Out of the past 6/4/14

1989

The first homecoming reunion of Oak Ridge United Methodist Church is held at the church; along with Sunday school and the morning worship service, a basket dinner and music program are held; pastor of the church is the Rev. Lloyd Bollinger.

Nationally syndicated radio talk show host Rush H. "Rusty" Limbaugh III delivered the commencement address to some 320 Cape Girardeau Central High School graduates during commencement ceremonies Friday evening at Houck Stadium.

1964

Central High School's largest graduating class -- 288 members -- was urged to "ever be curious" in their continuing search for learning at commencement exercises in Houck Field House last night; guest speaker is Dr. H.O. Grauel, head of the Division of English at State College.

Site preparation for a building for the Missouri Illinois Tractor Co., has begun on three acres of ground just north of the Holiday Inn, Gordonville Road and Interstate 55; the company will distribute heavy-duty industrial and construction equipment.

1939

The Rev. A.D. Fritzlan, a missionary of wide experience, is speaker at a special missionary service held in the evening at the Church of the Nazarene; he spent 20 years in mission work in India.

Professor John H. Gehrs, 57, head of the department of agriculture at the Teachers College since 1918, a widely known author of elementary agriculture textbooks and a civic worker and leader, dies of a heart ailment at a local hospital; he is survived by his widow, two children, three brothers and two sisters.

1914

The biggest graduating class in the history of the Normal School receives its diplomas at the annual graduating exercises in the school's auditorium; commencement speaker is the Rev. William J. Williamson of St. Louis.

The grand old steamer Clyde lands here in the afternoon with president J.L. Taylor of the Southeast Missouri Drummers' Association and St. Louis Mayor Henry Kiel; they are leading a large delegation of drummers from St. Louis to the 18th annual meeting of the organization.

-- Sharon K. Sanders