The Coral Gables Times

Thursday, October 4, 1962, page 16 (of 24)

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Anne Develops 'Pencil Touch' for Typing

"The pencil touch method" is how Anne Peacock, who has had rheumatoid arthritis since the age of five, describes her typing. Anne, who has been bookkeeper and secretary for Myers Electric Company for the past seven years, has been nominated for the Dade County "Outstanding Handicapped Worker of the Year." Because Anne, now 33, does not use her hands very well, she strikes the keys with the end of a pencil held in her right hand. "I have done it for so long," Anne commented, "that I have developed a pretty good speed." Anne attended a public school through the third grade. Then she attended a school for handicapped children, but most of the students were mentally retarded, so she was held back. Beginning with the seventh grade, Anne stopped attending school and a teacher from the school for exceptional children came to her home one afternoon each week. Anne did not advance by grades, but by ability in each subject. In 1947 when she was 18, her credits were transferred to what was then Ponce de Leon High School, where she was graduated as a member of the National Honor Society. When she was 12 years old, Anne was one of the constants in the Herald Spelling Bee. She came in fifteenth out of 58. "I missed the word rhetoric. I had never heard of it before and I left out the 'h.' Who would have thought 'rhetoric' had an 'h' in it." After graduation, Anne, who had been confined to a wheelchair for eight years, did home stenography work such as addressing envelopes. "But I got tired of sitting in a wheelchair. I was determined to walk or else." Anne said, her face assuming a determined look at the memory. "I had taken everything the Coral Gables Clinic had to offer in both physiotherapy and hydrotherapy, and it did not do any good. Furthermore, the doctors told me the treatment was not bringing any results. "So, I started on my own, and it took what seemed like forever. Seven years ago I started walking again after spending 16 years in a wheelchair." At first, Anne's progress was on a limited basis, but now she can go a long distance on her crutches, even shopping down town. She also has a motorized wheelchair. "I attribute being able to walk again more to my determination than anything else. I just got out of my wheelchair and started using my legs," Anne said. Anne's mother died in 1951 and her father had a heart attack in 1954. His illness proved an added incentive for Anne, because he could no longer lift her. In August, 1955, Anne started working for Myers answering the telephone. "I got off to a nice beginning," Anne laughed. "I had been working a month when I was in an automobile accident coming to work and broke my leg. "I started working again the next January. I found it so fascinating after being at home for so many years. Soon Mr. Myers showed me how to do other things in the office, and now I do all the bookkeeping and secretarial work." Since Anne's father died three years ago, she has maintained her own home at 616 Madeira Ave., with the aid of a housekeeper. . . She has no brothers or sisters, but an uncle and her grandmother live here. Her present housekeeper, who has been working only two months, had been living with Anne for a week before serenity ended, on Aug. 2. Anne was recharging the battery in her motorized wheelchair because she planned to use it the next day, when a friend called inviting her to a movie. Anne rushed to the garage to unplug the chair, and did not turn on the light. She fell, fracturing both elbows and her right wrist, plus cutting a gash in her forehead. "I was off from work for six weeks, but I am all healed up now except for the scar on my forehead. I guess I will have to start wearing bangs or a headband to hide it," Anne commented good naturedly. Anne, who has been a member of the First Methodist Church for 10 years, has been a member of the official board for four years and is program chairman of her circle. Sewing and cooking are her favorite hobbies. She does not have time to make very many of her clothes now since she usually works four days a week. After Anne started walking, she lost five inches in her waist and went from a size 13 to size five dress. She weighs 76 pounds and is four feet, nine and one-half inches tall. Anne hopes to go to Atlanta next month to visit her cousins and fill up on their Southern cooking. ANNE PEACOCK . . . handicapped worker

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PEOPLE

Carol Ann Derflinger, winner of the 1962 Concerto Contest sponsored by the Miami Music Club, has entered the freshman class at Salem College, Winston-Salem, N.C. Carol, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Russell, 929 Sunset Dr., is a graduate of Coral Gables High School, where she was a member of the National Honor Society. She played viola with the school orchestra. She plans to major in music. ★ ★ ★ Three Coral Gables students, Sharon Anne Bimel, Roxann J. Ravlin and Susan Blair Brisco, were among more than 380 freshmen who took part last week in the orientation program at Rollins College, Winter Park. ★ ★ ★ Paul-E. McElwee, son of Mr. and Mrs. James F. McElwee, 57 Campina Ct., is undergoing nine weeks of basic recruit training at the Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Ill. ★ ★ ★ Leslie Howard Halpert, son of Mr. and Mrs. Sol Halpert, 918 Manati Ave., has enrolled at Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio. ★ ★ ★ Peter C. Jones, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clifford E. Jones, 1319 El Rado, has been appointed associate editor of the University of Florida Law Review, a quarterly journal published on the campus. ★ ★ ★ Randolph Peter Martin, 1341 Blue Rd., has been named a Stipe Scholar by Emory University in recognition of his high academic achievement. Stipe scholars are selected from the top 15 students, academically, in each class. ★ ★ ★ Jay McGlon, Republican Congressional candidate from the Fourth District, will speak at noon next Thursday to the Riviera Republican Woman's Club of Coral Gables at the Country Club of Coral Gables. Mrs. Mary McElwee will also speak on "The School Board of Dade County." ★ ★ ★ Doctor Leonard E. Indianer, who recently went to active duty in the United States Air Force in the rank of second lieutenant, has completed the orientation course for officers of the medical service at Gunter Air Force Base, Ala. Lt. Indianer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Indianer, 311 Navarre, will join the staff there for practice as a doctor of optometry. CAROL DERFLINGER

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