October 6, 2005

BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN Staff Reporter

As a boy growing up in Downstate Ottawa, John Drury often played with an Erector Set that belonged to his oldest brother, who was killed in World War II.

The legendary Chicago news anchor bought an identical set in 1992 to bring back childhood memories. Soon, he was collecting every A.C. Gilbert Erector Set, Mysto Magic Set and other classic toys he could get his hands on.

Drury, who was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease last year, is auctioning off his extensive personal collection of toys at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers this Sunday to help raise money for the Brain Research Foundation at the University of Chicago.

"He doesn't want other people to suffer like he's been suffering," said Frank Mathie, WLS-Channel 7 features reporter and Drury's former colleague. "He wants to find a cure."

All catalog sales at the auction, which is expected to raise $300,000 to $350,000, will go to the foundation, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers spokeswoman Julie Marcus said.

'The quality is just excellent'

A "sneak peek" preview party of the 528-piece collection, one of the largest and most valuable set of toys to be auctioned off in recent years, was held Wednesday at the auction house at 122 N. Aberdeen.

The 1927 A.C. Gilbert Erector Set that Drury, 78, bought in memory of his brother will not be auctioned off. It will be kept at the Wheaton home he shares with his wife, Antoinette.

The collection, which includes toys that date as far back as 1926, are unique because they still have all of their parts, Marcus said. Some pieces are still in their cellophane packages from nearly 80 years ago.

"Most of John's sets are pristine. The quality is just excellent," Drury's longtime friend and fellow collector Dave Blood said.

Drury used to keep his sets in a special room he would often frequent after he retired in 2002.

"One day, he turned to his wife and said, 'If I can't see them anymore, I should auction them off,' " Blood said.

Brain Research Foundation executive director Terre Sharma called Drury "courageous" for publicizing his battle with Lou Gehrig's disease, formally known as ALS or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

"It's a wonderful contribution," Sharma said of the newsman's decision to auction off his prized collection. "Even more than the contribution is the awareness [the Drurys are] generating. It's extremely important because it's such a devastating disease."

"He is a gentleman from a bygone era," Blood said of Drury.

Lou Gehrig's disease is a progressive and usually fatal degenerative diseases that attacks nerves and muscles.
 

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