Sam Cocca Speaks to River Oaks Historical 
Society Members

by Jo Ann Dennis

The River Oaks Area Historical Society met for its first meeting of the new year on January 7 at John Knox Presbyterian Church.  President Mary Earwood welcomed a large crowd who had come to hear Sam Cocca speak and to hear a group from the Dukes of Uke and the Uke-A-Ladies play.  Mary introduced the Society's newest members River Oaks City Councilman Bob Minter and his wife, Shirley.  She also introduced Nancy Loven, wife of River Oaks City Councilman John Loven, who was visiting and had a special interest in the program since her mom Hattie Belle Neely, plays in the ukelele group.  Other visitors who came to hear the speaker were Westworth Village City Councilman Jim Parnell, Westworth Village Mayor Andy Fontenot and wife, Patricia, and a former longtime Thomas Lane neighbor of the speaker Ralph Bickley.  Mary then asked First Vice President Program Chairman Linda Claridge to introduce the speaker.

Following service in the Navy Air Corps and duty in Saipan,  Sam Cocca told us he came home to marry his fiancée, Elinore, and they moved to River Oaks where they lived for fifteen years.  During this time they were active members at St. Paul's Catholic Church of Black Oak Lane.  Sam worked for General Dynamics (now Lockheed) where he knew many River Oaks people, one in particular, our former mayor, the late Tom Holland.  When Tom mentioned that he was thinking of running for mayor, Sam helped him pass out flyers in River Oaks and was pleased when he was elected.  Upon leaving General Dynamics, Sam went to work for Bell Helicopter and retired from there.  In the mid 1960's,  he and Elinore moved to Westworth Village and have lived there since that time, making many friends in the Village just as they did in River Oaks.  Sam told us he and Elinore had celebrated their fifty-sixth wedding anniversary on January 2 of this year. 

Sam has a great sense of humor and told us some funny jokes.  I liked the one about hearing that the seat belts in the back seat of his car were being recalled because of a malfunction.  Upon hearing it was in the back seat, Sam said not to worry about it because his mother-in-law sat there anyway.  (In a later phone conversation with Sam, he spoke endearingly of his mother-in-law.)  Sam played with the Dukes of Uke and the Uke-A-Ladies till of couple of years ago, but dropped out because of some health issues of his wife.  He also had triple by-pass surgery three years ago.  However, they both continue to be as active as possible.

Sam introduced the fifteen members of the Dukes of Uke and the Uke-A-Ladies, a small performing group from the larger 57 members.  Edith Harris was filling in as director in the absence of Doris Dobbins who was unable to be present.  They passed out words to a number of songs and we sang along with them as they played, which was a lot of fun.  They all played quite well and obviously enjoy their music and performing.   When the program was over,  Mary told them how much we all enjoyed hearing them and asked if al that strumming helped a person lose weight.  That brought a good laugh from the crowd.  I am sure if the answer was an affirmative one,  several would have signed up on the spot.  

Merle Bradley always provides a flower arrangement or pot plant for the speaker and this night was no different -------- well, it WAS different in that she had a police escort to the church.  As she was delivering the plant,  someone ran into her van and when the police arrived, she explained that she needed to get the flowers delivered to John Knox Presbyterian Church so she had an escort from and back to the accident.  We were glad she was not hurt.  Everyone stayed and visited after the meeting and we agreed it had been an enjoyable evening.