Ogden Standard Examiner OGDEN, UTAH, SUNDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 5, 1954 RED CROSS EXECUTIVE BOARD IN 1918 Members of the 1918 executive board of the Weber County Chapter of American Red Cross, which will celebrate its 39th birthday this month, were (left to right, back row) Warren L. Wattis, A. P. Bigelow, Mrs. Edward I. Rich, David 0. McKay, R. E. Bristol; (front row) Miles L. Jones, vice president; The Rev. John Edward Carver, president; Mrs. R. B. Porter, secretary and chairman, and John Watson, treasurer. Weber County Red Cross Was Created and Its Mettle Tested During First World War; Itll Be 39 Years Old December 14 By VERA WHITE Weber County Chapter of the American Red Cross will celebrate its 39th birthday this month. The national organization was founded in 1881, but the local chapter did not come into being until 1915, after World War I had broken out. With the shadow of tagedy huge upon the world, President Woodrow Wilson, in 1914, set in action the steps which reorganized the Red Cross to emergency status, and which set its present pattern. Among regional offices set up was one in Denver, callecl the Mountain Region. On December 14, 1915, a representative from that office came to Ogden and met with local community leaders, and the local Red Cross Chapter began its career. During the early years of the chapter a list of personnel formed a record of leading religious and social people of the community. First Executive Board The first executive board was comprised of Fred J. Kiesel, Dr. Ezra C. Rich, R. A. Moyes and J. D. Larsen. These leaders turned toward developing interest in the community, and to forwarding gifts to the European war front. At the end of a year a report meeting was held, and a new executive committee elected. Its members were: John Edward Carver, Miles L. Jones, R. A. Moyes and Mrs. Maud D. Porter. As the emergency overseas accelerated, so did the work of Weber County Chapter of the American Red Cross. And when the United States was eventually involved in that combat, the work of local volunteers became tremendous. The word volunteer is well chosen, as there was a list of almost a thousand workers during that period, all of whom gave their time and services, with the exception of two full time clerical employes. An idea of the extensiveness of these activities can be obtained from the size of the quarters occupied. At that period the Red cross occupied the entire fifth floor of the First National Bank Building, consisting of 14 large rooms. These quarters also were volunteer, since they were donated to the chapter without any cost whatever. Pressures Great From the beginning of hostilities, Ogden experienced great pressure because of being a railroad center. For instance, sick soldiers taken from trains had to receive care. A Red Cross military hospital of 12 beds was formed in conjunction with the Thomas D. Dee Hospital. When the United States was finally involved in the war, many services were organized, including canteen, motor corps and departments which made and dispatched garments overseas, and which prepared bandages for the wounded at home and abroad. Welfare aid was also given to military families in the community. The ending of the war brought a new emergency with a disastrous influenza epidemic. Rare was the household untouched by this fatal disease. The Red Cross swung into the fight against this new killer. Old records show that volunteers remained on duty as long as 12 hours at a time, visiting stricken homes, and taking food and medicine to the afflicted. Thus the people of Weber County completed an operation which is part of the proud history of the American Red Cross. Folowing the wearing war years and the relentless epidemic which they handled, local volunteers modestly conclude their report by saying, Our work is not finished, nor are our workers weary. Certainly, like all pioneers, they have left a challenge and a standard for all who would follow the work they began.