On April 1st 1796, Dayton was founded by the Thompson Party! Happy 227th birthday, Dayton!
Monthly Archives: March 2023
The 100th Birthday of MSgt. Richard Gard
Family and friends of Master Sergeant Richard Gard are asking for help honoring him for his upcoming 100th birthday. They are collecting cards to present to him on his birthday, coming up on April 6th.
Master Sergeant Gard landed on Normandy on D-Day and participated in the breakout from the beachhead through France to Brest. Gard was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action during the Battle of the Bulge. He also earned two Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart, and decorations from Bastogne, Belgium, and France.
After Master Sergeant was recalled to active duty for the Korean War in 1950, he earned a degree in Engineering from UD.
A parade in his honor will be held on April 6, starting on Pearhill Drive in West Carrollton. The parade will feature Centerville VFW Post 9550, West Carrollton Police and Fire departments, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Harold Schnell Elementary, West Carrollton Marching Band, and a flyover from a 1943 PT-19A Cornell warplane by the Butler County Warbirds.
To wish Master Sergeant Gard a happy birthday, please send cards to this address:
MSgt. Richard Gard
c/o 70 Pine Street
Franklin, Ohio 45005.
For more of MSgt Gard’s story, check out this story by Dayton Daily News!
Martin Gottlieb
Although from Dayton, Author Martin Gottlieb had initially only heard of Clement Vallandigham just a few times over many years. It wasn’t until he started paying attention to the name he felt surprised knowing that despite Vallandigham’s story, he wasn’t more well known. During his author talk for the book Lincoln’s Northern Nemesis, the War Opposition and Exile of Ohio’s Clement Vallandigham, it was clear Gottlieb lived and breathed this subject while writing.
His passion for Vallandigham’s life was clear as he spoke. During the question and answer session of his author talk, Gottlieb was asked why he thought Vallandigham wasn’t more well known in today’s world. His initial answer was simple, history is told by the victors. He expanded on this by surmising that perhaps Dayton would have wanted to disassociate itself with a man who:
- Wanted to keep slavery as-is
- Was known for being an adversary to Abraham Lincoln
- Accidentally shot and killed himself while demonstrating how he thinks a man shot and killed himself
Gottlieb retired from the Dayton Daily News in 2011 and has spent the time since researching Vallandigham for his book. Not all the time since 2011 was spent on research and writing however, as Gottlieb said he is good at being retired. Martin has also written a book called Campaigns Don’t Count. How the Media Get American Politics All Wrong. Gottlieb’s books can be bought from Amazon (linked above) or by contacting him directly at mgottlieb@woh.rr.com.
Even More Street and Bridge Honorary Designations
This list is thanks to the book Hidden History by Tony Kroeger, with a small amount of Googling on our part.
- Walter J. Hickman Sr. Avenue (Brooklyn Avenue) – Hickman was a respected neighborhood leader in the Westwood area, where Brooklyn Avenue is located.
- Pastor S. N. Winston Sr. Way (Siebenthaler Road) – Winston was a pastor at Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church for 46 years.
- Lloyd Lewis Jr. Way (Ludlow Street) – Lewis was a city of Dayton Assistant City Manager, City Commissioner, State Representative, an executive at Rike’s, and VP at DP&L.
- Willis “Bing” Davis Way (Diamond Avenue) – Davis is a renowned artist who grew up on Diamond Avenue.
- Peace Bridge (Third Street bridge) – Connects two sides of the Great Miami River
- Sergeant Edward Brooks Way (Elmhurst Drive) – Brooks was killed at age 25 by an IED in Iraq, on August 29, 2007.
- Ted Mills Way (Sears Street) – Mills had a baseball school location on Sears Street.
March 3, 1996
One spring day in 1996, a young girl boarded the school bus after a long day of 5th grade, only to find out that her usual seat was taken. Thankfully, a girl she didn’t know offered to share her seat and the two girls then shared Chiclets and a conversation on the ride home.This bus ride home then blossomed into a best friendship and continued through middle school, high school, tragedy and heartbreak, adulthood, starting a blog together, and now the adventures of motherhood.
We don’t know the exact date we met, but we decided years ago that we will celebrate on March 3rd of every year. Here’s to 27 years of best friendship.
Ogumwiseifyamyo.
Oteb.
Gudji.
Dayton Unknown 