Stephenville Empire-Tribune (Stephenville, Tex.), Vol. 81, No. 52, Ed. 1 Friday, December 28, 1951 Page: 3 of 24
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First with the News
of
The Heart of Texas
^tepljenuUl* lEmpire-®nbune
m
EMPIRE ESTABLISHED
TRIBUNE ESTABLISHED
STEPHENVILLE, ERATH COUNTY. TEXAS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1951
Drive Carefully—
Save a Life
•__♦ »._,l i
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THE FARMERS-FIRST NATIONAL BANK—Directors
and officials of the local financial institution will play
host Saturday afternoon and evening as they formally
dedicate their newly enlarged and thoroughly modernized
banking quarters. With 46 years of history behind them
and with deposits nearing the $6,000,000 mark, bank
officers will unveil the refurnishing program that offers
patrons one of the most modern banking houses in the
Southwest.—(Photo by Bax)
Stephenville Enjoys Calm
And Quiet Christmas Day
The Christmas story in Steph
enville was one of calm and quiet.
The quiet of the day was broken
with the noise of booming fire-
crackers but otherwise it was
strictly a family day in the coun-
ty seat of Erath.
Death, however, took no holi-
day as two funeral notices were,
posted about town. In other
columns of today's paper will be
tound the obituary notices of Mrs.
Mary Zetta Moore and Charles
Corneilus Patton, both natives of
this county who passed away
Christmas eve.
Moat 'Bating Place* Closed
Tffiwlers through Stephenville
on Christmas Day literally had to
hunt for a place to eat if they
were searching for such. The
only oasis the Empire could locate
in a WUT (if llllUlUg H tin
lunch counter at the bus station.,
The town was closed for business
as weary merchants and their em-
ployes spent. the day celebrating
with families and friends. The day
after Christmas, however, is dif-
ferent as many retail setablish-
ments are engaged in after-
The Santa Claus Express was
given right of way during the
day ahd no arrivals on the
Stork Limited were reported at.
' the Stephenville Hospital dur-
ing the 24 hours.
Christmas sales that has created
r. post-Christmas shoppiirg
splurge about town.
New Telephone
System Put ijr
Farmers Bank
For the cenvenience of bank
patrons wishing to telephone the
Karmers-First National Bank, a
new telephone system has been
installed.
Three .trunk lines lead into the
receptionist’s desk and should the
batik's original number—llO-^-be
busy, you’ll find that either 752
or 147 will connect you with any
department of the institution.
Not only will patrons find the
various departments of the bank-
ing place more convenient to tele-
phone but inside the bank, linked
to the three trunk lines, is a
modern intercommunicating phone
system between all telephone sta-
tions of the financial business’ of-
fices and officials.
Installation was accomplished
by the Gulf States Telephone Com-
pany under the direction of Art
Anderson, local manager.
P. O. Address Set
Up for POWs v
In Korea
MU NS AN, Korea, Dec a 27. (IT
—The United Nations command
designated a special Army past
office today to handle mail for
American prisoners of war in
North Korea.
Relatives and friends Of men
Members of the Stephenville
Comraandary, No. 100, . Knights
Templar, observed their annual
Christmas Day service yesterday
morning as the Rev. Ernest ,D.
Dimaline brought a special mes-
sage to the Knights gathered in
the Masonic lodge quarters on
South Columbia.
Law enforcement agencies, city
and county, reported all-quiet on
the Erath County front as of
Christmas Eve and Christmas
Day.
Radio station KSTYj used the
day to broadcast special Christ-
mas greetings from civic and
club leaders throughout the 10
hours of broadcasting.
Church Holds Service
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
celebrated Christmas Mass with
s midnight service Monday night
to officially welcome in the tra-
ditional Holy Day of the Chris
tian world.
As far as is known no tragedy
befell any resident of the com-
STORES HERE
WILL CLOSE
NEW YEAR’S
Retail establishments and bus-
iness houses hi Stephenville will
generally observe New Year's
Day, Tuesday, January 1, as a
holiday.
Ore deviation from the total
closing Tuesday will be the local
drug stores. Local druggists will
observe regular Sunday hours
when they will open from 8:80
a. m. until 11 a. m. and from 2
p. m. until 6 p. m.
It was learned by the Empire
that practically all the retail
establishments will be closed dur-
ing the day.
The observance of New‘Year’s
Day was advocated by the mer-
chant’s activities committee of the
local Chamber of Commerce, adopt-
ed by the directors of that group,
and generally approved by alt par-
ticipating members.
munity and none of the nation’s
560 highway deaths were record-
ed in Erath County. Local fire-
fighters made no runs.
Christmas Day — 1951 — was
quiet and peaceful in Stephen-
villa.
Hatchett Recalls
Frey Building
Back in 1886
Ed Hatchett tells of how, in
1886, when his father came to
Erath County, that John A. Frey
occupied a store building on the
northwest corner of the ' square
now occupied by the Slaughter
Drug Store.
F»ey was ih the genera! mer-
chandise business and had a large
iron safe. Since there were few
banks in the entire country at
that time he accepted deposits
and would pay checks on these
deposits. This, of copra*, was in
a limited extent and was prob-
ably not done except for a few
people whom he knew well and
who had made deposits for safe-
keeping with him.
Mr. Hatchett’s father became
a customer by makuig a deposit
for safekeeping witff Mr. Frey.
In later years, John A. Frey’s
sons, W. H. Frey, and Mr. Hatch-
ett’s son, E. E. Hatchett, became
organisers of the Farmers Na-
tional Bank.
P.0. PASSES
RECORD MARK
FOR RECEIPTS
With the close of business
Christmas Eve, Postmaster Em-
mett Moon announced Wednesday
morning that the local govern-
ment agency's business for the
year to date had reached $79,672
to surpass the largest previous
year’s -total receipts in 1949.
"•“In 1P49 the local post office
nda total receipts for the year of
(79,502. It is indicated that for
1961 the receipts will go over
$81,000.
Blaze Destroys
Brock Storeroom
At Lingleville
A store room, owned by Max
Brock Of Lingleville, was com-
pletely destroyed by fire early
Thursday morning.
Rush MrLemore and Roy Miller
of the local fire department mad*
the run to Lingleville about 3
•o’clock Thursday morning and re-
turned shortly after 6 a. m.
The building, 80x30, was used
for storage of ice and feed. Miller
said that no estimate of the
amount of loss by fire waa report-
ed to him by the owner.
At the close of business on
December 81, 1951, the locsl
pesteffice will have a sticky
job on their hands. As the “pen-
ny” postcard passes into the
category of “whst-need-to-be”
the local force will hare about
M.044 cards which will require
an extra oae-cont stamp affixod.
For the month of December the
receipts had reached $8,877 Mon-
day night tb surpass the 1960
figures for the same period when
$8,422 was in the till as of De-
cember 24. Largest December
volume in the post office history
was in 1947 when the month’s
business amounted to (11,194.
Total December business in 1950
was (10,220.
Stephenville Soil Awards Site
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i
PROGRAM FOR
OPEN HOUSE
IS ANNOUNCED .
Jack Teddlie, president of the
Farmers-First National Bank, has
announced an interesting pro-
gram for the “open house" sched-
uled for Saturday from 3 p. m.
until 10 o’clock. <
Teddlie has announced that the
bank will close Saturday morn-
ing at 11 o’clock for the transac-
tion of regular business. The move
was necessary to make prepara-
tions for the various features that
will highlight the banks open
house affair.
Currency Display
In thu directors’ room, to be
known as the “Frqy Room,’’ will
be the currency display loaned
the bank by the Federal Reserve
Bank of Dallas.
Organ music will be in the
background ax guests promenade
through the spacious lobby and
inspect the vault, the bookkeep-
ing offices and other dentils of
the bank's physical plant. The or-
gan console is being installed
through the courtesy of the Con-
dron Music Company.
Souvenirs to He Given
All visitors, children, men and
women, will receive a souvenir of
the affair, Tvddlie announced
Thursday.
Personnel of the bank, direc-
tors, officers and employes will
be stationed throughout the hank's
quarters to explain new features
incorporated in the bank's expand-
ed facilities and to answer ques-
tions.
The winner of the “leg” contest
Will be announced at 9 p. m. Sat-
urday night. This is the plastic
leg, filled with money, that has
been on display in the lobby for
the past week.
-
First Officers
Of Farmers
First National
i
First officers qf the Karmers-
First National Bank, at the time
of its organisation of December
9, 1905, were:
W. H. Frey, President
Dave 8. Livingston, vice-pres-
ident
John W. Frey, cashier
Walton A. Hyatt, assistant
cashier
ORIGINAL SHAREHOLDERS OF
FARMERS NATIONAL BANK
From the Minute Book, page one, of "The Farmers No-
tional Bank of StephonvHle,” dated December t, 1905,
is taken the list of the original shareholders who pur-
chased 250 shares in the new financial institution with
a Capital Stock of $26,000. The shareholders, their address,
and number of original shares are indicated as:
Name
W. H. Frey
Jno W. Frey
D. S. Livingston
L. R. Mayfield
J. ,W. Collier
W. A. Hyatt
M. Cook
J. W. Lenex •
E. E. Hatchett
Q. S. Britton
J. P. Gentry
H O Pemberton
c. Slantfbter
Address
Stephenville, Texas ,
Stephenville, Texas
Stephenville, Texas Ri. 1
Dublin Ji Texas
Bluff Dale, Texas
Stephenvil If, Texas
Seldon, Texas
St**nhenville. Texas
Alexander, Texas
Topaz, Texas
Bank Directors
Will Meet in
‘Frey Room’
A place of community conveni-
ence in the newly enlarged Farm-
ers-First National Bank i* a large
room which will be known as “The
Frey Room.”
In this spacious room, offset
from the bank proper but acces-
sible to the bank( the directors
will meet in thefr regular busi-
ness meetings.
Primary purpose of the room is
to afford all groups in the terri-
tory served by the bank a meet-
ing place for committee meetings.
The Frey Room is dedicated to
community service, Jack Teddlie,
bank president, baa said.
Within the room of 612 square
feet, a plastic folding door will
make it possible for the area to
be divided into two smaller rooms
should the occasion be necestary.
The meeting room has been nam-
ed in honor of the three former
presidents of the bank, W. H.
Frey, founder and first president:
John W. Frey, s brother and suc-
cessor to the first president, and
Earl L. Frey, eon and nephew of
the first two executive heads of
the bank, was the third president.
Portraits of the former presi-
dents will be hung in the commo-
dious directors’ room.
BIRD BARGES IN *
SPOKANE, Wash., W—Henry
Lackman didn’t hare to leave
home to bag a pheasant but the
bird didn’t com? cheap. Lackman
to replace a wi *
the pheasant In
Original Directors
Of Farmers Bank
The original directors of the
46 year-old Farmers-First Na-
tional Bank were:
W. H. Frey
John W. Fray
W. A. Hyatt
D. 8. Livingston
H. O. Pemberton
E. E. Hatchett
J. P. Gentry
I. W. Collier .
r=
Farmers Bank Has Been in
Four Different Buildings
ie Fat
: has t
irigs dui
The Fafltnifs-First National
Bunk baa been housed in four
buildifigs during its 46 years of
history.
Ed Hatchett, a director of the
bank, wax discussing the matter
with Joe Bell Frey not long ago
and related the transition to the
son of the late John W. Frey,
second president of the bunk.
“Mr. Ed,” only director of the
bank now living who was on the
original board of directors in
1905 and an original stockholder
of the bank, described the various
moves to Frey, an executive of
the Clay Building Materials Co.,
as follows:
“At the time of opening the
bank in 1906 they began busi-
ness in the building on the
north side of the square which
is now occupied by the Lindley
store (the building west pf the
Onyx Cafe on the corner). At
the time of construction of the
Farmers National Bank build-
ing which the bank built out-
right on the east of the square
Rites Held on
Wednesday for
C. C. Patton, 69
Funeral services were held Wed-
nesday morning in the First Meth-
odist Church for Charles Corne-
lius Patton, 69, native of Steph-
enville, who passed awav Monday
at. the home of his brother, E. C.
Patton, in Stephenville.
The native Erathian, a
brickmason, was born here Sep-
tember 16, 1882, son of the late
Mr. and Mrs. J H. Patton.
Rev. Wallace N. Dunson, pas-
tor of the church, was the offi-
ciating minister with interment
in Weest End ’Cffnetery under dir-
ection of Trewitt Funeral Home.
Ile'ls survived by his brother:
two sisters, Mrs. O. M. Smith of
Seymour, Mrs. Fred Keith of
Stephenville; two nephews and
seven nieces ,
Pallbearers were E. W. Tate,
Win. Sanderlin, Charley Dunn, J.
D. McCollom, Jr., Tom Brldgee,
Fred McCleskey, Rcecie Jones and
Arlie Brown.
Colbora Will
Produce Rodeo
In San Angelo
Everett E Colborn of the Light-
ning C. Ranch, Dublin, has been
named producer of the 1962 rodeo
in San Angelo. ,
Recognized as one of the top
producers along the country'* ro-
deo circuit, Colborn will be in
charge of the Weet Texas city’s
hronc-busting extravaganza which
haa been scheduled Feb. 27-
March 2. «'Hf
next to the old B. F. Compton
corner building they had to give
possession to (the occupant of
the old building on this site
and therefore had to vacate the
Lindley building. They operated
from temporary location in the
Cage A Crow. building on the
northwest corner (Now occu-
pied by the Stephenville State
Bank). As soon as the build-
ing on the east side of the
square was completed they oc-
cupied this building and remain-
ed in that building for many
years until the need for larger
i quarters caused them to occupy
the present building on the
northeast corner of the square.
This was formerly the First
State Bank building and was
accquired by the Farmers-First
‘National from the First State
Bank in 1931.^ }
45TH DIVISION
OF GUARD AT
KOREAN FRONT
WASHINGTON, Dec. 27. W —
Oklahoma’s 45th National Guard
Infantry Division is fighting in
Korea, the Army disclosed today.
The Army made the disclosure
in confirming that 1st Lt. Jack
Hancock of Poteau, Okla., a mem-
ber of the division, was killed in
Korea Dqc. 16. His wife, Mrs.
Burnell Hancock of Potoah has
been notified.
The 45th was the first National
Guard division sent to Korea.
However, an unspecified number
of smaller Guard units and indi-
vidual guardsmen had been senC"
there previously.
California Unit Kul.
Informed sources-anid that
fornia’s 40th National Guard Div-
ision also will be sent to Korea
soon, or already (has been sent
there.
Indications are that the two
National Guard divisions — mob-
ilized Sept. 10, 1960 and sent to
Japan last March — ate being
used to replace other divisions that
have been fighting in Korea for
some time. t .
The Oklahoma and California
divisions were among the
four National Guard divisions
mobilized after the Korean war
atarted.
Divisions Still Intact ’
The Army would not comment
directly on.the Oklahoma division
having been sent to Korea. A
spokesman said it was up to the
theater commander, Gen. Matthew
B. Rldgway, to mhke any an-
nouncement.
But the Army said before send-
ing the Oklahoma and California
divisions to Japan that they would
be k,cpt intact. A spokesman said
today that there bad been no
change in that policy.
PRIZE 0F$1,000
OFFERED BEST
SOIL GROUP
The City of Stephenville has
been selected ai one of the five
regional sites where pic-award
state dinner for the Soil Conser-
vation Awards Piogra.fi of 1962
in Fort Worth.
Walter P. Humphries, editor of
the Fort Worth Press, one of
three Scripps-Howard papers in
Texas sponsoring the seventh an-
nual “save the soil and save Tex-
as" projeet, announced tire selec-
tion of Stephenville in a letter
to W. J. Wisdom, secretary of Die
Chamber of Commerce, and Rufus
F. Higgs, publisher of the Em-
pire-Tribune. -
Regional Banquet Here
The Fort Worth dinner will be
held May 3, 1952, In addition to
the regional banquet in Stephen-
ville, similar pre-state dinners will
be held In LuUsxk Fort Stockton,
Tyler, and Pleustoi,.
Awards for 1952 .wilMndude a
(1,000 award which will go to the
best group of conservationists in
the state. The best conservation
farmer in Texas will receive (600.
Essay contests arc scheduled .for
high school students, a plaque will
go to a non-farmer conservationist
who has rendered the greatest un-
selfish service in soil conservation,
and a plaque will be awarded to the
Texas woman judged the home-
maker of the year.
In subsequent editions of the
paper more complete detail* will
be released as the 1952 Conserva-
tion Awards Program get? un-
derway.
Dublin Airman
Joins Jet Combat
Group in Korea
~v—•—, L
t Hp. WITH THE EIGHTH FIGHTER"1
Hn
MBKR WING, OCorea—Private
rat. Class R. L. Spirkf, of Dub-
lin, Texas, has just joined the Far
East Air Force’s pioneer jet com-
bat group of the Korean war, thq
8th Fighter Bomber Wing.
Part of the Fifth Air Force’*
top ranktactical support team,
pilots of Pfc Sparks’ new organi-
zation, are famous for having qtiot
down seven enemy planes the first
day of the war.
Assigned as a jet aircraft me-
_____ chanic, it will be Sparks’ respon-
first *ILTIIty to do electrical repair and
maintenance work on the F-80
Shooting Stars as they return
from combat. Also, it will be hil
job to load and refuel the jet figh-
ters—around the cldck.
Sparks’ new outfit was the firtt
jet unit to fly combat in tho Ko-
rean war, and, at the same time,
the fjrst all-American jet organi-
zation ever committed to combat
In the history of American avia-
tion.
PfE Sparks received hia techni-
cal training in aircraft mechanic*
at Sheppard Air Force Base, Wich-
ita Falls, Texas. He has been with
the United States Air Force ten
months.
MAKES FIRST DEPOSIT—H. M. Everett, gr, step* up
to the cashier** window and make* first deposit In the
newly enlarged quarters of the Fanuera-Firat National
Bank. High McClenky, cashier af the bank, atonda behind
• ,rec«
Christmas Day
Services Held
For Mrs. Moore
Mrs. Mary Zetta Moore, 62, wife
of Pinkney E. Moore, and a na-
tive of Stephenville, was buried
in Eaet Memorial Cemetery, fol-
lowing funeral services in the
chapel of the Trewitt Funeral
Home, Christmas afternoon.
Mrs. Moore passed away early
Monday morning.
She wu born in Erath County
September 16, 1882 and on Nov.
3, 1903 was married to Mr. Moore.
A member of the Baptist Church
since IS years of age, services
were conducted by Mr. Erble
Moore. She was the daughter of
the late Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Sages-
•r.
Survivors, in addition to her
husband, Include two daughters,
Mrs. E. E. McAlister of Eastland,
and Mr*. C. L. Fuqua of Fort
Worth; two sons, Nevil and James
Moore, both of Fort Worth; four
listen, Mrs. Cora Hickman and
Mn. W. J. Wylie, both of Colton,
Calif., Mn. George Hicks of Ste-
phenville, and Mn. G. T. Caudle
of Dublin; a brother, O. B. Sages-
er of Fort Worth, six grandchil-
dren.
Pallbearers were Elmo White,
Sato Russell, J. A. Flanary, Homer
Beason, Roy Millar and Lanham
Magee.
Employes of
Farmers Bank
In addition to the directors,
officers and executives of the
Farmers-First National Bunk,
the following employes arc Hat-
ed on the bank’s personnel ros-
ter:
Dean Murray
Mn. Hubert Darby
Tom Dunn
Glen Henderson
Jesse Shaw *
Charlie Riggins
Mn. Lanham Magee
Miss June Stewart
Miss Leona Bryant
H. W. Humberson
Ed Crwoder
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Joe Ramie
here Sunday
Jr. and
of Dallas was
see his eon, Joe
him to Chalk
■it
Empire to Cover
Cotton Bowl Game
The sports department of the
Daily Empire will cover the
New Year'* Day classic in the
Cotton Bowl—TCU v*. Ken-
tucky.
From the press box of the
stadium in Big D a member of
our staff will bring our ruaderu
a color story of all the doings
in the Cotton Bowl.
You’ll want to bo sure your
subscription has not elapsed in
order to get the heme-town
viewpoint,\al the Horned Frog-
Wildcat gridiron affray.
Why check tkat
tion rigkt now. If yon ar*
regular subscriber, ‘
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Potter, Bill. Stephenville Empire-Tribune (Stephenville, Tex.), Vol. 81, No. 52, Ed. 1 Friday, December 28, 1951, newspaper, December 28, 1951; Stephenville, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1133289/m1/3/: accessed June 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Dublin Public Library.