DON RAABE: Pat Clifford of Oconomowoc, Wisc., a 1960 graduate of
St. Bernard’s, remembers Coach Don Raabe:
“I was a freshman when Don Raabe took over coaching at St.
Bernard’s. I believe he was 21 years old at the time. I was lucky
to know the man. Here I am 50 years later still talking and
reminiscing about a man who had a great influence on my life.
“To this day I will always remember Don at my younger brother’s
(Jack) funeral crying like a baby. He was always in our lives
whether it be personal or on the field.
“He set standards that were not to be broken. In my senior year,
I broke curfew during basketball season and was caught red-handed
along with two other players. If we wanted to stay on the team we
had to do whatever he said.
“For the rest of the season after practice, the three of us
would run wind sprints (with one-pound spats) ’til we couldn’t run
anymore. It was worth every breath to stay with our coach. A great
lesson in life which has stuck with me all my life.
“It was a tragedy that he died so young but he left an indelible
impression on all who knew him.”
CABBAGE SALAD: Susan Abernethy of Bradford responds to a
reader’s request, “With regards to the ‘cabbage salad’ item in
Round The Square – my father Paul Abernethy was somewhat ‘famous’
(with family and friends) for his cabbage salad and have to wonder
if it came from the Bradford Hotel since his family lived nearby on
East Main Street years ago.
“He would chop the cabbage by hand, add onion, and used lots of
black pepper. Only used Hellman’s mayonnaise and one secret was to
only salt after all mixed as the salt would cause the cabbage to
get watery.
“What a great cook and baker he was!”
NOT PITTSBURGH: Ronald Thumpston of Bradford writes us about a
video clip extolling Pittsburgh “firsts” – among them Zippo
lighter. We’ve heard of this video previously but don’t know how it
originated.
Ronald writes, “Born and raised in Pittsburgh ’til my company
transferred me to Erie (1960) then to Corry (1963) then to Bradford
(1969) so I have my feet in both towns.”
Real Bradfordians, of course, know the truth about where Zippo
was created!
