Johnny O'Brien Wins Paul Bunyan Award
(The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 1953)

 

More honors came to John O'Brien, Seattle's wizard of basketball, Friday on the eve of his departure for a career in baseball.

He won the Seattle Chamber of Commerce Paul Bunyan Trophy for 1952, and he was one of two individuals who received special awards.

It was the first time in the history of the Chamber's Paul Bunyan Awards that top honors went to an individual.

The award to O'Brien was in recognition of the outstanding part he took in bringing national recognition to Seattle last year while playing on the Seattle University hoop team. His contribu­tions to the success of Seattle U. in basketball, and his own personal magnetism and ability won him the main trophy and a "personal recognition" certificate.

OTHER—

The other personal recognition certificate went to Jack Gordon, Seattle public relations man who handles publicity for Seattle U. [Editor: Gordon and the Korean Veterans' Welcome Lane won a "Blue Ox Award" (the Paul Bunyan award's predecessor) in 1952.]

After the Chamber of Commerce luncheon at which the awards were given, O'Brien said he would always treasure the trophy and remember the presentation ceremony as one of the highlights of his college career in his "adopted" city.

John and his twin brother, Eddie, will leave Saturday for a brief visit home in South Amboy, N. J., before joining the Pittsburgh Pirates, who signed the twins to a base­ball contract this week.

Other Chamber of Com­merce Paul Bunyan Awards went to:

The Rotary Club of Seattle for its extensive publicizing of Seattle in connection with the Rotary convention scheduled for Seattle in 1954.