Los Banos Rotary Club History
Tells of Olympic Experiences

An interesting reminiscence of the last Olympic Games, held in Berlin, Germany, in 1936, was given members of the local Rotary Club Tuesday noon by John Lyman, manager of the local Golden State Co. plant. Lyman, who made an impressive record as a shot putter while attending Stanford University, attended the 1936 Olympiad as an interpreter for the United States team.

Attending a German university at that time as a result of his having been awarded a Stanford scholarship, Lyman was disappointed in not being able to return to this country to compete for a position on the U. S. team. However, Lyman said his position as an interpreter there gave him an excellent opportunity to be closely associated with the games and at the same time have a fuller freedom than was permitted team members.

Declaring that the Germans capitalized on the Olympiad to propagandize the might of the Germany army, Lyman nevertheless complimented the German army for the very efficient manner in which the games were presented and handled. The specially built stadium accommodated 100,000 people and was crowded throughout the games. The true spirit of the Olympiad was not overly evidenced at the Berlin games, however, with the Germans emphasizing national might and supremacy rather than personal prowess.

Commenting on the fact that through the years athletes continue to establish new records, Lyman expressed his opinion that the individual of today is no stronger than one a hundred years ago, but benefits from a psychological reasoning that when one man has achieved a record that has never before been attained, it becomes easier for the next fellow to better his mark. As an example, Lyman cited several comparative records of the 1896 and 1936 Olympiads. The 100 meter dash, in 1896, was run in 12 seconds; in 1936 the time was 10.3 seconds. The 800-meter record was lowered from 2:11 to 1:52; the 110-meter hurdles from 17.6 seconds to 14.2; the high jump from 5 ft. 11 in. to 6 ft. 7 in.

Attendance Contest

Charles Bates, chairman of the attendance committee, gained no good will at all as he outlined to the club the provisions of a new-fangled attendance contest dreamed up by his committee. A six-team contest, with F. E. Buck, Wade N. Galloway, Fred Lorensen, John Machado, Marshall Jose and R. M. Miano as captains, will run throughout the year, with a free banquet for the three winning teams at the conclusion.

Each month the low-ranking team will serve as table waiters for the following month. To make absenteeism even more distasteful, Bates has provided the club with a pair of large white rabbits, complete with cage, which the absentee victim must carefully care for and nurture until they can be turned over to a more recent absentee member. Bates said that anticipating normal reproduction of his rabbit family, a potential crop of about 130 to 140 rabbits should be forthcoming before the contest closes.

And as a final jab at the meeting misers the contest provides that should the rabbit tender of the week suddenly find there has been an increase in the family, he is duty bound to provide cigars for the entire club.
Gene Pappani, manager of the Bank of America force, was declared rabbit tender for the opening week, and he is said to be almost happy in his appointed task of providing their daily feed and water.

July 22, 1947

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