Good Condition - Please see pictures. Thanks!
***********************************************************************************************************************
On April 10–12, 1965, a devastating severe weather event affected
the Midwestern and Southeastern United States.[nb 2][nb 3][nb 4] The
tornado outbreak produced 55 confirmed tornadoes in one day and 16
hours. The worst part of the outbreak occurred during the afternoon
hours of April 11 into the overnight hours going into April 12. The
second-largest tornado outbreak on record at the time, this deadly
series of tornadoes, which became known as the 1965 Palm Sunday tornado
outbreak, inflicted a swath of destruction from Cedar County, Iowa, to
Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and a swath 450 miles long (724 km) from Kent
County, Michigan, to Montgomery County, Indiana. The main part of the
outbreak lasted 16 hours and 35 minutes and is among the most intense
outbreaks, in terms of tornado strength, ever recorded, including at
least four "double/twin funnel" tornadoes. In all, the outbreak killed
266 people, injured 3,662 others, and caused $1.217 billion (1965 USD)
in damage.
Background
A vigorous extratropical cyclone
centered over the northeastern High Plains, in the region of the
Dakotas, was the primary catalyst for widespread severe weather on April
11, 1965. As early as the preceding day, a strong jet stream in the
upper two-thirds of the troposphere traversed the southern Great Plains
and was responsible for an outbreak of tornadoes from the
Kansas–Missouri border to Central Arkansas, including a violent tornado
that struck the town of Conway in Faulkner County, Arkansas, killing six
people and injuring 200.[13][14] The following morning, at 7:00 a.m.
CDT (12:00 UTC), data from radiosondes indicated wind speeds of 120–150
kn (140–170 mph; 220–280 km/h) between the altitudes of 18,000–30,000 ft
(5,500–9,100 m) over the Sonoran–Chihuahua Deserts and the Arizona/New
Mexico Mountains. Meanwhile, at 10,000 ft (3,000 m), winds of 70 kn (81
mph; 130 km/h) impinged on the southern Great Plains. Retreating
northward, a warm front interacted with a shortwave to produce isolated
thunderstorms from northern Missouri and Central Illinois to the Lower
Peninsula of Michigan.[14][15]
Synoptic-scale upper-air analysis late on April 11, 1965
The
well-defined surface cyclone over the High Plains intensified as it
headed into Iowa, its central pressure decreasing from 990 to 985 mb
(29.23 to 29.09 inHg) by 1:00 p.m. CDT (18:00 UTC). As the warm front
bisected central Iowa and stretched into Illinois and Indiana, a cold
front and very dry air aloft—indicative of a potent elevated mixed
layer—departed from eastern Kansas.[15] Strong winds transported steep
lapse rates within the elevated mixed layer eastward across the Great
Plains. Concomitant destabilization of the atmosphere occurred over the
warm sector due to abundant sunshine from the elevated mixed
layer.[13][14] High temperatures ranged from 83 to 85 °F (28 to 29 °C)
from Chicago to St. Louis.[15][16] Simultaneously, a strong low-level
jet stream brought a moistening air mass northward: dew points of at
least 60 °F (16 °C) reached southernmost Illinois and Indiana by 10:00
a.m. CDT (15:00 UTC).[13][14][15] Meanwhile, a pronounced dry line-like
boundary near the cold front moved into eastern sections of Arkansas and
Missouri.[15] Weather stations from Topeka, Kansas, to Peoria,
Illinois, showed very strong vertical shear that favored intense
low-level convergence—combined with a moist dew point in the warm
sector, an environment favorable for supercell thunderstorms.[15]
Surface weather analysis showing weather features late on April 11, 1965
A
weather balloon launched from Dodge City, Kansas, recorded winds of 185
mph (298 km/h) aloft; another at Peoria, Illinois, subsequently
measured 135 kn (155 mph; 250 km/h).[17][13] Minimum dew points of 60 °F
(16 °C) reached as far north as southern Michigan by mid afternoon.
Volatile atmospheric conditions led to thunderstorm activity over
eastern Iowa by 1:40–48 p.m. CDT (18:40–48 UTC), the first supercell of
which produced the initial tornado of the day.[14][13][18] By 6:00 p.m.
CDT (23:00 UTC), instability reached record proportions for the time of
year over a wide area, with convective available potential energy (CAPE)
of at least 1,000 j/kg in the mixed layer over much of Indiana and
southernmost Michigan. Record-breaking ambient vertical wind shear in
the lowest 6 km (3.7 mi; 20,000 ft; 6,000 m) of the atmosphere
facilitated the explosive development of long-lived mesocyclones and
thus long-tracked tornado families. The very strong shear and rapid
forward speed of the storms—up to 70 mph (110 km/h) in some cases—may
have enhanced the formation of cyclic supercells and could account for
numerous reports of multiple mesocyclones and twin tornadoes, including
the famous "twin tornadoes" near Elkhart, Indiana; similar conditions
yielded the Tri-State Tornado, the longest-tracked and deadliest in U.S.
history, on March 18, 1925.[13][19]
At 11:45 a.m. CDT (16:45
UTC) on April 11, the Severe Local Storms Unit (SELS) in Kansas City,
Missouri, issued an outlook that mentioned the possibility of tornadoes
from northeastern Missouri to the northernmost two-thirds of Indiana.[nb
5] At 2:00 p.m. CDT (19:00 UTC)—fifteen minutes after the first tornado
was spotted—the first tornado watch of the day was issued, covering
portions of northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin.[13][21] A total of
four watches were issued on April 11–12.[nb 6][26] Radio news reporter
Martin Jensen, then stationed at the WMT Station in Cedar Rapids,
reported the first tornado of the day forming at 1:45 p.m. CDT (18:45
UTC). The station was equipped with a Collins Radio aviation radar
mounted on the roof of the station building and was used to support
severe weather reports on local and regional newscasts. After detecting
the severe thunderstorm, the reporter called Weather Bureau offices in
Waterloo (which had no radar) and Des Moines to alert them about the
storm. The phone call became the first hard evidence for the Weather
Bureau regarding the growing threat of severe storms that spawned dozens
of tornadoes over the next 12 hours.[citation needed] For the first
time in the U.S. Weather Bureau's history, an entire Weather Bureau
Office's jurisdiction, in Northern Indiana, was under a tornado warning;
this was termed a "blanket tornado warning" and was later used by
several National Weather Service (NWS) offices on April 3,
1974.[27][16][28]
Confirmed tornadoes
Main article: List of tornadoes in the 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak
Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total
0 1 16 14 6 18 0 55
Lakewood–Crystal Lake–Burtons Bridge–Island Lake, Illinois
Lakewood–Crystal Lake–Burtons Bridge–Island Lake, IllinoisF4 tornado
A mangled truck in the basement of a home that has been swept from its foundation
Richard,
Rosalie, and John Holter died two blocks from the foundation of their
home in Crystal Lake. A truck landed on the empty foundation.
Max. rating1 F4 tornado
Fatalities 6 fatalities, 75 injuries
Damage $1.5 million (1965 USD)
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale
This
devastating tornado was first detected at 4:27 p.m. CDT (21:27 UTC),
but officially touched down seven minutes earlier, in Lakewood. At that
time the tornado first produced visible damage, at the Crystal Lake
Country Club; two firs on the golf course were prostrated. Initially
narrow, the tornado subsequently and rapidly widened to 1,300 feet (400
m). Crossing Nash Street and McHenry Avenue in Crystal Lake, the tornado
unroofed or severely damaged several houses. Alongside U.S. Route 14
the tornado claimed its first fatality, a man in a barn. Nearby gas
stations and a strip mall were damaged. At the latter place, a roof
sheltering a Piggly Wiggly and a Neisner's collapsed, trapping 20 or
more people below. The tornado tossed cars about in the parking lot as
well. Shortly afterward, the tornado struck the Colby subdivision,
destroying or severely damaging 155 homes. F4-level damage occurred as
several homes were completely swept off their foundations. Four deaths
occurred in the neighborhood, including three in one family whose home
was obliterated. Their bodies were located two blocks distant and a
pickup truck was found to have landed in the basement. The tornado
scattered debris from the Colby subdivision up to a one-half mile (0.80
km) away.
After ravaging the Colby neighborhood, the tornado
destroyed a number of warehouses and shattered windows. A diesel plant, a
wallpaper factory, and a manufacturer sustained damage ranging from
light to heavy. The tornado then extensively damaged the Orchard Acres
subdivision, crossed Illinois Route 31, and apparently weakened before
impacting farmland. A few barns and isolated trees were damaged. The
tornado may have dissipated and reformed as a new tornado near the Fox
River. The tornado also struck the community of Burtons Bridge. The
tornado, now 500 to 800 yards (460 to 730 m) wide, then restrengthened
and felled mature oak trees as it crested a precipitous hill before
striking Bay View Beach. There the tornado badly damaged a number of
homes and downed willow trees. Finally, the tornado intersected Illinois
Route 176 and produced its final swath of significant damage in Island
Lake. In Island Lake the tornado tossed boats ashore, wrecked piers, and
caused homes to collapse, resulting in one additional death. The
tornado also displaced several homes from their foundations. The tornado
neared U.S. Route 12 as it dissipated at 3:42 p.m. CST (21:42 UTC).
Damage estimates were set at about $1.5 million.[29]
Midway, Indiana
Midway, IndianaF4 tornado
A mass of jumbled wreckage beside a street with pedestrians and vehicles nearby
The remains of the Midway Trailer Court in Midway, Indiana, following the F4 tornado of April 11, 1965.
Max. rating1 F4 tornado
Fatalities 31 fatalities, 252 injuries
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale
This
was the most famous and well-publicized of the Palm Sunday tornadoes,
often remembered as the first of two F4 tornadoes to hit the Dunlap
(Elkhart)–Goshen area. It formed near the St. Joseph–Elkhart County
border and tracked northeastward, striking Wakarusa, where it caused
severe damage and killed a child. The tornado then intensified
significantly as it moved toward northern Goshen and the Midway Trailer
Court. As it neared the trailer park, Elkhart Truth reporter Paul
Huffman, then reporting on severe weather, overheard a report of a
tornado approaching his position on U.S. Route 33, about 1 mile (1.6 km)
south of Midway. As Huffman awaited the storm, he noticed the tornado
approaching from the southwest, so he began taking a series of
photographs, six in all. The photographs captured the evolution of the
storm into twin funnels as it struck the trailer park, with each funnel
gyrating around a central point yet only producing one damage swath. The
tornado struck the trailer park at 6:32 p.m. CDT (23:32 UTC). (Roughly
45 minutes later, another F4 tornado passed just to the north of the
Midway Trailer Court, splitting into yet another pair of funnels as it
struck the Sunnyside neighborhood in Dunlap.) The tornado obliterated
roughly 80% of the trailer park, with 10 deaths, and caused F4 damage to
numerous other homes near Middlebury, some of which were swept clean.
Three more people died in the Middlebury area before the tornado ended.
While officially considered one tornado, recent studies indicate that
the event consisted of two tornadoes and was not a multiple-vortex
event. Unofficial estimates of the death toll vary, with Grazulis
listing 14 deaths instead of the 31 appearing in the official National
Climatic Data Center/National Centers for Environmental Information
(NCDC/NCEI) database. An airplane wing from Goshen Airport was found 35
miles (56 km) away in Centreville, Michigan.[30]
Coldwater Lake–Southern Hillsdale–Manitou Beach–Devils Lake–Southern Tecumseh, Michigan (two tornadoes)
Coldwater
Lake–Southern Hillsdale–Manitou Beach–Devils Lake–Southern Tecumseh,
Michigan (two tornadoes)Broken, twisted trees, scattered debris, and
wrecked buildings
Destruction in the Manitou Beach–Devils Lake area after the F4 tornadoes of April 11, 1965
Tornadoes
confirmed 2
Max. rating1 F4 tornado
Fatalities 44 fatalities, 587 injuries
Damage $32 million (1965 USD)
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale
With
the telephone lines down, emergency services in Elkhart County,
Indiana, could not warn Michigan residents that the tornadoes were
headed their way. From the Detroit Metropolitan Airport, the radar
operator at the U.S. Weather Bureau Office (WBO) observed that the
thunderstorms over Northern Indiana and western Lower Michigan were
moving east-northeastward at 70 mph (110 km/h). Of the southernmost
counties of Michigan, all but three—Berrien, Cass, and St. Joseph—were
hit.
Starting just south of the Indiana-Michigan state line, near
Orland, the first, deadliest, and strongest of two massive tornadoes,
each rated F4, debarked trees and leveled homes on the shoreline of Lake
Pleasant in Steuben County. Crossing into Branch County, Michigan, the
tornado damaged more homes in East Gilead. The tornado was up to 1 mile
(1.6 km) wide as it obliterated homes on Coldwater Lake; 18 deaths
occurred there. Debris from the empty foundations was strewn over the
surface of the lake and deposited in a small cove. The tornado destroyed
200 homes and caused one additional death as it traversed Branch
County. After striking Coldwater Lake, the tornado widened even further,
up to 2 miles (3.2 km) across, destroying a century-old farmhouse and
killing a family of six near Reading. The tornado then narrowed back to 1
mile (1.6 km) as it struck Baw Beese Lake, near the southern edge of
Hillsdale. The tornado hurled a New York Central Railroad freight train
into Baw Beese Lake. Across Hillsdale County the tornado killed 11 or
more people and destroyed 177 homes.
Entering Lenawee County, the
tornado traversed the Irish Hills and approached Manitou Beach–Devils
Lake. As it struck Manitou Beach–Devils Lake, the tornado destroyed the
Manitou Beach Baptist Church; of the 50 people then in attendance for
Palm Sunday services, 26 failed to reach shelter in time and were
stranded beneath debris for up to two hours. Eight fatalities occurred
in the church. The local dance pavilion on Devils Lake was demolished,
having recently been rebuilt after a fire on Labor Day in 1963. One of
the tornadoes damaged parts of Onsted; in the nearby village of Tipton,
which suffered a direct hit, 94% of the town's buildings were damaged or
destroyed. Across Lenawee County the tornado destroyed 189 homes. About
30 minutes later, the Manitou Beach–Devils Lake area in Lenawee County
was hit by the second of the two tornadoes, causing numerous fatalities,
including a family of six in eastern Lenawee County. Many homes were
hit twice.
One or both F4 tornadoes struck the then-Village of
Milan, south of Ann Arbor. The Wolverine Plastics building on the Monroe
County side of town, then the top employer in the village, was
destroyed with the roof being completely removed in the process. The
Milan Junior High School was seriously damaged along with the adjacent,
senior high school, disused since 1958, at Hurd and North streets, on
the Washtenaw County side of Milan. Milan became a city in 1967; opened a
new Middle School in 1969, which replaced the old Junior High School;
and eventually demolished the 1900 building that housed the former
junior and senior high schools.
The first of the F4 tornadoes
produced a 151-mile-per-hour (243 km/h) wind gust at Tecumseh—the
highest wind measurement in a tornado until a measurement of 276 mph
(444 km/h) near Red Rock, Oklahoma, on April 26, 1991; a higher
measurement of 318 mph (512 km/h)—later corrected to 307 mph (494
km/h)—in the F5 tornado of May 3, 1999, broke this record. Damage from
the two tornadoes was difficult to separate and covered more than 2 to 4
miles (3.2 to 6.4 km) across, including much downburst and microburst
destruction. Total damage estimates from the two tornadoes were $32
million with more than 550 homes, a church, and 100 cottages
destroyed.[31]
Southern Elkhart–Dunlap, Indiana
Southern Elkhart–Dunlap, IndianaF4 tornado
Aerial view showing wreckage and debris from destroyed homes
Aerial view of the Sunnyside subdivision in Dunlap, Indiana, after the F4 tornado of April 11, 1965.
Max. rating1 F4 tornado
Fatalities 36 fatalities, 321 injuries
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale
Tornado tracks over Northern Indiana, Southern Michigan, and extreme Northwest Ohio, indicating ratings on the Fujita scale
This
was the second and deadliest of two violent tornadoes to strike the
Elkhart–Goshen area, with the highest single-tornado death toll in the
outbreak. It hit Dunlap about an hour after another F4 tornado hit the
Midway trailer park a short distance to the southeast. Few people
received warning due to the passage of the earlier storm, which
disrupted communications and downed power lines, thereby affecting
rescue efforts after the earlier tornado as well. The Dunlap tornado
first produced tree damage beginning just west of State Road 331. Prior
to crossing the St. Joseph–Elkhart county line, the tornado claimed its
first two fatalities. As the tornado neared Dunlap, it intensified into
an extremely violent tornado. It then devastated the Sunnyside Housing
addition and the unoccupied Sunnyside Mennonite Church. The Sunnyside
subdivision was completely destroyed, with many homes swept away. The
Kingston Heights subdivision was similarly devastated. The death toll
from the two subdivisions was 28 people, with another six killed in a
home and truck stop at the junction of State Road 15 and U.S. Route 20.
The Palm Sunday Tornado Memorial Park now exists near this location, at
the corner of County Road 45 and Cole Street in Dunlap (41°38′29″N
85°55′31″W). After striking Dunlap, the tornado apparently weakened
somewhat, but still generated extensive damage eastward to Hunter Lake.
Shortly before dissipating, the tornado tossed cars off the Indiana
Turnpike near Scott. Like the Midway tornado, the Dunlap event was also
was witnessed as twin funnels: a photographer standing amidst the
wreckage of the Midway Trailer Court captured the Dunlap tornado as it
passed just to the north. It may have been the strongest tornado on
April 11; in fact, Grazulis and other sources have assigned an F5 rating
to the tornado, though it is officially rated F4.[32]
Russiaville–Alto–Southern Kokomo–Greentown–Southern Marion, Indiana
Russiaville–Alto–Southern Kokomo–Greentown–Southern Marion, IndianaF4 tornado
Aerial view showing wreckage, debris, and dismantled homes with farmland in the background
Aerial view of Alto, Indiana, following the F4 tornado of April 11, 1965.
Max. rating1 F4 tornado
Fatalities 25 fatalities, 835 injuries
Damage $500.025 million (1965 USD)
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale
As
the Lafayette–Middlefork tornado dissipated, a new tornado developed
nearby without a definite break in the damage path. Due to changes in
the intensity of the damage, surveyors split the path into two separate
tornadoes. At about 7:28 p.m. CDT (00:28 UTC), the new, rapidly
strengthening tornado hit Russiaville, causing severe damage to the
entire community. The 3⁄4-mile-wide (1.2 km) tornado destroyed or
damaged 90% of the community, though most of the damage ranged from
F0–F3. The tornado then widened to 1 mile (1.6 km) across as it moved
into nearby Alto, causing F4-level damage to homes, before striking the
southern edge of the larger city of Kokomo. Collectively, the tornado
destroyed 100 homes in Alto and Kokomo. The Maple Crest apartment
complex was unroofed and incurred the collapse of its uppermost walls.
As the tornado continued eastward, it apparently intensified and killed
ten people in Greentown, most of whom had been in automobiles. The
tornado destroyed 80 homes, many of which it obliterated and swept away,
as it struck multiple subdivisions in the Greentown area. In all, the
tornado killed 18 people and injured another 600 in Howard County alone.
Just south of Swayzee, the tornado leveled some more homes and caused
three additional deaths. As it struck the southern outskirts of Marion,
the tornado leveled a pair of homes, partly unroofed a Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital, and wrecked the Panorama shopping
center. 20 injuries occurred at the VA hospital, and looters scavenged
the shopping center. Several homes were destroyed and hundreds others
damaged in Marion as well. The tornado killed five people as it
traversed Grant County. Losses totaled $500.025 million, $12 million
alone of which occurred near Marion.[33]
Pittsfield–Grafton–Strongsville, Ohio
Pittsfield–Grafton–Strongsville, OhioF4 tornado
Max. rating1 F4 tornado
Fatalities 18 fatalities, 200 injuries
Damage $50 million (1965 USD)
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale
Shortly
after 11:00 p.m. CDT (04:00 UTC), a tornado touched down in Lorain
County, Ohio, and headed east-northeastward. Around 11:12 p.m. CDT
(04:12 UTC), the 1⁄4-mile-wide (0.40 km) tornado struck Pittsfield,
Ohio, then located at the junction of Ohio State Route 303 and Ohio
State Road 58. Of the settlement's 50 residents, the tornado killed
seven. The tornado also killed two motorists whose arrival in town
coincided with the tornado's. According to the U.S. Weather Bureau
Office (WBO) in Cleveland, Ohio, the tornado produced "total"
devastation as it struck Pittsfield. The tornado destroyed 12 homes, six
of which "literally vanished," along with a combined gas
station/grocery store, a pair of churches, and the town hall. The
tornado also toppled a statue at a Civil War monument, but the concrete
base of the statue remained standing.
After ravaging Pittsfield,
the tornado damaged 200 homes in and near Grafton, some of which
indicated F2-level intensity. A total of 17 homes were severely damaged
in nearby LaGrange and Columbia Station. As the tornado reached the
Cleveland metropolitan area, it diverged into two paths about a one-half
mile (0.80 km) apart. Several witnesses also saw two funnels merging
into one, similar to the Midway–Dunlap tornadoes. Large trees situated
50 feet (15 m) apart were found to have been felled in opposite
directions. The tornado displayed borderline-F5-level damage in
northernmost Strongsville. There, 18 homes were leveled, some of which
were cleanly swept from their foundations, and 50 others were severely
damaged in town. Damages amounted to at least $5 million and are
officially listed as $50 million. Grazulis classified the tornado as an
F5, but it is officially rated F4.[34]
Non-tornadic effects
Outbreak death toll[3] State Total County County
total
Arkansas 6 Faulkner 6
Iowa 1 Cedar 1
Illinois 6 McHenry 6
Indiana 137 Adams 1
Boone 20
Elkhart 62
Grant 8
Hamilton 6
Howard 17
Lagrange 10
Marshall 3
Montgomery 2
St. Joseph 3
Starke 4
Wells 1
Michigan 53 Allegan 1
Branch 18
Clinton 1
Hillsdale 6
Kent 5
Lenawee 9
Monroe 13
Ohio 60 Allen 11
Cuyahoga 1
Delaware 4
Hancock 2
Lorain 17
Lucas 16
Mercer 2
Seneca 4
Shelby 3
Wisconsin 3 Jefferson 3
Totals 266
All deaths were tornado-related
A
vigorous, pre-frontal squall line generated severe thunderstorm winds
from eastern Iowa to lakefront Illinois. Winds peaked at 70 kn (81 mph;
130 km/h) in Dixon, Illinois, and an anemometer at O'Hare International
Airport in Chicago registered 60 kn (69 mph; 110 km/h). The strong
winds, coupled with hail, damaged or destroyed numerous structures,
felled trees, and downed utility wires. Across Northern Illinois,
numerous funnel clouds were sighted in Wheaton, Carol Stream, Winfield,
West Chicago, Aurora, and Rockford, respectively. Thunderstorms also
generated hail of up to 2 in (5.1 cm) in diameter as well;
2-inch-diameter (5.1 cm) measurements occurred from South Dakota,
Oklahoma, and Arkansas to Indiana, Mississippi, and Georgia on April
10–12.[2][35]
Aftermath and recovery
Damage in Toledo, Ohio, following the F4 tornado of April 11, 1965
In
the Midwest, at least 266 people—some sources say 256–271—were killed
and 1,500 injured (1,200 in Indiana). This is the fourth-deadliest day
for tornadoes on record, trailing April 3, 1974 (310 deaths), the April
27, 2011 (324), and March 18, 1925 (747, including 695 by the Tri-State
Tornado).[36][14][20][37] It occurred on Palm Sunday, an important day
in the Christian religion, and many people were attending services at
church, one possible reason why some warnings were not received. There
had been a late winter in 1965, much of March being cold and snowy; and
as the day progressed, warm temperatures encouraged picnickers and
sightseers. For many areas, April 11 marked the first day of
above-average temperatures, so members of the public, being outdoors or
attending services, failed to receive updates from radio and
television.[14][16][26][38] The high death toll in the outbreak despite
accurate warnings led to changes in the dissemination of severe weather
alerts by the Severe Local Storm Warning Center in Kansas City,
Missouri, now the Norman, Oklahoma-based Storm Prediction Center.[20]
The U.S. Weather Bureau investigated the large number of deaths.
Although weather-radar stations were few and far between in 1965, the
severe nature of the thunderstorms was identified with adequate time to
disseminate warnings. But the warning system failed as the public never
received them. Additionally, the public did not know the difference
between a Forecast and an Alert. Thus the terms tornado watch and
tornado warning were implemented in 1966.[24] Pivotal to those
clarifications was a meeting in the WMT Station's studio in Cedar
Rapids, Iowa. Officials of the severe storms forecast center in Kansas
City met with WMT meteorologist Conrad Johnson and News Director Grant
Price.[citation needed] Their discussion led to establishment of the
official "watch" and "warning" procedures in use since 1966.
Additionally, communities began activating civil defense sirens during
tornado warnings, and storm spotting via amateur radio networks and
other media received increased logistical support and emphasis, leading
to the eventual creation of SKYWARN.[26][24][38] Five books on the 1965
Palm Sunday tornado outbreak have been penned to date. David Wagler of
Indiana released "The Mighty Whirlwind" in 1966, interviewing survivors
and eyewitnesses within months after the tornadoes. Dan Cherry released
"Night of the Wind" in 2002; Roger Pickenpaugh published "The Night of
the Wicked Winds" in 2003; Cherry wrote "50 Years Later" in 2015 with
all-color images of the aftermath; and Janis Thornton published "The
1965 Palm Sunday Tornadoes in Indiana" in 2022.
Oddities/records
Additionally,
significant scientific data were gathered from aerial surveys of the
tornado paths. The outbreak was the first to be studied in-depth
aerially by tornado scientist Tetsuya Theodore Fujita, who proposed new
theories about the structure of tornadoes based upon his study. Dr.
Fujita discovered suction vortices during the Palm Sunday tornado
outbreak. It had previously been thought the reason why tornadoes could
hit one house and leave another across the street completely unscathed
was because the tornado would "jump" from one house to another. However,
Fujita discovered that the actual reason is most destruction is caused
by suction vortices: small, intense mini-tornadoes within the main
tornado.[39]
The tornado outbreak generated 38 significant
tornadoes, 18 of them violent—F4 or F5 on the Fujita scale of tornado
intensity—and 22 deadly. Covering six states and about 335 sq mi (870
km2), the outbreak killed 266 people and became the deadliest to hit the
United States since 1936, although more recently the 1974 and 2011
Super Outbreaks claimed that distinction. The 17 violent tornadoes on
April 11, 1965, set a 24-hour record that stood until the first Super
Outbreak produced 30 in 1974.[40] With 137 people killed and 1,200
injured in Indiana alone, the outbreak set a 24-hour record for tornado
deaths in that state.[41]
An unusually pronounced elevated mixed
layer (EML) was present over the Great Lakes region during the
outbreak—a similar pattern having been observed on March 28, 1920, April
3, 1956, and April 3, 1974. A strong jet stream, combined with
tornadoes, lofted topsoil from Illinois and Missouri eastward, producing
hazy skies prior to the arrival of storms
black
& white, real, huge.bartender, server, waiter, waitress, collector,
pub, bar, tavern, liqueur store, employee, wall art, vintage photo
picture old black white photograph family snapshot girl, lady, ladies,
women, decor, art, sign, advertising, ad, promo, promotion, tour
concert, snapshot, black & white lithograph collectible vintage
& antique photos, black & white ambrotype collectible vintage
& antique photos, vintage old spice, collectible historic and
vintage risque photo, photography poster photo, photography camera, art
picture black white vintage, printing and mailing: book catalog phamplet
insert sales brochure booklet catalog flyers, leaflets, brochures and
booklets, print picture photo framing framed frame art work drawing
design painting artist company factory history historic advertisement's
messageold antq vtg culture retro vintage antique art deco
groundbreaking 19th-century, orig, original, wall, retro, mid centry,
fair grounds, Indianapolis, Indy, school
1900,1901,1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910,
1911, 1912, 1913,1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919,1920.1921,1922, 1923, 1924,
1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1934,
1835, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948
1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959,1960
On
March 21–26, 1913 Kokomo suffered severe flooding when 6.59 inches (167
mm) of rainfall occurred. The Kokomo Tribune reported at the time that
the Wildcat Creek over-topped its levee to reach nearly 1 mile (1.6 km)
wide after rising at a rate of 3 inches (76 mm) per hour. Damage was
widespread, including loss of electrical power due to the power plant
being flooded. On March 26, flooding was declared over after the water
level dropped 42 inches (1,100 mm) in a 24-hour period.[53]
Continental Steel Corporation
From
1914 through 1986, the Continental Steel Corporation facility produced
nails, wire and wire fence from scrap steel on a 183-acre (74 ha)
facility in Kokomo. Manufacturing operations in the steel plant and on
other portions of the property included the use, handling, storage and
disposal of hazardous materials. Steel-making operations had included
reheating, casting rolling, drawing, pickling, galvanizing, tinning and
tempering.
After the company filed for bankruptcy in 1986, EPA
and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management investigated the
plant and property and found soil, sediments, surface water and ground
water contaminated with volatile organic compounds (PCBs) and several
metals, including lead, arsenic, cadmium, and chromium. Lead
contamination was also detected in soils on nearby residential
properties.
The site was proposed to the National Priorities List as a Superfund site in 1988 and formally added in 1989.[54]
In
April 2009, EPA received almost $6 million in American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act to complete needed cleanup at two problems at the
Continental Steel Superfund site: the former Slag Processing Area and
the site's contaminated ground water. The ARRA funding helped accelerate
the cleanup of hazardous waste on the site. In the process, total of 15
Indiana contractors or subcontractors were involved in the ARRA-funded
work, creating at least 45 temporary jobs.
In August 2010, using
the ARRA funds, EPA completed the cleanup of the former slag processing
area of the Superfund Site. Approximately 86,000 short tons (78,000 t)
of slag were moved to the site's acid lagoon area for use as fill on
that portion of the site. Two feet (0.6 m) of clean soil were used to
cap the former slag processing area, leaving it suitable for potential
redevelopment. ARRA funds were also used to address contaminated
groundwater at the site. This work included extensive groundwater
sampling to determine the contaminated plume area and installation of
groundwater extraction and monitoring wells. Three wind turbines will be
used to generate much of the power needed to operate the groundwater
extraction system.
The Kokomo rally sent shockwaves through
the national GOP, which had come to believe that the re-election of
President Warren G. Harding depended on the vote of Indiana. According
to the Washington correspondent of the New York World, Republicans
feared that the Klan had "obliterated party lines" and "virtually
swallowed" the Indiana Republican Party. Since the Republicans held only
a 25,000 vote plurality in the state, any serious defection of
African-Americans would tip the state to the Democrats.[73] In the
event, Harding died within a month and Republican Calvin Coolidge
succeeded him with a substantial electoral majority (including Indiana)
against a divided opposition. The Klan, however, continued to dominate
state politics especially after the election of Edward L. Jackson as
governor.
Ryan White
Main article: Ryan White
Ryan White in 1989 at a fundraising event in Indianapolis
Kokomo
served to symbolize the nation's early misunderstanding and ignorance
of AIDS in the mid-to-late 1980s when Ryan White was expelled from
school due to his illness. White was a teenage hemophiliac who had been
infected with HIV through contaminated blood products (Factor 8). At the
time blood products were often collected through state prison systems.
Factor 8 was made from pooled plasma of thousands of donors. Later the
plasma was screened for HIV and Hepatitis and heat treated to inactive
HIV and Hepatitis. The teen had been attending Western Middle School
(which is actually in Russiaville) but was ostracized by his classmates,
and forced to eat lunch alone and use a separate restroom. Many parents
and teachers in Kokomo rallied in support of banning White from
attending the school. A lengthy administrative appeal process with the
school system ensued, followed by death threats and violence against
White and his family, including a bullet being fired through the window
of their Kokomo home. Media coverage of the case made White into a
national celebrity and spokesman for AIDS research and public
education.[74] In 1987, the White family left Kokomo for Cicero,
Indiana. Ryan attended Hamilton Heights High School in nearby Arcadia,
where he was welcomed by faculty and students.
Gas tower
The
Kokomo Gas Tower had been a symbol of Kokomo since it was constructed in
1954. The tower was 378 feet (115 m) tall and had a capacity of
12,000,000 cubic feet (340,000 m3). Due to high maintenance costs of
$75,000 a year, and up to $1,000,000 to paint it, the gas company
decided to demolish it in 2003. Other ideas were reviewed before
settling on this decision, including a plan to turn the tower into a
giant Coca-Cola advertisement. On September 7, 2003, at approximately
7:30 a.m., the Gas Tower was demolished by Controlled Demolition, Inc.
(CDI). Pieces of the tower were sold to the public for $20–$30, and
proceeds went to a planned Kokomo technology incubation center and Bona
Vista.[75]
Significant tornadoes
1965 tornado
Main article: 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak § Russiaville–Alto–Southern Kokomo–Greentown–Southern Marion, Indiana
On
April 11, 1965, the southern part of Kokomo was struck by one of the 47
tornadoes that erupted over six Midwestern states, an event now known
as the Palm Sunday outbreak.[76] The F4 tornado that swept through
Kokomo was 800 yards (730 m) wide and killed 25 people in the
surrounding area.[77] Significant damage was done to the Chrysler
transmission plant. Windows were broken and the framework cracked
throughout, and sections of the west wall were leveled. The Maple Crest
elementary and junior high schools suffered extensive damage. The roof
collapsed on the junior high school, and the framework of both schools
was substantially wrecked. The Maple Crest Shell Station at the
intersection of Lincoln and Washington was torn from its foundation and
scattered about. Mills Drug Store at the same intersection was
demolished. A house on Holly Lane was uprooted, and one on James Drive
was demolished. The Maple Crest Shopping Center was extensively damaged,
with Woolworth's suffering the most damage. The front and back of the
one-story structure were caved in and merchandise was strewn about.[78]
Numerous homes in the Maple Crest area were flattened, and the top floor
of the Maple Crest apartments was blown off. The only thing left
standing on the nearby Church of the Brethren was the steeple.[79] The
force of the wind on the flat earth near Kokomo was so great that Ted
Fujita was able to make aerial photographs of the spiral scoring on the
ground.[80]
2016 tornado
Main article: Tornado outbreak of August 24, 2016
On
August 24, 2016, a strong EF3 tornado caused major damage in the
southern part of Kokomo. 1,000 homes were damaged, 170 of which
sustained major damage. 80 of these homes were destroyed, some
sustaining loss of roofs and exterior walls. Many large trees and power
poles were snapped along the path, and the Park Place Apartments were
heavily damaged as well. Vehicles were also damaged, including a large
truck that was moved 10 feet from the driveway of a house and flipped
over.[81] A Starbucks was completely destroyed, and several people were
left trapped inside the still standing bathroom and had to be
rescued.[82] Many sheds and detached garages were destroyed as well, and
a receipt from Kokomo was found 30 miles away in Marion.[81] The storm
followed a path very close to that of another tornado which hit on
November 17, 2013. Scientists have noticed that nearly every tornado in
Kokomo has struck the southern part of the city
On
April 1, 1854, Kokomo's first bank, the Indian Reserve Bank, was
organized with David Foster, John Bohan and Harless Ashly the principal
shareholders. (It only lasted a few years until a robbery impaired its
capital. The loss substantially injured Foster's fortune.)[26]
Railroads
1854
saw the first railroad stop at Kokomo.[17] The New London Pioneer had
long advocated for a rail line to connect Kokomo with Indianapolis.
Colonel C.D. Murray was the agent at Kokomo for stock subscriptions in
support of the railroad. In 1852 the construction of the Peru and
Indianapolis Railroad commenced. In Kokomo Samuel C. Mills and Dr.
Corydon Richmond, commercial competitors of David Foster, donated
several lots to the railroad in order to secure the location of the rail
depot near their commercial property. The route was laid along Buckeye
Street at the insistence of the merchants who hoped to reduced drayage
expenses. Samuel Mills built a large frame structure at the Howard
flouring mills, which served as a warehouse for the company's freight
and a passenger depot. For some time after 1854 Kokomo was the terminus
of the line, but eventually the line was extended to Peru and then to
Michigan City.[27]
A short time after the construction of the
Peru and Indianapolis Railroad began, the Pennsylvania Railroad
announced that one of its lines would pass through Kokomo. By 1853 a
line was commenced between Kokomo and Logansport (which was intended to
become the hub of a network of lines for the company). Railroad service
was inaugurated on that line on July 4, 1855.[28]
Howard County Historical Society
Seiberling Mansion
The
Howard County Historical Society occupies the Seiberling Mansion and
the Elliot House, and their carriage houses. The Seiberling Mansion was
built as the residence of Monroe Seiberling, one of Kokomo's richest
citizens. Because of its architectural significance, the building has
been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1972. The
Elliot House was also built as a residence; it was later adapted for use
as office space. These buildings are in the Old Silk Stocking
Neighborhood, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, the
only neighborhood in the county to be so recognized.[104]
Historic Buildings in Kokomo, Indiana
Photograph of the Elliott House in the Old Silk Stocking Historic District
The following is a list of all the buildings in Kokomo, Indiana, that are listed in the National Register of Historic Places:
Elwood Haynes House
Kokomo City Building
Kokomo Country Club Golf Course
Kokomo Courthouse Square Historic District
Kokomo High School and Memorial Gymnasium
Lake Erie and Western Depot Historic District
Learner Building
Old Silk Stocking Historic District
Seiberling Mansion[105]
Festivals
Haynes-Apperson Festival, Independence Day weekend[106]
WeberFest, Foster Park[107]
Kokomo Con, October, Kokomo Event Center.[108][109][110]
Sports teams
Collegiate/Professional Sports in Kokomo Team Sport Current League Established Venue Capacity
Kokomo Jackrabbits Baseball Northwoods League 2015 Kokomo Municipal Stadium 4,000
Kokomo Bobkats Basketball The Basketball League 2021 Kokomo Mermorial Gymnasium 7,500
Other
current teams include the City of First Roller Girls (Founded 2010) who
compete in the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA). Indiana
University of Kokomo Cougars compete in 12 sports within the NAIA in the
River States Conference (RSC).
Former teams
Indiana Mustangs, Mid Continental Football League (1991–2009), Mid States Football League (2010-2013)
Kokomo Dodgers, Midwest League (1955–1961)
Kokomo CFD Saints, semi-pro baseball (1989–2002)
Kokomo CFD Knights, semi-pro baseball (2006–2007)
Kokomo Mantis FC, soccer team (2016)
Sports venues
Highland Park Stadium (CFD Investments Stadium)
Kokomo Speedway[111]
Memorial Gymnasium
Kokomo Municipal Stadium
Wildcat Creek Soccer Complex
Student Activities and Events Center
Parks and recreation
Old Ben – Born in 1902 and acclaimed as "The largest steer in the world"
The Vermont Covered Bridge – Another attraction to be found in Highland Park
Chief Ma-Ko-Ko-Mo Burial and Monument, east of downtown Kokomo
Elwood Haynes Museum, located next to Highland Park[112]
Foster Park
Kokomo Country Club, golf club
Trails and paths
Wildcat Walk of Excellence – The Wildcat Walk of Excellence consists of
over 3 miles (4.8 km) of paved trail that roughly follows the Wildcat
Creek. The trail connects several of Kokomo's parks including Foster,
Future, Waterworks, Miller-Highland and Mehlig Parks with a pedestrian
bridge connecting Foster Park and the Kokomo Beach Family Aquatic
Center.
Industrial Heritage Trail – The Industrial Heritage Trail
spans 5.7 miles (9.2 km) from SR931 on the city's south side and
connects with the Nickel Plate Trail on the city's north side.
Nickel Plate Trail – Currently connecting Rochester through Peru, to
Kokomo and connecting with the Industrial Heritage Trail.
The
Cloverleaf Trail - This trail was added in 2018. It starts downtown and
travels southwest along what was once part of the Toledo, St. Louis and
Western Railroad.[113]
Government
City Hall and Police Department building.
Kokomo's
current mayor is Republican Tyler Moore, elected in November 2019. The
previous mayor was Democrat Greg Goodnight (2008–2019)[114] The two
previous mayors before Goodnight were Matt McKillip (2004–2008)[115] and
Jim Trobaugh, both Republicans. The mayor is elected in a citywide
vote. The city council is known as the Common Council. It consists of
nine members. Six members are elected from individual districts. The
other three are elected at-large.[116]
Education
Colleges and universities
Howard College - 1863-1872[117]
Indiana University Kokomo (IUK)
Indiana Wesleyan University – Kokomo Campus
Ivy Tech Community College
Purdue University College of Technology at Kokomo
Public school districts
Kokomo-Center Township Consolidated School Corporation (K-12, most
neighborhoods inside city limits) Kokomo High School (NCC)
Northwestern School Corporation (K–12, northern part of the town) (MIC)
Taylor Community School Corporation (K-12, Indian Heights neighborhood) (MIC)
Western School Corporation (K-12, Pine Valley/Jackson Morrow Park area) (MIC)
Private schools
Acacia Academy (K-8)
Agape Garden Montessori School
Children's Christian Academy
Christian Heritage Academy
F.D. Reese Christian Academy (K-3)
Redeemer Lutheran School (K-8)
Sts. Joan of Arc and St. Patrick Catholic School (K-8)
Temple Christian School (K-12)
Victory Christian Academy (K-12)
Public library
The city has a lending library, the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library.[118]
Media
Newspapers
Kokomo Tribune, daily morning newspaper owned by Community Newspaper Holdings
Kokomo Perspective, a locally owned weekly newspaper delivered every
Tuesday or Wednesday that ceased publication in late 2021
The Correspondent, student newspaper of Indiana University Kokomo and Purdue College of Technology at Kokomo
The Kokomo Post, an online media publication owned by the Larison Company LLC
Television
WTTK, CBS affiliate, channel 29 (satellite of Bloomington-licensed WTTV); transmits from Indianapolis's north side
KGOV, Kokomo government access channel, channel 2
Radio
WFIU-FM, Jazz, Classical, NPR – 106.1 FM
WFRN-FM, Christian Radio – 93.7 FM
WIOU-AM, Talk, News and Sports – 1350 AM
WIWC-FM, Christian Radio – 91.7 FM
WMYK-FM, Rock – 98.5 FM
WSHW-FM, Contemporary Hit Radio (Top 40) – 99.7 FM
WTSX-FM, Hip-Hop, Gospel, Soul, Rock-n-Roll, EDM & Top 40 - 104.9 FM
WWKI-FM, Hit Country – 100.5 FM
WJJD-LP, Christian Radio, Radio 74 – 101.3 FM
WZWZ-FM, Bright Adult Contemporary – 92.5 FM
Infrastructure
Transportation
Airports
Kokomo Municipal Airport[119]
Highways
US 31 in Kokomo in 2005, now designated State Road 931.
US 31.svg US-31 to South Bend (North) and Indianapolis (South)[120]
US 35.svg US-35 to Logansport (North) and Muncie (South)
Indiana 931.svg IN-931 (former US 31 through Kokomo)
Indiana 19.svg IN-19 to Kokomo Reservoir (North) and Tipton (South)
Indiana 22.svg IN-22 to Burlington (West) and Hartford City (East)
Indiana 26.svg IN-26 to Lafayette (West) and Hartford City (East)
A
major roadway traversing through Kokomo, nicknamed "stop light
city",[121] US 31 had become one of the state's most congested roadways.
In Howard County, there were 15 traffic signals on US 31. As part of
the state of Indiana's Major Moves Project, US 31 was updated to bypass
the city of Kokomo to the east. It has interchanges at SR 26, Boulevard,
Markland Avenue, and Touby Pike, as well as where the current SR 931
meets the new US 31.[122] There was a similar change near South Bend and
there will be one near Indianapolis. The construction in Howard County
cost roughly $340 million. Construction started on the County Road 200
South bridge on November 1, 2008.[123] The new US 31 was opened November
27, 2013,[124] at which time the existing roadway was renamed SR 931.
Railroads
Central Railroad of Indianapolis[125]
Winamac Southern Railway (formerly part of the Columbus to Chicago Main Line)[126]
The
town for many years was a stop on the Pennsylvania Railroad's division
running on a Chicago-Logansport-Richmond-Hamilton-Cincinnati itinerary.
The last named train on the route was the overnight Buckeye, whose
unnamed successor ended service in 1969.[127][128] A day train
counterpart on the route lingered on at least another year.[129]
Bus service
Trailways service to Indianapolis and South Bend
Kokomo City-Line Trolley A fixed-route transportation system, five bus
routes run past a total of exactly 275 stops, passing each stop once
every hour, from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. The buses
also have wireless internet for riders, which like the buses, is free to
riders.[130]
Groundwater contamination
In 1995 the
Indiana American Water treatment facility found groundwater beneath the
city contaminated with trace amounts of vinyl chloride. In 2007, the
Indiana Department of Environmental Management found groundwater at four
municipal wells containing vinyl chloride at levels exceeding the EPA
maximum contaminant level in raw water.[131]
In 2011, it found
one of the monitoring wells, not owned or used by Indiana American
Water, had amounts of vinyl chloride that were more than 2,500 times the
maximum level for drinking water.[131] IDEM has identified fourteen
facilities that handle chlorinated solvents and could be sources to the
contamination plume. Some of these potential sources are currently being
managed under other authorities but there is no cleanup approach
focusing on the ground water plume. Water from several well fields in
Kokomo are blended and treated prior to distribution. A water treatment
system has been successfully removing the vinyl chloride from the
finished drinking water, but this is not a permanent solution to address
the contaminated ground water plume.
The site was proposed to
the National Priorities List and added to the Superfund in March 2015.
No cleanup plan is yet in effect.[132]
Health care
Ascension St. Vincent Kokomo, opened in 1913[133][134][135] part of Ascension (healthcare system).
Community Howard Regional Health, incorporated in 1958[136]
Entertainment
Kokomo
has a 12-screen movie theater, called AMC Showplace Kokomo 12, located
on 1530 East Boulevard. In addition to AMC, Kokomo also has several
forms of live entertainment, including choirs, a Park Band Association,
and three live theatres.
Shopping
The city's major mall is
Markland Mall, which features Target. The Kokomo Town Center, the former
Kokomo Mall, underwent a major renovation in 2011 when it became an
outdoor mall.[137]
Neighborhoods
These are neighborhoods in Kokomo according to the city transportation map:[138]
Berkley Meadows
Bon Air
Cedar Crest
Country Club Hills
Cricket Hill
Darrough Chapel
Doral Park
Downtown Kokomo
Emerald Lake
Fairlawn
Forest Park
Forest Park Estates
Fredrick Farms
Greentree
Highland Springs
Holiday Hills
Holiday Park
Indian Heights
Ivy Hills
Maple Crest
Markland Heights
Mayfield
Old Silk Stocking
Orleans Southwest
Pittsburgh Plate Glass
Stonybrook
Sycamore Village
Terrace Gardens
Terrace Meadows
The Preserves at Bridgewater
Urbandale
Vinton Woods
Water's Edge
Old Westbrook
New Westbrook
Western Woods
Willowridge
Webster Estates
Wynterbrook
Notable people
This
section needs additional citations for verification. Please help
improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced
material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Kokomo,
Indiana" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (January 2019)
(Learn how and when to remove this template message)
.
Brandon Beachy, MLB pitcher Los Angeles Dodgers, Northwestern High School (Indiana) graduate
Alicia Berneche, operatic soprano
Rupert Boneham, contestant on TV series Survivor, Libertarian candidate for Indiana Governor in 2012
Norman Bridwell, author of the Clifford the Big Red Dog children's books
Quautico (Tico) Brown, former Continental Basketball Association player
Steve Butler, six-time Sprint Car National Champion
Kaitlyn Christopher, Miss Indiana USA 2005
Dave Darland, auto racer
Rowdy Elliott, baseball player
Elwood Haynes, inventor, automotive pioneer
Bud Hillis, U.S. Representative
Margaret Hillis, pianist, founder of Chicago Symphony Chorus
Nellie Keeler, child circus performer
Honorée Fanonne Jeffers, Author of The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois and The Age of Phillis
Don Johnson, professional bowler, PBA Hall of Fame member
Opha May Johnson, United States Marine Corps first female Marine[139]
Steve Kroft, 60 Minutes correspondent
Jim "Goose" Ligon, former ABA basketball player
Strother Martin, actor
Clay Myers, photographer, animal welfare advocate
Kent C. Nelson, past CEO of United Parcel Service
John O'Banion, singer
Jack Purvis, jazz musician
Jane Randolph, actress, grew up in Kokomo
Jimmy Rayl, "Splendid Splinter," Indiana Pacers 1967–1969, two-time All-American Indiana University
Robert S. Richardson, astronomer
Tod Sloan, jockey
Tavis Smiley, PBS presenter
"Sylvia" (Sylvia Jane Kirby), country music singer
Joe Thatcher, pitcher for MLB Chicago Cubs
Pat Underwood, former MLB pitcher, Detroit Tigers
Tom Underwood, former MLB pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis
Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, Oakland A's and
Baltimore Orioles
William N. Vaile, Congressman[140]
Gertrude Vaile (1878-1954), social worker
Ryan White, AIDS activist
Anna Mae Winburn, African American vocalist and jazz bandleader best
known for having directed the International Sweethearts of Rhythm
In popular culture
This
article contains embedded lists that may be poorly defined, unverified
or indiscriminate. Please help to clean it up to meet Wikipedia's
quality standards. Where appropriate, incorporate items into the main
body of the article. (September 2013)
The Man from Home
(1908), a play by Booth Tarkington and Harry Leon Wilson, involves a
lawyer from Kokomo who travels to Europe but returns to the city in the
end.[141]
A Romance of Kokomo was a silent film made in 1917,
which was also filmed in Kokomo, and made its opening premiere at the
Isis Theater on South Main Street.[142]
The Kid from Kokomo
(1939; also sometimes called Broadway Cavalier) is a comedy film about
an orphan from Kokomo who refuses to box until his mother is found. The
film was based on a story by Dalton Trumbo.[143]
Kokomo is
mentioned in the 1943 song Hot Time in the Town of Berlin first recorded
by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters in 1944.
In the 1947 film Mother Wore Tights, Betty Grable and Dan Dailey sing a song entitled "Kokomo, Indiana".[144]
Kokomo is the setting of Allan Dwan's nostalgic 1953 musical Sweethearts on Parade.[145]
"First Snow in Kokomo" is a track on Aretha Franklin's album Young,
Gifted and Black. Franklin's domestic partner Ken Cunningham was born
and raised in Kokomo and they still have family there.[146]
In
the 1980 film Blues Brothers, the roadhouse "Bob's Country Bunker" is
identified by Elwood Blues as being located in Kokomo.[
In the 1997 animated film Cats Don't Dance, the main protagonist Danny is from Kokomo.
In craps, rolling a four is sometimes referred to as "Little Joe from
Kokomo", after "little" Joe Fohn, a famous bowler in the 1920s [148] who
apparently had a four step delivery.[149]
The city is the title of a song from singer Japanese Breakfast's 2021 album Jubilee