PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD FOR ALLEN COUNTY - -The members of this Board include the members of the Board of Trustees -of the School City of Fort Wayne (with the same officers) together with -the following citizens chosen from Allen County outside the corporate -City of Fort Wayne: - - _James E. Graham_ - _Arthur Niemeier_ - _Mrs. Glenn Henderson_ - _Mrs. Charles Reynolds_ - - - - - FOREWORD - - -The story of the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum began ten years ago. -The progression of events between the first consideration of the -memorial in 1944 and its completion in 1952 was by no means smooth and -uninterrupted. The account of the solution of the problems involved in -planning, financing, and constructing the memorial constitutes a -community accomplishment. - -The source material for this publication originated in a speech -delivered by Otto H. Adams at a meeting of the Quest Club, November 6, -1953. Mr. Adams, recently elected president of the Coliseum Board of -Trustees, reviewed the history of the Coliseum and discussed its value -to city and county in his paper entitled “Coliseum—Asset or Liability?” -James R. Fleming, the past president of the Board of Trustees, A. M. -Strauss, the architect, and Don L. Myers, the coliseum manager, have -supplied supplementary information. - -The Boards and the Staff of the Public Library of Fort Wayne and Allen -County present this pamphlet in the hope that it will interest and -inform the citizens of Allen County. - - -In 1944 the Fort Wayne Junior Chamber of Commerce first proposed the -construction of a coliseum as a memorial to the men and women of Allen -County who had lost their lives in both World Wars. Such a structure was -envisioned as serving a twofold purpose; it would honor our heroic dead -and would greatly increase recreational facilities. A Russell Sage -Foundation study was made after World War II; the report indicates a -definite trend among memorial planners to erect “living memorials,” -which serve the people while honoring their heroes, rather than -ornamental arches, statues, and monuments. The Foundation believes that -this trend is commendable and hails it as a “triumph of common sense -over sentimentalism.” Contemporary opinion seems to be that construction -of a useful memorial in no way detracts from the honor paid to the dead. -On the contrary, it is felt that the utility of the monument -demonstrates our regard for them more forcibly by benefiting that -society for which they died. - -The members of the Junior Chamber of Commerce conducted a survey of city -residents and concluded that 78 per cent were in favor of the proposed -coliseum. Two independent occurrences in 1944 added impetus to the -movement. First, Psi Iota Xi Sorority sponsored an analysis of -recreational facilities estimated to be needed by the city for a -twenty-year period. The sorority submitted to the mayor a plan drawn up -by Elwood Allen and George Nesbitt of the National Recreation -Association. A memorial field house was one of the major recommendations -of the plan. A memorial honoring General Anthony Wayne, the founder of -the city, was also proposed in 1944. This memorial, too, was envisioned -as a practical structure, and a field house was one of the suggestions. -Both state and national funds could be employed to construct an Anthony -Wayne memorial. - -The Junior Chamber of Commerce survey determined that popular opinion -supported the project. Accordingly, that association hired Mr. Allen, -who had drawn up general recreational plans for Fort Wayne, to make a -further investigation of possible sites and building plans. It was -immediately evident that a coliseum would be a costly construction; the -cost would probably exceed two million dollars. The acquisition of funds -was the first problem that had to be solved. James R. Fleming presided -over the meeting at which the survey results were first discussed. He -suggested building a coliseum as a memorial both to the dead of the two -World Wars and to Anthony Wayne. He believed that financial aid could be -obtained from the federal government in this way. - -Despite general popular sentiment in Allen County favoring the erection -of a coliseum, the planners faced and overcame many obstacles before -their dream became a reality. In 1945 plans were announced for a sports -arena, which was to be built by private enterprise in the Quimby Village -area. Had these plans been realized, the sports arena would have been in -direct competition with the Memorial Coliseum. The next impediment was -in the form of objections to the proposed site; the residents of the -Lawton Park area, which was the first site recommended, were vocal in -their opposition. - -Since at least a portion of the cost of a coliseum would be financed by -property taxes, in 1946 it was decided to submit the question to the -electorate of Allen County in the form of a referendum. After the county -commissioners had agreed to place the question on the ballot, the Junior -Chamber of Commerce organized and carried out an extensive publicity -campaign to secure public approval. The War Memorial Commission, a group -organized with the encouragement of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, -assumed responsibility for the planning and co-ordination of the -campaign. Don Myers was elected chairman. Conventional advertising media -were utilized: newspapers, radio broadcasts, direct mail, and bus -placards. In addition, public attention was dramatically captured by -dropping thousands of leaflets over the city from a plane and by holding -a torchlight parade on election eve. A special appeal was made to high -school students. Commission speakers addressed student assemblies and -explained how the coliseum could enlarge school sports programs. Buttons -in school colors, advertising the coliseum, were distributed at football -games, and publicity appeared in school newspapers. Although the -planning of this well-integrated program must be credited to the War -Memorial Commission, the Junior Chamber of Commerce continued to give -active support and co-operated to carry out all phases of the fight. - - [Illustration: Memorial Hall.] - -Both major political parties endorsed the issue. The chairmen of the -Democratic and Republican central committees signed a joint statement -which advocated voting “yes” on a project that would benefit every -person in Allen County. The average annual cost to the taxpayer would be -only fifty-five cents, it was stated. Many civic organizations pledged -their support. The Zollner Pistons played an exhibition game and donated -all proceeds to the War Memorial Commission. The check for $1,700 was -used for publicity to win the support of the voters. The Civic Theatre -also gave a benefit performance for the cause. The Fort Wayne Civic -Association paid for advertisements explaining the benefits of the -proposed coliseum. - -About this time, fearing that the sports arena function of the coliseum -was being overemphasized, the president of the Junior Chamber of -Commerce reiterated its primary purpose: “War memorials should be for -the living, not for the dead alone. The living must be enabled to derive -a spiritual lift from them. There must be a shrine to which one may go -to commune with the missing and to pay tribute to the returned. A mere -building does not serve this purpose. The true memorial building has a -heart, a focal point. Some symbol within it must tell why the building -was built, and this must be the center of interest.” - -The results of the referendum of November 6, 1946, must have gratified -the commission; that organization had endeavored to stimulate the public -interest and approval and had succeeded admirably. The vote was five to -one in favor of floating a bond issue to finance the memorial. - -After the first World War, a law had been passed by the state -legislature permitting the county councils to issue bonds for memorial -purposes to the extent of ½ per cent of the total property valuation of -the county. Based on the property valuation of Allen County in 1947, -this proportion would have been approximately one and one-half million -dollars, but it was evident that the cost of the proposed coliseum would -far exceed this amount. Public subscription and federal aid were among -the several sources considered for obtaining the additional funds -necessary to build the structure. But these auxiliary sources were -discarded in favor of raising the ceiling of bonded indebtedness. A -change in the statute was proposed. A bill was formulated and sponsored -by the American Legion legislative committee. The War Memorial -Commission warmly praised Robert Gaskill, chairman of the legislative -committee, for his valuable assistance. The bill was enacted, and in -March, 1947, Governor Ralph F. Gates signed the amended law increasing -the ceiling from ½ per cent to 1 per cent of the assessable property in -the county. - -The majority of the voters of Allen County gave their support to the -planners of the War Memorial Coliseum and were eager to have the -preliminary work completed and the construction begun. But a small -minority argued that increasing the indebtedness of the county was -unjustifiable and that the Coliseum would impose too heavy a burden on -the taxpayer. Some members of the minority attempted to thwart the -coliseum plans; they contended that the law permitted the county to -issue bonds for only one memorial and that Fort Wayne already had a -memorial in Memorial Park. Both contentions were correct; if that -memorial had really been built with funds secured from a county bond -issue, it would have been illegal to finance the Coliseum by that means. -Investigation disclosed that the theory that the old memorial was paid -for by the county could not be substantiated. Apparently, funds were -secured largely through the generous donations of individuals and were -augmented by public subscription. Again the commission turned to the -Indiana General Assembly, and this time the legislature unanimously -passed a bill declaring a bond issue for a memorial coliseum legal. - -The passage of the bill raising the amount of the bond issue assured -approximately three million dollars for the memorial. The first decision -facing the county commissioners thereafter was the final selection of a -site. On May 19, 1947, a joint meeting of the commissioners and the War -Memorial Commission heard Elwood Allen recommend the Municipal Beach -area. Mr. Allen cited the following sound reasons for his choice: the -tract is well drained, high, and adequate in size to allow for future -expansion; at the present time, two thirds of the rural population of -Allen County have easy access to it; within the next few decades the -center of population probably will shift toward the north of the city. - -For a brief period there was some dissension between the county -commissioners and the War Memorial Commission. The members of the -commission had accomplished much of the preliminary work and felt that -the commissioners were not giving sufficient consideration to their -recommendations. Legally, the commissioners had the power of final -decision; as elected officials they could not delegate authority to -another group. The commissioners realized that any rift between the -groups would be detrimental to the progress of the Coliseum; therefore, -they offered the War Memorial Commission the status of “a public body to -advise and counsel with” them. The commission unanimously accepted this -proposal, and full accord was re-established between the two groups. The -commission set up a planning committee to work in close co-operation -with the commissioners and with Alvin M. Strauss, the architect for the -Coliseum. - -In April, 1948, the planning committee and the county commissioners -scheduled a special meeting and invited representatives from -thirty-three civic, fraternal, and labor organizations. Mr. Strauss -presented his original plans which called for an expenditure of four -million dollars. He also announced the retention of Elwood Allen, who -had made preliminary surveys, as recreational consultant. - - [Illustration: the Sports Arena.] - -At this meeting the question of the proper seating capacity arose. The -president of the Fort Wayne Federation of Labor, E. Robert Leach, -speaking for his organization, advocated fifteen thousand seats to -accommodate Fort Wayne’s anticipated population growth. But the business -manager of the Zollner teams, Carl Bennett, expressed the opinion, based -on his individual experience, that a far smaller capacity would suffice. -If the capacity should consistently prove greater than the need, the -Coliseum would burden the taxpayers for maintenance costs. On the other -hand, the Coliseum should be adequate in size to accommodate larger -audiences as the population increased over the years. In order to ensure -the most authoritative professional opinion, the commissioners consulted -the New Buildings Consulting Board of the International Association of -Auditorium Managers. After conferring with that board the commissioners -agreed on a capacity of ten thousand. Judging from past attendance -records in Fort Wayne, it was decided that this size would be more than -adequate for most events but would not create an extravagant community -white elephant. The Memorial Hall was also discussed during this time. -The War Memorial Commission appointed a committee of five clergymen to -work with the architect in planning this important room. It was to be -impressive and dignified. - -The War Memorial Act provides that the Coliseum shall be supervised by a -five-man board of which no more than three members may be affiliated -with the same political party. The board members shall serve without -remuneration. Appointed for a four-year term, they may be re-appointed -at the end of that period. The terms are staggered so that all do not -expire in any one year. Three members shall be appointed by the county -commissioners; two by the circuit judge. The original board, appointed -in June, 1949, consisted of Otto H. Adams, James R. Fleming, Chester V. -Kimmell, Ramon S. Perry, and Alfred L. Randall. It was the -responsibility of the board to supervise the construction and the -operation of the building. - -In December, 1949, the general construction contract was awarded to the -Hagerman Construction Company, who submitted the low bid of $1,959,921. -Bids were also accepted for the heating and plumbing, electricity, -seating, sewerage, ice floor and refrigeration, and lockers. In each -case the low bid was accepted, and the aggregate amount was under the -three million dollar limit. All the awards were made tentatively, -pending the issuance of bonds. - -In January, 1950, the commissioners announced that the bid of the -Chicago National Bank had been accepted for the bond issue. The bank -formed a syndicate with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner, and Beane; the -Mercantile Commerce Bank and Trust Company; Harris Hall and Company, -Incorporated; and the Fletcher Trust Company. A representative of the -Chicago banking house said that the excellent credit and tax collection -record of Allen County made the $27,445 premium possible. The interest -rate is 1½ per cent. - -At long last the finances were arranged, the architect’s plans were -approved, and the contracts were awarded; now construction could begin. -On January 24, 1950, just three weeks after the bond issue had been -floated, the ground-breaking ceremony took place. Chester V. Kimmel, -then chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Coliseum, presided. All -county commissioners and trustees were present, and representatives of -various veterans and civic organizations attended. The cornerstone was -laid in November, 1951. In the spring of 1952, the massive structure was -nearly completed. On Memorial Day the Allen County Council of Veterans -Organizations held a flag-raising ceremony to mark the initiation of the -final phase of construction. - -Meanwhile, the Board of Trustees began the arduous task of compiling -complete and accurate lists of the deceased in order that the names -might be inscribed on the plaques in the Memorial Hall. No official list -was available. Otto H. Adams, the secretary of the Board of Trustees, -searched the records of the War Department and the veterans -organizations. The completed list was published in both Fort Wayne -newspapers; relatives and friends were earnestly requested to notify the -board of any corrections or omissions. The roll of honor listed the -names of 643 men and women. The total has since been increased by the -casualties of the Korean conflict. - - [Illustration: the entrance to the Memorial Hall.] - -The Board of Trustees had the responsibility of choosing a manager for -the Coliseum. The duties of the manager were to include the -administration and operation of the building, the supervision of -personnel, and the scheduling of events. The choice fell upon Don Myers, -who had been a most active promoter of the Coliseum since its inception. -The NEWS SENTINEL published an editorial commending the choice and -praising Mr. Myers: “When others insisted that it probably could not be -done, he kept insisting that it could be done and that he for one wasn’t -going to give up trying. He didn’t. He kept talking about the Memorial -Coliseum night and day, week in and week out.” Mr. Myers has proved an -able manager; his work has won him recognition in his profession, and he -was awarded the trophy at the Auditorium Operators Convention for his -outstanding record during the 1952-53 season. - -During the construction period two changes occurred on the Board of -Trustees. Ramon S. Perry’s term expired, and Chester V. Kimmel, the -chairman, resigned to go to India under the Point Four Program. James R. -Fleming, who had served on the board since its beginning, was elected -chairman. Ellison L. Meier and Elmer Kolmerten were appointed to fill -the vacancies. - -The War Memorial Coliseum was completed in September, 1952. Nearly eight -years had elapsed since the Junior Chamber of Commerce had conceived the -idea of erecting a suitable memorial to the war dead of Allen County. -The men who had worked unremittingly through those years were amply -rewarded when the building was opened by impressive dedicatory services. - -The dedication program was preceded by a parade in which bands from all -the city and county high schools and representatives from twenty-four -county veterans organizations participated. The Great Lakes Naval -Training Center Band opened the ceremony. The Aeolian Choir of the -General Electric Company sang “America, the Beautiful” and “The Battle -Hymn of the Republic.” Lewis K. Gough, the National Commander of the -American Legion, delivered the principal address and said in part: “This -is the hallowed hall of heroes ... this Memorial Coliseum, a living -memorial to our sons and daughters, our brothers and sisters, our -fathers and our dear friends who served their God and their country with -the last full measure of devotion.” - - [Illustration: Recreation and entertainment] - -The Coliseum is a remarkable structure. Mr. Strauss has stated that a -great many architectural problems had to be solved in planning the -edifice. The necessarily massive size and isolated location might have -resulted in an ill-proportioned and bulky building. Fortunately, the -judicious adaptation of a contemporary modern style by the architects -has achieved a dignified building that is both functional and beautiful. -By placing the ramps between the levels on the exterior, Mr. Strauss -succeeded in overcoming bulky appearance. The ramps modify a bluff -façade of high vertical walls and soften the relationship between the -bulk of the mass and the adjacent ground area. - -The exterior of the octagonal building is brick and Indiana limestone. -The bricks are in three different hues to provide variation in the broad -expanse of the walls. Ten rigid steel frames support the roof. Each -frame weighs 70 tons and has a clear span of 239 feet—a longer span than -any other single-welded rigid framework ever erected in the United -States. The dimensions of the Coliseum are impressive: 425 feet in -length, 300 feet in width, and 87 feet in height from the floor of the -main arena. - -One problem in the construction of a great building arises from -discrepancies in the rates of expansion and contraction of various -materials used. In the Coliseum the concrete seating construction is -attached to the steel frame of the building by a device operating on the -principle of a hinge. It is so designed that when the steel and concrete -expand at different coefficients, the hinge moves to adjust to the -disparity. Careful consideration has been given to facilitating the -ingress and egress of spectators. The upper main seating area is served -by sixteen vomitory entrances, and the lower arena by four. The multiple -entrances make it possible to empty the building very rapidly after each -performance and are an important safety factor in case of emergency. - - [Illustration: one of the ten rigid steel frames which support the - building.] - -As the president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce had promised in the -earliest plans for the Coliseum, the memorial to the war dead is the -focal point of the building. The main entrance on the north leads -directly to the Memorial Hall. Five cast aluminum heads have been placed -on the exterior of the building above the windows of the hall. These -heads symbolize the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Air -Force. The interior of the august hall measures seventy-five feet in -length and thirty feet in width. Four kinds of marble are used in the -decoration: French Notre Dame for the background, English Renfrew for -the inserts, Italian Red Levanto for the platform, and Spanish Bois -Jourdan for the door panels. Two bronze plaques, one at either end of -the hall, list the casualties of Allen County beneath the following -inscription: “This Coliseum is dedicated as a living memorial in honor -of these men and women who gave their lives in World Wars I and II of -the nation so that we might live.” - -The Sports Arena has an area of approximately 25,000 square feet. There -are 7,250 permanent seats in the upper seating area, and additional -temporary seats can be erected to bring the total capacity to 10,500. -The windowless room is lighted by a battery of 220 one-thousand watt -lamps. The concrete floor is inlaid with almost ten miles of pipe -through which brine is pumped to form ice on the floor. A layer of ice -from three eighths to three fourths of an inch thick freezes in twelve -hours. After an ice show or a hockey game the ice is thawed to slush and -scraped into a large pit to melt and drain away. A portable basketball -floor can then be installed; the floor consists of 214 four by eight -feet sections which can be joined by means of an electric screw driver -in two hours. For theatrical or musical productions a portable stage is -erected. - -Two notable features in the arena are the electric scoreboard and the -organ. The first was purchased for the Coliseum by Wolf and Dessauer at -a cost of $30,000 and is one of the finest existing scoreboards in the -country. Spectators in every section of the arena can easily read one of -its four faces. Mrs. Ida Dick of the Dick Piano and Organ Company -donated the organ in memory of her husband. - - [Illustration: a southwest view of the Coliseum showing the entrance - to the Exhibition Hall.] - -The Exhibition Hall occupies the lower level of the building and covers -an acre and a quarter in area. The hall provides ideal accommodations -for agricultural and industrial exhibits such as the 4-H Club Fair and -the Automobile Show. Because the level has its own separate box office, -lobby, and concession stand, events can be scheduled concurrently with -those in the Sports Arena without interference. Ramps connect the two -levels. - -The Coliseum has brought many benefits to Fort Wayne. Local -organizations have better facilities for their activities. For example, -the 4-H Clubs held their annual fair in the Exhibition Hall and were -untroubled by uncertainties of weather. Recently, the Board of Trustees -leased sixteen acres adjacent to the building to this group. The Boy -Scouts served 1,500 guests at their annual recognition dinner in the -Coliseum. During the Christmas season, the Christ Child Festival is held -there. Now the regional high school basketball tournaments can be held -in Fort Wayne. - -An important benefit arises from the major sports events and appearances -of famous entertainers. The stars of stage and screen and of the world -of sports bring many visitors to Fort Wayne; increased business results -for the merchants and the hotel and restaurant owners. Sports announcers -and reviewers give much favorable publicity to Fort Wayne because of our -fine Coliseum. Thus, the Coliseum, besides honoring the war dead of the -community, is a great asset to the citizens of the community. The -building admirably fulfills the dual role of a “living memorial.” - - [Illustration: Otto H. Adams] - - - - - OTTO H. ADAMS - - -Otto H. Adams was one of the first appointees to the War Memorial -Commission, which was organized in 1946 to plan a coliseum. He served as -a member until the commission was superseded by the Coliseum Board of -Trustees; he was then appointed to this official governing body. In -January, 1954, he was elected president of the board; previously he had -been vice-president and secretary. - -The son of William C. and Sophia (Felger) Adams, Otto Adams was born -June 5, 1894, in Allen County, Indiana. After completing secondary -school, he continued his education at the Indiana University Extension -Center in Fort Wayne. For a number of years Mr. Adams was employed by -the Indiana Service Corporation. In 1939 he was named General -Superintendent of City Utilities; and from 1943 to 1947 he served as -City Controller. In 1947 he accepted his present position as controller -at Zollner Machine Works, Incorporated. - -The United Commercial Travelers elected Mr. Adams “Man of the Year” in -1952 in recognition of his record of community leadership. An editorial -in the FORT WAYNE NEWS-SENTINEL on February 9, 1953, commented: “The -long-time Fort Wayne civic leader has so many notable facets of -achievement in civic leadership, charitable endeavor, and generally -unselfish service to his credit that it is virtually impossible to -enumerate them all.” - -Otto Adams served as chairman of the Allen County Chapter of the -National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis for seven years. He has -served on the directorates of numerous civic organizations, including -the Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce, the Allen County Chapter of the -American Red Cross, and the Y.M.C.A. He has held office as president of -the Lakeside Northeast Community Association and as treasurer of the -Anthony Wayne Council of Boy Scouts. He was also a member of the -organizing committee of the United Fund. Long associated with the -Republican party in Fort Wayne, he has been treasurer of the Allen -County Republican Central Committee since 1950. - -A veteran of World War I, Otto Adams is active in the American Legion. -He is a Mason and is a member of the Quest Club and the Elks. He attends -the Trinity English Lutheran Church. Mr. Adams is married and is the -father of four children. - - - - - JAMES R. FLEMING - - -James R. Fleming was elected president of the Board of Trustees of the -Coliseum in 1952 prior to the dedication of the building. He retained -that post until January, 1954. His term of office included a rather -critical and very successful period in the operation of the Coliseum. - -James R. Fleming was born November 8, 1881, in Henry County, Indiana; -his parents were George R. and Sarah (Cummins) Fleming. He completed his -elementary and secondary education in local schools and was awarded the -degree of Bachelor of Law at the University of Michigan in 1904. - -After graduation the young lawyer began his practice at Portland, -Indiana, where he was soon elected Prosecuting Attorney for Jay County. -He was later elected to the Indiana General Assembly and served several -years both in the lower house and in the state senate. In 1933 President -Roosevelt appointed Mr. Fleming United States Attorney for the Northern -District of Indiana. Many notorious criminals then operated in this -area; James Fleming held office between 1933 and 1941 and successfully -prosecuted many of these gangsters. - -At present Mr. Fleming is engaged in the practice of law in Fort Wayne. -He is chairman of the board, co-publisher, and treasurer of the FORT -WAYNE JOURNAL-GAZETTE; he serves as president and treasurer of Erie -Materials, Incorporated, and Erie Ready-Mix Concrete, Incorporated, and -the director and general counsel for the Sheller Manufacturing -Corporation and its subsidiaries. - -In addition to his professional and business interests, Mr. Fleming is -active in many civic and social organizations. As a director of the Fort -Wayne Chamber of Commerce, he became interested in the earliest coliseum -plans. His work in advancing this project was publicly recognized in -1949, and he was appointed to the original Board of Trustees. - - [Illustration: James R. Fleming] - -He has also been a director of the Fort Wayne Art School, the Fort Wayne -Civic Symphony, the Fort Wayne Community Concert Association, the Fort -Wayne Civic Association, the Fort Wayne Musical Society, and the Fort -Wayne and Indiana Presbyterian Foundations. He is a member of the -American, Federal, Indiana, and Allen County Bar Associations; the -Indiana and the Allen County Historical Societies; the Indiana Society -of Chicago; the Fort Wayne Country Club; the Masons; and the Elks. Mr. -Fleming is also an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of -Fort Wayne. He is married and is the father of two children. - - [Illustration: Don L. Myers] - - - - - DON L. MYERS - - -Don L. Myers was chosen manager of the War Memorial Coliseum in 1951 -prior to the completion of the edifice; he continues in that capacity at -the present time. Wide recognition has been accorded him; he was awarded -a trophy by the International Association of Auditorium Managers for his -efficient and successful management during the 1952-1953 season. - -Mr. Myers was born in Wolcottville, Indiana, February 12, 1914. He -accompanied his family to Fort Wayne in 1929, attended North Side High -School, and graduated in 1931. His first positions were in sales -promotion and hotel work; during World War II he was employed in the -essential steel industry. He was sales manager for the V. R. Myers Pump -Supply Company before his appointment as manager of the Coliseum. - -In 1942 Don Myers joined the Fort Wayne Junior Chamber of Commerce and -was soon an active member. Through his associations in the “Jaycees,” he -became a proponent of the Coliseum. Mr. Myers assisted in the -formulation of the initial plans for the memorial, and when the War -Memorial Commission was organized to execute the plans, he was chosen -president. Later, when the memorial building was under construction, he -was elected to the Allen County Council. As a councilman, he used his -opportunities to expedite the progress of the Coliseum. Don Myers is a -member of the First Baptist Church. He is married and is the father of -two children. - - - - - ALVIN M. STRAUSS - - -The Commissioners of Allen County selected A. M. Strauss, Incorporated, -to design the War Memorial Coliseum because of the notable achievements -of the firm and because that architectural corporation could complete -all phases of structural planning. Thus, the need for employing -architects from other cities would be obviated. - -Alvin M. Strauss, born April 8, 1895, at Kendallville, Indiana, was the -son of Abraham and Frieda Strauss. After the completion of his secondary -education in the city of his birth in 1912, he was employed for several -years in architectural offices in Fort Wayne and Chicago. His career was -interrupted during the first World War by military service. Following -his discharge in 1918, Mr. Strauss returned to Fort Wayne and opened his -own office of architectural consultants. Mechanical, electrical, and -structural engineering personnel were added to the staff in the 1940’s. -The firm was incorporated in 1950 under the name of A. M. Strauss, -Incorporated. - -Mr. Strauss is a director of the Indiana Society of Architects and a -member of the state Architects’ Registration Board. In addition to these -professional organizations, he is a member of the Jewish Federation, the -Executives Club, the Elks Lodge, and the Fort Wayne Country Club. He is -married and resides at 1220 Illsley Drive. - - - - - Transcriber’s Notes - - -—Silently corrected a few typos. - -—Retained publication information from the printed edition: this eBook - is public-domain in the country of publication. - -—In the text versions only, text in italics is delimited by - _underscores_. - - - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ALLEN COUNTY WAR MEMORIAL -COLISEUM *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. 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