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Show Feature Loving life to tine fuBDest thought, thats the one. It was December 8, 1941. My fellow Americans, yesterday, December 7, 1941, a day that will live in infamy, the United States ofAmerica was suddenly and deliberately attacked Supernaw, a member of the Army National Guard, went to war. He was assigned to the 40th Division Artillery, and worked planted trees, fought fires, as a Mess Sgt. under General cleared trails, built camp- Hervey in California, the Hagrounds and improved public waii Islands, Guadalcanal and recreation facilities. Besides New Britain. Before he went board and room, he received a overseas, Supernaw married base pay of thirty dollars a Enid. Dont sit under the apple tree month, sending twenty-fiv- e home to his parents. with anybody else but me ... In the spring of 1937, when Enid moved to California to be the country was getting back on near her sister and to work for its feet, Supernaw found work Douglas Aircraft. In 1944, when as a hotel clerk at the Escalante Captain Midnight was Americas Hotel in Cedar City. That chilly Ace of the Airwaves, Supernaw winter, the young man worked came home for (R&R) Rest and Relaxation. at the Lunt Hotel and Cafe. The Army had taken over three At about the age of twenty-oncaplush hotels in Santa Barbara Supernaw launched his reer as a chef. He cooked for the where the soldiers and their dudes, as tourists were called in wives could have cozy dinners those days, at the North Rim of and hang loose for & week or two. the Grand Canyon. He would Enid and Floyd stayed at the spend most of his life cooking Biltmore. I was unassigned. I from the middle of nowhere to could have gone hack overseas, kitchens. again he says. Back in his day, the Union Instead, Supernaw became the Pacific Railroad recognized the chief cook at the Biltmore Hotel need for hotel facilities as well for the Army. His large staff as transportation.They invested consisted of nine army cooks millions of dollars in southern and seven civilian cooks. FolUtah to entice travelers to ride lowing his discharge in Septemtheir trains and tour the parks. ber of 1945, Floyd leased a cafe The (UPC) Utah Parks Com- and motel in Cedar City. But life pany, a subsidiary of Union Pa- is full of unexpected turns, the cific Railroad, loaded the dudes late 40s found him back with on UPC buses for a sightseeing the park service cooking for the excursion through Grand Can- tourists. As you are probably yon, Bryce and Zion National aware, we moved a lot, says Parks. The operation also in- Enid. Life was never boring. cluded Cedar Breaks National During the fabulous 50s, he Monument. UPC employed worked at the Silver Slipper in thousands of people to work as Las Vegas as a meat cutter and waitresses, bellhops, maids and cook. I cut 550 tenderloin steaks cooks. every night but Saturdays, then e Gimmie that hearty I cut 650. We baked 800 potacooking.The requirements were toes every night and fried tough and the work demanding. chicken to order in iron skillets. He rose at first dawn and went In the meantime, things were to bed long after dusk. The era of fast foods, packaged goods and hopping back in Utah. Kanab microwave ovens hadn't arrived. and surrounding communities Instead, it was a time when yeast were key locations for hundreds biscuit warmed on the embers of of film producers. So, when a wood stove, and the aroma of Supernaw received a call from fresh homemade bread filled the Whit Parry saying he needed a cook at Party Lodge, Enid and ..... air. , . We didn't have fancy things Floyd moved to Kanab. While he like an electric mixer," says cooked, Enid waited tables. Enids favorite movie star was Supernaw. He added that he made everything from scratch Ronald Reagan: He was a reand always used lard. ally nice man and I hate for For a time he worked as a chef anyone to say anything against in Los Angeles and Sun Valley. him," she says. She also served By 1940, Supernaw was the sec- Sammy Davis Jr., Sidney Poitier ond cook at the North Rim of the and Frank Sinatra. "They were Grand Canyon. "Thats where I nice too, she says. met Enid, she was working in Supernaw recalls Robert Taylor the pantry and salad departknocking on the kitchen door ment. I looked at her and at Parry Lodge. No one ever By Barbara Pyles Floyd Supernaw grew up on a farm in Otoe, Nebraska in an era when life was not all peaches and cream. Instead, people worked hard and had to struggle to survive. Supernaw, a young man of about nineteen, left home to join the Civilian Conservation Corps in Nebraska City. Along with thousands of other men, he e, up-to-da- te ... knocked on that door, he says. It seemed Mr. Taylor wanted a plate of food to take to his room. The night before, the mere sight of the movie star had caused a disturbance in the dining room. Supernaw fixed Taylor a plateful of turkey and dressing. When the lodge closed for the winter, he went to work as a cook at the Glen Canyon Dam. For a time, Supernaw lived and cooked in a tent. It was coffee, bacon and eggs in the crisp morning air. In the spring he joined the construction workers, and for many years drove back and forth from the Glen Canyon Dam to Kanab. After his construction job ended, he bought the Dairy Queen in Kanab. Then, when the BLM sponsored a Job Ccrp. Camp in Price, Utah, he went to work as the first cook. About two years later, he be- came Chef-Manag- at er Wahweap. Supernaw recalls making the 16th birthday cake for a daughter ofRobert Kennedy and also one for the daughter of Lucille Ball. Now remember, those who worked for the UPC had seasonal jobs. When Supernaw wasnt cooking, he was painting. One winter I painted bedrooms and batheighty-tw- o a rooms, swimming pool and one big utility room at a motel in Page, he says. Oh yes, at one time, Supernaw was at a steak house in Page. When George Stevens brought 200 people for the film of The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965) Chef-Manag- er SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS WEDNESDAY APRIL 1C, 1W7 15 Enid arri Fkyd Supernaw at home in the kitchen. Making cinnamon rotis is sometftng Floyd loves to do. Photo by Barbara Pyles. in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Floyd and Enid were eijoying life in Kanab. Supernaw was highly recommended for the job of cook. Supernaw gives an account of how he became the first cook for the movie company. One night, Ed Wynn, the man who played the blind man in the movie, wanted some hard boiled or poached eggs. He was an old man and all tuckered out. Supernaw continues: Not in my kitchen," screamed the first cook. I dont care who they are, they eat whats on the menu. Its not your kitchen anymore," said the boss. Sup, youre the first cook." Which makes one wonder. Is Supernaw the first cook at home? He does a lot of cooking, and we do a lot of cooking together, says Enid. But he doesnt tell me how to cook. Shes a really good cook, he says. But, she cant make pie crust" Enid grins. He can make pie crust while Im thinking about it. So, why not let him? But life is more than cooking. Supernaw is President of the Lions Club, a member of American Legion (Post 69), and a life time member of the Elks Lodge in Cedar City. Pius, he grows a garden. Enid is a member of the Kanab Womens Civic Club, she attends American Legion functions with her husband and helps him in the garden. --Both enjoy visiting with their three children, three grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Floyd and Enid Supernaw are living life to the fullest. Kanab Area Physicians Calendar & Office Hours old-tim- Dr. Psrndya 8:30 am - 5 pm Kanab 9 am- - coon 2 pm - 5 pm Kanab M, T, Th, F 644-266- 5 Dr. Roberts 644-261- 2 Dr. Mortenson 643-75- 00 M,T,W,Th,F . 8 am - 3 pm (AZ) Fredoaia " 8 am -- 12 noon (AZ) Dr. Arrson-QrtLcpsd- Jc M-T- fa Fri 1st Tfcssiiy csch csssUi v 1st Tfcsasday each eszth Br.C13rc!r.Jxlc Stisrsca-ar, Dr. Ncse & Tbrcct 2nd Tuesday each ncuth ;'t . " Dr. ;Dr. T - -- - ;; ; 2nd & ChWcd Szrgsxy 644-261-2 ' ccbuT- Tfearsday : v- - 644-53- 11 644-261- 2 644-531- 1 641-262- 2 The Kane County Hospital's regular governing board meetings are held the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7 pjn. in the Kane County Hospital's Conference Room. L nr Bfmc&t&you byKzna County Hospital ...A ,E,.W v v - ' . ' - |