Hungarian Americans of Cleveland

Cleveland Press Articles

"Joe Earley Evening" to Benefit Retarded

Plain Dealer, May 8 1964

It will be "Joe Earley Night" again in Cleveland tomorrow night.

Only this time it will be a benefit "Las Vegas" evening starting at 8 in Hotel Lake Shore, to raise money to buy specialized equipment for pupils at St. Emeric's School for Retarded Children, 1860 W. 22d Street.

Sponsor of the evening is the 145th Infantry Regiment Organization, whose founder-director is George W. Kampman, supervisor of time keeping and factory clerical department at the Warner & Swasey Do.

Joe Earley, a salesman at the Wyatt Sales Corp., 11815 Williamson Avenue, Lakewood, was in the news in the summer of 1948 when, as the Cleveland Indians were rolling toward the World Series, it was suggested there be a "Bill Veeck night."

Earley wrote and asked why not, instead, a "night" for an average guy, like himself.

Veeck liked the idea. It was a success. "Now we want to have this money-raising evening, using Joe Earley's name, for a wonderful cause," said Kampman. "Earley will be there, along with some ballplayers like Bob Feller, and a lot of other sports figures."

About 600 persons are expected to attend.