25 years ago: March 1, 1987

The congregation of First Pentecostal Church honors the Rev. and Mrs. John E. Gourley for 19 years of service to the church; the couple came to Cape Girardeau in 1968; he served as co-pastor for several years before assuming the pastorate in 1978 at the death of the Rev. A.J. Johnson.

The Pagoda Gardens restaurant recently opened at a new location, 329 S. Kingshighway; the business is owned by Sam Prasanphanich and Jay Santi.

50 years ago: March 1, 1962

Match-ups have been made for the small college NCAA basketball tournament, to be played at Evansville, Ind., March 15 through 17; Southeast Missouri State College (16-6) will face Abilene (Texas) Christian (14-10) in first-round play.

A basketball team made up of Cape Girardeau policemen and led by former Central High standout Benny R. Hinton edges a team composed of junior high teachers and student teachers, 71-70, at the junior high school gymnasium.

75 years ago: March 1, 1937

Quincy Adams Gray, 69, died yesterday at the CCC camp at Sam A. Baker State Park, where he had been employed during the past three months; Gray was Cape Girardeau's first uniformed police officer; in 1904 he was hired by the city for the grand salary of $50 per month; he was required to furnish his own uniform.

L.E. Armstrong of Centralia, Ill., assumes management of the Alvarado, having leased it from the Kelso Oil Co.

100 years ago: March 1, 1912

W.B. Ragsdale of the Buckner-Ragsdale Store has been elected first vice president of the Missouri Retail Clothiers' Association; this is his first year in the association and to get such recognition is an honor.

That part of the contract between the Frisco Railroad and the city of Cape Girardeau to be finished within 18 months from the signing of the contract has been completed right on time; Frisco has done its work well, providing the town with a beautiful riverfront and an excellent street.

-- Sharon K. Sanders