Murals showcase accomplishments of Hannibalians

Some of the biographical murals which represent a series of seven painted upon a building in the Historic District, which is owned by Steve and Sandy Terry. The murals were conceived of and commissioned by Hannibal native, Debby White. Contributed photo

MARY LOU MONTGOMERY

Debby White, a 1950s daughter of Hannibal, left her hometown when she was 17, but her memories of the quaint little community on the banks of the Mississippi never fade.

“I had a happy childhood,” she said this week in a telephone interview from her home in Nashville. “There are so many priceless things in Hannibal that cost no money: finding geodes, Lover’s Leap, the trains, mushroom hunting, the swallows and the purple martins. They are in my soul. Priceless memories.”

It is those memories and more that inspired the artistic and creative-minded former Hannibalian to leave a lasting mark on the town of her childhood.

Debby White is among the leaders of the movement to paint the town with informational and inspirational murals, converting formerly drab brick into colorful reflections of the town’s personality.

“On the composition, I knew I wanted to honor history,” she said, reflecting on the signage that now lends a promotional moniker to Hannibal: City of Murals.

“Hannibal is about its history. Growing up and having cousins there, I realized that a lot of people don’t know that history.”

While Mark Twain and his characters are well represented in the murals dotted about Hannibal, as well as trains and factories of the past, there is one unique mural compilation that holds a special significance for Debby: “Hannibalians who have made significant contributions to the world outside of Hannibal.

“Young people have no clue about the significant history made by people from Hannibal,” she said.

The project began when she commissioned murals for four characters “who are larger than life,” she said, and that transitioned into seven biographical murals.

“Every composition was my concept; I used public domain historic images” and “sent them to artists, with full instructions of how I wanted it done.”

She ultimately selected Anthony Billups of Music City Murals to create this unique collection. Billups is originally from Marceline, Mo., but now lives in Nashville.

The seven-profile series, located in the historic district on the front and side of a building owned by Sandy and Steve Terry, brings the profiles of sometimes lesser-known Hannibalians to the forefront.

For instance, there is Marie Ruoff Bynum of Hannibal, who is credited with being the first woman in the United States to exercise her right to vote, just five days after President Woodrow Wilson signed into law the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Her vote was cast in a special called election in Hannibal to fill a vacant city representative seat.

“It is Important, symbolic, significant. Women need to hang onto their rights and honor their rights,” Debby said. Bynum’s  recognition as the first woman in the United States to cast a ballot, “it is a straw in her hat and in the hat of Hannibal. And think, everything happens for a reason.”

Another Hannibalian featured in this series is A. Lester Gaba, born in 1907. The son of Hannibal merchant, Solomon Gaba, and his wife, Mamie Gaba, Lester grew up at 308 N. Seventh St. He graduated from Hannibal High School with the class of 1924. In 1941, according to the Palmyra Spectator, Gaba was commissioned to design table decorations for one of Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt’s dinner parties at the White House. The dinner was part of the annual campaign to raise funds for the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis.

Gaba’s portfolio of artistic work included sculpture, painting and costume designs.

“He absolutely fascinates me,” Debby said. “As a little boy who entered a soap carving contest at a local grocery store,” from there “he became the first person in the world to make a living carving soap.

“There are so many who have done amazing things and give back to the nation.”

The other entries in the row of recognition:

Jake Beckley, a son of South Hannibal, gained hometown fame as first baseman nicknamed “Old Eagle Eye.”  Born 1867 at Hannibal, he died 1918, at Kansas City. He left the major leagues in 1907, and was later named to the Hall of Fame as a Major League player. He was the son of Bernhard (1833-1898) and Rosine Beckley (1842-1928). The 1880 census lists Jacob Beckely as a cigar maker in Hannibal at the age of 12, and his father was a brick mason.

Clifton Avon (Cliff) Edwards, also known as Ukulele Ike, listed Hannibal as his birthplace on his World War I draft registration form.  He gained fame both as an actor and musician during the 1920s and 1930s. His folk classic, “Singin’ in the Rain” debuted in 1929. He is credited as the voice of Jiminy Cricket in the 1940 movie classic, “Pinocchio.”

Clarence Earl Gideon, born in Hannibal, 1910, gained fame not for his good works, but instead for a precedent-setting case which serves as the foundation for today’s public defender system. His father, Charles R. Gideon, worked at the cement plant around the time of his son’s birth. After Charles’ death, his widow, Jennie, was married to M.F. Anderson in 1915. Later, Clarence Gideon, facing a petty theft charge in Florida, was unable to hire an attorney. He requested an appointed attorney, but was denied, so he represented himself. The case went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Gideon was the inspiration for the 1964 book by Anthony Lewis, “Gideon’s Trumpet,” and for the subsequent movie of the same name, in which Gideon was portrayed by Henry Fonda.

William Powell Lear, born in Hannibal in 1902, became an industrialist credited with the invention of the car radio, eight-track tape player, the Lear Jet and many other patented inventions. (Source: United Press International, May 15, 1978.) He was the son of Gertrude Elizabeth Powell Kirmse and Rueben Marion Lear (1878-1955). He was the step son of  Otto Kirmse. Bill Lear died in 1978.

Admiral Robert E. Coontz, who grew up in Hannibal, served as Chief of Naval Operations in 1919-1923. The Naval History and Heritage Command reports:  “In 1925, Coontz lead the fleet on a trans-Pacific visit to New Zealand and Australia, the first massed deployment of American battleships since the “Great White Fleet” cruise nearly two decades earlier.

Coontz is buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Hannibal.

Looking ahead

Debby is proud of Hannibal’s murals, especially those she participated in. But she’s not finished yet. This spring, she hopes to revisit Hannibal, planning yet another mural project.

“I would love to see artists in Hannibal donate their talents to do small projects in the community. There are people there that have ability to do that.

“My passion is my passion,” she said. “Those murals have affected well over a million people. Hannibal has 100,000 tourists a year, minimum. The murals have been in videos and documentaries, in magazines. Hannibal has been mentioned a million times from those murals.

I wanted recognition for my hometown. It is that special.

“There are many other notables from Hannibal who deserve recognition through biographical murals. Hannibal people, please make this happen,” she said.

Debby White is pictured wearing a headdress she designed and constructed a year ago. Her talents are many and varied. Her favorite noun that people have used to describe her is:  visionary.

Lester (Abe) Gaba’s profile in the Hannibal High School Pirate yearbook, 1924.

Marie Ruoff Byrum of Hannibal is credited for being the first woman to vote in an election following the ratification of the 19th Amendment. Her father, Joe Ruoff, was a Hannibal saloon keeper when he was electrocuted in 1905. She was subsequently raised by her uncle, John Ruoff.