Photograph taken for a newspaper owned by the Oklahoma Publishing Company. Caption: "DEATH RIDE ALONG in these two cars Wednesday. The car at left field to make a curve at Newcastle road and Meridian. The driver, father of two children and a companion died instantly. Two passengers were injured. Four persons were killed and three injured, one critically, in a series of pre-Christmas accidents Wednesday in and near Oklahoma City. Dead are: LEROY C. LEVERICH, 26, of 1413 Oelke, father of two small children. HOMER CLEVE SMITH, 42, of 1041 SW 24, employed with Leverich at the Lee Way-Sooner Freight lines. Also in Mercy hospital are Murray J. Smith, 31, of 2815 S Central, brother of the other victim, and Marion E. Prichard, 27, of 1836 S High. Leverich and Smith were killed when their car, a 1953 Mercury, failed to negotiate a curve a half-mile southwest of the city near the Meridian boulevard and Newcastle road intersection. Trooper D.R. Stegner of the highway patrol was parked at the intersection waiting for traffic to clear and saw the fatal accident. Stegner said the sedan was driven by Leverich. The automobile skidded 120 feet, struck a bridge guard rail then skidded …

Photograph used for a story in the Oklahoma Times newspaper. Caption: "Gayla Peevey, 10-year-old singer, went without breakfast until 10:30 a. m. Thursday to welcome her "Hippopotamus for Christmas" to Oklahoma City--and then said she was too excited to eat."

Photograph used for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. Caption: "CHRISTMAS WISHES CAME TRUE for these two pretty Oklahoma City girls. Ten-year-old Gayla Peevey, right, has had juke boxes spinning her request for a hippopotamus for Christmas."

Photograph used for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. Caption: "ENTERTAINING AT AN OPEN HOUSE o Sunday honoring (standing) Kevan Gosper, Newcastle, Australia; will be Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Hoke, 1415 NW 36, and their son, David Hoke."

Photograph used for a story in the Oklahoma Times newspaper. Caption: "Poor Man's Mite" open house is a tradition on New Years Day with Dr. and Mrs. Floyd Moorman."

Photograph used for a story in the Oklahoma Times newspaper. Caption: "Gayla leans over the shoulders of two Tom Munday Moving and Storage Co. workmen, E. A. Ellis, 2925 SW 19, left, and Bill Turner, 920 N Geary, as they open the crate Mathilda arrived in."

Photograph used for a story in the Oklahoma Times newspaper. Caption: "Gayla couldn't wait till Mathilda dove for the water to get a good look at her Christmas gift, which she in turn gave to the zoo."

Photograph used for a story in the Oklahoma Times newspaper. Caption: "John M. Richardson Lyeth and Mrs. Lyeth were honored Thursday at an open house by Samuel M. Gloyd and Mrs. Cloyd."

Photograph used for a story in the Oklahoma Times newspaper. Caption: "Hillis A. Sanford, above, has resigned as a deputy sheriff effective January 1 and will become bailiff fo William Fogg, district judge."

Photograph used for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. Caption: "Best present a polio patient could get is to be able to celebrate Christmas at home with his folks."

Photograph used for a story in the Oklahoma City Times newspaper. Caption: "Mathilda, safely immered in her new home, stares up at Gayla Peevey, the little girl whose fast-selling Christmas song started the chain of events that tied a Yule ribbon around a 700-pound hippo."

Photograph taken for a story in the Oklahoma Times newspaper. Caption: "Memories of cold, hunger and loneliness are fading fast for Vernon Cowen, 508 1/2 NW 8, who spent last Thanksgiving in a North Korea prison camp."

Photograph used for a story in the Oklahoma Times newspaper. Caption: "Guy Fraser Harrison, left, conductor of the Oklahoma City Symphony, and John Kemp, minister of music for the First Presbyterian church, check over the score of Handel's "Messiah," which will be presented December 6."

Photograph used for a story in the Oklahoma Times newspaper. Caption: "Remember when the Rasbach hotel, 21 S Robinson, was the seat of Oklahoma County government?"

Photograph used for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. Caption: "Green receives congratulations from brother Bob."

Photograph used for a story in the Oklahoma Times newspaper. Caption: "his mother defends him"

Photograph used for a newspaper owned by the Oklahoma Publishing Company. Caption: "This is the barn-red brick and frame New England Colonial house on Randel road, Nichols Hills, offered y Carson E. Hickox."

Photograph used for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. Caption: "This is the barn-red brick and frame, New England Colonial house on Randel road, Nichols Hills, offered by Carson E, Hickox."

Photograph taken for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. Caption: "Luther Dulaney, accepts a $1,000 check."

Photograph taken for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. Caption: "Mrs. L. G. Hill shows a first place "squaw necklace" made by Carole Garrett, 2311 NW 21, which already has won at the Oklahoma State fair, junior girls division."

Photograph taken for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. Caption: "Mrs. Lorraine Van House holds a first place doll doorstep made by Linda Sue Huston of Warr Acres."

Photograph used for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. Caption: "No high button shoes here but Mrs. E. V. Moore of Moore, superintendent of the textiles department of the women's division of the Oklahoma State fair, proves she can put on a size 4-B high laced shoe of 1910 vintage."

Photograph used for a story in the Oklahoma Times newspaper. Caption: "Situated in the new Ridgecrest addition to Midwest City is the brand new home of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Thornton, at 2936 Bella Vista. Mr. Thornton is shown in the hobby room of the house, where he enjoys the model train set-up as much as his sons Roy and Jack do. The Thorntons also have a daughter, Phyllis."

Photograph used for a story in the Oklahoma Times newspaper. Caption: "Ever have to use an alley?"