European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 22, 1968, Darmstadt, Hesse                              The stars and stripes fog r lounge club gets general plaudits the club Entrance carries a Neon outline of Heidelberg Castle. By Bill Neal staff writer Heidelberg is Elshere at Patton Barracks say there s nothing like it an wherein Germany when talking about their newly renovated Patton lounge pm club. Gen. James h. Polk usar eur and seventh army com Mander in chief backs up this statement quite often by taking visiting dignitaries for a look atthe club s $50,000 remodelling Job. The whole idea was the brain child of a Sharp do it yourself custodian who launched a sort of Bootstrap Appeal to his patrons to help improve the Atmos phere of the club when he took Over two years ago. Sgt. . Alfred a. Reeves club custodian since june 1966, operates the e4 and below Dabolt a give Che Guys something for every Penny they spend and treat them just like old friends basis. The Patton lounge averages1,750 members who pay $1 a month for their club  card entitles the Mem Bers to one free meal monthly a Chance for a $10 door prize each night a free bottle of Cham pagne on their birthday and Happy hour from 5 to 7 . Nightly except sunday and holi Days Reeves said. Within four months after Reeves became custodian he had approval for his suggested changes and actually started work in renovating the Patton lounge. Oar membership was Lowland Many Patton Gas were spending their Money Down town instead of patronizing the dab which was like a barn Reeves said. A Jack of All trades Reeves personally supervised All the construction and1 renovating of the lounge with i volunteers help ing. They panelled the club through out with California Redwood new Wall to Wall fireproof carpeting was Laid a suspended sound proof ceiling was put in an heavy duty Clear Glass doors were installed throughout the club. A discotheque system including tape deck and record player was put in and the troops were invited to bring in the music they liked to hear. Next the club was completely rewired and a Rheostat Light dim Mer was put in for a modern indirect lighting system. The club was completely air conditioned and refurnished including Bourbon barrel chairs for the Stag lounge. Perhaps the most amazing thing about this whole remodel ing project was the fact we never closed the doors to our members said Reeves. The soldiers living on Post he continued began to see we were going to give them a Nice spot to relax so they started to help they wanted to be Parton the new club. If we contracted for All the work the Cost Wouldhave  according to Reeves after the first month of the renovation membership started to climb. Many Gas gave Reeves idea for improvements. Often while working at night i would be a Busl Ness is brisk at the bar area where the attire is informal and a wide variety of drinks is available and reasonable. A go go band Keew the dancers stepping. Right above sgt . Alfred Reeves and Carl Patrick who spins toe Platter. Is photo by Wayne Dixon preached by a Soldier who d say Sarge you should do it this Way or i think it would look Bette like  worthwhile suggestions we readopted. Ronald Lee formerly a Soldier at Heidelberg was first to Volun Teer to play requests at the Pat ton lounge discotheque. Lee who is now working Asa disc jockey in los Angeles still provides tapes of the Rock n Roll and soul music prefer red by members of the Pattone club. One of the most noticeable parts of the remodeler Patton lounge is the new Las vegas style stage with three protruding go go platforms and s t e to flights. Reeves who designed the stage primarily for the Zaras the club s top drawing six piece band from Spain said he lifted the idea from the Nevada nightspots. Reeves says his i me Bersback their club with an aver age nightly patronage of 250,and receipts of $750 to $1,000. He says plans for building Small 24-hour-a-Day snack shop in one of the club s Back rooms will have to be completed bythe next custodian since he i leaving for Saigon on sept. 22. Martha Gross a German civil Ian from Heidelberg is club manager at Patton lounge Over seeing the 50 other employees that include several soldiers and five dependent wives. Patton lounge seats about 500in the ballroom and 50 in the Stag lounge and opens at 5 .every Day except tuesday. It is open every Day from 11 . To1 . For lunch. Since the lounge has been re modelled the Post s or rate has been Cut 65 per cent which is the Best indication of How much the lower rated Gas i Heidelberg like their dub. Polk has indicated he likes the Way Patton lounge operates and expressed a desire that Otheree clubs in Europe take note of what Gas with a Little imagination and a lot of Effort have Dow