By Stephanie Fulena (LCHS volunteer) “In 1925, an Army War College Study of black troops in World War l concluded that “blacks would never have what it takes to fly aircraft of any type.” It stated that “they lacked intelligence and were cowards under combat conditions.” The War Department tradition and …
By Betty Hoover DiRisio (LCHS volunteer) George Milton Book was born in New Castle May 25, 1845 to Col. William and Ann (Emery) Book. He spent his childhood in town, attending New Castle schools. Book was appointed as Acting Midshipman at the Naval Academy on November 22, 1861 at the …
By Betty Hoover DiRisio (LCHS volunteer) William C. Chip was born in New Castle, Pennsylvania, on July 26, 1919. His father was the famed George Chip, former middleweight boxing champion of the world, also from New Castle. William played football in 1936 and 1937 for New Castle High and went …
By Betty Hoover DiRisio (LCHS volunteer) Another top brass of the military that hailed from Lawrence County is James V. G. Wilson who was born in Ellwood City, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, on February 27, 1913, to Charles E. and Emma Vangorder Wilson. As a child he attended Hopewell, a one …
By Betty Hoover DiRisio (LCHS volunteer) The most recent Lawrence County native to attain the rank of Brigadier General is also the County’s first woman to do so. Marilyn Chiafullo was born in New Castle, Pennsylvania, to Joseph H. and Florence (Zarella) Chiafullo, both deceased. Her siblings include her twin …
By Betty Hoover DiRisio (LCHS volunteer) Ralph Michael Angelo Papa (Pope) was born in West Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on July 22,1920 to Italian immigrants Raffaele “Ralph” and Rose (Santina) Papa. Ralph was one of nine children (eight boys and one girl). His mother died in 1928 when he was only 8 …
By Betty Hoover DiRisio (LCHS volunteer) Victor Nicholas “Vic” Cabas was born January 15,1920 in New Castle, Pennsylvania, to Louis J. and Elizabeth (Tetu) Cabas, Romanian immigrants. He attended West Side, Lincoln-Garfield School, Ben Franklin and New Castle High Schools, graduating in 1938. He was the manager of the New …
By Betty Hoover DiRisio (LCHS volunteer) Rear Admiral Lewis “Red” Eugene Angelo was born in Forestville, (Butler County) Pennsylvania, on February 18, 1928. He was the youngest of 19 children born to Italian immigrants Tony and Mary Angelo. His father worked in the limestone quarries. Lewis grew up in a …
By Betty Hoover DiRisio (LCHS volunteer) Robert Harper Shumaker was born May 11, 1933 in New Castle, Pennsylvania, where his parents, Alvah M. and Eleanor, were a lawyer and a writer, respectively. He was graduated from New Wilmington High School in 1951 as the class valedictorian. He attended Northwestern University …
By Betty Hoover DiRisio (LCHS volunteer) James E. Eckelberger, son of John E. and Marian (Francis) Eckelberger of New Castle’s East Side, was graduated from New Castle High in 1956. In 1959, Midshipman First Class Eckelberger participated in an 8 week summer training cruise aboard the attack aircraft carrier USS …
