A lifelong resident of Prospect Park, Pa., Halus J. Ewing, passed away on April 23, 2012, at the age of 85. He was a former Delaware County Daily Times advertising director and retired vice president of Construction Equipment Guide (CEG) of Fort Washington, Pa.
The son of the late Halus and Charlotte Ewing, Mr. Ewing was a graduate of Prospect Park High School, class of 1944, and the editor of the school alumni newsletter. He graduated from Penn State University in 1951 and belonged to Theta XI social fraternity and Alpha Delta Sigma, an honorary advertising fraternity. A passionate Penn State fan, Mr. Ewing attended many football games at State College in the years after his graduation, often flying in on game day in a private plane piloted by one of his friends.
A newspaper man his whole life, Mr. Ewing began his career at CEG in 1979, after leaving the Delaware County Daily Times. He immediately made a positive impact.
“When Hal [Ewing] took charge in sales and assisted in editorial, CEG made sensational gains,” said Ed McKeon, founder of CEG.
Mr. Ewing brought structure to CEG, helping it grow and evolve into a leader in construction publishing.
“Above all, Hal [Ewing] was hard-working and passionate about his work at CEG and I’ll always appreciate that,” McKeon recalled.
Mr. Ewing also made many friends during his career at CEG. Sales (especially in the construction industry) is about relationships and Mr. Ewing forged many long-lasting friendships with the advertisers with whom he worked and his colleagues.
Mr. Ewing was a loyal, dedicated and committed man, which extended to everything he did, personally and professionally. When Mr. Ewing said he was going to do something, he did it. That applied even to his retirement from CEG. Mr. Ewing was known to declare around the CEG office that he had no intention of working past the age of 65. Though he loved work, he loved his wife, Hope, and his time with his family boundlessly. On the day of his 65th birthday, he shook hands with his co-workers and retired on the spot.
Upon his retirement from CEG in 1992, Mr. Ewing was named Vice President Emeritus and continued to assist CEG staff in an advisory role. On the occasion he would come into CEG on deadline days, he would stride in carrying his old briefcase — which, when he worked full-time would contain work orders, sales contacts and story ideas — now held the day’s newspaper and perhaps a few issues of some non-construction related publications. After all, he was serious about retirement.
Mr. Ewing was a lifelong member of St. James Episcopal Church, where he served in many capacities, including vestryman, Sunday School teacher, treasurer, lay reader, chalice bearer and building fund treasurer.
He was an accomplished bowler (once bowling a perfect 300 game) and bowled in many leagues in the Delaware County area, winning many tournaments. In the American Bowling Congress singles championships (U.S. National Championship) held in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1962 he bowled a terrific 719 but came up short by only one pin. This achievement would have made the front page of Philadelphia newspaper sports sections if not for something else that happened that same night: Wilt Chamberlin scored 100 points against the New York Knicks in Hershey, Pa. Those were more than enough points to bump Mr. Ewing off the front page, something he’d be jokingly reminded of for years by people who knew him.
Mr. Ewing was a World War II veteran, having served in the western Pacific on the island of Guam and Saipan. He received the WWII Victory Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
Aside from bowling, he enjoyed vegetable gardening and watching his children and grandchildren play sports. He enjoyed traveling with his wife and especially liked the New Jersey shore; Cape Cod, Mass.; and Cape Coral, Fla.
Survivors include his wife of 48 years Hope (Falout) Ewing; daughter Dawn (Stephen) Mattaliano of Milton, Mass; son David (Kimberly) Ewing; and seven grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. James Episcopal Church, 11th Ave., Prospect Park, Pa., 19076. CEG
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