Some Outstanding Ecorse Young People, April 1955
Ray Sablosky, 5, Roger Held 11, and Michigan State Patrol Supervisor Martin J. Blied discuss Roger’s upcoming trip to Washington D.C.
The front page of the Ecorse Advertiser of Thursday, April 14, 1955, announced a week to honor Ecorse and Wayne County young people and told the story of a brave Ecorse boy. The Advertiser printed a proclamation announcing that the Week of April 17-23, 1955, had been designated as Youth Week throughout Wayne County and that the city of Ecorse schools, groups, and private citizens joined wholeheartedly in celebrating the youth of Ecorse.
Juvenile Officer Lt. John Cicotte attributed the low juvenile crime rate in Ecorse to the outstanding work being done with young people by local organizations. “These groups are greatly responsible for keeping our young people occupied with healthful, safe activities,” Officer Cicotte said.
The Advertiser also recognized the outstanding work of Traffic Safety Sergeant Al Zukonik or”Big Zuke” as the children of Ecorse called him, in Ecorse grade schools. Ecorse Mayor William Voisine credited “Big Zuke” and his efficient safety patrol system for the several accident free years that the city of Ecorse enjoyed.
Roger Held is one of the Outstanding Young People of Ecorse
A front page story in the same Advertiser edition reports the heroism of Roger Held, 11, who received a Safety medal from the Automobile Club of Michigan.
The story begins on Wednesday, January 12, 1955, in front of Ecorse School No. One at High and Labadie Streets in Ecorse. The School One Safety Patrol always stationed a patrol boy or girl at the crosswalk that crossed High Street to School One. School One pupils from kindergarten to sixth grade knew and appreciated the crossing guards who were fellow pupils, chosen for their scholarship and character.
Roger Held, 11, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ludwig Held of 4428 High Street, stood in the crosswalk on duty that Wednesday. A kindergartener Ray Sablosky, 5, of 4420 High Street, stepped off the curb and suddenly a fast moving car made a quick turn into the intersection. Disregarding his own safely, Roger leaped out, grabbed Ray Sablosky, and managed to pull him to safety.
The thoughtless motorist sped away and Roger dismissed the incident as a routine safety patrol matter. Then Sergeant Al Zukonik and Patrolman Richard Enright of the Police Traffic Bureau heard of Roger’s heroic act and arranged to present a medal to Roger. The presentation ceremony was held at School One on the morning of Friday, February 18, 1955. Roger’s parents Mr. and Mrs. Ludwig Held attended the ceremony as did Ralph Brandt, superintendent of schools, Magnus Meier, School One Principal, and Nick Stroia of the Ecorse Police and Fire Commission.
Roger modestly accepted the award at a special School One assembly, but that wasn’t the end of the matter. The Ecorse Advertiser of Thursday, April 14, 1955 told the story of Roger’s heroism and informed him that he would be the Automobile Club of Michigan’s guest at the AAA Safety Patrol rally in Washington D.C. from May 5-8 1955.
The May 12, 1955 Ecorse Advertiser reported that Roger, two other boys from Michigan, went to Washington D.C. for four days as guests of the Automobile Club of Michigan. Roger, the two other Michigan boys, and ten boys from other states received the AAA Gold Lifesaver Medal from Vice-President Richard M. Nixon in the Senate Office Building in Washington D.C. Only 56 Gold Lifesaver Medals have been awarded in the thirty year history of the Safety Patrol.
Vice-President Richard M. Nixon pins the AAA Gold Lifesave Medal on Roger Held of Ecorse, while AAA President Andrew J. Sordoni watches.
Rosalie Palazzolo Is Another Outstanding Ecorse Young Person
Rosalie Palazzolo, the daughter of Mrs. Maria Palazzolo of 4275 Eighth Street, was a senior at Ecorse High School and she won second place in the International Order of Gregg Artists’ Contest for 1955. The New York office of Today’s Secretary, a Gregg publication, announced her award the week of April 18, 1955.
Rosalie Palazzolo’s paper was chosen from thousands of entries submitted from over 5,000 schools across the world that competed annually for prizes in various divisions of the contest.
To qualify for awards, writing had to be artistic and accurate.
Boy Scout Bill Briggs Earns Merit Badge and Impresses Ecorse Mayor William Voisine
Bill Briggs, 13, a member of Boy Scout Troop EC-5, decided that he wanted to earn a “citizenship in the community” merit badge. He reasoned that if he wanted to find out firsthand about citizenship and community, then he should go to the mayor who had the first hand knowledge. He made an appointment to visit Ecorse Mayor William Voisine in his office, explaining to the mayor’s secretary that he wanted to discuss important matters with the mayor.
Bill, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Allan Briggs of 4339 Monroe Street in Ecorse, appeared at the municipal building very early for his appointment with the mayor. His slicked down hair and neatly pressed Boy Scout uniform signified the importance of the meeting.
For nearly an hour, Bill listened intently to Mayor William Voisine and administrative assistant William W. Jones brief him about the nuts and bolts of Ecorse city affairs. Mayor Voisine commented, “I expect Bill to visit me very shortly to show me that merit badge he’s aiming for. Imagine the initiative of a young boy who shows such an interest in city affairs. He asked us most intelligent questions and was so attentive that I’d venture to say he will be a civic leader in the not too distant future.”
According to his parents, Bill did everything conscientiously. “Good enough may do for some boys, but with Bill everything must be as near perfect as possible,” his mother said.
Bill’s marks as an eighth grade student at Ecorse High School were above average and he made a cocktail table in woodshop as a Christmas present for his parents. He was a good swimmer and all around outdoor boy, who especially liked fishing.
Kim Sackenheim Wins $100 Essay Prize
Kim Sackeheim, 17, of 66 W. Westfield, Ecorse, won the $100 first prize of the Department of Michigan for the best essay submitted in contests sponsored by American Legion auxiliaries in the 16th District.
Her essay about Americanism was entitled, “The Master Link: Our Constitution,” and it will be entered in the national competition for judging at the annual convention in Miami, Florida in October 1955.
The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Sackenheim, Kim is a 10A student at Ecorse High School.