H.R. Crawford, Congress Heights & summer talent contest

In remembrance of H.R. Crawford, who passed away today, I went in search of him in the Evening Star newspaper in 1968.

One of the most interesting references I found was his service as neighborhood planning chairman of the Congress Heights talent contest held on 31 August at Oxon Run Park.  

"Any Washington resident who has a band or can sing, dance, play an instrument or otherwise entertain is eligible. There is no entrance fee. Prospective performers should contact...the chairman closest to his home for application forms and information." 

The winners of the neighborhood talent shows competed in the citywide talent show on 8 September at Meridian Hill Park. The talent shows were part of the National Park Service's "Summer in the Parks" program, which originated in 1968.

Noel Lopez, a cultural anthropologist at the National Park Service, is researching "Summer in the Parks." Loretta Neumann was one of dc1968 's first crowdsourcerers.  She told me that "Summer in the Parks," which was created by her late husband, Tedd McCann, had to be included.

Did you participate in the talent show @Oxon Run Park?  Did you participate in the city-wide talent show?  Do you have early memories of Mr. Crawford in Congress Heights?

Source: "City Talent Show Slated Sept 8 in Meridian Hill Park," Evening Star 28 August 1968, p. 37.

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