Friday, March 08, 2024
Ink-Slinger Profiles by Alex Jay: Granville E. Dickey
(An earlier profile was posted in 2020.)
Granville Edourd Dickey was born on June 24, 1902, in Washington, District of Columbia (DC), according to his World War II draft card. His middle name was found in the Northwestern University Bulletin Annual Catalog 1919–1920.
In the 1910 United States Census, Dickey was the oldest of two children born to Raymond and Rose. The family and two servants resided in DC at 1358 Otis Place. Dickey’s father was an attorney.
At age six Dickey was hit by a truck as reported in the Evening Star, February 13, 1909.
Dickey’s disappearance was front page news in the Evening Star, March 18, 1913 and Washington Times, March 19, 1913.
Dickey attended Central High School where he participated in swimming. His triumphs were noted in Washington Herald, June 8, 1919.
... Granville Dickey won the two spectacular events of the meet—the 220 and the 500 yards. He had very little trouble in gaining first in the 220, and in the 500 he won by two lengths. Dickey is considered the best all-around scholastic swimmer. ...
The Dickey family continued to be DC residents, at 1702 Kilbourne Place NW, in the 1920 census.
Dickey graduated in 1920.
The Central Bulletin, June 15, 1920
In 1921 Dickey attended George Washington University.
Dickey transferred to Northwestern University in Chicago. In 1924 Dickey graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism. He was a member of the varsity swimming team, and in his senior year was named a member of the all-American swimming team.
American Newspaper Comics (2012) said Dickey was the first writer of Men Who Made the World, which was drawn by Chester Sullivan. The strip started on September 21, 1925 and after five dailies Dickey’s name was replaced by “Dr. Elliott Shoring, Noted Eminent Historian”. Records of this person have not been found. Shoring may have been a pen name. The John F. Dille Company series ran for many years as reprints.
The Evening Star, April 4, 1928, reported Dickey’s marriage.
The marriage of a former Washingtonian, Mr. Granville E. Dickey, to Miss La Verne Carnes will take place this afternoon in Chicago, the home of the parents of the bride. After an extensive trip to Cuba and Spanish Honduras, they will return to Chicago, where Mr. Dickey is advertising manager for a large wholesale house.He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. R.B. Dickey of 1702 Kilbourne place. In 1920, when he graduated from Central High School, he was captain of the swimming team and a captain in the Cadet Corps.In 1924 he was graduated from the College of Journalism of Northwestern University. He was a member of the varsity swimming team, and in his senior year was named as a member of the all-American swimming team.
According to the 1930 census, the couple resided in Oak Park, Illinois at 402 South Cuyler Avenue. Dickey was an advertising copywriter.
The Northwestern University Club of Chicago 1932 Year Book had this entry:
Dickey, Granville E., J. ’24, “N”; Adv. Man., E. J. Brach & Sons, Adv. for Candy Mfgr., 4656 W. Kinzie, Man. 1200; r. 402 S. Cuyler, Oak Park, Vil. 9283.
Dickey’s father passed away on April 1, 1940.
Dickey divorced in 1941.
On November 25, 1941 Dickey testified before the House of Representatives’ committee hearings on the conservation of wildlife.
On February 14, 1942, Dickey signed his World War II draft card. He lived in Silver Spring, Maryland at 8003 Eastern Avenue, apartment 104. Dickey was employed at the U.S. Conservation Corps in DC. His description was five feet eight-and-a-half inches, 145 pounds, with brown eyes and hair.
In 1943 Dickey wrote radio scripts for the Food Distribution Administration of the War Food Administration.
An Evening Star death notice said Dickey’s second wife passed away April 5, 1945.
Dickey, Ceril. On Thursday, April 5, 1945, at St. Petersburg, Fla. Ceril Dickey, aged 37, formerly of Gaithersburg, Md.; wife of Granville E. Dickey, daughter of Mrs. Florence Cousins, niece of Albert Lancaster, St. Petersburg, Fla. Services and interment St. Petersburg, Fla., on Monday, April 9.
Marketing Activities, January 1947, published Dickey’s article, “Burley Tobacco—New Export Crop?”.
Dickey passed away on January 28, 1948. Death notices appeared in the Evening Star, January 29, 1948 and the Washington Post, January 30, 1948 (below).
Dickey Granville E. On Wednesday, January 28, 1948. Granville E. Dickey, father of Rosemary Dickey, son of Rose M. Dickey and the late Raymond B. Dickey, brother of Mrs. Alice Beaton, John Maxwell Dickey and Raymond R. Dickey. Funeral from the W. W. Deal Funeral Home, 4812 Georgia ave. n.w., on Saturday, January 31, at 2 p. m. Relatives and friends invited. Interment Cedar Hill Cemetery.
Dickey was laid to rest at Cedar Hill Cemetery.
Dickey’s first wife passed away on February 2, 1966.
Labels: Ink-Slinger Profiles
