(Editor’s Note: The following memorial pieces are based on articles which appeared in the January 2000 “Minnesota Memo.”)
In Memoriam: Carl Rauer 1907-1999
by Bert Morlock
I met Carl Rauer and his constant companion, wife Lorraine, in 1975, when we were both members of the Minnesota Sports Blind Club (the blind bowling league of St. Paul). Carl always opened his home to the league for parties at the beginning and the end of the season.
Carl was a charter member of the American Council of the Blind of Minnesota (ACBM), joining in the early 1970s. He was ACBM’s link to Minnesota’s capital for many years. He was involved with membership, calling delinquent members to remind them of their dues payment, and to see if they wanted to stay with ACBM.
Carl Rauer was born October 30, 1907 (he wanted to be here for his very first Halloween Party — even though only a day old!). He attended Sacred Heart School in St. Paul for eight years of elementary education and then went to Commercial High at Sacred Heart, but did not complete his education to earn a high school diploma. Always determined to obtain his high school diploma, Carl pursued that goal in 1989 when he enrolled in the GED program. On May 19, 1990, Carl was one of the graduates at Johnson High School. This achievement was accomplished when Carl was 82!
Recently, Carl authored an account of the reasons ACBM and NFB could never get together and speak as one voice for the blind. Here is an excerpt from that account:
“...Very often, this question is asked: why can’t the organizations of the blind work together? The divergence goes back to 1961. Shortly after the second World War, the National Federation was organized, with independent, local affiliates in most states, including Minnesota. By the late ‘50s, the officers had become entrenched because they had no term limits, and were re-elected year after year, and they had become dictatorial. At the 1961 convention, five or six state affiliates pulled out of the National Federation of the Blind, and became the nucleus of the American Council of the Blind, which was organized on a democratic basis. The reason for the rift was, and still is, a matter of philosophy, as indicated above.”
My relationship with Carl Rauer firmed up into a partnership when, in 1991, he asked if I would help him learn to use the computer and reading scanner. I told him if he purchased all equipment identical to mine, I would work with him. At that time the equipment and software he needed cost $7,000. He purchased the equipment with his personal funds and we were off and running. Over the phone for the next year for a minimum of three or four hours per week while both of us were sitting in front of our keyboards, Carl learned from me and I learned from him. He re-taught me patience. He read manuals and practiced during the days and we worked with new things in the evenings.
Carl learned our lessons well. Afterwards, he wrote to legislators and whomever else needed to be addressed. He used his scanner to read printed material, and yes, letters he received back from legislators.
Carl’s accomplishments were well summed up by Chuck Hamilton, Director of the Business Enterprises Program in a letter he wrote when he was unable to attend the celebration of Carl’s 90th birthday. Chuck wrote: “... Few people reach this milestone. More importantly, however, is that few people are so energized by the issues of the day as you are. Few people would take on the daunting task of learning the complex technology you have over the last 10 years. I salute you! You have remained involved in issues affecting blind persons, and traveled to the capitol to support and express your views. While you and I may disagree over certain issues, I respect your involvement, enthusiasm and tenacity. You are a role model for others who are blind and sighted, and show others that neither blindness nor the aging process need stop one’s impact on the affairs of the community...”
Carl, we all from ACBM say goodbye, and we will see you sometime. Carl is probably looking down on us all. (Remember, in heaven, we will all be able to see better than we do now.) . . . .
These thoughts were recently contributed to “The Minnesota Memo” by Carl Rauer
Consider the postage stamp. It insures success by its ability to stick to one thing until it gets where it has to go.
The Lord gave you two ends, one for sitting and one for thinking. Your success depends on which you use. Heads you win, tails you lose.
A discussion is the exchange of information. An argument is the exchange of ignorance.
In Memoriam: Milo Gilliland
by Bert Morlock
The American Council of the Blind of Minnesota and the entire blind community lost a long-time advocate on August 28, 1999. Milo Gilliland was 84 years of age at the time of his death.
Milo was born in Minneapolis and graduated from Roosevelt High School and the University of Minnesota. He worked as a rehabilitation counselor for Services for the Blind in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Milo moved to Virginia, Minn. in 1953 to operate a stand in the post office that was licensed by the Business Enterprises Program that is a part of the Minnesota Services for the Blind. He moved back to the Twin Cities in 1964 and retired from the program in 1989.
Milo was an active individual in the blind community. He was the first editor of the “Memo” for the American Council of the Blind of Minnesota. He served on the ACBM board, the United Blind board, and the Operator’s Management Committee for the Business Enterprises Program. He also served on the Minneapolis Society for the Blind board and was very active in square dancing.
Milo was an excellent writer. When he took on an issue he wrote with intensity and emotion. Through his writings he made contributions to the American Council of the Blind, the United Blind, and the Operator Management Committee of the Business Enterprises Program. Thank you, Milo, for using your gift of writing to benefit the blind community.
Milo, too, had a great sense of humor. I reminded him many times of the time he was on the Constitutional Committee for the United Blind. At one of the meetings he introduced a change to the bylaws. This resulted in a half-hour heated discussion at the end of which he asked for the president’s permission to speak. When he was granted the floor, he announced he would like to be the very first member to vote against his suggestion. After that, he and I often laughed when I told him he was the only person I knew that had introduced a bylaw change and was the first to vote against it.
After the death of his first wife, Grace Ellen, Milo married Tillie in 1974. Tillie has told me that part of the marriage contract required Milo to participate in bowling! He took the bowling contract so seriously that, in subsequent years, he and Tillie attended 12 bowling tournaments.
Milo and Tillie enjoyed traveling. After marrying they attended 10 ACB national conventions. I will remember Milo for the humor he brought to the blind community, and his interest and willingness to actively participate in the issues of the blind of the day. May he serve as an example to all of us as we become older — to participate actively in improving the quality of life of people who are blind.