The Daily Alaska empire., 1948-07-17
FIRST RACE CHAMP WILL BE H0N0RED;;
 AKRON THIS YEAR
Bob GraVett Won with "0Id Number !"
 in 1933

NulliUCl [, IliC pIOIolyPC DSACy racing car and first among the Derby's past heroes, will be honor ed in Akron this year as one who helped to inspire this great classic race for boys.
 When Gravett built his racing car Is years ago he was an eighth grade student in Dayton, Ohio, the son of prominent physician. Today his home still is in Day. ton, where he is president of a metal stamping company, veter- an of the Army Air Force in World War II, is married and the father of three children.
 The Soap bux Derby symbol izes the American way of life, y says Gravett. Every boy who en- ters the race must have the com petitive spirit, the desire to win, not only this race but the race of life as well. The opportunities for all participants are greater than when I took part in the race, and victory is something really worth striving for"
 Gravett believes that sport and studies are equally important.
 From sport the boy can learn the competitive spirit, the desire to win" says Gravett. From studies he will receive the mental equipment to compete in business or any career he may choose to follow"
 Gravett's old Number r was the car that attracted the atten- tion of Myron E. Scott in 1883 when he was seeking photo graphic feature for his newspaper, the Dayton Daily News. Scott today is general manager of the Soap Box Derby. Pictures of this racing car and others built by neighboring kids were published and the result was the first Soap Box Derby in Dayton, later that same year.
 AS the Derby enlarged in scope, after sponsorship by the Chevro- let Motor Division, "Old Number Seven" was used as symbolical Of all Derby racing cars, and a draw ing of this car is the central fea- ture of the official Derby emblem. The car will be on display at Akron during Derby weekend.
 After building and racing tile car that served as inspiration for the Soap Box Derby, Gravett went to Oakwood Junior and Senior High Schools in Dayton, where he was an outstanding athlete and good student. He was class presi- dent in his freshman year, played football and baseball and was bas- ketball captain. By his junior year he made the varsity team in all three sports and was lifeguard during the summer. In his senior year, in 1888, sports writers called him one of the best quarterbacks in his schools his tory. He was honorary captain of the football team and cap- tain of the baseball team.
 Gravett played freshman foot ball at Mississippi State College where he was physical education student. In the following year he studied business administration at Miami Jacobs Business College.
 In 1941 Gravett enlisted in the Army, and was married in March to Jean Michel. The following year he became an aviation cadet and later second lieutenant, as bombardier, first with a BPS and later a B-29 bombing squadron Injuries in a crash brought medi- cal retirement in January, l945.
 After his discharge, s1ravett worked as sales engineer, selling metal working machinery, but soon started hiC own company, the Dayton Metal Stamping Co.,, which today manufactures parts for many automotive, aircraft, electrical and rubber companies, and for the Navy. One of his latest products is a scale model of his "Old Num- Der T." made of stamped metal with rubber wheels.
 Gravett's three children are Peggy, six years old; Bob, Jr., four, and Stephen, one