My Life
My Life
By Thomas E. Moore, edited for publication
*Introductory note: Thomas Moore has occasionally corresponded casually with the editor and was invited to share his biography with the readers of the Gazette. His story tells of life both in and after McClusky.
1931- 1952- My Life to age 21 as a resident of McClusky
“I was born in Fargo, ND April 11, 1931. My mother returned with me to spend my first 21 years in my hometown. We lived in several rented homes and moved into a room in the Moore Hotel during my first four years.
“They bought the home south of the high school about 1936 where I lived until graduating from North Dakota State in Electrical Engineering in 1952.
“From about age three, I enjoyed being able to roam anywhere in town, going into the Gazette office, stores, watching Alex Nurenberg in his blacksmith shop, Martin Lang repair shoes and harnesses, watching the train come in, but mostly playing with friends.
“My grades were mostly A’s and I graduated behind Edna Neuharth, who was our 1948 valedictorian. Because my half of the fifth grade shared a room with the sixth grade and I was exposed to classes in both, I managed to skip the sixth grade.
“I enjoyed playing basketball more than anything else. By my senior year we had beat most of our opponents at least once, but came in second in the district tournament.
“My dad took me hunting and fishing many times. He wanted me to become good at both and run the McClusky Gazette. I disappointed him.
“I did work at the Gazette, folding and mailing papers, many hours of job printing, and casting lead advertisements from mats received in the mail. Doug Boling and I mowed the cemetery.
“The Gazette was in the Roxy Theater basement until Irvin Boling sold the building to Russ Burgess about 1945 when the equipment was moved to the basement of the Moore Hotel.
“One of my interests was building a radio; then an amateur radio receiver and transmitter. Russ Burgess helped me learn Morse Code so I could pass the test for an “amateur radio (ham)” license. Russ also taught and hired me to run the movie projectors.
