Published: June 21, 2008 08:46 pm            

Looking back: 1958–Pfizer begins production of flu vaccine

Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.



1998

• The “Garfield” comic strip, created by Jim Davis and featured in the Tribune-Star, was celebrating its 20th birthday bash.

• Twelve Points businesses destroyed by fire included Compton Cleaners, Computers by Design and The Casual Shop.

• The Riley Township Lions Club hosted its 28th annual Summer Festival in the new Riley Elementary School, 6050 S. Canal Road.

• Members of the Women’s Professional Billiards Association competed in the Indiana state nine-ball tournament at Millennium 2000 at 4505 S. First St. and managed by Susan Hunt.

• Great Dane truck trailer manufacturing plants in Terre Haute and Brazil received $135,000 from the state for job training. The firm had hired 436 new employees since June 1997, boosting its work force to more than 1,800 workers at the two plants.

• At West Vigo High School, Faith Hatcher was stepping down as volleyball coach, Lou Brackall as girls basketball and softball coach and Bill Paden as wrestling coach. Jim Mann was the athletic director.

• Terre Haute City Engineer Earl Wilkinson accepted the city engineer position at Sandusky, Ohio.

1983

• Tribune-Star publisher Arnold J. McDonald said about $1 million would be spent during the summer to install new computer systems in the offices and new equipment for inserting supplements in the mail room. Ingersoll Publications Co. had bought the Star and the Tribune in March and had combined them into the Tribune-Star in May.

• John N. Phillips of Terre Haute, who risked his own life to save the lives of a mother and child last November, was again honored. This time he received the Seaboard System Railroad’s highest award — the Presidents Medal of Honor.

• For the second time, Bob Warn, baseball coach of the Missouri Valley Conference champion Indiana State University Sycamores, was elected MVC Coach of the Year.

• Terre Haute North Vigo High School’s baseball team defeated Muncie North 7-2 to advance to the championship game in the state finals at Indianapolis. They lost 4-2 to Fort Wayne Northrop, but returned to their school with the State Final Runner-up trophy amid the cheers of their many fans. Don Jennings was the coach.

1958

• Pfizer & Co. announced the start of commercial production of flu vaccine at the company’s new Biological Center at its Vigo Plant.

• The students of Bill Balduzzi Studios presented their annual Spring Recital at the Indiana State Teachers College Student Union Auditorium. The show combined the piano and voice students in a costumed revue and included dancers from the Ernestine Myers and Nancy Sauer schools of dance.

• Factory employees of Columbia Records Inc. and Columbia LP Record Club received an 11 cents-per-hour across the board raise.

• George Kaperak and Warren Artz won the annual Nichols four-ball golf tourney at Rea Park.

• Mrs. O.C. Johnson was director of Camp Na-Wa-Kwa, the established camp of the Sycamore Girl Scout Council near Poland, Ind., offering opportunities for 130 campers. Mrs. George Bankoff of Terre Haute was named executive director of the council as of July 1.

• Smith’s Department Store, at 401-407 Wabash Ave., for more than 40 years, was sold to an Ohio chain operating out of Cincinnati.

        

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