At the time of his death, Roger Lally was the commander of Sonora's Smyth-Bolter post of the American Legion and art student at Columbia College. He had served three years in the Marine Corps and earned four purple hearts while in Vietnam. He organized the Mountain Times newspaper and drew many of its front covers. He participated in the Pinecrest drama workshop.
Lally was born in Chicago, and after serving in the Marines, he lived in Monterey, California. Then in the spring of 1970, he moved to Tuolumne County to attend college.
Lally was apparently killed instantly when his motorcycle ran off the road shortly after midnight Sunday, October 3, 1971, in Twain Harte. He had attended a party at a home about 300 yards from the scene of his accident, but he was not missed until Monday morning when he did not show up to class. He had spoken of following his girlfriend who had just left the party and of riding his motorcycle over Sonora Pass, so no one knew exactly where they should look.
It was unlike Lally to miss class, which worried his friends to the point that class was dismissed and a search began. However, it was not until Friday, October 8, when an extensive aerial search involving four pilots was about to begin that word was received that his body had been found.
Lally's motorcycle was spotted by two high school boys on their way to the bus stop. He had plunged 30 feet down an embankment from Joaquin Gully Road. His body was found in the brush.
He was survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Lally of Barrington, Illinois, and by a sister and two brothers. He was also survived by two children who were both infants at the time of his death.
Bio contributed by Patricia Azevedo Mohr
Lally was born in Chicago, and after serving in the Marines, he lived in Monterey, California. Then in the spring of 1970, he moved to Tuolumne County to attend college.
Lally was apparently killed instantly when his motorcycle ran off the road shortly after midnight Sunday, October 3, 1971, in Twain Harte. He had attended a party at a home about 300 yards from the scene of his accident, but he was not missed until Monday morning when he did not show up to class. He had spoken of following his girlfriend who had just left the party and of riding his motorcycle over Sonora Pass, so no one knew exactly where they should look.
It was unlike Lally to miss class, which worried his friends to the point that class was dismissed and a search began. However, it was not until Friday, October 8, when an extensive aerial search involving four pilots was about to begin that word was received that his body had been found.
Lally's motorcycle was spotted by two high school boys on their way to the bus stop. He had plunged 30 feet down an embankment from Joaquin Gully Road. His body was found in the brush.
He was survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Lally of Barrington, Illinois, and by a sister and two brothers. He was also survived by two children who were both infants at the time of his death.
Bio contributed by Patricia Azevedo Mohr
At the time of his death, Roger Lally was the commander of Sonora's Smyth-Bolter post of the American Legion and art student at Columbia College. He had served three years in the Marine Corps and earned four purple hearts while in Vietnam. He organized the Mountain Times newspaper and drew many of its front covers. He participated in the Pinecrest drama workshop.
Lally was born in Chicago, and after serving in the Marines, he lived in Monterey, California. Then in the spring of 1970, he moved to Tuolumne County to attend college.
Lally was apparently killed instantly when his motorcycle ran off the road shortly after midnight Sunday, October 3, 1971, in Twain Harte. He had attended a party at a home about 300 yards from the scene of his accident, but he was not missed until Monday morning when he did not show up to class. He had spoken of following his girlfriend who had just left the party and of riding his motorcycle over Sonora Pass, so no one knew exactly where they should look.
It was unlike Lally to miss class, which worried his friends to the point that class was dismissed and a search began. However, it was not until Friday, October 8, when an extensive aerial search involving four pilots was about to begin that word was received that his body had been found.
Lally's motorcycle was spotted by two high school boys on their way to the bus stop. He had plunged 30 feet down an embankment from Joaquin Gully Road. His body was found in the brush.
He was survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Lally of Barrington, Illinois, and by a sister and two brothers. He was also survived by two children who were both infants at the time of his death.
Bio contributed by Patricia Azevedo Mohr
Lally was born in Chicago, and after serving in the Marines, he lived in Monterey, California. Then in the spring of 1970, he moved to Tuolumne County to attend college.
Lally was apparently killed instantly when his motorcycle ran off the road shortly after midnight Sunday, October 3, 1971, in Twain Harte. He had attended a party at a home about 300 yards from the scene of his accident, but he was not missed until Monday morning when he did not show up to class. He had spoken of following his girlfriend who had just left the party and of riding his motorcycle over Sonora Pass, so no one knew exactly where they should look.
It was unlike Lally to miss class, which worried his friends to the point that class was dismissed and a search began. However, it was not until Friday, October 8, when an extensive aerial search involving four pilots was about to begin that word was received that his body had been found.
Lally's motorcycle was spotted by two high school boys on their way to the bus stop. He had plunged 30 feet down an embankment from Joaquin Gully Road. His body was found in the brush.
He was survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Lally of Barrington, Illinois, and by a sister and two brothers. He was also survived by two children who were both infants at the time of his death.
Bio contributed by Patricia Azevedo Mohr
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