The Pharr Press (Pharr, Tex.), Vol. 39, No. 10, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 11, 1971 Page: 1 of 6
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Pharr Memorial Library
130 E. Caffery
Pharr, Texas
★ —
The Weather
Partly Cloudy, mild temperatures
with moderate winds. Some showers
possible over wide area of S. T.
THE PHARR PRESS
10*
Comm. Center Bd.
Relieves Director
VOLUME XXXIX—NO, 10 PHARR, (HIDALGO COUNTY), TEXAS 78577 THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 1971 10c PER COPY—$3.50 PER YEAR
The board of directors of the Val-
ley Community Center in a closed
session Monday night voted not to
renew the contract of the executive
director, Frank Alford, when it ex-
pires this year, and has so notified
the Board of Missions of the United
Methodist Church in New York, the
sponsoring organization of the cen-
ter.
After a tumultous two hour meet-
ing, in which those “for” and
“'against” the executive director
spoke heatedly at times, the vote
Was 16 to 11 to accept the recom-
mendation of the personnel commit-
tee “not to renew the contract.” The
personnel committee met last week,
and in an equally heated affair, vot-
ed 5-2, with one present and not
voting, to recommend that Alford’s
contract not be extended. Alford
spoke in his own behalf at the Mon-
day night meeting.
Romeo Robles, president, presided
over the lengthy session.
Alford came to the Valley Com-
munity Center three and one-half
years ago from a San Antonio com-
munity center in the Methodist
Church group. For the first two
years, the Center continued its line
of service much as before, perform-
ing services for adults, young peo-
ple and children. An athletic pro-
gram was followed and a Boy Scout
troop was sponsored and there were
many teen-age and adult clubs that
met at the Center for their activi-
ties.
’ Policy is Changed
About two years ago, Alford
changed the policy of the Center
with most or all of the former serv-
ices stopped and the Center and he
became involved in various militant
groups, including MAYO, United
Farm Workers, in city politics,
school affairs, etc.
Controversy about the “new direc-
tion” of the Center has increased
considerably in the last six months
as the Center was used as headquar-
ters for militant groups. Criticism
has been most severe by Methodists
and non-Methodists since the vio-
lence at the Pharr police station
Feb. 6th.
When the new directors of the
board were elected last November,
a more ‘conservative” group had a
majority on the board and it was
this group that voted the executive
director out.
iContract Ends Aug. 1
Miss Dorothy Chapman of New
York City, supervisor of the com-
munity centers of the Methodist
Church, told the president of the
board in a telephone conversation
that she would comply with the
wishes of the board of directors, j
She said she could relieve Alford at |
the end of the school term (June j
1st) or at the end of his contract i
(August 1). She said that he had a
vacation due and this should be con-
sidered. She added also that she
could relieve him sooner if he and
the board could not cooperate.
The National Board of Missions
and the Women’s Division of the
United Methodist Church are the
sponsors of the Valley Community
Center here and 81 others through-
out the country.
Reasons Listed
The personnel committee, of which
Stanley Ramos was the chairman,
gave five reasons for recommend-
ing Alford’s contract not be renew-
ed, as follows: Inability to work
with church groups, especially Uni-
ted Methodist Churches; inability to
(Continued on Page 6)
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12 Indictments Returned By
Grand Jury Over Pharr Riot
’SCANDALOUS"
No
Incidents Occur
‘Protest’ March
FFA-4-H Students Have Arrti-Rabies Drive
The widely publicized “march”
from San Juan to Pharr Sunday,
March 7th, came off on schedule,
with about 500 starting in the march
and ended with 800 to 900 or more
at the Guadalupe Cemetery in north-
west Pharr an hour and thirty min-
uates later with a Mass and some
speeches by the march leaders.
The march was sponsored by va-
rious segments of the MAYO or-
ganization in the Valley and else-
where joined by leaders and others
of the United Farm Workers Organ-
izing Committee.
The march as announced by the
leaders was in protest of “alleged”
police brutality in Pharr and else-
where. The death in Pharr was not
Record Number Entries
The PSJA 4-H and FFA students , calves, Pinky Boecker the hogs and
will exhibit the largest number of
calves that they have had in the
last 10 years at the annual Valley
Livestock Show in Mercedes start-
ing next Wednesday, March 17th.
The 4-H students will show nine
calves and the FFA students five
for a total of 14. Last year, the two
groups had only six.
The number of hogs is about the
same with the 4-H clulb members
exhibiting seven and the FFA stu-
dents 14. Some students are show-
ing two hogs, in case one is sifted.
The pens of chickens are about
the same also this year as last, with
an incomplete count showing 23.
The PSJA Beef Syndicate will sup-
port the entries of all PSJA students
in the show, but only one entry in
any one category.
Tommy Reichert is selling the
March Designated
Red Cross Month
Hidalgo Co. Judge Ed Gomez has
proclaimed the month of March as
Red Cross month and he strongly
urges all citizens of the county to
heed the special S.O.S. (Support Our
Servicemen — Support Our Servi-
ces) campaign by volunteering their
time and to contribute what they can
to the local Red Cross chapter.
In his proclamation, he reminds
that the Red Cross is a familiar
friend and companion to the service-
man and his family, whether at
home or abroad. When disaster
strikes, the Red Cross is there with
food, shelter and relief for the suf-
fering — whatever is required and
needed.
And every day, the Red Cross pro-
vides blood, teaches first aid and
water safety and citizenship to to-
morrow’s citizens.
This year, the demands on the
Red Cross have been heavy and to
meet these needs, the month Of
March has been designated S.O.S.
month and all citizens are called
upon heed this call.
Larry Lyles the chickens.
In addition, a number of breeding
beef heifers, dairy heifers, and
breeding hogs will be entered in the
show by 4-H and FFA students.
Those having entries this year in
the various divisions are:
CALVES
4-H CLUB — Bobby Dyer, R. L.
Dreibelbis, Jay Dreibelbis, Corky
Dreibelbis, Rusty Reichert, Cindy
Moseley, Debbie Moseley, Teansie
Moseley, Shea Moseley. ‘
FFA CHAPTER —Jeanette Schus-
ter, Jose Martinez, Albert Gonzalez,
Ruben Fox, Jose Almanza.
HOGS
FFA CHAPTER — Celso Alvara-
do, Billy Bates, Jeff Fuller, Mark
Hansen (2), Jose Martinez, Randy
Reitzer, Linn Bledsoe, Ruben Fox,
During March
The Hidalgo County Health Dept,
in cooperation with cities in this
area is sponsoring an anti-rabies
drive during the month of March.
Inoculation stations will be set up in
the various communities and dog
owners are invited to bring their
dogs to these stations to receive the
shots and the dog tags. A veterina-
rian will be present to give the ino-
culations and issue the tags, states
R. W. Parsons of the Health Dept.
The dates, locations and hours for
the next week are as follows:
DONNA — March 12 — E. Donna
Primary School, 5 to 7 p.m.
March 13 — Water Plant, 2 to 4
p.m.
March 15 — Moyes Grocery, 5 to
7 p.m.
ALAMO — March 12 — Fire Sta-
tion, 3:30 to 5 p.m. March 13 —
Franklin School, 2 to 4 p.m.
PHARR — March 19 — St. Mar-
Steven Gage, Rodney Hempel, Mark j garet’s Church, West Hawk, 3:30 to
f Moseley, Rohny Posz, Lynn Shipp. 5 p.m.
4-H CLUB — Junior Luna, Estelle
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
TRACK MEET
The PSJA elementary schools
annual track and field meet will be
at the PSJA Stadium March 16-17,
from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon, announc-
es Richard Escober, P. E. co-
ordinator for the elementary
schools. The public is invited.
Carney (2), Sheryl Carney (2), Jan-
et Ford (2), Nolan Jeske, Anita Jes-
ke.
CHICKENS
4-H CLUB — Jeff Doss, Dill Doss,
Cindy Moseley, Debbie Moseley,
Teansie Moseley, Shea Moseley,
Janet Ford, Rodney Beamsley, Deb-
ra Kay Beamsley.
FFA CHAPTER — Barry Burandt,
Mark Hansen, Dennis McKeever,
Kent Shuttles worth, Joe Vera III,
Ruben Fox, Leroy High, Rohny
Posz, Mike Sutherland, Laniel Villa,
Pablo Galvan, Jose Martinez, Randy
Reitzer, Pat Sutherland.
BREEDING BEEF HEIFERS —
Gary Palmer and Jeanette Schuster,
Santa Gertrudis; Harold Smith.
DAIRY HEIFERS — Jeff Fuller,
George Malone, Louis Runge.
BREEDING HOGS — Billy Bates,
Rolando Cano, Rohny Posz, Joe Vera
III, Linn Bledsoe, Mark Moseley,
Bruce Pritchard, Joe Vera III.
March 20
p.m.
Evans Park, 1 to 3
March 23 — Perez Grocery, 4:30
to 6 p.m.
WEATHER REPORT
March 5 ..
High Low Rain
March 6 ..
53 ..
March 7 ..
45 ..
March 8 ..
40 ..
March 9 ..
43 ..
March 10 ..
........ 87
54 ..
March 11 ..
........ 86
61 ..
Readings
taken from
the Cai
PSJA BEEF SYND.
MEMBERSHIPS
Ten more have joined the PSJA
Beef Syndicate to bring the mem-
bership up to about 185, states Sec.
Larry Lyles.
Those joining since last week are:
$15 memberships — Dr. R. C.
Downey, M. R. Jennings, E. Arthur
Reichert, Roy Stockstill, Edwin L.
Smith, Standard Processing Co.,
Charlie Williams, R. V. West.
$22.50 membership — Tommy
Tompkins.
Schuster Weather Reporting Station,
S. 281 Highway.
Art Linklefter To
Speak at McAllen
Art Linkletter, famous TV and
radio celebrity, will speak at the
McAllen Civic Center Saturday,
March 13th, 7:30 p.m., on “Narcot-
ics, Your Children and You”. His
appearance is sponsored by the Mc-
Allen High School Student Council
who are hosts to the spring con-
vention of the South Texas District
Ass’n. of Student Councils on that
day.
The public is invited.
directly from police brutality, but
was the aftermath of an all day
picketing demonstration at the
Pharr City Hall and police station,
which continued after dark. (An in-
nocent spectator, Alfonso Flores,
who was three blocks from the po-
lice station, was struck in the head
by a stray bullet or a richocet bul-
let and died 20 hours later.)
The Sunday march started at the
Virgen de San Juan church and pro-
ceeded by side roads to Pharr, pass-
ing in front of the Pharr police sta-
tion where the violence ocurred
Feb. 6th, and then to the cemetery
four blocks west of Cage Blvd. It
was peaceful all the way without an
incident worthy of mention. The
marchers themselves were silent
and did not carry placards, chant,
or use their hjandb in gestures.
The mosf noi^jpfem {0 jt-ome ifrom
several airplanes* that circled con-
stantly overhead from the time of
the march to the end.
The march was significant in that
not an officer’s or lawman’s car
was seen along the entire route of
the march. Even at the Pharr police
station, no police cars were present
nor was there any activity on the
inside while the marchers passed
by.
The marchers did not talk to each
other nor did the spectators along
the route communicate with the
marchers.
At the cemetery, five Catholic
priests conducted a Mass from a
flatbed truck at the gravesite of
Flores, who was buried in the ceme-
tery Feb. 11th.
Carlos Guerra of Robstown, execu-
tive director of MAYO, who was said
to be the organizer of this march,
was present and spoke briefly to the
crowd.
The organizers of the march had
monitors who wore identifying arm
bands and were on the alert for any
trouble, if it developed. Instructions
were passed out to all the march-
ers not to yell or demonstrate in any
way and if anything happened, to
sit down and wait for instructions
from the monitors.
There was a large contingent of
lawmen in the area at the time but
none were visible. This included
patrolmen of the Sheriff’s Dept.,
Dept, of Public Safety officers, all of
the Pharr Police Dept, staff, and
some members of the National
Guard were on stand-by duty at the
Armory during the day.
Tony Orendain, leader of' the
United Farm Workers Organizing
Committee, spoke following the Mass
and he asked for a boycott of Pharr
businesses.
After the speeches, those who
wanted a ride were transported back
to the San Juan church by bus.
Restraining Order Denied
On Friday, March 5th, an attempt
The Hidalgo County Grand Jury
late Wednesday returned 12 indict-
ments, one of which was against a
law officer for negligent homicide,
in connection with the Feb. 6th
violence in Pharr which resulted in
one death.
The Grand Jury had been in ses-
sion about 10 days hearing testi-
mony from officers, public officials
and citizens about the events lead-
ing up to and during the violence.
The names of those indicted were
not released but will be some time
Thursday, March 11th, after they
have been cited.
The lengthy 6-page report made
a number of suggestions about the
situation in Pharr. The report was
critical of the Pharr police, the
Pharr city administration, and the
Valley Community Center.
The report was also critical of
some persons who take part in any
Joseph Young
Veteran Printer,
Dies at Age 66
Joseph William Young, a resident
of this area since 1949, and well
known in printing and newspaper
circles, died at the McAllen General
Hospital at 8:05 a.m. Thursday,
March 11th. He was 66.
He had been in intensive care at
the Hospital since March 8th. He
had been in failing health for some
time but had not 'been hospitalized
or critically ill until this week.
He had nearly 50 years of work
as a printer, starting out as a teen-
ager and he continued the trade as
a printing plant-shop foreman-lino-
type operator until his retirement
a year ago. He had worked in
many of the newspaper and print-
ing plants in Hidalgo County. His
last employment was at The
Pharr Press as foreman where he
had been for about five years. He
was still working part time at The
Pharr Press at the time of his
death.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs.
Nell Young of 930 East Marion; one
son, Terry Young of Austin; one
daughter, Mrs. Mary Nell Roose,
British Columbia, Canada and six
grandchidren.
His son, Terry, was here at the
time of his death.
Funeral services will be Satur-
day, March 13th, 3 p.m., at the
First Baptist Church, McAllen, with
Rev. Buddy Owens officiating.
Burial will be in Valley Memorial
Gardens.
Virgil Wilson Funeral Home of
McAllen is in charge of arrange-
ments.
demonstration.
“Leaders who advocate demon-
trations to bring attention to pro-
blems of their followers should
realize that their acts of protest,
while exercisting their rights are
depriving a greater number of peo-
ple of their rights.
“This Grand Jury feels that there
is no excuse for the total disregard
for law and order by any citizen
but at the same time, unnecessary
provacation on the part of elected of-
ficials of any community or govern
ing body are likewise not be to
excused.
“The Pharr police should do all it
can to correct its reputation. The
complaint of police brutality has
been substantial only in cases in-
volving drinking. However, enough
evidence was presented to suggest
two Pharr police officers have acted
in such a manner as to bring con-
siderably criticism to the entire
police force.”
The Grand Jury suggested “closer
supervision, constant training and
upgrading of all officers to bring
about a more peaceful climate in
Pharr without sacrificing law and
order.”
The report said there is a “divid-
ed citizeny” in Pharr. “Force and
unreasoning attitudes will not dispell
this discontent.”
The report suggested that Pharr
city officials “could have been more
SCHOOL BOARD WILL
MEET MARCH 5
The PSJA School District board of
trustees will have their regular
monthly meeting Monday night,
March 15th, in the board meeting!
room, starting at 7:30 p.m.
The regular meeting was post- j
poned from March 8th. 1
PROGRAM
32ND ANNUAL
RIO GRANDE VALLEY
LIVESTOCK SHOW-RODEO
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17
3:30 P.M. — Grand Parade for
Show Opening.
7:30 P.M. — Youth Horse Show in
arena.
THURSDAY, MARCH 18
7 A.M. — Show Grounds Open.
7 A.M. to 7 P.M. — Judging of
Various Entries.
8 P.M. — First Performance of
Rodeo.
FRIDAY, MARCH 19
8 A.M. — Judging of Steers.
7 P.M. — FFA and 4-H Livestock
Judging Contest.
8 P.M. — Rodeo.
SATURDAY, MARCH 20
8:30 A.M. — Quarter Horse Show
in arena.
9 A.M. — Hog Auction.
9:30 A.M. — Pet Show at Action
Spot.
2 P.M. — Fryer Auction.
3 P.M. — Rodeo.
7 P.M. — Barrel Races.
8 P.M. — Rodeo.
SUNDAY, MARCH 21
9:30 A. M. — Religious Services.
1 P.M. — Free Entertainment at
Action Spot.
3 P.M. — Rodeo, last perform-
ance.
6 P.M. — Steer Auction.
FREE ENTERTAINMENT DAILY
patient and tolerant of Pharr resi-
dents that had real or imagined
complaints about conditions in their
city.”
This is not meant to uphold the
residents in their complaints or con-
demn the city officials for their
actions, but one life may have been
saved through some measures of
understanding from both sides, the
report said.
The Grand Jury suggested that
the city conduct its meetings in a
more open manner.
The report also suggested that a
human relations and civilian police
review board composed of five per-
sons be named.
The report continued that the
Valley Community Center has been
used as the meeting. place for “or-
ganizations of a militant nature,”
and that the church sponsored
facility has been used as the plann-
ing place for demonstrations.
“Actions of this kind that lead to
death, property damage and gen-
eral disuption of the peace cannot
be looked upon by this Grand Jury
as acts of Christianity”.
The report recommended that the
director of the Community Center
be replaced and that a new course
of public service be undertaken”.
The Grand Jury which was held
over from the end of February was
composed of nine men and three
women. The foreman was Harry
Roberts.
SEEN ’ROUND
THE TOWN
United Methodist Church Having Lay
Witness Mission March 11-14
The Lay Witness Mission of the
Pharr United Methodist Church be-
gan Thursday, March 11th, with
an all-day prayer vigil, 7 a.m. to
9 p.m.
Arriving Friday will be 26 adults
and 19 youth from other towns in
Texas to be the Lay Witnesses. They
will serve as leaders in the small
group coffees, the total group meet-
ings, luncheons, dinners, etc. These
people serve in their own local
churches and come at their own ex-
was made by District Attorney Os- j pense. They have participated in
car Mclnnis to block the demon-
stration Sunday on the grounds that
there was too much tension and
there was danger of a much worse
situation developing than occurred
previously. He requested a tempor-
ary injunction to block the march.
Judge Vernon Harville of Corpus
Christi heard the case and after re-
ceiving a great deal of testimony
from law enforcement officers and
from the MAYO leaders, he refused
to grant the injunction, stating the
state had not submitted suficient
evidence to prove its contention of
violence. The judge did say that if
any violence occurred precipitated
by the marchers, that he would hold
the leaders resnonsible.
other Lay Witness Missions and feel
they have something to share in
what God has done, and is doing, in
their lives. There is no pressure on
anyone to participate, but the vis-
itors will seek to communicate love
and understanding to everyone.
Claud Hill, Jr., is the local gen-
eral chairman. The visiting coordi-
nators for the several groups are
Sherman Strong, adult coordinator,
Houston; Dr. Charles Baker, youth
coordinator, Houston; and Robert St.
John, Raymondville, children coor-
dinator (6-12). There will be a nurs-
ery for the smaller children.
The scheduled events are Friday,
the 12th, 6:3D p.m., church dinner
followed by a program at 7:30 p.m.,
in small discussion groups and in
the total group; Saturday, the 13th,
at 10 a.m., there will be coffee
groups in the homes and the 6-12
children will have a Coke group at
the church. PLEASE NOTE: the
Youth Group will meet at the
church at 9:30 a.m. and go to the
Anzalduas Park for recreation, and
program. Each one is to bring a
sack lunch and also provide for the
youth guests, drinks will be furnish-
ed. The group will return about 3:30
p.m. The adults will have lunch at
the Texan Hotel and the children
and the nursery will bring sack
lunches to the church. At 7:30 p.m.
there will be a program for all —
again led by the visiting witnesses.
Sunday, the 14th, will include pray-
er time in the sanctuary from 8:30
a.m.-9:30 a.m.; Church School from
9:30-10:30 a.m,; special worship
service at 10:45 a.m., with Sherman
Strong, the adult coordinator, lead-
ing the morning worship.
At 7:00 p.m. there will be an eval-
uation session. This, according to
other reports from other missions,
is the high point of the weekend.
You are cordially invited to at-
tend and participate' in this week-
end mission.
A bumper sticker opposing pay
raises for legislators, says: “If our
state officials need more money to
• make them honest, we don’t need
them in Austin.” . . . The editor of
the Pharr Eagle’s Lodge monthly
newsletter gives a lambasting to the
malcontents, the rioters, the draft
card burners, etc. “If you don’t like
this country, get out and live where
you can find what you are looking
for. Where can you find a place in
this world that has what we have —
the opportunity, the freedom, the
schools — you name it,” (end of
quote). . . . Woman’s lib has come
to the front all the way in Hidalgo
School District where there are two
vacancies on the board and there
are three candidates — and ALL
are women! . . . Several people call-
ed to tell this newspaper the loca-
tion of the Catholic Church on South
Bluebonnet, but the first was MRS.
FRED RUECKING, who says it was
at the corner of South Bluebonnet
and West Cherokee, northwest side,
where the two-story house is now,
originally known as the Tichenor
residence, which will be recalled by
the old-timers. Later, Roy Weir liv-
ed there and then there were oth-
ers. The present owner and occu-
pant is Vic Carrillo who operates a
business, Vic’s Auto Rebuilders, on
the same street, but two blocks *
north. One of The Pharr Press an-
niversary editions carried a picture
of this church with its long spire
identifying it easily, taken in 1919
and furnished by the late Mrs. Mary
Hogan. In about 1920 or 1921, the
church was moved to the West
Hawk location in North Pharr. . . .
JOHN H. MOOREFIELD, a visitor
here from Cunningham, Tenn., and
a guest of STANLEY GOWER, says
the people down here “throw away”
better oranges than they grow in
Florida (and he used to go to Flor-
ida for the winter). And he adds
the Redblush grapefruit here is just
out of this world and he says the
Florida grapefruit is NOT in the
same ball park. And he is thinking
about selling some of his properties
in Tenn. and investing here. We’ll
buy everything you say — the last
the most of all! . . . The MEXICO
travelers returned and they will
•have many stories to tell for weeks
to come. To the FIRST ONE who
will bring in a comprehensive story
on the trek, we will print it! Most
of them increased their Spanish
vocubulary tremendously, and LEE
DO ONG became a three language
man! (Maybe he will print his'
menus in Espanol). . , . Never a
dull moment in Pharr, as the news
here this week shows. The GRAND
JURY report, which was due for re-
lease some time Wednesday, March
10th, will provide some additional
headlines. Pharr could do without
news of this kind and the reasons
that brought it about.
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Glover, Lloyd H. The Pharr Press (Pharr, Tex.), Vol. 39, No. 10, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 11, 1971, newspaper, March 11, 1971; Pharr, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth715091/m1/1/?q=%22~1~1%22~1: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Pharr Memorial Library.