New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1914-03-25
New Ulm Boy Famous.

On the front page OF last Sundays
issue of the Minneapolis Tribune APP
pears the likeness of Naval Construc-
tor Robert Stocker, a picture of the
battleship, "New York." and a pic
ture of the keel laying of battleship
No. 80 which is destined to become,
for the time being, at least, the big
gest dreadnaught in the world.
In speaking about the Great fohter
now under construction, the Tribune
says: The keel of the largest bat
tleship in the world, known officially
as No. 80 Of the United States navy,
has been laid at the Brooklyn navy
yard, and work is being pushed so
as to complete tbs great fighter with
in ten months. No. SO, which will
likely be christened the North Caro-
lima, is 608 feet long and $1,000 tons
burden. Her main battery will con-
sist of twelve fourteen-inch guns,
two more than the New York, the
latest super-dreadnaught to be finish
ed for Uncle Sam at the same yards
and which will have her trial tests
within the next month. Naval Con-
structor Robert Stocker, who has
charge Of No. 80 and under whose
direction the New York was built,
says the Brooklyn navy yard is set
ting record Of battleship construc-
ton in point of time
One of the things that the article
! in question failed to state and which
would make it appeal more to the
citizens of our great State is the fact
that Naval Constructor Robert Stock
er is Minnesota boy and that the
city of New Ulm is the home of his
| nativity. The citizens of New Ulm
are proud of their native son and
have every reason to feel so, because
the subject of the sketch is self
made man. He attended the New
Ulm public schools until he had gone
thru the grammar grades, the high
est that the city afforded at the time.
| In his quest for further knowledge
ne decided to go to the Mankato Nor
NAL To earn the money necessary
therefor, he did lathing during the
summer and also during the vacation
OF the following year. While attend
ing the Normal an examination was
held at Mankato for cadetship in
the Naval Academy at Annapolis.
Mr.. Stocker took the examination not
because he had desire to enter the
U: S. Naval Service, but merely out
OF curiosity to see whether he knew
enough to be able to pass the exami-
nation. When the returns came back
it was found that he stood the high
est OF those who had taken the ex-
animation and he had to decide in
hurry whether or not he would avail
himself of the opportunity to receive
a four years training at the Naval
Academy. He concluded to chance
it, knowing full we'll that if the work
did not suit him, he could quit at
any time and he. received the ap
pointment. Since then his career has
been almost phenomenal. He made
good from the start and has since
then kept up this most enviable rec
ord. He was at the head of his
graduating class and was assigned to
the naval engineering department and
was sent to France where for two
years he studied ship-building in the
navy yards of that country. Since
then he has steadily climbed upward
and to-day at the age of less than so
years he. is one of Uncle SANS most
efficient naval constructors. New Ulm
is proud of his record and his former
schoolmates are pleased to note how
he is forging to the front and wish
him the best of success at all times.