Out of the past 4/27/07

25 years ago: April 27, 1982

Dr. Bill L. Atchley, a Cape Girardeau native who since 1979 has been president of Clemson University, will address a record Southeast Missouri State University graduating class on Mother's Day, May 9; the class consists of 868 undergraduate students and 51 graduate students.

C. Frank Reeves for Cape Girardeau, a retired military man who was a former prosecutor and probate-magistrate judge in Mississippi county, has filed as a Republican against Division III Associate Circuit Judge William S. Rader, a Democrat.

50 years ago: April 27, 1957

Development of an expanded curriculum which will aid the predominantly agricultural economy of Southeast Missouri is defined as one of the major aims of State College by Dr. Mark F. Scully, who is inaugurated as the tenth president of the school.

Whitey "Jesse" Knight, a professional vocalist and guitar artist for two decades, has hit the big time with Dot Records, recently purchased by Paramount Studios; Knight is the brother of George Knight of Cape Girardeau; he has signed a recording contract with Dot.

75 years ago: April 27, 1932

The Illmo town board last night contracted with John Miller of Fornfelt to build a new water plant at Illmo, provided for under a bond issue of $40,000.

A proposal that the municipal power plant in Jackson furnish electric power for street and residential use at Gordonville has struck a legal stumbling block; city attorney Frank Hines has been advised that a circuit judge, passing on a similar case at Shelbina, Mo., held that a fourth-class city, such as Jackson, can't contract to supply power outside its city limits.

100 years ago: April 27, 1907

Coach Clyde Elder and his band of Normal School braves arrive home from St. Louis after having been defeated twice; after losing to the Christian Brothers Thursday, the Cape Girardeau team fell yesterday to Shurtleff College at Upper Alton, Ill., 4-3.

Architect L.B. Blackwood and his wife depart for St. Louis, where they will reside in the future; Blackwood's architecture will always be pleasantly known in Cape Girardeau.

-- Sharon K. Sanders