60 years ago. June 19, 1961Ex-Cityan Injured in Lift PlungeA former Tonkawa man, Robert L. Thompson, 31, son of Mr. and Mrs. Guy Thompson, 201 N. Main, was seriously injured Thursday when an elevator plunged more than 50 feet to the ground.The operator of the elevator, Wallace E. Walker, 51, died enroute to the hospital after the accident, and Charles K. Cox, 23, died Friday from injuries received in the accident.Thompson, Cox and Jesse E. Upp, 42, engineers with Champlin Oil company, were on an inspection tour of a catalytic cracking unit and were being taken to the top of the tower on an elevator by Walker, operator in charge of the “cat cracker” during that shift.Thompson’s injuries included a compound fracture of the right ankle, fractures of the right heel, pelvis, and serum, cracked ribs, sprained left leg, a deep laceration of the left eye and severe shock.The steel and wire mesh elevator ascends outside the cracking unit on an I-beam track. The cable apparently broke when the elevator reached the third landing.The lift was equipped with two automatic safety devices. An emergency brake was thrown but it failed to hold the plunging elevator.Thompson’s wife is the former Pat Ditmore, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Al Ditmore of Tonkawa. They have two children, Valerie 8, Steven, 4.Tonkawa Teacher Is One of 56 in Special InstituteMiss Linabel Lucas of Tonkawa is one of 56 participants in an eight-week Summer institute for junior and senior high school mathematics teachers which began at Oklahoma State university June 12.The institute, supported by a $67,400 grant from the National Science foundation, is the fifth offered by OSU under NSF sponsorship.Primary purpose of the institute is to familiarize the teachers with modern mathematics courses designed for secondary school students by the nationally-known School Mathematics Study group.The program also includes seminars, special lectures and study groups which deal with teaching problems and adaptation of materials from new math textbooks to local school situations.The teachers, selected on the basis of academic background, success in teaching mathematics, age experience and leadership potential, receive $75 per week plus dependency and travel allowances.Clarence Mills Is Assigned to Post Over Army BandsMajor Clarence Mills, former Tonkawan, has been transferred to Heidelberg, Germany where he will assume immediate command of all US army bands in continental Europe.His last post was in Ft. Monroe, Va., where he was a member of the US ...
