EDITOR’S NOTE: Superiorland Yesterdays is prepared by the reference staff at the Peter White Public Library in Marquette.

30 years ago

MARQUETTE — Author Nadine Cohodas, an Upper Peninsula native, offered inspiration to students at Graveraet Middle School this month. The author of “Strom Thurmond and the Politics of Southern Change” worked on the University of Michigan college newspaper during one of the rockiest ears of our history-the 1960s. Her experience with the Civil Rights movement paid off. After working in Ann Arbor, Cohodas accepted a job at The New York Times. After a stint in North Carolina, she went to law school and worked for Congressional Quarterly. Eventually, she met Sen. Strom Thurmond, one of the south’s most well-known politicians. Her book traces his evolution from a hard-core southern segregationist to a supporter of Justice Clarence Thomas, the second African American to serve on the Supreme Court. Thurmond, now 90, began as a member of the Democratic Party’s southern Dixiecrats, but is now a conservative. Thurmond calls Cohodas his “best friend” from the north. Her book includes information on his record 24-hour 18-minute filibuster on the Senate floor and the effects of the Civil Rights movement on the south.

60 years ago

K.I. SAWYER AIR FORCE BASE — For the second consecutive year, Capt. Daniel D. Rosinsky, commander of the 56th Supply Squadron at K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base, has been selected one of the “Outstanding Supply Officers” in the Air Defense Command and the U.S. Air Force. Rosinsky received the award in recent ceremonies held in the office of Col. Daniel P. MacLean, base commander. Maj. Jack B. Kennedy, director of supply and services was also in attendance at the ceremonies. Each year, the records of all USAF Supply officers are forwarded to Washington for screening by a special selection board. Officers are chosen for this recognition after their records have been carefully screened, compared, and re-screened. The purpose of this award is to identity and recognize officers in the Supply field who have demonstrated outstanding proficiency in the execution of supply duties. “The critical operation of the Air Force makes it mandatory that the officers best qualified to perform Supply duties be appropriately recognized and clearly identified,” reads Rosinsky’s citation in part.