Tuesday 31 July 2007

John Conant Gets Wife For Christmas (Almost)

In reading this piece, two things struck me:
• A newspaper was publishing Christmas Day.
• It sounds so typically 1950s - now that she's married, her career is in the past tense and she now has to become a happy homemaker (June Cleaver pearls optional).
Well, apparently not. John had a great career in the Western International League (alas, he never made the majors that I can divine) and played for Casey Stengel and with the 'Nine Old Men' in Oakland, but Evelyn Conant did quite a number of things, as this link makes obvious (scroll down a bit to find her).
No doubt you've heard about nasty marriage break-ups involving ballplayers, but it's nice to read about one that lasted a long time.

John J. Conant Takes Bride In Washington
Word has just been received Spokane, Wash., of the recent marriage of John J. Conant and Miss Evelyn E. Hawke.
Miss Hawke, the daughter of Mrs. Ruth Hawke and the late Harry A. Hawke, is a native of Spokane and for the past three years has been a stewardess for the Northwest Airlines, flying regular schedules between New York City and Seattle.
She was accorded the honor of being stewardess on the first stratocruiser to be put into operation by Northwest Airlines. During her flight career, she served as stewardess on many charter flights carrying movie stars and other noteables. Prior to her connection with Northwest, Miss Hawke was a meteorologist at the Spokane weather bureau for three years.
Mr. Conant, son of Mrs. John J., and the late Mr. Conant of Surgoinsville, will be remembered as an outstanding ball player here in Kingsport and as an employee of the former W.B. Greene Co.
Entering the Navy In 1943, Mr. Conant served until 1946. when he was discharged and became a member of the Oakland, Calif., baseball team. He was in the Oakland system for three seasons, playing at Oakland, Twin Falls, Idaho, and Bremerton, Wash. Last year he was sold to the Spokane Indians of the Western International League where he is already contracted to play for the 1950 season. John has been a consistent winner on the pitcher's mound with his best season coming in 1948, when he won 23 games and lost 10 while pitching for Bremerton Bluejackets of the Western International League.
The newly-weds are at home to their many friends at 206 West Eighth Ave., Spokane, Wash.
- Kingsport News Times, Dec. 25, 1949

No comments: