The Key West Citizen

The Tape Measure
By Joe Illsley
The measuring of sports people and their supporters is a great and continuing game. Let's Go!

Many ladies are active in the world of sports. Others exert great influence on males in sports. What's good for big league baseball is good enough for us. It's Ladies' Day!

Key West's only ex-lady baseballer works day and night at the game. Martha Arango, signed by Max Carey on recommendation of Neil Saunders in 1948, became a member of the Fort Wayne, Indiana Daisies. The Club was one of a number making up the girls' league in the Midwest. Spring training was held at Opa-Locka, Fla. Pitcher Martha was managed by former Washington hurler Dick Bass. She remained with the team half a season and then returned to this Southernmost area.

Presently she works at Bayview Park in the City's Recreation Program, training little leaguers and assisting in many other ways. The Lions Club Little League team won the city championship four consecutive years with Martha as the manager. She umpires many of the softball games played at the park. When the lady umpires, the gentlemen act their parts.

Mary Boyeson, wife of an Aviation Chief in Helicopters, hails from Tenn. Dad sits with the kids, 3, 8 and 10, while Mom bowls twice weekly. 11 years married, she's stopped off at Patuxent River, Md., Jacksonville, Fla., and San Diego, Calif., before arrival in Key West. Her average is 127. Teaching Bible School now uses spare time.

Kelly Woodson, a Key West softball enthusiast, is seen at many of the games in the evening. She engaged in all sports when in school. Offspring Mike, 9, is not in baseball yet but has a good arm and coordination. Kelly works at the Navy's Boca Chica.

Couriney Ward, Wave Lieutenant, is the lady paymaster of the Naval Base. A native of Clarksdale, Miss., her growing up was accompanied by many hunting trips. Using a 16 gauge shotgun or a .22 cal. rifle, she chased down squirrels, quail, doves and possum. For her top effort she bagged 10 birds in one day. She graduated from the University of Texas and has 13 years in uniform. Courtney supervised many Waves sports programs and has played golf and bowled. She wishes her golf and bowling scores were reversed.

One of our improving gal tennis players: Marilyn Niles, 17, will be a Junior at High School this year, carries 120 pounds on a length of 5'4 inches and lives at 1418 Newton St. She's determined!

Kay Robinson handles lots of kids in our summer program sponsored by the Monroe County School Board. The lively sports follower also teaches the first grade at the Truman School. Parkersburg, W. Va. is her hometown and top schooling came at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Active at the USO, she was honored by the designation "Girl of Month" in May.

High School football is just around the corner. Our famed Conchettes will play a big part in the doings. They're really something!

Blossom Sturrup, 17, daughter of the Charles Sturrups, and June Weech, 14, daughter of the Fred Weeches, are back after a two week stay at Karnack, Texas. There they were briefed in the latest routines. They'll teach them to the other girls and we'll see them out at the 100-yard field come September.

Dot Rogers is the wife of LT. (jg) Jim Rogers of the Staff of Submarine Squadron Four and is all set to teach the angles of swimming to our Girl Scout Day Campers. Dot, from New Orleans, graduated from Newcombe College and Tulane University. The 100-yard backstroke was her specialty. She doesn't recall her record time, but it was speedy enough to win the Southern AAU crown in 1950. In 1951 she introduced the sport to a friend who was a natural athlete. You guessed it, the friend topped her for the '51 crown. A good gal to have with us in Key West here, she has conducted many volunteer Red Cross Life Saving courses.

The Ralph Faraldos have just moved into their classy new home at 1600 Patricia St. Kay's golf trophies are neatly displayed in a corner of the basement play room. She won the City title in '54, '55 and '56, and she won handicap trophies in '51, '52, '54 and '55. She tees off four times weekly and claims a 12 handicap at present. She's been swinging clubs for seven years. Ladies' par is 80. Kay equaled that figure in a match with a team from the Miami Shores Club. She's really on the beam!

Sketch of an Amateur Stock Car Driver: Marci "Casey" Moore, 22, learned to drive at 16 on tractor in Cedar Key, Florida, later did stunt riding in Rodeo circuit thru Midwest. October of last year brought a track to Key West and interest and then action to Casey. Drove number 77 until three months ago when a flip on a turn brought a thud to her plans. She's been married since February and is a money-taker at Boca Chica's Naval Exchange.

Audree and Alice Westfall spend their compulsory time in California then rush back to Key West for fun. Audree juniors this fall at San Jose State College. Alice teaches at a Speech Therapist Elementary School in Coronado. Sports have figured highly on the programs of both young ladies. They are daughters of Captain and Mrs. Wilbur Westfall.

Deanne DiPremo, 18, had thrown her 61 inches and 118 pounds over the football field as a Majorette during the 1954 season. The retired "Major" of the class of '55 struts no more but bangs out records for the Supply Department at the Air Station.

The mother is Edith Stevenson. Her daughter is Darlene Kerr. Both were born in Iowa. Both bowl for fun in the Key West Keglers Ladies League. Mother averages 114. Darlene hits around 103. They're not 'alley-happy', but happy on the alleys.

We'll have many more - - on another Ladies' Day!