BOOMERJuly 2015www.boomermagonline.com

21st CENTURY HEALTH CARE IS HERERob McLin presides over largest-ever GSH reorganization

STILL FLYINGKen Sniders storied life

SIT, SIP, STAY

10 pet-friendly local wineries

SOMEONE YOU SHOULD KNOWMaria Marcroft, CASA volunteer

ARTIST, CARPENTER,

COUNTRY BOYDick Donovans public and

private works

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4 July 2015 Boomer

Earlier this spring when my sister was doing some cleaning out, she found a one-paragraph essay written by me late my second grade year at Plainville Elementary. Showing off my newly-learned cursive, I had written that I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up, or perhaps a clerk, it said. It was quite the job for a 6-year-old, which is what I would have been

at the time in 1973. And, we had a good chuckle reading it aloud to my own children, who could relate since their grade school teachers make them do similar assignments.

That seems like a lifetime ago, but I remember a lot about second grade. Im sure many of my classmates wrote about wanting to be a teacher that year as well. Young students often idolize their elementary teachers, and the beautiful and talented Mrs. Boyd in Plainvilles second grade was no different.

But as time went on, my teaching dream must have ended when writing is what I came to love even more. My high school teachers and counselors encouraged me to pursue interests in college that would allow me to write and edit. Did they have a premonition? Because so it was, 30 years later, I am still doing what I love.

Though after my first day on the job back in 1985, my editor surely questioned my abilities. He had sent me to the White River to cover what authorities believed to be a double drowning, and I failed to return until just before deadline. First thing that morning, he had showed me how to self-roll Kodak black and white film. Then he handed me the newspapers Pentax K1000, gave me directions to the old twin bridges between Washington and Vincennes, told me to snap lots of pictures and ask questions.

But after I arrived at the scene, I was simply hypnotized. The sheriffs dive team tried and tried again to find the victims car in the muddy river. The final scene of a young dark-complexioned girl with her arms wrapped around her mothers neck was something I still remember vividly.

Somehow we managed to get a story written by deadline between the two of us, but I think my editor ended up calling the sheriff himself after I finally got back in the newsroom with scant information. I was 19, and immature, and I had a lot to learn. But the teaching began, and four years later when he moved away, he recommended to his superiors that I should take over his spot. Thankfully, he had extended grace and patience to me early on, or I might not have made it this long.

When I think of all my friends who complain about their jobs, or lack thereof, I have no reason to complain. I am blessed beyond measure to be able to do what I do every day, in my home community. They call it going to work, and it can be tiring and nerve-wracking at times, but its hardly work. My husband works. He gets dirty and sweats in a hot factory, on his feet, 8 to 10 hours a day.

Would I quit if I hit the lottery? Probably. But for now, Im just one of the lucky ones.

ED

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PUBLISHER Ron Smith

(812) 698-8788

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Melody Brunson(812) 698-1626

DESIGN EDITORNatalie Reidford(812) 568-8991

ADVERTISING SALES

Kim Schoelkopf(812) 881-9286

Graphic Artist Alice Schwartz

PHOTOGRAPHYMatt Griffith, Joy Neighbors,

Kelly Overton and Bernie Schmitt

WRITERSBrad Dillon, Madison Frederick, Todd Lancaster, Angie Mayfield,

Angie Moore, Joy Neighbors, Lindsay Owens, Bernie Schmitt, Rama Sobhani and Kaila Stevens

SUBSCRIPTIONSBoomer is published seven

times a year, serving the Knox County area. The subscription

price of $25 per year can be mailed to P.O. Box 471,

Washington, IN 47501.

BOOMER

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6 July 2015 Boomer

4 Editors DeskOne of the lucky onesBy Melody Brunson8 An Adventurous Life is Still Taking OffKen Snider, man of many trades and many storiesBy lindsay owens

12 Someone You Should KnowMaria Marcroft, CASA volunteerBy raMa soBhani16 The Sonic BoomerSaturday in my basement (I think it was the 4th of July)By Todd lancasTer18 Boomer HumorBirthdays, boomer-styleBy Madison Frederick20 Indiana Fit and 50-Plus Senior Regional GamesGenerations Area 13 Agency on Aging and Disability offers competition in Knox CountyBy lindsay owens22 The Boomer ConnoisseurTen pet-friendly regional wineriesBy Joy neighBors24 Gibault Memorial: 21st Century Health Care is HereRob McLin presides over largest-ever GSH expansion and reorganizationBy Bernie schMiTT

28 The Converted CynicBack in the day no wayBy angie MayField30 CalendarFresh-Air Flicks, Black Creek Festival31 The Boomer 1040What do you fear?By angie Moore32 Dick DonovanCountry, carpenter, talented artistBy Bernie schMiTT36 Boomer Toys, Trappings and TriviaMen in pantyhoseBy Todd lancasTer37 Yeah, Im a Boomer, But ...Lloyd ThorenBy Bernie schMiTT38 Day TripperPatoka Lake brings fun to three countiesBy Joy neighBors41 Financial WisdomHelping younger generation brings challengesBy Brad dillon42 Homebase Skate SupplyInspired by his mother, young businessman opens new shopBy Bernie schMiTT

46 Boomer FitnessThe picky eaterBy kaila sTevens

on The cover: Rob McLin, President and CEO of Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes, has been at the center of the hospitals largest-ever building project, taking GSH into the 21st Century with a world-class medical center.

Photo by Bernie Schmitt

CONTENTS July 2015 Vol. 7, Issue 6

Photo by Joy Neighbors

Page 22

Page 24

Photo by Bernie Schmitt

Page 12

Photo by Matt Griffith

p6ContentsJul15.indd 1 6/24/15 7:04 PM

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8 July 2015 Boomer

STILL TAKING OFFAn Adventurous Life is

By Lindsay Owens

Walk into Ken Sniders office on South Second Street and youll be in for a real treat. Snider, who will be celebrating 50 years in the auction business in August, has sold off everything from automobiles and livestock to amusement park rides and kitchen equipment to the highest bidder.

But the sound that sells can tell about far more than just life as an auctioneer licensed to sell in multiple states. Snider is far more than just an auctioneer. Hes an appraiser, pilot, air craft mechanic and manufacturer and

a farm manager. And thats just the list of his current responsibilities. Hes also served as an Indiana State Representative (1982-1984), (1972-1978), State Senator (1978-1982), and was a Democratic candidate for Congress in 1980. Snider has also served in the U.S. Army and has won both amateur and professional boxing matches. He also served on the Vincennes University Board of Trustees.

The beginning It all started when Snider, whos

almost 70, was about 12 or 13 years old. Dad took me to a machinery auc-

tion, said Snider as he set in his office

filled with mementos. D.D. Meyer was conducting that auction. I became fasci-nated with auctions after that and started going more and more.

That fascination led Snider to the Missouri Auction School in Kansas City where he graduated on Aug. 15, 1965.

I was looking through some things and I found my book from auction school, said Snider as he thumbed through the aged book. It says here it was $10 a year for us to get our auction-eers license. Its now $300 a year.

When Snider came back from Mis-souri, he was hired as a clerk for Meyer, the man whod inspired him to become an auctioneer. He was also attending Vincennes University, where he earned a degree in agriculture before transferring to Purdue to pursue a bachelors degree

Ken Snider shares a story in his office. The longtime auctioneer will celebrate 50 years in the auction business in August.Photos by Kelly Overton

Ken Snider is a man of many trades with stories to accompany them

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Boomer July 2015 9

in agriculture economics. Two weeks before graduation, I got

my draft notice, said Snider. I spent two years in the service then worked with Amos Wittmer who was selling livestock in Vincennes.

Snider said back then, some 45 or so years ago, there werent nearly as many auctioneers as there are now and Witt-mer was willing to give Snider a shot.

At that time, every farmer in the county had livestock. By the third week I was there, Amos told me hed let me try my hand at selling on my own. Livestock and auto sales are bang, bang, bang, sold. You have to move them in and out in a hurry. Ive been selling ever since.

While the livestock sales may have been Sniders start in the business, it didnt take long before the people he was selling livestock for, were calling him to sell other things. By the early 1970s, Snider was making a name for himself in the auction business, but he decided to venture into something a little different too politics.

At age 26, Snider was elected to the Indiana House of Representatives where he served for six years. After his term ended, he earned a State Senate seat and was a Democratic Congressional

candidate. When I ran for Congress in 1980,

President Jimmy Carter invited me to ride with him on Air Force One. He called personally and asked me to ride

back to Evansville with him. The only free seat in the conference room was right next to him.

Snider said President Carter held him back before the plane landed

One of the many photos of Ken Snider that adorn the walls of his office.

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10 July 2015 Boomer

and explained the typical protocol to him. Senator Wendell Ford was the senior Senator, and he should have got-ten off the plane after the president, but because we landed in my district, I got to get off next.

While Snider didnt win the con-gressional seat, he said the trip was quite memorable. But after serving another term as a state representative, he was finished with his political career.

By the time I was 34, I was over politics, he said.

Love for boxingWhile Snider became a bit burned

out on politics, two things hes never stopped loving are boxing and flying.

An amateur boxer from 1963 to 1974, Snider earned Indiana Golden Gloves titles in 1968, 1970, and 1971. He was also the runner-up in the All Army Championship in 1969 and run-ner-up in the 1970 AAU nationals.

Boxing was in Sniders blood. My dad was a boxer in the service.

Gene Autry was his trainer, said Snider, adding on a whim, he and his brother Dave one day decided they wanted to fight at a Golden Gloves event in Indi-anapolis. Dad was a little worried, but he taught us a few more things and we went up there. Dave lost, but I had won

Ken Snider shows off the voting ma-chine, top, that was used during one of the elections in which he was run-ning for office. Sniders parents were longtime township trustees. A family member had found the machine and returned it to Snider. Bottom, Snider talks about his boxing career.

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Boomer July 2015 11

in a knock-out and had to go back. It got down to three guys left.

Snider ended up winning the event. Snider said he and Norman Goins

often squared off. Norman and I always had to fight for the state title. At a fight in Indy, television crews were there to film it and they ended up taking both of us to the nationals. People always thought it was weird when theyd see us out eating together. We were good friends. Just not friends in the ring.

In his 11-year amateur career, Snider fought in more than 100 fights.

In 1983, Snider became a profes-sional boxer. He fought for the Indiana Professional Junior Welterweight title as the semi-main event of the World Boxing Association World Championship light heavyweight fight between Marvin John-son and Leslie Stewart. Snider fought Harold Brazier.

Out of 14 pro fights, I lost one to Harold Brazier, said Snider. I had 12 wins, one loss and one draw.

Snider fought his final match when he was 59.

A licensed pilot since 1970, Snider doesnt just fly airplanes and helicopters; he also manufactures Snider Speed Kits for all Cessna 180 and 185 aircraft. His

son and grandchildren have also inherit-ed the aviation bug.

Sniders passion for flying led to one of his biggest fights a few years ago when the helicopter he was flying crashed near his home. Suffering a broken back, Snid-

ers family was told he may never walk again.

The doctors told everybody I probably wouldnt make it, he said. But I tricked them all. Im still here and I still fly.

Flying is just one of Ken Sniders passions.

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12 July 2015 Boomer

have to pass that on, if theyre going to hurt someone or hurt themselves. I want them to know Im their confidant and that I can help them with whatever.

On gaining the childrens trust First, its the age, if theyre very young,

its different because of communication. Theres an age group of kids, Id say between 3rd and 7th grade that they want to talk. They want to express their feelings and ask questions. Then you get to the teenagers and

theyre a little more difficult. Ive had chil-dren of my own, so I know what thats like. You have to deal with the way the child is. Theres some kids that tell you while theyre coloring or drawing. Others will out and out tell you; mom did this, dad did this. You deal with each individual child as you figure out what their mode of communication is.

In my last case I had two teenagers in the group and the younger one was a female. She just wanted to be heard, to be included. Once I realized that we talked

By Rama Sobhani

Maria Marcroft, 63, a substitute teacher at a local elementary school, is a Vincennes native who volunteers her time with the CASA program to help the children of troubled families who are dealing with difficult legal troubles stemming from incidences of abuse, neglect or drug and alcohol abuse.

CASA was started in 1977 by a judge in the state of Washington, named David Soukup, as a way to better understand the situations of children involved in cases of abuse and neglect in his court. The role of the CASA volun-teer is to be an advocate for the children affected by these cases and to present to the presiding judge an otherwise unseen perspective on their lives. CASA volunteers also keep track of the well-being of these children and whether any progress is being made in the home as the case works through the legal system. Marcroft has been a CASA volunteer for three years and has worked several such cases.Her story

When the case goes to court, the judge assigns a CASA to the case. I, as a CASA, follow the case, mostly the child, make sure the child has what he or she needs during this time in the court system. I make sure I visit her or him and make sure they are getting the little things that most people wouldnt think of, like if they have a special blanket, or something, that they wouldnt (otherwise) get from their house. If they want to talk about something they dont feel comfortable talking about with the parent, I want them to feel they can tell me anything. If its something harmful, they know I

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Special Advocates program

Volunteer Marie Marcroft at her desk at the CASA office in Vincennes.Photos by Matt Griffith

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Boomer July 2015 13

a lot about how school was going, home life was going, what she was wanting out of this, how did she feel about her parents, about what was going on.

The older child, he was almost 18 and he would talk to me, but he wouldnt open up. I could tell a lot of things he would say and how he would answer things would tell me a lot about how he was thinking. Like, he wasnt driving yet so one time I got to talking to him about cars. I said, youll be driving soon, he said, Yeah, Im working on that, and I asked him what kind of car hell be driving and he said, Well, I dont know, but Id like such and such car.

I quickly found out he was not inter-ested in school, which is OK, not everyone is. So I kind of got into it with him on that and I asked him what he would do when he got out of school and he said, Well, Id like to work on cars. You find out what theyre interested in and you use that to your benefit and their benefit. And I dont care how old or how young, people want to be listened to. They want to feel theyre important and thats what I try to do.

On why she chose to volunteer with CASA

As a child, I felt lonely. I was a middle child of five kids and I had an aunt that I

felt so comfortable with, she always made me feel like I was the most important per-son and I want other kids to feel that theres someone in their life they can feel that way about. I learned about CASA from the radio and I love kids, thats why I teach, but

I wanted to do something. I put it off and put it off and put it off, then I heard (CASA director, Dena Held) on the radio and I finally came in.

I feel as a CASA its important to have as good a rapport with the parents

A sign bearing the CASA logo.

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14 July 2015 Boomer

as possible. If its not possible, then you do what you can do. They are the ones that know the child the best and thats a lot of how I get my information about the child. And we want to reunify, thats the main thing. Lets figure out what the problem is, lets fix the problem and everyone can go along on their happy way.

If its abuse and neglect, children have to contend with a parent that either is not

doing what they need to do for the child or abusing them. Abuse can be psychological, physical, different things, so my first case it was more of that. There were some alcohol problems in the situation, but once the parents worked on getting that fixed, things started to calm down and roll better. A lot of it is lack of knowledge on the parents part. They were raised that way and they think its OK and find out later because

Dena Held, left, director of CASA and Maria Marcroft, pose with two card-board cutouts of children promoting CASA.

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Boomer July 2015 15

someones turned them in for neglect. They dont know any better. Thats been the case in cases Ive had. Some of its the meth problem, we have a horrible meth problem in this area. The kids get taken out of the home for sure in that situation. Thats a whole different set of problems you have to deal with and a different way the children deal with that, too.

I dont know, very few of the stories Ive ever heard the children dont want to go back to their parent. Theyre never going to have another mother and father. Every parents different, just like every childs different. If you cant get that parent to see what theyre doing is wrong, theyre not going to change.

Just like a bad habit, if that person wont admit to that bad habit, nothings go-ing to change. Some parents are wonderful, they want every help that they can get and they do great changing and theres other parents that just dont see theres a problem.

In the cases Ive been in, I feel that the parents have wanted an understanding CASA, not a judgmental CASA and they do want someone who will look out for the best interests of their child, which goes back to not being judgmental. You deal with personalities and you also deal with what someones been raised and think theyre

doing right and youre coming in with (Department of Child Services) and the at-torneys and telling them what theyre doing is wrong and they dont want to hear that.

I look at it as if the judge will say, if you cant make changes, we cant reunify. My focus is to reunify if possible. Im a pretty strong-willed person and sometimes people dont like that.

On parents with alcohol and drug problems

I always think the sober parent is the real parent, the drunk is someone whos trying to hide, or is scared or lost. Thats a lot of why people drink to excess. Which is no different than someone who smokes to excess or eats chocolate to excess. All of those things to me are issues of abuse, youre abusing your body. Thats just a call for help, they just dont know how to ask for it. My dad smoked for years and years and years and then he quit. Then some-thing horrible happened at work, a strike, and he went back to smoking more than he ever did. It was a crutch. Same thing with drugs. From what Ive read, meth is worse.

On the most difficult part of being a CASA volunteer

Realizing that theres nothing you can do, thats the most difficult. Youve tried

everything you can do, given them every chance and all the services that can be pro-vided and they just cannot do it. Then you have to admit to yourself that this may not turn out as a reunification. When it comes time for the judge to make that decision on whats going to happen, you just have to say to yourself thats what its going to be. I dont think I would get to that point (of giv-ing up) because people can always change and you never know whats going to happen to that parent to wake them up or that they will see it from a different perspective.

I think if we can stop the circle, stop this abuse, neglect, where the child becomes an abuser, neglecter. I know were working really hard in Knox County to get the meth labs taken care of. The main thing is to stop the children from doing what their parents and grandparents did.

I dont think there is a key, I think it de-pends on the child. Well get some of them and get them to see it differently, some of them will not. I dont know if well ever get away from it all, but if we continue where were going well do a lot of good for a lot of kids.

For more information on the CASA program, visit www.childadvocatesnetwork.org.

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16 July 2015 Boomer

By Todd Lancaster

Back in the early 1970s, the band Chicago had a song calledSaturday in the Park (I think it was the Fourth of July). For years the lyrics of that song echoed around the

inside of my skull, creat-ing an unrealistic image of what a summer weekend

was supposed to be.It was filled with pa-

rades, bands and ice cream. As I got a little older, it was the Beach BoysGood Vi-brationsproviding Sunkist with an anthem that made me think all I really needed was an orange soda and I, too, would spend my time sidewalk surfing around Venice Beach with other hip teens.Somewhere in my early 20s, the fine folks at California Coolers (a mid-80s winemaker) led me to believe that it was only my lack of the proper fizzy wine beverage that was excluding me from the fun-loving, buxom bikini-wearing blondes who spent the entire summer playing volleyball, chopping up fresh fruit, and just waiting for me to show up in a pair of Ray-Bans, Jams and with a California Cooler.

In later years, it was the people at Michelob Ultra who tried to pass summer off as a time when fit, successful couples mountain bike to a sheer cliff that they scramble up or down, ac-cording to where the cooler filled with icy cold carb-free, calorie-free, taste-free Mich-elob Ultra was located.

Recently I began to re-

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Ralize that there will never be a bikini-clad wine cooler in my future. My oldest son will be 20, and his siblings are well into their teens, so the only real pleasure I will get is watching their hopes and dreams for a carefree, beach-bound summer crushed like an old can of Sunkist soda.

The oldest one is mowing for the city right now. He spends all day mowing and weed-whacking. When he comes home, he has a second job at a golf course and Im pretty sure there are no bikinis there either.

The younger two are still playing high school sports, so their summer is filled with open-field, open-gym, weight-lifting and conditioning. On the week-ends, there are tournaments. If you have never spent 11 hours in Bloomfield on a 97-degree day, knowing that you cant leave because your loser-bracket games are at 11:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., and it is too far to go anywhere in between, you have never truly experienced a summer Sunday.And if you are lucky enough to have an indoor sport like volleyball or basketball, then one is familiar with non-air conditioned gyms, bad nachos and warm diet Coke, all while watching kids whose jerseys dont have numbers on them so you have no idea who they are.

Ahh, but there is respite on the horizon. It is called Dead Week and it is the one time of year schools cannot schedule any activities. (But dont worry, AAU and club teams still can). Luckily, it

is the week of July 4, so if you choose to go anywhere, you will pay top dollar.

So you load your family up with the proper number of phone chargers and headphones, drive 12 hours to a condo that was half as much two weeks earlier and fight over whether you will be eating at Applebees, Chilis or TGIFridays (the same three choices at the mall last week-end when you were killing time between tournament games).

There are usually grand plans for sightseeing, fine dining or romantic walks on the beach by moonlight. Un-fortunately, those plans were canceled when you had to put a new water heater in just before you left and any thought of walking at night ended when you realized that Finding Bigfoot is on at the beach too.

So is there any image Madison Avenue still has available that can make a man in his 50s long for summer again?

Yes, it is a commercial for Corona Beer. Its simply a chair, a beach and a bucket of beer no kids, no music, no bikinis and not a basketball tournament in sight for at least a thousand miles.

If I close my eyes I can even see it from my basement.

Todd Lancaster is a sports writer and expert on anything not considered necessary to be a real expert. He can be reached at wthlancaster@gmail.com

Saturday in my basement (I think it was the 4th of July)

p16SonicBoomerJul15.indd 1 6/23/15 7:46 PM

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18 July 2015 Boomer

And there is our eyesight ... it is not what it used to be. But we dont have to worry about plucking or tweezing as much when we are with our friends because they cant see those pesky whiskers. (If, however, you are planning to be with younger folks, a tweezing session is probably in order.) And those arthritic joints are really just a good way to take life a bit slower and enjoy the moments with youngsters (grandchildren or not) that we missed when we were parenting.

Another plan of Mother Nature seems to be the rounding out of our angles. We become softer even if we are on an intense exercise plan. And soft is good at this age. We are much more comfortable for our grandkids to snuggle into. For that matter, even our shrinking height can be a blessing if it gets us closer to our loved ones.

Okay, before you picture me with a walker, lets talk about drivers license pictures. Most people I know, whatever their age, do not like their pictures. And the really shocking thought is that that picture is the youngest you will ever be again! I am so glad that the schedule for drivers license renewal has been extended. That is just too much trauma to go through every four years.

And speaking of pictures, I am shocked at the pictures of my classmates who regular-ly contact me on Facebook. Honestly, how did they get to be so old? I hardly recognize them. Often I check their information just to be sure they are the same people I knew in high school.

Facebook is indeed boomer-friendly. It offers a quick way to renew former rela-tionships. But I have also learned a protocol when dealing with old friends. If they do not

post pictures of themselves, they have gained a lot of weight or lost their hair or worse! If they post pictures of themselves, they have greatly improved since high school and want the world to see the new, attractive them.

So dont comment about the lack of pictures on any past acquaintances Facebook (or faceless) page. Many of our peer group prefer living through the successes of their children. Facebook is the modern replace-ment for Grandmas Brag Book.

One embarrassing case was when a for-mer classmate commented on the picture of a mutual friend who had been Homecoming Queen and a cheerleader at our high school. The comment was: Gosh, it is good to reconnect with you. How are you? You look great. You havent changed a bit!

To which the reply came: I am well, thank you. That is a picture of my daughter, Lilly. I am so proud of her!

So in truth, we remember folks the way we knew them, not the way they currently appear. Another gift from Mother Nature ... our selective memories. Thankfully when my husband looks at me, he still sees the person he fell in love with (at least that is what he says!). Research has shown that you carry the image of the person you fell in love with long after that look has changed. Yes, love is in the eye of the beholder.

So when I look in the mirror and think, Who is that old woman? I need to remem-ber this: Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many.

May you have many birthday celebra-tions ahead of you!A writer from North Carolina who started her career at the lifestyle magazine Bangle, Madison Frederick uses a pen name because she likes write about personal amusing stories from her girlfriends. She is a semi-re-tired, happily married mother of grown children.

By Madison Frederick

I have a confession to make. I love this time of year because it is birthday time for me. I know, I know, Im not sup-

posed to love my birthdays anymore as an aging boomer, but I do. Although they sure are coming

around awfully fast now. Some-times I feel like my friends and I have just finished celebrating one when it is time to plan another. Because boomers are notoriously busy, we dont always get our birthdays properly celebrated on the day, in the week, or some-times even the month in which it occurs. But we ALWAYS do get the day celebrated sooner or later.

I refuse to be depressed about aging because with age, I have realized the wisdom of Mother Nature. She is on our side, friends. Okay, I know that we still get wrinkles, etc., but really it is all in the grand scheme of things.

As we age, we begin to lose some of our hearing and that is okay when we have heard the same stories and jokes that our loved ones tell over and over again.

BO

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Some say when you reach 50, youre over the hill, but Generations Area 13 Agency on Aging and Dis-ability sees being 50 and over as a new beginning. Its a chance to make lifestyle changes and a chance to experience new things. In August, being at least 50 will mean a chance to compete in the Indiana Fit and 50-plus Senior Regional Games.

This will be an annual event for us, said Alma Kramer, Generations program coordinator for healthy aging. This is the first year for the games to be offered in Southern Indiana.

Kramer said participants from a more than a 200-miles radius are expect-ed to register to compete in the games and the Generations staff hopes to garner over 500 participants.

This will be Generations biggest fundraiser, said Cathy Jones, director of planning and quality assurance. And

the games are open to residents of any county or neighboring state.

Pickleball, a fast rising favorite of older adults, as well as 3-on-3 basketball, tennis (doubles and singles), track and field, cycling, horseshoes, shuffleboard, golf, swimming, archery, bowling and the Trailblazer 5K will take place Aug. 4 through Aug. 15.

Age groups will be divided into four-year age increments beginning with the 50-54 age group.

The entry fee of $25 covers partic-ipation in one sport or all the sports, said Kramer, adding that there is also a site fee for bowling and golf participants. The top three participants in each event in every age group will qualify for the state competition in Evansville.

A national competition will take place in Birmingham, Alabama, in 2017 for those who qualify.

While many of the events are on the Vincennes University campus, select

events will be held at other locations including the YMCA in Vincennes where swimming will take place, Ouabache Trails for archery, Gregg Park for horse-shoes and cycling, the Bicknell Country Club for golf, and the Daviess County YMCA for shuffleboard.

A grant was received from the Daviess County Community Founda-tion for the shuffleboard court, making Washington an idea spot for that particu-lar competition.

We are really hoping that the coun-ties challenge one another to have the most participants, said Jones, who said the games offer a great opportunity for friends to get together for some healthy fun.

Opening ceremonies for the games will be Aug. 3 at 9 a.m. in the Red Skelt-on Performing Arts Center parking lot.

In addition to the opening ceremo-nies and sporting events, Jones said an Active Aging Celebration will be taking place Aug. 3 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the VU Student Recreation Center. The free and open to the public event will feature keynote speaker John Gregg, multiple

Indiana Fit and 50-plus Senior Regional GamesGenerations Area 13 Agency on Aging and Disability offers competition in Knox County

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Boomer July 2015 21

demonstrations and seminars as well as many vendors. A drug toss event and free health screenings will also be offered. Vincennes Mayor Joe Yochum will serve as the master of ceremonies.

We are hoping for 75 vendors, said Jones, who mentioned that vendors would not just focus solely on health products. And well be offering presenters every 30 minutes.

Presenters include Joe Kendall with AARP, who will be dis-cussing fraud networks, attorney Katherine Rybak discussing the Americans with Disabilities Act and Advanced Care Planning, and Lanet Owen, who will be talking about respecting choices.

We have join-in activities like Zumba and pickleball too, said Jones adding that Karel Kirschner with Purdue Extension will be providing a cooking for one or two session and nutritional tips. Matter of Balance, a popular Generations class that helps to prevent falls, will also offer demonstrations.

Jones said the games serve not only as a way to promote active aging and staying healthy, but also as a way to support programs offered through Generations that support healthy aging.

The games promote a healthy, active lifestyle for older adults, she said.

The Trailblazer 5K will be open to participants of all ages. Kramer said Senior Games participants and the public will run the event together. Registration forms can be found on the Genera-tions website.

Sponsorship opportunities for the games are also available by contacting Jones at the Generations office.

Entry fee is $25 and includes a T-shirt. Event registration is available online at www.generationsnetwork.org or by contacting Generations at 1-800-742-9002.

Practicing shuffleboard are Jill Cecil, director of Senior and Family Services, Washington, and Dodie Uhl, Dubois County AngelWorx coordinator.

Photo provided

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24 July 2015 Boomer

By Bernie Schmitt

The most expansive project ever for Indianas oldest hospital is getting closer to completion and the man who must oversee such bold change could not be happier.

In 2013 Good Samaritan Hospital officials broke ground for a $111 million expansion which will include a shiny, new, 200,000-square-foot inpatient tower named Gibault Memorial. The hospitals BEACON Project is re-designing and re-configuring key health care service areas and upgrading the facilitys critical engineering areas.

Rob McLin, president and chief executive officer for GSH, is excited that a

grand opening for the Gibault Memorial tower will take place in mid-July.

We will have a world-class facility in place to go with the world-class people we serve, he said. We are a regional center of excellence.

Good Samaritan Hospital is Knox County largest employer, with 1,900 employees. GSH has 75 physicians and 25 nurse practitioners, and hundreds of others who serve the health care needs for people in a 10-county service area. At least half of its customers are from the neigh-boring state of Illinois.

McLin, 51, became president and CEO on April 1, 2010, replacing former CEO Matthew Bailey. By summer he and other hospital administrators had begun

planning for the hospitals future. Out-side of the GSH Health Pavilion, the last major building project was the Columbi-an Towers in 1968. Other changes were needed to the hospitals central plant and infrastructure.

We had to decide whether we should renovate what we have, add to existing structures, or to build a completely new facility off-site, McLin said.

He emphasized that every possible angle was explored, including major renovation. Though costs to renovate were somewhat less ($70 million vs. $111 million), such action would have only modified what was still old and outdated.

We wanted to focus on the future, on the next generation of patients and the next generation of health care workers, McLin said. This hospital has been around 107 years (GSH opened in 1908), and we want it to be here another 107 years.

Having served as the hospitals chief financial officer before becoming CEO,

President and CEO Rob McLin presiding over largest-ever expansion, reorganization of Good Samaritan Hospital

21ST CENTURY HEALTH CARE IS HEREGibault Memorial:

Rob McLin, President and CEO of Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes, has been at the center of the hospitals largest-ever building project, taking GSH into the 21st Century with a world-class medical center.

Photos by Bernie Schmitt

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Boomer July 2015 25

McLin had a firm grasp on the facilitys budget and finances. With help from his senior leadership team he put together all alternatives, along with their costs, and presented it to GSHs Board of Governors.

The board was in agreement that we needed to move forward, McLin said. The board was involved with the deci-sion-making process and board members

jumped in with both feet. You know, we could have kept mon-

ey in the bank, but it is our responsibility to invest in the community, he said. I think we all were in agreement on that.

While the Gibault Memorial tower is complete, completion of the entire project is still a little over a year away. The entire layout of the hospital will change, making for much better efficiency. This, McLin said, will benefit patients and health care workers alike.

We are trying to re-focus and re-center things, he said. Thats why we did this.

With the completion of the new tower, the hospital will be better connect-ed and closer together. For instance, the Emergency Room will be only 50 feet from the heart catheterization lab an important fact for heart patients in an emergency.

When done a nurse or clinician will walk 92 miles less in a year than they do now, McLin said.

The hospitals main entrance for in-patients and out-patients will be off of Willow Street at the current Health Pavilion entrance. The current

Rob McLin surveys construction of what will be the entrance to the new Gibault Tower that will be unveiled to the public (with guided tours) on July 15.

I want us to be seen as a group who worked hard and thought about future generations.

Rob McLin

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Boomer July 2015 27

Hospital leadership, starting with him, must memorize the hospitals mission and values and must ingrain that culture in the staff. He wants all people employees and patients to be treated as equals. He advocates kindness, fairness, and lots of smiling.

To decompress McLin likes to play golf, and he likes to run. He spends his lunch hour exercising, a way to energize himself for the second half of a day. He takes time off, too, to spend with his un-derstanding wife of 26 years, Angie.

His son Jacob, 20, is studying agri-

business at Vincennes University. His daughter, Mackenzie, 24, recently was married and now is living in Ohio. He would like it better if she, too, were in Knox County, where most of his relatives still live. Hes supportive of local commu-nity improvement efforts, and is excited about Pioneer Oils move to downtown Vincennes.

There are so many positive signs of growth, he said. Im excited to be a little part of it.

I love Knox County and Vincennes, he said. We want our children to come

back here. We also want to recruit more physicians and want them to be impressed with our hospital. Our facility should match a city five times our size.

Long after Gibault Memorial opens, key health care services are moved or re-organized, and when the largest-ever local hospital project is complete, McLin hopes GSH will remain a modern, region-al health care facility that saves lives.

Good Samaritan Hospital should still be the crown jewel of Knox County, just like it is today, McLin said.

McLin greets construction worker Brian McClure on the grounds of Good Samaritan Hospital. McLin treats everyone the same, whether maintenance workers or doctors, a philosophy centered on kindness, respect, and a willingness to help others.

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28 July 2015 Boomer

By: Angie Mayfield

Summer is my least favorite time of year. Along with the heat and humidity comes bathing suit season and the realization that gravity and child-bearing

have taken their toll on a body that was slim and toned once

upon a time. Somehow I transformed straight from Olive Oyl to Sponge Bob Square Pants. What happened to the hourglass Betty Boop stage that every woman deserves? What happened to my waist?

Recently I realized that even our backsides are not immune to gravity when I found myself constantly pulling up my pants. I wondered what was going on. I hadnt lost weight or changed wardrobes. My husband nonchalantly pointed out that it probably meant my rear was sagging. What?! I was depressed for a week and almost joined a gym well, almost.

When I played tennis with my three sons one evening, it became apparent very quickly that the athletic girl from high school and college years was completely out of shape. For fun, I began imitating John McEnroes loud grunting sounds each time I hit the ball. Then the boys fell into rhythm too, cracking up at the humor of our loud, pitiful attempt at a real tennis match.

After 30 minutes I was

breathing heavily and convinced my racket had a broken string or a large hole right through the middle. Ive known for some time that either my arms are shrinking or I desperately need glasses, so I blamed my misses on my eyesight, my asthma, my shoes, my racket, and wanting my younger son to play more. In reality, my mind was thinking of Toby Keiths song, I aint as good as I once was. My backhand nearly threw out my back. I was sweating profusely and had to agree when my 11-year-old teammate shook his head and said, We suck. My legs were killing me so when we returned home, I searched the cabinets for the ointments I used to make fun of my father for using Aspercreme and Bengay.

In June, my high school reunion cheered me up a little as I looked around and realized I was faring better than the cheerleaders and prom queens I envied as a teenager. I was blessed with a career, farm, and hobbies I loved, a wonderful husband (except when he pointed out my sagging rear), and great kids that give me equal amounts of worry and joy (except when they beat me at tennis). Life was good, and I started to accept that growing older wasnt so bad after all.

Then, summer classes began. The first day, after introductions and going over the syllabus, I heard a student say to the girl next to him, I bet she was really pretty back in the day. Back in the day? Yep, and I was one hell of a tennis player back in the day too, I laughed to myself. Suddenly I felt ancient again, ready for the rocking

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I wondered if I could claim dementia if I told him that even Arnold Palmer had better taste in clothes than he did. Of course, he probably had no idea who that was or John McEnroe either.

p28-29ConvCynicJul15.indd 1 6/24/15 6:45 PM

Boomer July 2015 29

chair. I wondered if I could claim dementia if I told him that even Arnold Palmer had better taste in clothes than he did. Of course, he probably had no idea who that was or John McEnroe either.

On the positive side, back in the day to one of my students is considered the 1990s. I remember when I thought anyone over age 30 was old too, so I make a mental note to expose my students to a few of the wonderful memories, musicians, and moments in history they have missed by not being as old as I am. I wonder if they realize that only five pictures were taken on the moon to show the world, while most of them post more selfies than that each day on Instagram? Oh, how the world has changed. As I listen to them air their priorities, goals, and so-called wisdom, I dont envy their world. However, I would never return to those years of my youth unless I could take my brain with me.

On the way home, I stopped and bought a one-piece bathing suit I liked, then loaded up the family to go swimming. But you dont like to swim, my youngest said.

But you do. Maybe Ill just lay out and work on my tan.

You never tan, my middle son pointed out, or want to go to the pool.

So Ill sit under the umbrella and read. They looked at each other and shook their heads but not arguing this sudden opportunity.

Life is too short to worry about our

swimsuit body. I wanted my kids to remember the fun, adventurous mom who likes to try everything even if she makes McEnroe grunts while doing it.

Angie J. Mayfield is an associate professor of English at Vincennes University Jasper campus and the author of Love, Loss, & Lunacy in a Small Town. She can be contacted at profmayfield@yahoo.com

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August

JULY 3Every Hero Has a Story! program, Grouseland, 10:30 a.m. Anna Harrison, Superwoman of the 18th Century and Tecumseh, Shawnee warrior. Free and open to the public. For more information, call the Knox County Public Library at 812-886-4380.

JULY 9Exploring Exotic Foods with world cuisine chef Rhemy Leslie, Fortnightly Building, Vincennes. Chef Rhemy Leslie of the Asian Market presents world cuisine at the Fortnightly Building at 7 p.m. For more information, call the Knox County Public Library at 812-886-4380.

JULY 10-11Wheatfest, Wheatland. Chicken and noodle dinner from 5-6 p.m. with bands performing at 7 p.m. Continues Saturday at 10 a.m. with games, food and an antique car and tractor show. For vendor information and more general information, call 812-890-4531.

JULY 4Fourth of July Parade, Sweet Land of Liberty and Fireworks, Downtown Vincennes. Parade at 6 p.m. Fireworks display will begin at dusk near George Rogers Clark National Historical Park. For more information, call Vincennes City Hall at 812-882-7285.

JULY 8Every Hero Has a Story! program, 10:30 a.m., Fortnightly Building. Superhero Red Skelton, who made the whole world laugh. Free and open to the public. For more information, call the Knox County Public Library at 812-886-4380.

JULY 17Fresh-Air Flick, Annie, Patrick Henry Drive, 7:30 p.m. Bring lawn chairs or blanket. Concessions provided by Thursday Church with proceeds going toward local missions. Sponsored by New Wave Communications.

THROUGH OCTOBERFarmers Market of Historic Vincennes located at the Riverfront Pavilion. Saturdays 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. and Wednesdays 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, contact Shirley Rose at 812-882-5162.

JULY 20-25Knox County Fair, 11728 State Road 67 E., Bicknell. Food, entertainment, 4-H exhibits and rides. Visit the Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/KnoxCountyFarmFair.

JULY 31-AUGUST 2Sidewalk sales, downtown Vincennes.

AUGUST 1Annual Knox County Watermelon Festival and Great American Grill-Off, Patrick Henry Drive of the George Rogers Clark National Historical Park. Events begin at 7 a.m. with the Great American Grill-Off. Old National Color Run begins at 8 a.m., baby and toddler contest at 9:30 a.m., free concert from 1-3 p.m., seed pitting and watermelon eating contest at 3 p.m., cutest pet contest at 4 p.m. and the Miss Watermelon pageant at 6 p.m. Free watermelon by Nowaskie Melons, kids games, crafts and flea market. For more information, contact the Knox County Chamber of Commerce at 812-882-6440 or visit http://www.knoxcountychamber.com

AUG. 3-15Indiana Fit & 50 Senior Regional Games, Student Recreation Center, VU Campus. Generations of Vincennes is sponsoring. The event will kick off at 9 a.m. on Aug. 3 at the Vincennes University Student Recreation Center. John Gregg, former Indiana State Representative and VU interim president, will be the keynote speaker. Sessions on fraud prevention, caregivers and elder law will be held. Free health screenings will be offered and a vendor fair on site. Competitions will include basketball, tennis, swimming, bowling, golf, a fun run and a 5K run. The fee to participate in each sport is $25. Online registrations available until July 19, http://www.indianafitandfiftyplusseniorregionalgames.com. Athletes may also register by calling Generations at 1-800-742-9002.

AUG. 12The Mayberry Detective: Tied Up in Knotts, 7 p.m., Red Skelton Performing Center, VU Campus. Karen Knotts (daughter of Don Knotts) and David Browning will perform. For more information, call the Red Skelton Museum at 812-888-4184, email apratt@vinu.edu or visit http://www.RedSkeltonMuseum.org.

AUG. 7-8Germanfest, Highland Woods, Hart Street & Felt King Road, 6 p.m. to midnight. German food, beverages, music and fellowship. The Prost German band will play both nights from 8 p.m. to midnight. Frenchwurst will be available. Seniors (60+), $3 and adults (21+), $5. For more information, call Don Halter at 812-882-8181.

AUG. 21-22Black Creek Festival, Sandborn. Talent show, craft and flea market, 5K run, baby contest, grill-off, parade, bingo, rides, slides, bounce house and food vendors. For more information, call Gladys Pemberton at 812-887-1304.

AUG. 21Fresh-Air Flick, Big Hero 6, Patrick Henry Drive, Vincennes. Bring lawn chairs or blanket. Concessions provided by Thursday Church with proceeds going toward local missions. Sponsored by New Wave Communications.

AUG. 28-30Assisted Living, the Musical, Old Town Players Theatre, 423 Broadway St., Vincennes. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday, August 30. For more information, call 812-882-1639 or visit http://oldtownplayers.org/.

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Boomer July 2015 31

By Angie Moore

A new survey sponsored by the American Institute of Certified Public Accoun-tants found that in general, we are stressed about health care costs and

running out of money. According to the Q1 2015

AICPA CPA Personal Financial Planning Trend Survey, 76 per-cent of financial planners said health care costs are one of the main factors causing their cli-ents to worry about out-living their retirement plan money.

More than half of the respondents noted seeing an increase in the number of

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0health care issues affecting their clients, as compared to five years ago.

There are other unexpected events, which may alter our plans for retirement and our plans for cash in retirement, including:

Caring for aging relatives Divorce Job loss Adult children returning home and Income or market changes

While these events will present a challenge for some, you can try to offset the affects of these issues by working on strategies to maximize Social Security benefits and your anticipated stream of retirement income.

Spending your golden years in a stress-free, no-fear manner would be ideal. Start now to do what you can to make that happen.Angie Moore is a certified public accountant, having been with Kemper CPA for 18 years. She was graduated from the University of Illinois. She and her husband have a son and a daughter. They are avid Illini fans.

WHAT DO YOU FEAR?

p31Boomer1040Jul15.indd 1 6/22/15 1:34 PM

32 July 2015 Boomer

By Bernie Schmitt

Dick Donovans first remem-brance of his artistic ability was years ago in Oaktown when he and his cousin, Terry Lamb, drew dino-saurs together as kids.

His cousin made a career of being an artist in California and Hawaii, but Donovan ended up making a living with carpentry, and doing art on the side. The 67-year-old has exercised his talent locally, painting the huge mural on the Eyeworks building in downtown Vin-cennes, and several other commissioned

works through the years.I had a neighbor, Joe Warner, who

was a professional painter, Donovan said. Id go over and watch him paint. Hed go to Brown County and when he came back Id watch him paint trees, hills, and scenery like that. One day he sat me down in front of a canvas board to let me do it.

He told me I had talent, he said. He got me my first oil painting kit when I was 12 years old.

A fifth grade art teacher boosted his confidence and taught him, and then he was under the tutelage of Evelyn Roberts

at North Knox High School. One day she said that she couldnt

teach me anymore, Donovan laughed. She said that I knew more than she did.

He also was able to attend an art camp at Ball State for a couple of years, courtesy of the Tri Kappa Sorority.

It was Roberts who helped set up art sales and who helped sell some of Donovans work. She also arranged for him to try out for a scholarship at the Herron School of Art and Design in Indianapolis. This is in 1966, the year he was graduated from NKHS.

Country boy, carpenter, talented artist

DICK DONOVAN

Artist Dick Donovan of Vincennes.Photo by Bernie Schmitt

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Boomer July 2015 33

His efforts were successful. He was number three among seven scholarship winners, but he couldnt take it because he had joined the U.S. Army in August. When he returned to Knox County, Donovan found a job and went to work.

I didnt want to take the time to go to school, he said. So I just started working.

For a time he and two other artists, Randall Hedden and Randy Halter, were selling insurance. Donovan spent eight years with Western Southern Insurance, but he painted murals and signs in his spare time. The artists once talked of starting a sign painting shop (for a short time Donovan worked with Wilkerson Billboards), but the idea never took off as selling insurance paid the bills much better than sign painting.

I couldnt make a career of it here, Donovan said.

He at first wanted to be a cartoonist, as he likes creating caricatures. He once won a contest (there were 200 entries) for creating a mascot for the classified advertising section of the Terre Haute Tribune-Star. He has drawn and given away cartoons to children over the years. Hes made Sponge Bob and other car-toon characters with plywood, painting on their features. He says hes given several away.

Though he hasnt made a career of

painting, he has earned extra money painting murals. He has painted several murals for private homes bedrooms, basements, bathrooms just about any place one might want one. Hes paint-ed old-fashioned drive-ins, seascapes, and exotic animal-themed murals. He painted a large patriotic mural at the American Legion Post in Washington, and another at the Moose Lodge in Vincennes.

He worked with Brenda Small of Mt. Carmel in painting the murals that adorned the walls of the former Char-lies Smorgasboard. They have worked together in painting murals for private residences, too. At one, he said they painted a 26x9-foot mural of a French bistro scene.

I got pictures from the library to go from and then I designed it, Donovan said. Brenda liked it and we painted it. It turned out pretty good.

At the First Baptist Church in Vin-cennes there is a mural of Jesus Christ knocking on a door painted in a class-room, work that Donovan donated. Hes done the Otten hog farm sign that is kind of a landmark in Knox County.

His artistic ability as benefited him as a carpenter, too. Hes designed build-ings and homes for people, visualizing designs that others cant.

Art comes in handy, he

Donovan helped paint the murals at the former Charlies Smorgasboard in Vincennes.

Photo provided

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34 July 2015 Boomer

Artist Dick Donovan with signs hes painted. His work includes large murals, both public and private.Photo by Bernie Schmitt

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Boomer July 2015 35

said. I can see what I want to make, and I have the ability to make it.

His artistic talent is shared by mem-bers on both sides of his family, Donovan said. His mother, his aunts, uncles, and others have a knack for artistic creation. He had a great uncle who worked for Walt Disney many years ago, but quit because Disney wouldnt pay him.

Donovan is still busy with carpentry work (hes currently building a house for his daughter, Bridget Dale Donovan), but hes hoping to get into more paint-ing and other creative pursuits when the muse hits him after he retires.

God has blessed me as a salesman, a carpenter, and an artist, Donovan said. I never became rich, but Im happy.

Dick Donovan did the drive-in mural, top, for a private residence in Knox County. Above, Donovan painted this mural for a young girls bedroom.

Photos provided

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36 July 2015 Boomer

Boomer Toys, Trappings and TriviaBy Todd Lancaster Not many high school players have

graced the cover of Sports Illustrated; however, the first was the Indiana Rocket Rick Mount in 1966. Mount had a successful career at Purdue and played five years in the ABA, but like most high school players on the cover, their careers have been footnotes at best. Of the 13 players who have made it, probably only LeBron and Kevin Garnet are shoo-in Hall of Famers.Most people know that about the

group of young Englishman who sent teenage girls out of their minds on the Ed Sullivan Show Feb. 9, 1964. However, there was another young English lad who would do the same thing, who appeared on the show that same night. Soon-to-be Monkee front man Davy Jones was part of the cast of Oliver that also appeared on the show that night.

Joe Namath made a lot of money selling Beatutymist pantyhose in the early 1970s. This commercial showing Broadway put very few men in pantyhose. My questions is: Wouldnt Bruce Jenner have been a much better candidate?

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Lets make everyday Earth Day

p36ToysTrappingsJul15.indd 1 6/24/15 6:50 PM

Boomer July 2015 37

By Bernie Schmitt

One of the oddest, yet in-teresting, stories I have ever covered occurred on the first day of summer 35 years ago.

In the summer of 1980 I was a student at Indiana University, spending my days hanging out

at Ernie Pyle Hall in Bloomington, where I was the photo editor for the Indiana Daily Student. As an eager young journalist I was always searching for a story. That quest that led me to the outskirts of Petersburg, Indana, one weekend, where I attended a Summer Sol-stice Celebration at the American Atheist Museum.

Yes, nestled among Bible Belt church steeples of southern Indiana was a museum dedicated to the belief that there is no God. As one might imagine, it didnt last long.

Its owner was Lloyd Thoren, a World War II veteran and successful businessman, who in 1978 opened a museum visited only by a few like-minded souls. The rest were curiosity-seekers and the press including me who wanted to see a real-live atheist. We wanted to see the devils horns.

But there were no horns, only a kind, middle-aged (he was 55 then) man who seemed as passionate about spreading the word of non-belief, as a minister of a church spreading the gospel. He did not attempt to denigrate Christians, only their religion. And that of other religions, too.

This caused him problems. Not long after he opened the

museum, gunfire raked the building and a cross was burned in his yard. He and his wife (his second) got nas-ty phone calls and hundreds of abu-sive letters. They were pretty much ostracized by the local community. Thoren got death threats, too.

When I visited Thorens mu-seum, he and other atheists were celebrating the first day of summer with a somewhat tame, but jovial, party on the museums grounds. Among the guests was a promi-

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.nent figure in the atheist movement: Madalyn Murray OHair, the woman who managed to get Bible reading (not prayer) removed from Americas public schools.

The 1963 Supreme Court decision earned OHair a tremendous amount of publicity, both good and bad. Her fight led to a certain degree of wealth, thanks to a surprising num-ber of contributions from other like-minded people, but it also earned her the title of most hated woman in America, according to LIFE Magazine.

During the summer solstice party she and Thoren discussed how their views were based on reason and logic, not religious doctrine or a belief in something unseen. Though some con-sidered Thoren and OHair to be representatives of Satan, they laughed off such criticism. They did not believe in Satan, they did not believe in the devil, and they did not believe in God.

Thoren got some national exposure when his American Atheist Museum first opened, but the ire aimed at him and his family came mostly from locals who didnt want him there. He explained to me that while he was raised by his parents as a Christian (Presbyterian) and sang heartfelt renditions of Onward Christian Soldiers, he began to doubt his belief in God during World War II.

I was on a ship and it was late at night, he said. I looked up at the starry sky and asked God that if he exists that he give me a sign to show me. Nothing happened.

Thoren said his change in belief cost him his first wife and two children. It forced him to sell the telephone companies he owned, as the criticism toward him was beginning to hurt the business and his customers. He built his museum and lived off of investments he made. He and his wife, Pam, endured contin-ual criticism until they could stand it no more.

In 1987, long after I had written my story and had my photo essay published in the Indiana Daily Student, the Thorens left Petersburg for Cal-ifornia. I wasnt aware of this at the time; I never saw Thoren again after my 1980 interview, nor did I ever revisit the American Atheist Museum.

Chances are that no one would have ever known about Thoren and his beliefs had it not been for the American Atheist Museum. Such a public display against religion in southern Indiana opened the door for intolerance. Im not sure that Thorens museum advanced the idea of atheism like he and OHair had hoped. Instead it seemed to have only attracted contempt.

Had Thoren focused on anti-intellectual-ism instead of challenging mainstream beliefs in God, he might have lived out his days in Petersburg. That would have been an interest-ing story to tell, too.A freelance writer and photographer, Bernie Schmitt also is an assistant professor of English at Vincennes University. He lives with his wife, Nancy, and family in Vincennes.

Lloyd Thoren: Interesting story for young journalist DDUUTTCCHH

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38 July 2015 Boomer

By Joy Neighbors

August is the month you begin to wind down the summer, but dont round out your vacation time without a visit to Patoka Lake in southern

Indiana. This is the number one rec-reation lake in

the state, spread across three counties: Dubois, Orange and Crawford, which means that Patoka Lake has lots to do, both on and off the water.

This 8,800 acre lake is surrounded by 26,000 acres of Department of Natural

Resources land including marshlands, dunes, sandy beaches and a section of the Hoosier National Forest. The scenic views are breathtaking, and the water is clean and clear, perfect for swimming, boating and family fun. Even in the height of summer, the lake isnt crowded and the water is always accessible.

Outdoor recreationists can spend ample time on the water; every day can be a new adventure when you can rent pontoon boats, party barges, even 50-passenger cruise boats, along with water skis, tubes, canoes, kayaks and fish-ing boats for crystal clear summer fun. The lake is stocked with bass, bluegill,

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Boats for rent at Hoosier Hills Marina, on the western side of Patoka lake in Dubois County.

Photos by Joy Neighbors

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Boomer July 2015 39

croppie, catfish and walleye, and has 10 ramps and two private marinas, Patoka Lake Marina, located on the southside of the lake, and Hoosier Hills Marina, on the western side of the lake in Dubois County.

Landlubbers have plenty of options like horseback riding, hiking and biking, archery and disc golf, or can head to the caves for a spelunking adventure. Learn the history of the region at the Patoka Lake Visitor and Nature Center, or take a drive into the country and check out one of the county museums.

Ready to shop? Then head out to area antique stores, flea markets and craft shops for one-of-a-kind gifts and vaca-tion souvenirs.

Lodging is not a problem on the lake; whether you want to camp prim-itive style, or pull your RV into one of over 500 sites. If youre planning to stay on the west side of the lake, Hoosier Hills Marina is the perfect home base. Tucked into a quiet lake cove, you can rent pontoons and fishing boats, or select a houseboat to rent and enjoy life on the water. There are slips and mooring for 200 private boats here, from pontoons to 80-foot houseboats. A convenience store offers groceries and supplies including bait, tackle and gasoline, along with a new restaurant, Patoka Lake Pizza and

Wings, so you never need to leave the marina.

Eating at the lake can be as simple as freshly caught fish cooked over a camp fire to fine dining at an area restaurant, or any thing in between. There are delis, local bar and grills, fast food stops, gro-ceries, even a local convenience store will provide you with something to nosh and nibble on.

Patoka Lake Marina can set your world to rockin with a floating cab-in, the first available in Indiana. April through October you can take a lake tour on the Patoka Voyager, soak up the scenery and keep a sharp eye out for bald eagles, osprey, herons and loons. Sunday afternoon cruiser tours offer snacks, tea

and lemonade, plus a cash bar. Set sail for a relaxing summer evening onboard a sunset wine or beer cruise featuring liba-tions from Hoosier wineries and brewer-ies. Enjoy food, paired with five to seven wines or beers, along with two full glasses of your favorite beverage and a souvenir glass. Cruises depart from the Patoka Lake Marina on select Friday evenings in July and August. Fall foliage wine cruises will be offered on Saturdays during Sep-tember and October. For reservations call (812) 685-2203 ext. 101.

Wrap up your summer, or plan an amazing autumn get-away with a visit to Patoka Lake where fun in the sun is a way of life.

Boat fishing on Patoka Lake.

Patoka Lakewww.PatokaLakeIndiana.com

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Boomer July 2015 41

By Brad Dillon

As the American population ages into retirement, younger generations may be the ones

respon-sible for picking up the pieces. Theres only one problem: the young-

er generation is in no position to do so.

A recent study by the Urban Institute, published on March 15, 2013, found Americans from young adult-hood up to about age 40 have accrued less wealth than their parents at the same age even as the average wealth has doubled over the last quarter-century.

So, what is to blame? The truth is, its not a single issue. A broad range of econom-ic factors has conspired to suppress wealth-building for younger American workers. According to the study, they face a number of issues such as stagnant pay, declining median incomes, a housing collapse, and soaring student debt.

The cost of college tuition today is just one of those eco-nomic factors. Rising tuition threatens to discourage all, but the well-off, from going to and finishing college, restraining future economic growth, and widening the gap between winners and losers in the U.S. economy, wrote David Wessel, economics editor and columnist for The Wall Street Journal.

The College Board says over the past 20 years, the inflation-adjusted average published cost of tuition and fees at a four-year state univer-sity have more than doubled. Factor in scholarships and tax

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breaks and its still up more than 50 per-cent. Over the same period, the income of the typical family in the middle class has risen only 7 percent. Thats one reason student borrowing is up so much, he noted in the same recent article.

In addition to these challenges, public policy now burdens the young with ever-increasing interest payments on the federal debt. The study says the cost of preserving retirement and health benefits for older Americans and baby boomers should not be passed on to younger gen-erations that have already been losing out on their share of private wealth. If current trends are not reversed, todays younger Americans may be more dependent when they retire on safety net programs that are less capable of providing basic support, according to the study. In this country, the expectation is that every generation does better than the previous generation, said Caroline Ratcliff, an author of the study. This is no longer the case. This generation might have less.

Over the years, we have seen increas-ing numbers of parents and grandparents spending more than they anticipated for their children and grandchildren. And, with increased longevity, this may affect their own retirement plans in the years ahead.

Take the first step to ensure your retirement by doing a financial plan. Its crucial to helping you decide the amount you can contribute, if any, and how it might affect your own retirement. No matter what issues either generation face, having a plan helps ensure youve done everything you can to prepare yourself for the challenges of the future. And, that is a responsibility both generations must realize.Brad Dillon is managing director of Carson Wealth Vincennes. In his spare time, Brad enjoys spending time with his wife, Shannon and beautiful daughter, Harper. He is also an avid golfer and sports enthusiast.Study Source: http://www.urban.org/publications/412766.html

The above material was prepared by Peak Advisor Alliance.

Investment advisory services offered through CWM, LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor. Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. LPL Financial is under separate ownership from any other named entity.

Helping younger generation brings challenges

p41FinWisdomJul15.indd 1 6/24/15 6:51 PM

42 July 2015 Boomer

By Bernie Schmitt

A young entrepreneur has opened a new business in downtown Vincennes inspired by the un-timely death of his mother.

Thomas Tucker, 25, of Vincennes is the owner of Homebase Skate Supply, a skateboard and accessories shop that opened earlier this year at 24 N. Fourth St.

His mother, Debra Martinez, died of lung cancer last December. She encour-aged him to follow his dreams.

She was awesome, Tucker said. Anytime I wanted or needed anything she always found a way to make it work.

She is the reason I do this. Shes my inspiration.

Tucker has 15 years experience in skateboarding, and wants advocates to know that the local skateboard shop is actually owned by a skateboarder.

I know pretty much all there is to know about skateboarding, he said. Ill make sure you are taken care of and that you get what you are looking for.

Tucker said skateboarding is now as big or bigger than baseball and that it is a multi-million dollar industry. There are more skateboarders worldwide than people in any other sport. His shop caters to those enthusiasts. It is the only store of its kind in Vincennes. The only

others in the area or either Evansville or Bloomington, he said.

We have the highest quality of pro-fessional made skateboards and accesso-ries, he said. Skateboarders want that. It has to be very precise and the quality of wood and the quality of trucks the mechanism that holds the wheels onto the board are perfectly formulated. The majority of our brands are made in America.

The best kind of skateboard is made of solid Canadian maple and they are made in the USA, he said. There are boards made of other materials such as carbon fiber and Kevlar, but Tucker said the best like the Louisville Slugger are made in America.

They are more expensive to make, he said. Skateboards dont last forever. Thats why skateboard shops exist.

Tucker started the business at his

Inspired by his mother, young business man opens new shop

Thomas Tucker in front of a wall of skateboards inside Homebase Skate Supply, a shop he opened earlier this year in downtown Vincennes.

Photos by Bernie Schmitt

HOMEBASE SKATE SUPPLY

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Boomer July 2015 43

home, but realized that it just wasnt possible. Then he found his location and put it all together.

I put a lot of money into it, but it has been worth it, he said. I have mon-ey saved and I sold a few things to make it happen. But I wanted to do this right.

Tucker considers Homebase Skate-board Supply to be an independent, core skateboard shop, a business that does business with other like-minded compa-nies. The philosophy puts skateboarders first. Tucker said he tries to always buy products from others who want to pro-vide the best quality of merchandise for

the needs of skateboarders.For instance the shoes we have for

sale come from a company made by skateboarders, he said. We want to try and give independent companies a chance. The big companies like Nike or Addidas have all the money, technology, advertising, you name it. They can do anything. In the last year or so theyve put some of the smaller companies out of business. So skateboarders have to support these smaller companies.

Having his own skateboard shop has been Tuckers dream for as long as I can remember, he said. He still works a

fulltime job at Bill Bobes Pizzeria, and he plans to continue working there.

They are really good to me there, he said. They know Im doing this and have worked with me a lot. I really like working there and really appreciate their support.

In addition to the dozens of skateboards that line the shops wall, Homebase Skateboard Supply also sells footwear, apparel, videos, books, and magazines on the skateboarding. Shop-pers can scope out the skateboards, hang out, and even watch videos of skate-boarders and their techniques.

Browsers look over the selection of skateboards, left, at Homebase Skate Supply. At right, Tucker poses with his girlfriend, Kylee Coatney.

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44 July 2015 Boomer

Homebase Skate Supply is designed, its owner says, to be a hangout for skateboarders, as well as a supply shop.

Leave a Legacy today...For your children For your grandchildren For your community For all of those you love.

Contact the Knox County Community Foundation today to learn more about

how you can leave a legacy. The Knox County Community Foundation.For Good. Forever. For Knox County.

20 N. 3rd St., Suite 301 Vincennes www.knoxcountyfoundation.org Ph: 812-886-0093 Fax: 812-886-0133

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Boomer July 2015 45

A skateboard shop is different, Tucker said. I want anyone to feel comfortable to come in, look at our merchandise, talk with us or with others, mingle and hang out with other like-minded people. Thats what I want this place to be.

He wants people to know that skate-boarders are not hoodlums or anything like that. They are independent in their style and their focus on the sport, but they are not trouble-makers.

It keeps kids out of trouble, Tucker said. I had no problem with drugs or

alcohol growing up. I was always skate-boarding. Thats why Mom supported me in all this.

For more information, contact Homebase Skateboard Supply at 812-316-0234 or log onto www.homebaseskatesupply.com.

Tucker looks outside the window of his business at 24 N. Fourth St. in Vincennes. The shop is a dream his mother helped him fulfill just before her death last December.

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46 July 2015 Boomer

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By Kaila Stevens

It seems like in todays world nutritionists and other as-sorted health food experts try to link everything we do, feel,

and think to what we eat. Weve all seen the infomer-cials for this food or that

pill or that method of cooking. But beyond all the mumbo jumbo, the facts are food is fuel, and the kinds of foods and drinks you consume determine the types of nutrients in your system and impact how well your mind and body are able to function. You have at least three meals a day to make the correct choice for yourself.

The subject of healthy eat-ing can be very confusing. But, it does not have to be. Everyone should take an interest in their food. We, as food consumers, have the power to curb diseas-es and some types of cancers everyday just by eating foods that are high in protein, fiber and vitamins. Sound too sim-plistic? Its not; many illnesses are caused by a lack of proper nutrients. Simply put, what we eat everyday predetermines our health many years down the road. Im not saying food is the only factor in diseases and cancers, but food can play a large role.

Mental Health America conducted a study testing food and mental health issues and they found, people who follow a diet of fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, and unsaturated fats were 30 percent less likely

to develop depression than people who ate high-fat dairy, and fried, sugary foods. And yet, every town has as at least one fast-food restaurant waiting to serve you fried or sugary foods.

With all these facts, and if it was so easy to prevent diseases, why isnt every-one doing it? Because its not that easy. The market is flooded with good and bad food choices every day. Over time those food choices add up. Another piece of the food puzzle is, the general population has a really low food IQ.

An easy way to up your food IQ is to preplan your meals. Pack a mid-morning snack like a ban