Verhovayak Lapja, 1955 (38. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1955 / Verhovay Journal
SEE THE MANY ATTRACTIONS IN THE WINDY CITY April 20, 1955. Verhovay Journal PAGE 11 RECEIVES APPOINTMENT FROM PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNOR Verhovay Watchtower By JOSEPH J. HORVATH — Cleveland, Ohio Governor George M. Leader on March 10th announced the appointment of Thomas R. Balaban asi First Deputy Insurance Commissioner for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Waynesburg lawyer is General Counsel of the Croatian Fraternal Union of America, the largest fraternal benefit society chartered in Pennsylvania. The new appointee is the son of Ml. and Mrs. Frank Balaban of Masontcwn, Pa., who many years ago left Zumberak, Jugoslavia for The United States. Mr, Balaban has eight brothers and five sisters. He is a member of the Roman Catho'ie Church. First Deputy Insurance Commissioner Balaban was born October 9, 1916 in Loyalhanna, Pa. He received his elementary and secondary education in the public schools of Masontown. He graduated from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1938 and received his Bachelor of Law degree at the same institution in 1942. Entering the Armed Forces in 1942, he served with the Army Intelligence Section in the European Theater of Operations, He served in the Counter Intelligence unit in Germany and was honorably discharged in October. 1945. Mr. Balaban was admitted to practice before the Allegheny County Courts in September, 1942 and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in the same year. He was admitted to pratice before the Greene County Courts in 1945 when he returned from the service. Mr. Balaban is a member of the Waynesburg Rotary Club, a charter member of the Jefferson Toastmasters’ Club, an Esteemed Loyal DEATH TAKES BRANCH 278 CHARTER MEMBER William Patvaros, member of Branch 278 since its beginning in Omaha, Nebraska, died suddenly at the age of 64 in Sheridan, Wyoming. He had just parked his pick-up truck in front of the Ewoldsen ranch when the fatal heart attack struck' him. Funeral services were conducted front the Holy Name Catholic Church by the Rev. F. J. Kimmett and burial was in the Sheridan Municipal Cemetery. Mr. Patvaros is survived by bis widow, the former Anna Marie Petro < whom he married in New Brunswick, New Jersey, July 16, 1916, and a brother Charles in Hungary. Born April 7, 1890 in Uppony, Borsod county, Hungary, the deceased came to The United States1 when he was 17 years old. When Mr. Patvaros moved to Sheridan, Wyoming he opened a grocery and operated it until buying p. ranch on Big Goose Road west of Sheridan. Here he owned and, operated both the Storm King and Black Diamond coal mines. Living in a place where there are few if any Hungarians, William Patvaros the Magyar spent much of his money refuting many false impressions about the Hungarians and creating a better understanding towaid his own people, and his efforts were successful. THOMAS R. BALABAN Knight of the B. P. 0. E. of Waynesburg and a member of the James Farrell Post of the American Legion. He is also a charter member of the Children’s Aid Society of Greene County, was General Chairman of the USO Di’ive in Greene County in 1946, Past President of the Greene County Bar Association, a member of the Legislative Section of the Pennsylvania Fraternal Congress and a member of the Law Section of the National Fraternal Congress of America. First Deputy Insurance Commissioner Balaban is married to the former Margaret Mosier of Rices Landing, Pa. They have four sons and one daughter. Our congratulations and best wishes to Mr. Balaban. Coal Industry’s Record of Progress The coal industry has made a remarkable record of technological progress. In 1917, millers put in eight hours of actual working time each day, land output per man averaged 3.77 tons. In 1937, the miners worked Be ven hours a day, and per man output had risen to 4.69 tons. In 1953 the miners worked about six-and-ahalf hours a day (though paid on an right-hour basis) and the average, output was eight tons. The gains in productivity have been accompanied by even more striking- gains in mine safety. Measured in terms of the frequency of injury per million tons, today’s soft coal miner’s job is five times as safe as it was 40 years ago and twice as safe as it was 15 years :ago. Miners are paid the highest daily wages of any mass industry group. The blame for coal’s current economic problems can not be attributed to the failure of management to keep up with the times., Very large sums have been spent to mechanize the mines, and thus bring ■'about the production and safety gains. The industry has done and will do everything in its power to meet its great obligations to the nation. Many people are anxious about the month of March, and it is true that this month has the most unpredic! table weather. However, gentle April is now soothing the weather wounds left by last month. Branch 14, in June, will elect its Convention delegates. There will be a number of candidates, including myself. A benefit card party was held by Branch 14’s Welfare Fund Committee and was well attended. A ten dollar basket of groceries, donated by the Verhovay Sports Club, was given as a prize. We hear thru the “underground” that the women of the Sports Club are planning a chicken dinner for a Saturday night either in May or June, at $1.50 a person. We regret to report that Steve Vache, Sr., Sports Club and member of Branch 14, suffered amputation of his leg because of an infected toe. Frank R. Pokorny, Jr. may take the bar examination the latter part of ‘55. GOOD LUCK. We saw Joseph Szalay at the Vanik dinner. The St. John’s Sports Club ca’-d party was a big success. A goodly number of Verhovayans were there, among them Oscar Federau, Steve and Florence Piscalko, Frank and Helen Oravis, Joseph Nagy and his brother-in-law Willie Casiacto, Mel and Sand Hegedűs, Ted and Frances Beres, Paul Bolesic. Pleasant get-together. We thank the committee and all our friends and guests for the grand testimonial dinner held for Senator Julius J. Petrash and Representative Joseph J. Horvath at Louie Varga’s ' Settlers Tavern. The dinner was arranged by the Cuyahoga County Hungarian Democratic Club. Judges Louis Petrash, Julius Kovachy and Joseph Stearns spoke of the many glowing opportunities in our land, but reminded their listeners that double hard work was essential to maintain a successful goal. At this affair we saw Frank J. Pokorny, Sr., Joseph Kruponsky, Joseph M. Toth, Sigismund Kadar, Joseph Szalay, Miss Julia Kemeny of the “Szabadság,” Louis Janik, John Lucocco, Director of Public Properties, Recreational Commissioner John Nagy (he will handle the Pan-American games in 1959 — couldn’t have picked a better man.), John Poremba. President of the Cosmopolitan Leagues, Jack Granite, Democratic Ward Leader, Mr. and Mrs. Clen Marshall, Ernest Beres, his wife and brothers, Peter Shaw, etc. Councilwoman Mary K. Sotak of Ward 29 could not attend because she was sick at home. Our special thanks to Andy Done, William Ruschak and Louis Varga for their enthusiastic work to assure the success of the event. On behalf of Pete and myself thanks go to the Club, the committee and the guests for the dinner and the wrist watches. Vie attended a card party for the benefit of Joseph Bodnar, Verhovay Sports Club member. This was a magnaminous affair to help a fellow member in distress. About 150 attended and there were 50 door prizes, the table prizes donated by the Verhovay Sports Club, sponsor of the card party. Mrs. Ann Pinter reported 100% cooperation by the membership. A net of $268.49 was turned over to Mrs. Bodnar. All the Branch 14 officers showed good example by their presence. CONGRATULATIONS to Steve (Susie) Piscalko who was elected president of the Sports Club. Our best wishes to the other new officers too. Columbus, Capital of Ohio. The electronic voting tabulator which we use went out of order recently. After using it for two months, then having to go back to verbal roll call — well, it seemed reminiscent of the horse and buggy days. Our illustrious Branch 14 member, Governor of Ohio Frank J. Lausche, delivered his budget message February 28th. We thought he was much concerned about new taxes that might be imposed by the Legislature for the ensuing two years. He cautioned against this except for an additional tax on the race tracks. We passed out of the Insurance Committee a bill permitting domestic life insurance companies to invest in lease-back properties. The Multiple Line Insurance bill may pass out of committee, but for one reason, and that is the so called Grandfather Clause. A fight to incorporate this amendment into the bill is now taking place. The hearings on the Industrial Compensation House Bill 270 have begun in the Insurance Committee. This bill would permit private insurance companies to write Industrial Compensation Insurance. Another compensation bill is in the Labor and Industry Committee, in fact there are nine bills. A sub-committee is now working this out, incorporating the best features of each bill. Also being heard is the C. I. O. HB recommending $50.00 a week unemployment compensation and $3.00 a week for each child. This bill is backed also by the A. F. L. Another is House Bill 124, called the Credit Union Bill, giving these organizations the right to buy life insurance on their members. House Bill 744, the Public Employees’ Retirement Bill, will be heard in a few weeks. It is said that Columbus. Ohio in the spring- of the year is something to remember, so I am waiting to see this remembrance. I do like Columbus. It is a great town. Ex Animo, JOSEPH J. HORVATH c.o. Verhovay Home > 8637 Buckeye Road Cleveland 4, Ohio---------Lfc--—---------Whenever you feel that life is crowding you remember there’s alv-ays room for improvement. * X * The only really poor people in the world are those who pretend they’re rich. A failure is a man who overdraws his experience account.
