THE WINNER, AND STILL CHAMPION...

     THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26TH., 2017
THE WINNER, AND STILL CHAMPION...

     My old friend Joe Palooka is back in the
limelight again! True, he's a comic strip
character whose comic strip hasn't been
published since the 1980's. But Joe, and
his creator, the late Wilkes-Barre artist
Ham Fisher, are forever remembered by
a monument that stands along Route 309
in Hanover Township.
      On Wednesday that monument was
rededicated after some extensive repairs
to its base and landscaping provided as
a public service by the Home Builder's
Association.
      I was on a committee, along
with Fred Ney, Sam Greenberg,
and the late John Cicero,that had the
current monument made and placed on
that site in 1976. It replaced a bronze
plaque that was placed at the base of
"Mount Joe Palooka" in the late 1940's.
That plaque was stolen around the time
of the Agnes flood in 1972.
      The Palooka character was a Heavy
weight fighter who became world
champion. His honesty and good
character were the subject of stories
in a newspaper comic strip, comic
books, a radio show, and several movies
all of which reflected credit on Wilkes-
Barre, the city he called home.
        Before the US became involved
in World War II, Ham Fisher drew a
strip in which Palooka enlisted in the
Army. That move prompted thousands
of Palooka followers to do the same.
        When the US entered the war
the Palooka character "fought" the
enemies of our country in his stories
making actual soldiers except him in
their "Band of Brothers."
         Back home his efforts in the
comics helped to sell War Bonds.
          Presidents Roosevelt and Truman
honored Fisher and Palooka for their
efforts on behalf of our country making
them national heroes!
          Too many people, especially
young folks, don't realize the impact
Fisher and Palooka had and how
their efforts reflect positively on the
nature of people raised around here.
           Stop by and see the monument,
Tell the story to those who don't know
it. Treasure our history and our heroes!
           Hope all your NEWS is good!