[News Script: AP vignette] Page: 1 of 2
This script is part of the collection entitled: KXAS-NBC 5 News Collection and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the UNT Libraries Special Collections.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
260
AP VIGNETTE
(INDIANAPOLIS)- THE 16 SURVIVING MEMBERS OF THE "LAST MAN CLUB"
GATHER AT AN INDIANAPOLIS RESTAURANT TODAY AROUND A QUART BOTTLE
OF CHAMPAGNE NESTLED IN A MINIATURE CASKET ON A BLACK-DRAPED
TABLE.
THE MEN ARE ALL THAT ARE LEFT OF 66 WORLD WAR ONE VETERANS WHO
GOT TOGETHER IN 1935, CONTRIBUTED A DIME EACH AND BOUGHT THE
BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE.
THEY VOWED TO MEET EACH NOVEMBER ELEVENTH, MARKING THE WORLD
WAR ONE ARMISTICE, UNTIL ONLY ONE IS ALIVE.
THAT LAST MAN THEN WILL SIT ALONE, TOAST HIS DECEASED COMRADES
AND DRINK THE CHAMPAGNE, WHICH IS KEPT IN A BANK SAFE DEPOSIT
BOX 364 DAYS A YEAR.
AFTER A DINNER EACH YEAR, THE SURVIVING MEMBERS RISE WHILE THE
NAMES OF THE DECEASED CLUB MEMBERS ARE READ ALOUD AND A BUGLER
PLAYS TAPS.
A TOAST IS THEN OFFERED TO THE "LAST MAN," WHICHEVER OF THE
MEMBERS HE MAY TURN OUT TO BE.
THURMAN MARSHALL OF INDIANAPOLIS MEMBERS TRADITIONALLY
GREET EACH OTHER WITH SUCH COMMENTS AS, 'MAN, DO YOU LOOK SICK,"
AND BID FAREWELL WITH, "I HOPE YOU M E IT NEXT YEAR, BUT I
DON'T THINK YOU WILl."
MARSHALL, THE YOUNGEST MEMB AT 72, FEELS HE'S GOT THE BEST
CHANCE TO M GNE SOMEDAY. THE OLDEST MEMBER IS -
83 MARSHALL SAYS
''IT'S NOT THE PARTY Il USED TO BE WITH ONLY 16 OF THE ORIGINAL
66 LEFT. BUT WE'LL STILL SHOOT THE BREEZE, HAVE A NIP OR TWO,
TALK ABOUT OLD TIMESp-A
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This script can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Script.
WBAP-TV (Television station : Fort Worth, Tex.). [News Script: AP vignette], script, November 11, 1971, 12:00 p.m.; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1420301/m1/1/?q=%22%22~1&rotate=270: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.