1957 — May 20, tornado, KS/6 & KC MO suburbs/33, esp. Hickman Mills-Ruskin Heights–39-44

–48 Ludlum. The American Weather Book. 1982, p. 93.
–44 Brewer, Carolyn Glenn. Caught in the Path… 1997, listing backside of Table of Contents.
–39 death toll first 48-hours
— 5 died from their tornado related injuries over the years. (See listing below.)
–44 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, pp. 507, 1007.
–40 Euston. “Remembering the Ruskin Heights Tornado 60 Years Later.” New Santa Fe Trailer.
–36 Jefferson City Post-Tribune, MO. “36 Persons Listed Dead…,” May 21, 1957, p. 1.

Kansas:
–07 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, pp. 507, 1007.
–06 Euston. “Remembering the Ruskin Heights Tornado 60 Years Later.” New Santa Fe Trailer.

Missouri:
–37 Jefferson City Post-Tribune, MO. “Blair Seeks Federal Aid,” May 22, 1957, 1
–33 Brewer, Carolyn Glenn. Caught in the Path… 1997, listing backside of Table of Contents.
–33 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, pp. 507, 1007.

State not noted:
–01 Brewer, Carolyn Glenn. Caught in the Path… 1997, listing backside of Table of Contents.

Narrative Information

Grazulis: “KS-MO May 20, 1957, 18:15, 44k, 531inj, 700y, 171m, F5. Franklin/Miami/Johnson [counties], KS. Jackson [county] MO. Moved ENE from 2m SW of Williamsburg, Kansas to 2m NE of Knobtown, Missouri

“In Kansas, the funnel passed 2m NE of Ottawa, 5m S of Wellsville, and along the north edge of Spring Hill….seven people were killed and 31 injured, with many homes leveled and many reports of multiple vortices. Two deaths occurred as a farm was leveled to the ground SE of Ottawa. Other houses were leveled north of Rantoul. Five deaths occurred near Spring Hill, four of them in one family that was fleeing their house and heading for the car. A possible break in the tornado path occurred south of Wellsville, Kansas, with at least 50 miles being a single continuous tornado.” (Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 1007.)

“In Missouri, the tornado produced 37 deaths and at least 500 injuries as it passed through and devastated Kansas City suburbs. Ripped apart were the south side of Martin City and large parts of Ruskin Heights and Hickman Mills. F5 damage was done to housing developments, and to some of the 15 stores at a shopping center. About 842 homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed. A cancelled check from Hickman Mills was found at Ottumwa, Iowa, 165 miles away. Pilots reported debris at an altitude of 30,000 feet.” (Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 1007.)

Newspapers

May 21: “Kansas City (AP) — The year’s deadliest tornado thus far slashed across Kansas City’s southern outskirts at sundown yesterday, leaving 36 dead and more than 209 injured m its 80-mile path. Injured were still being dug out of wreckage today. Search for additional possible continued.

“Martial law was declared in the Ruskin Heights-Hickman Mills area to expedite relief work, stop looting and keep out the curious.

“The death toll” included 29 in the Kansas City suburbs, 4 at Spring Hill, Kan., and 2 at Ottawa, Kan., where the storm began as a hop-skip scourge.

“Greatest loss of life apparently was in a new shopping center at the mushrooming Ruskin Heights subdivision….

“…the casualty lists were kept low by the advance warnings given repeatedly by radio and television that a severe blow was to be expected. The first warning of storm conditions was issued by the U.S. Weather Bureau early in the afternoon. Kansas City was pinpointed as a possible target about 6 p.m. and broadcasts were given almost continuously as the Weather Bureau picked up funnel after funnel, including the one that struck Ruskin Heights. Scores of those rescued from the basements and other demolished homes told rescuers they had taken shelter and followed the safety precautions heard on the broadcasts and telecasts.

“At least 156 persons were in hospitals today…

“An aerial inspection of the suburban area today showed the storm cut a path some 300 yards wide straight through Ruskin Heights, a collection of homes in the moderate-price bracket. Everything in the primary area appeared leveled, with damage extending on a diminishing scale on each side of the area. An estimated 100 homes over a six to eight block path were demolished and hundreds of others suffered varying degrees of damage.” (Jefferson City Post-Tribune (MO). “36 Persons Listed Dead as Tornado Blasts Through Southern Outskirts of Kansas City; Injuries to 200, May 21, 1957, 1.)

May 21: “Kansas City (AP) – ‘Looting was terrible.’ Such was the report of Joe Connors, a deputy coroner, among the first to reach the tornado damaged shopping center at Ruskin Heights last night. ‘People were taking goods from the drug store and supermarket, all they could lay their hands on,’ he said. ‘One man was carrying out a cash register’.” (Jefferson City Post-Tribune. “Looting ‘Terrible’ During K.S. Tornado,” May 21, 1957, 10.)

May 22: “Kansas City (AP) – Disaster workers totaled up today this toll from the tornado which hacked across Kansas City’s suburbs Monday night: 37 dead. 156 still in hospitals. 418 homes destroyed, 470 damaged. 44 business houses destroyed, 75 damaged. Gov. James T. Blair asked for 25 million dollars in federal relief funds to clear away the wreckage and restore streets, highways, schools, water and sewer systems.” (Jefferson City Post-Tribune, MO. “Blair Seeks Federal Aid,” May 22, 1957, p.1.)

Brewer Listing of Fatalities (we list alphabetically by last name, state, locality):
(Ages/additional name from Euston.)
1. Davis, Barbara 31 Spring Hill Kansas
2. Davis, Isham 34 Spring Hill Kansas
3. Davis, Pamela 7 Spring Hill Kansas
4. Davis, Tamera 5 Spring Hill Kansas
5. Marsh, James A. 84 Ottawa Kansas
6. Marsh, Mrs. J.A. (Amma), 78 Ottawa Kansas

1. Hinton (Henton?), Edward S., 50 Grandview (south of Hickman Mills, MO) Missouri
2. McGill, Randall Grandview Missouri
3. Vinckier, Joseph 78 Grandview Missouri

4. Davis, Mrs. Cornelia 25 Hickman Mills (south of Kansas City, MO) Missouri
5. Davis, Katherine Sue 7 Hickman Mills Missouri
6. Erwin, Gladys 54 Hickman Mills Missouri
7. Hower, John 9 Hickman Mills (Was visiting there.) Missouri
8. Hower, Marjorie Wackernagle, 31 Hickman Mills Missouri
9. Hower, Oral Glenn 35 Hickman Mills Missouri
10. Leopold, Dorothy Lavonne, 31 Hickman Mills Missouri
11. Leopold, Harold Keith, 11 Hickman Mills Missouri
12. Rucker, Gerald 41 Hickman Mills Missouri
13. Rucker, Lena B. 39 Hickman Mills Missouri
14. Stewart, Linda Sue 3 mo. Hickman Mills Missouri
15. Taylor, Caroline Kay 3 Hickman Mills Missouri
16. Taylor, Gladys Marie 49 Hickman Mills Missouri

17. Atkinson, Lowell 43 Martin City (west of Grandview, MO) Missouri
18. Smith, Margaret Erlene, 24 Martin City Missouri

19. Gabbert, Henry 71 Raytown Road (NE of Hickman Mills south) Missouri
20. Gabbert, Maybelle 73 Raytown Road (NE of Hickman Mills south) Missouri

21. Smith, Bessie Knorpp 50 Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base vicinity Missouri

22. Arman, Catherine 31 Ruskin Heights (south of Hickman Mills) Missouri
23. Boyd, Diane (Diana?) *7 Ruskin Heights Missouri
24. Dorris, Jeanette Nelson, 79 Ruskin Heights Missouri
25. Frechette, Arthur 80 Ruskin Heights, northeast of Missouri
26. Johnston, Charles L. 36 Ruskin Heights Missouri
27. Nehring, Maxine 30 Ruskin Heights Missouri
28. Thompson, Charles C 50 Ruskin Heights, south of Missouri
29. Timm, Mrs. Hester 38 Ruskin Heights (also listed as Raytown) Missouri
30. Woodling, Carolyn Denise, 3 Ruskin Heights Missouri
31. Yost, Robert W. Jr. 9 Ruskin Heights Missouri

32. Guyll, Alta D. 41 (or 44) Ruskin High School Missouri
33. Kildow, George 45 Ruskin High School (Also noted as Hickman Mills) MO
34. Magill, Randall 3 mo. State and locality not noted (in Euston)

*Blanchard note. Euston does not show a Diane Boyd. She does show Diane Marie Rossi, 7.

Sources

Brewer, Carolyn Glenn. Caught in the Path: A Tornado’s Fury, A Community’s Rebirth. Kansas City, MO: Prairie Fugue Books, Leathers Publishing, 1997.

Euston, Diane. “Remembering the Ruskin Heights Tornado 60 Years Later.” The New Santa Fe Trailer. Accessed 2-27-2023 at: https://newsantafetrailer.blogspot.com/2017/05/remembering-ruskin-heights-tornado-60.html

Grazulis, Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, VE: Environmental Films, 1993, 1,326 pages.

Jefferson City Post-Tribune, MO. “36 Persons Listed Dead as Tornado Blasts Through Southern Outskirts of Kansas City; Injuries to 200, May 21, 1957, 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=101237195

Jefferson City Post-Tribune, MO. “Blair Seeks Federal Aid,” May 22, 1957, 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=101237202

Jefferson City Post-Tribune, MO. “Looting ‘Terrible’ During K.S. Tornado,” May 21, 1957, p.10. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=89936785

Ludlum, David M. The American Weather Book. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1982.

Sedalia Democrat, MO. “Additions To Fatalities And Injured List.” 5-22-1957, p. 8. Accessed 2-27-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/sedalia-democrat-may-22-1957-p-8/