From Pat Friedrich

My thanks to the 1936 Russell Bros troupers My great-grandfather, W H “Dad” Whitlark, was with the Russell Bros Circus from 1929 to 1935. He passed away in Ada OK on 18 Nov 1935 & was buried in an unmarked grave in Rosedale Cemetery. Thanks to the thoughtfulness of the 1936 Russell Bros troupers, a memorial was placed to mark Dad’s grave. The above article in the 17 Oct 1936 edition of Billboard, penned by Carey C Emrie and entitled Whitlark Memorial Erected By Members of Russell Show, describes the thoughtful and generous act. There was another article in the 21 Nov 1936 edition of Billboard, also written by Emrie, entitled Tribute to Circus Folk On Memorial: “Mt. Washington O. I noted in The Billboard of October 17 that Russell Bros.’ Circus had placed a memorial over the grave of our old-time friend Daddy Whitlark. I had been acquainted with Daddy for the past two decades and a more lovable soul could not be found in the circus world, a man who always had a good word for his fellow men and always was ready to help out. I know that Mrs. C W Webb must have started this subscription, as she is one of the most thoughtful women of the circus, trying to make the season enjoyable to everyone connected with the organization. Was it not wonderful to learn that everybody on the show gave toward the fund? Circus life is a hard grind at best, but one can’t get away from the fact that, as a whole, circus folk have hearts as big as the great outdoors in which they live.” I didn’t know Pauline Webb or any of the performers with the 1936 Russell Circus. However, I was still very touched when I first went to Rosedale Cemetery and discovered that the marker had been placed by the people of the Russell