Father Flanagan’s Boys Town in Omaha, Nebraska. *W A Ø O G I* Had been a subject I’ve
wanted to develop for a good period of time. Especially so, when we learned one of our favorite
military figures, CO of the ELINT Ship USS Pueblo, Capt Lloyd Bucher was an alumni. Remember
the Pueblo! I must admit Father Ed Flanagan was someone who I wanted to study and if ham radio
had ever been used at this 90 year old fabled institution. Here is my effort.
In 2000 the institution had a name change to “Girls and Boys Town” to reflect that fact. Thislocation receives over 100,000 visitors per year. Over 500 residents are children, age 18 andyounger, who have come to Nebraska from troubled homes and difficult situations nationwide.
When arriving at Boys Town (a town ofkids) ones first impression is of the 76
homes and neatly manicured lawns andgardens. Children ride bicycles. The mailcarrier delivers to curbside boxes and on
Sundays, two churches-one Catholic andthe other Protestant–draw the faithful incars and on foot. The community has its
own police department, post office.
VFD, farming operation and schools.
Father Edward J. Flanagan, founder,
was born July 13th 1886, in Leabeg,
County Roscommon, Ireland. He was the eighth in a family of 11 children, to John and Honora
Flanagan. Edward was intelligent but somewhat sickly boy who loved to read and his parents
sacrificed to make sure he received the best education within their means. They were hard working
farmers and very devoted to their religion.
As mentioned Edward was very frail at birth; his grandfather often held him, keeping him warm bythe fire. Many years later, Father Flanagan wrote of his home; My father would tell me many stories
that were interesting to a child– stories of adventure, or the struggle of the Irish people forindependence. It was from him I learned the great science oflife, of examples from the lives of saints, scholars and patriots.
It was from his life I first learned the fundamental rule of life ofthe great Saint Benedict, “Pray and work.”
As Edward grew older, his father commissioned him to takecomplete care of the sheep and cattle. Edward’s duty was tokeep the animals from wandering into the dangerous peat bogs
that bordered their property on two sides. This pastoral work
gave him much time to think, to study, to read and to pray. He
noticed his father saying the rosary as he worked and he too,began to pray the rosary.
Father Ed attended his local elementary school in Drimatemple
and entered Summerhill College, Sligo, Ireland in the fall of1900 then in 1904 Flanagan graduated from Summerhill withhonors and sailed for the United States. He wanted to becomea priest. Continued on page two.

Later in answer to the question as to whyFlanagan wanted to become a priest, our subject
responded. “I presume that what caused me tobecome a Priest was because I wanted to help
people - spiritually - I wanted to teach people
and it was that desire that took hold of me and I
never had any other desire at any time in mylife.” Our subject as a consummate student, hehad marvelous credentials from over seas, thenarriving in the U.S.A. started all over again withhis studies, enrolling at Mount St. Mary’s
College in Maryland and graduated in 1906.
Then St. Joseph’s Seminary, New York in
September 1906 and had a period of bad health.
Recuperating in Omaha as an accountant. In thefall of 1909 Flanagan was accepted by the Royal Imperial Leopold Frances University in Austria,
being ordained with the Jesuits at Innsbruck in 1912.
Father Flanagan returned to Omaha Nebr., in 1912 and was assigned to the Diocese of Omaha
administered by Bishop Harty who had also graduated from Sligo in Ireland. Seeing the Omaha
streets filled with unemployed migrant farm workers because of a great drought in the summer of1913, Flanagan responded to assist the homeless workers. This was the purpose of his whole life,
assisting those who could not help themselves. From the Workingmen’s Hotel he opened in 1913
and finally Boy’s Town borrowing ninety dollars to pay the first month’s rent in 1917 on a buildingin which to house homeless and abandoned boys and give them the care, training and education
which he felt that they needed to accept and bear responsibilities of citizenship.
The Oscar, Best Actor award, Spencer Tracy won depicting “Boy’s Town” in 1938....Tracy had
presented the award to Father Flanagan! It read “To Father Flanagan, whose great human qualities,
kindly simplicity and inspiring courage were strong enough to shine through my humble efforts.”
Today, Boys Town now 900 acres surrounded by theburgeoning city of Omaha, has been a hometown and a
fresh start for more than 18,500 children.
It is unknown about ham activity prior to the 60s.
However Boy’s Town had been active in amateur radioWAØOGI, they used a Galaxy 5 transceiver and a TH-3
Beam at the facility. Even though Father Ed expired in
1948, he was the administrator of this fine institution
and we credit him with the radio station facility andcustodian of WAØOGI. Just this month (December)2009 I asked Mr. T.J. Lynch, Director, Hall of History,
about ham radio at the Institution and he advised;“Currently we do not have a ham radio club.” Excerpts
Btnaa-SoCal - Father Flanagan League - Suite 101.Com. Picture (Stone Memorial) from Andre
Jenny Flickr collection. Promotional seal. Via KE4PJW Terry. 2009 Boy’s Town was in the C1 State
Championship High School football finals the past two years.
W8SU 2009