The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-06-08
Three Hundred
Fifty Attend
Banquet

Ypsilanti Board OF Commerce
checked off its 25th year OF service
and launched itself on its 26th
Thursday evening in Charles Nc.
Kenny Hall when $50 guests enjoy
ed an unusually interesting and
entertaining program and banquet.
Among the features OF the eve
ming was citation OF Harvey c.
Holmes, city clerk. for the annual
citizenship award and a timely ad.
dress by Ralph Bradley. general
manager OF the Chamber of Com.
merce OF the United States.
The award was presented to Mr..
Holmes by Mayor Ross X. Bower
who sketched his life and lauded
him for the fine service he has rem
dered .Ypsilanti.
Born IN West
Harvey Holmes, who is serving
his 2Sth consecutive term as city
clerk, was born in Greeley, Col,
September 2S, 1871. His father was
a settler there.
In 1875 the family moved to this
locality and lived on Holmes Road,
named for the family. After attend
ing the public schools, the Normal,
and Cleary Colleges. Mr.. Holmes
took the position Of shipping clerk
with the Ypsilanti Underwear Com
pany, at that time the main indus.
try in the city.
He married Niss Alma Stumpen-
huSen,, daughter OF sSf. -. MIA.
Henry Stumpenhusen OF Ypsilanti
Township. in this city in 1907. Miss
Stumpenhusen was teaching In the
citys public schools when Mr.
Holmes met her.
After five years with the under
wear company, Mr.. Holmes moved
out to the farm and ran 1t until
moving to the city In 1917.
The following spring. he was
named to city clerk, and has been
SO chosen "a times.
Post War Tasks
Mr.. Bradford's talk was based on
the part Boards Of Commerce can
play in the post war period toward
guaranteeing the survival OF free
dom. He cited the fact that dur
ing the last quarter century there
has been a national shift from rural
to urban life, agrarian to industrial,
and from a second rate nation TO
first rate world power.
He pointed out a definite trend
toward highly centralized govern
ment and warned his listeners that
that trend was fostered by the ten
denotes in local governments to re-
linquish certain freedoms to fed
eral authority for the price of fed
orally financed improvements. He
reminded the local Board of Com
merce members, faced as Ypsilanti
is, with the necessary adjustment
after Willow Run, that there will
be a scramble to keep war plants
open after the war. He told them
to remember that everything has
its price and the next installment
might be a further REIMBURSEMENT
Of freedom.
He saw a test OF faith in Ameri-
can principles in the next few years
with the outcome to be determined
by ability of small units OF govern
ment to face and solve their own
problems without appealing for fed
eral aid
He outlined the management la
Dor charter prepared by the ma.
tional Chamber OF Commerce.
Mr.. Bradford emphasized the old
adage that government should be
the creature and not the master OF
the individual.
He saw the profit and loss system
as the best economic safeguard and
individual initiative as the best
guarantee for the future.
George Veins. retiring president,
presented the speakers.
Outlines History
Paul Ungrodt. secretary. out
lined accomplishments OF the
Board OF Commerce during its IS
years existence. Outstanding
events which he listed were:
1921-Ray Battery and Peerless
Stamping Company established as
new industries.
1s22-Hotel Huron Community
owned) constructed; Ypsilanti