Moments of GloryBrushes With Greatness "Welcome
to Smallville, Boyhood Home of Superman!"
We've all seen signs like this in our travels. Communities like to celebrate their connections to famous people. Sometimes well-known people become drawing cards for special occasions. Often communities or organizations seek celebrities' endorsements for a particular purpose or simply reward them for actions of which the community approves. Debra Barnes, Miss America from southeast Kansas, was made an honorary Blue Angel on a visit to the Naval Air Station in Olathe in 1968. She is pictured at left receiving a Blue Angels jacket. (The Blue Angels are the Navy's flight demonstration team.) 
Glenn Cunningham set a world record as a mile runner in the 1930s. He later lent his name and assistance to a temperance organization for use on one of its publications (right). 
A childhood friend was the happy recipient of this clock (left) from actor Ed Asner, formerly of Wyandotte. The clock, as well as a desk and chair also given to the friend, were props on the set of the Mary Tyler Moore Show, where Asner portrayed the character Lou Grant.
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