The Plattsmouth Journal from Plattsmouth, Nebraska • 18

PAGE 18 PLATTSMOUTH JOURNAL THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2000 Actor Roy Barcroft has Weeping Water ties It all began when a Rod Goss from Humble, Texas stopped in Weeping Water last summer inquiring about an actor with the real name of Howard Ravenscroft and the stage name of Roy BarcroA. Humble enjoys watching old westerns and is a fan of Barcroft. After checking the Internet for information, he found that Barcroft was born in either Weeping Water or Crab Orchard. Humble wanted to erect a plaque in the town of Bxcroft's birth. In January of this year, an article appeared in the Weeping Water Republican section of the Journal asking for help in finding information about Barcroft.

To the amazement of the writer of the article, a wealth of information trickled in, tying Barcroft to Weeping Water. Information from two or three people led to a phone call to former Weeping Water resident Ken Powers, now of Omaha. Ken certainly did remember Howard Ravenscroft aka Roy Barcroft. The actor was his uncle. Ken's mother, Mabel, and Howard were brother and sister.

Ken's parents, Shady and Mabel Powers, had four sons, Bob, Dick, Ken and Tip. Tip is now deceased. Ken could remember Roy living in Weeping Water with the Powers family for a period of time. He thought Barcroft worked as a cook on a train after he left Weeping Water, eventually ending up in California. Ken said he saw his uncle rarely, but suggested calling his brother, Dick, in California for more information.

Recollections of Dick Powers Dick Powers of Ventura, Calif, was able to shed even more light on Barcroft's background. Dick was almost certain Roy had attended school in Weeping Water while living with the Powers family. He said he saw the actor about once a year when Shady Powers traveled to California to visit Dick and his family. According to Powers, Roy was married twice. He was not sure, but he thought he had a son by his first marriage and a son, Mike, by his second marriage to Vera.

Since Mabel Powers was born in Tecumseh, Dick did not think Barcroft was bom in Weeping Water. He guessed either Crab Orchard or Tecumseh to be the place of his birth. Dick remembers his uncle as "outgoing and likable." Powers said Barcroft's favorite saying was, "I'm too lazy to work and to honest to steal, and so I became an actor." Ken Powers was kind enough to loan the Republican Office a movie magazine he had in his possession. The 'SfyYember; 1950 Issue'1 bf "Movie Thrills" contained a five page article featuring the Barcroft family. Numerous pictures showed Roy Barcroft, his wife Vera, and son, Mike, at home in North Hollywood.

Mike was six years old at the time, putting his date of birth as 1944. The article entitled "No Villain Here," said, "Roy Barcroft might be a badman in Pix, but at home he's a doting father and lovin' husband." Powers also brought two autographed pictures into the office. One was chosen to be used with this article. The pictures were given to his father by Barcroft. Many have memories of Barcroft Former Weeping Water resident, Mary Domingo Owens, now of Lincoln, wrote the Republican telling of some memories she had of Roy Barcroft, "Before the Chief Theater closed, Roy did return to Weeping Water because he autographed some glossy publicity prints, one of which I used to have.

Those of us who regularly attended the Friday night westerns recognized him as the villain. He came into the bank during his visits because my father, Frank Domingo, though he was older, knew him. In fact, on one of my parents' trips to California during the time my brother was a student there, they arranged to meet and have lunch together." Weeping Water residents Ken Stratton, Paul Bauers, and Butch Ehlers all remember Barcroft. Kenny said, as a youngster, he can remember seeing him at the Chief Theatre in about 1949 or 1950. Butch Ehlers remembers working at the Chief Theater when he was young and going over to Shady Powers' restaurant and seeing Roy Barcroft.

Butch thought he had an autographed picture somewhere. Paul Bauers can also remember meeting Barcroft at Shady Powers restaurant. Shady's restaurant was on the south side of main street where Dr. O'Hara's Dental Office is now located. Information from the Internet A Mini biography on Roy Barcroft found on Internet reads as follows: "Incredibly prolific American character actor of low-budget Westerns and serials, most frequently seen as a villain.

He was bom in either Weeping Water, NE or Crab Orchard, NE, depending on the source, to a farm family. In 1917, he joined the Army at the age of 15 and was wounded in action in France. At 16, he began traveling the U.S. doing odd jobs as a ranch hand, roughneck, and railway laborer. He sailed to the Mediterranean on a freighter as a seaman, then re-enlisted in the Army.

While stationed in Hawaii, he I learned to play a number of musical instruments and afterwards made his living playing in dance bands. In 1919, he took his family to California, where his military background gained him work as a soldier-extra in films. Uninterested in movies, he continued doing various jobs, from salesman to tunnel digger. As asales tool, he took dramatics" nis speaking voice in 1937 was spotted in a little theatre production and given a part in a Republic serial. His rough voice and demeanor were perfect for the 'heavy' roles that filled every B-Westem and action picture, and Barcroft spent the next thirty years averaging an incredible ten films per year." Some might remember him best as the good guy in the "Spin Marty" western ranch serial on TV's Mickey Mouse Club.

During the 1950's and 1960s he was frequently seen in various TV shows such as "Gunsmoke," "Perry Mason," and "Wanted-Dead or Alive." Roy Barcroft died of cancer at the Motion Picture Country Hospital in 1969. He was 67 years of age. According to the Internet biography, he had three children. It appears Weeping Water will not be eligible to receive the plaque Rod Goss wishes to erect in the town where RavenscroftBarcroft was bom. Thanks to the curiosity and efforts of the historian from Texas, Weeping Water can at least lay some claim to fame for serving as a home for Ravenscroft, if only for a brief time.

Schmidt wins Internet sweepstakes Springfield resident Stacee Schmidt recently won $1,000 in a sweepstakes contest that she entered on the Internet. Stacee's win also benefited Springfield Elementary School. A few weeks ago, Schmidt was named a winner in the ACCO and Staples Office Supplies Superstores Extreme Savings Extreme Cash Sweepstakes contest, which matched the winner's prize with an equivalent donation to the school of the recipient's choice. Schmidt chose Springfield Elementary to receive the money. Her son, Lowgan, is a first-grader at the school.

Marcus Rasmussen, manager of Staples Office Supply in Fremont, was recently at the school to present both the Springfield Elementary School principal and Schmidt the $1,000 check in front of two first grade classes. The sweepstakes that yielded Schmidt's and the school's prizes is conducted every year, Rasmussen said. Stacee, a producer for KFAB talk radio in Omaha, is the daughter of Sue and the late Ronnie Schmidt. Millie Schmidt of Weeping Water is her grandmother. Weeping Water wins 3 on 3 Tournament Ben Davis, Ben Moats, James Mowrey and Nick Switzer attended the first annual Peru State College Phi Beta Lambda 3 on 3 basketball tournament on March 18.

The boys won 3 games and lost 1 in pool play, beating teams from Falls City and Nebraska City to gain the top setd'ln'ihe' tournament. Weeping Water beat FUs championship game 20 to 18 to claim the tide. Scholarship recipient Emily Smisek, a senior at Weeping Water High School and daughter of Todd and Baib Smisek, has been awarded a President's Scholarship to attend Doane College. This award is valued at $4,000 for a four-year period. Doane is a four-year comprehensive institution that emphasizes liberal arts education.

Weeping Water Beth Stawniak 267-2225 or 267-5117 Wyman, Mather and visitors at Mathers. Derek and Caleb Wade of Omaha spent the weekend with James and Mary Wade. Madison Ray and Betty Harms hosted a co-op carry in family dinner on March 19, honoring their granddaughter Kearson for her second birthday which was March 16. Guests were Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Hanes, Bacco, Shirley an Mindy Holland and Jeremy and Nathan Hamburg, IA, Everett, and Betty Hanes, Doug and Stacy Bickford, Brad Hanes and Tara Schlect, Terry Harms and Sarah Hohman, Heather Harms, Linda and Scott Coster, Jeff Hahn, Billie and Fritz Harms, Helen Stubbendick, Roger and Duane Griepenstroh, Syracuse. Kearson opened her gifts and enjoyed a Pooh, Piglet and Tigger birthday cake baked by her Aunt Billie.

Visitors at the home of Vi Wiles were George Wiles Bob, Beth and Georgia Stawniak, Betty and Ray Stawniak, Linda Coster, Don Schlichtemeier, John, Marlene, Samantha and Alex Wessels and Brenda Lawson. Ahrens spen Thursday nighLwith them. 3 5 TO A iJUMjq Michelsen Janice 'Amici, Irene and Genny Stock assisted Pastor Samm with services at Louisville Care Center on Thursday. Last Wednesday Wanda Lamb and Bernice Gatewood traveled to Plattsmouth to have lunch with some old friends, Ida and Christi McKay, Glenwood, and Ruth Bobenmoyer, Plattsmouth. Journal Classifieds Read by over 20,000 Weekly Register to all of our customers Rest of the Story By Jackie Salberg Promises of spring are hidden everywhere.

If you look carefully, you can see and hear them. Small buds are visible on the bushes bordering the alley jiorth side of our building, 'as well as' on trees and bushes all around town. Early spring flowers are waiting for a couple of warm days in a row before they burst into bloom. The sounds of spring birds fill the crisp moming air and break the silence of mid-afternoon. Hopefully, April will bring many showers, lush grass and fertile fields.

Then, all will be right with the world once more as we journey into another summer. Well probably be in trouble for this one but we just have to ask this question, "Anyone for garlic, Pat?" Sheri Mason agreed to chair the Weeping Water Garage Sales this year. She set the date for Sat, April 29. If you would like to be on the map, give Sheri a call. Those we know of celebrating late March birthdays are Kristine Houston, Colby Smith, Tom Sorensen, Heather Weideman, Bryan Bantz, James Wade, Heather Harms, Bob Pinkerton, Joyce Schreiner, Chris Stackpole, Erin Hammons, Ethan Nutter, Gary Petersen, Ashli Parsley, Shelton Mozena.

Happy birthday to all of the above. Belated happy birthday wishes to Kearson Harms-Clark who celebrated her second birthday on March 16. Wishes for happy anniversaries go out to Gari and Ida Kent and Kenny and Virginia (Hoot) Meyer, both couples on March 26. The guys down at the legion are still willing to do some cooking for you on your night out. They are holding a fish and pork fry this Friday night, March 24.

Carry out is available. A big thank you to all who helped with the picture taking session held prior to the Academic Banquet at the school on Tuesday evening. We had exactly 10 minutes to snap five pictures. Not known for my speed even in my prime, that seemed like an almost impossible task. Not so! The kids pitched in and moved tables to make room for pictures, and shared the task of writing down the I.D.

Some classes lined up on their own and were ready for me before I had the camera focused. Mr. Christensen, as always, was a great help. We were done in record time. Congratulations to all of you on your academic achievements and thanks, again, for your cooperation and help.

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