The Ennis Weekly Local (Ennis, Tex.), Vol. 30, No. 24, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 16, 1955 Page: 1 of 6
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THE ENNIS W.
’** 4*#t‘t| " ”“'“" ninm-m,i ' *■ — KNNII. PIM* nOITNTf, TTUI TH
‘aw
jY local
FNMS. ELLIS COUNTY. TEXAS THURSDAY. JUNE 16. 1955
VOL. XXX. NO. 34
omo.ks OK THK KNMIM KINK DEPARTMENT are
*h«»un with th* Itopartrwnt*'* nrwcst piece of flrrfluht-
kfig equipment. In tin* culi iif flu' l.|>f pumper In .lm‘k
lusht ■*«•>. ***cond ataMant chief. St milling from left to
THE NEWS REPORTS TO THE CITIZENS:
rijrht are Hugh Fitzgerald, fire chief; Obie Freeman,
first assistant chief; D. E. Willis, third assistant chief;
Walter Goodwin, secretary-treasurer; John Quinn, driv-
er; and Wayne Blakey, driver. (Ford Curry Photo)
Volunteer Fire Department
Protects Ennis Community
BY
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Mrs MduNoth
Dies 4t Age 83
Mr*’ Iteenrd tin In", published by
llo- Fire Innurnnrr Division of the
Hourrt ril tiiMtirnnm Commissloners
ol To** in 1965, lids Ennis with
11 five Insuimvc key rate of 26
rent*.
Net premiums paid here lost
Imr were $72,654 while net fire
lueses during the same period were
I'JUASM
Nei premiums for the five-
year period, 1950-1954 were $481-
465 while net loosen for that period
were $15.1.167
How does Ennis’ 26 rent key
tele eomjwre with other towns and
r-itii'« in fhl.n area?
Wexwtwrtge with /a nine-man
paid lire department, has ft key
rate of BQ rents as does Hillsboro
with eight paid liremen, the book-
let reports
Kaufman's key rate Ik 44 rents
end Ferris' is 57 rents. Athens
rate in 32 rents
Oistrana and Mexia, each with
kev rnies of 23 tents have lower
ri ten
-A cheek of the booklet Indicates
that among titles of comparable
alee to Ennis throughout Texas,
Ts.vlor and Branham with 21 rent
key rates have the lowest rates.
Funis ranks with Texas cities of
it m pa ruble size among the ones
with the lowest Insurance rates.
While the Ennis Volunteer Fire
Department can't take full credit
foi Ennis' low fire insurance rate,
• maior portion of the credit bc-
VtONTLV VOU NTEER
As you have noted, we have re-
tired to the fire department as
th Emus Volunteer Fire Depart-
ment snrl that is what it. largely is.
The organization is at present
K.intsised of 41 active members.
<M these, only Fire Chief Hugh
K$is.Jerald and two drivers are
j«id The rest volunteer their sev-
C 1) Iawi.s lias been an active
u since 1913 and Hugh Fitz-
»m, f ISif. Wayne Blakey
l as hati 25 t ears aervice.
Volunteers are elected to the
depwrloinit after placing an appli-
, non with any member. They are
n d ujwin at the regular meetings
held the first Thursday in each
Tie h hi remain in tlie depart-
ment. they must be present at 40
«mat of the drills and 40 per
llHH I ks
The fire department Is under the
direction of n veteran firefighter.
Fire Chief Hugh Fitzgerald Joined
the department in 1916.
From 1917 to 1946 lie served as
first assistant chief under Ross
Crumley. Following Crumley’s re-
signation, he was elected chief in
1946 and held that position as a
volunteer until 1949.
When Fire Chief was made a
paid appointive Job in 1949, Fitz-
gerald was named to the position
b.v the City Commission and has
held it ever since.
Assistant chiefs are elected by
the members of the departmnt.
Current officers are Obie Freeman,
first assistant chief; Jack /Llghtsey,
second assistant chief; D. E. Willis,
third assistant chief and Walter
Goodwin, secrete ry-treasurer.
The two paid drivers are Jack
Lightsey and John Quinn. Volun-
teer relief drivers are Obie Free-
man D. E. Willis, Marlon Keelc,
Fred Gilmore, C. D. Lewis and
Wayne Blakey.
City Fire Marshal Charlie Novy,
appointed by the City Commission
to inspect fire hazzards and record
losses is also a volunteer member
of the fire department.
DRILLS AND TRAINING
Tiie Fire Marshal and two fire-
men go to tiie Texas Firemen’s
Training School a four and half
day course held at Texas A ^ M
College each summer.
Here they must pass a written
examination to get credit for the
course. This entitles Ennis to a 5
per cent credit on fire insurance
rates; a credit we have received
for several consecutive years.
The two firemen who go are then
appointed Drillmasters by Fire
Chief Fitzgerald. They conduct tiie
two drills he calls each month.
Each drill lasts two hours.
The present drillmasters are
Obie Freeman and John Quinn.
EQUIPMENT
• ....... a * E I— i;iv% 1 *• i e o
l lie equipment ui mu bumo *
Department ranges from ancient
to modern, but all is in first-class
opera ting condition.
It is to the credit of all who have
served as firemen through the
years that, the first piece of motor-
ized equipment purchased in 1915 is
still in use and passed the state
inspectors test, as did all Ennis
pumpers, with flying colors.
This test is to see if they meet
the requirement of bing able to
W. Patak Shot
Accidentally
Mm. Own Memy
Ttf te«ai W*Mi«r
bOtklMHMy
Ennis Mu-
aceidental-
lew 22 rifle
ted on High-
r and Trum-
bheriff Burl
'hitc. who to-
las returning
had purchas-
ars and Roc-
to assemble
tiff.
f$**v <Of gpf* % t <t4l
his stomach
body coming
t White said
packing crate
Us, with Just
car
Patak drove
l" kiln it1! mud
* Patak,
Enni
Joe F’atak said that he drove to
Palmer and called Bunch's Ambu-
lance of Ennis to take his brother
to the hospital in Ennis.
Sheriff White was notified
through a sister who Is a telephone
operator in Waxahachie.
Joe Patak said X-rays were taken
ol his brother’s wound and revealed
no operation would be necessary.
He said his brother was resting well
this morning.
Wesley Patak is an employee of
Leggett and Platt here and resides
at 210 West Burnett. He is unmar-
ried.
His attending physician said this
morning that the bullet didn't enter
the chest cavity and that the wound
mi.v.ed all vital organs His condi-
tion was reported as “good” by the
to j doctor,
draft 750 gallons of water per
minute. That is, pump 750 gallons
per minute from a standing body
of water.
The department has four pump-
ers and one light booster truck as
follows:
A 1952 model Seagrave pumper
truck.
A 1946 Fold booster truck.
A 1927 model American LaFranee
combination hook and ladder-
pumper truck.
A 1921 American LaFranee pum-
per, and
A 1915 American LaFranee
pumper.
The booster truck was built
locally on the bed of a one-ton
1946 Ford pickup truck. It pumps
water from a 280 gallon tank of
water it carries.
It can be operated by two men.
Always the first truck out on a call,
it is designed to be in action dur-
ing tiie first vital moments of a
fire.
The booster truck also carries
foamite and C02 for use in gas-
oline and electrical fires.
The 1952 model pumper carries
1600 feet, of 2V4-inoh fire hose.
The ladder-pumper carries 280
feet of ladders. The longest Is a
50 ft.-extension ladder. It also has
a 35-ft.-extension ladder.
The other piunpers each carry a
12 ft.-single and 24 ft.- extension
ladder.
Firemen staying at the fire
station are provided with bunker
suits and clothing for other volun-
teers is carried on the trucks.
FACILITIES
The Fire Department is housed
in the City Hall Building. Here,
in addition to garage and storage
area for equipment are located 4
bedrooms an air-conditioned meet-
ing or club room equipped with
TV and radio, a domino room,
shower and kitchen.
The facilities have been provided
mostly through contributions. The
kitchen and dining room is present-
ly being remodeled and redecorated
by the City of Ennis.
Seven men including the two
drivers, have rooms at the fire
station which are proveded them
in return for occupying their rooms
five nights a week. The city has
recently placed window fans in
their four bedrooms.
The City provides $40 per month
for porter and linen service and
also furnishes toilet-article neces-
sities.
IN CASE OF FIRE
A special lire phone is main-
tained for the purpose of receiving
alarms. It is equipped with a loud
alarm-bell. The fireman answering
it presses the alarm button next
to the phone to sound the siren
atop City Hall. Tire alarm stops
automatically.
A man assigned as “cover up"
man, who remains at the station
to receive possible additions lb
alarms, then dials half of the fire-
men while the Police Dispatcher
or. duty dials the rest..
Two trucks usually answer the
first alarm, more if needed.
The alarm is only sounded in
cases of major fires involving
buildings. For grass lires and auto-
mobile fires, the booster truck
goes out cn a "silent alarm."
The number of fires handled
here is on the decline. In 1952, the
Ennis Volunteer Department made
170 runs, including 90 alarms and
80 minor calls. In 1053, there were
114 nms, Including 72 alarms and
42 minor calls.
Last year there were 60 calls,
Including 25 alarms and 35 minor
calls.
So far this year, there have been
13 alarms and 16 silent runs,"
Head-On Collision
Injures Truck Driver
Auxiliary Head
Warns Against
Mag Solicitors
Mrs. J. C. Rooker, president of the
American Legion Auxiliary, warns
Ennis people to be careful about
giving money to magazine solici-
tors claiming to represent the
American Legion or Legion Aux-
iliary.
While her organization Is conduct,
ing a subscription campaign, only
Mrs. E. E. Peel and Mrs. MereJ
Causey are, collecting tiie subscrip-
tion fees, she declared.
There have been reports that
young men claiming to solicit maga-
zine subscriptions for the American
Legion have been working in Ennis.
Stailliar reports have come from
Waxahachie where magazine solici-
tors have claimed to represent the
Ellis County Post of the Disabled
American Veterans.
There is only one magazine sub-
scription campaign sponsored by a
veterans' organization being con-
ducted in Ennis at present, she re-
ported.
The American Legion Auxiliary
is sponsoring this to buy a TV set
for the Veterans Hospital in Waco.
Mr. Schultz of the, Curtis Pub-
lishing Comuany Is doing the
phoning in connection with the
campaign and all subscriptions are
being collected by Mrs. E. E. Peel
and Mrs. Merel Causey, members
of the Auxiliary.
Mrs. Rooker has verified the re-
liabiting of Mr Schultz and
company he represents, she stated.
Ennis Volunteer Fire Department
HUGH FITZGERALD ..........
.................. FIRE CHIEF
OBIE FREEMAN ..........
___________ First Assistant Chief
JACK LIGHTSEY ...............
.......Second Assistant Chief
D. E. WILLIS ...........................
........ Third Assistant Chief
WALTER GOODWIN..........
.......... Secretary-Treasurer
CHARLIE NOVY
Fire Marshal
REV. RICHMOND McKINNEY Chaplain
JERKY WAYNE JANSA
Mascot
W. ARMSTRONG
GORDON MoNORTON
WAYNE BLAKEY
CLYDE McKAY
WALLACE BURFORD
KENNETH McCOLLUM
DICK DEAVERS
CLIFFORD NEWMAN
C. W. DUKE
CHARLES NEWMAN
RICHARD FLOYD
FRED NEWTON
FRED GILMORE
BUD O’NEAL
JIMMIE GILMORE.
J. W. PARKER
CLAYBORNE GERRON
BYRON PINSON
W. NEAL GOODWIN
FRANK PUCKETT
BILLIE JACK HART
JOHN QUINN
GORDON HARKINS
BILL RABE
MARK GEORGE HUGHS
ARGEL RAINEY
BUDDIE HOOVER
LINDLE RAINS
R. L. HUNTER
RAY RICKERT
JOE JANSA
WALLACE ROBERTS
0. D. JAMES
D. B. SIMMONS
CLARENCE JOHNSON
HOWARD STOCKTON
C. D. LEWIS
LOUIS STOLUSKY
Firs} Cotton Bloom
Brought In From
C. Slovacek Farm
What is believed to be the first
cotton bloom In t.hp Ennis area was
brought to The News Office this
morning by John P Boren, manager
of Planters Gin.
The bloom came from the farm of
Charles Slovacek, east of Ennis on
the Creechville road.
Slovacek has 40-acres of Rowden
cotton. He has poisoned one time
and said he would apply poison
again Slovacek planted the cotton
early in April, Boren said.
Boren commented that the cotton
crop in the Ennis area looks very
promising “if insects don't eat it
up."
Twelve Local Firms
Cooperate With
^oard of Review
The Ennis Board or Review ior
Juvenile Readers today released a
list of local magazine distributors
who have signed a pledget reading “I
pledge that 1 will cooperate with the
Board of Review for Juvenile Read-
ers in their efforts to spppress the
distribution of undesirable, literature.
Those signing were Davis and Col-
lins Drug. F. R. Roorbach, W. C
Burford, Hesser Drug Company, L.
R. Reed-Ennis Pharmacy, Clouse
Djrug Store, Billy F. Golden-Bus
Station, Duke A Ayres- B. L. Clary.
Perry Bros,-Roy Hackney, D. R
Jackson Grocery, H. A McClain
Grocery and T. J. Sanders.
Mrs. Harry J. Stone, board chair,
man, stated all known distributors
of comic books in Ennis were con-
tacted by the board and aoked to
sign the pledge.
SP Transfers
Trainmasters
J W. Germany, trainmaster for
the .Southern Pacific who is being
transferred to Lufkin will be suc-
ceeded here by R. E. Dipperv.
D.ppery will assume his new du
ties on June 16.
H< entered the service of the SP
as a brakernan on the DaUas-Aux-
tin division in 1937. He was pro-
moted to conductor on the division
in 1942. In 1951, lie transferred to
the transportation department of
the Freight Protection, Merchandise
and Static nServlce, and in 1952 he
became assistant trairvnaMer at
Alice. He became trainmaster at
Lufkin later that. year.
Guest of Grandparents
Katherine Ann Lowrev of Oat.es-
ville is a guest of her grandparents,
Df. and Mrs. Roy A. Langston.
New Newspaper in Ennis Area
Is Terse, Newsy, and Colorful
A budding young newspaper wo- but the young editor may be mak-
men has erupted with consider-
able gusto and talent in the Son-
oma area, which guards tiie ap-
proach to Ennis on the Terrell
highhwny.
Little Miss Melinda Ludwig,
daughter of Mr. and Mr. Fred Lud-
wig, his issued Volume 1 No. 1 of
her newspaper, "Naberhood Post."
All items are reported succinctly
and with a lot of color and person-
ality. Of course, most of the items
revolve round relatives and friends
Rev.RalphReasor
To Assume Duties
Here On July 1
Rev. Ralph Reasor, new pastor of
the Tabernacle Baptist Church, will
take up his duties here on July 1,
it has been announced' by local
church officers.
Rev. Reasor and his family plan
to leave Plain view on June 29 and
to arrive in Ennis the evening of
June 30, the announcement stated.
Rev. Reasor delayed announce-
ment of his plans until he could
formally resign before the board of
deacons of his church in Plaln-
ve.w. The deacons met last Sunday
afternoon.
Aubrey Berry
Heads Avalon
Ex-Students
Aubrey Berry has been elected
president of the Avalon Ex-Students
Association for the coming year.
Other officers elected at the re-
cent Avalon homecoming were Ken-
neth Wilson, vice president; Bobby
Riddle, secretary-treasurer, and
Gertrude Smith, corresponding
secretary.
ing a play for advertising copy tnd
if you can think of a better method
than publicity to get this cherished
copy, all newspaper folk will re-
volutionize their news approach.
To quot ferom Miss Melinda’s
newspaper, with the headings,
spellings and all items depart-
mentalized and given to the readers
without trimming, such as:
BIBLE SCHOOL- Bible School
Starts not far away Are you going?
GALVESTON TRIP—David MUl-
koy went to galveston last summer,
He got some shells.
TRIP—Linda Odom went to
Colordo. She went on Pikes Peek.
RECK—Red car and other car
had a reck at galveston Outside
Galves dt.n
GARDEN—Our garden is full of
vechvetbles If you want some go to
Mulkeys and they will give you
some.
Vaksunaahon of Dog—-Our dog will
not get rabes Do not be afraid.
He Is pretty. King is our dogg.
MOVIES— Davy Crockett king
of the wild frountear is the new
movie that Walt Disney is showing
now.
JOKE— Do you know why little
moroun tip-toed by the medeen
cabnet.
On the last Item the answer was
not supplied but one is supposed
to write to the editor for the ans-
wer
This seems to be a pretty good
buildup for a newspaper career by
a 7 year old second grader, who had
no assistance whatsoever from any
adult (that may explain why the
articles are to terse and newsy.)
No one knew v/liat the little editor
was up to until the paper came off
the "press" and was distributed for
loi 1c. It was not difficult for her
to collect, as she gave the first op-
portunity to purchase to her dad-
dy, Fred Ludwig. Incidentally, Lit-
tle Melinda is the granddaughter of
Mis. Jewel Shipley, which probably
explains her precious attitude on
the subject of newspaper editing.
Dump Trucks
Collide On
Telico Road
A head-on collision of two dump
•ucks on the Telico Road yesterday
'Hously Injured one driver and de-
iollshed both trucks, State High-
ay Patrolman A. B. Caaslty said
Albert Cecil Cooey, 32, of Browns-
tf'o, Texas was taken to Baylor
Hospital in Dallas after receiving
gency treatment at Ennis Mu-
nicipal Hospital.
Officer Ca&sity reported that doc-
tors said Cooey had compound frac-
tures of both legs, a crushed pelvis
and possible internal Injuries after
he was pinned in the cab of hi*
by tho hospital In Dallas, Cass tty
a ted.
The other driver, Charles Wesley
Moore, 25. of Commerce was re-
Patrolman Casslty said the acci-
dent happened about 4:45 p.m. on
the Telico Road 3.9 miles south of
where it connects with Highway 34,
6.6 miles east of Ennis.
Hq said both drivers were working
on the new Fann-to-Market Road
In that area.
Cooey was driving north with a
load of caliche while Moore was
headed south with an empty truck.
Officer Casaity stated.
Tiie ini pact of the head-on crash
jarred the loaded dump-bed loose on
the truck Cooey was driving and
"it tried to come In the cab with
him,” the patrolman said.
He described both trucks as "total
losses."
Both drivers were taken to the
Ennis hospital by the J. E. Keover
ambulance service.
One truck was owned by a Com-
merce contractor. It was towed to
Scott’s Service Station. The oher
truck wus to have been towed to
Brow ns boro, Officer Cassidy said. It
belonged to a contractor there, be
rejx)rted.
Myrna Coker On
7000-Mile WFAA
Farm & Ranch Tour
Myrna Coker. Route 1. Ennis is a
member of a group of 180 Texas
farmers and ranchers and Individ-
uals Interested In agriculture who
are on the sixth annual WFAA
Farm and Ranch Study Tour,
The tour, which is being conduct-
ed by Murray Cox, radio farm di-
rector for Station WFAA in Dallas
will travel some 7,000 miles visiting
I arms in the cornbelt state or In-
diana:, the, blue grass area of Ken-
tucky, the vegetable production area
Ln New Jersey, and the Dutch farm-
ing region of Pennsylvania. The
tour will also visit Williamsburg,
Va.; Washington, D. C.; New York
City, and take a six day cruise to
Bermuda.
The sjvclal train left Dallas Jung
6—and will return June 20. Repre-
sented on the tour are both pure-
bred and commercial ranchers, cot-
ton farmers, dairy farmers and
small grain farmers.
School Board Expected
To Accept New Building
Before the regular monthly meet-
ing of the board of education at
the office of Superintendent J. F.
Gardner on Wednesday, members
Inspected the new building on the
Alamo School campus.
The board gave their approval
! the building, contingent on »
few minor alterations to be made
in accordance with the architect’s
suggestion.
Joe, Hawkins, president of the
board said the formal acceptance
would probably be within the next
ten days.
The calendar for the 1055-56
school year, as set up at the meet-
ing. schedules a general fhculity
meeting on September 5.
Classes will begin on September
7 and the lost day of the school
year will be May 29, 1956.
Holidays will Include the usual
Thanksgiving week end; a recess
for Christmas, December 16 th-
rough January 3, an Easter vac-
cation. March 21 through March
20, and a Spring vacation oh April
2 and 3.
The board accepted the resig-
nations of Miss Patricia Ingle, ei-
ghth gride English teacher who
has accepted a teaching position
in Dallas, and Mrs. Ivan Goodwin
third grade teacher in ths 0»n
Jacinto School.
R. ». mroman of Plano, assist-
ant outtCh and teener, was added
to the faculty.
Routine business Included the
discussion of repair and redecor-
at ion Jobs ln the High School,
David Crockett, San Jacinto,
Alamo, Carver and Miller build-
ings; repairs to seats at Lions
Stadium and the planting of grass
on the grounds at the Alamo, Car-
ver and Miller Schools, as well as
improvements on the grounds at
the High School, San Jacinto and
David Crockett buildings.
The Citizens National Bank was
accepted as a depository for the
ichodl funds and the security was
i pp roved.
Members of the board who at-
tended the meeting which lasted
untu aruuna » p.m. included EL O.
Oates, Leo Kirkpatrick, S. 8. Whit-
lock, Mr, Hawkins and Mr. Gard-
ner.
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The Ennis Weekly Local (Ennis, Tex.), Vol. 30, No. 24, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 16, 1955, newspaper, June 16, 1955; Ennis, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth785755/m1/1/: accessed July 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Ennis Public Library.