Who Got the Bigger Bear Hug?

Ruth Ann’s Grandmother, Frieda Curtin, lived only 30 miles away from Hastings (Nebraska) in a town called Grand Island.   At the time, Grandma was in a wheelchair and when she heard about the plans for a parade in Hastings, nothing was going to keep her from going.

Ruth Ann’s aunt, Francis Waldo, also lived in Grand Island and offered to take grandma to the parade.    I’m sure they had to leave early in order to park, and find a good spot along the parade route.    Grandma wasn’t going to allow anyone to block her view.    They found a good spot along the parade route, and waited with 8000 other people to see the returning Nebraska Olympian hero.

Gary and Ruth Ann were traveling the parade route in an open convertible.    When Gary saw grandma sitting on the sideline and waving furiously, he asked the car driver to stop (which meant stopping the parade), got out and ran over to give grandma a great big hug.    Ruth Ann also stepped out of the car to greet grandma and Aunt Francis.

Gary and Ruth Ann along the parade route, Gary Anderson Day, October 26, 1964.

They hopped back in the car and the parade commenced.  Unfortunately we do not have a picture to commemorate  the moment, but grandma Curtin talked about that for the rest of her life, and Ruth Ann isn’t sure who got the bigger bear hug in that moment.

Frieda Curtin, Ruth Ann's grandmother