Messenger-Inquirer

Imagine a city where no one goes hungry on Christmas Day and all children can experience the joy of Christmas.

That was the picture newspaper accounts painted of Owensboro on Dec. 24-25, 1937.

Early that year, a record flood across the Ohio Valley drove nearly 300,000 people from their homes in 10 states -- more than 2,000 of them in Daviess County.

The deaths of six area people were blamed on the flood or the bad weather that caused it.

The poor are often hardest hit by such disasters and have the most difficult time recovering.

Two thousand people attended the Goodfellows Club's annual Christmas party that year. Donors had provided dolls, horns, harmonicas, wagons, footballs, drums and checkerboards for youngsters who otherwise would have had a meager holiday.

Best of all, the Owensboro Inquirer reported, "Hundreds of Christmas baskets are being distributed this afternoon and evening and it was believed that not a single needy family in Owensboro would be without a good Christmas dinner."

Public and parochial schools and civic, religious and charitable organizations all worked together to make such bounty possible.

What a beautiful picture of cooperation for the common good.

Today all sorts of schools, clubs and other organizations still work together to help the Goodfellows provide Christmas for Owensboro's low-income children and warm clothes and dental care for those children throughout the year.

Today's Roll Call

Previously reported: $49,827.61

Anonymous: $1,500

Apollo faculty and staff: $415.92

In honor of the blessings of good friends, Joe and Marie Hancock, Jerry and M'Alys Bowen, Ben and Pam Hartz, Dean and Doris Stanley, John and Riley Hess, Dean and Tina Jones, and Billy and Kathy Reid: $400

In loving memory of our parents, Mr. and Mrs. Rollie Ambrose, our sisters, Maud Chapman and Mabel Ambrose, and our brothers-in-law, Oda Chapman, Bill Cook, John Salmon, and Marvin DeJarnette: $300

In honor of all individuals who assisted me during my latest crisis by Dianne: $300

In memory of Jim Gant, Hank Petrie, Baldy Cashen, Delbert Murphy, Thirston Taylor, Bill Carneal, Dick Kreke, J.W. Sirvant, Crawford Diehl, Sherrill Johnson, Everett Thompson, Hank McCain, Tommy Howard, Jerry Blandford, and Herman Mosley by Moonlite Coffee Table group: $300

Edward and Karen Gotzy: $200

In honor of Bob and Patsy Hudson by Ken-tron employees: $135

In memory of our parents, Lemuel and Lillian Lamar, and John L. and Murna Taylor: $120

In loving memory of John Salmon: $100

In memory of Aaron Johnson by Evelyn Johnson and Reba Roemer: $100

Elizabeth Munday Center Senior Citizens Site Council: $100

Sterling and Carol Meza: $100

In honor of John Moore by CarJockey.com team: $100

In loving memory of Ron W. Newton, Shelly Newton Martin, Cleo and Alice Boyd Wilson, Lottie Kessinger, and George and Corene McCarty Newton by Helen: $100

In memory of Emma Blair by Roger Hickman: $100

A friend: $100

In memory of Bob Laswell, Jim Ed Abell, and Betty Sue Fiorella by Andy and Ann Fiorella: $100

In memory of Herman Joe, Ellen, John, and Smokey Gilles: $100

Patsy and Bob Hudson: $100

In memory of Mary Guinn, Donna Kay Jones, and Harold Mattingly: $100

In memory of Dennis "Allie" Knott by Kristin, Kolby, Allison, Alex, Stetson, Madison, and Mason: $70

In honor of Peggy Williams by Paula, Jennifer, Shelly, Chip, Stacy, Sarah, and Sam: $70

In honor of Jamie Wells by Paula, Jennifer, Shelly, Chip, Stacy, Sarah, and Sam: $70

In memory of Mildred W. and Tom B. Marshall by Browning Marshall, Jr: $50

In honor of Daniel, Kiah, David, and Benji: $50

Mrs. Kermit Johnson: $50

In honor of staff at Daviess County Middle and High Schools, and leaders of BSA Troop 10 by Neal, Andrew, and Nathan Clark: $50

In memory of my father, James E. Taylor, Sr. and in honor of my mother, Gertrude Taylor by Jim: $50

In memory of Tom, Bert, and Timmy Roger McEnroe by Richard and Pat McEnroe: $50

In memory of Les and Elizabeth Hughbanks by Richard and Pat Hughbanks McEnroe: $50

In loving memory of our parents, Jim and Catherine Riney and Amos and Helen Best by Michaeland Faye Riney: $50

In memory of Tracie Trogdon by her son, Tyson: $50

In memory of Eric Harden and in honor of Erin and Greg Harden by Heflin and Billie Browning: $50

In honor of our Nana and Pappaw by Olivia and Morgan: $40

In memory of my dad, Carl, mom, Katie, brother, J.C. Hagan, and husband, Willie Ezell by Frances Ezell: $30

In honor of our grandchildren, Hadley Pagel, Janie Pagel, and Evan Freas: $30

In memory of Thorton and Ethel Howard, Theda Hamlet, Margorie Neal, Carl Ray Miller, and Sherman Logsdon by Louise and family: $30

Anonymous: $30

Dave Scott: $28

In memory of my son, E. Louis Rhinerson, and daughter, Joyce Ann Miller by Anna L. Honeycutt: $25

In memory of Joseph B. Snyder by wife, Ruth Snyder: $25

In loving memory of Joni Renee Wetzel by Mom and Dad: $25

In memory of my husband, Tommy, daughter, Cheryle Bartley, deceased family and friends by Lucille Strong: $25

In memory of Elisabeth Vaughn by Suzanne and Walter Elder: $25

In memory of Myrtle Winkler by Ernestine Winkler: $25

In memory of our mother, Margery Crowe by Joyce and Janice: $25

In honor of my DCMS Cubs team teachers by Morgan Warren: $25

In memory of Mom and Dad, Frank and Gladie Yewell by their family: $25

In memory of our aunt, Audrey A. Brown by Louise, Betty Jean, Mary Ann, Karen, and Kathy: $25

In loving memory of our sister, Angie Thompson: $25

Anette and Charles O'Neal: $25

In honor of our great grandmother, Erdine Logsdon by Ella and Gage Logsdon: $25

In memory of our great grandfather, George "Bill" Logsdon by Ella and Gage Logsdon: $25

In memory of Barney and Meredith, and in honor of Shanna, Mark, Samantha, Paul, and Holly: $20

In memory of Emily Ann Dawson Love, Mamaw B.J. and Papaw Keith: $20

In honor of my teachers at Sorgho School by Keelie Willis: $20

In memory of my son, Joseph "Tommy" Roberts by mom, Eva Nell Barrentine: $10

Total as of Dec.12: $56,016.53