But first: Carol Anne Drummond (my 1st cousin 1X) & her mother Luba ‘Cherry’ Chermisin
I was only 9-years of age. I don’t recall my means of transport…perhaps by train, but by some means, I made my way from Grandaunt Charlotte’s Capistrano beach house to the San Bernardino doorstep of Luba “Cherry” Cherymisin, who was the first wife of my granduncle, Dr. Tom Drummond. This lovely lady along with daughter Carol Drummond, now Carol Drummond-Peterson of Concord, CA, gave me shelter for a couple of days along with great fun and adventure. This was a thrill for me.
Carol and I were roughly the same age. We just seemed to do so well together. This had been a life-changing time for me. In fact, so many events during the year had been traumatic. Dad and mom separating, Uncle Ron being on the US Olympic Team and of course there were these last couple of weeks that for me were such an awakening. It was, I think my coming of age. To Carol and her mom, I’ll forever be grateful and bonded.
Later, Carol would marry a most terrific young and handsome navy officer, Robert E. (Rob) Peterson. Paula and I had the thrill of sharing the evening with them in celebration. They looked fabulous and fabulously happy.
Carol Anne Drummond and her lovely mother Luba “Cherry” Chermisin
Hal Connolly – Olympic Gold-Medalist – Hammer Throw-LA Coliseum – source: http://www.nytimes.com
Apparently, my stay at Carol Drummond’s and her mother Luba’s home had been timed so that I could rendezvous with Dad’s brother, my uncle Ron Drummond. Uncle Ron would be picking me up in San Bernardino to take me home to Van Nuys, CA. Uncle Ron, that year qualified as 3rd man on The US Olympic Team. He would represent The United States at The Melbourne, Australia games in the discus event.
As well, he was actively working toward his Dental Degree (DDS) which he was ultimately awarded. Little did I know that Uncle Ron was about to spring a wonderful surprise on me perhaps best ever.
On our way home, Uncle Ron Drummond advised we would be stopping off at East Los Angeles City College. He said he needed to use the school’s facilities for a UCLA project he was working on. So, we drove to the campus, parked and walked onto the athletic field.
It was there that Uncle Ron introduced me to Hal Connolly who was also a U.S. Olympic Team member. He was working out with the hammer throw in preparation for the imminent summer games. When Uncle Ron said he had some things to do at the school that day, Mr. Connolly invited me to work out with him while Uncle Ron would tend to his project.
Interested as I was in sports, as a fan and participant, I was positively thrilled and, of course, accepted his offer. The men’s hammer competition involves men competing to see which of the men can launch the hammer the furthest from a fixed circular staging area.
Well, from my vantage point our work-out couldn’t have gone better. We worked on leg and arm strengthening and of course, threw the hammer as it is called. I thought of it as a regulation-weight (16#) solid steel ball (roughly speaking the same object used in the men’s shotput competition) except this ball has a length of cabling connecting material that has a handle for gripping attached to its other end.
In essence, competitors grasp the handle and spin in the designated circle in creating a massive centrifugal force, then hopefully launch the apparatus in a prescribed direction intending the ball to land on the ground as far from them as can be achieved. The contestant’s goal will be to out-distance all competitors. From the point of view of this nine-year-old, we had a great workout…one that I shall never forget. Mr. Connolly was so encouraging to me, I could have just burst with excitement. Before leaving that day, Hal looked me straight in the eyes and said, “You are a very good athlete. I can see you are good enough today at age nine that I can assure you that if you work at it very hard, one day you will be a champion.” Now, I may not have been the first kid he pitched that way but it sure sounded good to me. At nine years of age I believed him.
Many years later I would learn that Mr. Connolly had suffered the very same brachial plexus birth injury I encountered. Mine resulted in a weak supposedly dominant right arm which was atrophied and substantially weaker than the left.
I enjoyed sports very much but, I must say, Connolly created a whole new fervor resulting in my greater commitment to my improved physicality. Of course, I intensified my level of hard work. By the time I reached adulthood and similarly to Mr. Connolly, I had done so very well virtually overcoming my injury.
Upon return to the San Fernando Valley, I met with my grandfather George Drummond, Uncle Ron’s dad, telling him of what had transpired with Hal Connolly. He saw my excitement and configured a makeshift “hammer” for me to practice with.
Thank you, Luba and Carol. Thank you Uncle Ron, Hal Connolly and Grandad George Drummond. I will always be in your debt.
And P.S., Uncle Ron Drummond withdrew from The U.S. Olympic Team as his time in prep and participation would have obstructed his dental studies.
It is noteworthy in 1956 Uncle Ron Drummond captained UCLA’s track & field team to UCLA’s first-ever NCAA National Championship in track & field. And Mr. Hal Connolly went on to Melbourne, Australia that summer where he represented the USA winning Olympic gold.
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