| Shrine's Most Famous Photo |
No doubt you've seen the popular cartoon of the Shriner carrying the crippled girl (above
left). What many people don't know is that it is based on an actual photo taken at an event
in 1970 (above right). It is Randy Dieter's original photo of Shriner Al Hortman (formerly of
Evansville, Indiana, now living in Georgia), carrying a girl named Bobbi Jo Wright. The
older girl on the left in the photo is Hortman's daughter, Laura, who was a patient at
Shriners Hospital in St. Louis. After Laura began receiving treatment at Shriners Hospitals
For Children, Hortman himself joined the Shrine.
left). What many people don't know is that it is based on an actual photo taken at an event
in 1970 (above right). It is Randy Dieter's original photo of Shriner Al Hortman (formerly of
Evansville, Indiana, now living in Georgia), carrying a girl named Bobbi Jo Wright. The
older girl on the left in the photo is Hortman's daughter, Laura, who was a patient at
Shriners Hospital in St. Louis. After Laura began receiving treatment at Shriners Hospitals
For Children, Hortman himself joined the Shrine.
The photo known as the "Editorial Without Words" is probably one of the best recognized
symbols of Shriners Hospitals, yet it was taken almost by accident. Randy Dieter, the
photographer, recalled that in 1970, he had been on assignment covering Hadi Temple's
annual outing for handicapped children at the now-defunct Mesker Amusement Park in
Evansville, Indiana.
"I was taking shots of the midway and was using my telephoto lens," Dieter said. "I saw a
local Shriner walking by carrying a little girl in one hand and her crutches in the other. My
camera wouldn't fire. Then they were too close for my lens. I ran past them, but the
camera jammed. I had to take my last shot as they walked by. It was the end of the roll. If I
had to think about it, I wouldn't have come up with something like that. Fate guides you."
"It still seems unreal," said Bobbi Jo Wright, the little girl in the photo. "I have many
wonderful memories of the years I was a patient at the St. Louis Shriners Hospital and
remember all the fun activities. I was born with cerebral palsy, which resulted in many
orthopedic problems that made walking difficult. I had many surgeries at the St. Louis
Hospital. They greatly improved my ability to walk."
Bobbi Jo received her B.A. in English from Anderson University. She is active in her
church and teaches Sunday School. "I use a cane when I go shopping," she said. "If I'm
walking on grassy areas, I use crutches."
Today, the famous photo is an integral part of the Shriners Hospitals logo, and has been
reproduced on stained-glass windows, mosaics, tie tacs, pins, and in statues. A
larger-than-life replica of the "Editorial Without Words" stands outside the International
Shrine Headquarters building in Tampa. Photographer Randy Dieter presently serves as
graphics editor for the Kentucky Post.
symbols of Shriners Hospitals, yet it was taken almost by accident. Randy Dieter, the
photographer, recalled that in 1970, he had been on assignment covering Hadi Temple's
annual outing for handicapped children at the now-defunct Mesker Amusement Park in
Evansville, Indiana.
"I was taking shots of the midway and was using my telephoto lens," Dieter said. "I saw a
local Shriner walking by carrying a little girl in one hand and her crutches in the other. My
camera wouldn't fire. Then they were too close for my lens. I ran past them, but the
camera jammed. I had to take my last shot as they walked by. It was the end of the roll. If I
had to think about it, I wouldn't have come up with something like that. Fate guides you."
"It still seems unreal," said Bobbi Jo Wright, the little girl in the photo. "I have many
wonderful memories of the years I was a patient at the St. Louis Shriners Hospital and
remember all the fun activities. I was born with cerebral palsy, which resulted in many
orthopedic problems that made walking difficult. I had many surgeries at the St. Louis
Hospital. They greatly improved my ability to walk."
Bobbi Jo received her B.A. in English from Anderson University. She is active in her
church and teaches Sunday School. "I use a cane when I go shopping," she said. "If I'm
walking on grassy areas, I use crutches."
Today, the famous photo is an integral part of the Shriners Hospitals logo, and has been
reproduced on stained-glass windows, mosaics, tie tacs, pins, and in statues. A
larger-than-life replica of the "Editorial Without Words" stands outside the International
Shrine Headquarters building in Tampa. Photographer Randy Dieter presently serves as
graphics editor for the Kentucky Post.
| "No Man Stands So Tall As When He Stoops To Help A Child" |
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