Sunday, November 21, 2010

Dash Between: Howard O. Jones, internationally known evangelist with the Billy Graham team

Howard O. Jones joined the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) as its first black evangelist and voice of its "Hour of Freedom" radio broadcast in 1958.

He continued doing broadcasts and speaking on behalf of BGEA after retiring in 1993. In 1995, he became the first African American to be inducted into the National Religious Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

Rev. Jones, who lived a large portion of his life in Oberlin, Ohio, helped organize crusades and rallies around the world. Along the way, he broke down racial barriers in both Christian and secular circles.

He shared details of his life, his family and his ministry in his autobiography, "Gospel Trailblazer: An African-American Preacher's Historic Journey Across Racial Lines," with the help of writer Edward Gilbreath in 2003.

Click here to read about the Dash Between April 12, 1921, when Rev. Jones was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and November 14, 2010, when the retired evangelist died in Seattle, Wash., at age 89, in the November 21, 2010, edition of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Dash Between: Turk Vargo made Hungarian noodles and more at Magyar UCC

Turk Vargo, whose Hungarian-immigrant parents named him Julius Eugene Vargo, volunteered with the Dorcas Guild's weekly noodle-making operation at Magyar United Church of Christ in Elyria, Ohio.

The former production manager, who retired from the Cleveland Alloy Castings division of Lindberg Corporation in Berea, Ohio, was known for baking scrumptious tortes, stuffed cabbage, paprikash and other Hungarian dishes.

"He was a fabulous cook," said his sister, Vilma. "He could have opened a restaurant."

Turk learned about cooking from his mother.

"We always watched our mother cook," his sister said. "She would wake up in the morning and say, 'What are we having for dinner?' She'd order the best meat in town. She'd always buy good food. I would come home from school. She would have the entire dining room filled with six different kinds of noodles. She baked every day. She died in ’67, and people still talk about her cooking."

Turk grew up in the Hungarian enclave of Elyria's Western Heights neighborhood.

Learn how Turk got his nickname, the many ways in which he helped others and how he met his wife, Eleanor, in "The Dash Between" feature in the November 7, 2010, edition of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram.

Click here to read about "The Dash Between" July 8, 1930, when Turk was born in Elyria, and August 14, 2010, when he died at age 80, and view more than 20 photos provided by his family.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Dash Between: Uncle Ed Riley and his Wonderful World of Music


Ed Riley, known as "Uncle Ed" to viewers and listeners of WCTV, the community television station in Wadsworth, Ohio, began a career in radio in the early 1960s when he was 18.

He was like a radio journeyman, spinning records, doing remote broadcasts, announcing the news and pitching products for advertisers -- all for short stints at many Ohio radio stations, including WNCO in Ashland and the former WTOF in Canton.

About 20 years ago, he settled in at WCTV, where he hosted "The Wonderful World of Music." The videotaped program showed Ed punching in music, graphics and video on a computer, rather than putting vinyl records on a turntable.

WCTV posted a video tribute to Ed online. To access it, click here.

Click here to read about "The Dash Between" Dec. 21, 1944, when Ed was born Stanley Edmond Riley in Wadsworth, and Sept. 30, 2010, when he died at a Wadsworth nursing home at age 65. The story appears in the Nov. 1, 2010, edition of the Medina County Gazette.