THE BIG COMEBACK!

 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19TH., 2017
          THE BIG COMEBACK!

     Though I'm not a fight promoter I
attended a meeting earlier this week to
help plan the big comeback of the
Heavyweight Champion of the World!
      The champ hasn't fought for many
years but many of us still believe he's
the best boxer there ever was!
       His name is Joe Palooka!
       He's a comic strip character
created by a Wilkes-Barre native,
the late Ham Fisher.
        Palooka was such a popular
character that when Fisher wrote a
story about him enlisting in the
Army during World War II, thousands
of his fans followed his lead and
signed up to serve their country.
        Some 40 years ago I was on a
committee that raised funds for a new
Joe Palooka monument along Rt. 309
in Hanover Township. The original
Bronze plaque honoring the fighter and
his creator had been stolen. It marks
the site of "Mount Joe Palooka."
         The new monument stood the
test well but it's concrete base began
to deteriorate several years ago.
          A couple months ago the Home
Builder's Association decided it was
time to make repairs and its members
went to work. They've done a
beautiful job!
          Next Wednesday the refurbished
memorial will be rededicated and the
three surviving members of our original
4-man-committee have been invited to
take part in the celebration. Each of us
was written into the comic's storyline
back then.
          A lot of people actually expected
I'd wind up in the "Funnies" some day
so they weren't too surprised
          I'm sure everyone will appreciate
the work done by the Home Builder's
Association!
          Hope Joe enjoys his comeback
and that all your NEWS is good!