December 17, 1960

Plaque given to White River fireman

       Johnson County Tuberculosis Association’s Christmas seal drive fell short of the $8,200 goal, by over $1,000, according to a report by Mrs. W. H. Schlosser, executive secretary.  By Wednesday, of this week, only $7,000 had been collected from county residents.  A few days still remained for late contributions.  The goal “lag” was blamed partly on the large population.  “Per capita contributions have been changed this year and Johnson County has been tabbed with a much larger figure,” Mrs. Schlosser stated.

         A Christmas party for firemen and their families at White River Township Saturday evening, Ed Rice, one of the volunteers serving the department, was honored when he was presented the John Calvin Wilson Memorial Plaque.  The award was given for the first time this year.  The plaque had the following wording on it; John Calvin Wilson Memorial Plaque, 1960, presented to Edward Rice.  This memorial is presented annually to one of this community who has displayed in an unselfish manner, a true humanitarian gesture or has performed an unparallel act of courage, in order to benefit his fellow man.”  The award was explained by Danny O’Reilly, a former member of the White River community.  He explained that this was the first year for the award which will be given each year in the area which the J. C. Wilson serves.  In giving the background of the award, O’Reilly said, “As all of you know, we are engaged in carrying out the duties started by J. C. Wilson some seventy years ago in the little nearby community of Acton.  Mr. Wilson as he progressed in business also served Greenwood in this county and Indianapolis.

         “Although I never had the honor of seeing this man, like all the rest of the personnel who have had the opportunity of serving the people of this great area, we have all felt the impact of his true sense of humanity.  He passed away in 1943.  “Many of the people whom we now serve are relatives and friends of those whom he served many years ago.  Each of us at our firm has run into person after person who has related to us some of the hidden work of this great man.  Some of the elder residents of the area have told us of the way he paid their coal bills after the loss of a father or how he paid for the books they had used as children in school, or how he saw to it that the children of a bereaved family were always clothed.  We have been told on countless occasions whereupon he would not accept payment for services he had rendered to a less fortunate family.  “Perhaps it is the working of time that these things were not all known when he lived.  But we have felt the desire for several years to perpetrate his acts of humanity and this plaque is the result of the desire.”

         Edward Rice, of this community, was selected to be the first to be awarded such a plaque.  It was for his actions on April 7, 1960.  This is a recount of his actions on that day.  “Edward Rice, by his quick thinking and by his courage and apparent disregard for his own safety, when hearing the screams of a child in distress, darted from his place of business, to be confronted with a sight which would turn many of us into fright and panic.  Several doors from him at 1151 Fletcher in Indianapolis, he saw the flame engulfed the body of Linda Anderson, and with her, he saw the little girl’s mother trying desperately to beat out the flames around Linda’s face to no avail.  The girl’s mother was panic stricken and unable to act rationally at this time, Ed Rice ran and jumped the fence surrounding the Anderson home, not waiting to operate the gate, and he quickly grabbed the burning child from her mother and swiftly tore off the clothing that was burning about her.  At this time, her hair was completely ablaze and she was suffering the most serious of burns and had lost considerable strength and consciousness.  He threw the child to the ground and without hesitation threw himself on top of her burning body so as to smother the flames.  In doing so he received burns on his chest and arms.  After extinguishing the flames, he saw that the little girl’s mother was hysterical with panic and fright, he then ran to her and was forced to shake her and bring her to her senses and comfort her by telling her that she could only make it more difficult for her child unless she pulled herself together.  For this unprecedented act of valor and for saving this little girl’s life, this plaque is presented.

         Robert St. Pierre, president of the J. C. Wilson Funeral Homes, made the presentation after which the little girl and her parents were brought onto the scene.  Linda joined the party and was presented several gifts from under the Christmas tree where Santa Claus had been earlier.  She also got a treat of apples, oranges and candy.  (Reprinted with permission from the Indianapolis Star)
 

    
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