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Aksel Ebbeson was born Dec. 1, 1916 at Matsqui to Ben and Anna Ebbeson (who were Norwegian). Aksel's siblings included sisters Agnes (Herlihy) and Lillian and brothers Oswald and Aner [Sp?].He attended school in Matsqui and then the teacher training program at Vancouver Normal School 1935 - 36. He taught at Dewdney and Nicomen Island Schools before becoming principal at Deroche School. During WWII he served as an engine mechanic in the RCAF. He was also an early volunteer fire fighter in Langley City. In 1947, Ebbeson moved to Langley Prairie to run the 5¢ - $1 store until his retirement in 1982. During this time he played a leading role in the Junior Board of Trade and the Lions Club.

Bill McMillan was born on October 4, 1906 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. He became the prsident of the Chamber of Commerce in 1964 and was a Langley City alderman at some point, as he was re-elected in 1974-1976, securing council support for the extension of the Langley Centennial Library. He was the manager of Hendersons Funeral Home. Bill was an honorary member of Langley Memorial Hospital and a past-chairman of their board, a member of the Langley Kinsmen and the K-40 Club, the Masonic Lodge Eureka #103, the Langley Seniors Curling Club, and the Royal Arch Semiahmoo chapter #34. He had two daughters and a step-son. He died June 13, 1990.

Lily Hope was the president of the Fort Langley Circle of the Red Cross Drive during WWI.

James Howard Schatz was born in Delia, Alberta, February 29th, 1924. He came to Langley with his family in 1931, attending both Milner Elementary and Langley High School before going to UBC. Jim joined the Langley Advance staff as a reporter in 1947, but also wrote for The Province from 1947 - 1953. At the same time, Jim farmed in the Willoughby area, and on March 22, 1951, he married local school teacher Norma Helen Walters. The couple had four sons and two daughters - two sons and both daughters died of cystic fibrosis, leaving two sons, Allen (Joe) and Ian. Jim and George Johnson became co-owners of the Advance in 1958 when E. J. Cox retired and Fred Cox sold his interest in the paper while retaining his commercial printing part of the firm. Perhaps thanks to Jim, the Advance was one of the first papers outside of a metropolitan area to get a modern multilith press in 1947, soon followed by a Klischograph engraver for photos. While remaining a consistent presence in the newspaper world, Jim raised registered Shorthorn cattle, was the president and principal owner of Langley Travel Services Ltd. after 1972, and was a director of a group of businessmen that built Highland Village Mall. Jim Schatz died of a stroke February 4, 1990, at the age of 65.
Term Source: HPC Record (HPC-365/1134), Willoughby School Photos.