Cape Girardeau History and Photos
News photos that have grown whiskers and have become history
This group won a softball trophy in 1965, but I couldn’t read the trophy to see what place it was. I recognize Sally Wright second from left in the front row and Yvonne Askew third from left in the second row. A couple other faces look familiar, but I’m not going to make a guess.
You can click on the photo to make it larger.
Here’a a shot of St. Vincent’s Grade School basketball team from 1965, The boy in the front row, middle, is holding a trophy of some kind. (Click on the photo to make it larger.)
It seems like I’ve hit a string of sports negative sleeves. I’ll try to spread them out a little, but there is some softball action coming.
Ron Smith was one of those quiet gentle souls who seems to float through high school without making any waves. I’ve often wondered what happened to him. Everyone knew who he was, but I don’t think many people, including me, could say they knew him.
I shot him at a basketball tournament at Houck Field House on Feb. 27, 1967.
This photo ran in the March 1 Missourian with the caption, “Fan of the Year: You see him at every sporting event, whether it be baseball, basketball, football, track, or even swimming. It makes no difference whether it’s high school, college, or junior high. Ron Smith (shown holding radio), a junior at Central High School, was recently presented the “fan of the year” award by State College’s Varsity Club.”
Judy Kurre Ringwald passed on the sad news that Ron died Nov. 8, 2012.
Here is his obituary from the Nov. 11 Missourian: Ronald Roy Smith, 63, of Belleview, Mo., passed away Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012, at Belleview Valley Nursing Home. He was a longtime nursing home resident, having spent most of his time at Belleview Valley Nursing Home where he was loved by staff and residents.
He was born November 13, 1948, in Cape Girardeau, Mo., to Roy and Hulda Vasterling Smith. He was a graduate of Cape Girardeau Central High School and a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau. In his teens, he was an avid sports fan, following local high school and college teams and the Capahas. Smith especially loved the St. Louis Cardinals and didn’t miss listening to or watching most of their games.
Loving survivors include one sister, Rosalee (Everett) Plunk of Cape Girardeau; one brother, Ray (Linda) Smith of Scott City; nieces and nephews, Marla (Maury) Taylor, Crystal (Justin) Smith both of Cape Girardeau, Mike (Nancy) Plunk of Lake St. Louis, Mo., Kim (Brad) Schiwitz of Frisco, Tex., Ray (Brittney) Smith of Jackson; great-nieces and nephews, Christina (Lee) Dodd, Haley and Hayden Dodd all of Scott City, Jennifer Boren of Lake St. Louis, Mo., Mackenzie and Mason Smith of Jackson, and Elizabeth Smith of Cape Girardeau. He was preceded in death by his parents.
When you look at your film and see pictures of fans like Ron and Notre Dame Cheerleader Cathy, you can surmise that the action must have been pretty slow. If you haven’t bagged something at least half-way interesting by the end of the first quarter, you start looking around for sports feature shots. (As always, you can click on any shot to make it larger.)
I can see why I was looking for features. This was about the best action I had from the game.
I confused so many people with my photos of what might have been an American Legion / Babe Ruth group shot that I’m going to play it safe. If you can believe the names on the uniforms, this contest was between the Cardinals and the Red Sox.
This Red Sox player is enjoying his sno cone on his way off the field. HE knows what’s important: it’s not whether you win or lose; it’s whether or not you get a post-game sno cone.His mother would probably swear the youngster has a halo over his head, but I can attest to it being the lights on the field in the background.
(Even THIS post has a confusing element: I saw the sugary concoction made from flavored syrup and crush ice spelled “sno cone,” “sno-cone” and “snow cone.” Take your pick.)
Here are photos from the Cardinals – Red Sox baseball game some time in the late middle ’60s. Click on any image to make it larger, then click on the left or right side of the photo to move through the gallery.
