Book signing at UD Bookstore Dec. 4

9:51 a.m., Dec. 3, 2003--Authors Ed Okonowicz and Jerry Rhodes will sign copies of their new book, “Friends, Neighbors & Folks Down the Road,” from noon-2 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 4, at the University of Delaware Bookstore.

Also scheduled to appear are individuals featured in the book who have a UD connection, including William Katorkas, assistant director of public safety, who trades in his police uniform for a tuxedo as Billy K, the announcer for the East Coast Wrestlers, sparring verbally with such characters as Boogie Woogie Brown and Dr. Destruction. Another profiled in the book is Ron Whittington, special assistant to the dean of UD’s College of Human Services, Education and Public Policy, who assumes two different personas for the National Chautaugua Tour, portraying a black Civil War solidier and baseball player Judy Johnson of the old Negro League, the only Delawarean who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Elbert Chance, a familiar figure on campus for many years began his career at UD as sports information director and assistant director of public relations in 1952 and became the voice of Delaware Stadium, covering more than 300 games until he retired in 2002. Chance also is profiled in the new book.

The book spotlights individuals in the community who have out-of-the ordinary, off-beat jobs, avocations and hobbies, such as Bob Trapani, who heads an organization to restore lighthouses of the Delaware River and Bay, Felix Cartagena, the “Bubble Man,” and “Gnome Man” Richard Humphreys of Kirkwood, Pa., in nearby Lancaster County.

Since retiring from the Office of Public Relations as editor of UpDate, Okonowicz AS ’68, M ’84, who is an adjunct English instructor, has devoted much of his time to writing and storytelling. Rhodes, who also retired from UD as a locksmith, works part-time as a writer/editor for the Office of Public Relations.

For more information, call 831-2637 or visit [www.mystandlace.com/].

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