Page 8 - July1955

198 NATIONAL BUTTON BULLETIN July,1955

PRESENTING THE I955 ADDITIONS TO OUR OFFICIAL FAMILY
On the inside front cover of each Bulletin we list the names and ad-
dresses of the Executive Board members. Each year three new Directors
replace thlee whose terms have expired.
Our President-MTs. f,'ay IIiliIr
In the 1951 Juty Bulletin (p. 196) we g:ave a sholt biography-of llrs' viiim'
you will recall thit she was President of the California Staie Button Society
ivhen thaf blganization acted as hosts to the National Button Society, in 1953.
very suc-
She, together with her State committees, saw that affair through to
-a
resiful-conctusion. Itrs. Yilim served as Second antt First Vice-President of ttre
NBS from 1951 to 1954.
f,Ir. Vilim generally accompanies his wife to the Shows and rve keep hin
busy taking pictures ancl in scores of other ways.
Serving as Second Vice-President is NIr. George Ertell of Nerv-Jersey. In
ofder that you may be better acquainted with him we offer you the notes lae
sent to us.
Geor€ie Ertell-NerY Jersey
when this assignment came for my autobiography, I made various attempts
to write something, but with little success. One doesn't refuse our Editor, how-
ever, for she thinks nothing is impossibie.
I, somehow, cannot remember rny cradle days.
Records show that I was born in Cleveland, Ohio,
late in the "Gay Nineties," the first son after three
girls. Because at a tender ag:e I grabbed at my
father's watch. he firedicted I would be a jet'elef, but,
instinctiYelt, I guess, I was weighing the gold con-
tent. -A. photograph, port|ays me at the age of fout',
with long leggings, a clouble breasted jacket rvith
iarge pearl buttons, a starched embroiclered collar and
lar€ie flowing pl:rid tie | 1'o this date, I haYe hated
l)earl buttons.
-
Throughout my life I rvas destined to wear vari-
ous and sundry buttons. At the outbreal< of the fiist
World War', I enlisted in the U. S. lla|ine Corps.
After intensive training at Paris Island, S. C., ancl
Quantico, Va., I was shipped to Europe. By the grace
of God, I was still in the front lines when the Armis-
ti('e was signed. Then, on to Germany, to live on the
t:ihine with the Army of Occupation for seven months.
Attached to the Army's second division, I wore the
George Ertell buttons of both outlits.
A theatrical venture. not a career. followed. Stock
companies in Washing:ton, D. C., Indianapolis, Cleveland, Lincoln, Nebr., Utica,
N. Y., anal many points south; several seasons with the Redpath Chauttruquas:
a season with an English Repertory Company doing Shakespeale; seYernl Nerv
York shows, the last of which was "My Maryland," in which I played Arthure
Fritchie in the original company on tour. So, buttons I have worn!
Personally, I am not a button collector. I'd call myself a button appre-
ciator. Our house couldn't contain two button collectors. As it is, my wife,
Viliane, lives, llreathes, sleeps, and I was about to say eats buttons, but until
this atomic ag:e discovers a process to convert buttons into palatable foods, we'11
have to do without'pate de passementerie','sew-thru salad'or'casserole of
cowry shells.'
I have been in the antique business for quite a long time. My business, plus
m1'rvife's passion for buttons, has carried us on many a pleasant jaunt. Europe
is our favorite hunting ground.
I think most of you knolv that we have two sons and a daughter, all happily
rlarried. They, in turn, have g:iven us ten grandchildren-the latest one
(George) having just arrived.
Chester Pendlet6l-611o
Judge Chester Pendleton is completing his 10th year as Chairman of the
Board of Directors, having served continuously since 1944-with the exception of
one year, 1947. He suggests that his biography is not at all necessary this time,
so, we would suggest that you reread 'what we recorded in the July Bulletins
for 1945 (p. 154), anal 1952 (p. 199).