This is the written version of the Oral Interview done with Wilford “Bill” Winsor on August 26, 2004 at the Russell (Iowa) Historical Society building in Russell, IA.
Bill was born February 4, 1924 at his family home on Ames St. in Russell, IA. His parents were Atlee and Florence Winsor. Bill was named Wilford after his Dad’s buddy. They were best friends in World War I together. Atlee was in the army for about a year. Bill had no brothers or sisters. Bill has lived all but 5 years of his life in Russell.
Florence Willits, his mother, was born May 19, 1900 in Russell, IA. Her parents were Henry and Mary Willits. Atlee Winsor, Bill’s father, was born in Russell on July 1, 1894. His parents were Paris and Olive Winsor. Atlee worked at the Citizens State Bank in Russell and later moved out East of town and farmed until the Second World War began. Then he started the hatchery business. Everyone seemed to want and need eggs. Bill was in the service at this time and didn’t help with the hatchery until he came home from the war.
Grandfather Winsor died when Bill was about 5 years old, so he didn’t remember much about him. He knew his Grandmother Winsor. She died when he was in the 7th or 8th grade. He had a fine relationship with his Grandfather Henry Willits up until he was in High School.
Bill attended his entire school years at Russell Schools. He started in kindergarten and graduated from 12th grade, all in one school. During these years he played basketball and baseball. Bill remembered playing basketball against Melrose, IA the year Melrose won the State Championship. That was the year all schools were thrown together and Melrose went up and won the championship. Russell got to say that they at least played against them even though they were badly beaten. Then Russell played against Cambria. One night they had silver uniforms on and where the lettering was on the back, they had glued dimes onto the numbers. They also played Ottumwa Walsh and when they came to play they were wearing tiny little beanies on their heads. Russell beat this team and Ottumwa just about tore the classroom up. They were not happy about losing. During that time, when you visited another school to play sports, the visiting players had to use a classroom to get ready in. Russell never got very high up in any tournaments in those days. It was called the Chariton Valley Conference back then. Melrose, Williamson, Russell, Derby, and Lucas were some of the schools that played in this conference.
In Dec. 1942 he enlisted in the Army Air Corp and completed 2½ years of active duty in the South Pacific as a nose turret gunner in a B24 bomber. He remembered being told by his Commander to always pay attention to what was going on around him while on a mission. When they were sent out, it was emphasized to the men to watch out for any distractions. The Japanese would do anything to get their attention off of where the plane was headed. After creating a distraction the Japanese would have an advantage in the battle that ensued. The time Bill remembers was when the Japanese set off fireworks. The biggest fireworks display they had ever seen coming up from the ground. From up in the air, it was a beautiful sight. And boy right then, Bill heard the old Commander say “watch what your doing because they are just distracting you!” A couple of minutes later, the fighters were upon them with their anti-aircraft guns firing away. His rank was Staff Sergeant. He left the service in May of 1945. His son David was also in the service and served as a Military Policeman in Korea from December 1966 until August 1969. Billy would have only been 7 or 8 years old when that war was going on. Maybe it was the Vietnam conflict in the mid 1960’s) and spent one year overseas.
Within two weeks after returning from World War II, Bill married his sweetheart, Doris. They were married on May 20, 1945. The marriage lasted for 58 years before Doris passed away in September of 2003. From this marriage, two boys were born, David J. and William Paul.
Bill, Sr. participated in constructing Church Floats for various homecomings through the years. He also helped with the Methodist and Presbyterian Church merger. Bill was originally a Presbyterian. When he and Doris were married, he transferred his membership to the Methodist Church. The opening services were held at the Presbyterian Church and then everyone walked down to the Methodist Church to continue the merger services. Wanita McConnell was the minister. The Historical Society has a copy of the program for that day. They carried the flags from the Presbyterian Church down to the Methodist Church, but provisions for the flags had not been made and the American flag was placed on the floor. Walter Phippen went right up and picked it up and stood there and held it.
He remembers how bad it was before Russell put in the sewer system. People’s sewage would run right out into the ditches creating a very “stinky” unhealthy situation. Doris had David and Billy all ready to go somewhere when David fell into the ditch. It was a horrible mess. There weren’t septic tanks until after the water came into the city. Bill didn’t have any running water in his house when he first moved into it. They had a cistern and a pump before the water came into the town. The sewer was the greatest thing that happened to Russell. Water arrived in Russell before the sewer. He remembered the sad events that occurred while the sewer was being installed, the death of Clyde McKinley being one of them. He also remembers when the paving was done on Russell’s streets in 1929 or 1930. He wasn’t sure which year. There were only a few streets that were paved in the beginning, but Russell was ahead of other small towns in Iowa and was very proud to have some of their streets paved. It was in the 1970’s before the rest of Russell was paved.
The complete interview is at the Russell Historical Society Museum.
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