Photo: 1942 FLC gymnastics

During the war years, gymnastics was a popular sport at the previous Fort Lewis College campus near Hesperus. Pictured here are gymnasts Kelly Hammond, Richard Steele, Noland Alexander, Roy Craig, Lucious Thorton, Ken Periman, Philip Parkinson, Frank Wancura, Roy Ludwig and Marvin Miller. After two years of junior college at FLC, many students continued their education at four-year schools. Parkinson finished his bachelor’s degree at Colorado State University, and after serving in the U.S. Army in World War II, became a dentist in Durango. Periman was in the Army Air Corps in WWII then attended the University of Colorado, earning a master’s degree in English. He came back to teach at FLC and retired as a full professor in 1988. Read more about local history at durangoherald.com/westishistory.<br><br>Ed Horvat for The Animas Museum, edhorvat@animasmuseum.org