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FAMILY HERO:
GRAHAM HARTLEY WOOLFALL
by Natalie from Laguna Beach
 What is a hero, someone might ask. A hero is a person or animal who never gives up and tries very hard; they are good at what they do, and they are willing and heroic. They may be anyone you look up to or admire. A hero makes a difference in the world and that is what makes them so special. Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman -- they are all great heroes. They do the right thing and that is what makes them a hero. They are great, but I know a better hero -- my great grandfather, Graham Hartley Woolfall. To you he seems normal, but to me he is much more than normal. He was born on October 1, 1898, like any other normal person, with no idea of how much of a difference he would make in the world as an architect. He was born to Hartley Woolfall (his dad), who owned the Woolfall Publishing Company on Park Avenue in New York City, and Lila Alliger (his mom), who wrote The Ladies of the White House, which is in The National Library of Congress in Washington, DC. He had three brothers: Herbert, Fredrick (who went by Eric), and Mortimer. He went to the University of Columbia in New York. He did not have enough money to get a degree in college, so he took appropriate classes in architecture. When he got out of school he worked for a private architect in Denver, Colorado. Then he took an exam to see if he would qualify for the chief architect of The United States of America and he passed! He worked in the Office of the Supervising Architect of the Treasury, and he designed many things all over the world. A few of the things were for Fort Knox and the Federal Triangle. He designed post offices throughout the U.S., including Denver, Colorado and in Anchorage, Alaska. He met the emperor of Ethiopia, Emperor Haile Selassie. He helped him pick a spot for a hospital they were about to design and build. My great grandfather had two kids with his wife, Winifred. They were named Barbra and Beverly. He ate ice cream every night before he went to bed and once ate 102 small pancakes! Sadly, he died on April 20, 1994. All in all, he had a wonderful life, was a great architect and excellent great grandfather to me.
What a great man! He is my hero because of how good he was at his job! He inspires me to do and be just like him. I admire him because after World War II he designed homes for sick and wounded soldiers. He also designed hospitals in Europe and the Middle East. Because of all these great things he did, he is my hero and always will be!
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Written by
Natalie from Laguna Beach
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| Argelia Rivas de Prom is a champion tennis player who inspires her granddaughter. | Aro Bindo Erawoc is a hero to his daughter, Amani. | Art Miki founded the National Association for Japanese Canadians to help redress Japanese rights lost during WWII. | Betty Rommetvedt Zagel is a caring mother and grandmother and continues to use her gifts to give to others |
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| Calista M. Pierce makes and sells crafts to raise money for the Special Olympics. | Catherine Malonza saved her brother's life. | Cathie Campbell is raising three daughters on her own and works with autistic children | Charles Cotton encourages his daughter to work at her dreams. |
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| Chi Nguyen was honored for helping street children in Vietnam. | Clint L. Hines inspires his granddaughter with his humility, compassion and faith. | Clyde Briley inspires his granddaughter to make a difference in the world. | Curtis Cornish is an Army medic who has devoted his life to helping others. |
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| Dad taught us about integrity, friendship, and putting in 100% of ourselves in anything we take on. | Dan & Amy Eldon are not only Kathy Eldon's children; they are also her heroes. | Danielle has saved her sister time and again. | David L. Kaplan is like a father to Becky Weitzman. |
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| David Lissak helped teens get back into school and will be missed by his family. | David T. Kauffman is a brave soldier whose stepson, Caleb, considers a true father. | Denise Buchner is a hero to her son, Oliver, because she helps people in Third World countries. | Derwin and Tori gave Ian, and other kids, a chance at a better life. |
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| Dick Hoyt is a dedicated Dad who breaks down barriers to his son's disability. | Doris Marie Swords Poppler inspired her granddaughter with her community activism. | Dwayne Johnson is a role model for his proud younger brother, Kevin. | Earl E. Dyer, Jr. is a brave hero to his daughter, Samya. |
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| Erika is a hero to her father, Eddie Becker. | Ernest Jones, Sr. is admired by his granddaughter for having ''birthed a generation of leaders.'' | Etshteyn Michael was a Russian opera singer and his granddaughter's hero. | Family and Friends A first grade class from New York tell us about their family heroes. |
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| FAMOUS FATHERS who created something great. | FAMOUS MOTHERS who created something great. | FATHER FIGURES can be a friend or teacher or even the neighborhood grocer. | Fathers are heroes too! |
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| Fred Fraundorfer is a hero to his grandson, Cory. | Gatha N. Hegwood was a hero to her grandchild, Rebekah | George Ritter von Trapp with courage and wit defended his family and country. | Gerda Weissmann Klein is a Holocaust survivor and a hero to her great-great niece. |
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| Grace I. Croft Montgomery Kelly inspired her granddaughter to return to college in her forties to earn her degree. | Graham Hartley Woolfall was an accomplished architect who is admired and loved by his great granddaughter. | Harry N. Frenchak is the greatest man his son has ever known. | Hj. I.Rochmah was a beloved single mother who raised 13 children. |
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| Hoang V. Vu never gives up; he knows there is always hope and teaches his daughter that 'Every little thing helps!' | Ivan Babak is a hardworking immigrant father from Ukraine who helped build a caring and sharing community. | James John Christenson Jr. is a life-saving firefighter and a kindhearted, loving, stepfather. | James Scott Bryar also known as Uncle Bub is hero to Tabor. |
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| Jason Carpenter is a hero to his sister because of his strength, attitude and bravery in recovering from open heart surgery. | Jeni Stepanek is an ambassador for Muscular Dystrophy who continues to spread her son Mattie's message of peace. | Jennifer Porter is a hero to her daughter, Stephanie, because of the way she humbly cares for her family and others. | Jill Pyle is a teacher, a community volunteer, and a hero to Sammy. |
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| Jillian inspires her sister, Rachel, with her courage and compassion. | Jim Coplin inspires his friend, Shauna, by the way he lives his life. | Joe Pinkerton is a hero to his daughter because he invents things that make the world a better place. | John Fowler is a beloved father with a true spirit for adventure. |
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| Joneice proved how strong a kid can be to her sister, Kia. | José Antonio Knight Hernández is tireless reporter and editor, a dedicated father, and a loving husband. | Joseph Marcel Shook Jr. is a compassionate community leader and a hero to his son, Joseph. | Karla Diane Hurrell and her husband have fostered over 150 children. |
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| Kathy Eldon inspired by her son, works for peace and tolerance. | Kathy Fettke is a hero to her daughter for her inspiring work. | Kelly Barnhill inspires her daughter with her commitment to help children with developmental disorders. | Kristie Porta is a friend and mentor to Nathaniel. |
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| Lady Bird Johnson inspired her great-granddaughter with her kindness and care for the environment. | Lewis E. Seeley was an inspiration to his great-nephew, for his bravery and sense of humor. | Linda Hart is her granddaughter Rachel's role model in life. | Lindsay Leigh Kimmett inspires her cousin to live life to the fullest and never stop growing. |
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| Linh Le provides for, protects, and loves his wife and his admiring son, Danny. | Lyndon B. Johnson was John's great grandfather and the 36th President of the United States. | Mahsuda Ali is admired by her daughter for being brave, kind and caring. | Marija Intihar taught her granddaughter the importance of optimism and love |
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| Mark Richard Casagrande bravely battled cancer and was his daughter's hero. | Matthew C. Bausch wants to build a physical therapy facility. | Matthew D. Cohen rescued his brother in a peaceful way. | Matthew Renna is a magical wood carver who inspires his family. |
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| Michael James Lachtrup has taught his daughter to see the beauty and goodness in the world around her. | Mothers of all kinds are heroes. | My Father, Arthur Newman Actor, businessman, philanthropist Paul Newman on his dad. | My Grandma teaches her grandchildren that hard work and courage can help them overcome difficult times. |
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| My Mom, Christine raised three kids as a single mother and helps women and children escape abuse and violence | My Mom, Michelle helped her family cope and stick together through difficult times | My Sister: Jennifer Bird Women's basketball star Sue Bird talks about her sister and her hero: Jen Bird | Natalie Darwitz is an Olympic hockey champion who inspires her cousin with her perseverance and leadership skills. |
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| Oscar R. Ortiz is a devoted family man who became a minister and now helps the poor. | Papa Lloyd did not let his blindness keep him from serving his community. | Patrick and Angie Palmer are heroes to the young hero, Amber | Paul Confiant is a loving and caring father to his son, P.J. |
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| Paula Watson is a role model to her granddaughter, Missy. | Peter E. Franz has worked very hard to become who he is today, and is his daughter's hero. | Phyllis Utircia Simmons is an inspiration to her daughter, Miriam | Piet Kroon is a talented Dutch filmmaker and devoted dad. |
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| Rachel Schloesser inspires her younger sister with her upbeat attitude and positive outlook on life. | Raja Weksler helped her daughter survive in a concentration camp. | Richard Lou Ellert is his son, Jesse's, hero. | Robert E. Kimura, M.D. is a hero to his niece in and out of the operating room. |
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| Robert Edward Doherty was an WWII veteran, a noted historian and author, and a beloved father, husband, grandfather, and friend. | Rose Marie Thomas donated time and effort to combatting childhood catastrophic diseases. | Ruth Kaminsky Michele's great grandmother escaped terrible tragedy and danger in Poland and created a new life for herself in Canada. | Sadie Dunn is an inspiring role model as a teacher and great-grandmother. |
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| Shannon Holloway is admired by his grandson because he always helped people and had a positive outlook on life. | Sharon Snyder is a role model, friend, and a constant source of strength, encouragement, and help. | Shequitta Kelly inspires her daughter with her accomplishments and her outreach to teens. | Steven Sadicario is admired by his son for his work ethic and the way he finds time to spend with his family. |
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| Susan Ence is committed to giving full-time care to her husband, who was left paralyzed after an accident. | Therese Koutnik is an inspiration to her sister and a role model for girls who would like to become engineers. | Thomas Victor Cordiner is a devoted and loving father to his daughter, Sara. | Tom Theurkauf is loved, honored and remembered by his family. |
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| Tommy Keith treated Matt as his own son and taught him the value of kindness and integrity. | Wati Herlina Bolga Hasli, My Mother teachers her daughet to have confidence in herself and do her best. | William Warren Bradley Former senator Bill Bradley on his father. | Zach's Grandmother Myra is an example for others trying to lose weight and care for their health |
Last changed on:6/30/2007
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