This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Haddan, Price, Cruickshank, Rohrs, Heil Classification: Death Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/JW.2ADE/8090 Message Board Post: Desert Weatherman Backus Passes Away in Berkley Oscar J. Backus, well - known Mojave Area Weatherman and rancher died Sunday afternoon, February 24, 1957 in a Berkley Sanitarium where he had been rnoved after a two month's stay in a hospital. A desert pioneer, he and his wife, Merritt, came to this area in 1914 after driving a Maxwell car all the way from Ford City, Pennsylvania, It was in that city he and a relative designed and patented a toilet bowl valve under the name of the Eljer Company. Mr. Backus was born in Oakland, California on September 29, 1880 where he lived for a time before going east. He homesteaded 160 acres and practically with his bare hands made a ranch here. One of his projects was an almond orchard which was moderately successful. He also had a complete machine shop and was constantly tinkering on something or other. He served on the Mojave School Board from 1936 to 1940 and was credited with obtaining Federal money to provide the modern gym and swimming pool which many enjoy. Later ceremonies provided a plaque with his name which was affixed to the buildiilg naming. it after him. Perhaps his best known work was as a U. S. Co-op Weather Observer and he recently received a 20 year pin for this voluntary work. His precise records at the ranch settled many questions about weather in the Mojave area. He was a prime organizer and chairman of the East Kern County Soil Conservation District and also organized and headed the Ancient Valley Civic Improvement Association. His work in, civic affairs over many years would be difficult if not impossible to match. . Survivors include a sister; Mrs. Edith Haddan and two nephews, Dr. Rodney Haddan and Dr. Nulco Haddan;.a niece, Mrs. Andrew Price all of' BerkeIey. "Two other nieces and nephews of a deceased sister are Mrs. Helen Cruickshank, Mrs. Elizabeth Rohrs of Orange City and Wendel Heil of Seattle, Washington. Memorial services for Oscar J. Backus are being held at the Backus Home, Saturday, March 2 at 3:00 p.m. Dr. Torrance Phelps of the Mojave Community Church will conduct the services with tributes being given by Mr. Robert Ulrich, Superintendent of Mojave Schools; Dr. Roy Knapp, District Superintendent of Antelope Val1ey Joint Union High School and Junior College; Mr. Harry Levy, of East Kern County Soil Conservation District and Mr. James Churchill, Supervisor of Attendance and Child Welfare, Antelope Valley. For his many friends who wish to honor his memory an Oscar J. Backus Memorial Scholarship, has been set up at the Mojave High School to which they may contribute. 28 Feb 1957 Memorial Services For O. J. Backus A very fitting memorial service in the memory of Mr. Oscar J. Backus was held in his home on Sunday afternoon, March 3, 1957, by many of his friends and relatives. The room was decorated with almond blossoms from the trees which Mr. Backus had planted many years ago and which yearly gave him a great deal of pleasure. The memorial service was conducted by Dr. Torrance Phelps and tributes to the life of Mr. Backus were given by Mr. Levee of the East Kern Soit Conservation District, Dr. Roy Knapp, Superintendent of the Antelope Valley High Schoo1, Mr. James Churchill, Attendance Counseler at the Antelope Valley High School and Robert P. Ulrich, Superintendent of the Mojave Unified School District. Attention was called to the many accomplishments of Mr. O. J. Backus during his lifetime and particularly to the accomplishments he had gained as a result of his unselfish service in public life. It was pointed out that the school children and youth dally enjoy the splendid school facilities which he and his colleagues secured for the Mojave School District. Motorists benefit from the highway improvements which he succeeded in securing' in behalf of greater traffic safety. Attention was called to his interest and accomplishments in the field of Soil Conservation and the part he played in organizing Soil Conservation Districts. He was a specialist in the measurement of weather and his records have long been beneficial to the Edwards Air Force Base and the Mojave Marine Station as they develop their facility and installations. Industrial firms interested in coming into the Mojave area have also been requesting the type of weather information which Mr. Backus maintained. Mr. O. J. B.ackus was always. interested in planning for the future and served on many planning and advisory committees. Of particular importance was his service on the Citizen's Advisory Committee to the Board of Trustees of the Mojave Unified School District when the new high school was being planned. Last summer Mr. Backus served on the Mojave Advisory Committee to the Kern County Planning Commission and an expression of opinion from the Kern County Planning Commission was read at the memorial services. An inventive mind guided Mr. Backus to a number of inventions, a number of which1 have become widely used throughout the nation. This inventive spirit often prompted him to think of Cal Tech and other institutions of higher learning. His library gave evidence of his interest in the scientific world. A number of his friends have suggested that a life lived so unselfishly and so generously in public service should have a lasting memorial and that a scholarship to some higher institution of learning which might be available to a high school graduate each year be established. A scholarship of this kind in the amount of approximately $1,000 could be made available from an endowment of approximately $20,000. Many endowment funds of this type are invested in excellent securities by our institutions of higher learning and the dividends and proceed from them are used for scholarships for high school graduates. The details of this type of scholarship and the investment of endowment funds would have to be very carefully developed. There are those who have however, suggested that funds might be contributed to an O. J. Backus Scholarship. Those who are interested are invited to contact the principal of the Mojave High School, Mr. Robert W. Wisgerhof in regard to further details and information. Posted by East Kern Genealogical Society Courtesy of Mojave Desert News California City, Kern, CA Published: 07 Mar 1957