The Cherokeean. (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 117, No. 39, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 11, 1965 Page: 1 of 16
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Microfilm Servioe * Sales
P. 0. Box 8066
Dallas, Texas
I
i
Hospital's Dilemma is Public Apathy and Lack of Funds
1
I
I
By DON BUCHANAN
NtWi Editor
"There is nothing wrong with
this hospital that a little more
money or concern from the out-
side could not cure. But people
don't care, so what difference
does it make what I think? I
must be 'nuts' anyway, or I
wouldn't be here."
These words came directly from
a patient in Rusk State Hospital's
Maximum Security Unit where
the majority of the criminally in-
eano of our state are confined.
The speaker was a young white
male in his late twenties or ear-
ly thirties who had met in a
group therapy session with ten
other patients and a psychologist.
The patient's sentiments are
echoed by Harry MeCormick, a
reporter from The Dallas Morn-
ing News, who, on March 8, wrote
in that newspaper: "The crux of
the problem has been the lack
I'Round.. J
| Town !
I WITH ROUNDABOUT i
Most of Roundabout's time and
thought tin* past week has been
devoted lo our Rusk State Hos-
pital. The Houston Post's feature
article suggesting the Maximum
Security Unit be moved to that
city created a great deal of con-
cern lo all of our citizens.
O
Tflie following editorial, pub-
lished in The llallas Morning News
Monday, probably reflects the
feeling of the majority of Tcxans.
Here is how The Dallas News feels
concerning Houston's bid to move
Maximum Security . . ,
Citi/ens of Rusk have much on
their side in iip|M>siiig an> re-
moval of the maximum security
unit of the «tat - hospital located
in their city. The proposal now
before the legislature to divorce
this unit from the state mental
hospital and place it under the
state penitentiary system culls for
the most careful consideration be-
fore a decision is reached.
The Rusk State Hospital is one
of the oldest of the state's institu-
tions for the mentally ill. It has
Ioiir been the principal one hous-
ing persons charged with major
crimes of violence but who have
been adjudged insane.
Removal to II o u s t o n of the
criminal unit, even though some
mental patients remained, would
radically reduce the status of the
hospital at Rusk. As spokesmen
for Rusk point out, the move it-
siiTf would call for construction
oí a new ultramodern security un-
it elsewhere and prove costly.
They also believe that the pay
of custodial employes would be
far greater in a larger city than
in Rusk.
The adverse effect of such a
move on the economy of Rusk,
an Kast Texas community of on-
ly 5,000 |MMiplc, deserves consid-
eration. This should not be para- ,
mount, for no (own or city has
an inherent vested right to the
financial benefits from any state
institution. Itut burden of proof I
of greater savings to the state 1
rests upon those who argue for
relocation.
(>
Councilman M. <«. Higgins made
a motion at last night's council
meeting renewing the old con-
troversy as to whether the of-
fices of city police chief, city
secretary and city attorney should
be elective or appointive offices.
Higgins presented a |M>tition, cir-
mlatcd last May, asking the coun-
cil to make the jobs elective a-
gain.
See ROUNDABOUT, Page 8
O
of money for salaries high enough
to attract competent personnel,
in the medical as well as man-
agerial posts, hospital officials
have said."
Trained personnel is only one
of the problema caused by a lack
of funds in mental institutions
such as the one in Rusk. Those
people who are capable and who
have received training in how to
deal with the mentally ill find
themselves trying to administer
to an impossible number of pa-
tients.
TREATMENT
As an example of the problem,
there are currently 347 criminally
insane patients on the wards in
the Maximum Security Unit and
only three trained psychiatrists,
two of whom are part-time em-
ployees, and three psychologists
available to the patients.
The only full-time psychiatrist,
Dr. Arch Connolly, is also the
chief psychiatrist at RSH and
must devote a large pari of his
time to other patients, corres-
pond with relatives, attend ad-
ministrative meetings, and be
available for court healings.
The two part-time psychiatrists,
Dr. A. J. Bankhcad of Tyler and
Dr. Doyle Bnashear of Lufkin,
come to the Maximum Security
Unit once a week.
Two of the psychologists hold
group therapy sessions with ap-
proximately 12 to 14 patients twice
a week for sessions lasting usual-
ly about an hour and a half Dr.
Connolly is also conducting a
group therapy session. With such
a limited staff, all |>atients do not
have the opportunity to engage
in sessions of this sort, they say.
It would be almost impossible
to state just exactly how much
time the average patient receives
in ti'eatment of this type each
week, but an approximate guess
would be about six minutes a
week.
Dr. Connolly says, "Individual
psycho-therapy Is vei-y limited
due to our small staff. Tranqui-
lizers and anti-depressants consti-
tute the major treatment for the
psychotic in-patients."
"Electric shock treatments and
insulin-coma treatments are also
available for the patients who
need them, in fact every type of
medical treatment that a patient
would get in any mentid hospital
is available."
"Many of the patients here do
not have a major mental illness
and some public health officials
feel that the attendants could be
given a little training and used
as recreational and occupational
therapists. They already function
to a certain degree as industrial
and educational therapists, they
help the patients in correspond-
ence courses and other similar
tasks."
'Die doctor also {«tints out that
all patients receive semi-annual
psychiatric and medical screen-
ings.
Dr. Lex Neal attends to the or-
dinary medical needs of the pa-
tients in the Maximum Security
Unit. If an emergency arises, he
is called behind the fence. At
other times, the sick patient is
taken down to the hospital for
out patient treatment. All patients
who are over 10 years of age or
who show a positive skin test are
given chest x-rays.
TlIK ATTENDANTS
At the present time there are
9ti attendants working behind the
fences which separate the Maxi-
mum Security Unit from the rest
of the buildings at Rusk State
Hospital. When a full crew is in
force, there are IOS attendant.:,
according to Delmon Mayos, chief
supervisor of the Maximum Se-
curity Unit since It opened in
September, 1954.
These attendants are ki con-
stant contact with the 347 crim-
inally insane patients, most of
whom were sent to Rusk because
they committed murder, or rape,
or armed robbery. Approximately
half of the patients have com-
mitted murder.
The attendants are allowed to
carry no weapons of any type,
not even a pocket knife. If a pa-
tient becomes unruly, the attend-
ants must subdue him with their
bare liands nnd with the aid of
certain other patients in whom
they place trust.
The average number of patients
on each of the six wards in the
three, two-story brick buildings is
50 to 60. The average number of
attendants to care for these pa-
tients during the day is five to
six. At night, there are usually
three attendants on the top floors
at
in
Th¡s ¡¡sue The Cherokeean
TEXAS OLDEST WEEKLY NEWSPAPER, ESTABLISHED AT THE PIONEER JULY 5, 18{7
and two attendants on the bot-
tom floors. The attendants are
locked in with the patients on
each ward during the day and
night the patients are locked
the one large sleeping room nm
their particular wand.
When an attendant is sick or
taking a day off, the ward is just
short one man.
Attendants who work In the
Maximum Security Unit draw
slightly higher pay than attend-
ants in other parts of the hospital.
Average pay for these attend-
ants is $250-5275 per month, or
about $65 a week. Because there
is a lack of fun<ls to provide high
er salaries for the attendants,
they must supplement their in-
comes by holding down another
job or their wives must work.
During their time off, the attend-
ants raise cattle, farm, work in
grocery stores and service sta-
See RSH DILEMMA, Page 7
SERVING RUSK WITH
DISTINCTION FOR
117 Years
VOLUME 117
RUSK, TEXAS
THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 1965
16 PAGES
NUMBER 3
Rusk Unit Support Gains Momentum
LUKE THORNTON TO SPEAK
Sports Banquet
Planned Tonight
PAUL COX
Rusk Chamber
Pledges RSH
Unit Support
A ni eel i n £ of the Rusk
Chamber of Commerce Board
of Directors with Rusk Hos-
pital Superintendent, Dr. Chas.
W. Castner was held1 Tuesdny
morning in the Chamber of-
fioes.
Free discussion of existing
conditions, and future needs
were aired at the sessirn.
The Chamber pledged its
support of the State Hospital.
As an outgrowth of Tuesday's
session, several plans for put-
. ting this support into action
were launched.
CC president, Buddy Hinton,
presided at the meeting-
Named To
Methodist
Dist. Post
Dr. Stanley Carter, District
Superintendent of the Palestine
District of the Methodist Church,
has announced that Paul B. Cox
of I his city has been named Dis-
trict Director of Men's Work for
the Palestine District of the Tex-
as Methodist, Conference.
"This is one of the high honors
bestowed uf>on laymen of the
Methodist Church," commented
Rev. Jewel McClure, pastor of
the local Methodist Church.
Mr. Cox will be working with
the Palestine District staff of the
Methodist Church in the area of
Men's Biblp Classes, and the work
of the Methodist Men. He was
the unanimous choice of the Dis-
trict Superintendent, the District
lay staff and the ministers.
He has been very active in the
work of the local church. He has
solved as Chairman of the Board,
Church Lay L e a d e r, and has
taught the Men's Bible Class for
the past nine years.
Cox recently completed a ten-
ure of twelve years as County
Attorney, a |mst to which he did
not seek re-election.
A local attorney, ho is active
in all phases of civic work. He is
a member of the Masonic Lodge
here, and has served in the ca-
pacity of District Deputy Grand
Master of the Rust Texas Dis-
trict. He is also an active mem-
tier of the Rusk Lions Club, hav-
ing scived as a member of the
boa id of directore. He luis held
See NAMED, Page 8
Rusk High School athletes, their
parents, coaches in the high
school athletic department, and
I fans of the Eagles will assemble
tonight for the annual All-Sport
Banquet.
The banquet will be held in the
fellowship Haill of the Rusk First
Methodist Church at 7 p.m. Tic-
kets are on sale now and will be
available at the door. Purchases
of tickets may be made at Cit-
| izens State Bank, First State
Bank, and Beall Brothers.
Luke Thornton, coach of the
Palestine Wildcats who took the
State Triple A crown earlier this
year, will be the special guest
speaker at the banquet. Thorton
was named "Coach of the Year"
1 among high school football coa-
ches for his efforts in leading the
team to their victory.
Thorton is scheduled to discuss
the benefits of a well-rounded at-
hletic program to a school and to
the athletes themselves.
i The banquet, which has become
jan annual affair, is sponsored each
year by the Rusk Quarterback
Club in cooperation with Head
Coach Doyle Brooks. The ban-
' quel honors all participants in
the major sports available to
Rusk students, football, baskot-
' ball, track, baseball, etc.
One of the highlights of this
year's banquet will be the pre-
sentation of a trophy to the ath-
lete selected by his fellow stu-
I dents as the "Best all-Round At-
hlete". The award, which is the
| first of its type to be offered, was
donated by E. H. Whitehead on
behalf of The Cherokeean and
j Radio Station KTLU. The athlete
i chosen for the honor will have
his name engraved on the trophy
! which will be placed in Rusk
High School's trophy case.
I Also at the banquet, lcttor-
i mien in the various sports will
l>e presented and letter jackets
will be awaided.
Those people in charge of ar-
rangements for the banquet and
their duties include: Henry West-
brook, ticket sales; Mr. and Mrs.
Leon Pledger, food; Mrs. Ray-
m o n d Vermillion, decorations,
land Doyle Brooks, program.
Master of Cermonies for the
night will be Gerald Chapman,
superintendent of the Rusk schools.
Don Crysup, president of the
Rusk Quarterback Club said. "We
are all very proud of our Eagles
ami the fine record they have
compiled duiing this past season.
They have put forth their best
effort all year and now it is ap-
propriate that we recognize this
fact. We hope all sports fans
will be in attendance at the ban-
quet tonight and make this one
of the best All-Sports Banquets
ever held in Rusk.
City Dailies Pledge
Unbiased Reporting
Rusk's proposal to improve Maximum Security Unit at Rusk
State Hospital continues to gain support after the Houston Post's
feature on conditions inside the fence. The Post told of plans to
build an ultra-modem six million dollar facility in Houston.
The Cherokeean went on record last week opposing the pro-
posed move, and urged that the present facilities be enlarged and
improved.
The Dallas Morning News sent Fred Pass, head of its East
Texas Bureau, lo this city last Friday and presented its readers
~~ «iCD/Ñrñ I Rusk's proposals io Improve con-
UN McnuER ! ditions of the existing Maximum
Security Unit. Harry McCormlck,
one of the Dallas News' top writ-
ers, gave two very enlightening
reports concerning conditions of
several state mental institutions.
JAMES POWELL, a sophomore student at Rusk
High School, will have in competition at next
week's Junior Livestock Show here, the above
registered Polled Hereford Heifer. James is a
first year ag student, and the above animal
marks -his initial investment in a planned herd
development program. He is the son of Mr. and
COMMISSIONERS HEAR J VILLE DELEGATION
Mrs. D. II Powell of Husk. The 15-month old
Heifer will be shown and' judged at the Rodeo
Arena Friday. March l!)th during the 17th an-
nual Kiwanis Club sponsored Junior Stock Show.
The event is open to FFA and Ml youth of
the county. —Staff Photo
Rusk And
ReklawTo
Vote Sat.
Two elections Saturday, one in
Rusk, and one in Reklaw. will de-
termine whether or not the Rek-
law school will merge with Rusk.
Residents of the respective dis-
tricts will vote from 8 a.m. until
7 p.m.—Reklaw voters at their
school building, and Ruskites at
City Hall.
LocfUly, Rusk residents have
expressed the opinion that Rek-
law will be warmly welcomed in-
to this district. It is hoped by of-
ficials, that a large voter turn-
out in the affirmative Saturday,
i will indicate the sincerity of this
welcome.
Should the election carry, as
everyone seems to feel it will,
the Rusk District will become
what is commonly called a coun-
ty-line school district with ter-
ritory extending into two coun-
ties—Cherokee and Rusk coun-
ties. Residents of Rusk County
See SAT. VOTE, Page 8
"Lack of funds is the crux of
the problem," MeCormick report-
ed.
Support to expand and improve
the Rusk facility has been pledged
by W R Beaumier, publisher of
The Lufkin Daily News, also Cal-
vin (Hyde, head of the Tyler Cour-
ier Tithe?; Telegraph. E. B. Jolly,
publisher of the Jacksonville Jour-
nal is giving editorial support in
his Thursday publication. Maris
Fletcher, representing the Jack-
sonville Progress said that publi-
eation would also support the
move to keep Maximum Security
here.
Bob Bowman, head of the East
Texas Bureau for The Houston
Chronicle, visited Rusk State Hos-
pital Wedne- 'l ty. He told Chero-
keean publisher K II. Whitehead
that "fair reporting" would be
given Rusk in the Chronicle.
A Cherokee County delegation
will meet with W P. Hobby, Jr.
of The Houston Post Thursday af-
ternoon. Re ,sons for expanding
and improving the existing facil-
ities will be pointed out to Mr.
Hobby.
See RUSK UNIT, Page 8
Sub-Courthouse Proposed
Cherokee County Commissioners
told a seven-man delegation from
Jacksonville that they would take
under consideration a proposal
made by the delegation to estab-
lish a sub-courthouse in Jackson-
ville at a later date.
Although' no definite date for
another study of the matter was
set, County Judge J. W. Chand-
ler reported lo The Cherokeean
Tuesday afternoon that the pro-
posal would probably not be tak-
en up for at least another year.
The Jacksonville delegation was
composed of B. H. Brolles, A. A.
Hall, Dave Sanders, Jr., Art Gar-
rett, J. A. May, Earl McGaughey,
and Chamber of Commerce man-
ager, Bob Eltelman.
The delegation requested that
the County construct an inexpen-
sive building in Jacksonville to
house representatives and clerks
from the main offices in the tIn County is obligated to furnish
courthouse in Rusk. 'ITtey also facilities.
requested office s|>a<v for repto It \\a> also suggested that of-
sontatives of the agencies which See SL'B-OH'RTIK>USE, Page 8
AFTER 44 YEARS
J. C. Williams Completes
Long Tenure í'oCii y Council
resigned to avoid
of interest" when
a con-
bis TV
franchise
was
J. C. Williams, who has served head
on Rusk's city council longer than fliel
any man in Texas, sal through Cable Company
his last regular meeting Tuesday changed.
night. Williams announced last Chief topu of discussion at the
Thursday that ho would not be Tuesday night meeting was pre-
a candidate for re-election after ¡mention of a petition asking that
•M years of continues service. officios of oily police thief, city
Following the resignation last secretary, and city attorney be
month by Mayor K. H. White- made elective instead of appoint-
head, Williams took over the re- tve.
Igjis as Mayor Pro Tern. White- See COUNCIL, Page 8
mm í
íi i
JOHNNY WILLIAMS
Ende 44 Years as Rusk City Councilman
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Whitehead, E. H. The Cherokeean. (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 117, No. 39, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 11, 1965, newspaper, March 11, 1965; Rusk, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth150591/m1/1/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Singletary Memorial Library.