The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-09-21
VISITING
THE SCENES
Of His BOyhOOd Days Spent
In MI. Vernon
"Tex' O'ROurke, Fighting
Trainer Of Jess willard,
Returns Here For A Visit
With Old Friends
"
And Talks Interestingly To A
Banner Reporter
His Parents Formerly Lived
On N. Mulberry Street
His Parents Formerly Lived
On N. Mulberry Street

How many followers of athletics or
devotees of prize fighting in this city
know that TEX" O'Rourke, trainer
of Jess Willard for his bout with
Jack Johnson, when the former won
I the heavyweight championship of the
world, is none other than little John
Wallis Smith, who played on the
streets of this city and wandered up
and down the Kokosng river with a
pole and bait in his hand twenty
years ago?
The old lure for Kokosing waters
and desire for peek into the
scene of his boyhood days brought
TEX" back here Friday and he Is
spending several days here. going ov-
er his childhood haunts and shaking
hands with the few people he knew
twenty years ago, when he was a
mere lad and resided with his par
ents on North Mulberry street.
"Tex" talked very Interestingly to
a representative of the Banner Satur-
day morning, making eager inquiries
about people whom he knew years
ago. Where Is Henry Jennings ?"
he asked, "he used to take me all up
and down the creek and always show
al me the best place to fish" When
told that he still resided here, TEX"
expressed "A desire to see this man
who treated him so kindly when he
was child.
1--WE been looking around for a
pole and bait" TEX" remarked, "and
before | leave here, I'm going to the
old holes and catch some fish" He
also mentioned that he intended to
lures to send to his mother, who
now lives on a farm In Hardin coun
rty. Iowa, which TEX" and his broth
er purchased for her, following the
death OF the father of the family.
II saw Bob Stauffer this morning,
TEX" said, "he looks as natural as
NFVAs hho" phiho ~ vi W.
Vernon people and hone l see all
of them before ! leave" Tex" in
tends to go to Columbus Monday
and from thence to Buffalo.
Older resident of the city will re
call that the father of "Tex", J. w
Smith, made the large bird's-eye view
NJ thic sitU I'm lkup nnnin,
of which can still he seen in the
city. The Smiths came to Mt. Yer
non, where their son was born an,
where he acquired his nickname
Tex" They left this city In tn,
late nineties and went to Virginia I,
live.
'''Tex" has had varied career.
mammoth, robust and handsome fel
low, he has followed athletics all o
his life and has been professional
athlete for a number Of years.
lie entered Ohio State univerGit
number OF years ago and started Il
to specialize in medicine which Ii
intended to practice later. His atl
letic ability, however, led him astra
from this ambition but the earl
training and knowledge he gained G
medicine has stood him In excellen
stead and in fact has pushed him {
his present place OF prominence Q
trainer of pugilists.
While at o. S. U. TEX" went OF
for football, baseball and basketball
in all of which he excels. lIoweye
the legitimacy of his right to pia
was questioned, because of his co
nection with the professional foe
ball team, the Canton "Tigers," du
ing the seasons of 1906 and 1907. /
was barred from participating in &c
lege sports and he subsequently lie
school as he was working his WI
through the institution on the bas