| ....... |
|
| |
Ralph Perk: Perky WifeIn December 1972, Cleveland mayor Ralph J. Perk was invited to attend a White House dinner with President Richard Nixon. Shortly thereafter, Perk was asked why his wife Lucille had not accompanied him. She had made other plans, he explained: it was her bowling night.
[A comedy troupe later put on a revue entitled: "Sorry, Mr. President, This Is My Bowling Night." On the day of Perk's own inaugural, Lucille attended the regular meeting of the Parent Teachers Union at their children's parochial school. She also handled calls from constituents over the course of Perk's 35 year career, setting up an ironing board near the phone, so she could press shirts, pants and underwear while calmly assuring citizens that their concerns would be addressed. The mother of seven, Perk was named Italian Mother of the Year by the Italian-American Civic Club in 1965.]
[Trivia: In the 1840s, two centuries after it was first introduced to America by the Dutch, "ninepins" was outlawed in New York and Connecticut, largely because of the game's association with gambling. Because the law did not forbid other forms of bowling, however, industrious businesses simply added a tenth pin - and were thereby able to circumvent the law... Bowling has its roots in ancient Germany, where the game was known as Heidenwerfen - a German phrase meaning: "Strike down the heathens!"]
Perk, Ralph J. (?- ) American politician, mayor of Cleveland (1972-1977)
[Sources: The Cleveland Plain Dealer, Oct 9, 2001; M. Driscoll, ed., 5087 Trivia Questions & Answers]More Ralph Perk anecdotesRelated Anecdote Keywords:
Bowling Priorities Politics Rejections White House Dinner Parties
View/add Comments [0]
|
| |
|
.......
|
