NUMBER THIRTEEN IS LUCKY FOR NEW NAVY SECRETARY
San Francisco, California (JFK+50) On March 14, 1924, the Associated Press reports newly appointed Navy Secretary Curtis D. Wilbur* has experienced lots of luck with the number 13.
While many are superstitious about the number, not so with Judge Wilbur. He was married on the 13th, lived at 1313 Winifred Street in L.A., was admitted to the bar on the 13th & inducted as chief justice of the state supreme court on January 13th.
His most recent bit of luck with the number was on March 13, 1924 when he was appointed Secretary of the Navy. Perhaps if there is ever a U.S. ship named in honor of Curtis D. Wilbur, it should appropriately bear the number 13.
JFK+50 NOTE
On a Friday the 13th back in 1980, I took a leave day from teaching school to go on a weekend trip in our van with my wife. As we were heading east in the middle of a 3 lane interstate going the maximum speed of 55 mph, I looked in my rear-view mirror and saw a van speeding toward me. I quickly tried to swerve out of his way, but he impacted our spare tire mounted on the back and we were shoved forward.
While we were ok, the van veered off the road and overturned. The man, a drunk driver, was thrown through the windshield but somehow survived. Needless to say, we were very lucky to have escaped with only damage to our van. We had to cancel our weekend plans and return home. In any case, I never took a leave day on a Friday the 13th again.
I just noticed my JFK+50 post yesterday, March 13, has had 13 hits. How cool is that?
*Curtis Dwight Wilbur (1867-1954) was born in Boone, Iowa & graduated from the US Naval Academy, 1888. CDW was admitted to the California bar in 1890, served as Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court 1923-24 & as Secretary of the Navy 1924-1929.
SOURCE
"Appointed On 13th, Wilbur Cites Proof Number Is 'No Jinx'," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., March 14, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
