Wausau High School - Wahiscan Yearbook (Wausau, WI)

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E wAHlscAN A ' I952 -.-1-i' Wausau's Contribution to Afviation JOHN SCHWISTER Perhaps Wausau's outstanding pioneer aviator was John Schwister, who designed and built his own plane, using a Kirkham six cylinder motor. It is especially interesting to know that he built the first success- ful airplane in the state of Wisconsin. His early Hights were made in Wausau, and he was an intimate friend of Captain Baldwin of St. Louis, famous balloonist, who also conducted experiments with flying machines when aviation was in its infancy. After many successful iiights, Mr. Schwister had the ill fortune to be injured in a crash, and died after spending nine months in a Fort Snelling hospital. He was born in Marathon County February 22, 1885, and received his education in the public schools of this city. Surely his name is written on the state's aviation roll of honor! ALEXANDER AIRPORT Wausau is especially fortunate in having a splendid airport, with Lake Wausau and Rib Mountain lending a picturesque background. This fine airport was a gift of Ben and Judd S. Alexander. To Major John P. Wood, whom Wausau claims as her own, must go the credit for the impetus in advancement of aviation and the tremendous strides that followed the completion of the airport. A magni- ficent airdrome to accommodate many planes was constructed, beacon lights were installed to guide fiiers, and a complement of trained attendants employed. Major Wood's interest in aviation created enthusiasm among business and professional men, resulting in the organization of the Northern Airways, Incorporated. Major Wood won places in many important competitions throughout the country, and had made for himself an enviable position in the aviation world. Unfortunately, at the start of a non-stop flight from Los Angeles to Cleveland, he encountered a severe electrical storm, and was killed when his plane crashed to the ground in desert country. Interested citizens proposed a large and powerful beacon light to be constructed on Rib Mountain in his memory, but plans have been postponed for the present. Alexander Airport has been on the itinerary of the National Air Tour several times. The large view in the scenic section shows some of the planes here in the tour of 1929. THE TAKEOFF-i????-THE LANDING Wausau takes pardonable pride in its own pioneers of aviation and trail blazersf' The following have been students of city schools, and have soloed or are actively engaged in commercial fiying: WALLACE BABCOCK CLIFFORD LUDWIG JOHN CAWLEY RUSSELL MCNOWN DUGALD CHARTIER ROGER PRAHL HENRY EMPEY L1EU'r. SAMUEL REDETZKE IRVIN HALL LLOYD REvrE BEN HEINEMAN WILBUR Scnocnow MARK HUBBARD, SR. CHARLES SMITH MARK HUBBARD, JR. FowLER P. STONE, JR. LEROY HUNGER CLARENCE TOBUREN HAROLD JoRNsoN ARCHIE TOWLE CARL KASTNER GEORGE TURNER Page jiftun

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i.i -E WA:-nscAN waz .---. '. Prophecy Fulfilled For I dipped into the future, far as human eye could see, Saw the vision of the world, and all the wonder that would be,- Saw the heavens jill with commerce, argosies of magic sails, Pilots of the purple twilight, dropping down with costly bales: Heard the heavens fill with shouting, and there rained a ghastly dew From the nations' airy navies grappling in the central blue. -TENNYsoN. HEN Tennyson penned these prophetic words, he predicted more truly than per- haps he ever dreamed he had. For the heavens today are 'filled with commerce, and continents and peoples have been brought closer together, both in time and in understanding, by the acts of intrepid flying men. These daring aviators, who pilot the magic argosies, we wish to honor in this 1932 edition of the Wahiscan. To this end, the aeronautics theme has been carried out throughout the book. The cover, the large aerial views, the art work, and the special features opposite the several division pages all develop this theme. The members of the staff are especially proud of the messages written expressly for the students of Wausau High School by famous aviators. We feel certain that the students will prize these facsimiles highly, coming as they do from such outstanding World figures as Dr. Hugo Eckener, Amelia Earhart, Clyde Pangborn and Hugh Herndon, Jr., and the Assistant Secretaries of the Navy in charge of Aeronautics, Mr. Jahncke and Mr. Ingalls. P To all birdmen everywhere the Wahiscan sincerely wishes a Happy Landing! Papjourtun

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11 wi oz?-Wa' 15cHWF3t2.u- ke. Ulf GQQSHAFEN 7 Dr' Dr' ing' B' h' Hugo Eckener Friedrichshzden a. B.. den 12- Jlnulr 1932 Lufischiffbau Zeppelin G rn, b H Editor 1962 Wah-lsoan Wausau High School Wausau, Wisconsin U. S, A. , n AW I glaze-! ,,,LA,4b0,,,4,J,f.,..ff,fI2,,.,.. 32, , Miupccz Editox-'s note- Following is the German letter received from the secretary to Dr. Hugo Eckener, expressing the hope that the message is as wished for. Anbei ubersenden wir Ihnen die gewunschte Adresse, die, wie Herr Dr. Eckener hofft, Ihren Wunschen entspricht. Mit vorzuglicher Hochachtung i.A. L, Page sixteen -if