Born: May 28, 1911
Died: December 28, 1981
Married: Thelma Dudley
George Ford Towner was a son of H. Ford Towner, a director of the Saranac Lake Band.
He was involved in the Gemini space program.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, March 27, 1970
Dear Sir:
My mother has sent me a clipping from the Feb. 26, issue, the one referring to S. L. Boys Band, and the founding and early days thereof. As I was a part of this history, I feel qualified to comment thereon, as requested.
The missing clarinet player, in the No. 2 chair, is a friend of mine named John Stamford. John was the nephew of the lady who lived in the Linwood Cottage, which stood where Newberry's parking lot is today. She was Mrs. Dick --, who ran a livery and whose stables were in the rear of the same lot. John died at a fairly early age, about 28. He, Hyman and Arthur Weiner, and I were good friends and had much, fun in and around the stables, and around the river.
The trumpet player is Bendell, not Endell. Flutes are Hank Leis and ?, think baritone is Frank (King) Kelly. Believe one of the trumpets is Harold Kraus, Jack's brother. In the Winter photo, it is Murvill (not Maxwell) Witherbee.
I always believed that it was Mr. Rusterholtz who was the ‘Harold Hill' of the SL Boys Band. I know that Archie Nimmo (not Nemmo) taught the trumpets when the band was first organized and all had to learn their instruments, just as my Father H. F. Towner taught the trombones, Frank Hastings the clarinets, the Lobdell Bros. the drums, and Mr. Trombley the basses. I used to attend these rehearsals, but could not join the band as I was too young at that time... One had to he at least 12. All these men were part of the S. L. Business Men's Band, which had been in existence for many years.
Incidentally, the winter uniforms were made more colorful by multi-colored sashes, worn around the waist with the long, fringed end dangling on one's left. I have one of these stored away at my cottage. Also, at the skating races at the old rink in the bay, the band always played from their stand above the rooms (male and female) where the skaters donned their skates. This 'room' had sliding windows, and were opened when we played. Otherwise, we tried to keep them closed to retain the heat, and prevent valves, slides, and keys from freezing. We used alcohol as valve and slide lubricant, but this of course was diluted with saliva natural to blowing a horn, so was not a permanent solution to the problem. We played for the National and International speed-skating championships that were held for almost a week in Feb. The Lamy brothers and Ed Horton upheld the reputation of SL in those days in the pro ranks, and many of the high school fellows such as Geo Mussen, Bill Lytle, Phelps Mace, and others in the amateur category.
I have the original of the upper (summer) photo tucked away somewhere; if I run across it I will give you the date it was originally published in the Enterprise.
Sincerely,
Geo. F. Towner
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, December 31, 1981
George F. Towner
SARANAC LAKE - George Ford Towner, of Baltimore, Md., died in Baltimore Monday, Dec. 28 after a short illness.
He was born May 28, 1911 in Saranac Lake, the son of Ford and Madge (Hutchins) Towner.
He attended the Saranac Lake High School and Clarkson School of Technology, receiving his engineering degree at the latter.
He married Thelma Dudley of Lake Placid on Dec. 31, 1934.
Mr. Towner worked in engineering at Westinghouse Air-Arms Division for many years, and was instrumental in the Gemini space program.
After retiring, he came back to Saranac Lake, spending the summer months at his home on Kiwassa Road.
Survivors include his wife; a brother, Dean, of Austin Texas; two nieces, Nancy and Carolyn Thomas, previously of Saranac Lake and now residing in Albany; a nephew, Stephen Thomas of Saranac Lake; a great niece, Jennifer Thomas of Saranac Lake and several cousins.
A memorial service will be held at Westinghouse in Baltimore with cremation to follow at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, contributions, in his memory, may be made to the Saranac Lake Free Library or to the Cancer Society.
Mrs. Towner's address is available from the Stephen Thomas family in Saranac Lake.
