The Big Lake Wildcat (Big Lake, Tex.), Vol. 47, No. 20, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 18, 1972 Page: 1 of 8
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HreI
oiijt itaKf wildcat
ri«Mifi»d Adi For
Quick Results!
re You A To^r. Builder?
Always Boost Biff Lake!
NUMBER 20
BIG LAKE, REAGAN COUNTY, TEXAS MAY 18, 1972
Single Copy — 10c
VOLUME 47
BEST OVERALL PROJECT
ienior Graduation
Sunday, 8:00 P. M
A. W. Billingsley
Buried In Waco
CHRIS HAYES
Walnut Vanity Desk
Advanced Woodwork -1 st Place
m
STEVE GEORGE
Walnut Indian Relic Case
Woodwork - 1st Place
DAVID TARVIN
Walnut Queen Size Bed
Mr.and Mrs. Stanley Pejaszek
of Aurora, Colo, a suburb of
Colorado Springs, who are pa-
rents of Mrs. E.S. McWilliams,
came to Big Lake for about two
weeks to be present for gradua-
tion ceremonies and end of
school activities of their grand-
daughter Karen McWilliams.
Chris Hayes Has
Best Overall Project
In Shop Display
Chris Hayes, RCHS senior,
received the Best Overall
Award plaque for his beautiful-
ly finished walnut vanity desk
in the Annual Shop Display in
the foyer of the high school
auditorium Tuesday. The dis-
play is the highlight of the .
school year for the shop classes
under direction of Jerry Floyd
as the public inspects the vari-
ous projects following the judg-
ing. Chris is the son of Mr.
and Mrs. Tommy Hayes, Sr.
Steve George took first place
in Advanced Woodwork with
his Walnut Indian Relic Case.
Second place went to Dean
Storey for his Walnut and
Limba Home Entertainment
System, and third place was
Keith Tarvin’s Walnut Corner
Gun Case.
First place in Woodwork went
to David Tarvin for his Walnut
Queen Size Bed. Second place
was Joe Cortez's Red Gum
Coffee Table and End Tables,
and third was a Maple Cedar
Chest by Johnny Hickman.
In General Shop, Charles
Heintzelman took first place
with his Maple and Walnut
Bed Stand. Joe Bass Arnett
took second place with his
Walnut Blanket Chest, and
third place went to Richard
Way for his Solid Oak Storage
and Gun Case.
Texon Reunion In
County Park June 11
Invitations, reminders have
been mailed to friends and old-
timers, former Texonites, to
attend the Texon Reunion Sun-
day, June 11 which will be held
in Reagan County park north of
the swimming pool off 12th St.
Indications are that about
300 will be attending.
This is the fourth such re-
union for former residents, em-
ployees and friends of the form-
er Plymouth Oil Company, Big
Lake Oil Company and Mara-
thon Oil Company since the
camp was de-activated in 1962.
Held every two years, the first
three reunions took place in the
Texon Camp Picnic Grounds
which still retained the huge
elm trees for shade, and
when water was available.
The facilities in Reagan Coun-
ty Park were not quite ready for
full use of die 1970 reunion, but
more than adequate tables and
electrical outlets have been
completed since the summer of
1970.
This year the food will be
catered at $2.50 for adults and
$1.25 for children. The public
is asked to reply Bertha Delz or
Fern Kosel, Texon 76954 if
they plan to attend. If unable
to plan ahead, please attend
anyway
Mr. and Mrs. Puckett
Are Collision Victims
Returning home about 10:30
o'clock Sunday night, Mr.and
Mrs.A. W.Puckett were the
victims, hospitalized with in-
juries sustained from a head-on
collision with the driver of a
1964 Chevrolet traveling east
passing a pickup in a no-pass-
ing zone.
The accident occured about
13 miles west of Mertzon on
Hwy. 67 on the hill nearby the
Sam Chaney ranch home.
The driver, apparently un-
hurt at the scene, was traveling
east from Fort Stockton.
Mrs. Puckett was brought to
Reagan Memorial Hospital by
Mr.and Mrs.Norman Guess who
arrived immediately after the
accident happened.A Big Lake
Volunteer ambulance brought
Little League Bar-B-Q
Saturday Evening
The barbecue benefitting Rea-
gan County Little League takes
place Saturday evening, 6
o'clock, at the picnic grounds
of Reagan County Park north of
the swimming pool.
Frank Sandel of Globe Well
Service is staging the barbecue,
doing the cooking, using the
facilities of Garland's Steak
House for the beans, etc. that
goes with the barbecue plate.
He furnishes the barbecue and
all die food, and the ticket
sales at a $1 each for both adults came 1X5 Angelo State from
Mr. Puckett to Big Lake. He
suffered broken ribs, a head con-
Mrs. Kosel reported that many cussion, multiple skin lacera
plan to attend who haven't in
Rainfall in May Now
Totals 2.65 Inches
Rainfall over the week end
brought the total for the month
of May to 2.65 inches. On
Thursday, May 11, .10 of an
inch was recorded . Then . 12
on May 14 and .21 on May 15.
These readings are for 8:00
a.m. each day for the pre-
ceding 24-hour period.
High temperature for May
has been 86 degrees on May
14. The low was 49 degrees
on May 3.
Rainfall: May 2, .11; May 3,
.09; May 6, .63; May 8, .09;
May 10, 1.30; May 11, .10;
May 14, .12; and May 15, .21.
several years, and some who
haven’t been back to their
childhood home area. In the
last ten years many changes ,
have taken place in the lives
of former Texonites and this
year the children are bringing
perhaps the one parent remain-
ing in die family, along with
their own children and grand-
children.
Mr. and Mrs.R. W. Cammack
leave Saturday on a vacation
of two weeks. They'll go to
Buras, La. where they attend
high school graduation exer-
cises of their daughter, Loretta
Cammack, then go on to
Florida to meet the family of
Loretta's fiance, Jimmy
Johnson, and other relatives.
4-H Club Play Day
Saturday, May 20
Two Play Days have been
scheduled for the summer sea-
son by Reagan County 4H Club
and the first takes place Satur-
day, May 20. All ages, Sub-
Junior, Junior and Senior events
are planned.
Starting at 1 p.m. pole bend-
ing, barrel racing, calf roping
will provide the fun, entertain-
ment for local 4H members
Saturday.
Visitors in the home of the
Clay W. Barbee's for Mothers
Day were Mr. and Mrs. Fred
Teagarden, Jr. of San Angelo
and their children, Ted, Amy,
and Timothy.
General Shop - 1st Place
Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Arnett
of Hugo, Okla. arrived early
this week to attend various end
of school and graduation events i
of Reagan County High with
their grandson, Billy Hal Ar-
nett, a senior, Joe Bass Arnett
and their mother, Mrs. Pi tty
Arnett.
tions and bruises.Mrs. Puckett
has a broken left hand, multi-
ple skin lacerations and body
bruises.
No official details can be
learned at this time, however
it is estimated that both cars
resulted in total damage.The
driver of the Chevrolet kept
coming toward the Fhickett's
1970 Dodge Polermo, crossing
all yellow stripes to take to the
same barrow ditch on the Puck-
ett 's right hand side.
"Airport" Is Feature
At Taylor Theatre
Coming up this week end at
the Taylor Theatre Friday,
Saturday, and Sunday is "Air-
port", with a super cast head-
ed by Burt Lancaster, Dean
Martin, Jean Seberg and Jac-
queline Bisset. Other stars
include George Kennedy, Helen
Hayes, Van Heflin, Maureen
Stapleton, Barry Nelson, Lloyd
Nolan, Dana Wynten and Bar-
bara Hale.
"Airport", based on the best
seller book by Arthur Hailey,
is a powerful suspense drama
that takes place at night during
a seven-hour period while an
international airport in the mid-
west is plagued by a crippling
blizzard, a mired airplane
that blocks a vital runway and
a second jetliner trying to
limp back home after surviving
a mid-air bomb blast.
Burt Lancaster portrays the
dedicated, hard-hitting Mel
Bakersfield, the airport manag-
er fighting to keep his airport
operative. Dean Martin is
Vernon Demerest, the pilot
of the crippled Boeing 707.
"Airport" has been rated "G-
General audiences. All ages
admitted."
Johnny Cox, son of Mr.and
Mrs. Lester Ratliff, underwent
major surgery again about two
weeks ago, a major bone graft
on his left leg about four
inches below the hip. Ratliff
was injured in an auto'-truck
collision the first week in
March and had been hospi-
talized since then. From re-
cent medical reports he will
be hospitalized for at least two
more months, according to
progress of this recent bone
graft. He has been moved to
Room 853, University Hospital,
Augusta, Ga. 30901 where
friends may write to him.
His family which includes a
five year old daughter and a
year old son, live in Thompson,
Ga.
CHARLES HEINTZELMAN
Maple and Walnut Bed Stand
Mrs. Larry Wright of Houston
and their daughter, Louise,
arrived late Monday to spend
a few days in Big Lake with
Dr. and Mrs. J.L. Wright, Jr.
and family.
Fifty-six seniors of the Class
of 1972 will be candidates for
graduation from Reagan County
High School Sunday evening
at 8:00p.m. Combined bacca-
laureate and commencement
exercises will be held in the
high school auditorium.
Dr. Hugh E. Meredity of San
Angelo, vice-president of
Angelo State University, will
deliver the commencement
address to the graduates.
Dr. Meredith has been pro-
fessor of German and dean of
the university since 1967. His
promotion to vice-president
was announced last week. He
and children goes to the opera-
tion of Little League and Minor
League.
Tickets will also be on sale
at the picnic grounds, and serv-
ing begins at 6 o'clock sharp.
A. W. BILLINGSLEY
Funeral services for Albert
Walter (Bill) Billingsley, 83,
former sheriff and tax col-
lector - assessor of Reagan
County, were held at 2:30
p.m. Monday at Wilkerson
Heights Funeral Home Chapel
in Waco, with burial in Waco.
He died Saturday at 7:00 a.m.
in the Veterans Hospital in
Marlin.
Mr. Billingsley was bom
October 8,1888 in Mathis. He
served in World War I with the
U.S. Army in France. Several
years later he was married to
Miss Ruth Clonch, May 19,1924.
The Billingsleys moved to Big
Lake about 1925, and he work-
ed as a cable tool driller in
the Texon area during the first
oil boom days.
He was appointed to serve out
the unexpired term of R.W.
Weatherby in the latter part of
1929 and 1930 as sheriff and
tax collector of Reagan County.
Ellison Carroll held the office
in 1931 and 1932. Billingsley
was then elected in November
1932 and took office January 1,
1933. He was elected sheriff
and tax collector-assessor in
November 1934 when the as-
sessors' office was combined
with the other two. He served
in that capacity until elected
tax collector-assessor in No-
vember 1956 and assumed
office January 1, 1957. The
sheriff and tax offices were
separated by a special election!
held November 19, 1955.
Billingsley then served as tax
collector-assessor until the end
of 1964 when he retired, having
served in the sheriff and tax
offices nearly 33 years. He and
Mrs.Billingsley moved to Waco
several years ago.
He was a past master and a
life memba: of Big Lake Lodge
No. 1203, A.F.&A.M., a
member of El Paso Scottish
Rite Bodies, and a member of
the El Maida Shrine Temple
at El Paso.
He is survived by his wife,
Mrs. Ruth Billingsley, a for-
mer long-time elementary
school teacher here.
Attending the services in
Waco Monday were; Mrs.
Christine Gardner, Miss Flossie
Coates, Mrs. Ben Featherston,
James L. Proffitt and P.H.
Coates. Mr. Proffitt and Mr.
Coates served as pallbearers.
Mr.and Mrs.Don Childs are
moving to West ' exas about
June 4-5. They have accepted
positions in the Grandfalls
School System. Childs will be
head football coach and teach
PE.Mrs. Childs, the former Sha -
ron Whitley, will continue to
teach second grade.
Both have been in the Mes-
quite school system. They have
purchased a mobile home to
have placed in Grandfalls.
Three RCHS Grads
Get Degrees At ASU
Tommy Miller, son of Mr.
and Mrs. E.T. Miller received
his Bachelor of Science degree*,
with a major in physical edu-
cation from Angelo State
University Friday night in open
air ceremonies held on the
campus. Miller has been work-
ing, going to school part time
and Mrs. Miller has been
teaching high school English
and art literature in the Mert-
zon School system for the past
two years. The couple have a
son Eugene Tommy, three
years old . Miller hopes to
obtain a coaching, teaching
position in the West Texas
area.
James Ratliff, son of Mr.and
Mrs. Lester Ratliff, received
a Bachelor of Science degree
with a major in physical edu-
cation and a minor in English
from Angelo State University
Friday evening in graduation
exercises. Ratliff has been
a member of Angelo State U
football squad, attending on a
sports scholarship and working
parttime. This spring he was
assigned to the student coach-
ing staff of the University.
Mrs. Ratliff has been working
at Nathan’s Jewelers in San
Angelo.
Eddie Clark Burkett, son of
Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Burkett, now
of Midland, was listed among
those graduates who received
a BBA degree, Bachelor of Busi-
ness Administration.He finish-
ed study at the close of the
fall semester and has been in
San Antonio since February,
working in a bank.
Two Car Collision
Injures Three Persons
Mr. and Mrs. Payne Hender-
son, Jr. of Midkiff and Mrs.
John Wade of Best are in Rea-
gan Memorial Hospital as the
result of injuries from a two-
car collision Sunday at 4:15
p.m. on Highway 67 in front
of the Big Lake Country Club.
Henderson was driver of a 1962
Chevrolet headed west, and
Miss Linda Wade of Best was
driver of a 1971 Ford and start-
ed to turn around in front of
the club.
Mrs. Henderson was thrown
from their car following the
impact. Texas Highway Patrol-
man Vick Atwood investigated
the accident.
Mr. and Mrs.A. Foster spent
Mothers Day with his parents,
Mr. and Mrs. R.W. Foster, in
San Angelo.
Tommy Clifton, son of Mr.
and Mrs. Lawrence Clifton of
Fort Stockton, is among Fort
Stockton High School seniors
who receive their diplomas
Friday, May 26. The Cliftons
were long-time Big Lake resi-
dents and moved to Fort Stock-
ton last year. Tommy was on
the RCHS Owls' golf team here
last year.
Southwest Texas-State in San .
Marcos where he was professor
and chairman of the Depart-
ment of Modern Languages,
1959-1967, and director of the
Peace Corps Training Center,
1965-1967.
Dr. Meredith holds M.A.and
Ph.D degrees from the Uni-
versity of Texas at Austin in
Germanic Languages. He ob-
tained his B.A. degree from
Oklahoma Baptist University
at Shawnee, and has a B.D.
degree from Southwestern Bap-
tist Theological Seminary in
Fort Worth and International
Theological Seminary in
Zurich, Switzerland.
The graduation exercises open
with the Processional, "Sinfon-
ians” by Williams, played by
the Reagan County High School
Band under the direction of
Mike Barry. The invocation
will be given by Rev. George
Dixon, pastor of the First Bap-
tist Church. This will be fol-
lowed by the Pledge of al-
legiance, led by RobertMagru-
der, high school principal.
A choral number, "Walk
Into Your World, " by Ruth
Bancsi, will be presented by
the High School Mixed Choir.
The commencement address
by Dr. Meredith follows.
Next comes the presentation
of awards by Ben Featherston,
Superintendent of Schools.
Mr. Magruder will introduce
the graduates, and they will
be presented their diplomas
by Dr. Cleon S. Nunnally,
president of the school board.
The Senior Class will then
sing the School Song, followed
by the benediction by Rev.
Travis B. McNair, pastor of
the First United Methodist
Church. The recessional,
"Pomp and Circumstance", by
Elgar, will be played by R. A.
Wallace.
Officers of the 1972 Senior
Class are Barry Benton, presi-
dent; Merle Richardson, vice-
president; Gina Hickman,
secretary-treasurer; and Mike
Massey, reporter.
Candidates for graduation
include the following seniors:
Billy Hal Arnett, Robbie At-
wood, Becky Baggett, Craig
Barnes, Barry Benton, Melissa
Bird, Karen Cain, Eddie Car-
ter, Danny Dane, Judi Dison,
Richard Dominguez, Debra
Dykes, Cindy Emert, Bill
Ferguson, Carolyn Freeman,
Bill Ftiend, Johnny Gay, Rob-
ert Goehring*. Rosalinda Gon-
zales*, Terrie Lackey Gran-
berry, Carla Harris*, Chris
Hayes, Charles Heintzelman,
Gina Hickman, Blain Holland,
Ray Hunter, Doby Johnson,
Caron Johnson, Waynette Jones
Debbie Kiser, Hilda Kruse,
Gwen Luckie, Karen McWil-
liams*, Jimmy Martin*, Mike
Massey, Pete Midkiff, Teddla
Miller, Jeanine Neill, Jack
Oliver, Mark Rackley, Mike
Ratliff, Merle Richardson, Don
Richmond*, Ricky Roach*,
James Robertson, Robert Simon,
Connie Smith, Pam Smith,
Debbie Sparks, Dean Storey,
Bob Stout, Jeff Surls, Keith
Tarvin, Karry Tinney, Charles
Turner, and Barbara Ybarra*.
Rrance's "Legion of Honor"
was instituted in 1802.
*
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Werst, J. L., Jr. & Werst, Mrs. J. L., Jr. The Big Lake Wildcat (Big Lake, Tex.), Vol. 47, No. 20, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 18, 1972, newspaper, May 18, 1972; Big Lake, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth615162/m1/1/: accessed June 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Reagan County Library.