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Author: Electroplater
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Classification: queries
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Evansville Press
Thursday, July 26. 1934
Page 1
FIRST CITY LIFEGUARD HEAT VICTIM
George "Duke" Dravis, 53, Served at Old West Side Pool
The man who helped make it safe for Evansville Persons to cool off in a swimming pool
during the hot summer days is dead -- a victim to the heat he helped so many others
dodge.
He was George C. Dravis, 53, the first city life guard.
Twenty-eight years ago, when swimming was still something to be feared, Dravis took charge
of the old West Side Pool. For 14 years he made it safe for men, women and children to
spend cool afternoons in the pool.
There was not a drowning while he was life guard at the pool.
He was known as "Duke" to the hundreds of Evansville persons who first learned
how to "dog-paddle" cautiously under his watchful eyes.
Later Duke had a partner as life guard, and his life became miserable. The partner's
idea in teaching children to swim was to outline the fundamentals, then toss them in deep
water.
Duke was kept busy pulling them out again.
His work at the pool was interrupted by the World War. Duke enlisted and was wounded three
times.
For several years he has been living on a Pigeon Creek houseboat, fishing and repairing
nets. Wednesday he collapsed on the Ohio Street bridge that spans his beloved creek and
died within a few minutes.
Surviving are: widow, Zena; son, William, and daughter Jannie May.
Funeral 2 p.m. Friday at the home of George Jordan, 1421 Cody St. Burial in Locust Hill
Cemetery.
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