​History of Richard Gouverneur Baldwin

June 9, 1905 to January 14, 1945

 
I never knew my grandfather, Richard “Dick” Gouverneur Baldwin, after whom I was named. My parents often told me that they felt mercy for me and gave me the middle name “Gene” instead of “Gouverneur”. For that I am grateful. It took me years of research to finally verify the correct spelling of my grandfather’s middle name. I always knew how to spell Gene.
 
I had the opportunity to see my uncle Les Baldwin, the summer of 2023, on Father’s Day. It had been over 40 years since we had seen each other. Uncle Les had visited my father and mother in the 1980’s, and they brought him over to our house to see us. It had been probably over ten years prior to that since I had seen him. The gathering in Uncle Les’s home on that 2023 father’s day was such a delight. I was excited to meet cousins and “cousins-in-laws” for the first time, or at least since we cousins were young children. We chatted about family history and viewed a PowerPoint slide show of the Baldwin family history that Devri had shown to the family the prior year. It  was new to my wife Kim, and me and we all enjoyed the stories that went with it.
 
As the gathering ended I asked my uncle what he would like most for me to do for him in reference to family history. His request was for me to help him get to know his father, Richard Gouverneur Baldwin, who had passed away when Les was seven years old.
 
The challenge excited me, and when we returned home from our summer vacation trip, I began exploring for a deeper knowledge and understanding of my grandfather and Les’s father. Since he was a newspaperman, there are many articles written by him, and in newspapers written during his youth I discovered that there were many articles were written about him, or where he was mentioned.
 
I gathered many facts and was able to document many of the events in his life. My father, William “Bill” Baldwin wrote four stories about his father that gave some information that would not be available from any other source. He admits to reconstructing these stories with some “poetic license” but due to any inability to challenge them, I will present them as history. These helped “flesh out” the facts that were found in newspapers. I also am the “caretaker” of some of Grandpa Richard’s former possessions which I have photographed and included in this narrative.
 
Therein lies my dilemma. How do I write about someone I never knew? He passed away five years before I was born. How do I present facts, newspaper articles, photos, books and other items and gather them into a story worth reading? I would like to document each thing I write, and include the sources. I puzzled with putting them all within the story, but the sources were making it easy to lose any continuity. They looked more like an index, than a narrative. Therefore, I have chosen to do my best to write a narrative, including the facts, and refer to the sources that will be included at the end of this account.
 
The custom in the Baldwin family for generations has been to name a new son after the grandfather. Therefore, there are a good number of Richards, Dicks, Williams, and Bills that need to be individually identified. For this narrative, when I reference Richard or Dick, it will be the subject of this narrative, Richard Gouverneur Baldwin, born 1905 and died in 1945. Any others, such as I, will be identified with their birth year (i.e. Richard(1950)). This also needs to be clarified with the William Lane Baldwins. Richard’s father was William “Bill” Lane Baldwin, born in 1880 and died in 1937. Richard’s son, (my father), William “Bill” Lane Baldwin was born in 1929 and died in 1995. When Bill is mentioned, I will usually be referring to Richard’s father, born in 1880 (i.e. Bill(1880)). His grandson will be identified as “Bill(1929)” or “William Lane(1929).”
 
I hope this stirs the family to pull out old photographs, memories and stories and that you all might forward them to me, so that I can update this narrative. Dick(1905) must have been a very impressive guy.
 
Let’s see if we can get to know him.

BIRTH - 1905
Richard Gouverneur Baldwin was born on June 9, 1905, in Santa Barbara, California[i] [ii] [iii]. His father, William Lane(1880), was 25 and his mother, Bethiar Belle Gilkeson (Baldwin), was 24. Richard’s birth record was not available on-line. I have not found a birth certificate or birth announcement on any other resources. The Endnotes cite other sources for his birth date from later available documents such as census records, websites and his draft card.
 
According to Bill Baldwin’s(1929) story titled “The Young Richard Baldwin,” [iv] Richard’s father, Bill(1880) worked as a paymaster for the Santa Fe railroad.
The 1920 United States Federal Census records[v] report that Bill(1880) was a “salary worker”, noted as an “Assistant Accountant” for the “Santa Fe office” of the railroad. His mother was a “homemaker,” not employed outside of the home.
 
Bill’s(1929) story says Bill(1880) was a “gentle and temperate man whose only vice was a glass of sherry after dinner each evening.” He is said to have a “solid work ethic” which was, according to Bill(1929), “installed by his father Richard Baldwin, a stevedore in San Francisco.” [This last bit of the story is actually incorrect. Bill’s(1880) father was James Baldwin, who is listed as an upholsterer in the 1880 census.] The story continues by describing Bill(1880) as a “conscientious bookkeeper” who even “insisted his (accounting) books be brought to him in the hospital” after he had a heart attack. He had been in the hospital for about a month before he died. “He did not wish to leave his work undone.” Richard(1905) was thirty-two when his father passed away.
 
1905-1919
I found little information regarding Richard’s young life up until he was fourteen. I’m depending upon the story “The Young Richard Baldwin,” to fill in those years between his birth and age fourteen. To quote “Although Richard was an excellent student and eager to learn, getting the education was not simple. For most of his grade school years, Dick’s family lived in a caboose on the Santa Fe line, travelling the length of California. This required Dick to attend five grade-schools. A different one each day, Monday through Friday.” [vi]
 
1913 - PHOTOGRAPH - EIGHT YEARS OLD?
Included in the documents with this narrative is a copy of a photograph of Bill(1880) and Dick(1905). It looks to me that Dick is about 8 years old, which, if correct, the photograph was taken around 1913.[vii]
 
Bill’s(1929) story reports that Dick attended the Methodist church in Fresno each Sunday morning, and was awarded a perfect attendance medal on his twenty-first birthday, forgiving two consecutive Sundays he missed because of a bout with diphtheria. He returned “home” to the caboose on Sunday in time to board the train for its Monday destination. [viii]
 
1911-1918 - GROWING UP – ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGE
Dick was well disciplined. He necessarily made friends easily, as a transient student. This probably prepared him to be the outgoing person he became, “able to talk to anyone at any time and get whatever information he needed.” He played baseball well, and was confident in himself.[ix]
 
His father eventually settled the family in Fresno, California. They purchased a “small place on the outskirts of town and settled down. It was a nice wooden two-bedroom house. The kitchen had a pump in it, so Berthier did not have to haul water. The outhouse was a convenient back-to-back two-holer.” [x] The move led to some difficulties, various fights, victories, friends, enemies and “accidents,” but time passed, and Dick was “universally accepted.” [xi]
 
JULY 28, 1917 - WORLD WAR I BREAKS OUT
About this time, for historical context, the first world war broke out on July 28th, 1917, and continued through November 1918. This conflict affected society in our nation, as well as involving many in the U.S. “Young men were going in the Army and Navy to fight the war to end all wars. … Bill(1880)  wanted to go with them, but he was married, had a child, and it was quite important to keep the trains moving goods throughout the country. Bethiar would be the one to give the extra effort for the war.” [xii]
  
GROWING UP FRESNO, CALIFORNIA
According to Bill Baldwin’s(1929) story “The Young Richard Baldwin,” Richard’s mother began work outside the home at a meat-packing plant. Eventually, that led to her entrepreneurial start selling sack lunches to the other employees along with crocheting and knitting, and selling these items, too. Her success with lunchtime meals drew the attention of the meat-packing plant, and they eventually expanded to provide their own lunch counter. Bethiar closed her business and returned to the farm. Perhaps this unsupervised time while Bethiar was working is the reason Dick sought out activities at the local YMCA. [xiii]
 
Dick’s(1905) parents were putting aside funds to aid him to pay for college. “They made a conscious decision not to pay for all of Dick’s college expenses. He would have to contribute; to work his way partially. He must want the education enough to do that.” [xiv]
 
“Dick added a job to his school, sports and church schedule. He worked as a window washer, a helper on a milk truck and an ice delivery truck.” [xv]
 
Dick Baldwin was an active sportsman in his youth. We have been told that he played baseball well in grade school. He was noteworthy in Junior and Senior High School also, and involved in multiple groups, committees, sports and school politics in high school.
 
I found many news articles in the Fresno Morning Republican and The Fresno Bee newspapers. These will have to suffice until we get through Dick’s high school sophomore through senior school years.
 
March 13, 1919 – THIRTEEN YEARS OLD –YMCA NOTES
We learn in the March 13, 1919, Fresno Morning Republican[xvi] (FMR), of thirteen-year-old Richard’s success in the Junior athletic tryouts. In the One-Potato Race he placed third, also third in the Two-Potato Race, second in the Three-Potato Race and third in the Five-Potato Race. Other than the popular picnic races holding a potato on a spoon, I have no idea what kind of races these were. However, Richard was pretty good at them!
 
 May 14, 1919 – THIRTEEN YEARS OLD –YMCA NOTES[xvii]
A few months later, in the same newspaper his name is mentioned as participating in the Volleyball Tournaments in the Junior group games on a team called the “Aviators”. The team was captained by Richard Baldwin. They came out with winning colors. The Aviators were tops with a total of 122 points, higher than the next closest with 111 points.
 
On June 11th, of 1919, the paper[xviii] lists the graduates from Washington Junior High – Richard Baldwin is one of the graduates mentioned.
 
After graduation from junior high, now, fourteen-year-old Dick remained busy during the summer. The newspaper[xix] reports the October 1919 results of a YMCA Boys swim meet:
Richard Baldwin placed second in the juniors 25-yard swim.
Richard Baldwin placed second in the juniors 100-yard swim.
Richard Baldwin placed third in the juniors 25-yard back-stroke swim.
Richard Baldwin placed third in the juniors’ plunge for distance swim
 
Now, as a sophomore in Fresno High School, Dick is still active in the YMCA sports activities. The FMR reports[xx] that fourteen-year-old Richard Baldwin competed in the Junior class handball tournament. He was defeated in four games initially. Next series against a different competitor he won in two games.
 
The YMCA also held Junior athletic and aquatic events during the week as reported in the same newspaper on the same day. Richard Baldwin won the “Throw for strikes” competition, and place second in the “Standing broad jump”. He also came in third in the “Dive for form.”
 
NOTE
As we get into the high school days, full player names are not always included in these reports from the high schools. However, after examining the list of students in the 1929 High School Annual, I found no other Baldwins. I believe then, that references to Baldwin refer to Richard/Dick Baldwin.
  
1920 - FIFTEEN YEARS OLD – 14th CENSUS OF THE U S
1920 brought a new national census. On January 27th, 1920, the Fourteenth Census of the United States 1920 Population[xxi] we learn that fourteen-year-old Richard Baldwin lived in Township 3 in Fresno, California at 4101 McKenzie Avenue with his 38-year-old mother Bethiar and 38-year-old father William Baldwin. They owned their home, mortgage free. According to the census, Richard was attending school, able to read and write. His father, William was born in New York. William’s father and mother were born in Ireland. William was listed as an Assistant Accountant for the Santa Fe Office (of the Railroad), as a wage/salary worker. His mother (Bethiar) is listed as being born in Missouri. Bethiar’s father was born in Kentucky and her mother is listed as born in Missouri. There is no occupation listed for his mother, Bethiar or for Richard(1905). All three are listed as able to speak English.
 
1921 - SIXTEEN YEARS OLD
“High school brought unusual popularity to Dick(1905). His friends from church and school recognized his sense of humor and his athletic ability.”[xxii]
 
On October 3rd, 1921, the FMR[xxiii] reports that the school Press Club Names Officers for Year: Sixteen-year-old Dick Baldwin is chosen to be the business manager. The article states that “The Press club has accepted the offer of The Republican [FMR] and will publish one page of news every Monday morning.” Dick’s press career appears to begin here.
 
Next time we find Dick is on January 9th, 1922, [xxiv] in five different articles in the Fresno Morning Republican (FMR). I believe that Dick is on the school basketball team. I am unclear about the sport here because I was unaware that a basketball team would be classed by player weight. The paper reports that the 130-pound Fresno team of five that included Dick Baldwin was defeated by the Reedly team.
 
In a second article, on the same paper, on the same page, Dick is listed again [xxv]. Dick has the lead role in “The Lost Silk Hat” by Dunsany. It was presented by the first period class in dramatics. Richard Baldwin played the role of “The Caller”.
 
A third time, in the same paper, on the same page [xxvi] we find this busy guy in another role. The Junior class held its fourth meeting of the year. The juniors chose to amend their class constitution. The meeting was presided over by Dick Baldwin, president of the class.
 
In the fourth article [xxvii] we learn that the Fresno HS basketball team has won all games they played this season. Dick Baldwin played in the second half when the first team was replaced by the substitutes. The “subs” scored fourteen points and allowed the opponents only four.
 
Then, finally for that day’s reporting, the FMR reports [xxviii] on page ten, the FRESNO BOYS WILL GO TO HI-Y CONFERENCE. Select members representing the Fresno HS will go to the Hi-Y club conference. Dick Baldwin was among those selected.
 
The Hi-Y clubs are U.S. social clubs for middle school and high school boys and girls that are affiliated with the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA). The purpose of the clubs is “to create, maintain and extend, throughout the home, school, and community, high standards of Christian character.” 
 
They must have done well, because on January 30th, 1922, it is reported:[xxix] FRESNO WINS FROM HANFORD CAGE TEAM. Fresno defeated Hanford’s unlimited basketball team. Fresno’s 130-pound team beat Hanford’s 130-pound team. Dick Baldwin played forward.
 
Elsewhere in the January 30th edition, Dick is found again.[xxx] PRESS CLUB ELECTS NEW SET OF OFFICERS; The new officers include Dick Baldwin as Vice President.
 
Dick continued to be active during the winter of 1922. In the February 27th edition of the FMR[xxxi] Dick is found in the Agora Club. Dick presented Dr. Alfred Lorenz, “Straightener of Children” for his talk.
 
For we who are not familiar with what “Agora” is, I found this explanation on Wiki.agoraspeakers.org. Although reflecting the current description of the club, this appears to describe that in which  Richard participated.
The Agora Speakers International Foundation is a European secular educational charity that empowers people to become brilliant communicators and confident leaders who will be actively building a better world.
We provide a specialized educational program focused on developing leadership, public speaking, critical thinking, and debating skills.
Our training system does not involve teachers or classes. To learn and improve, our members use our online training materials and join one or more Agora local clubs where they meet, practice, and receive peer feedback regularly in a friendly and supportive environment. At the same time, they participate in and lead real-world projects that leave a lasting effect on their communities.
Now, it is March 6 of 1922. The FMR [xxxii] reports the Junior class selected a three-part play for the “Junior Farce” presentation at the High School. Sixteen-year-old Dick Baldwin was selected to play the role of Jack Temple in the play “Mrs. Temple’s Telegram.”
 
A week later, June 13th the FMR [xxxiii] reports that the school annual will be out in June. The class annual for Fresno High School was named “The Owl.” Dick Baldwin served on the Owl Staff as editor of the “joshes”(?).
 
In May we see some of Dick’s imaginative marketing reported in the FMR.[xxxiv] Dick sent a telegram to the school addressed to “Teachers and Students” which read “Sending you this wire to give you a tip. By all means do not miss Mrs. Temple’s Telegram. A splendid farce. Listened in by radio. Secrets revealed. Startling revelations made. New clew to identity of Staples and Baldwin. Wire number seats to reserve.”  Dick Baldwin used a novel advertising method to promote the upcoming “farce” of “Mrs. Temple’s Telegraph.”
 
Weeks later, on May 22nd, Dick appears again in two articles, on different pages. On page 5 in the FMR [xxxv] Richard Baldwin was selected as Vice President of the Agora Speaker’s club. Richard was out of town at the time but was still selected. Two friends spoke on his behalf presenting several ideas that he expects to put in action during his term in office. This shows good planning and dependable friends on Dick’s part.

On page 10 of the FMR [xxxvi] the paper tells us the play “Uhm Hmm!” had a cast of 60 persons. Dick Baldwin was on the cast. Note the sentence:
“‘Dick’ Baldwin, popular and efficient yell leader of Fresno high, with the jazziest yell crew he can pick will give the ‘Uhm Hmm!’ show a wild send off in the yell leader’s song, ‘Great Big College,’ opening Act I, Frat house scene.”
 
Somehow, Dick still had time for more. Still in May, on the 29th, the FMR[xxxvii] tells us:
 
CANDIDATES FOR STUDENT OFFICERS PRESENT POLICIES.
Richard Baldwin was nominated for the office of Vice President.
“Richard Baldwin, candidate for the office of vice president stated: ‘If I am elected, I will endeavor to give the students of Fresno high bigger and better assemblies than have been given heretofore. With the cooperation of the student body I am sure that the assemblies will reach a high state of perfection.’”
 
And elsewhere on that same page is reported [xxxviii] Richard Baldwin was elected for the position of Vice President of the Agora speaker’s club.
 
The last event we see reported for Dick in 1922 is about the Senior dance.[xxxix] The High School Juniors traditionally entertained the Seniors at an elaborate dance at the close of the year. Dick Baldwin participated as one of the committees that made elaborate preparations for the junior-senior promenade. They report that “they expect to make it the most successful reception and dance of the school year. The dance programs are unique, and the music will be the very best.” The article also tells us that “This is the first big social event given in the new high school.” It seems that if Dick is going to do something, it must be spectacular. Dick appears to be fulfilling his campaign promise of May 29th, making the assemblies reach “a high state of perfection.”
 
1922 - SEVENTEEN YEARS OLD
Dick(1905) was also very active in debate. Perhaps that talent was developed and enriched by his need to blend with the many segregated cultures he encountered on the family train travels. He often had to talk himself out of fights, and out of trouble with unsympathetic teachers along the way. There were many immigrants from Latin America, divisions between poor and wealthy students, and perhaps lots of opinions between the anti-war pacifists and those willing to protect their nation and families, even if it meant war. Bill’s(1929) accounts reflect some of the conflicts instigated by such divisions.
 
The October 11th FMR [xl] newspaper reported about a selection of debaters chosen to try out for the Central California debate league. Five each were chosen for the affirmative and for the negative position on whatever topic was to be presented at the competition. Dick was selected for the negative team. The try outs were held to select only two on each position, eliminating three on each side.
 
The October 25th FMR [xli] notified readers of a practice debate to prepare the competing school students for the upcoming Central California debate competition. The following Monday, October 30th, the FMR [xlii] reported that students debated the Water Power Act and unfortunately, the judges decided in favor of the affirmative side defeating Dick’s team.
 
The senior year for Richard at Fresno High School doesn’t show any evidence of him slowing down with the reported activities. I found another article in October 23RD of 1922 in the FMR.[xliii] Things were not always “rosy” for the early months of Dick’s senior high school year. There were some members of the school senate who wanted to challenge Dick for the Student Body President’s position. The news states: “The AAWH organization of Fresno High School announced intent to run a candidate for student body president in opposition to Dick Baldwin.” We will have to wait until later in this narrative to learn the final results of that vote…
 
Fresno High School raised bonds from the students and teachers to fund assemblies and events. On November 3rd, the FMR [xliv] reports that the bond committee has appointed Dick Baldwin as chairman of the committee to arrange for a pay assembly.
 
The November 13th, 1922, FMR [xlv] reports that the forensics class will be represented by Dick Baldwin and others, who had recently demonstrated their talent in debate at Turlock (High School).
 
The next day, the same FMR[xlvi] printed an article reporting that Dick is participating in the preparations for the YMCA’s annual ladies’ night. “The Fresno High School branch of the Hi-Y will hold its annual ladies’ night next Tuesday. … The program consists of a motion picture of Constantinople. President Dick Baldwin presided.” It appears that he preserved his role as student class president.
 
But Dick was still ls available for other offices. As a member of the YMCA Hi youth club, he was reported in the FMR [xlvii] to have been offered and became their president. The report says BOY’S CLUB ELECTS OFFICERS, it states that he was made the president of the Hi Boy’s Club. A few days later the election is repeated in the Bee.[xlviii]
 
Let’s see, Dick is Fresno High School student body president, president of the Hi Boy’s Club, vice-president of the Agora speaker’s club, chairman of the assembly bond committee, participant on the Owl 1922 school annual, PTA commissioner of assemblies, and somehow also has time for the debate team and other activities.
 
In December that year, the parents, as well as teachers and students were impressed with Dick’s character, dependability and imagination. The PTA (Parent. Teacher Association) appointed Dick to be the commissioner of assemblies. They decided to put on a show. To quote the news: “Vaudeville shows to be presented by the PTA and student body of FHS. The student body committee will be appointed by Dick Baldwin, commissioner of assemblies.” [xlix]
 
To close out the 1922-year, Dick accepted another role: [l] the staff for the student publication of Fresno HS school annual, the Owl, was announced at the school assembly. Dick Baldwin will be the sports editor for the annual. This sounds like a natural fit for him.
 
1923 - SEVENTEEN-YEARS-OLD – HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR YEAR
The Fresno High School student body had elections for student body officers again in January [li]. There was competition around the student body presidency and the vice-presidency. Dick Baldwin was standing for the President position against one person seeking the same position.
 
APRIL 13, 1923 - DEBATE COMPETITION
The story in the April 13,  FMR [lii] reported that Richard Baldwin, of Fresno high school was awarded second place in the Fresno district oratorical contest. He missed the $50.00 prize and right to compete further, but undoubtedly performed well.
 
APRIL 13, 1923 – INVESTIGATION INTO SENIOR CLASS FUNDS
The April 13th edition of the FMR [liii] reported that “Dick Baldwin, the Senior Class President of Fresno High School held a meeting on April 12th and during the session stated that the money for the senior class had been spent in the wrong manner, having the seniors understand that the money had been squandered.” Dick “was appointed to the senior committee of two to investigate the alleged squandering of the class funds.”
 
JUNE 15, 1923 – HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION
This was Dick’s graduation year. He had just turned eighteen years old six days before the June 15th commencement exercises. I didn’t come across any reporting of the high school graduation, but I imagine there was some. However, I have included photographs of the following items that I have in my “family history bin” for Richard.

1. First, is a photo of Dick’s Fresno High School diploma. Here is the first time that I found Dick’s middle name written out. He graduated in June of 1923.
2. Next are copies of the front and back of the Commencement Exercises program held on June 15, 1923. It came as a surprise to me when I realized that I was typing this story in December of 2023, one-hundred-years after Dick’s graduation.
3. I have Dick’s “The Owl,” 1923 school annual. I copied 23-pages of it where I found Dick’s name mentioned. As we have seen, he was a popular and very active man during his high school years. The pages are listed below.
   1. The front cover of the annual, written all over with notes from friends.
   2. Continuing on the inside front page, we find so many more notes to Dick, written all over the inside.
   3. On a blank page, Dick wrote a poem about his experience in school.
   4. The title page of The Owl has additional notes.
   5. Dick made a note pointing himself out on the stage of the high school during a Student Body Meeting.
   6. Page 10 was included for an incredible reference of the Senior History of 1923. Apparently, this document was found in Tutankhamen’s tomb, hidden there by his daughter. In it was discovered and translated a prophecy foretelling of the wonderous events in a valley far away where will rise up the “Fresno High School, a magnificent piece of architecture rivalling in beauty the temples of Egypt.” The guardianship of this structure will be secured by specifically named characters. Dick is mentioned as one of the “priesthood.” “To them and their servants will be due the success of a fancy dress party, the Junior Farce, Mrs. Temple’s Telegram, and the Junior-Senior Prom.” I am shocked at the accuracy of the prophecies within this 3,000-year-old scroll.
   7. Photographs of the Officers of the Class of 1923, Senior Year are illustrated on this page, and Dick Baldwin is listed as the Yell Leader for the boys in the Fourth Semester, 1920 to 1921, and as President in the Fifth and Sixth Semesters in 1921 to 1922.
   8. Next, we see the Senior page with the word “Dick” balanced upon the Mortarboard cap of the graduate, with the tassel on the right side, showing he has graduated.
   9. Dick’s student photo is found on this page. He signs it “Witchard”.
   10. The page titled “Rolls and Records” lists an impressive catalogue of achievements and activities for Richard G. Baldwin.
       1. President & Vice President; Yell Leader assistant, A.S.B. ’21, ’22, ’23; President, Yell Leader Class ’23; Junior Farce; Vice President, Yell Leader; Agora ‘19, ‘20, ‘21, ’22; Basketball, Baseball, Cadets; President & Vice President, Secretary Yell Leader; Hi-Y; President, Junior Hi-Y, Captain Freshman Swimming and Baseball team; Musical Club; Twentieth Century Club; Book Lovers Club; Owl Staff; C.C.C.C.; Executive Commissioner, Board of Control; House Representatives; Dramatics “Lost Silk Hat” Reedley, Coalinga, Madera, Stockton.
   11. The page identified as “Footprints on the Sand” lists the events throughout the previous year. Dick is found on page 37 as one of the debate victors over Turlock High School.
   12. Page 38 of “Footprints on the Sand” documents Dick as 3-0 victors in a practice debate with Reedly HS on the Sales Tax question. Then, lists Dick as the new Student Body President, and later, he is identified as the victor with another student in a debate with Coalinga HS by the same score.
   13. Page 39 shows another debate victory over Madera where Dick was one of the victors, and Selma, but Selma forfeited the debate.
   14. Later, one of the debaters that resolved that the occupation of the Ruhr Valley by the French was justified. They won 3-0 over the other teams.
   15. The Student Body Officers are photographed and noted on page 54. Dick is shown on the top row, and as the Vice-President during the first term and the President during the second term.
   16. The page The Student Body declares “In summing up the record, we may safely say that the past year has been the very best in the history of the Fresno High School Student Body.” That’s a pretty good commendation for the student leadership.
   17. Agora has two pages, 67-68, and tells us that “The Agora, being primarily a public speaking society and placing the school first, is proud of its contributions to the high school activities. Among the several debaters…” It lists Richard Baldwin as the First Term Vice-President. Photographs are on page 68.
   18. The Debating page, page 81, notes some of Dick’s victories.
   19. A photograph of the Forensic Class is shown on the next page.
   20. Pages 93-94 state that Dick participated in the basketball season, but dropped out before the elimination games.
   21. Next to closing, we have more autographs on the inside back cover.
   22. And the back cover.

 

1. I include photographs of Dick’s “Roget’s International Thesaurus Of English Words And Phrases” here because I want to imagine him receiving it as a graduation gift, or as a purchase soon after starting college.
   1. Front Cover
   2. Dick’s autograph
   3. Title page dated 1923

 
1923 to 1926
I return to Bill’s(1929) story that seems to pick up after high school.
 
“Dick felt he was restricted living with his parents and wanted to get from under their influence. This was not to be. Financial restrictions made it necessary for him to attend California State in Fresno. He was able to get a job in Fresno with the Fresno Bee.
 
During his college days he worked as an announcer on the local radio station and as a reporter for the Fresno Bee. He did this while studying law and eventually got his law degree. He never intended to take the bar examination. He had already made up his mind to become a newspaper man.
 
Dick spoke of himself as a newspaper man or newsman for the twenty-one years he worked in the field. Never did he call himself a journalist, and he looked with suspicion at ‘journalism college degrees.’” [liv]
 
Bill’s(1929) story goes on to relate how during his last years at college, he met a young lady named Kate Dillon who lived with her mother Gert Dillon and her brother, Claude. As the story goes, Dick pursued Kate until she caught him.
 
Bill(1929) wrote a story, “The Black Bag” [lv] that relates an account during Kate’s childhood of her divorced mother, Gert’s, frustration with her former husband. In it, she threatens “’Katie, before I see you marry a man like Bill Dillon I’ll’ … she paused, shook her head and finished the sentence, ‘I will take the black bottle … so help me I will.’” This will come up again, when it relates Kate’s reluctance to tell her mother about her secret.
February 16, 1926
They were married by a Justice of the Peace in Fresno according to Bill(1929). This fact is not documented. I have found no marriage announcement, license, or other listing, yet. This information is from the listings (without documentation) of other Ancestry.com members. Dick was twenty years old; Kay was twenty-one-years-old.
 
If this was a secret wedding, as Bill(1929)  reports, it makes sense that there was no announcement. The secret was kept from Gert for over a year because of a threat she had made for many years, to “take the black bottle”, a threat to do herself personal harm. Once Dick was offered a job in San Francisco, Bill(1929) tells how Richard broke the news about his marriage to Kate in a separate story, “The Announcement.” The “Young Richard Baldwin” account concludes, stating that “Gert and Kate moved to San Francisco at this time as well. Gert had an opportunity to work for a large upholstery shop there at a substantial increase in pay.” The story “The Announcement” is included in the attachments in the End Notes. [lvi]
 
I have included a photograph of the original photograph and a colorized photo of Dick and Kate. I assume that it is their wedding picture, maybe taken in February 1926.
                                         
1927-1928 – THE NEWSMAN
Some information I was able to gather was found only in some of his obituaries. Although mention of his obituary is too early in the story, in order to maintain documented chronology, I feel compelled to mention them here. In the Dallas Morning News, dated January 15th, 1945[lvii], the following facts are noted:

1. Twenty-three-year-old “Dick started his news career in Fresno, working on the staffs of the Fresno Bee and the San Francisco Chronicle before joining the United Press’ San Francisco bureau in 1927.”
2. “He attended Fresno State College and Columbia University in New York.”
3. He worked as a cub reporter “there” (In Fresno or New York?), to help finance his education.
4. “Before coming to Dallas as Bureau manager in 1933, Baldwin opened the Seattle, Washington bureau and was employed by the UP in the Denver and Kansas City bureau.”

 
The Corsicana Daily Sun (Corsicana, TX) on January 15, 1945, on page 10 said that he had been “bureau manager in Seattle, Washington and was employed in bureaus at Denver and Kansas City before coming to Texas.”[lviii]
 
True to form, Dick accomplished an amazing amount of progress during these short years:

1. Announcer (In Bill’s(1929) story “The Newsman” he tells us that Dick worked at “the radio station owned by the Fresno Bee”)[lix]
2. Law Degree
3. Attending two colleges, one at California State in Fresno and one in New York (Correspondence?)
4. Cub reporter for two or more newspapers, the Fresno Bee, the San Francisco Chronicle, and ?? maybe something in New York??
5. Joined United Press. Training in San Francisco and then sent to Seattle, Washington.
6. Became Bureau manager in Seattle, Washington (no documentation, only Bill’s(1929) story).
7. Employed in bureaus at Denver, Colorado (we have documentation of him living there), and Kansas City, Kansas (No documentation yet?)

 
I’m at a loss to document this period and properly piece all of this together. I hope to find or be given some information, stories or photographs around this period between 1923 and 1935. I have few hard facts and locations during that twelve-year span.
 
We next find many stories that Richard wrote for the United Press. The first one I found was in The Spokane Press (Spokane, Washington) on September 21, 1928, so I’ll pick up the track from there.
 
Encyclopedia.com described how the United Press Association worked in the 1920’s through the 1940’s:
 
“On its first day of business (1907) the new service used leased telegraph lines to send 12,000 words of Morse code to 369 afternoon newspapers, including those belonging to the Scripps chain. Early “Unipressers,” as the correspondents were called, were the first wire service reporters to conduct interviews and the first to put bylines on stories. They were also the first to send feature stories over the wire and to include labor’s side in coverage of industrial disputes.
In putting reporters’ stories on the wire, UP emphasized speed and brevity. Opinions were not welcome, just the facts.” [lx]
 
Wikipedia.com, in an article about United Press International (UPI) described the company in its early days, when started and owned by E. W, Scripp. This might illustrate why Dick was drawn to UP, and how his competitive and energetic attitudes fit so well in the association:
 
Scripps' United Press was considered "a scrappy alternative" news source to the AP. UP reporters were called "Unipressers" and were noted for their fiercely aggressive and competitive streak.[14] Another hallmark of the company's culture was little formal training of reporters; new hires were often thrust into a "sink-or-swim" situation of reporting on an unfamiliar subject. They were weaned on UP's famous and well-documented (though frequently misappropriated and misquoted) slogan of "Get it first, but FIRST, get it RIGHT."[2] Despite controversy, UP (and later UPI) became a common training ground for generations of journalists.[14] [lxi]
 
On a UPI web page, describing the 100-year history of the service, 1907-2007, I found this summary: [lxii]
“UP has, likewise, stood at the cutting edge of newsgathering practices. UP established new rules of style and method. It was the first service to emphasize the byline of the correspondent. It introduced the big-name interview and developed the feature story as an important part of the daily news report. In 1935, UP became the first major American news service to supply news to radio stations. Ultimately, UP became the first North American news agency to provide compelling and comprehensive wire copy to newspapers in Europe, South America and the Far East.”
1927 - RICHARD JOINS UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION
In 1927 when Richard joined United Press Association (UP) they were still using leased telegraph wires through such services as Western Union. UP hired reporters in various cities and depended upon them to find the news and report it, sending the facts in, in a manner that could be used for a story. Select stories would then be sent to subscribing newspapers, sometimes with a byline of the reporter, and then included among the home-grown news in a local paper.
 
1928 - BYLINE – RICHARD G. BALDWIN – U P STAFF CORRESPONDENT
We next find many stories that Richard wrote for the United Press. The first one I found was in The Spokane Press (Spokane, Washington) on September 21, 1928, so I’ll pick up the track from there.
 
That story that Dick wrote as early as September 21, 1928, about a kidnapping in Vancouver, B.C. and bylined “By Richard G. Baldwin United Press Staff Correspondent.” This was published in the Spokane Press of Spokane, Washington.[lxiii]
 
A second story (although there were probably many others I didn’t happen to find.), regarded the passing of a Seattle area icon, Ezra Meeker. This story was found in The Roanoke Times of Roanoke, Virginia dated April 4, 1928.[lxiv]
 
In copyrighted stories of the period dated February 22, and two from February 23, 1929, from San Francisco, California Dick writes again as a “United Press Staff Correspondent” about a San Francisco child kidnapping. [lxv] [lxvi] [lxvii]
 
MAY 28, 1929 – BIRTH OF WILLIAM LANE BALDWIN
Months later, we learn of the birth of Dick (age 23) and Kay’s (age 25) first son, in San Francisco, so that places them as living there at the time of his birth. The birth announcements of a son born to “Mrs. Richard Baldwin” in the San Francisco Bulletin, [lxviii] and “to the wife of Richard Baldwin” in the San Francisco Examiner [lxix] written on June 1, 1929, give the address in San Francisco, CA where the family lived at the time of the infant’s birth.
 
I was able to locate a photograph of the building at this address when the new child was born. It still stands in San Francisco. The structure was constructed in 1925, which would make it only about four years old when they lived in this four-story multi-family building with retail stores below.[lxx]
 
1929 - OTHER ARTICLES
Other articles were written and bylined by Richard as a United Press Staff Correspondent from San Francisco.
          Man Hunt Developing for Slayer – June 7, 1929[lxxi]
          Turner Speeds Thru Oklahoma – August 24, 1929[lxxii]

• This un-bylined story mentions Roscoe Turner, a barnstormer who is mentioned in the story “The Newsman.” [lxxiii] Bill (1929) says that Dick (1905) brought Roscoe home and Bill got to meet him.

          Salary Earner Given Advice by Giannini – August 26, 1929[lxxiv]
          Prison Officials Forget Gallows, Baby Expected – Nov 20, 1929[lxxv]
 
NOVEMBER 19, 1929 – SPORTS WRITER
One particular story that interested me is titled “ ‘BIG GAME’ IS HARD TO DOPE: BEARS FAVORED” By Richard G. Baldwin, from San Francisco. [lxxvi] The California Golden Bears beat the University of Washington Huskies 7 to 0 to secure the right to play the Stanford Cardinals. Once more, my Huskies get close, but don’t succeed. Stanford ended up beating California 21-6 that year, even though the Bears were favored.
 
APRIL 3, 1930 – DENVER, COLORADO
TWENTY-FOUR YEARS OLD – 15th CENSUS OF THE U S - 1930
1930 brought a new national census. On April 3rd, 1930, the Fifteenth Census of the United States 1930 Population[lxxvii] we learn that 24-years-old Richard Baldwin lived in Denver City, Denver County, Colorado. He lived in a rented house at 1376 Pearl Street. He paid $45/month for this rented home. He was the head of his family, having married Kate C Baldwin when he was 20-years-of-age. He was not then attending school, and able to read. He stated that he was born in California. His father was born in New York and his mother was born in Missouri. He owned a radio, was able to speak English, listed his occupation as currently employed as a writer working as a wage or salary worker for United Press. In the same household was his wife, Kate C. age 26. She was not then attending school, and able to read. She stated that she was born in California. Her father was born in California and her mother was born in California. She was able to speak English and listed no occupation. They also list a son, William L Baldwin, age “0”, born in California, as were his mother and father.
 
1930 – NEWSMAN – PRIMO CARNERA - DENVER COLORADO
Also reported in the story “The Newsman” is Dick’s acquaintance with a famous Italian boxer of the era, Primo Carnera. Dick wrote a story that I found in The Butte Daily Post (Butte, Montana) dated March 29, 1930.[lxxviii]
                            
JUNE 10, 1930 – NO MECHANICAL MUSIC OR RECORDINGS?
Richard wrote an interesting story about how the Denver, Colorado on June 10th, 1930, reporting the “General Federation of Women’s Clubs … deplored the elimination of ‘living music’ from the nation’s homes and theaters, but voted not to classify ‘music robots’ as an ‘ever-growing menace.’ Presentation of a resolution condemning mechanical music inventions … precipitated one of the most spirited fights … to date.” Apparently the introduction of “sound pictures and the radio” threatened the livelihoods of professional musicians who were being replaced by “those agencies.” After much debate, a compromise was made to “strike out the words ‘ever-growing menace’ and ‘inventions.’” The amendment carried.[lxxix]
 
JACK D’ARMAND – PACIFIC COAST UP REPRESENTATIVE
Another notable individual mentioned in Bill’s (1929) story, “The Newsman” tells of a war correspondent, Jack D’Armand, the Pacific coast representative of the United Press. He interviewed the Mexican revolutionist leader, General Escobar,[lxxx] and other war-time notables.[lxxxi]
 
1930 - LIVING IN DENVER, COLORADO – PHONE BOOK PAGE
At this time, Richard, Kay and their son, Bill(1929) lived in Denver, Colorado, per the U. S. Census. They are listed in the Denver phone book as “Baldwin, Rich G (Kay C) writer United Press Assns. h 205 1376 Pearl”.[lxxxii]  
It was exciting to discover that this address, too still had the original building that existed when Dick, Kay and Bill lived there. The structure was built in 1901 and looks much the same is it might have when the Baldwins lived there. I have included two photographs taken from the internet of the buildings today. One is from Zillow[lxxxiii], one from a Street-View on a Redfin site.[lxxxiv] If you examine the next photograph in the collection, you will see a photo taken of Dick and Bill approximately 1931. Note the brick and the gate. They are similar to those in the recent photographs, and we know they lived there at the time of the 1930 census, and the 1931 phone directory.[lxxxv]
 
1933 - NEWSMAN – DALLAS, TEXAS
Returning to news stories written by Richard. According to some later obituaries, the Baldwin family relocated to Dallas, Texas in 1933.[lxxxvi] There. He covered such stories of two Texas murderer convicts being executed in the electric chair, [lxxxvii] and one for The Record American (Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania) included an article by him on May 31,1933 about convicts escaping from the Kansas State Penitentiary.[lxxxviii]
 
1935 - TELEGAPH BRING NEWS TO OUTLYING PAPERS
The United Press was always the scrappy “little dog” when compared to the news giant Associated Press (AP). The Dallas Morning News (Dallas, Texas) wrote a big spread on October 1st, 1935, about how the new development of the “Telex” machine had modernized the Telegraph News Services that operated from the “turn of the century until today”. They wrote an article, highlighting mostly the Associated Press, with their many offices and personnel, and included a final mention of the United Press office in Dallas, along with a photograph, managed by R. G, (Dick) Baldwin.[lxxxix]
 
1935 - DICK THE SPORTS WRITER
Dick liked covering sports, and relished the opportunity to write about local college sports. Whenever a notable sports personality came to town, Dick chose to be the one to do the reporting. One such story is found all the way up in Waterbury, Connecticut, relating a story from Fort Worth, Texas about the football game between Southern Methodist University and the Texas Christian University football teams.[xc]

JUNE 14, 1936, DICK AND BILL GO TO THE CENTENNIAL FAIR
Dick got to write about a special treat in June of 1936. The Texas Centennial Exposition was a world’s fair that was presented June 6 to November 29, 1936, at Fair Park, Dallas, Texas. It was a celebration of the 100th anniversary of Texas’s independence from Mexico in 1836, it also celebrated Texas and Western American Culture.[xci] The United Press decided to write a series of stories describing the Texas Centennial Exposition. Dick’s story was written partially through his son, Bill’s eyes as they toured the fair. This article dealt mainly with the transportation group of buildings. Other stories would cover different areas and events. Dick and Bill must have had a wonderful and memorable day. Bill saw some cows at the fair and was mesmerized by the milking machine and the miniature trains along with other displays. The article I found was in the Austin American from Austin, Texas.[xcii]
 
SEPTEMBER 2, 1936 – BIRTH OF MARY JANE BALDWIN
The Baldwin household grew by one on September 2nd, 1936, when they welcomed home their daughter. She was the first Texan born of what was to become a long line of Texas Baldwins.[xciii] Dick was 31 years old; Kay was 32 years old, and Bill was 7 years old at the time. As Bill(1929) writes about Mary Jane, Dick’s “tears came from displays of courage and his own pride … (Bill saw Dick) cry with pride at the courage of his newborn daughter .. She was born with a disabled foot and had to wear a brace for the first year of her life. Dad and she established an immediate bond. She became the pride of his life.” [xciv] I have included a photograph of Dick and Bill admiring the new little girl of the family.[xcv]
 
MARCH 10, 1937 – DEATH OF WILLIAM LANE BALDWIN 1880-1837
Richard’s father passed away in 1937. The obituary says he died in Los Angeles of a heart ailment. He had been ill more than a month. It goes on to say that he had been a clerk for the Santa Fe Railroad for the past thirty-three years.[xcvi] [xcvii] A photo of his (and Bethiar’s) burial plaque is included in the endnotes.

MARCH 19, 1937 – SCHOOL EXPLOSION
Only nine days after the death of Dick’s father, he apparently received a call or message at work, in Dallas of a major tragic news story. It appears, as told by Bill(1929), that he had phoned Kay, rushed home, grabbed the suitcase that Kay had packed, and then rushed south to Overton, Texas. The story he wrote was titled:
 
OVER 500 SCHOOL CHILDREN PERISH AS BLAST WRECKS EAST-TEX SCHOOL – by Richard Baldwin – United Press Correspondent[xcviii]
There were multiple newspaper articles about this tragic incident, on the day it happened, and for a while afterward. A natural gas leak built up in an enclosed room and was ignited by a spark from a machine. The blast destroyed a newly built school and caused the death of hundreds of school children and teachers and others. Reports at the time estimated between 500 and 600 deaths. Richard went down there, and Bill Baldwin(1929) told me many years later, how when he returned, he was so emotionally shaken up by the scenes and experiences that he had a rough time getting over it, and hugged his children and wife a lot. Bill(1929) learned later that Dick(1905) “not only filed his stories but worked along with the rescuers pulling corpses from debris. She said he cried for many nights after he returned. (Bill(1929) rarely saw his father cry, but he remembers Dick coming into his room and standing by his bed when Dick thought (his son, Bill(1929)) was sleeping. Dick did that many nights after he returned.)” [xcix]

• One article written 80-years after the event offered two statements worthy of mentioning here:[c]
  • At 3:17 p.m. that day, Lemmie R. Butler, an instructor of manual training, turned on a sanding machine in an area that he didn't know was filled with a gas, according to information provided on the New London Museum's website. The switch is said to have ignited the mixture of gas and air and carried a flame under the building, seemingly lifting the building into the air and smashing it back to the ground.
  • J.M. Jones is a volunteer docent at the New London Museum and said that incident is the reason natural gas now has a smell similar to rotten eggs.

 
SEPTEMBER 20, 1937 – BIRTH OF LESLIE RICHARD BALDWIN
Another Baldwin boy entered the world, in Dallas, Texas. Dick was 32 years old; Kay was 33 years old, Bill was 8 years old, and Mary Jane was one year old at the time. Bill(1929) wrote about his little brother: “Leslie was a lusty, healthy youngster and dad was certain he had the baseball player that his first son would never become.” [ci]
 
DECEMBER 28, 1937 – DICK BALDWIN THE SPORTS EXPERT
Dick continues with his sports writing. In this story, IT’S TRUE – U. P. EXPERTS SAY SO,[cii] Dick chooses Rice to win in the Cotton Bowl, and as the paper says “Baldwin also predicts this one: …” Texas Tech to win the Sun Bowl. I have noticed that Richard calls himself Dick when he writes about sports, and Richard G. Baldwin when writing news stories.
 
1936-1939 - RICHARD BALDWIN PHOTOS AT WORK
There are some photographs of Dick at work in the files along with this story. One with Dick wearing a monogrammed shirt at a desk, on the phone, as he apparently likes to be photographed, I believe to have been taken January 27, 1936. I can’t really remember why that date was chosen, perhaps it was written on the original, that I can’t place right now.
 
Next is one with Richard holding a revolver and on the phone, as usual, joking with a man I’m told is Hayden Bradley, at the Telex machine. The date on that photo is noted as October 24, 1939.
 
Richard is shown standing on the strut of an airplane. I believed it was a Ford Tri-Motor airplane, which brought commercial airline flight to the United States in the late 1920’s and 1930’s. I am a bit doubtful that this is actually a Ford Tri-Motor, because I have not found any photographs or models of those plans with the horizontal strut that Dick is resting his right hand upon. This could have been the airplane that Dick flew in with other reporters that demonstrated the “new” Autopilot, wrote about in Bill’s (1929) story “The Newsman” [ciii]
 
1938 - FAMILY PHOTOS
Perhaps about 1938, I have a photograph of the Baldwin Family. Most likely taken in Texas, from Left to Right in the photograph are Richard Baldwin, Bill Baldwin at his feet, Bethiar Baldwin with Les Baldwin on her lap, Next, I’m not sure, possibly Mr. Cleveland, Gert’s second husband, next is Gert (Sherman) Dillon – Cleveland (?), then Kay Baldwin and Mary Jane Baldwin.
 
Perhaps a few months later in 1938 is another family photo that Mary Jane provided and identified for me.
 
1939 - PHOTOGRAPH OF MARY JANE AND LES
If I can figure correctly, I would guess Mary Jane is 4-years old and Les is 3-years old in this photograph. This would place them in the warm-weather season of 1939.
 
1939-40(?) - PHOTO OF LESLIE BALDWIN AND “DRIP” HIS DOG
I came across a photo of Les, I would guess it to be early summer.
 
NOVEMBER 21, 1939
Dick wrote on many subjects, one was murders. In an article titled DALLAS GIRL WROTE POEM OF HATE FOR HER DYING VICTIM[civ], Dick wrote a Dallas woman who set out to murder a man and bragged about it.
 
April 20, 1940 – DALLAS, TEXAS
THIRTY-FOUR YEARS OLD – 16TH U S FEDERAL CENSUS - 1940
Richard Baldwin lived in Dallas, Dallas County, Texas. He rented a house at 3918 Weldon Street. He paid $37/month for his rented home. He was not then, in school, having completed four years of college. His income was $3,365/year in 1940, having worked 52 weeks the past year. Dick reported working 48-hours per week before the census was taken. He worked as a newspaper correspondent at a private company which was listed as “State Press”. She listed her schooling completion as High School, second year. Their son William Lane was 10 years old, single, and attended Elementary school, in the fifth grade. Mary Jane, their daughter was 3 years old, and Leslie R was listed as 2-years old. Neither was in school nor employed.
 
Living in the same home at the time of the census were: Kay Baldwin, his wife, who was age 36, born in 1904, married, and whose occupation was listed as a home houseworker. Living with them was Bethiar B Baldwin, Dick’s mother, a white female, 59 years old, widowed, and unemployed. She had completed four years of high school.
 
SEPTEMBER 1940 – SELECTIVE TRAINING AND SERVICE ACT
The Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, also known as the Burke–Wadsworth Act, Pub. L. 76–783, 54 Stat. 885, enacted September 16, 1940, was the first peacetime conscription in United States history. This Selective Service Act required that men who had reached their 21st birthday but had not yet reached their 36th birthday register with local draft boards. Later, when the U.S. entered World War II, all men from their 18th birthday until the day before their 45th birthday were made subject to military service, and all men from their 18th birthday until the day before their 65th birthday were required to register.[cv]
 
Richard Gouverneur Baldwin (Middle name corrected on document) lived at 5710 Tremont in Dallas, Dallas, Texas at that time. He made a correction listing his address. He listed his age as 35, making the year 1940. He lists Mrs. Kay Baldwin as his wife with the address 3918 Weldon, Dallas, Dallas, Texas. He lists his employer’s name as United Press Association, working in the Journal Building in Dallas, Dallas, Texas. It is unknown why two different addresses are listed.
 
5710 TREMONT STREET, DALLAS, TX [cvi]

• This address currently shows a home built in 1945, the year Dick passed away. I have included it, in the event it might be a “new” home that they lived in for a while, but the Draft card listing him as 35 years old with this address hints that this home might have replaced the one that was occupied at the same address in 1940.
• It is near Woodrow Wilson High School, where Bill Baldwin attended.
• J L Long Middle School and William Lipscomb Elementary School also serve this address.

 
3918 WELDON STREET, DALLAS, TX

• This address is the address given in April for the 1940 US Census. It is now a parking lot of a Target Store and a Ross Dress for Less.

 
After questioning Les for clarification, and getting assistance from Devri, this is how I understand the residence locations occurred. The dates will be out of order in our narrative, but it feels right telling the complete story in this location:

1. The Baldwins had lived on Weldon Street for a while, at least through April 1940, when, a home became available to rent that was owned by the parents of a serviceman who was currently actively serving in the military. Perhaps it had just become available at the time Dick was required to register for the draft, hence, the address change on the card. That new home was on Tremont Street.
2. I have found a photograph of the home as it looks today. The puzzle is the fact that the home is listed as being constructed in 1945, the year Dick passed away.
3. In Dick’s obituary, one lists his residence at 2039 Bernard Place in Dallas. His certificate of death lists this same address. This address no longer exists. I was able to locate this address in the temporary housing listing on a historical website listing “Texan Court Residents, 1947-1948.”[cvii] In it, at the address of 2039 Bernard Place I found “2039: Baldwin, Richd G.” listed. Les and Devri say that Les recalls being required to move out of the Tremont house in perhaps 1944, because the owner’s son was returning from service overseas. That is probably when Dick and family moved to the temporary housing locations on Bernard Place. There is where Dick passed away. I believe the family lived there for a  few years afterwards. Mary Jane tells me of riding her bicycle from her home in Texan Courts to my parents’ house so that she could babysit me while my parents were out, at work.

 
NOVEMBER 15, 1940, NEWS
Bill had written about some of the significant people he met in “The Newsman” and one was Jack D’Armand of Kansas City, Missouri. D’Armand was a war correspondent for the United Press. He shows up again in this article.[cviii] It is titled: TWO NEWS CHIEFS ADDRESS EDITORS AT VALLEY MEET. Jack D’Armand was the Division Manager for the United Press and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri.
 
NOVEMBER 2, 1941 – TEXAS VS. SMU SPORTS STORY
The only story I found from 1941 to 1945 was this sports story by Dick TEXAS ROUTS SOUTHERN METHODIST 34-0 FOR FIFTH WIN - LONGHORNS NOT EXERTED DURING FIRST BIG TEST
Score In Every Period as Jack Crain Sets Pace for Heavy Attack; By Richard G. Baldwin (United Press Sportswriter)[cix]
 
1941 - SHORTLY BEFORE WAR BROKE OUT
I return to Bill’s(1929) narrative from “The Newsman” for his accounting of events soon afterwards.
          “An example of his dedication to his work came shortly before the United States entered World War II.” Bill(1929) wrote about Dick accompanying a German lecturer into Mexico who warned about the true nature of Hitler’s plan. Later that person was reported as having been “pushed under a train in Berlin.” … “It was this type of excitement that Dad knew he would miss when he found out about his heart condition. His career was limited by his weight. He had applied and been rejected for foreign service prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7th, 1941.”[cx]
 
DECEMBER 7, 1941 – UNITED STATES DECLARES WAR ON JAPAN
In Europe, war had been waged by Germany and Italy since the late 1930’s. Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, and declared war on the United States on December 7th, 1941. The Japanese navy staged a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. In response, the United States declared war on the nation of Japan. The United States was a neutral country at the time; the attack led the U.S. to formally enter World War II on the side of the Allies the following day.[cxi] Shortly afterwards, Germany joined in, and declared war on the U. S.
 
1941 - AFTER PEARL HARBOR ATTACK
Bill’s(1929) narrative from “The Newsman” continues his accounting of events soon afterwards.
 
“After Pearl Harbor, seeing friends of his go with the troops in Europe and the Pacific, he seemed saddened. Then his wages were frozen.
         
Kate had never worked since she and Dick were married but she felt she should do something. Mary Jane and Leslie were older now and in school. Baldy (Dick’s mother) was there to care for them while Kate was away. Kate applied for work I the Mustang Plant (de)burring parts. She enjoyed it but was required to work the night shift. It was a patriotic move but also a financial necessity because of Dad’s frozen wages.
         
Mother’s working was difficult for dad to accept. He felt ashamed he could not continue supporting his family.” [cxii]
 
Bill(1929) goes on to relate how Dick(1905) even attempted to get himself fired from his UP job in hopes that the severance check would provide funds enough for him to start his own small newspaper and publish it. However, his own work ethic defeated his efforts to self-destruct.
 
The responsibilities at UP Dallas morphed more into administrative work, and less of the news work he loved. The changes at work, along with Kay and Bill(1929) both working and contributing to the support of the family, left him feeling inadequate, depressed and heartbroken.
 
Dick, soon after, had his first heart attack. The doctor sent him home. The doctor later told them that with care, dietary changes and exercise, Dick(1905) might be able to live a long life. Soon afterwards, Dick(1905) had his second heart attack. Bill happened to be home, and was quick enough to get Dick’s nitroglycerine tablets in time to address the heart attack and get him back to bed.[cxiii]
 
1941-1945 - ARTICLES BY RICHARD BALDWIN DURING WAR TIME
I have not found any articles written by Richard relating to the war in Europe or in the Pacific. I plan to continue looking. As the Dallas Bureau Manager, Dick would probably be focused on news within the borders of the US, while war correspondents covered those stories outside the country. As the story states, Dick’s responsibilities became more administrative, and less involved in direct news reporting.
 
JULY 23, 1942 – DIVISION HEADQUARTERS MOVED TO DALLAS
Article in The Dallas Morning News (Dallas, TX) Section I Page 8
DALLAS GETS UNITED PRESS DIVISION OFFICE[cxiv]
The Dallas Bureau must have been successful, dependable and efficiently run. Jacques (Jack) D’Armand, the Division Manager for the Southwest Division instigated the move of his headquarters from Kansas City, Missouri to Dallas, Texas. Headquarters for the Southwest Division had been in Kansas City, Missouri for many years. Now, with the growth of news stories, and a dependable Seattle office, Jack chose to move his division closer to the news. Dallas became headquarters of the operation of United Press’ Southwest division comprising Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico ….. Richard G. Baldwin is Dallas bureau manager.
 
PHOTOGRAPH COPIES OF DOCUMENT AND BOOK
1941-1945 – WAR DEPARTMENT – PRESS PASS
Sometime within this period, Dick was issued a pass to allow him access as an accredited press representative of the Defense Command. This worn card might have been carried in his wallet for accreditation when needed.
 
1943 – HUGH BAILLIE – UP PRESIDENT GOES TO EUROPE
The president of the United Press went to Europe, and wrote dispatches covering the air offensive over Germany and the Sicilian campaign, during the Summer of 1943, during which time, he also was wounded. He wrote a book, gathering the Dispatches he had written of his experiences, and sent a signed copy to Richard Baldwin. I have it, and have included photographs of some of the pages.
 
JANUARY 15, 1945 – RICHARD GOUVERNEUR PASSES AWAY
The various obituaries piece together information that describe a very personal connection of the newsman to the various newspapers throughout the nation. It impressed me to see references to his death in multiple places throughout the United States. Many articles were digested from the one written in the Dallas Morning News.
 
“R. G. (Dick) Baldwin, Texas manager of the United Press for the last eleven years, died unexpectedly of a heart attack Sunday at his home, 2039 Bernard Place.
 
The 39-year-old veteran newspaperman had been ill eight days and his condition had not been considered critical.
 
Death came as he lay in bed joking with his 13-year-old son, Bill, over the Sunday comic sections.
 
Only a half hour before his death he had talked with one of his staff managers by telephone and told him he was feeling better than at any time since he had been taken ill.
A native of Santa Barbara, California, Baldwin started his news career on the Fresno Bee and the San Francisco Chronicle, before joining the United Press San Francisco bureau in 1927.
 
Before coming to Dallas as bureau manager in 1933, Baldwin opened the Seattle, Washington bureau and was employed by the UP in the Denver and Kansas City bureaus.
 
Although manager of the entire United Press Service in Texas, Baldwin’s love of his work would not permit him to forsake the writing field and he personally covered many of the big news stories in the state during that time, including sports.
 
Baldwin was educated in the public schools at Fresno and also attended Fresno State College and Columbia University in New York, working as a cub reporter there to help finance his education.
 
Services will be held Tuesday at the Ed. C. Smith & Bro. Funeral Chapel, but arrangements had not been completed Sunday night. The body will be cremated following the Christian Science service.
 
Survivors include his wife, two sons, Bill Baldwin, 15, and Leslie Baldwin 7; a daughter, Mary Jane Baldwin, 8, and his mother, all of Dallas.” [cxv]
 
 
TEXAS DEATHS – BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS[cxvi]
Standard Certificate of Death - January 14, 1945
Address 2039 Bernard Place, Dallas, Dallas, Texas, where he had lived for nine-years. Cause of death – Angina Pectoris contributed to by an enlarged liver.
 
TEXAS DEATH INDEX, 1903-2000 FOR RICHARD BALDWIN
Baldwin, Richard, Dallas, 1-14-1945 [cxvii]
 
JANUARY 15, 1945 – GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO
Article in The Daily Sentinel (Grand Junction, Colorado) Page 2
DEATHS LAST NIGHT; Dallas, Tex. – R. G. (Dick) Baldwin, 39, Texas manager of the United Press for 11 years.[cxviii]
 
JANUARY 15, 1945 – SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA
Article in The Times (Shreveport, Louisiana) Page 5
This article is from the competing Associated Press (AP)
R. G. BALDWIN, TEX. MANAGER OF U. P. DIES[cxix]
Had Headed State Group for 11 Years, Died Unexpectedly
Dallas, Texas, January 14, UPI – R. G. (Dick) Baldwin, Texas manager of the United Press for the past 11 years died unexpectedly today of a heart attack. … had been ill eight days … condition had not been considered critical. Death came at 10:14 a.m. as he lay in bed joking with his 15-year-old son, Bill, over the Sunday comic sections and before any other members of his family could reach the bedside.
Baldwin was educated in the public schools at Fresno and also attended Fresno State college and Columbia University in New York, working as a cub reporter there to help finance his education.
His body will be cremated following the Christian Science service.
 
Survivors include his wife, Kay; two sons, Bill, 15, and Leslie, 7; one daughter, Mary Jane, 8, and his mother, all of Dallas, and an aunt, Mrs.      I. O. Hedin, New York, N. Y.
 
JANUARY 15, 1945 – CORSICANA, TEXAS
Article in The Corsicana Daily Sun (Corsicana, Texas) Page 10
DICK BALDWIN, UP MANAGER FOR TEXAS, DIED IN DALLAS[cxx]
A native of Santa Barbara, California, Baldwin worked on the Fresno California Bee and the San Francisco Chronicle. He became associated with United Press in the San Francisco Bureau in 1927 and was bureau manager in Seattle Washington and was employed in bureaus at Denver and Kansas City before coming to Texas.
 
JANUARY 15, 1945 – TAYLOR TEXAS
Article in the Taylor Daily Press (Taylor, Texas) Page 1
DICK BALDWIN U. P. Manager, DIES IN DALLAS [cxxi]
 
JANUARY 15, 1945 – SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA [cxxii]
Article in The Times (Shreveport, Louisiana) Page 5
R. G. BALDWIN, TEX. MANAGER OF U. P. DIES
Survivors include his wife, Kay; two sons, Bill, 15 and Leslie, 7; one daughter, Mary Jane, I and his mother, all of Dallas, and an aunt, Mrs. I. O. Hedin, New York, N.Y.
 
JANUARY 17, 1945 – BIDDEFORD, MAINE [cxxiii]
Article in the Justice de Biddeford (Biddeford, Maine) Page 3
MORT TRAGIQUE D’UN VÉTÉRAN DE LA U.P.
Obituary in the French language newspaper in Biddeford, Maine
 
Bill(1929) closes out his story “The Newsman” with the following words:
          “Billy believed both Dick and Kate knew Dad was going to die. Billy believes Dad wanted to die. Billy believes Dad chose to die. …
          It was like him. He disliked not being in control and so much of his life, he felt, was out of control. Truthfully, Dick was rarely in control except when he was at work. Work, reporting the news, was the most important thing in his life. …
          For Dick Baldwin to have lived without being an active part in the world happenings of the time would have been far worse than death for him. It also would have been far worse for the family.” [cxxiv]
         
In closing, I don’t imagine that too many people are as well-documented as we have found Dick to be. From his birth announcement, to his time in junior and senior high school we have been able to follow him through the articles of newspapers. In high school, he sought out opportunities to be involved in the school news, and we found him frequently in leadership roles.
 
Dick was a “natural” for the news business. His competitiveness, curiosity, confidence and leadership are aptitudes that describe the type of newsmen of his days. He must have been a stand-out in his early newspaper days; speaking on the radio for the Fresno Bee, writing for the Fresno Bee newspaper and the San Francisco Chronicle, and for the United Press. We found his by-line early in his career. The UP was the first news source to credit their reporters and writers with by-lines. After a stint in UP San Francisco, we learned that he was sent to Seattle, Colorado, Kansas City, and finally Dallas. In each place, he must have been successful, because his responsibilities grew continuously.
 
The Baldwin ethos, or traditions I grew up with led us all to be diligent, honest and faithful workers and employees in whatever role we were given. Each person in our families that I know of has excelled in his and her chosen fields. All are loving, family-centered, God-believing people who were taught these personal characteristics to their families in various ways, but from generation to generation they mirrored the character we have seen evidence of throughout this narrative.
 
From Washington State, to Arizona, to Texas, Hawaii and other states I’m unaware of, each generation of the family that Richard and Kay started have grown, and are people we can share pride in. All of you ladies who became Baldwins, and those men and women who were born Baldwins can look back to Richard Gouverneur Baldwin and Kate Carol Dillon and say “thanks.” And, finally, to those who personally remember him, I hope you can say about this writing, “thanks for the memories.”
 
With love for you all,
Richard Baldwin
richbald@comcast.net
December 2023


[i] 1920 United States Federal Census; Year: 1920; Census Place: Township 3, Fresno, California; Roll: T625_96; Page: 11B; Enumeration District: 8
 

[ii] https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/231863312/richard-gouveneur-baldwin
 

[iii] U.S.. World War II Draft Card – 1940 - https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?dbid=2238&h=19597716&indiv=try&o_vc=Record:OtherRecord&rhSource=2238&_gl=1*13xiky4*_gcl_au*MTAyNDEyNTQxOC4xNzAxNTQ5MTY2
 

[iv] “The Young Richard Baldwin” written by his son, William Lane Baldwin(1929); not published; Page 8: assumed to have been written approximately 1992 for a writing class. A letter to his sister accompanied these versions dated August 26, 1992.
 

[v] 1920 United States Federal Census; Year: 1920; Census Place: Township 3, Fresno, California; Roll: T625_96; Page: 11B; Enumeration District: 8
 

[vi] “The Young Richard Baldwin” written by his son, William Lane Baldwin(1929); not published; Page 8.
 

[vii] Photograph of Bill Baldwin (1880) and Dick Baldwin (1905)
 

[viii] “The Young Richard Baldwin” written by his son, William Lane Baldwin(1929); not published; Page 9.
 

[ix] IBID, Page 9
 

[x]  IBID, Page 12
 

[xi] IBID, Pages 13-14
 

[xii] IBID, Page 15
 

[xiii] IBID, Pages 15-18
 

[xiv] IBID, Page 18
 

[xv] IBID, Page 18
 

[xvi] March 13, 1919; Article in the Fresno Morning Republican (Fresno, CA) on page 15; YMCA NOTES – Potato Race
 

[xvii] May 14, 1919; Article in the Fresno Morning Republican (Fresno, CA) on page 13; YMCA NOTES – Volley Ball
 

[xviii] June 11, 1919; Article in the Fresno Morning Republican (Fresno, CA) on page 5; INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS TO GRADUATE 276 PUPILS FRIDAY
 

[xix] August 1, 1919; Article in the Fresno Morning Republican (Fresno, CA) on page 12; YMCA NOTES - Swimming
 

[xx] October 19, 1919; Article in the Fresno Morning Republican (Fresno, CA) on page 43; YMCA NOTES - Handball and Swimming
 

[xxi] January 27, 1920; Fourteenth Census of the United States 1920 Population; Township 3, Fresno, California; Roll: T625_96; Page 11B; Enumeration District: 8; Image: 369; https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6061/images/4293696-00369?albums=pg&isPersonGallery=true&showGalleryAlbums=true&tab=1&pId%5B%5D=2713560&pId%5B%5D=112522662735
 

[xxii] “The Young Richard Baldwin” written by his son, William Lane Baldwin(1929); not published; Page 18.
 

[xxiii] October 3, 1921; Article in the Fresno Morning Republican (Fresno, CA) on page 6; FRESNO HIGH SCHOOL NEWS
 

[xxiv] January 9, 1922; Article in the Fresno Morning Republican (Fresno, CA) on page 5; 130 POUNS DICW BOWS TO REEDLEY
 

[xxv] January 9, 1922; Article in the Fresno Morning Republican (Fresno, CA) on page 5; DRAMATIC STUDENTS TO PRESENT PLAYS
 

[xxvi] January 9, 1922; Article in the Fresno Morning Republican (Fresno, CA) on page 5; JUNIORS AMEND CONSTITUTION
 

[xxvii] January 9, 1922; Article in the Fresno Morning Republican (Fresno, CA) on page 5; FRESNO FIVE LOOKS STRONG
 

[xxviii] January 9, 1922; Article in the Fresno Morning Republican (Fresno, CA) on page 10; FRESNO BOYS WILL GO TO HI-Y CONFERENCE
 

[xxix] January 30, 1922; Article in the Fresno Morning Republican (Fresno, CA) on page 6; FRESNO WINS FROM HANFORD CAGE TEAM
 

[xxx] January 30, 1922; Article in the Fresno Morning Republican (Fresno, CA) on page 6; PRESS CLUB ELECTS NEW SET OF OFFICERS
 

[xxxi] February 27, 1922; Article in the Fresno Morning Republican (Fresno, CA) on page 3; CLUBS – AGORA
 

[xxxii] March 6, 1922; Article in the Fresno Morning Republican (Fresno, CA) on page 5; CLASS MEETINGS – JUNIOR CLASS
 

[xxxiii] March 13, 1922; Article in the Fresno Morning Republican (Fresno, CA) on page 5; OWL ANNUAL OUT IN JUNE
 

[xxxiv] May 3, 1922; Article in the Fresno Morning Republican (Fresno, CA) on page 13; HIGH STUDENTS BOOST JUNIOR SCHOOL FARCE
 

[xxxv] May 22, 1922; Article in the Fresno Morning Republican (Fresno, CA) on page 5; AGORA HEADED BY HARKLEROAD
 

[xxxvi] May 22, 1922; Article in the Fresno Morning Republican (Fresno, CA) on page 10; SIXTY IN CAST OF PLAY FOR TRAINEES’ AID
 

[xxxvii] May 29, 1922; Article in the Fresno Morning Republican (Fresno, CA) on page 5; CANDIDATES FOR STUDENT OFFICERS PRESENT POLICIES
 

[xxxviii] May 29, 1922; Article in the Fresno Morning Republican (Fresno, CA) on page 5; AGORA HAS INSTALLATION FOR INCOMING OFFICERS
 

[xxxix] June 1, 1922; Article in the Fresno Morning Republican (Fresno, CA) on page 15; HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS TO ENTERTAIN SENIORS AT ELABORATE DANCE
 

[xl] October 11, 1922; Article in the Fresno Morning Republican (Fresno, CA) on page 3; TEN DEBATERS CHOSEN AT PRELIMINARY TRY OUT
 

[xli] October 23, 1922; Article in the Fresno Morning Republican (Fresno, CA) on page 3; SENATE BRANCH IN FOR POLITICS
 
[xli] October 25, 1922; Article in the Fresno Morning Republican (Fresno, CA) on page 4; HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS IN PRACTICE DEBATE FRIDAY
 

[xlii] October 30, 1922; Article in the Fresno Morning Republican (Fresno, CA) on page 2; WATER POWER ACT IS DEBATED IN SENATE OF FRESNO HIGH SCHOOL

 

[xliv] November 3, 1922; Article in the Fresno Morning Republican (Fresno, CA) on page 2; COMMITTEE HAS MEETING
 

[xlv] November 13, 1922; Article in the Fresno Morning Republican (Fresno, CA) on page 3; DEBATERS HAVE HEAVY SCHEDULE
 

[xlvi] November 14, 1922; Article in the Fresno Bee (Fresno, CA) on page 9; WOOLWINE CALLS FOR AID IN ENFORCING WRIGHT ACT – HI-Y PLANS LADIES’ NIGHT
 

[xlvii] November 18, 1922; Article in the Fresno Bee (Fresno, CA) on page 2;  - OFFICERS ARE NOMINATED – BOYS’ CLUB ELECTS OFFICERS
 

XVIII  November 23, 1922; Article in the Fresno Bee (Fresno, CA) on page 2;  BOYS’ CLUB NAMES OFFICERS
 

[xlix] December 5, 1922; Article in the Fresno Bee (Fresno, CA) on page 6; P.T.A. TO AID STUDENTS WITH VAUDEVILLE SHOW
 

[l] December 21, 1922; Article in the Fresno Bee (Fresno, CA) on page 3; STAFF OF ANNUAL OWL ANNOUNCED FOR SCHOOL
 

[li] January 16, 1923; Article in the Fresno Bee (Fresno, CA) on page 4; NINE HATS IN RING FOR OFFICE AT FRESNO HIGH
 

[lii] April 13, 1923; Article in the Fresno Morning Republican (Fresno, CA) on page 3; PRIZES AWARDED IN ORATORICAL CONTEST
 

[liii] April 13, 1923; Article in the Fresno Morning Republican (Fresno, CA) on page 3; BALDWIN INVESTIGATES SENIOR CLASS FUNDS
 

[liv] “The Young Richard Baldwin” written by his son, William Lane Baldwin(1929); not published; Pages 18-20.
 

[lv] “The Black Bag” written by his son, William Lane Baldwin(1929); not published; Page 5-6; assumed to have been written approximately 1992 for a writing class. A letter to his sister accompanied these versions dated August 26, 1992.
 

[lvi] “The Announcement” written by his son, William Lane Baldwin(1929); not published; Pages 1-6; assumed to have been written approximately 1992 for a writing class. A letter to his sister accompanied these versions dated August 26, 1992.
 

[lvii] January 15, 1945; Article in the Dallas Morning News (Dallas, TX) Section II on page 1; DICK BALDWIN, UNITED PRESS MANAGER, DIES
 

[lviii] January 15, 1945; Article in the Corsicana Daily Sun (Corsicana, TX) page 10; DICK BALDWIN, UP MANAGER FOR TEXAS, DIED IN DALLAS
 

[lix] “The Newsman” written by his son, William Lane Baldwin(1929); not published; Page 33; assumed to have been written approximately 1992 for a writing class. A letter to his sister accompanied these versions dated August 26, 1992.
 

[lx] Encyclopedia.com United Press -  https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences-and-law/economics-business-and-labor/businesses-and-occupations/united-press-international-inc
 

[lxi] Wikipedia.com United Press International - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Press_International
 

[lxii] CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY, UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL, 1907-2007, 100-YEARS OF JOURNALISTIC EXCELLENCE;  https://100years.upi.com/history.html
 

[lxiii] September 21, 1928; Article in The Spokane Press (Spokane, Washington) on page 1; NORTHCOTTS TALK FREELY BUT DENY ALL; Article written by Richard G. Baldwin – United Press Staff Correspondent
 

[lxiv] December 4, 1928; Article in The Roanoke Times (Roanoke, Virginia) on page 1; NOTED PIONEER OF NORTHWEST DIES; Ezra Meeker Succumbs to Aggravated Stomach Illness at Age of 97
Article written by Richard G. Baldwin – United Press Staff Correspondent
 

[lxv] February 22, 1929; Article in The Pittston Gazette (Pittston, Pennsylvania) on page 1; CHILD SUPPOSED TO BE KIDNAPPED RETURNED HOME; Article written by Richard G. Baldwin – United Press Staff Correspondent
 

 
[lxvi] February 23, 1929; Article in The Pomona Progress Bulletin (Pomona, California) on page 1; S. F. KIDNAP BLAME PUT ON WOMAN; Article written by Richard G. Baldwin – United Press Staff Correspondent
 

[lxvii] February 23, 1929; Article in The Imperial Valley Press (El Centro, California) on page 1; MOTHER LOVE CAUSED WOMAN TO STEAL GIRL; Article written by Richard G. Baldwin – United Press Staff Correspondent
 

[lxviii] June 1, 1929; BIRTH OF WILLIAM LANE BALDWIN; Article in the San Francisco Bulletin (San Francisco, California) on page 26; BAY VITAL STATISTICS; Birth announcement “BALDWIN- May 28, to Mrs. Richard Baldwin, 3018 Mission Street, a son.”
 

[lxix] June 1, 1929; BIRTH OF WILLIAM LANE BALDWIN; Article in the San Francisco Examiner (San Francisco, CA) on page 11; BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS; Birth announcement “BALDWIN- In this city, May 28, to the wife of Richard Baldwin, 3018 Mission Street, a son.
 

[lxx] Photograph of 3018 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA from Loopnet.com; https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/3018-Mission-St-San-Francisco-CA/27082205/
 

[lxxi] June 7, 1929; Article in The Pittston Gazette (Pittston, Pennsylvania) on page 1; MAN-HUNT IS DEVELOPING FOR SLAYER; Article written by Richard G. Baldwin – United Press Staff Correspondent; San Francisco, California
 

[lxxii] August 24, 1929; Article in The Pomona Progress Bulletin (Pomona, California) on page 1; TURNER SPEEDS THRU OKLAHOMA; Article written by Richard G. Baldwin – United Press Staff Correspondent; Tulsa, Oklahoma
 

[lxxiii] “The Newsman” written by his son, William Lane Baldwin(1929); not published; Page 38
 

[lxxiv] August 26, 1929; Article in the Kenosha News (Kenosha, Wisconsin) on page 15; SALARY EARNER GIVEN ADVICE BY GIANNINI; Article written by Richard G. Baldwin – United Press Staff Correspondent; San Francisco, California
 

[lxxv] NOVEMBER 10, 1929; Article in The Fresno Bee (Fresno, California) on page 2; PRISON OFFICIALS FORGET GALLOWS, BABY EXPECTED; Article written by Richard G. Baldwin – United Press Staff Correspondent; San Quentin, California

 
[lxxvi] November 19, 1929; Article in The Register (Santa Ana, California) on page 2; ‘BIG GAME’ IS HARD TO DOPE: BEARS FAVORED; Article written by Richard G. Baldwin – United Press Staff Correspondent; San Francisco, California
 
 

[lxxvii] April 3, 1930 United States Federal Census; https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6224/images/4532384_00729?albums=pg&isPersonGallery=true&showGalleryAlbums=true&tab=1&pId%5B%5D=101472156&pId%5B%5D=112522662735
 

[lxxviii] March 29, 1930; Article in The Butte Daily Post (Butte, Montana) on page 6; VENETIAN GIANT HEADS FOR COAST AFTER KAYO OVER DETROIT FIGHTER; Article written by Richard G. Baldwin – United Press Staff Correspondent; Denver, Colorado
 

[lxxix] June 10, 1930; Article in The Fresno Bee (Fresno, California) on page 1; FEDERATED CLUBS DEPLORE LOSS OF ‘LIVING MUSIC’; Article written by Richard G. Baldwin – United Press Staff Correspondent; Denver, Colorado
 

[lxxx] August 8, 1930; Article in The Montana Standard (Butte, Montana) on page 10; SOME SIDELIGHTS GLEANED AT MEET; UP
 

[lxxxi] “The Newsman” written by his son, William Lane Baldwin(1929); not published; Pages 37-38
 

[lxxxii] U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995; Ancestry.com; https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2469/images/15135015?pId=962297933
 

[lxxxiii] Baldwin residence in 1930 to 1932 at 1376 Pearl Street (Apartment 205) https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1376-N-Pearl-St-APT-312-Denver-CO-80203/13332051_zpid/?mmlb=g,15
 

[lxxxiv] Baldwin residence in 1930 to 1932 at 1376 Pearl Street (Apartment 205);     https://www.redfin.com/CO/Denver/1376-N-Pearl-St-80203/unit-312/home/34102835
 

[lxxxv] Photograph of Richard and Bill in front of their home at 1376 Pearl Street, Denver, CO in perhaps 1931
 

[lxxxvi] January 15, 1945; Article in the Dallas Morning News (Dallas, TX) Section II on page 1; DICK BALDWIN, UNITED PRESS MANAGER, DIES
 

[lxxxvii] May 10, 1933; Article in the El Paso Herald-Post (El Paso, Texas) on page 1; MOTHER VIEWS HAMILTON BODY; HAMILTON MEEK AS HE GOES TO DEATH; Article written by Richard G. Baldwin – United Press Staff Correspondent; Dallas, Texas
 
[lxxxvii]  May 31, 1933; Article in The Record American (Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania) on page 1; ELEVEN CONVICTS MAKE ESCAPE FROM THE KANSAS STATE PENITENTIARY; Article written by Richard G. Baldwin – United Press Staff Correspondent; Lansing, Michigan

 

[lxxxix] October 1, 1935; Article in The Dallas Morning News (Dallas, Texas); TELEGRAPH NEWS SERVICES AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY AND TODAY.
 
 

[xc] November 30, 1935; Article in The Waterbury Democrat (Waterbury, Connecticut) on page 14; TEXAS CHRISTIAN PICKED OVER S.M.U.; Article written by Richard G. Baldwin – United Press Staff Correspondent; Fort Worth, Texas
 

[xci] Texas Centennial Exposition in Dallas, Texas; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Park
 

[xcii] June 24, 1936; Article in The Austin American (Austin, Texas) on page 3; GOING TO THE CENTENNIAL? TRANSPORTATION BUILDING SHOWS MANY MARVELS FOR MAN AND CHILD;  Article written by Richard G. Baldwin - United Press Staff Correspondent; Dallas, Texas
 

[xciii] September 2, 1936; Texas Department of Health; Bureau of Vital Statistics, Cycle: 01 through 99; 1936 Births, Page 87; Baldwin, Mary Jane; Mother: Dillon, Kay Carol; Father Baldwin, Richard G.
 

[xciv] “The Newsman” written by his son, William Lane Baldwin(1929); not published; Pages 43
 

[xcv]  Photograph of Richard and Bill admiring Mary Jane Baldwin shortly after her birth in September of 1936, in Dallas, Texas.
 

[xcvi] March 20, 1937; OBITUARY FOR WILLIAM LANE BALDWIN; Newspapers.com
 

[xcvii] CALIFORNIA, U.S.. DEATH INDEXES, 1905-1939; Ancestry.com
 

[xcviii] March 19, 1937; Article in The Marshall News Messenger (Marshall, Texas) on page 1; MORE THAN 300 BODIES ARE TAKEN FROM BUILDING WRECK; Article written by Richard G. Baldwin – United Press Staff Correspondent; Overton, Texas
 

[xcix] “The Newsman” written by his son, William Lane Baldwin(1929); not published; Page 42
 

[c] CHRON; A SERVICE OF THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE; https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/texas/article/294-killed-in-New-London-Texas-school-explosion-11010292.php
 

[ci] “The Newsman” written by his son, William Lane Baldwin(1929); not published; Page 43
 

[cii] December 28, 1937; Article in The San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco, CA) Page 21; IT’S TRUE – U. P. EXPERTS SAY SO; by Dick Baldwin, United Press Southwest expert, United Press Correspondent (and sports expert)
 

[ciii] “The Newsman” written by his son, William Lane Baldwin(1929); not published; Pages 33-34
 

[civ] November 21, 1939; Article in The Shawnee Evening Star (Shawnee, Oklahoma) Page 1; DALLAS GIRL WROTE POEM OF HATE FOR HER DYING VICTIM; Richard Baldwin, United Press Southwest expert, United Press Correspondent; Dallas, Texas
 

[cv] Wikipedia – Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 -https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_Training_and_Service_Act_of_1940
 

[cvi] Photograph of 5710 Tremont Street, in Dallas, Texas. Constructed in 1945 (Zillow)
 

[cvii] Dallas County Archives – Texan Courts Residents, 1947-1948; https://freepages.rootsweb.co/-jwheat/history/texancourts4748.html; Pages 1, 2, & 7
 

[cviii] November 15, 1940; Article in The Monitor (McAllen, Texas) Page 2; TWO CHIEFS ADDRESS EDITORS AT VALLEY MEET; Brownsville, Texas
 
[cviii] NOVEMBER 2, 1941; Article in The Repository (Canton, OH) Page 43; TEXAS ROUTS SOUTHERN METHODIST 34-0 FOR FIFTH WIN - LONGHORNS NOT EXERTED DURING FIRST BIG TEST
Score In Every Period as Jack Crain Sets Pace for Heavy Attack; By Richard G. Baldwin (United Press Sportswriter)
 

[cix] NOVEMBER 2, 1941; Article in The Repository (Canton, OH) Page 43; TEXAS ROUTS SOUTHERN METHODIST 34-0 FOR FIFTH WIN - LONGHORNS NOT EXERTED DURING FIRST BIG TEST
Score In Every Period as Jack Crain Sets Pace for Heavy Attack; By Richard G. Baldwin (United Press Sportswriter)
 

[cx] “The Newsman” written by his son, William Lane Baldwin(1929); not published; Page 43
 

[cxi] Wikipedia – Attack on Pearl Harbor - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor#References
 

[cxii] “The Newsman” written by his son, William Lane Baldwin(1929); not published; Page 44
 

[cxiii] IBID, p. 45
 

[cxiv] JULY 23, 1942; Article in The Dallas Morning News (Dallas, TX) Section I Page 8; DALLAS GETS UNITED PRESS DIVISION OFFICE
 

[cxv] JANUARY 15, 1945; Article in The Dallas Morning News (Dallas, TX) Page 1; DICK BALDWIN, UNITED PRESS MANAGER, DIES.
 

[cxvi] TEXAS DEATHS – BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS; Standard Certificate of Death - January 14, 1945; Address 2039 Bernard Place, Dallas, Dallas, Texas, where he had lived for nine-years.
Cause of death – Angina Pectoris contributed to by an enlarged liver.
 

[cxvii] TEXAS DEATH INDEX, 1903-2000 FOR RICHARD BALDWIN; Baldwin, Richard, Dallas, 1-14-1945
 

[cxviii] JANUARY 15, 1945; Article in The Daily Sentinel (Grand Junction, Colorado) Page 2; DEATHS LAST NIGHT; Dallas, Tex. – R. G. (Dick) Baldwin, 39, Texas manager of the United Press for 11 years.
 

[cxix] JANUARY 15, 1945; Article in The Times (Shreveport, Louisiana) Page 5; This article is from the competing Associated Press (AP)
R. G. BALDWIN, TEX. MANAGER OF U. P. DIES
 

[cxx] January 15, 1945; Article in the Corsicana Daily Sun (Corsicana, TX) page 10; DICK BALDWIN, UP MANAGER FOR TEXAS, DIED IN DALLAS
 

[cxxi] JANUARY 15, 1945; Article in the Taylor Daily Press (Taylor, Texas) Page 1; DICK BALDWIN U. P. Manager, DIES IN DALLAS
 

[cxxii] JANUARY 15, 1945; Article in the Times (Shreveport, Louisiana) Page 5
R. G. BALDWIN, TEX. MANAGER OF U. P. DIES
 

[cxxiii] JANUARY 17, 1945; Article in the Justice de Biddeford (Biddeford, Maine) Page 3; MORT TRAGIQUE D’UN VÉTÉRAN DE LA U.P.
Obituary in the French language newspaper in Biddeford, Maine
 

[cxxiv] “The Newsman” written by his son, William Lane Baldwin(1929); not published; Page 47