Imperial Valley Press

Fifth Army Gets Into Swing On Bonds Drive

Rodeo Starts Campaign With $200,000

"It remains up to you members of the Retailers Third Army to continue the attack of the Fifth War Loan, since Sunday's "Rodeo for Bonds" has established a $200,000 beachhead on the county's $3,100,000 quota," Herb Fawcett, war finance committee chairman told 225 El Centro salespeople Monday morning in a third army mobilization meeting.

The meeting opened with the national anthem and pledge of allegiance after which Bob Smith, city retail chairman, introduced Fawcett and other officials who mobilized the "army" in El Centro.

A meeting at Calexico, at the same time, saw 100 sales people take the oath as privates in the "army."

ISSUES CHALLENGE

Ben Herring, county secretary, hurled the challenge of nearly 500 county farmers and stockowners whose efforts last week were climaxed Sunday afternoon by the "Rodeo for Bonds" which sold over $200,000 in bonds and was attended by a capacity crowd of more than 3,500 people. Herring said these people's volunteer efforts should be doubled in time and sales by the third army.

City chairman Ira Kinsey told the salespeople that "your sales efforts were never so important as they are at this time when the tempo of the war is being increased on all fronts." He said that there are 50 million people in the United States who have not as yet bought a bond and that there are 22 billion dollars in savings in banks, tin cans and hidden away by citizens who can only be reached by the constant selling by retail salesmen.

SWORN IN

Col. Karl E. Voelter, of the Marine base, swore in the 225 people attending the kick-off mobilization meeting as privates in the Third Army. The "privates" pledged that they would serve the United States and the Third Army honestly and faithfully and devote their time and best efforts to the successful completion of the bond drive.

In the meantime at Calexico 100 salespeople were sworn in by Capt. Finnan, of the Provost Marshal's office. Mayor Fern Young and Retail chairman Earl Cavannah also addressed the group.

At Brawley and Holtville Third Army rallies will be held Tuesday morning at 9:00 o'clock. Lieutenant Commander H. J. White of the Naval Station at Holtville will read the oath at Holtville while Col. J. D. Macklin commander of Camp Dunlap will swear in members at Brawley. Gene Anderson is retail chairman at Brawley.

With the successful rodeo giving the county a start of $200,000, war finance committeemen said the third army should "bring up the reinforcements" and by concerted effort put the county over the top in short order. The third army was so-named because the first army is our "fighting army", and the second our "production army."

BIG CROWD

A jam-packed amphitheatre at Imperial saw 92 contestants compete in nearly 150 events and an exhibition of 400 head of the finest horse-flesh ever to be ridden in the southwest.

Gate sales of bonds for the event totalled $12,500, and a count revealed that more than 3,500 attended including contestants, volunteer arena workers and rodeo officials. The bond sales for the week prior to the rodeo was estimated at above $200,000, Herring said.

From the calf riding event to the thoroughbred quarter-mile horse race the crowd was thrilled with both amateur and professional showmanship. Fred Gray's educated horse, Lady Godiva; Herb Rowe's Roman team race, and Alec Barron, the professional clown, presented many trick and specialty events.

WINNERS AT RODEO

Winners of the various events were: Junior cowboys Calf Roping- Billy Hogue. Cowboy's calf roping- Herb Row, 1st; Ray Kalin, 2nd; and Lloyd Kalin and Simon Hogue, tie for third. Cowboy bronc riding- Pfc. Wolstenhulme, Yuma, 1st; Buddy Brown, 2nd, and Jack Black, 3rd. Team steer roping-Bartola Estrada and Jack Blencie, first; Dan Poore and Johnny Poore, and Charlie Dawson and Eddie Quinn, tied for second and third. Cowboy's steer riding-Jack Black, 1st; Billy Hogue, 2nd; and Buddy Brown, 3rd. Wild horseback riding - Johnny Poore, 1st; Buddy Brown, 2nd; and Jack Black, 3rd. Men's 100-yard foot race-Nolan Harvey, 1st; Billie Hogue, 2nd and Simon Berriochoa, 3rd. Pony Express ride-C. C. Quinn, 1st; R. G. Laughrin, 2nd; and Wilbur Laughrin, 3rd. Thoroughbred horse quarter mile race-Herb Rowe on Maiden Slave, 1st; Lucille Derrick on Miss Sugar, 2nd; and Lester Derrick, 3rd.

Sgt. McKinney, Yuma air base, was kicked and suffered a slight concussion when he fell from a steer in the steer ride event. First aid was given and he was removed to the Marine base hospital.

AMBLING REPORTER

Oleander Bureau-

There aren't enough oleanders in Imperial Valley to give even one little blossom to all the people who deserve them for the part played in making Sunday's war bond rodeo the tremendous success that it was.

So many people did a lot of hard work that must be done before and after performers win the applause of the audience. Among those who did this preliminary and after-it-is-over work were Robert McGuire and Ned Moretti. There were others and we hereby hand McGuire and Moretti bouquets to keep themselves and hand on to their helpers.

Special ones to Alec Barone, the clown, and we hope his boots were returned to him. Someone stole them while he was entertaining the crowd in his clown costume and clown shoes.

And the best variety of oleanders to the large group of Mexicali residents who represented the southern Republic at the rodeo. Col Jose Gutierrez, Mexican consul at Calexico represented Gov. Rodolfo Sanchez Taboada. The colonel's cowboy shirt was the most dazzling yellow ever seen in these parts. Others in the official Mexican party were Mr. and Mrs. Horatio Galindo and daughter, Diana; Mr. and Mrs. Aurelio Acevez, Mr. and Mrs. Carlos Moreno, Vice-Consul Ignacio Pesqueira, Soto Hay, Luis Gutierrez and James Stone.

The Good Neighbor policy all