The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-11-27


discussions or mutter to himself
over his favorite solitaire.
Suite TOP at the indianapolis Ata-
letic Club serves the same purpose
to privileged few of the club. To
it the 702 Club members go for re-
taxation, play or a quiet luncheon
without strangers about.
No women had stepped across the
threshold of TOP since its founding
in January, 1924 the year the l.
A. G. clubhouse was built, until two
years ago at an open house. In
frequently since then a wife or a
daughter has been invited to stop in
for quick inspection.
A Place to Be Alone
Originally eleven I. A. C. members
decided they wanted to have place
where they could be alone when
they chose, a sort Of rendezvous
where they could discuss business
or play rubber of bridge. The 702
suite, with its living room with fire.
place, dining room, bedroom, hail
and bath, suited their purpose; the
club management reserved the space
for these eleven men, who immedi-
ately named themselves the 702
Club.
j. H. Trimble is president now,
and the roster includes R. D. Brown,
C. L. Buschmann, E. w. Harter,
R. B. Knode, W. l.. Lincoln, B. r.
Miller, w B. Patton, r. Earl Peters,
Charles S. Rauh, F. L. Remy, DR..
Karl r. Ruddell, DR.. L. L. Shuler,
R. L. White, Walker w. WinSloW,
K. K. Woolling, DR.. j. William
Wright and j. H. Wolf.
H. F. Campbell and E. V. Ricken-
hacker are honorary members. Nu-
merous celebrities have been enter
tanned in the rooms-autographed
pictures on the walls recall some OF
these visits. Damon Runyon, Joe
Williams, Max Schmeling, Joe Cook,
w. c. Fields, Moran and Mack and
Will Rogers are a few of the famous
visitors who have been admitted.
During a period of uncertainty in
the city government, the club sent
Will Rogers an invitation to come
to Indianapolis to be mayor. Mr.
Rogers Geographic reply hangs III
frame on the wall and is spiced with
the philosophers characteristic wit
just recently the rooms were re-
decorated and during the renova-
lions the troWel used III the clubs
cornerstone laying was found. 1t is
to be refinished, and the I, A. G. is
to place it among its permanent
trophies.
One day w. H Lincoln, now de-
ceased, as he finished a rubber of
bridge, suggested that the members
carve their initials in the table, its
edge Drowned with cigarette and
cigar burns He cut his first; since
then many other members have
Whitfield on the surface. The initials
have been filled in with plastic wood
and the table refinished-preserving
for the members a wealth of men,
cries of genial fellowship.
Easy to Decipher
After a few moments inspection
of the table one can decipher the
initials of DR.. Wright. Mr.. Peters,
Mr.. Buschman. Mr.. Patton, G. L.
Smith. S. D. Miller, Mr. Campbell
the first president; DR.. Ruddell, Mr..
Winslow, w. L. Lincoln, Mr.. Rauh,
DR.. Shuler. Mr. Knode. Mr.. Woolling
and Mr.. Trimble. Mr.. Harter, widely
known here and in many parts OF
the country as Steve, cut his nick
name on the table top.
While new furniture may be added
to the room. this table no matter
how battered it might look to an
outsider always will have the place
of honor. The soft comfortable
chairs are in blue leather, the walls
cream, the ceiling blue.
New members are added only by
invitation. The names are engraved
on metal PLAGUE headed with the
cost of arms formed by such SYM
bols as golf clubs, cards and other
items. which have their own secret
significance.
Members frequently have golf
tournaments. An annual dinner IS
held in December, and many hours
are passed playing bridge or sniff
the only games played in the room
or in lively discussions which settle
to the members satisfaction the big
political or business problems of The
moment.