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OVERSET

The shrdlu story is an unusual one. The birth and growth of the National Press Club is a once-in-a-lifetime tale. It had its beginnings half-a-century ago with a band of pioneering men of boundless spirit and imagination. It continues today by their successors, all from the same cloth, but so individually cut. In a sense, shrdlu wrote itself. The authors are the 4,673 current members and all their predecessors.

In saluting the "authors," it must be remembered, too, that shrdlu, the affectionate chronicle, did not come into being with a magic stroke of a finger across a collection of story-tellers. Time and effort of almost unmeasurable portions on the part of many were invested. The dividends are the pleasures and enjoyment that we hope will come to you in the pages that follow.

It is impossible to credit all who assisted. But here are some without whose help this book could not have been produced:

Homer Joseph Dodge, of great wit and wisdom, is the chief chronicler. Mr. Dodge, one of the few members who knew every Club president, did the major writing chore. He set the pace in recalling so much of the early days, especially the delightful sotries of building the Club, and the Club building the building.

Thanks to Paul Wooton, Theodore F. Koop, Frank Holeman, Ernest K. Lindley, and James J. Butler, contributors of large segments of the story. A. J. "Buck" May, John St. Peter, S. N. Clifton and Diosdado Yap are responsible for resurrecting and procurring the photographs. John Koepf and Martin Dietz for artwork and researching historical cartoons. Bascom Timmons, Charles O. Gridley, Ben Hall Lambe, Cabell Phillips and Joseph G. O'Keefe read and re-read manuscript and galleys.

Clair Johnson and Thomas D. Geoghegan, chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the Publications and Publicity Committee, aided materially in many phases of this souvenir. Gordon Sessions triggered prepublication interest with two delightful news releases. Other volunteers: David C. Berger, Ira "Bill" Bradford, Bernard Capehart, Gene Cooper, Bainbridge Crist, William McAdams, Paul McGahan, Earle Marckres, John Munhall III and J. Harley Murray. Club Mnaager James B. Montfort and Mrs. Mae Smith and the office staff provided their usual excellent assistance and cooperation.

Thanks, too, to the Associated Press, United Press International, Collier's, the Saturday Evening Post, the Washington Post & Times Herald, theWashington Star, Library of Congress, Harris & Ewing and their staffs for considerable aid and for permission to use certain photographs.

Jubilee Chairman John C. O'Brien, who shepherded the 40th anniversary book, "Dateline: Washington," played a leading part in developing this half-century benchmark.

Profuse thanks to Fred Theroux of the Washington Star who contributed untold hours, day as well as night. Mr. Theroux was the tactician with a blue pencil which followed each word and thought, improving some, deleting a few and clarifying others.

Reliving the Club's first fifty years in a matter of months was exhilirating, inspiring and rewarding. Concluding thanks to President Horner, the Board and to Mr. O'Brien for this opportunity to tie together the good ol' days.

John P. Cosgrove
Editor
November 24, 1958

NPC shrdlu | Previous: Talk-Talk-Talk & Write-Write-Write | Next: Chapter I - Genesis