ROGER MONTANDON WRITES:

 

I noticed in the Linking Ring magic magazine for June the notice of the death of Oliver W. Auman, Jr. of Reading, Pennsylvania on April 6th at the age of 86.

 

He was a popular magician of that area as well as a member of IJA but I don't seem to have any information as to his juggling activities. Perhaps some IJA member in that area can help.

 

[EDITOR'S NOTE: We certainly could use help; I was able to determine his day of birth from the monthly birthday greetings that were once a feature of the Newsletter and the year of his birth by mathematics. His 1973 dues were paid, but the membership card was returned "UNKNOWN TO CARRIER"; the June Newsletter was returned "DECEASED".]

 

VIOLET BEHAN WRITES:

 

Hap Hazard was a member of IJA for years and all the old-timers will know him as  a marvelous person and a great juggler.  The enclosed clipping probably will be of interest to many, though you will need to condense it.

 

Hap built every bit of this plane himself. He was an old friend of John's, my husband, and they had done a juggling act together when young boys. So John and I saw the first wing in his basement. Hap took a course in welding when he was 75 years old, at our college, so he could make every bit of the plane himself. He was a member of the Experimental Aircraft Engineers, fellows who build their planes. This plane had wings which folded up so he could transport it down the street.

 

Young Navy fliers who tested the plane said it was just great and flew beautifully. One fellow made 7 take-offs and landings just before this crash, but the young Navy pilot who was with Hap and who was flying the plane because Hap did not have a license any more, evidently tried to do stunts with it. A helicopter pilot saw them do a Victory Roll and then a steep climb, and the stress tore the wings right off. It did not explode as the article says, it did not burn, even when it plunged into the ground. They brought Hap's wallet and wrist-watch to his wife, Mary. Her address is Monterey, CA. Name: Mrs. Hap Hazard, or Mary Hazard. Many people knew their act.

The Convention sounded like a good one.  Good to read the news about it. Thanks for the work you are doing in printing the Newsletter. I appreciate it because I was the first News Editor, and Secretary of IJA.