To the editor:

To the owners of the LJWorld, Ogden Newspapers of Kansas, from some country road or another in West Virginia, please know that two seminal events in our town’s history happened fifty six years ago this month. The killings of Rick “Tiger” Dowdell and Harry “Nick” Rice happened three days apart in 1970 as our Lawrence was teetering on the edge of civil war.

Markers to commemorate the loss of these two young men’s lives were dedicated recently after more than five years of planning. Unfortunately, there was no coverage of these dedications and, although well attended, the community at large does not know they have been placed. The marker for Tiger is on 10th St between New Hampshire and Rhode Island Streets and the one for Nick is across from where the Gaslight stood many years ago, both close to where they died.

These markers hopefully provide some much deserved measure of closure, not only for the Dowdell and Rice families, but also for those who were around at the time and may have even witnessed the killings.

If you are in the area, take a moment to stop and investigate the markers to learn more about the incidents.

Bob Thurber

Lawrence