Letters from Ellice June 8, 1945

Photos were May, 1945 at H.B. and Ellice Morgan's farm in Princeton, West Virginia.

May 13, 1945, Princeton West Virginia, H.B. Morgan with Davis and Harry Morgan

We just found a folder of more letters to Grover from his parents covering June-October 1945. To catch you up, Paul and Grover are in the army, Garner has just graduated from high school, Lowell is still at home. I think Clifford and Mason are in Prenter, West Virginia which is where H.B. Morgan lived during the week. (Double click on the pages below to see them larger, then use the back arrow to return to this page)

This next letter has the same date, but after reading it, I think it should be July 8, 1945 because Ellice talks about "the 4th".

Jim's Cycling Memories

From my brother James Long:

"Jaci's Blog.....got me to looking around this AM....This is what I found of Dad's Cycling Gear. I am sure I have a few other things....just need to look harder. Dad did take me to several CRC Bike Parties...even went cycling at the Penrose Park Velodrome Track on a couple of Saturdays. Then came the big race....fell....game over ...back to Swimming.

Now lets get in the mind of a 10 yr old: Cycling - Hot...hard work...falling hurts vs Swimming- always refreshed...babes...how can you fall and get hurt swimming?"

Click here to see a photo of the Velodrome which is still in use. If you want more information on its history and construction, click here.

I recall going with Dad to a biking event at the Velodrome (built in 1961) which might have been Jim's race. To Dad's disappointment, we all became swimmers not cyclists. But, I have to add that my brother did lose a few teeth diving into pools, too.

LeRoy Long--Cyclist in the News Part Two

This is a photo of LeRoy Long(2nd from the left in 1st row)and his cousin Andy Baum (Mamie Reed's son) who was 2nd from the left in the 2nd row. Andy was actually Vivian Maupin Long's first cousin so was a little older than Dad. He and Dad became interested in cycling independently. Dad became involved after being a bicycle delivery boy and Andy began cycling because it was great cross-training for his real love which was speed skating. (One of the Cycling Programs even includes several ads for ice skates.) Andy's wife was of Olympic caliber in speed skating---I'm not sure if she went to the Olympics or if she was supposed to go during the war when the Olympics were canceled. I'm not even sure of her name although a Virginia Baum was an outstanding cyclist in St. Louis in 1940's.


Although I don't think LeRoy Long was a cyclist in this event, Andy Baum was mentioned in the article below. I do know that my dad participated in this race at some time, but here I think he was back-up and possibly a person to help change tires, repair bikes.
This next article is how to repair a bike track with Dad and his friend (they even cycled in Senior Olympics together) Gene Gotsch demonstrating.Although the article identifies the man beside the striped shirt man as "John Long", it's pretty clear it's my dad LeRoy Long.

This was an article about another race. This one is interesting because the men appear to be wearing helmets.LeRoy Long is the one in the center with the "Long nose"--3rd from left. He, too, appears to be wearing a helmet---I remember this helmet well---it was just padded leather strips. When the Senior Olympics required the cyclists to wear helmets, this is the one Dad tried to wear. He did ultimately get a modern bicycle helmet---I'm not sure if Mom or the Senior Olympics Officials made him get it, though.
It's a shame that cycling in the United States isn't as popular as it once was although Missouri has taken several steps to increase interest. First, there's the Katy Trail which my husband and I cycled (we certainly weren't racing!) in 2000 and Tour of Missouri which is an annual race.

LeRoy Long--Cyclist in the News Part One

I have never heard of a Cyclist's funeral like this: LeRoy Long is at the top of the steps on the left with the dark coat holding his cycle up in honor of Edward W. Grosse who was also a member of the Century Road Club. This was at the Evangelical Lutheran Church, Grand Blvd. and Pestalozzi street.
The photo above was the funeral procession---LeRoy Long (Dad) is in the suit in the right corner.
Although I know this was in Forest Park and it was before September 17, I'm not sure of the year. I believe it might have been in the St. Louis Star newspaper. Here are the phots a little closer---LeRoy Long is in all 3 photos---see if you can find him. Hint: he's the third one in the top photo.
If you can read the article, LeRoy Long is in the lead in this photo.
LeRoy is in 2nd place here, but it was won by Arvell Grosse, a 17-year old high school student. I'm thinking Dad was 17-20 years old.

Cycling---a Family Event

I found this booklet in my Dad's cycling scrapbook. I was pretty impressed that he was in the National Bicycle Championships on September 17, 1937. Then I read the list of participants.
OK, my dad was #6, my aunt Mary was #14, and whoa---my dad's cousin Norman McKay (his mother was Mattie Maupin) was #20. I kept looking at the list.
And, there was Jerry McKay and Andy Baum (his mother Mamie Reed was Annie Reed's sister).
So, I called my Aunt Mary. She just laughed when I said, "So, why were there so many Maupin-Reeds in this National event?" "Well, your dad talked us all into it. Andy Baum was a cyclist because he was really an ice skater and this was how he stayed in shape in the warmer weather."
Another page had several familiar names but Mary wasn't sure if the Ruth Reed was the cousin nor was she sure that C.E. Maupin was cousin Charles Maupin.
Later I found the various races they had---I had to laugh because it's like Mary kept saying, "We weren't really serious cyclists like your dad was." Jerry McCay (McKay) came in 3rd in the Sidewalk Bike 75 yards!
I'm not sure who is any these photos, but it's probably one or two of the McKays and maybe even Aunt Mary. They do NOT look like future Olympians! But, I'm sure they had fun with all of their cousins in the competition. For my aunt's memory of one of the races, click here.