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a letter from Mom
page 3b
"A few days later he saw me on the
street and he came up to me and put his
arm around me and said, 'Danny, you're a
good boy.' "
Dan graduated from Gordon High
School and hauled off to Chadron State
College in a '57 Chevy, compliments of
his parents. After a semester (or maybe a
whole year, I'm uncertain) he put in his
walking papers and headed for the big
time.
I have little idea how he spent the
early years at the University-that was the
point of conducting the interview I
explained about. But one of the things he
did was start taking photographs. If
there's one thing that people identify
with Dan (maybe two: 'well, he's this guy
with a big moustache') it's his
photography. Many of his photographs
are remarkable.
His first photograph for the Daily
Nebraskan appeared on September 13,
1967 and featured a snow fence and some
mud. The occasion was the excavation of
Hamilton Hall.
In the years since then he's had
innumerable photos in the Daily
Nebraskan. A lot of the early ones are
amazing for their techniques (for
instance, a double exosure of a dollar
bill over a University scene as a budget
story illustration.)
The more recent ones seem to be
amazing in that they capture the spirit of
the subjects so well. One of the most
astounding photographs I've seen to
illustrate a news story was one Dan took
only a month or so ago to illustrate a
story about the Lincoln Office of Mental
Retardation (LOMR) possibly losing
funds. It pictured a small boy with tears
welling huge in his eyes and just
Turn to page 4b.
Dear Daily Nebraskan:
Fiist of all let me say this is a very nice thing you re doing
fot Dan.
And it will be a big surprise to him.
Enclosed find photos, just use what you need.
Danny was raised on a ranch until he was six years old. We
then moved into Gordon as Mr. Ladely's health was not too
good.
Danny staited to school in the country; went to school two
year s out in the counti y.
The rest of his schooling was hen; in Got don.
Danny just had a noimal childhood. Had pets which
ui Idmbs.
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Danny always liked school and did real good in it.
always been a very devoted child. A happy-go-lucky boy.
u,. ti ,r.,wl nlwinn in the band when he was in the
in; jiui u,w
giade He spent eight yea is playing m the band.
He always took t part in all school aclivities. He was
student manager for thiee years for the football boys ami lor
the wrestlers.
Dan graduated in 1965 at the age of 17 yeais. He spent one
ypar in college at Chadion State College, from theie he
transferred to Lincoln, spending the lest of his college days at
the University of Nebraska.
ri v miiu rhild in our family. Both of his
g.andmothers are still alive. Both his grandfathers are dead.
He's loved dearly by all who know Dan.
Thank you,
Mrs. Leo Ladely
Gordon, Nebr.
H(
fifth
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Ladely and his father Leo at home in Gordon.