May 28 | 50 years ago

The following are segments of stories from the May 28, 1964 edition of the South Whidbey Record: "Dick Ward retires after 25 years," "Gun club granted liquor license," and "Skin divers cut breakwater loose."

The following are segments of stories from the May 28, 1964 edition of the South Whidbey Record.

Dick Ward retires after 25 years

“Dick Ward, state trooper on South Whidbey for the past 25 years, retires Monday, June 1, after more than 25 years of service with the Washington State Patrol, years in which he had many hair-raising experiences yet never drew his pistol on a man, never had an arrest ‘go sour’ and had to manhandle one or two of his ‘customers’. “

“Dick started with the Washington State Patrol in Mount Vernon in 1939 after a successful pro baseball career was cut short by a bad arm.”

Gun club granted liquor license

“The first mixed drink liquor license to be issued on South Whidbey has been granted to the Holmes Harbor Rod and Gun Club, subject to approval of planned alterations to their building.

“Gun club directors held a special meeting Wednesday evening and authorized the building committee to secure a bank loan and go ahead with the alterations.”

Skin divers cut breakwater loose

“Skin divers Ed Pfeiffer and Virginia Long successfully freed Langley’s sunken floating breakwater during the past week from the chains and cables which bound it.

“The breakwater, a long log boom, has been a hazard to boats since it sank near the Langley dock.

“The two divers used a total of four tanks of air, representing about two and a half hours each underwater, during their labors. They cut through two anchor chains and several big staples.

“In the near future, the breakwater will be towed to a location where it will be of no danger.”