The Akron Beacon Journal from Akron, Ohio • Page 97

Skyjacker Sunday, May 28, 1972 Akron Beacon Journal 5 MDid He Do It? the OLD Continued Page E-l Sunk, 'Was he setting up ailibi? Yet after the hijack fee left a trail a mile wide a not too careful. It was as fie pui up a iidie auu aaiunere i am. wjme auu gei MAY 29-JUNE 4 Winds rise, hats flies College graduations begin now P. T. Barnum's first circus tour June 2, 1865 Last quarter of the moon June i Frogs begin chirping Average length of days for week, 15 hours, 7 minutes Memorial Day May 29 Mt.

Everest conquered May 29, 1953 Black bass caught in 23 33 inches, June 2, 1932 Don't exhaust your treasure in too much pleasure. Old Farmer's Riddle: Why is a blacksmith the most dissatisfied of mechanics? (Answer below.) Ask the Old Farmer: I have often read about people in the early days storing apples until the next harvest. Wlhenever I try to store apples in a basket in a cool iTAs his adviser, Fletcher Id two intensive talks with $JcCoy. "The main thing I kll," he says, "was that be set a goal to utilize hisL enforcement education wjjh his experience as a pilot! UAT HIS arraignment a arrest, McCoy's only statement was, "I'm embarraM. Let's face it." In class," remembers icular obvious question.

5 5 "It's a statement he has fletcher, "after he asked a so sorry for this guy. 1 teftdone what he's done." my brother. Not that I OLD FARMER'S WEATHER FORECASTS Weather Tip of the Week: Perfect week in the South. Northeast Ohio: Light rain at the beginning and the end of the week; partly cloudy and warm at mid-week, with high temperatures near 80. New England Coastal: Heavy rain at first, then beautiful, but cool by midweek.

More heavy rain by week's end. Northern Inland New England: Begins with 1 inch of rain, clearing by midweek, but almost 2" of rain by week's end. Greater New York: Heavy rain all week. Could total Middle Atlantic Region: Begins with heavy rain, becoming lighter by midweek, then cloudy and hot for rest. Chicago-Great Lakes Region: Partly cloudy at first, then light rain by midweek.

Clear by Sunday. Chicago-Great Lakes Region: Partly cloudy at first, then light rain by midweek. Clear by Sunday. Greater Ohio Valley: Moderate rain throughout week. No let-up.

Southern States: Best week of the year to date. Clear and pleasant from start to finish. Northern Plains: Partly cloudy with occasional showers through midweek, then clear and pleasant for rest. Rocky Mountain-Central Plains: Light showers at first, then quickly clearing. Heavy rain by Sunday.

Pacific Northwest: Light to moderate rain all week. Possible clearing by Sunday. Northern California Coastal: Begins with light rain, then clearing and warm by midweek. Overcast and in the 60s latter part. Southern California: Overcast all week long with occasional showers first of week.

Highs in the 70s. 2" After McCoy's arrest, the ss was strangely quiet. ski in the beautiful mountains above Provo. Weekends, whenever he could afford it, he rushed up to Sandy, close' to Salt Lake City, where he belonged to a free-form skydiving club. That is, when he wasn't flying a helicopter on National Guard duty.

Until three weeks before the hijack he also taught Sunday school IT WAS a hectic schedule for any man, especially one with a family "It appears to me," says Matthews, "that all this activity he undertook was a challenge. As the pressures built up on him, he refused to let himself think about the consequences of anything he might do." This ability to shut out an active conscience even helped him in the execution of the hijack. It was done coolly and deliberately. The stewardess of the United Airlines plane, Diane Surdam, said, "He seemed calm, methodical in everything he did. He sure knew what he was doing." THE ULTIMATE riddle of Richard McCoy is motivation.

Why? It's still a favorite speculative question among those who knew him. There was no pattern of irrational conduct before this April 9 caper. He had never committed a criminal act. Nowhere in Provo does one hear a critical word about his personal behavior. He was an unobtrusive young man of average height (5-8), well-mannered-quiet, sometimes aloof, often preoccupied.

THE POPULAR thesis is that Richard McCoy hijacked a plane just to prove he could do it. "I've not talked to Richard about it," says his puzzled, distraught mother, Myrtle H. McCoy, "and I have no interest in talking to him about it. "This is not Richard McCoy." place, they don't keep for two weeks! How did the oldtimer do it? G. Taunton, Mass.

Your place wasn't cool enough. Put your apples out on the veranda and cover the basket with an old overcoat or something of similar heft. Apples gener 90 Fletcher finally said to thA "I know you want to Let's do it." And none othem had any concrete Eai what motivated McCoy. THE MAN who first mentidd to the FBI that Mc ate hpat. and thp more von Coy might have been the hijact was Robert Van Iep- have, the more heat they eren of the Utah Highway Patrq generate.

A barrel of 'em, "I feel like hell about it," Mays: "Sick. But I also feel someday somebody's going blow the hell out of 95 people." lends. They flew hel- Van Ieperen and McCoy werl for instance, would keep, stowed as we describe, in zero weather. Home Hints: To remove grease from wallpaper, lay several folds of blotting paper on the spot and hold a hot iron near it until the grease is absorbed To quiet a squeaking chair, heat some fish glue and pour a little of it into the creaking joint Hot nails won't crack plaster. Riddle answer: He is always striking for pay.

jther. They were sky- -tiuopters in the National Guard divers on weekends toeether. Va Ieperen and his wife had visited the McCoys at home Three weeks before the hijajing, McCoy had out lined to Van Ieperen how he'd gobout pirating a plane, using his own parachute. afternoons just to "I USED to call him up ml rork, skydiving. We xap.

We talked about flying, oi Akron Metro Parks' First 50 Years a guy in Denver talked about hijacking particular! parachuted and broke his leg. the first reports of think it was him. I Richard's hijacking came in, I di ight he might be in- called him that night because I terested in it." the phone. His sis- Richard, of course, didn't ter-in-law, Denise Burns, did. i has been working dropping out from as a waitress at the Village Inn a According to court records, it was Boston Twp.

At a meeting Aug. 27, 1921, township trustees C. B. Stebbins, J. R.

Albright and D. A. Ely voted to "make application to the Probate Court of Summit County for the creation of a park district to be known as the Akron Metropolitan Park District." Among reasons, the resolution stated the Park District would "promote the health, convenience, comfort and welfare of the Ricks College in Idaho. Denise said, "Richard is a sey, Dr. Hezzleton E.

Simmons, Dr. Waldo L. Semon and Joseph Thomas. The Park District has had only four directors the salaried administrators in its 50 years. The first was Harold S.

Wagner, 862 Mark 1925-58; Forrest B. Coup, 194 White Pond 1958-63; Arthur T. Wilcox, now on the Colorado State University faculty, 1963-64, and Daily. WHO PETITIONED Probate Court to create the Park District? good person. He too much already.

shouldn't be where he is. I've tal ck home to Canton. That's why I'm leaving. I'm going to leave, you see, The U. S.

attorney says it OK foi I've pleaded the 5th Amendment." VAN IEPEREN has tried to i McCoy in the Salt Lake County Jail, but has been refjd permission. "I've probably lost his friendship," hejys somberly. Then iiTniTi iT "jl a AM I 3m 1 ANNUM RATE RICHRD McCOY SR. MYRTLE McCOY like everybody else connected wit! he case, he asks, "Why?" What would make cool, nic Richard McCoy go to -the extreme of hijacking a jetlin "The only problem," muses Vaieperen, "is his old lady (wife). She's authoritarian.

I he was hurting for money. I "Maybe he just wanted to get aw from his wife." donated 145 acres extending along the Cuyahoga River from the High Level Bridge to Glens Bridge in Cuyahoga Falls. Announced Dec. 24, it was called "a Christmas gift." Now it's called Gorge Metropolitan Park. VIRGINIA.

KENDALL Park came into the local system the same year when the Park Board took over the 545 acres originally deeded to the State by Hayward Kendall. He named the park after his mother. Goodyear Heights Metropolitan Park in East Akron got its start also in 1929 when two gifts of land were made within 1,000 feet of each other. These were 37.5 acres from Gilbert Waltz and 34.5 acres from a Goodyear subsidiary, Goodyear Heights Realty Co. The parcels were merged In 1930 when 53.3 intervening acres were acquired from Eastland Development Co.

Cleveland Quarry Co. in the early 1930s gave the first 75 acres for Deep Lock Quarry Metropolitan Park in Peninsula. Firestone Tire in September, 1941 gave 85 acres to start Firestone Metropolitan Park in Coventry Twp. A COOPERATIVE agreement with the City of Akron for 116 acres plus a gift of 162 acres from Mr. and Mrs.

E. Reginald Adam created Hampton Hills Metropolitan Park, Northampton in the years 1964-57. Dec. 23, 1969, Sherman and Mary Schu-. macher, 2381 Falmouth gave 117 acres which helped make Sand Run a park.

Timely requests for Federal grants paid for about half the cost of the lands put together to form 479-acre Silver Creek Metropolitan Park in the Barberton-Norton area. The rest was financed with funds from the park levy. O'Neil Woods, a 242-acre tract in Bath was an outright gift in 1971 from the present Park Board chairman and other members of the family of William and Grace O'Neil. THE RESULT in 50 years, is a system of 10 parks, in all geographical parts of Summit County, totaling 6,700 acres. Facilities inlcude nine shelter houses for indoor meetings and socials; 500 acres of mowed playfields; 14 Winter sports centers; 50 miles of hiking trails; a nature center; fishing programs in three parks; "historical sites and programs that promote day-camping, bird-watching, hiking, conservation, nature photography, appreciation of plant and animal life, Summer youth employment, and others.

Only 19 persons have served on the Park Board in the 50 years. LONGEST tenures were those of Mark M. Kindig, Jan. 10, 1933, to Dec. 31, 1953, 21 years; Walton A.

Woodling, Jan. 29, 1947, to May 23, 1963, W2 years; and Henry G. Metzger, Jan. 1, 1943, to Dec. 31, 1957, 15 years.

Oldest living ex-board member is Tracy A. Douglas, 2812 Mohican Lakemore, who served Jan. 1, 1953 to July 20, 1936. Douglas, now 86, succeeded Seiberling. When one board member, L.

A. Laursen, died while serving, Mrs. Laursen completed the remaining year, 1942, of his term. Mrs. Laursen lives at 670 Mull av.

Other members included Mrs. M. M. Kin- Continued From Page E-l farm path and a road to a one-time mine. One section runs along a power company right-of-way.

As in the case of the bike-and-hike trail, a missing link is holding up completion. Negotiation for purchase of the final parcel is proceeding, Daily said. Bridle trails also figured prominently in the early history of the Park District, officially founded Dec. 31, 1921, by Probate Court. In 1919, F.

A. Seiberling, co-founder of the Goodyear and Seiberling companies, laid out a private seven-mile bridle path that coursed through Seiberling's lands around Stan Hywet and circled the Fairlawn TT TURNED outt however that the public inherited a good part of the private trail. Here's how it came about: After establishment of the Park District, Seiberling was named to the Park Board and served from 1925 to 1934. One of the board's first objectives was creation of a 500-acre Sand Run Park. Public enthusiasm was typified by Walter L.

Hall, who in November 1926 gave a gift of land to start the park. The idea caught on. Other gifts came from F. A. Blower, Fairlawn Country Club, S.

E. Lord, H. M. Abbott, Cecil Hall, and Mr. and Mrs.

Seiberling who gave the major share of the needed land. WITH THE Seiberling gift went a long section of their bridle trail. Horseback-riding enthusiasts rejoiced but only for a short time. By 1929 the auto literally forced dobbin off the trail. The bridle path became as it still is Sand Run pkwy.

However, another rubber company founder, Harvey S. Firestone came to the aid of the horseback riders. With a $10,000 gift, he financed a new six-mile bridle trail. BY 1930 the projected 500-acre park was completed. The board it then included E.

D. Eckroad, F. H. Adams and Seiberling bought 25 parcels of land for $10,000 to round it out. The money came from the first park levy of approved by voters in November, 1928.

The levy now is Eckroad, Seiberling and Adams were not the first to serve on the board. As a matter of fact, there was no board through the first year and three months. Probate Judge Lewis Slusser appointed the first board members James Shaw and Mrs. Maude I. Milar April 12, 1923.

On May 4 he completed the first three-member board by naming C. B. Raymond. WHILE Sand Run Metropolitan Park was being formed, the board simultaneously was seeking and getting land in other areas of the county. By Spring 1930 it had acquired 1,615 acres.

From these gifts sprang up some of the Metropolitan Parks as present-day patrons know them. In 1928 Mrs. Dorothy H. Brush gave 275 acres in Richfield Twp. the nucleus of Furnace Run Metropolitan Park.

In 1929 Northern Ohio Power Light Co. father died when VKAEEN BURNS McCOY, who she was 8. came to Brieham Yoi from Canton on a full scholarship In 1968. after sHhad been married three years and had a baby, she ijeived a bachelor's degree in political science. "She has a wonderful mind." law, Myrtle H.

McCoy. "She's in sfck over what hap pened, i She was a substitute teacher lagvear at Provo High School and until she entered the hiital after her hus band's arrest she worked with meally retarded chil dren. at Richard McCoy DAILY INTEREST Interest very day en your funds no matter when you deposit or withdraw. INTEREST STARTS the same day you deposit; interest earned every day up to the day you withdraw. deposit or withdraw any amount, anytime.

JOHN L. MATTHEWS knew was. troubled. Matthews is the prii High School in Provo. He is als al of Dixon Junior ishop of the First Ward, where the McCoys lived, Last Fall first Karen, then Rif rd, came to him to tshop Matthews will discuss some personal problems, in nature, reveal not, because they were privilej them.

"He says, however, "I'm notfs shocked as some SAVINGS CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE people would be that he got invrfed in something. He had personal problems in his fany. He was under a lot of strain. But I am surprised thatfe hijacked a plane. condition was one of friration," he continues.

"If you were to visit him in jails I've done, you would find that he's almost overwhelms with remorse. He is concerned about the effect of hisjction on the church. "THE CHURCH is very demanding philosophically. Hewas going to have to adjusjhis philosophy, because of his personal problems, and tit was his dilemma." prison, Richard McCoy upset because he is not MINIMUM ANNUAL ANNUAL YIELD WHEN DEPOSIT TERM, RATE COMPOUNDED DAILY $5000 or more 2 yr. 6 6.18 $1000 or more 1 yr.

5.75 5.92 $1000 or more 6-11 mo. 5.25 5.38 500 or more 3-5 mo. 5.25 5.38 permitted to wear the religioufindergarment of the or dained Mormon. In Provo, where McCoy nier made any waves as a Certificate interest is COMPOUNDED DAILY; interest on any certificate may be added to the account, or paid quarterly. Monthly income checks available on certificates of $5000 or more.

wo. Sllllr personality, many people arelpset at the identification of McCoy by religion. This is tight Mormon city. They resent a California newspapr headline which blared, "Mormon Sunday School Tether Arrested for Hijacking." Yet there is no personalpondemnation of McCoy only chagrin and, after all ipse days, continued amazement. BRENT REYNOLDS lijes around the corner from the McCoy house.

He is a liysical therapist at the Utah State Hospital. 1 "He's the kind of gul you feel comfortable being around," says Brent, whoworks in a psychiatric facility. "We've had him over dinner and taken care of his kids' once or twice. We gotp know each other through the church. "I couldn't believe itcould be Richard.

I feel real sorry for him because Ijsee a man who has basically jug ml i in Working on signs for new bike and hike trail are Ray Carlton (left) and Ken Avery. The 15-mile trail will run primarily along the Cuyahoga River and the old Interurban Railway from N. River rd. in Kent to Boston Heights. It is among 50th anniversary projects of Akron Metropolitan Parks District.

thrown his life away. I tlnk people snoum Know mac in my mind he's a fine felld IN THE MONTHSbefore the hijacking, Richard McCoy maintained a frenetic pace of activity. a student at Bjlgham Young, hoping to gradu ate in June, he carried TO hours of class work. He also took a special eight-week course to learn to.