The Tulia Herald (Tulia, Tex.), Vol. 87, No. 20, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 18, 1995 Page: 1 of 20
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Tulia Herald
Serving The Finest People In The Richest Land
VOL. 87 NO. 20
THE TULIA (Swisher County) HERALD THURSDAY, MAY 18,1995
Memorial Dedicated For Slain Officer
By Chris Russett
Herald Publisher
A permanent memorial has been established in the lobby of the Tulia Police
Department in honor of Robert Henry Potter. The dedication ceremony was held
in die Tulia City Council chambers this Saturday.
The dedication was attended by family, friends, members of the police
department, Mayor John Emmitt and Bryan Easum, city manager.
Bob Potter was killed in the line of duty on Christmas morning, 1960. He was
gunned down by three escaped felons from Indiana during the commission of a
burglary at what is now the Y-8 Bronze foundry.
Officer Potter was bom May 8,1919. He was the son of Henry and Kate Evans
Potter. He grew up in Tulia and attended school here.
On March 8,1941, he and the former Marzelle Hicks were married. They are
the parents of three children, Sue Potter Tanner, Bruce Potter (now deceased), and
Danny J. Potter. During the war, he was in the U.S. Army for 4 1/2 years, 21/2 years i
in the Pacific Theater in a combat unit.
On Jan. 1,1955 he was sworn in asdeputy to Sheriff Darrell Smith. Smith wrote
of him, "Bob was a real good officer and a good man."
After 4 1/2 years as deputy, Officer Potter left to run for sheriff but withdrew
from the election to accept the assistant chief position.
At the time of his death he had been with the police department for a little more
than half a year.
Chief Roberts said of Officer Potter, "He was as good an officer as ever served
in this part of the country. I knew that whatever action he took in.his last case was
the action he felt necessary to fulfill his duties and to protect his community."
Officer Potter was known to be a dedicated Christian. He sometimes took
prisoners to church with him on Sunday. He was active in the Calvary Baptist
Church.
More than 1,000 friends, fellow Tulians and law enforcement officers from
around the Panhandle gathered to pay last respects. He was laid to rest in Rose Hill
Cemetery.
Officer Max Whitworth led the dedication ceremony:
"I'd like to welcome the family, friends and officials who have joined here
SUE POTTER TANNER, Marzelle Potter Arnold and Danny Potter after
the unveiling of the Potter Memorial. Marzelle holds the City of Tulia
citation proclaiming May 15 as Robert Henry Potter Day. Officer Potter
was killed In the line of duty Christmas Day, 1960. Please see the
proclamation on the editorial page of this edition of the Herald.
—Staff photo
today in honor of Assistant Police Chief Bob Potter.
"A faithful Christian, devoted husband and father, a dedicated law enforce-
ment officer—these describe Robert Henry Potter.
"On Jan. 1,1955, Bob Potter began his career in law enforcement. He served
as a Swisher County deputy under the direction of Sheriff Darrell Smith. In May
of 1960, Deputy Potter took on the responsibilities as assistant chief of police for
the city of Tulia.
"Assistant Chief Potter’s ideas regarding young people set an example for
handling juveniles that 35 years later continue to be held by the present police chief,
Jim McCaslin, and his officers. Bob believed that kids will be kids and jail wasn't
the only solution when a young person got into some trouble. Bob believed that
for some young men and women, the 'long arm of mom and dad' was much more
effective than the 'long arm of the law.'
"There are those among us today who remember that Officer Potter was a
concerned and fair man and he sometimes took kids home and worked with their
parents in the juvenile's best interest. This kind of treatment leaves a lasting,
positive impression on everyone and that's why Bob Potter is being remembered
and honored today.
"He is remembered as a fine man who gave over and above the proverbial 110
percent and he caused the people of Tulia to feel safe, protected and cared about.
These traits alone made Bob Potter a hero in the eyes of all those who knew him,
worked with him, and came in contact with him.
"Unfortunately, such supreme devotion and never-ending dedication led to the
fateful day when Tulia truly lost one of its finest. On that Christmas Eve, 1960, Bob
watched his family open their gifts and returned to his tour of duly.
"Around 1 a.m. on Dec. 25th, Officer Potter was patrolling on Hillcrest Road
and drove upon a burglary in progress at Wayne’s Hillcrest Restaurant. He was shot
by one of three escaped convicts from Indiana who were inside the restaurant.
These escapees still had Officer Potter's gun in their possession when they were
arrested. The family, friends and co-workers of Officer Potter experienced their
worst nightmare.
"Today, we gather to honor Bob Potter for the man he was and for the life he
gave to protect and serve the people of Tulia. We also gather to show his loved ones
that he has not been and will never be forgotten. His memory and example live on
with us all today.
See Memorial Page Two
Bronze Sculptor Lance
Latham Relocates In Tulia
\
By Marsha Dickens
Herald Staff Writer
Tulia has a different type of artist in
it's midst—a bronze specialist. If you
haven’t heard of him, you should. Meet
Lance Latham, formerly of Hereford,
now living and working in Tulia. The
Latham Studio is located at Tulia Pawn
Gun & Knife Shop on the northeast
comer of the square.
Latham mctTed Knox, owner of Gun
& Knife, who offered to help set up the
foundry and promote his work. Latham
moved to Tulia in December of 1994.
Latham is noted for carving replicas
of black powder muzzle loading rifles
from the 1740 to 1850 period. The Ken-
tucky-Pennsylvania rifle is his favorite.
He makes them out of curly maple from
Ohio and Pennsylvania and says it takes
140 hours to make a basic rifle.
He has a couple of more orders to fill
and other than making a rifle for his own
pleasure he is ready to quit that work to
devote his full attention to his bronze
sculptures.
Two and a half years ago, Latham was
out with some friends. They started
talking about art and on a bet he sculpted
a piece out of a bar of soap. From there
art became a way of life to him.
Latham said for him being an artist is
a fulltime job. He sometimes works 16
to 18 hours a day.
He attended Mesa Technical College
in Tucumcari, N. M., which offers a
bronze foundry program, to develop his
talent and learn the technical aspects.
And he has done a lot of studying on his
own. He says he sold what he produced
to put himself through school.
“I've done over 37 sculptures and sold
POURING BRONZE—Artist Lance Latham Is shown here In the process
of creating his art worlcs. —Staff photo
out of several editions. That's doing all
my own casting, producing and market-
ing in the last two years. His works sell
nationwide as he has sold pieces in New
York State, New Mexico, Oklahoma
and Colorado, to name a few.
“It'sa tough
business. It takes
a lot of time,
money and
ent”
“It's one of those things where the
work chooses you, don't choose it,”
Latham stated.
“It didn't come easy. I put a lot of time
in on research before I design a piece. I
sometimes put more time in on the re-
search that I do the actual work, because
I want it to be authentic. I’ve spent a
hundred dollars on a book before but I
get a lot out of it.”
Latham grew up cowboying, ranch-
ing and farming so his old west art
comes from a natural love for the way of
life.
He has pieces in art galleries in New
Mexico and is negotiating with a gallery
in California.
He says he likes Tulia and thinks the
people are friendly. He teaches a class
on Friday and Saturday nights in his
studio.
“It's such an unusual field and it takes
so much time that you have to be real
devoted to it”
Since he has started from scratch do-
ing everything himself, he said people
have nicknamed him "the door-to-door
bronze salesman." He doesn't really go
door-to-door, but if he hears about
someone who likes his work he may
write them a letter or give them a cal I and
go and show his pieces.
“It's a tough business. It takes a lot of
time, money and talent”
Latham said his pieces of bronze art
have increased in value 125 per cent in
one year.
“Sometimes I have to bend my own
rules to satisfy a customer and I don’t
like doing that, but I have to make a
living.”
Latham is presently finshing some
pieces for orders. His foundry, behind
his work shop, is all handmade. He fires
the bronze to 2,000 degrees then wears
protective clothing to pour the hot metal
into the castings which arc cooled in
sand.
Fogerson Leaving For Abilene And New Job
By Marsha Dickens
Herald Stajf Writer
Lynda Fogerson, Home Demonstra-
tion agent for Swisher County, is leaving
to accept the same position at Taylor
County in Abilene.
“We have lived in Silvcrton for 25
years so this is quite a move for us,”
Fogerson said. “Our youngest daughter
graduated from Texas A&M and was
married last year, so we think this is a
good lime to make a change,” she con-
tinued.
Prior to working for Swisher County,
Fogerson held the same position at
Briscoe County for 11 years.
Her husband, Stanley Fogerson, has
been the school principal at Silvcrton
since 1985. He will be working at Anson
as the principal of that school.
Fogerson said she and her husband
have deep commitments to this area and
its people and it is hard to leave. But they
are excited about going to a new place
and the challenges they will face.
In Swisher County her job as Home
Demonstration agent had her wearing
many hats.
“I don't think people real izc how much
an agent does in his or her job,” she said.
Her main job is working with adult planned parenthood to name a lew.
groups, but since there is no assistant She tries to reach as many people as
agent in Swisher County she has also possible speaking to senior citizens
worked with youth in 4-H, the Head groups, teaching parenting classes.
Start program, Tulia Day Nursery and
See Fogerson Page Two
ENDING SWISHER DUTIES—Home Demonstration Agent Lynda
Fogerson will transfer from Swisher County to Taylor County In June.
She is seen here with Swisher County Extension Agent David Gibson.
—Staff photo
Old Nazareth School
Altered To Museum
Nazareth's second school building will
reopen as a museum.
The two-room school was constructed
in 1923, north of the first public school
which was built here in 1917.
In 1923, tJicrc were 163 pupils enrolled
in the Nazareth school system, known
then, Common District 4.
When the Museum Committee heard
the schools were going to construct a
new band hall, they approached the
Nazareth Independent School District
Board concerning the old school
building, which band students would
vacate.
The board agreed to give the building
property to the committee with the
stipulation that the building be moved
and transformed into a museum.
"So they (the Museum Committee)
began to search for land to purchase in
order to move the building," said
committee member Rose Mary Wilhelm.
"Victor Brockman, a native of
Nazareth, donated a plot on St. Mary
Street, south of Holy Family Catholic
Church, in memory of Lawrence and
Marie Brockman.
"At a later date, Nora Barnett, also a
native of Nazareth, purchased the old
service station here, which was built by
her father, the late Harry Kleman. She
donated it to the museum in memory of
her father. The land will be used for a
parking lot in front of the museum."
A number of volunteers at Nazareth
have been working on the old school
building.
"All volunteers, along with their
suggestions and ideas, will be
appreciated," she said.
The city, several local organizations
and a number of individuals have helped
the project along with generous
donations, Mrs. Wilhelm reported.
"But this undertaking will be
expensive—moving the building, then
to repair and restore it."
Other plans call for applying for a
state historical marker for the museum.
The old school has touched the lives of
virtually every family in Nazareth, Mrs.
Wilhelm pointed out.
’’For some families, three generations
have passed through the doors of the
school. When people reminisce about
the old school, many fond memories
come back."
To pursue these memories, the
Museum Committee decided to sell
bricks for the entry walk into the double
doors planned for the museum.
The brick is red granite which measures
12 inches by 12 inches by 1 1/2 inches
thick. Each brick contains space for 34
letters, characters and/or a space on each
of six lines.
Cost of a brick is $150. A double-
brick of 12 inches by 24 inches is $300.
A quadruple brick 24 inches by 24 inches
is priced at $600.
Any organization or business may
choose an emblem or logo lobe engraved
into a brick for an additional $50.
However, this offer will have some
limitations, Mrs. Wilhelm reported.
"Whata wonderful way to memorialize
your family name, the arrival of your
parents or grandparents to Nazareth, or
the date of the church, the school,
business or organization," she said,
"maybe even a brick with the date your
class graduated from Nazareth High
School.
"If you cannot afford a brick, any
donation, small or large, will be
appreciated."
Order forms are available at Nazareth
City Hall or several local businesses.
They also may be gotten from Nazareth
Museum, Box 7,Nazareth,Texas 79063.
Those interested could also contact
Stephen Dohmeier at 945-2553, Nonta
Hoelting at 945-2635 or Mrs. Wilhelm
at 945-2583.
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The Tulia Herald (Tulia, Tex.), Vol. 87, No. 20, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 18, 1995, newspaper, May 18, 1995; Tulia, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth507155/m1/1/: accessed July 11, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Swisher County Library.