Stephenville Empire-Tribune (Stephenville, Tex.), Vol. 78, No. 3, Ed. 1 Friday, January 16, 1948 Page: 1 of 20
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EMPIRE Vol. &8, No. 86—TRIBUNE Vol. 88, No. 80.
STRPHENVILLE, ERATH COUNTY, TEXAS. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 1948
TWENTY PAGES Vol. 78 No. 8
/
UONS CLUB IS
PLANNING GOOD
NEIGHBOR TRIPS
Henry Clark Proposes That
Club Make Study of Home
Rule Form of Government
First of a planned series' of
“good neighbor” visitations by the
Stephenville Lions Club will be
•» held Friday night, February 27,
at Lingleville, it was decided at
the regular luncheon meeting of
the club last week.
An invitation was extended the
club by Ernest Hickey, on behalf
lenca. of the Lingleville Home Demon-
stration Club, which organization
is to prepare and serve -the din-
ner in the Lingleville High School
gymnasium. Hour of the meeting
was set at 7 p.m., and will be
counted as the regular meeting
for that week.
Holding of meetings in the var-
ious communities within the Ste-
phenville area within the next sev-
eral months is a part of the club’s
adopted policy of promoting clos-
er relationship between citizens of
this city and surrounding commun-
It is expected that the Lingle-
ville meeting will be attended by
160 members and guests.
Mayor Addresses Club
Lion Henry Clark addressed the
_ club on city governmental affairs.
r | Clark stated that towns which
have an excess of 5,000 popula-
tion are entitled to charters un-
der a “home rule" form of gov-
ernment and outlined the three
forms of government possible un-
der such a charter.
Clark urged members of the
club to give serious consideration
the matter of changing the
city’s present form of government,
possibly taking the initiative in
■ the adoption of a home rule char-
ter. •
Road is Graded
Inside of City
Dump Grounds
The road leading Into the city
dump ground, a short distance out
on the Lingleville highway, has
been graded and those using these
grounds for disposal of their trash,
tin cans and other refuse are re-
quested to drive farther back into
the grounds before dumping the
containers.
C. H. Maguire, city secretary,
said that the road will be graveled
later, but that it now has been
graded to make it safer for vehi-
cles to drive toward the rear of
the -grounds.
“Dumping the trash near the en-
trance no longer is necessary,” Ma-
guire said, “and the city would
appreciate the cooperation of the
public in driving farther inside be-
fore disposing of their refuse.”
Polio Chairman
Seeks Volunteers
In Annual Drive
An appeal for volunteers to as-
sist the Erath county 1948 March
of Dimes campaign committee here
in the annual fund-raising drive
was issued this week by Ben B.
McCollum, committee chairman,
who said that men and women in-
terested in lending a hand may
qnplv at the Stenhenville Chamber
of Commerce office, • where cam-
paign headouarters is located.
The volunteers are needed, Mc-
Collum said, to help mail out coin
cards, man Mile O’Dimes stands,
take up collections and do other
necessary jobs connected with the
annual fund-raising drive of the
National Foundation for Infantile
Paralysis and its Erath county
chapter. This year’s drive, which
takes place January 16 through
January 30. marks the tenth anni-
versary of the establishment of the
national foundation.
“Since plans are now under way
to make the 1948 March of Dimes
in our county the greatest in his-
tory," McCollum said, “we arc
A motion that a committee be asking public-spirited citizens to
—
City Plans To Call
Water Bond Election
P. C. Stacy
Drive Head is schedoled
named to study Clark’s sugges
tion was adopted by the club.
Naming of this committee was
deferred by Lion President Sam
Cleveland pending further study.
A discussion of plans for a for-
thcoming zone dinner was also
held. The local club will be host
to approximately 400 members,
visiting Lions and their wives at
this meeting, to be held Tuesday,
February S.
School Board Has
Decided To Wait
On New Building
v
Because of the continued high
prices of building materials and
labor, the local school board, at
its January meeting Thursday
night of last week, decided to
postpone any new construction,
officals announced after the meet-
ing.
Buildings have been moved in
from Camp Bowie and, according
to J. B. Merrell, public school
superintentendent, will relieve to
a certain extent the overcrowded
conditions in the local schools. One
of the structures is being utilized
by the ward school to house three
sections, or 127 students, of the
fifth grade. Special education
work also is being carried on for
the benefit of handicapped child-
ren. Another building at the high
school has created facilities for
the band, the band director’s of-
fice, storage of uniforms and in-
struments, and contains a 30x40-
foot room equipped for visual edu-
cation work.
Some junior high school classes
are being held in the cafeteria
building.
Last Camp Maxey Sale
The last round-up of buildings to
be cleared from the Camp Maxey
area near Paris will be staged
January 27, 28 and 29. The War
Assets Administration will include
all remaining buildings for offsite
use, numbering 486,'in the three-
day location sale. It will be the
second and concluding cycle of the
public, informal bid operations on
surplus real property at Camp Ma-
xey. Grounds will be open for in-
spection January 16 through Jan-
uary 20 dally except Saturdays and
Sundays.
Attends Miami Convention
John Tom Heaton, sales mana-
ger of Champion Products Com-
pany, returned the past week from
Miami, Florida, where he attend-
ed the annual convention of air-
plant‘manufacturers’ associations.
While there Mr. Heaton contracted
for the sale of several thousand
gallons of Champion products.
Sol Frank, one of the pioneer
merchants of Stephenville, but now
making his home in* San Diego,
California, for a long number of
years, will celebrate his 96th birth-
day BBs weak. For many years
Mr. Frank made annual visits to
Stephenville where he renewed ac-
with those ha knew at
If ▼•u Hflli \
participate as never before.'_
McCollum advised thaT'volun-
teers will have a choice of the
work in which they would like to
assist actively, and emphasized
that sinee many hands make light
work, success of the drive will in-
crease proportionately with the
number of volunteer workers.
“Increased hospitalisation costs,
not only here but in all parts of
the nation,’’ the county chairman
said, “make it imperative that our
sights in this year’s drive be set
far higher than in any previous
year. We also have in mind- that
1947 marked the fifth consecutive
year of polio incidence in the na-
tion, far beyond the usual annual
average. This means a growing
burden in providing for continuing
care of those stricken. Since the
disease is unpredictable, and is no
respecter of persons, we in Erath
county cannot foresee what the
future has in store for us. We
must be prepared.”
Mrs. D. M. M. Bates visited re-
cently with her sister, Mrs. Lela
Robinson, in Houston.
Oysters, crabs, terrapin, clams
and fish are the leading seafood
productions of Maryland.
P. C. Stacy was named county
roll call chairman of the Red Cross
for 1948 when a meeting of the
county chapter was held Friday,
January 9, W. J. Wisdom was
elected Red Cross director. He will
replace Roy B. Mefferd, who re-
signed recently.
It was voted for the chapter to
participate in a vaccination pro-
gram for the school children of
Erath county. A nominating com-
mittee was elected to name officers
to be voted on in May.
Present at the meeting were
Mrs. H. J. Neblett, Oren H. Ellis,
P. C. Stacy, Mrs. Alrriabel Dunne,
Ernest Hickey, Rev. H. Marshall
Smith, E. A. Blanchard, Walter
Hamilton, Mrs. Albert Graves,
Mrs. G. D. Everett, Fred McCles-
key, W. J. Wisdom, Mrs. E. E.
Tipton and Mrs. Henry of the na-
tional Red Cross office in Dallas.
ANNUAL FRUIT
4‘
City To Purchase
Armory Building
Acting upon a recent request of
the Chamber of Commerce Nat-
ional Guard committee, the City
Council Tuesday night worked out
a plan of financing an armory
building to house a local unit of
the Texas National Guard. City
officials were scheduled to meet
again • Thursday night to begin
Texan Killed in
Egypt Explosion
Was Proctor Man
i
Thomas Hood, 88, engineer with
a seismographic unit exploring for
oil on Sinia Peninsula of Egpyt,
near Sues, who was killed tn an
explosion Friday, was the son of
Mr. and Mrs. Tom Hood, who live
four miles northwest of Proctor.
Hood and eight Egyptians were
killed when dynamite on a truck
exploded. Funeral services were
held for him Sunday.
Hood was a graduate of the
Proctor schools and of the Univer-
sity of Texas. He was employed
by the Rogers Ray Company of
Houston, working under contract
for the Socony Vaouum Oil Qon-
peny.
Mrs. Qeoiwe Roberts returned
home from the local hospital Sun-
day, after spending several days
negotiations with a Brownwood
firm toward securing a building to
be used as an armory.
Mayor Henry Clark Wednesday
stated that when the matter first
was taken up, it was believed that
the cost of an armory building
could be included in a bond issue
expected to be put before voters
of the city soon to finance im-
provements in the water system.
When technicalities prevented the
two issues from being combined,
the City Council then decided to
issue warrants to finance the pur-
chase of a building to be used as
an armory. A quonset-type hut is
being contemplated.
Warrants Bear Interest
These warrants, the mayor said,
will be issued to run from one to
eight years, bearing three per cent
interest. Total warrants to be is-
sued will range up to an amount
equal to the final cost of purchas-
ing an- armory building and get-
ting it ready for use by a local
guard company. Reorganization of
Company D, 142nd Infantry, has
been pending the working out of
arrangements for securig an ar-
mory building.
The warrants, which will range
from $100 on up to any denomina-
tion desired, will be sold to local
business Institutions and indivi-
duals. Interest is to be paid on
them annually, and all are to be
retired within % little more than
eight yean. Rental received from
the state on the armory will make
the payments on the warrants as
they become due, the mayor ea-
plained w* * y
Cross Timbers Experiment
Station Will Be Site Soon
Of Talks, Demonstrations
The annual fruit production
demonstration at the West Cross
Timbers Experiment Station will
be held Friday, January 23, R. G.
Burwell, district extension service
agent, announced this week. Bur-
well is chairman of the program
tfc be presented.
Opening the day’s activities will
be a general round-up of happen-
ings of the experiment station by
B. C. Langley, station superin-
tendent, starting at 10 a. m. Tom
Denman, station horticulturist,
will discuss the different varie-
ties of fruit adaptable to the Cross
Timbers area, and J. F. Rosbor-
ough, extension horticulturist, will
speak on “Soil Selection, Sites and
laying Out of Orchard.” Langley
also will talk on “Orchard Cover
Crops and Fertilizers.”
Afternoon Program
Starting at 1 o’clock, an after-
noon program will be held, open-
ing with a demonstration on set-
ting and training fruit trees, to-
gether with a discussion on thin-
ning fruit, by Rosborough. Paul
Gregg, extension entomologist, will
give a demonstration on control-
ling^ insects and diseases of fruits
Sum Between $100,000 and $150,000
Will Be Submitted To Voters Soon
ricisis.
ounced
ubmis-
m.
emonstrations
and discussions at the West Cross
Timbers Experiment Station has
been a annual sffais Jar the last
several yeah! ail has proven pop-
ular, as well *1 Informative, with
the fruit growers in this section.
Burwell, County Agent G. D. Ev-
erett and Langley invite all who
are interested in fruit to attend
the 1948 meeting.
15 INDICTMENTS
BY GRAND JURY
Fifteen felony indictments were
returned by the 29th District
Court grand jury after a four-day^.________r-.,. ..______________
session concluded Thursday of last to conclude the prograi
week, J. W. McMahan, district Holding these dem
clerk, reported. Thirty-five wit-
nesses were examined.
Of the 16 bills of indictment re-
turned, five were for alleged
thefts, four charged driving while
intoxicated, two concerned child
desertion esses, and one each al-
leged forgery, burglary, disposal
of property and failure to stop and
render aid.
No Crime Increese
According to a report by the
grand jury to District Judge Ern-
est Belcher, signed by L. O. Wood,
foreman, and Frank Hamilton,
secretary, investigations conducted
during the session revealed that
no noticeable increase in law vio-
lations had occurred in Erath
county, such as has been the case
in most other sections of the state.
The report also included an ex-
pression of appreciation on the
part of the grand jurors to the
district judge, district attorney,
county attorney and all officers
for their aid during the jury’s de-
liberations which ended with ad-
journment Thursday, January 8.
No cases had been tried during
the January term, which started
Monday, January 5, and a petit
jury panel had not been ordered
early this week, McMahan said.
Present plans of city official
Mayor Henry Clark anno<
Wednesday, were for the submii
sion of a proposed bond issue, at
an early date, to bring about need-
ed improvements in the Stephen-
ville water system. The bond issue
will be in the amount of 8100,000
to 8160,000, the mayor said.
Recently the city purchased the
Kirk block near John Tarleton Col-
lege on which at least one more
water well is expected to be drill-
ed and ready to add to present
facilities of the local system by
summer. This block, for which the
city paid 82,000 plus cost of draw-
ing up the abstract, is located one
block north of Mrs. John Edwards’
property, slightly northwest of the
college. •
Would Extend Main
The bond issue, if approved,
would be used for payment of the
purchase price of the block, cost
of drilling a water well on the
site, adding a reservoir and over-
head storage tank on the property,
a sand trap, and extending the 12-
inch main now running along Lil-
lian Avenue to the pool to be open-
ed up on the tract.
Freese A Nichols, Fort Worth
architectural firm engaged some
time ago to make a survey of the
new
mad'
a preliminary report on the pos
sibilities and, later, will make their
s ago t
possibilities of opening up a new
water supply in this city, has made
a preliminary report on the
final findings and recommendations
known. This firm, Mayor Clark
said, has approved of the city’s ac-
tion in the purchase of the tract
near the college for drilling one
or more new wells, and has rec-
ommended that all future wells
be drilled at a distance of at least
1000 feet apart.
The mayor stated that, in his
opinion, the proposed bond issue
would provide sufficient funds with
which to make all necessary im-
provements to- the city’s water
system to meet immediate needs.
Diamond Motor To
Show New Trucks
The first public showing in Ste-
phenville of the new 1948 model
Ford trucks will take place Friday
and Saturday, January 16 and 17
at an “open house” to be conducted
by the Diamond Motor Company.
With the streamlined new trucks
—the first post-war products of
the Toft TfSlof~ Company-—as the
main attraction, the company will
public to its show-
rooms, service, parts and acces-
80^^mng^%*4p«fr^oW'
program for the 1948 truck lino
because we feel this Is the most
important new truck showing in
Ford history,” said Wilson Dia-
Messrs Harry Briaeuer, Oren H.
Ellis, Bras Cols and Cecil Ballow
were in Eastland Tuesday to at-
tend a general meeting of fire in-
surance underwriters, in this ter-
ritory.
Mrs. E. B. Beaman returned
home Sunday after a three week’s
visit with relatives and friends in
Natchez and Gloster, Mississippi.
POSTON NAMED
BANK DIRECTOR
BEEF CALF SHOW
DATE SET FDR
JANUARY 27TH
\
FT A and 4-H Clubs Will
Exhibit Fine Baby Beeves
Starting at 10 a. m. at Park
The Future Farmers of America
and the 4-H clubs of Erath coun-
ty will hold their annual Beef Calf
Show at the city park, Tuesday,
January 27. The calves will be on
Reed, professor and head of the
animal husbandry department of
John Tarleton College, will be the
judge.
These FFA and 4-H boys, under
the supervision of Ralph Moser,
appreciation of good livestock,
I- at the samp time train them
adviser, Stephenville chapter of the
FFA, and G. D. Everett, county
agent, have put forth serious ef-
fort in developing their calves and
will show some very fine animals.
The primary purpose of these pro-
jects is to create within the boy
an
and
in modern and scientific methods
in earing for them.
Schools Asked To Aid
“These boys will be our future
county leaders in the livestock in-
dustry,” Moser said, "and they
are due every encouragement pos-
sible from everyone. It is hoped
that the schools throughout the
county will endeavor to make It
possible for all the youngsters to
attend this show.
Rome twenty-five or thirty cal-
ves will be on exhibition and many
cash prizes are to be given. The
Stephenville Chamber Of Com-
merce has assumed responsibility
of obtaining money for these
prl xm.
Immediately after the exhibition,
the boys will load their calves and
take them to the Fort Worth Ex-
position and Fat Stock Show,
where they will participate hi the
annual 4-H Club Day, January 81.
At the annual meeting of the
stockholders of The Stephenville
State Bank, held Tuesday after-
noon, T. C. Poston was named s
director of the institution, bring-
ing the total board membership up
to six. Carryover members are Ben
B. McCollum, F. W. Towler, R. E.
Martin, Frank Carlton and R. F.
Higgs. McCollum, bank president
for the past sixteen years, said
Wednesday that the new board
would organize at a meting to be
held soon.
Poston, who Is one of the largest
distributors of feeds in this area,
also deals extensively In wool, pe-
cans, peanuts and other commodi-
ties produced in West Central Tex-
as. The Poston Warehouses on
North Graham and North Belknap
Streets are the largest in this
country.
est truck market of all time with
the widest range of models and ca-
paeities Ford has ever produced.
We expect to receive trucks during
the coming months in quantities
increased sufficiently to permit ui
to meat the heavy demand,
Driver comfort and efficiency
were among the primary consider-
ations of engineers and designers
who created the 1948 Ford trucks.
Cal* Are Rsoar
Cabs for the new trucks have
been redesigned to assure “living
room” comfort. They provide sev-
en inches greater width as wall as
increased headroom. The door op-
ening has been moved forward
three inches, providing greater
clearance for entering and leaving
the cab. The doors extend well be-
low the floor and are weather-
sealed for protection against mois-
ture, dust and drafts, interior and
exterior hardware is mors rugged.
A one-piece windshield, which ip
two inches higher, gives driven
clearer vision forward. The reef
window has been enlarged to in-
crease visibility. Seats and cush-
ions give passenger car comfort
to driver and helper. The adjust-
able coach-type seat has indivi-
ERATHIANS ARE
URGED TO PAY
POLL TAX NOW
Assasaor-Collactor Warns
That January 31 Deadline
__if Rapidly Drawing Near
Every citizen of Erath county
within poll tax paying age is urg-
ed by Wm. O. Croft, county tax
assessov-eoUoctor, to pay his poll
tax before January 81 in order to
be eligible to vote in this year’s
elections.
A large number of citiseas al-
ready have attended to this mat-
ter, Croft said, but many others
still have not done so, and the time
nr
ying these poll
g all otherwis
qualified voters of tha right of
casting their ballots in the 1948
elections.
Paid polls in the county Wednes-
is drawing close to the Janus1
pajinc
taxes and assuring all otherwise
81 deadline for
day totaled 2675. Croft announced,
as compared with 2140 receipts is-
sued to the same date last year
and 2142 on January 14, 1944,
which was the last general election
year.
Begin in Spring
Beginning with the city and
school elections in the spring, bal-
loting will take place this year
through the two Democratic pri-
maries and will conclude with tha
general election in November. But
the county tax assessor-collector
is reminding everyone within the
specified age that a poll tax must
be paid before the deadline >to
meet eligibility requirements for
taking part in the selection of of-
ficials from precinct on up during
1948.
January 81 also is the deadline
for payment of property taxes
without addition of a penalty,
Croft concluded.
-J
BANQUET HELD
BY ROTAMANS
m
- i’
“Tl
An inter-city meeting of Rotary
Club members and their wives was
Jan-
tary
beginning at
7:30 p. m. at tha Collage Dining
Hall.
v/iuo memoers ana uieir wives i
sponsored -Thursday night, J
nary 8, by the Stephenville Rot
Club, with festivities beginning
ng
of the
dually wrapped coil springs and a
rubberized hair pad. The cabs alio
have a large ash tray, dispatch
box and sun visor. Provision for
radio installation includes a grille
opening in the instrument panel.
The new cabs also provide for a
new three-way air control system
to assure high-volume, fresh-sir
ventilation. Engineers increased
the steering ratios on the 1948
Ford trucks to provide easier
handling. The light trucks are
equipped with new direct-action
shock absorbers. Two-ton and hea-
vier models are equipped with
vacuum power brakes.
PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, infantile paralysid again struck the na-
tion heavily last year, taking toll of thousands, mostly
little children," and, *
WHEREAS, the past five years marked the highest
incidence of infantile paralysis in any previous five-year
period in the nation’s history, with some 80,000 Ameri-
cans being stricken, and,
WHEREAS, the 1948 March of Dimes—January 15-80
—is the sole support of the National Foundation for In-
fantile Paralysis, which this year is celebrating its tenth
anniversary, and, -----------------
WHEREAS, during the past decade the National
Foundation and its chapters serving every county of the
Nation have prosecuted vigorously our fight against in-
fantile paralysis, and provided for prompt and adequate
medical care and treatment of infantile paralysis pat-
ients regardless of age, race, creed, or color, and,
WHEREAS, through the National Foundation’s great
humanitarian endeavors fear has been replaced by hope,
p^nic by knowledge, and thousands of children have had
restored the priceless gift of motion.
THEREFORE, I, Henry Clark, Mayor of the City of
Stephenville, do call upon ail residents of this communi-
ty to join wholeheartedly during the two weeks of Jan-
uary 16-80, in making the 1948 March of Dimes the most
successful in history ao that the fight against this dread
disease can be. pressed more vigorously than ever.
January 14,1948
HENRY CLARK. Major
, One hundrsd and twelve. , Rotar-_
ians and their wives, incluc
majority of the membership
Dublin Rotary Club and represen-
tatives from ths Brownwood and
Granbury clubs being present, en-
joyed the banquet meal and well- ,
planned program.
Rev. H. Marshall Smith, pastor
of the First Baptist church, gave
the invocation. After dinner C. O.
McMillan, president of the Steph-
enville club, turned the program
over to Dean J. Thomas Davis,
who acted as toastmaster.
Welcome Is Extended
Mre. C. O. McMillan welcomed
the visitors, and Mrs. Ray Franks
of Dublin responded to I|«r wel-
come. Music was presented by
Robert Hutchinson and Miss Wil-
ma Thiele, Instructors in ths music
department at John Tarleton Col-
lege, and Miss Martha Patton, a
student of Hutchinson, sang.
Clarence Shoemaker introduced
guests and the speaker, Hon. H. ;
S. Lattimore of Fort Worth, who
spoke on the subject, “Organized
Minorities.”
Mrs. T. J. Williams
Dies in Comanche;
Buried Wednesday
Mrs. .T. J. Williams, wife of the
president of Higginbotham Bros.
A Company, died at the family
home in Comanche Tuesday after-
noon at 4:80 following a heart at-
tack.
Funeral services were held Wed-
nesday afternoon from the home.
Burial was in Oakwood Cemetery.
All Higginbotham stores in this
area were closed after twelve
o’clock Wednesday. The Stephen-
ville group attending the last rites
was headed by Paul Higginboth-
am, vice president of the company.
Lee Williams and Mrs. Young Ay-
ers are brother and sister to Mr.
Williams.
Mrs. Williams was prominent In
club and church work. She was a
member of the First Baptist
Church. Only a few weeks ago she
and Mr. Williams celebrated thair
60th wedding anniversary.
Survivors include her husband;
two daughters, Mrs. Coman Shear
of Alice and Mrs.' Gail Dudley of
Comanche; add three sons, Har-
old Williams, DeLeon; Herbert of.
Comanche and Walter Williams, of
Brownwood.
Rev. and Mrs. Russell Murphy
■pent Sunday with Rev. and Mrs.
L. P. Parker. Rev. Murpbv is pas-
tor of ths Presbyterian church at
Bridgeton. New Jersey. He preoch
ed in the local Presbyterian church
Swday morning. The Mur-
tneir winter viciuon.
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Higgs, Rufus F. Stephenville Empire-Tribune (Stephenville, Tex.), Vol. 78, No. 3, Ed. 1 Friday, January 16, 1948, newspaper, January 16, 1948; Stephenville, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1134897/m1/1/: accessed July 8, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Dublin Public Library.