The Baytown Sun (Baytown, Tex.), Vol. 63, No. 254, Ed. 1 Sunday, August 25, 1985 Page: 4 of 36
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Sunday, kugust 25, 1985
Sideline Slants
Thump pumps up
economy in Luling
Speedy trials
The first of at least five trials in the infamous family
spy ring alleged to have provided top secret U.S.
military information to the Soviet Union has ended with
conviction of Arthur James Walker, brother of John A.
Wjpdker Jr.; believed by the government to be the leader
of the ring. : *
It has been ojnJjna few weeks ago since’ the FBI an-
nounced it had penetrated the spy ring, and the govern-
ment should be commended for beginning prosecution
as quickly as it did.
Some past federal cases of the magnitude of the cur-
rent case languished too long in the courts before being
settled, making it much more difficult to prove the
governmehrs allegations.
A Norfolk, Va., U.S. district judge found Arthur
James Walker guilty of selling Navy secrets to the
Soviet Union in the case described by government offi-
cials as one of the most damaging in recent U.S. history.
Walker was convicted on seven charges he took
classified Navy documents from his defense contractor
employer and photographed them for his brother, John
_ , ... . This little office I’m sitting in here at The Baytown Sun has two
Presiding' Judge J. C&lvitt Clarke Jr. set Arthur doors and big plate glass window in front of me.
Better meet all
deadlines or..
James Walker’s
for Oct. 15 after hearing
sentencing f
four days of testimony. The trial of John A. Walker Jr. is
expected to take much longer because of his alleged
leadership role in the ring. John A. Walker’s trial is set
to begin Oct. 28 in Baltimore.
West Main event
It hasn’t been built yet but Mayor Emmett 0. Hutto
already has a name for the new West Main bridge.
During the Baytown City Council meeting Thursday,
the mayor dubbed it “Ted Kloesel’s Walkway.”
Hutto was referring to the many years that former
Councilman Kloesel crusaded for a walkway over the
West Main bridge. Kloesel, along with many other
Baytonians familiar with the narrow span over Goose
Creek stream, was concerned about the safety of
pedestrians and bicycle riders.
Now itf appears there not only is a walkway in the
future but a brand hew bridge as well, thanks to the
State Department of Highways and Public Transporta-
tion. In a survey of bridges, the department pinpointed
this “oldy-moldy” for replacement. The West Main
bridge, built in 1930, is ready to be tom down and replac-
ed with a new, strong structure — with a walkway.
That means that early in the morning I can watch reporters
gathering the news from Baytown and surrounding communities
evfery day.
Looking across'the newsroom I can see the managing editor’s of-
fice. My plate glass window is a porthole compared to the glass
across the Blue Room.
That’s what newsroom people say when they are referring to her
blue-painted office.
We refer to the publisher’s quarters on the other side of the
budding as the Oval Office. (Or the Brown Room.)
Meeting a deadline by a certain time in the morning in order to go
to press means exactly'What it says. Either have the day’s stories
finished and back to composing on time or you’re dead.
All of us are aware that a newspaper is a manufacturing plant that
makes a product, puts it together and runs it out to customers every
day. •
Unlike companies that sell things like milk and bread, we tear
down our product every day and completely rebuild a new one.
Waiting on the newspapers are carriers who fan out all over crea-
tion to make a daily delivery to their customers.
The only other people who perform this kind of service are people
delivering mail.
Hey, do I sound like I’m bragging about The Sun? Well, I am.
To be part of a team that sets out and accomplishes what a news-
paper does day in and day out is something to brag about.
Mistakes — certainly the paper has mistakes. When millions of
words are put together by people there are going to be people mis-
takes.
Understand, my friends, I’m bragging on the newsroom and the
circulation departments of The Baytown Sun.
If the advertising, composing, bookkeeping and press room people
want to brag, they can write their own column.
By PRESTON PENDERGRASS
FOr three days In June the peo-
ple of Luling (Caldwell County)
In South Central Texas stage
their annual Watermelon Thump
honoring growers and promoting
the lucrative melon market.
The “Thump,” held the last
week in June, has brought both
fame and fortune to Luling. It is
a summertime celebration look-
ed forward to with great en-
thusiasm by people of Luling,
rural Caldwell County and sur-
rounding areas.
The idea for a summertime
festival everyone could be proud
to take part in was conceived in
1954 by Luling Elementary
School Principal Herman Allen,
who was also serving as Lions
Club president.
Allen discussed the project
with community leaders who
joined together and sponsored a
contest for naming the o^lebra-
tion. The winner was Carroll
Ferguson, then a Luling High
senior who now lives in Overland
Park, Kan. The name she chose
was “Luling Watermelon
Thump.”, '
There are probably more
modern methods of determining
whether a watermelon is ripe,
but growers and others used to
be able to tell simply by thump-
ing a melon. Experienced
thqmpers seldom missed.
Allen served as chairman of
the first Thump, which was a
tremendous success. Highlights
were selection of a Thump
Queen, champion melon grower,
and a “seed spitting contest.” *
The champion melon contest
and auction brought winners
cash rewards. The highest price
ever paid for the champion
melon was $3,500 in 1983. A
record total of $19,300 was paid
for the top 18 melons auctioned
in 1980.
For several years the prize
melon was shipped to Art
Linkletter and was exhibited on
national television. In 1972, the
champion melon was presented
to Johnny Carson on his pro-
gram, and the 1981 champ was
sent to President Reagan.
Thump fame has spread far
and wide, thanks to colorful
media coverage, including
stories in National Geographic
Magazine and the New York
Times. Broad coverage has also
been given the festival by Cen-
tral Texas newspapers, radio
and television.
They’re still talking about the
32nd Thump in Luling and en-
virons. The grand champion
melon was grown by Alien
Wundt of Luling. It weighed 65
pounds, 13 ounces. Eighteen
melons in the contest were sold
at auction for $9,100. The cham~
pion melon was bought by a food
store chain for $2,100.
Pretty Luling High “grad!’
Kal Hendricks was crowned
“Thump Queen^
Three-time winner of the seed-
spitting competition was Kelvin '
Rueb of nearby San Marcos. He
won his fourth contest by spit-
ting watermelon seeds 50 feet.
He walked happily away with
the dollar-a-foot first prize.
If for no other reason than the
fun of it, Baytown should have a
summer celebration that would
also put our town on the map. A
good start has been made with
the annual Fourth of July fete. It
could be named and expanded
into a celebration that would,
^rival the best of them.
'EDITORS NOTE: I am in-
debted to Abigail Frazier,
former longtime chief clerk of
the now defunct Selective Ser-.
vice Board No. 63, for informa-
tion about the Luling celebra-
tion. Abigail is a native of Lul-
ing.)
Q
lias?
Ml
From Sun files
'' : ■' 5, ' j
Julian Glenn Barber war hero, '45
Dave Sorter
So Cairo, III.,
is way up south
From The Baytown Sun files, this is the
way it was40 and30 and 20 years ago:
VAUG. 25,1945
Lt. Julian Glerin Barber; hbme on 30-d4y
leave, completed 63 missions over an eneniy
territory during the year he was stationed in
Europe. Flying with the 406th fighter-
bomber group of the 9th Air Force, Barber
assisted In the bombing and strafing of Ger-
man armor and strong points from Nor-
mandy to Berlin. He earned the Distin-
guished Flying Cross, the Air Medal and nine
oak leaf clusters and three battle stars and
with his group received the presidential cita-
tion. He is the Son of Mr. and Mrs. Q.G. Bar-
ber.:!..:
Monty Stratton, famed Chicago White Sox
hurler driven from the major leagues by the
loss of a leg, will pitch for the Raytown Oilers
tonight in a Houston Post tournament game
against the Beaumont Merchants.
Gwendolyn Royder will arrive home today
from the University of Alabama, where she
has attended summer school. In foe fall she
Will continue her studies at Baylor.
Ten-year-old Verna Dean Ramin is feted
witty a party by her mother, Mrs. Odean
Ramin. Jane Reber presides at the punch
service.
AUG. 25,1955
In Justice of the Peace Walter Queen’s
court, Humble Oil & Refining Co. is acquitted
on two charges of polluting Scott’s Bay.
General Telephone Co. of the Southwest
merges with Theodore Gary & Co. Joe Ware,
district manager in Baytown, predicts the
merger will mean improved service here.
After a short stay in New Orleans, 2nd Lt.
and Mrs. Jimmy Tyree will return to
Baytown for a visit With their parents, Mr.
and Mrs. I. Treat and Mr. and Mrs. J.B.
Tyree.
AUG. 25,1965
A study is under way on the feasibility of
developing a fresh-water recreational lake
on Goose Creek Stream. Andy Braswell
heads the study committee which includes
R.H. Pruett, Eddie Gray, Grover Edge, Sid
Brady and George Chandler.
Completion of the Highway 146 segment
between La Porte and Seabrook is being
pushed by the highway committee of the
Baytown Chamber of Commerce. Fred Hart-
man, who heads the committee, says the
NASA and Bayport projects have doubled the
need for the new highway.
Baytown police and firefighters request
$50 monthly raises in the new budget.
Driving cross-country can be
both boring and exciting. It’s
boring if you don’t take the time
to notice the varied landscape
you’re passing. If you do, every
minute can be exciting, even on
those seemingly dull interstate
highways.
Some notes on a recent drive
to Chicago.
deep, not-too-high voice, to the
“are-wehavingfun?” inflection.
I think I’m going to start buy-
ing up throat lozenge stock.
These ladies will certainly be us-
ing a lot of them.
By p I 8ET YOU'D NEVER SET
n*i. .sjmitmtsi
Clir Sartoum &un
Leon Brown.....
' Fred Hornberger.
Fred Hartman ...
Wanda Orton .
Joan McAnall...
Bill Cornwell.....
Gory Dobbs.....
...........Editor and Publisher
..........Assistant to Publisher
. Editor and Publisher, 1950-1974
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT
CIRCULATION
... Managing Editor
.........News Editor
. Advertising Director
. Circulation Manager
The Boytown Sun (USPS 046-180) is entered as second class matter ot the Boytown, Texas Post Office 77522
tMASTCR SwyloddrMsch
, stoTttf BAYTOWN SUN, P.O. Box 90, Boytown, Tx/i
• oriMMNCUtiDmss , , ' -
. _ Jjiffril* fJorWonef'lbtal new* of iormt«ieoos origin puWi*h*dh*f*ln. Rights of republicotior
... -It ottwt f*arrof hjriih art alio mttvtd. tHe Baytown Sun retain! nationofly known syndicate* who*# writer*'
bytmed *to44Cdt».uiid throughout the newipapot. Then* or* tlm«* when then ortkcle* do no* reflect The Sun'*
. urmroucT
Only signed letter* will be contidered for publication Nam*»wWbe withheld upon request for good and urtficient
region. Pleowkeep letter* ihott. The Sun reterve* the right to excerpt letter*. .•__■ _V
■ si* 1
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Today Is Sunday, Aug. 25, the
237th day of 1985. There are 128
days left in the year.
Today’s highlight in history:
On Aug. 25,1944, Allied forces
liberated Paris, ending four
years of German occupation.
The surrender of Maj. Gen.
Dietrich von Choltitz — who had
defied Adolf Hitler’s orders to
level the French capital rather
than give it up — set off wild
celebrations in the streets.
On this date:
In 1718, hundreds of French
colonists arrived in Louisiana,
with some of them settling in
present-day New Orleans.
In 1825, Uruguay declared its
independence from Brazil.
In 1835, Ann Rutledge, said by
some to have been the early true
love of Abraham Lincoln, died in
Illinois at age 22.
In 1900, German philosopher.
Friedrich Nietzsche died.
In 1916, the National Park Ser-
vice was established within the
Department of the Interior.
In 1921, the United States sign-
ed a peace treaty with Germany.
In 1943, U.S. forces overran
New Georgia in the Solomon.
Islands during World war II.
In 1950, President Harry S.
Truman ordered the Army to
seize control of the. nation’s
railroads to avert a strike.
Ten years ago: President
Gerald R. Ford said in a speech
to the National Hardware Week
Convention in Chicago that he
would push Congress to ease tax
burdens on business.
Five years ago: Director-
choreographer Gower Champion
died of a rare blood disease in a
New York hospital hours before
his show “42nd Street” opened
on Broadway. Both the cast and
audience were stunned when
producer David Merrick an-
nounced the news of Champion’s
death during the curtain call.
One year ago: Author Truman
Capote died in Los Angeles at the
age of 59, leaving behind the un-
completed manuscript to a novel
titled, “Answered Prayers.”
Today's birthdays: Actress
Ruby Keeler is 76. Actor Van
Johnson is 69. Actor-producer
, Mel Ferrer is 68. Actor Don
DeFore is 68. Conductor-
composer Leonard Bernstein is
67. • ■ X. '
Thought for today: “To be>
capable of respect is almost as
rare as to be worthy ot lt.” —
Joseph Joubert, French moralist
(1754-1824),
Traveling up U.S. 59 toward
Texarkana, It seemed like every
roadside business had diver-
sified into selling satellite
dishes. I started counting the
number of these stores, but quit
when the count reached 100 by
Nacogdoches.
It’s easier heading south or
west instead of north or east.
Why? Because the mileposts on
the shoulder count down the
number of miles to go in a state
instead of counting up the miles
already traveled. Makes you
more secure that you’re actually
going to reach your destination.
A gas station clerk in Cairo,
HI., rebuffed my efforts to pay
for my fill-up before pumping. “I
trust you,” she said. “We’re
southerners here.”
I didn’t bother to tell her I was
coming from Texas, where you
have to pay before pumping. I
also didn’t express my confusion
at an niinois town being con-
sidered the South.
So I looked on a map, and
Cairo is, latitude-wise, south of
Richmond, Va. It borders Ken-
tucky and is just 90 miles away
from Arkansas. I guess they are
southerners.
Miracle of miracles. I was
able to find an FM top 40 radio
station every step of the way, ex-
cept between Salem and Cham-
paign in Illinois. V
One note. Every female disk
jockey I heard was trying to
sound like MTV video jockey
Martha Quinn. Imitation in all
ways from the raspy, not-too-
Did you ever go back to your
old hometown and feel amazed
that everything is so familiar? I’
hadn’t driven very much In
Chicago for almost 10 years, ydt
I got there and suddenly
remembered every quirk In'the.
road, every turnoff and every;
route from one place to another.;
It made me wonder if the past;
10 years hadn’t really been a;
dream and was I going to wake!
up and realize I just graduated:
from high school yesterday?
I snapped back to reality whetf
my Baytown Sun co-workers;
recognized me Monday morn-
ing.
The sacred shrine of the north ^
side of Chicago has changed.
Yes, Wrigley Field is almost Just
another baseball stadium.
It still has natural grass, no
lights, Ivy-covered walls and a
manual scoreboard, but ap-;
parently the Cubs management!
has fallen Into the trap of believ-,
ing a ballgame has to be a show,
not just a game.
They installed a message
board below the scoreboard,
which flashes advertisements!
between innings, and the public;
address announcer sounds like*
he graduated from famous!
game-show hosts school.;
Whatever happened to the1
raspy-voice announcers who!
gave “the correct lineups for to-!
day’s game” then didn’t say a1
word? I
For the statistics minded: Bet-!
ween Garth and Baker in;
Baytown and Fullerton and'
Halstead in Chicago, it’s exactly-
1,092 miles and takes approx-!
imately 19 hours to travel with;
only three stops for gas. •
Bible
Verse
If thine enemy be hungry, give
him bread to eat; and If he be
thirsty, give him water to drink;
For thou shalt heap coals of fire
upon his bead, and the Lord shall
reward thee. 5
£ Proverbs 25:21,22
% ^fesiai mmm
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Brown, Leon. The Baytown Sun (Baytown, Tex.), Vol. 63, No. 254, Ed. 1 Sunday, August 25, 1985, newspaper, August 25, 1985; Baytown, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1074487/m1/4/: accessed July 13, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Sterling Municipal Library.