A look back: July 13, 1973

A room in the newly built Coaldale State General Hospital will be dedicated to the memory of the late State Assemblyman John “Ike” Bonner, the “miner’s best friend and a former miner himself,” said President William Olexy of the Lansford Democratic Club, sponsor of the room.

Assemblyman Bonner was a former miner and while serving in the Legislature, co-sponsored the Anthrasilicosis bill, forerunner of the Black Lung program, from which many miners, widows and orphans of miners are now benefiting.

In addition to Olexy, club members helping with the program are George Demetriades, Eugene O’Donnell, Michael Serina, Joseph Geusic, Frederica Winkler and Michael Ciganek.