The Hopkins County Echo (Sulphur Springs, Tex.), Vol. 105, No. 20, Ed. 1 Friday, May 16, 1980 Page: 1 of 6
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Chamber picks Baucom to till vacant officer post
David Baucom, a Sulphur Strings in-
surance agent, was chosen Thursday as
the presidentelect of the Hopkins County
Chamber of Commerce for 1961.
The selection of Baucom was made by
directors of the diamber at their monthly
meeting. It came on a unanimous vote.
The process was made necessary by the
resignation from that position of Ralph
Oldham last month. Oldham had informed
the board that he would be unable to ac-
cept the chamber presidency in 1911
because of new business commitments.
In other activity Thursday, the directors
approved a number of committee actions
or proposals.
Among them was an endorsement of a
philosophy in support of a YMCA “or
organization with a similar purpose ser-
ving a similar need.”
The directors discussed the several
different groups in Sulphur Springs
seeking development of a YMCA and in-
dicated their hope that all efforts could be
brought together in a concerted
movement. It was suggested that with the
chamber endorsement it would be possible
to form an area-wide committee with this
interest under the sponsorship of the
, chamber’s parks and recreation com-
mittee.
Directors also approved, in general, the
design of two promotion signs scheduled to
be placed along the east bound lanes of
Interstate 90 this summer. The highway
signs, planned for installation west of
Greenville and immdiately west of
Sulphur Springs, will promote Sulphur
Springs as a place to work, live and play
and Hopkins County as a leading national
dairy center.
Mrs. Bill Hager represented the tourism
committee, which is funding the signs
through the hotel-motel tax, in presenting
the sign sketch.
Lewis Helm reported that the annual
Industrial Allies Day events will be staged
by the chamber June 4 and 5. Represen-
tatives of agencies that aid in directing
industrial inquiries to the area will be
invited.
The board approved expenditures for
cleaning up industrial sites in the city prior
to that time and also authorized a $500
expenditure for participation in an East
Texas Chamber of Commerce industrial
brochure.
And the chamber board approved the
agency as sponsor of an Oct. 14 ap-
pearance of the U.S. Army Field Band and
Singing Soldiers for a free concert at the
Civic Center. The band and choral group
made an appearance in Sulphur Springs in
1978 that was well-received.
(ABSORBED THE GAZETTE CIRCULATION BY PURCHASE MAY 12, 1928)
VOL. 105—NO. 20.
SULPHUR SPRINGS, TEXAS, FRIDAY. MAY IS, 1900.
6 PAGES-10 CENTS PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY
City plans triple play
in park improvements
By JIM MOORE
News-Telegram Staff
“We’ve got a three-pronged attack set
up,” says Community Development Block
Grant (CDBG) Coordinator Glenn Wagner
of his plans to request grants from the
Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife
(DPW).
Included in the grant proposals that
Wagner was authorized to prepare by the
City Commission Tuesday night are work
at Lake Coleman, at Pacific Park and a
baseball and soccer field complex on
property between Sulphur Springs High
School and Loop 301.
Wagner has worked up a general game
plan for the grant request and says that his
present projection is that the grant would
account for a total project cost of $375,200.
If that figure remains the same and is
approved, the city would have to come up
with half that amount while the DPW
would furnish the other half.
However, Wagner says that the city
would not have to come up with that much
cash for the project.
He says that the city could have “in-
kind” work that would count toward its 50
percent share of the costs.
In the preliminary stages of the work to
be done at Lake Coleman would be a six-
foot wide asphalt track for joggers at a
cost of $21,900. Two restroom facilities
would be built at a cost of $6,000, security
lights, extended water and sewer lines at a
cost of $1,400, a paved boat ramp for $3,400,
a number of water fountains and four park
benches at a cost of $4,300 for a total cost of
$37,000.
Plans for Pacific Park include the
construction of a restroom ($3,000), a
combination basketball and tennis court
($22,000), replacement of a set of
bleachers ($10,600), installation of a
backstop and bullpen ($1,400), three
drinking fountains ($1,700) and
replacement of playground equipment
($3,600) for a total cost of $44,200.
TP&L mulls partial
sale of nuclear plant
Texas Power & Light Company, one of
the owners of the Comanche Peak Nuclear
Plant at Glen Rose, has entered into a
letter of intent to negotiate for the sale of
up to a 4.35 percent interest in the plant to
Tex-La Electric Prower Cooperative of
Texas.
The first generating unit of the nuclear
plant is scheduled to be in operation in 1981
and unit No. 2 in 1983. The plant is being
constructed by Texas Utilities Generating
Company.
Tex-La represents several electric
distribution cooperatives in East Texas
and TP&L sells Tex-La electric power at
wholesale. The purchase of an interest in
Comanche Peak by Tex-La will replace a
portion of Tex-La’s wholesale power
Sales tax check
sweetens coffer
The City of Sulphur Springs’ May
rebate check for its share of the sales
tax will run a whopping $35,943.21 as
compared to $14,510.37 during the
corresponding period in 1979.
The check covers the period ending
Mayl.
The May check sends the total
rebates for Sulphur Springs during
the current year to $206,256.66, a hefty
26 percent increase over the same
period in 1979 when the total was
$162,868.47.
State Comptroller Bob Bullock
Monday said May rebates to Texas
cities of the one-percent city sales tax
will amount to $38.7 million.
Local Demos
back Carter
Hopkins County delegates to the
county convention in Sutyhur Springs
voted 93.8 to 8.2 percent for President
Jimmy Carter over Senator Edward
Kennedy.
In addition, a resolution was
passed, with only one negative vote
cast, in praise of the president. The
resolution, as recorded, read: “Be it
resolved in the Democratic County
Convention of Hopkins County that
Jimmy Carter, the president of the
United States, has handled the dif-
ficult issues before the country in an
admirable manner and should be
reelected president of the United
States.”
requirements, which would otherwise be
supplied by TP&L.
TP&L president Bob Campbell said that
TP&L will continue to provide its service
area with an adequate supply of electric
power after the sale and that the purchase
will fully compensate TP&L for its cost.
Campbell stressed that the sale would
reduce TP&L’s capital requirements
without changing the company’s
generating reserves.
Riding high
Tracy Hammonds, 17, was ths high rider
Saturday in Cumby's Black Jack Qrove
Festival parade. The festival, com-
memorating the founding of Black Jack
Qrove which became Cumby, was In full
swing Seturdey when the parade came
Wagner says that this particular project
will not cost the city anything as it would
fall under the CDBG and it is one of the few
areas where money from one grant can be
applied to another.
The plan for four new baseball fields and
two soccer fields calls for use of Sulphur
Springs High School property between the
school and Loop 301.
Construction of the fields would cost
$48,000; a complex center would cost
$57,000; bleachers, $42,400; bullpens,
backstops and fences, $17,600; water and
sewer lines $45,000; access roads and
parking areas, $18,000; and park lights,
$66,000 for a total of $294,000.
Wagner says that the population of
Sulphur Springs has grown from 10,642 in
1970 to 16,353 in 1979.
He cites the development of lignite
deposits in the area for the increased
population figures and for decreased
unemployment in the city.
“We’ve had a lot increased use of the
parks,” he said of the increases in
population, and to make his point shows
figures from the Sulphur Springs In-
dependent School District indicating that
that high school enrollment has increased
from 874 to 910 from 1975 to 1980. In the
remainder of the school system,
enrollment has grown from 2,178 to 2,275 in
kindergarten through the eighth grade.
Adult education participants have in-
creased from 367 when the program began
in 1977 to 850 in 1980.
Tuesday night, the City Commissioners
were told by Charles Cromer of the
Hopkins County Girls Softball Association
that the number of players had increased
by 100 since last year and that 17 teams
would be fielded this year.
Statistics from the Hopkins County Boys
Baseball Association indicate their
program has increased from 404 boys in
1978 to 560 in 1980.
Wagner says he will go to Austin to talk
with DPW officials and then submit the
application to the City Commission on May
20. If commissioners approve, the ap-
plication will be formally submitted to
Austin.
“Our chances are really good on getting
a grant approved on the Lake Coleman
project, excellent on the Pacific Park work
and I’d say about fair on the baseball-
soccer complex,” Wagner says.
Nature's blockade
No serious damage was reported when a large section of a tree
fell across several utility lines in the 500 block of Oak Avenue
late Tuesday afternoon, but residents of this home found it
difficult to negotiate the garage driveway for a time. Workers
passing by were able to remove the limbs with chain saws and
ropes, relieving the pressure from the lines. Texas Power &
Light Co. reported no complaints of disrupted power and no
work crews were dispatched to the location.
-Stiff Photo
Court tables civic center bids
Members of the Hopkins County
Commissioners Court Monday received
bids for work at the Civic Center, ap-
proved a bid for a pickup and appointed a
temporary election judge for voting
Precinct 14 in Pickton.
The bids for the Civic Center’s various
projects were tabled until 10 a.m. Friday
when the session of the court will be
continued. The quotes ranged from a low
of $3,432 to a high of $7,000 for installation
of electrical work in the kitchen area of the
Civic Center.
For the installation of stage equipment,
the overall bid was for $230,525.49 from the
only bidder and for installation of the fans
in the arena, bids ranged from $11,840 to
$19,053.
Commissioners approved the budget for
the Hopkins County Tax Appraisal District
and appointed Polly Randolph as tem-
porary election judge for voting Precinct
14 (at the Pickton Community Center).
In the motion appointing Mrs. Randolph,
Commissioner Arnold Alsobrooks said
that the voters should indicate a write-in
candidate for the permanent appointment
as election judge.
Gober-Merrell Chevrolet, Inc. bid $6,210
for a new pickup for Precinct 2 and Price
Ford Sales, Inc. bid $6,030. Both bids in-
cluded a trade-in.
The sale was awarded to the Ford dealer
based on the low bid.
Precinct 4 Commissioner L.T. (Son)
Martin was also authorized to advertise
for bids for a new pickup with the trade-in
of a 1977 vehicle.
Commissioners rejected the offered
settlement of the insurance company on
damages in the fire at the Tax Office last
month, and approved soil conservation
work for A1 Smith whose property is in
Precinct 4.
The court was to have organized as a
board of equalization but delayed that
action until Friday when the bids for the
Civic Center will be considered.
District Attorney Jim Chapman ap-
peared before the court to request that
they pass a resolution requesting a grant
for the department, agree to pay $1,350 in
back rent for six months of 1979 for that
office, and agree to be responsible for
paying $1,200 should the DA’s office not be
able to obtain full-year funding under the
1980 grant due to budgetary problems.
Chapman said the Law Enforcement
Assistance Agency is facing an almost
total cutback of funds in Congress.
Chaplain's secret: keep it brief...
Senior citizen honor candidate
reflects on Iona Senate career
town.
By JOHN GORE
News-Telegram Staff
Senior citizens of Hopkins County will be
honored at the annual “Fun and Frolic”
program here May 17 - and one of the
candidates for the top award already has
left his mark on the pages of Texas history.
During the program one man and one
women will be selected as the Senior
Citizen Man and Women of the Year.
One of the candidates involved in this
year’s contest should be an old hand at
“fun and frolic” — he served as the
Chaplain of the Texas Senate for over 20
years.
Rev. W.H. Townsend retired from his
post in the Senate in 1973, leaving what
would have been a full career for most
people. In fact, the Senate post was
Townsend’s second career. He didn’t
become involved in the Senate until he had
retired, after 38 years, as a Baptist
minister.
At 93, Townsend is still active with a
dear, sharp mind and volumes of stories
to tell Mowing his long career in the
ministry.
“While I was Chaplain of the Senate, I
saw four governors come and go, starting
mm *** ’ ""l"“
with Allan Shivers and ending with
Preston Smith,” Townsend said.
"Personally, my favorite governor was
Shivers. I can remember how when school
tours would come through the Governor’s
Mansion, he would often stop work and
talk to the children. He would ask the
children questions about what they
thought of the government, what they
wanted to be when they grew up and would
even answer theL- questions if they had
any,” Townsend recalled.
Born in Leesburg November 18, 1886,
Townsend served as a deputy sheriff, tax
collector and for a brir' time as acting
postmaster for the community before
entering Baylor University.
He graduated from the Academy at
Baylor in 1914 and Baylor University in
1919 with a divinity degree.
Rev. Townsend, as he still perfers tp be
called, spent most of his 38 years peaching
in Texas Baptist churches. His only
pastorship outside the state was a six-year
stint in Saint Louis, Mo. A master Mason
with 50 years of service, he was also a
member of the Rotary Club for 20 years.
After retiring from active Baptist
ministry Townsend decided to visit the
state capitol in 1949.
Sitting in the gallery to witness the
opening session, Townsend remembers, “I
saw the chaplain but didn't hear a word he
said. So I decided to produce prayers that
were not only brief, but delivered loud
enough to be heard."
With the help of Treasurer Jesse James,
who wrote letters to the senators in his
behalf, Townsend was elected chaplain
arid continued to be reelected until he
decided to retire just before Dolph Briscoe
took office.
His guide in composing more than 400
opening prayers for the upper chamber
was brevity.
"They wanted it brief and I didn’t blame
them for it. They had their work on the
desks outlined for the day and didn’t want
to stand there and hear someone
preaching all over creation.”
In his early years at the capitol Town-
send also acted as a guide. He served when
the state government wasn’t as complex
and most of the state offices were located
in the main Capitol building, including the
treasurer, attorney general and the courts.
Although he wasn’t on the payroll as a
guide in his last few years at the Capitol,
he said he still enjoyed taking over the
tours ocassionally and in relating to
visitors details of the Alamo seige and the
events leading up to the San Jacinto battle.
Townsend and his wife, the former Mary
Garret, have been married for six years
and moved to Sulphur Springs three years
ago to be closer to Mrs. Townsend’s
daughter, Louise Dennis.
"I kind of hated to leave Austin,”
Townsend said, “but now that I’ve lived
here a while, I’m glad I did. The noise here
isn’t as bad.”
Concerning his selection as the Sailor
Citizen of the Year by the American
Association of Retired Persons as the
organization’s candidate for Man of the
Year during the Fun and Frolic, Townsend
seems surprised.
“I’m not really sure why AARC picked
me to represent them in the contest. I
haven’t lived here very long, and Pm sure
there are people who have lived here
longer than I have and are better qualified
to represent the community. But Pm
certainly honored,” he said.
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Keys, Clarke & Woosley, Joe. The Hopkins County Echo (Sulphur Springs, Tex.), Vol. 105, No. 20, Ed. 1 Friday, May 16, 1980, newspaper, May 16, 1980; Sulphur Springs, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth779949/m1/1/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Hopkins County Genealogical Society.