Editor’s note: Book excerpt: Originally posted December 2016.
As the year ends, two amazing stories come to mind…That of Evelyn Ryan and Robert L. May.
Evelyn Ryan was a mother of 10 who supported her family by entering jingle contests in the 1950s.
The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio: How My Mother Raised 10 kids on 25 Words or less by Terry Ryan.
In 2005, Hollywood released a film based on the book. Surprisingly, the many serendipitous events that Evelyn Ryan experienced in the movie were factual and not Hollywood exaggeration, notes a family member that I contacted a few years ago.
The strange way that just in time miracles kept happening in Evelyn Ryan’s life is truly an inspiration for the cynical or discouraged.
Robert L. May wrote Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer during the Depression era.
May used his childhood experience as inspiration for the story.
But many people may not be aware of a remarkable fact…
May created Rudolph, but he was an employee for Montgomery Ward and assigned the task of dreaming up an idea for a booklet to be used as a customer giveaway.
Years later, before the song, but long after the popularity of Rudolph had been established, Montgomery Ward released the copyright to May after he’d suffered family tragedy
and had staggering medical bills.
Getting control of the copyright for the little reindeer with the colorful snout lifted the May household out of economic misery (Through the Decades, Decades.com, December 2016).
True, miracles don’t happen nearly as often as many would like but Evelyn Ryan and Robert L. May remind us of possibilities.
Two people who followed their creative talent and wonderful things transpired.
Sources
DailyMail.co.UK
How Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was invented by a department store ad writer and was almost named Reginald or Romeo | Daily Mail Online
Npr.org
The History Of Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer : NPR
News.Darttmoth.edu
Rudolph story dear many…
Rudolph’s Story: Dear to Many, Year After Year | Dartmouth
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