TV star visits the region, a look back at sports stars: This week in Mohawk Valley history

1963, 60 years ago

'Otis' visits area

Hal Smith is in town and is attracting fans of "The Andy Griffith Show," currently one of the top three shows on television. Smith, who plays Otis Campbell on the show -- the town drunk -- is spending the holidays with family and friends in Utica and Old Forge.

He grew up in Massena, New York, and his parents later moved to Old Forge. In 1937, Smith joined Radio Station WIBX in Utica as an early morning announcer. He remained with WIBX until 1943 when he joined the Army Air Force during World War II. (In 1975, Smith returned to Utica for WIBX's 50th anniversary celebration.)

After the war ended in 1945, Smith headed west and began to play small roles in the movies. He had a recurring role in early television's "I Married Joan," with Joan Davis and Jim Backus. Then, producers discovered that Smith had a "special" voice. He became the original voice of Barney Rubble on "The Flintstones," and later the voice of Huckleberry Hound, Walt Disney's "Goofy" and Donald Duck's Uncle Ludwig von Drake.

1915, 108 years ago

Butterfield building

Union College in Schenectady receives $101,000 from the estate of the late Major General Dan Butterfield to build a new science building on campus. Butterfield, who was born and grew up in Utica, graduated from Union in 1849. He fought in many major battles in the Civil War and is best remembered for co-composing the bugle call "Taps." He died in 1901 and in buried in the cemetery at West Point.

1948, 75 years ago

Basketball championship

Roscoe Conkling School defeats Horatio Seymour School, 25-21, to win the Utica Public Grammar School Basketball League championship. Bernie Grestl coaches Conkling players Keith Sweet, Franklin (Butch) Giruzzi, John Stokes, Lou Fondario, Jim Cannistra, Tom Nicoletta, Joe (Bud) Gigliotti, Carmen Sbirolie, Frank Pellegrino and Don Ambruso. Joe Camelo is the team manager.

1973, 50 years ago

Gas shortage

The nationwide gasoline shortage is keeping most motorists home for the holidays. On New Year's Eve, a reporter for the Observer-Dispatch finds only three gas stations open in Oneida and Herkimer counties.

A spokesman for the Thruway says traffic on the toll road in "very, very light."

1998, 25 years ago

RFA site

Rome's Board of Education says that the best location for the proposed new Rome Free Academy is the Griffiss Business & Technology Park (the former Griffiss Air Force Base.) The site consists of 75 acres and is close to the park's Skyline Gate off East Dominick Street and away from railroad and electrical lines that worried some parents.

Oneida County Executive Ralph Eannace Jr., chairman of the Griffiss Local Development Corporation, supports the board's selection. He adds, "But we respect the fact that it is a community decision (whether to build a new school).

C. Lee Hinkleman Sr. is elected president of the Westmoreland Volunteer Fire Department and James Kimball is re-elected chief. Others elected include Lester Hillage, vice president; Beth Woodman, secretary-treasurer; Tom Wilcox Jr., first assistant chief; Robert Walsh, second assistant chief; Rich Holmes, first lieutenant; Bernard Szarek, second lieutenant; David Szarek, third lieutenant; Brad Strebing, fourth lieutenant; and board of directors Jeremy Nestved, Mike Flint, Jeremy Wadell, Mark Perault and John Madore.

Amanda Mortelette scores her 1,000th career point to lead Waterville to a 61-44 win over Herkimer in the Waterville Times Basketball Tournament. She has 15 points in the game to raise her total to 1,002. Meghan Rice adds 23 points, Tosca Maxam has 10 points and 11 rebounds and Jen Van Slyke has nine rebounds. Herkimer is led by Alicia Ray's 16 points and Lisa Mason's 13.

2013, 10 years ago

Football all-stars

The All-Mohawk Football Team includes co-players of the year: J'von Evans, Proctor running back, and Herkimer quarterback and defensive back Austin Mills. Herkimer's Alan Steele is "coach of the year."

The team includes: Notre Dame quarterback Kevin Warmack; running backs Chris Beavo of Vernon-Verona-Sherrill, Tim Harrison of Westmoreland and Mykel Farley of Central Valley Academy; wide receivers Jerome Brabham of Notre Dame and Terry Nichols of New York Mills; offensive tackles Liam Murphy of Whitesboro and Joe Sullivan of Notre Dame; running back and defensive back Steve Tomaino; center and linebacker Ryan Fahy of Herkimer; tight end Tyler Taverne of Westmoreland; guards David Carroll of Oneida and James Brys of Dolgeville; center Mitch Blair of Holland Patent; special teams Josh Reed of Rome Free Academy and Dylan Cafalone of Oneida; defensive backs Ryan Moody of West Canada Valley, Eddie Campos of Rome Free Academy and Joie DeSarro of Frankfort-Schyler; linebackers Jordan Yaworski of West Canada Valley, Austin Jasper of Sherburne-Earlville, Dane Carlson of Vernon-Verona-Sherrill and Brian Verbickas of New Hartford; defensive tackles Tyler Hudson of Whitesboro and Tyler Havener of Oneida; defensive ends Francis Chery of Proctor and Dan Appley of Herkimer.

In other news, Zvia McCormick is named chief executive officer of the Resource Center for Independent Living.

Trivia quiz

This U.S. president's younger brother had a beer named for him. Name the president, the brother and the beer. (Answer will appear here next week.)

Answer to last week's question: On January 20, 1977, Jimmy Carter was sworn in as 39th president of the United States. When he took the oath of office, he used his nickname, Jimmy, instead of his birth name -- James Earl.

This Week in History is researched and written by Frank Tomaino. E-mail him at ftomaino221@gmail.

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Mohawk Valley history this week: Looking for RFA site, sports heroes