Alumni Sandstorm ~ 01/12/01
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>>From: Burt Pierard (59)

To: Kay Weir Fishback (37)
    I assume you feel that your reference to the green
painted practice bomb (to which Jim House [63] so
reverently paid homage at R2K) somehow proves the non-
Atomic Bomb origin of the Bombers nickname. You could have
cited many others like the bomb symbols on the Pep Squad
and Cheerleader sweaters. On the other hand, countless
mushroom cloud symbols were also present, even, as I
recall, on our '59 class rings. So what does this have to
do with anything? Bombs are bombs and students have come
up with clever uses of them since the name origin in Sept.
1945.

The recorded historical facts remain the same:
1. The Sept. 13, 1945 article in The Villager said the new
nickname would be "Bombers" or "Atomizers" as reference to
Richland as the Home of the Atomic Bomb.

2. The name change occurred within two weeks after the
above article (Note: about one month after THE Bomb but
nearly 1 1/2 years after Day's Pay).

3. The first Columbian (May 1946) theme was
"...APPROPRIATELY ENOUGH (emphasis added) the Atom..."

Come on people - face up to your historical roots and
admit we were named after the Atomic Bomb. I challenge any
of you historical revisionists to produce one written
document that indicates the Bomber name was in any way
connected with Day's Pay. While you are at it, how do you
explain the alternative choice "Atomizers" and the first
Columbian theme?

If any of you are interested in seeing the critical Sept.
13, 1945 article, email me and I'll send you the .JPG copy
of the microfilm.

Atomic Bomber Cheers,
-Burt Pierard (59) ~ Monroe, WA
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