A1 History: Jaycees was active in 1965

Published 5:33 pm Monday, January 20, 2020

In 1965, Danville had an active Junior Chamber of Commerce, known as Jaycees, in addition to the Danville-Boyle County Chamber.

On this day in 1965, the Jaycees’ 11th annual awards banquet was featured on the front page of The Advocate-Messenger. The dinner and awards ceremony took place at the Boyle County High School cafeteria.

The Outstanding Boyle Countian of 1964 was awarded to Susan Vogt. She was an employee of Western Kentucky Gas Company, chair of the local Community Development Committee and a member of the Danville Business and Professional Women’s Club.

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Vogt was “praised for her outstanding service” for the organizations in which she volunteered; for a Community Development project she helped with, preparing Danville’s scrapbook for the State Chamber’s contests, in which the scrapbook won top honors; and for her leadership on many local drives, such as the March of Dimes, Heart Fund, United Community Fund, Cancer Crusade and others.

She also sponsored a young female student at Kentucky School for the Deaf, and a male patient at Kentucky State Hospital, according to the article.

The Outstanding New Jaycee Award was given to Bob Ayotte. He had been a member of the Junior Chamber since the previous year, when he moved here as an employee of Corning Glass Works. Ayotte was recognized for “his willingness to work, his leadership ability, his service as editor of the Jaycee Newsletter, and his duties as the incumbent club secretary.”

In other front page news:

  • A break-in occurred at the Jacob Baer Inc., men’s furnishing store at 217 West Main Street. Clothing was stolen that was valued between $7,000 and $8,000 dollars, according to Harold “Buddy” Baer, president of the company.

The burglary was discovered by Danville police, who had been making their regular rounds behind the shops about 12:30 in the morning.

According to the article, the thieves, apparently professionals, backed a vehicle up to the rear door of the store, forced the doors open and stripped three racks of garments from the middle section of the store.

Baer said the biggest loss was about 80 suits and topcoats, along with jackets, sports shirts and shoes.

  • This day also marked the golden anniversary of the founding of Kiwanis International, according to club president Kenneth Wall. He said, “We believe that our golden anniversary is significant because it marks a half-century milepost in an idea of service that has grown until it touches directly or indirectly, practically every man, woman and child in the areas that we serve.”