WELLSVILLE -- A man with a mission, inspired and fired by the tragedy that
struck his own home, paused in his visits to large cities and contacts with
extensive corporations and agencies, to visit his native Montgomery County 
over the weekend.  H. Eames Bishop came here from Washington University,
St. Louis, when he had lectured on his favorite subject, "Amyotrophic
Lateral Sclerosis", known as the "Lou Gehrig Disease".  He was a houseguest
of his brother, Bill Bishop, at St. Peters, Mo., and visited his aunt on 
his mother's side, Mrs. Inez Gliser, of Montgomery City, on her 90th 
birthday.

  On Sunday, Eames was honored with a family dinner at the MFA Cafe, New
Florence.  His uncle, Howell Bishop, 91, of Wellsville, and 12 of 17 first
cousins living in Missouri, were present to visit with him.

  One cousin, Mrs. Barbara Fort of Wellsville, gives this report of the
gathering.

  "The afternoon started with a tape recording from Roy C. Bishop, St.
Petersburg, Fla., sending love and best wishes to all and especially to his
brother, Howell.  (Roy, 96, the father of Eames, and Howell, 91, are the
last of nine sons of the late Sam C. and Alice Hayden Bishop.)  On the same
tape were greetings from Leola Bishop, the eldest grandchild, daughter of
Wilford (Bill) and Mary Bishop, deceased, to cousins, brothers and Uncle
Howell.  the tape, made in St. Petersburg, Fla., on Wednesday, July 21, was
much enjoyed.

  "In return, a tape was made to Uncle Roy and Leola from the first cousins
and brothers.  Also a card of cheer was signed by all for first cousin,
Imogene Coleman, of Jonesburg, a patient in Boone County Hospital.

  "Eames gave an informative talk on his wife's illness which started him
on his ALS career.  Shortly after a visit to Missouri in 1972, Mary Frances
Bishop became ill.  At first she fell, started dropping things, lost
control of her muscles and became bedfast.  The doctors gave her three years
to live.  Through the constant love and care of her family and her husband's
determination to fight the disease, she lived for nine years.  Her only 
communication was batting her eyes.  Her death was attributed to a stroke.

  "Present at the gathering on Sunday were Howell Bishop, Wellsville;
Marlene Bishop, Montgomery City, only remaining daughter-in-law in the
first generation;  Sam and Virginia Bishop, Mineola;  Wilford Bishop, 
Wendell and Dorothy Bishop, Montgomery City;  Bill and Tommy Bishop of
St. Peters;  Edna Miller, Bellflower;  Harry Sam and Dee Bishop, Mildred
and Bill Fipps, Virginia and William Crouch, Barbara and George Fort,
Wellsville;
 
 "Nellie and Clinton Frost, Mrs. Clark Bishop, Florissant;  Sarah Melissa
Bishop, Montgomery City, daughter of Calvin of Alaska;  Alice and Don 
Brockman and daughters, daughter and granddaughters of Clark Bishop;  
Mr. and Mrs. Dave Bishop and sons, Jonesburg, grandsons of Harry Bishop, 
deceased.  Mr. Barbara Harrelson and daughter of New Hartford, daughter 
of Angie Ruth Bishop Worrell, deceased.

  "Also present were Chromer and Wilma Gliser Smith and Don Gliser of
Montgomery City, cousins of Eames Bishop on his mother's side."

	H. Eames Bishop, who worked for a pharmaceutical company before
his wife's unexpected illness, received its blessing in his efforts to
find a cure or remission to the crippling Lou Gehrig's disease.  For the 
past nine years he has contacted doctors, hospitals, research centers,
companies, corporations and individuals.  A few years ago, a magazine,
"Accent on Living", reported a compliment to Mr. Bishop from the ALS
Research Foundation, Inc., of Milwaukee, Wis., "His efforts during the
past few years have, I suspect, accomplished more for concerted efforts
directed against ALS than any other individual effort in the past
generation".  The Milwaukee group was formed after the wife of 
Allis-Chalmers Corps. president died of ALS.

  The ALS Society of America (ALSSOA) of which Eames Bishop is national
president, has as its slogan, "People Helping People" and has a membership
of around 45,000 families in its constituency.  Its goal is to find a cure
for ALS through medical research, and until that happy day, advise and
educate ALS patients and their physicians on how best to cope with the
disabling symptoms of the disease.  It is governed by a prestigious
Board of Trustees from all regions of the United States.  It is operated 
by a small staff and supported by thousands of volunteers worldwide.
Its chief executive officer (H. Eames Bishop), whose wife had ALS, works
full time without compensation.  It meets the requirements of all major
non-profit accrediting agencies.

  The disease is a devastating motor neuron disease which in most cases
totally paralyzes its victims;  and unless heroic defenses are utilized,
is usually terminal within three to five years.  At present there is no
cure but symptomatic treatment may prolong the course of the disease.

  ALS is not a rare disease since it affects more people than does
Muscular Dystrophy and is about equal in incidence to Multiple Sclerosis.

  It mostly attacks mature individuals between the ages of 40 and 70, 
although it has been known to strike all age groups, even babies.

  Men are affected about twice as often as women.

  The "Alssoan" is a publication that gives hope to victims and families. 
It reports and shows pictures of what is being done and prints letters 
from many different countries as well as from the U.S.  Communication
devices are being invented.  In the Summer 1982 issue, H. Eames Bishop 
is shown demonstrating the "Etran" for use by those who have speech
difficulties.  The same issue tells of a Board of Trustees meeting that
opened with a special homage to Mary Frances Bishop;  and a picture of
Robert C. Bishop, Ph.D., a son of Eames, recently elected to the Board
of Trustees.  The younger Bishop, according to the publication, "brings
considerable expertise in scientific analysis and procedures" with a degree
in biochemistry and experience in research laboratories in coagulation-
hematology and other services.

  Besides his wife's illness to spur him on, Eames Bishop had a special
interest in the famous ballplayer, Lou Gehrig, ALS victim.  His uncle,
Jim Bishop, played national league baseball and was a personal friend
of Lou and Babe Ruth.