This is Throwback Thursday #95. In these, we look back into the past at ESCONI specifically and Earth Science in general. If you have any contributions, (science, pictures, stories, etc ...), please sent them to [email protected]. Thanks!
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If we look back into the early history of ESCONI, there are a few names that show up again and again. Some of these are Allaway, Konecny, Sobolik, Ade (John and Dick), Hoff, Prepp, Bish, Farr and many more. Quite a few served as president... Bill Allaway was the first Chairman of ESCONI and both John and Dick Ade served as president. In almost every case, husband and wife were both deeply involved in ESCONI. This probably shows how clubs provided social opportunities in the past. Unfortunately, there is less of that today.
The November 1968 edition of the newsletter had an article titled "Who Were Howard and Olive Knight?". With this throwback, we hope to answer that question with our first ESCONI "Who's Who". The Knights moved to Arkansas in 1968, which prompted this article. After moving, they became active in a rock club in Arkansas as they do appear from time to time in later editions of the newsletter.
WHO WERE HOWARD AND OLIVE KNIGHT?
The Knights were early members of ESCONI and immediately took an active interest in the club. Howard was our second president, being elected first as program chairman and later as president when the name of the head office was changed. Both Howard and Olive became involved. in the monthly bulletin and until they left the club for their new home in Mountain Home, Arkansas, it remained their chief interest, and during that time, earning the distinction of being the model club bulletin in the Midwest Federation. The success that ESCONI enjoys can be directly attributed to the efficient manner in which the bulletin was handled and the excellent example that has been laid out for its continuance.
To further extend the active interest that was so apparent in this fine membership, Howard became president of the larger group, the Midwest Federation of which ESCONI is an important and influential member. While he held this office, he committed the club to sponsor the Midwest Convention, which was an immediate success, featuring excellent displays of fossils, minerals and other related items. Under this outstanding leadership, the club closed the year of 1958 in excellent condition and continued to expand.
Carrying on in the same tradition, Howard next tackled a new job and that was the serious business of producing the excellent but unpublished work of Professor Langford in book form of the Mazon Creek Fern Fossils. In order not to commit the club to any responsibility, he successfully organized the ESCONI Associates who then were able to produce the very fine edition which preserves for all time a most valuable record of the findings in this area. Splendidly illustrated, it has become a valuable addition to many libraries thru-out the world. It goes without saying that this most dynamic interest would not stop with ESCONI but has carried on in their new home. They are as much in the thick of things down there as you could wish. It is to be regreted that they do not still belong to ESCONI where their example would make us all devoted collectors and more useful members.
Miles S. Gates
Howard Knight served as Chairman of ESCONI in 1957 and 1958. In the 1950's, Chairmen served a two year term. Here's a picture of him blowing out 10 candles with Bill Allaway at the 10 year anniversary of ESCONI.
If you've noticed the cases used to display fossils and minerals at ESCONI shows and sales, you've seen some of the work of Howard Knight. Many of those cases were hand build by him. They were originally built for the ESCONI displays that were entered in the various conventions that happened across the country in the 1950's and 1960's. ESCONI won many awards at these conventions, which will be the subject of an upcoming post. Here's Howard building cases.
Here is Olive on a field trip to Houghton, MI in 1966. It doesn't say what they are looking at, but probably minerals way up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Here they are together at a convention in Denver, CO in June 1957. They are second and third from the left with the Bonows and Schnitzeins.
Looks like a field trip... or maybe a picnic. Olive is on the far left and Howard is on the far right seated between the Bonows. Love that old car... is it a 1953 Ford Ranch Wagon behind them?
In this one, Olive is second from the right.
