John Hall
Place...Kingsbridge Veterans Hospital , Bronx , NY
Time....A Sunday morning in 1958
Dick Baker, a Paraplegic in an adjoining hospital ward wheels himself over to the Convalescing GU ward to my area. He tells me that there isn't any attendant to accompany him on his Sunday outing. As Dick and I, as well as most of the Paraplegics and Quadriplegics, were close friends, I said that I would accompany him. Para's were allowed to drive cars (with special controls) as long as they had an able person with them. He said that every Sunday he went to see the Roller Derby. He said that he had dreams of becoming a skater before his service incurred injury that left him paralyzed. I asked him..'what is a Roller Derby'? As Dick saw the confusion upon my face as he tried to describe it, he said....never mind, I know you'll like it and I'll pay for the beer and we get in free as I'm handicapped. Off we went......
A NEW WORLD
We entered the 14th St Armory and I was astounded at the scene....Skaters were whizzing around this highly banked oval at an astounding speed. ...they were giving each other whips and performing agile moves that I had only seen before on football, basketball players and in boxers. Dick saw the surprised look I had and he said...John..this is only the Chiefs warmup...the game starts next. What also amazed me is that there were Females on the oval also and they were doing the same as the men......I liked these 'warmups'....While waiting for the Chicago Westerners, led by Hal Janowitz and Loretta Behrens, to take the track to skate a game against the New York Chiefs, Dick Baker explained 'all about' the game. Dick was an avid Fan and a very knowledgeable Fan. His explanations and his thoughts were easy to understand and I felt that I knew enough about this event by the time it started.
Needless to say, I enjoyed everything that took place that day ....and I was very startled to hear the Announcer state...'You can become a Skater, get paid well, travel, etc....I listened and on the way back to the VA Hospital, Dick told me more about the training school. I was 'hooked'. Despite being a patient in a VA Hospital and being on the 100% Disabled Veteran list, I was there on the next Saturday, with skates purchased from Davega Sporting Goods. My training began..............
TBC = to be continued....
John Hall
