Reprinted with permission of Bill Hamel, Publisher of Mattoon,
Illinois, Journal Gazette/Times-Courier. Sent to us by Lowell Lee,
932 First Street, Charleston, Illinois 61920.
In 1945, this was the Atlas Imperial Diesel Engine Company
(later Young Radiator Company building) Industrial Softball
Champions Urbana District Tournament with ‘Chick’ Galey as
coach of the team. Players included, front row, 1-r, Dick Linder,
Randy Madiera, Sug Doresy, Dale Cougill, ‘Bud’ Morgan, Kip
Weaver, Don Johnson.
Second row, Dick Hutton, Bill Stratton, Gene Smith, Dick Nugent,
Don Wickizer.
Back row, Mervin Baker, Andy Sullivan, Mickey Burrell, M.C.
Wright, plant manager; Galey; A.C. Fries, shop
superintendent; Ray Schniers; Oscar Hood; Herman Gurtz. Carl Galey
was bat boy.
The Atlas Engine Company and the Imperial Engine Company were
merged in 1914, to form the Atlas Imperial Diesel Engine Company.
Previously both had built gasoline engines but after their merger,
they produced their first diesel engine. Engines were first built
at Oakland, California, with M. C. Wright, Sr., as the first
president of the new company. F. H. Kilberry was the next
president. The company located in Mattoon in 1935, with R. H.
Fernando as superintendent, M.A. Dent works manager and W. J.
Webster as purchasing agent. (From Atlas News and Views, May,
1945).