Evening star., 1938-05-29
SOAP BOX DERBY
Group (3| IS SNAMED
Allen to Be Chairman of
Executive Committee
of BOYS Event.

of Boys Event.
Headed by Commissioner George e.
Allen as chairman. Is Washington
ians prominent in business and civic
affairs and boys activities were ap-
pointed yesterday as members OF the
Executive Committee for Washing
tons first Soap Box Derby for boys,
sponsored by The Star and the Amer
ican Legion.
The appointments were announced
by o. c. Holleran, chairman Of the
Americanism Commission Of the Dis
trict Department of the Legion, who
Is Derby director.
In addition to Commissioner Allen
as chairman Mr.. Holleran designated
two vice chairmen Of the Executive
Committee. Thomas Mason, jr, de-
partment commander of the American
Legion. and Benjamin NJ McKelway,
managing editor Of The Star.
Members Of the committee are j.
Edgar Hoover, director of the Federal
Bureau of Investigations: Maj Ernest
W. Brown, superintendent Of police
and founder of the Police Boys Club:
Trafiic Director William A. Van Duzer,
Robert V. Fleming. chairman, and
president of the Riggs National Bank;
Owner Clark Griffith Of the Wash
ington Baseball Club. Linn c. Drake,
Scout executive Of the National Cap
ital Area Council, Boy Scouts of
America: Leonard w. De Cast, gen.
eral secretary Of the Y. M. c. A.; j.
Elmer Zearfoss, director OF manual
arts. District public schools, and Capt
H. c. Whitehurst. director Of the Dis
trict Highways Department.
Head Of Education Board.
Mrs. Henry Grattan Doyle. presi-
dent of the Board Of Education; DR..
Harvey A. Smith, DR.. c. w. Holmes
and DR.. G. c. Wilkinson. assistant su-
perintendents of public schools; Birch
E. Bayh, director of physical educa-
ton. District public schools. and Miss
Sybil Baker, District playground su-
pervisor
C. Marshall Finnan, head Of Ma
tional Capital Parks: Col. L. G. Craw-
ford, chairman Of the Safety Commit
tee of the Board Of Trade; Lyle F.
ORourke, president Of the Junior
Board Of Commerce; S. Frank Levy,
member Of the Certified Public Ac-
countants' Examining Board; Ken
meth Berkeley, vice president Of the
National Broadcasting Co.; H. c.
Bucher, general manager Of the CO.
lumbia Broadcasting System, and w.
B. Dolph, general manager Of the
American Broadcasting Co.
Zeb T. Hamilton and Joseph A.
Walker, other members Of the Ameri-
canism Commission. have been ap-
pointed assistant directors Of the
derby. which will be held about the
middle Of the summer
Commissioner Allen said he was
"very glad to accept Craftsmanship of
the Executive Committee for Wash
ingtons first Soap Box Derby" and
commended the American Legion and
The Star for sponsoring such fine
project for our boys.
Clean Sportsmanship.
1--WE must never cease" the Com
missioner said, lin our efforts to build
better and finer American boys. To
accomplish this objective We must
not only furnish the right kind Of
diversion and amusement for them.
but also we must stimulate their own
ingenuity and initiative.
This the Soap Box Derby does,
"a than M nj
ever seen. 1t stimulates clean sports
manship. the will to win, to take VIC
tory in spirit of friendly competition
and to take defeat standing up.
Therefore" Commissioner Allen
concluded. Il appeal to the boys in
the Washington metropolitan area to
enter the derby and make Washing
tons race the biggest and most sue
cessful in the United States, and to
citizens and parents alike to support
the Soap Box Derby in every way pos
sible"
Other members of the Executive
Committee unanimously Endorsed the
derby idea. Mr.. Zearfoss and Mr.
De Cast already have thrown open to
boy derby aspirants the workshops of
the public school manual training
rooms and the Y. M. c. A. in which
to work on their derby racers.
In naming the committee, Mr.
Holleran said, I'VE feel quite gratified
to have secured such q fine, repre-
sentative group. Their support and
the help of other citizens and organi-
cations as well as the swelling list of
derby entries at this early stage. indi-
Gates the midsummer race for boys
will be q great success"
The derby is open to boys not young
er than nor older than Is years. A
boy would be ineligible If he attains
his 18th birthday anniversary on or
before the day Of the local derby.
Registration Is being conducted by
IL Chevrolet motor car dealers in
Washington. Silver Spring and Hyatts-
vile. Md, and Alexandria and Clar-
endon, Va.
Accompanied by parent or guard
ian, boys who wish to enter the derby
should go to their nearest Chevrolet
dealer and obtain % The 1888 Off,
cial Rule Book, containing rules and
regulations for building a racer that
will qualify for the derby; (2) the
entrance blank for the local race and
(3) The Star-American Legion Safety
Pledge, which the boy and his parent
or guardian must sign and return to
the Chevrolet dealer, together with
the entry blank
Parents Cannot Help.
In building their racers, Washing
ton boys will have the assistance Of
their rule books, the advice (but not
the actual help Of parents, friends
and Chevrolet service managers and
mechanics, and of local merchants
who are offering wheel and axle sets
and tool kits especially designed for
the Soap Box Derby.
The Washington winner will be
sent to Akron, Ohio, at The Stars