Monroe, Charles W. 1922-2012

Charles Wood Monroe was born on Sunday, Nov. 5, 1922, at home on South Future Street in Marion as the son of Charles Raymond and Ethel LaRue (Wood) Monroe.

Charles was educated in the Marion school system and graduated from high school with the class of 1940. After high school graduation Charles enrolled at Southern Illinois Normal University at Carbondale. The following year his high school sweetheart, Jacqueline Rott, the lady destined to be Mrs. Monroe, graduated from high school and also enrolled at SINU. Continue reading

The Hosea Wilson Family in WWII, Lest We Forget

There are probably not many, if any, who remember the Hosea Wilson family of Marion and their contributions to the war effort during WW II.

Hosea Wilson was born in Marion in 1878, graduated from Marion High School and Southern Illinois Normal University. Hosea’s father, Allen Wilson served in the Civil War in the 31st Illinois Infantry. It should he added that O.M. Wilson of Marion was a brother of Hosea. O.M. Wilson had a son, Virgil, who later became the noted athletic coach at Marion High School. Continue reading

Todd, Harvey Allan 1916-1993, Distinguished Service Cross Recipient

Allan Todd, a retired Prudential insurance division manager and former Marion High School teacher, was one of World War II’s most decorated soldiers. He was, so to speak, a hero’s hero whose exploits and feats were written about in Carey Ford’s and Alastair MacBain’s book, “Cloak and Dagger” published in 1946 by Random House and even more recently in the book “Abundance of Valor, by Will Irwin. Continue reading