Sunday, JANUARY 18, 2004 • D8

FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS

ANDY HOBBS

STAFF COLUMNIST

Printing

gaffe benefits

young minds

      A mistake made during the printing of Steve Allen's first book will benefit Mesa students.

      "Founding Fathers - Uncommon Heroes" is the product of Allen's lifelong interest in colonial leaders who helped shape the future of the United States.

      About 400 copies from the book's first run, printed this summer, didn't meet stan­dards for making bookstore shelves because color quality was slightly faded. So instead of throwing out otherwise fine books, Allen asked the pub­lisher if he could donate them to Mesa public schools.

      Though not a textbook, the book is filled with history les­sons that Allen believes stu­dents need to know.

      "I think that they would find great interest on how our country was established," said Allen, a Mesa resident, who's been researching the founding fathers for more than 25 years.

      "If you learn what your his­tory and country are all about, you take more pride as a citizen."

      The books, donated to Mesa schools in late Novem­ber, contain anecdotes and accomplishments of six found­ing fathers - Benjamin Fran­klin, George Washington, John Adams, Patrick Henry, Tho­mas Jefferson and James Madison. One of several inter­esting findings is Henry's enormous influence on the other five subjects' lives and careers, Allen said.

      "We've forgotten so much about Patrick Henry that he stays in the background," Allen said. "In studying their lives, you find out how inter­twined all their lives were."

      Allen helps organize the annual George Washington Birthday Celebration in Mesa. Last year's event drew more than 500 people for an after­noon that included skits by actors portraying George and Martha Washington.

      This year's celebration will be 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 16 at Harris Park Professional Building, 1550 E. McKellips Road, Mesa. Lunch will be served and everyone is invit­ed. For more information, visit www.uncommonheroes.us or call (480) 644-0070.

 

CONTACT WRITER: (480) 970-2378
or ahobbs@aztrib.com