It was an ordinary day. Doing what I enjoy most after getting our of bed in the morning. First thing I have to do is head to the front door and grab my morning LNP LancasterOnline newspaper. My day wouldn't be the same without the morning newspaper. Years ago, when I was still teaching school, I never had the chance to sit in my recliner and read the morning news, unless it might have been on a weekend or during the summer months. I have grown to enjoy the morning news and my hometown newspaper gives me just the right amount of national and local news that I need to start my day. On Sunday, the Sunday News has a variety of sections that can hold your interest for an hour or more. A recent Sunday newspaper featured a story in the "Living" Section which was titled "ROCK STARS." Had a photograph of Mount Rushmore with the faces of the presidents blotted out with a question mark where each face should have been. The local newspaper staff asked its readers to create a Mount Rushmore of Lancastrians to fill the places occupied by our former Presidents. They gave us ideas which featured names such as Hans Herr who was considered the first settler in Lancaster County. There was also former President James Buchanan who lived a few miles east of where I now live at Woodcrest Villa. Another name you may have heard of before would be Robert Fulton who invented the steamboat. Then there are a few current names such as Brad Rutter who gained his fame on "Jeopardy." Brad had his high school locker right outside my classroom door while a student at Manheim Township High School. Then there was Roy and Gene Clair who started "Rock Lititz." Roy was in my Wood Shop class at Millersville State Teacher's College and suggested which sound system I should put in my stereo that I built in class that year. So...who would you place on Mt. Rushmore if you have the chance to do so. I would place Thaddeus Stevens on one of the spots since my wife and I named our second son after Thaddeus. I would also place a sculpture of Mr. Frank McConnell upon one of the mountains. Frank was the choirmaster and organist at well-known St. James Episcopal Church in downtown Lancaster. He was my hero and he would often ask me to change the hymn numbers on the hymn boards after choir practice on a Saturday morning. That guy's hands could fly over the keyboard of the multi-tiered organ that filled the church with music every Sunday. I'd also place the face of George Ehemann on one of the rocks. George was my high school wood shop teacher and taught me more than most other teachers combined in the school. I eventually took Industrial Arts in College and went back to teach under Mr. Ehemann. And...I think two other names and faces that should grace the rock would be my mother Dorothea and my wife Carol. How about you? Could you come up with a few people who you would place on a rock in your town? Neat idea, so it is! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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