The Daily Alaska empire., 1948-07-19
TRUMAN CALLS BLOCKADE C0NFERENC
WINNER OF SOAP BOX DERBY BEAMS
 PRIDE, HAPPINESS

FkIULy HAFFlNEJJ Beaming with pride and happl- ness, Sitkas l3-year-old Justin Ripley captured the l94S Juneau Soap Box Derby championship with his sleek little No. 13 racer at yes terday's annual Empire Rotary sponsored event. He is the first Sitka boy to win, although the
 island city has sponsored candidates for the past three years. The youngster, son of MT. and Mrs. J. Lloyd Ripley, was practi-
 cally speeches. with joy as Judge
 Charles w. Carter presented him
 with the coveted Soap Box Derby plaque which means he will repre-
 sent Juneau at the national meet
 at Akron, Ohio, next month. I'm afraid I haven't anything to say except thanks for won- deriul day" the youth managed to i say through his smiles. Justin,
 who will be a high school fresh man next fall, wasn't any more surprised and pleased with his title than his parents, who witnessed the | winning heat when he took the lead | to victory from Juneau's Sandy | Blanton.
 We are very proud of our son. We think he has done very well, and I'm certainly surprised about his winning I had no idea, l Mrs. Ripley said as the cameras clicked on the Derby star. MT
 Ripley is head of the vocational and educational department of the Mt. Edgecumbe school.
 The white racer. Arts and [ Crafts was sponsored by Claire Swenson of Sitka. It has red wheels, blue trim-and Justin can testify that No. B is definitely not an unlucky number. Justin and ] lesss- ear topped the scale at 259 pounds, which caused considerable worry since the qualification call
 for only 250 pounds.
 ! Undaunted, the champ skipped dinner Saturday night and had a light lunch yesterday, and his l winning cars floorboard is rid dled with hoies to bring the pair within the race specifications on weight.
 When Justin received his award, he was doubly pleased because he thought his parents had returned to Sitka on the o'clock plane They hadn't and came rushing to , the Judges stand to be with him His younger brother, Gregory, class l"C" entry. also was on hand to congratulate him.
 T know you will treasure this plaque and remember this day all your life,' Carter old the boy in presentation ceremonies. There is no jealousy felt by Juneau boys they are all good sports and wish you the best of luck" the judge assured the champ as the applaud ing crowd closed tightly the circle around the boy and the judges stand
 The annual event got under way shortly after o'clock with the parade of entries from Bowling Motor Co. Headed by a Juneau Fire Department truck, the color guard of Boy Scouts and last years champion, Frank Maier, the cars paraded along Willoughby to the l2th Street Hill Clowns Hank Harmon, his son Joey, Jack Bur ford, Jerry Godkin, Jimmie Long Buddy Hunter and Jeff Pegues brought up the rear amusingly Joey rode in wheelbarrow titled 'Bossman" and Burford took life cary in his Bed -on- Wheels" His old-fashioned night dress and alarm clock created plenty of laughs.
 Apparently everyone in town who owns a camera took the op- portunity to get picture of the d-helmeted paraders along their line Of march.
 The handsome cars were the envy of every kid from ? to 75 as they approached the flag-bedecked track on 12th
 Immediately after the race, the young champs auto was returned for display and safe-keeping . to Bowling Motor Co. w. J. Beach of Sitka was responsible for advis- ing the Sitka entries on the car building.
 Victor To Make Parka
 Martin Victor announces today that he will make the parka, to order, for Ripley, Soap Box Derby winner, to wear on his trip to Akron. Parkas have been a nov city at the National Champion ship Derby, and Victor says his product will be one of the most striking ever worn east by an Alaska winner.