PRESQUE ISLE COUNTY ADVANCE-CENTENNIAL ISSUE-July 30. 1971

Was Founder Of U.S. Steel's Central Radio Company

Bob Crittendon Finds New Challenge In "Retirement"

Retirement is sometimes an incomplete word. There are thosewho retire "from" and 
those who retire "to".  Former Rogers CityanRobert F. Crittendon is one of the 
latter.  Little did he realize, when heretired in 1963 as station manager of U. S. 
Steel's Central Radio Telegraph Company, situated just beyond the Calcite plant, 
that he would soon becomedeeply involved with a huge community development program 
in California. It wasn't planned that way at all; it just sort of evolved.

Bob Crittendon was not a native son; however, he lived in Rogers City for more 
years than many native-born persons do - 43 years.  He was founder of a facility 
that has been a vital communications link for lake vessels, in a   community 
heavily dependent on lake shipping.  He installed the original station for Central 
Radio Telegraph in May, 1922, and managed it until his retirement.

Now, in his so-called retirement years, he is in on the beginning of yet  another 
operation that spells a better life for the many persons involved.

A native of Brookland, Arkansas, he came here in June, 1920, as an electrician and 
radioman; he conducted experimental work which led to the establishmentof the 
station.  Mr. Crittendon was by no means a newcomer to the radio field. He served 
as a radio instructor at Great Lakes Naval Center with the U. S. Navyduring World 
War I, and  became familiar with this area when he later was stationed in Alpena.  
While in Alpena he also met Helen Campbell of Cleveland,and the couple was married.  
Their son Bob and wife Lois now live in South Gate (near Los Angeles) where Bob, a 
1958 graduate of Rogers City High School, worksfor General Motors.

Mr. Crittendon was an active figure in the community affairs of Rogers City.In 
previous years he was mayor for a period of four and one-half years and also was a 
councilman for 6 months.

Bob's retired from WLC in March, 1963, and the Crittendons moved to the then-new 
Rancho Bernardo community, located just north of San Diego.  Bob then became 
involved in the development of the community, and soon went back to work for AVCO 
Community Developers helping to plan and bring Rancho Bernardo to its completion.

This truncated version of the full article omits details of Bob's California work.  
Also omitted is a picture of Bob in his california office.