VEISHEA TORCH RUN WILL HONOR CATT

by Steve Sullivan

Veishea will honor the legacy of Carrie Chapman Catt with a 
380-mile, five-day torch run that begins Monday, April 17, in 
Catt's birthplace of Ripon, Wis.

Catt will be a focus of the 1995 Veishea celebration, April 
21-23. 

Catt was ISU's only female graduate in 1880 and valedictorian 
of her class. After an early career in education, she 
succeeded Susan B. Anthony as president of the National 
American Woman Suffrage Association in 1900 and led the 
effort to ratify the 19th Amendment, which gave the vote to 
women. This year is the 75th anniversary of the ratification. 

Catt founded the League of Women Voters and the International 
Woman Suffrage Alliance and worked for the creation of both 
the League of Nations and United Nations.

"We hope alumni and people who want to honor the legacy of 
Carrie Chapman Catt will come out and see us run the torch 
from Ripon to Ames," said G.W. Fuhr, co-chair of the Veishea 
executive board. 

The torch will be lit at a ceremony Monday, April 17, at 
Ceresco Park in Ripon. The event is hosted by the Ripon 
Chamber of Commerce and Mayor John Hupt. Anona Tesca, a 
member of the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, will 
speak.

A crew of 85 ISU students will take turns running the torch 
through communities in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa.  

Runners will be welcomed at Charles City in a noon ceremony 
Thursday, April 20. Catt grew up in Charles City and the 
community is renovating her childhood home. The ceremony will 
be in the community center and hosted by Mayor Jeff Sissen. 
Ivadelle Messerlie, Catt's great-niece, will speak.

The lighting of the Veishea torch will be Friday, April 21, 
during Veishea opening ceremonies at noon. Carol Bellamy, 
Peace Corps director, will speak.

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contact:  Steve Sullivan, (515) 294-3720
updated:  4-6-95