The Way We Were

In the Sentinel 75, 50 and 25 years ago.

May 30, 1941: Effort will be made to have work

start of Wrangell's airport this year, Gov. Ernest Gruening told a special committee from the Wrangell

Chamber of Commerce, who called on the governor last Saturday in Juneau, flying up with pilot Tony

Schwamm. The airport is on the CAA approved list of fields on which work has been designated to start next

year, the Governor said. However, in view of the urgency in defense matter, it is possible that the project may be

moved up, the Chief Executive said, and his efforts will be directed to that end, he assured the committee. The Governor, just returned to Alaska after a trip to Washington, said progress was being made on the International Highway and it was not unlikely that work would start on it this year or next.

May 30, 1966: Robert Urata, a junior at Wrangell

High School, has been awarded the University of

Alaska-sponsored Wrangell Sportsman of the Year trophy. U of A Athletic director Ben H. Brooks presented the

trophy to Urata at the first annual Wrangell High School Letterman's Association awards banquet. Brooks was the featured speaker at the event. Varsity letters were

awarded to 13 boys: Freshmen - Pay Lyman, Jeff Jabusch, Bob Hillyer and Gilbert Urata. Sophomores - Paul Fisher, Roy Ivy, Bob Lusby, Bruce Walker and Dwayne Davies (manager). Juniors - Levi Dow, Bill Stokes and Robert Urata. Seniors - Davis Rilatos and Willard Pavao. Rilatos earlier received the National Bank of Alaska award as the most inspirational basketball player.

May 30, 1991: Much to her surprise, Carla Smith

hung on to win the Wrangell Chamber of Commerce's 39th annual Wrangell King Salmon Derby with her

51.2-pound king, caught at the Elephant's Nose May 15. Smith was skeptical about the fish from the start,

fishing for two more hours after catching it before coming to town to weigh it in. The fish was automatically

worth a $500 bonus, being the first fish over

50 pounds entered in the derby. Smith was happy with that and didn't think that she would stay at the top of the derby ladder for 12 more days and take home the $5,000 first prize, which she has done. The only other fish to cross the

50-pound mark was Leonard Angerman's 50.3-pound salmon, caught at the Nose May 24. That fish earned Angerman the $3,000 second place prize. Rod Floyd's 49.8 pound salmon, caught at Point Nemo won him the $2,000 third-place cash prize.