Have you ever wondered what life was like in Jacksonville half a century ago? It was a different era of history, culture and politics but there are often parallels between the kind of stories that made headlines then and today. As interesting as the differences may be, so are the similarities. These are some of the top stories from this week in 1962. The items were compiled from the Jacksonville Public Library's periodical archives by Staff Writer Max Marbut.
• In front of 50,026 fans, the University of Florida defeated Penn State University 17-7 in the 18th annual Gator Bowl.
The 6-4 Gators went into the game as underdogs, but UF southpaw sophomore quarterback Tom Shannon connected on 7 of 9 passes for 79 yards and two touchdowns to upset the 10-1, No. 9 ranked Nittany Lions.
It was all Florida that day in the Gator Bowl, with Penn State possessing the ball only 19 of 60 minutes.
With less than five minutes off the clock in the first quarter, Penn State fumbled on its first offensive play of the game. The ball was picked up by UF end Sam Holland and four plays later, sophomore Bob Lyle kicked the longest field goal in Gator Bowl history –– 43 yards –– to give the Gators a 3-0 lead with 8:43 remaining in the quarter.
The kick eclipsed the previous mark of 22 yards, set by Jack Miller of Clemson against Missouri in the 1949 game.
By the time it was over, Penn State relinquished the Gator Bowl championship it had won against Georgia Tech in 1961.
"We are pleased with the great crowd and the great ballgame. More importantly, I think the fans are pleased and I know the viewing television audience across the nation is getting a real show," said Gator Bowl Association President Joseph K. Sykora.
The game was the culmination of a week of events including a college basketball tournament, a bowling tournament, a pro-am golf tournament at Ponte Vedra, an amateur golf tournament at Brentwood Golf Course and a regatta featuring canoe, sailboat and outboard competitions. The Gator Bowl Queen, Gayle Clark, and Jacquelyn Mayer, Miss America 1963, were the special guests at all of the week's events, including the football game.
Clark was invited to Levy's department store, where she modeled "the latest in beautiful footwear."
• Two safety clinics and a test-firing session for youths who received guns for Christmas was hosted by Sheriff Dale Carson.
The clinics were conducted in the Duval County patrol auditorium at the courthouse. New gun owners were instructed in the safe use, care and cleaning of firearms and air guns. The practice firing was permitted at the Sheriff's Office firing range along Fort Caroline Road.
• The Independent Life & Accident Insurance Co. acquired the property along West Bay Street between Laura and Main streets owned by the H & W.B. Drew Co.
The $400,000 price paid for the site brought the insurance company's purchase of contiguous property along Bay Street to a total of $1.15 million.
Announcement of the Drew purchase was made by Jacob F. Bryan III, Independent's president and board chairman. The transaction was negotiated by the real estate firm Buckman, Ulmer and Mitchell.
Hodson Drew, president of the office supply and printing company, said his firm had the option to remain at the Bay Street location for 18 months while considering sites for a new, more modern printing plant and office supply warehouse.
Bryan said the insurance company had no immediate plans for constructing a new office building on the Bay Street property.
"The acquisition of this additional property means that our company now has sufficient space upon which to erect an adequate size building plus ample parking room should the time come we find it necessary to move into larger quarters," he said.
Independent moved into its 19-story building at Duval and Julia streets in March 1955. It also owned the Independent Agency Building at Bay and Laura streets.
In July 1961, Independent acquired property along Bay Street owned by the Hubbard Investment Co., property owned by Robert and Ethel Perdue and a 20-year lease with an option to buy property owned by William Means that was being used as a parking lot.
• Police records showed crime in Jacksonville had undergone a "decided drop" since October when a special unit of night-riding officers was instituted.
Detective Capt. Fred Murray, who was in charge of the 16-officer squad, said crime in almost every category had deceased between Oct. 1 and Nov. 30, compared to the same time frame in 1961.
The unit comprised eight detective sergeants who rode from 10 p.m. to dawn with eight uniformed officers.
Robberies were down from 111 in 1961 compared to 63 in 1962. Aggravated assaults decreased from 63 to 24 and there were 64 auto thefts in 1962, compared to 76 the year before.
Murray said within one six-day period, the squad apprehended five groups of pay-telephone thieves and a man who had been sought for three years by Tampa police on suspicion of homicide.
"We have picked up several for auto theft and others who possessed burglary tools. During the period, two of our men arrested a dope peddler and caught him with the evidence," he said.
The squad's work had a noticeable effect in the case load of another detective unit, the bad check squad.
Sgt. W. L. Blizzard said at no time during the period the mobile squad was on the street had there been a burglary in which company checks were stolen. Checks printed specifically for a business were the easiest to pass, he said.
"There is no doubt those men have been doing an excellent job. Not only are they able to move in quickly once a crime has been committed and speed solution of the crime, but their very presence on the streets during the early morning hours helps prevent crime," said Inspector Emmett Lee of the detective division.
• Four people died and 111 were injured in traffic accidents in Duval County over the accident-marred five-day Christmas holiday. By midnight Christmas Day, police estimated property damage at more than $60,000.
Police said a combination of foggy weather, speed, heavy traffic and drinking and driving contributed to the statistics.