Show rC 4 -- A'' Vr ' if : v- i - II v "Cv:-- — t Marge CoragliottVs Handsome — —— bicycle club hoe swelled to 200 members-- hut -- 14-year-- old - John Pliler to everyone but particularly to Clyde and Marge Cora-gliot- ti a childless couple who lived in his neighborhood in Concord Calif John was a familiar figure around the Coragli-ot- ti home helping in the yard running errands and sometimes just keeping the couple company They looked forward to his frequent visits That's why the news that stunned others on the block that warm afternoon in May 1952 was crushing to them John had turned his bicycle into the side of a bus — and was killed instantly 'The emptiness in their lives was almost more than they could bear he had been like a son to them They knew they must do something to keep his memory alive—something lasting But what? Finally a thought came to Marge Coragliotti: "John still might be alive if he had known more about bicycle safety Suppose I try teaching bike safety to others? There were many things against it She worked all day in the Navy shipyard Also she and her husband owned a bicycle shop and it would be work was easy for gossips to say bicycle-safet- y simply a gimmick to attract business Spring faded into fall and fall into rainy winter The Coragliottis still had not decided on an appropriate memorial Then one day almost a year after' John was killed a bike rider fell in front of the car in which Marge was a passenger The driver slammed on the brakes and the automobile stopped inches from the boy He was frightened but uninjured Marge helped him up He was about John's age— the same sandy hair the same disarming smile At that moment she made an important decision: she would quit her job in the shipyard and work for the safety of Concord's children in John's name Marge set a date for a meeting sent notices to the newspapers and bought refreshments and prizes The day came: an overcast Oct 16 1953 - - — CX — in the beginning teaching safety to Concord Calif youngsters proved a struggle Marge poured her own money into it and when a neighboring merchant heard of this he arranged to have her speak before the Concord Lions Club The result: a check The same thing happened with the Kiwanis Club Slowly steadily interest Ma© Ml K poet-histori- an A personal friend of Sandburg Smith also wrote the profde on page 4 ng et The boy had been like her own son but now he was gone — killed in a bike accident what could she do to keep his memory alive? her talk on safety she noticed a little in his chair She tried to ignore him but his twisting distracted her' At recess she asked the boy: "Jimmy what on earth is the matter with you?" The dark-eye- d replied wistfully: "Bicycle Lady I'm Duringfidgeting seven-year-o- ld By ALFRED MARTINEZ sitting on burns" The story came out The boy's clothes had caught fire while he was burning papers A neighbor saw him and rolled him on the lawn smothering the fire But Jimmy had suffered some burns ' —and it hurt where he sat Marge was ashamed of herself for thinking of quitting instead she wrote for literature on fire safety and added a new dimension to the club Thanks to little Jjmmy she also was given a name that evening: the Bicycle Lady Have the results been worth all the effort? Marge would be the first to say yes In nine years hundreds of children have belonged to the club— and not one Of them has met with a major accident that could have been prevented by observing safety rules And the children came too— 80 of them crowded into her small house Thus the Children's Club of Concord was born She quickly forged the policy of the club There would be no dues She would teach safety It was as simple as that with one problem: she had no idea how to teach safety So she wrote to every possible source she could think of for material In less than a week she had stacks of folders books and letters She noted the most frequent causes of bike accidents: riding double riding without brakes riding without handgrips and holding on to moving vehicles In three weeks the club grew to 200 members jFbmlly In this dramatic portrait of Carl Sandburg artist William A Smith captures the dignity of a beloved heart-warmi- awakened and help moved in Marge taught bicycle safety by practical experience as well as by the book Although a heavy-swoman she learned to ride a bicycle herself and led her young charges on camping trips She made learning fun by letting the children participate in parades as a unit They learned to ride unicycles built by her husband and formed drill teams which have since won top awards But there were difficult times in the club's early months Adult interest occasionally waned and Marge often became discouraged Just before one meeting she had decided that it would be her last someone else could take over But something happened to change her mind kyfclmg COVER: t fi uimmb s 7: President tnd Publuker Vict Prerident PATUCIC E OHOUSKE Advcrtmng Director IfiOWON HANK Director of Publisher Relation all ooWisina communications to Family Wtkfy Snd WAlTEt DAVIDOW C January 6 1963 of Editori EtNEST V DREYFUS 153 N Michigan Avo Chicago 1 ii?w±£r7£T?l © IHS FAMILY WEEKLY III H Jwj°iSh? FHILLIF OYKSTRA MELANII Editor-in-Chi- ef Jock Art Director Food Editor DE FROFT 'r Abcvoa 10 MAOAZINI INC 153 N Michigan A HEYN IEN KARTMAN Executive Editor ROIERT FITZGIttON htamging Editor Arcta EWH Hal London fm torn J OpponhW Chicago I III All right rod Hollywood |