Eckman

1956: Charley Eckman honored In July 1956, Charley Eckman, the colorful Marylander who coached the Fort Wayne (now Detroit) Pistons of the NBA, was the toast of the Midwest - and the pride of Anne Arundel County. Known as the "poor man's Casey Stengel" after twice leading his team to the top of the association's Western Division, Eckman was honored 50 years ago at a "Toast of the Post" dinner at Glen Burnie's American Legion. Eckman lived in Glen Burnie and belonged to American Legion Post No. 40. In his storied career, he also shined as a Baltimore sportscaster.

On May 20, 2004, LINDA MARIE(nee Eckman) ELLIOTT, beloved wife of James Roy Elliott, Sr., daughter of Jeanne Gougler and the late John Joseph Eckman, mother of James R. Elliott, Jr. and Stephanie Marie Wilson, sister of Joann Richelson. Grandmother of Elliott Bradford Wilson. Services from the ELINE FUNERAL HOME, 11824 Reisterstown Rd. (at Franklin Blvd.) Saturday 4 P.M. Interment private. Friends may call Saturday2 to 5 P.M.

David L. Eckman is a former railroader with an interest in writing. Richard D. Hawkins is a former printer with an interest in railroads.Together, as volunteers, they edit the Blue Mountain Express, the quarterly glossy magazine of the 1,050-member Western Maryland Railway Historical Society Inc. of Union Bridge.The two have co-edited the magazine since the 1991-1992 winter issue."They're a couple of very dedicated fellows," said Stanley Johnson, chairman of the society's board of directors.

Pistons' title stirs memories of Eckman With the Detroit Pistons unexpectedly winning the NBA championship, I am surprised that The Sun has not published a feature or, at minimum, a footnote on another unexpected championship run. The late Charley Eckman, a Baltimore native and the "Babe Ruth of Basketball Referees," garnered screaming headlines and feature stories in newspapers and magazines over the unlikely success of the Fort Wayne Pistons in...

Today Many of the 3-year-olds entered for the 35th running of the Woodlawn will be testing the grass course for the first time when the gates open for the 1 1/16-mile event. The $75,000 Woodlawn is scheduled as the 10th race on a card that will also carry a simulcast of the Kentucky Derby. Post time for the first of 11 races is 12: 30 p.m. Blaze and Blues, a promising son of noted turf sire Hansel, brings a 2-for-3 record into his first stakes appearance, but is untested over the infield.

Not everyone can get a ticket to opening day at Oriole Park at Camden Yards tomorrow, but there may be an alternative for Anne Arundel County fans.Singing pitcher Greg "Nuke Laloosh" Arnold, the ex-Baltimore Orioles minor-leaguer, is having his third annual Opening Day party indoors and outdoors at Henny Mack's Tavern in Glen Burnie."

Before we dive headfirst into this week's pool of "Q's & A's" let me remind county student-athletes about something very important.You may want to start gathering information for your All-County Academic Athletic Team ballot, which will start running on these pages in January.The Anne Arundel County Sun once again will be searching for the county's best student-athletes.All county high school students will be eligible to apply for what will be the ninth annual Anne Arundel County Sun All-County Academic Athletic Team.

An extremely diversified group of five has been selected for induction into the newly formed Anne Arundel County Sports Hall of Fame Inc.The organization, whose goals will be to induct deserving individuals into the county Hall of Fame and donate money to amateur sports,has picked Charlie Eckman, Gordon "Babe" Phelps, Daffy Russell, Betty Hallmark and Lloyd Keaser as the inaugural inductees.The five will be honored at the first Hall of Fame Banquet on Thursday, Oct. 24, at Michael's 8th Avenue.

Local planners say they are making progress toward curbing sprawl in Maryland but won't truly succeed until they persuade residents that the American dream can be found in towns and cities rather than on country estates."

It's Sunday smorgasbrowse day, and I've got a full menu.How about congrats to the Anne Arundel Community College softball team for cracking the National Junior College Athletic Association Top 20 for the first time in two years?Ranked No. 12 this week, the Pioneers of coach Jim Hendricks took a 14-0 record into yesterday's game against the University of Maryland.In baseball, bad luck and arm problems continue to follow AACC left-hander Lee Haney. Haney, an All-County pitcher at Old Mill in 1993, was 5-0 for the Pioneers before arm problems.