De Leon Free Press (De Leon, Tex.), Vol. 124, No. 14, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 26, 2013 Page: 2 of 10
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Page 2/ Thursday, September 26,2013 / DeLeon Free Press
week about an 83-year-old
Margaret Mary Vojtko, a pro-
fessor of French at Duquesne
University who was paid about
$10,000 a year, received no
benefits, lived in a house that
was literally falling down
around her, and died of a heart
attack after she lost her measly
job. Worse, before she was run
off from her measly job,
Duquesne University police ran
Madame Vojtko out of her own
office for trying to sleep there
in the winter time. Her mn
down house in Pittsburg had no
electricity and no heat.
She was an adjunct profes-
sor, meaning she was not
tenured. There was no gravy
train of academic excess for
her. No comfortable salary, no
trips to the south of France for
research, no time off to write
overpriced textbooks.
Adjunct professors are
paid by the number of classes
they teach, at a pretty awful rate
of $3,500 a class - at least that’s
the basic minimum.
Apparently, Vojtko was
paid the basic minimum.
Oddly, well over half of all
professors in American univer-
sities are adjunct professors.
What does this mean?
As a casual observer, I
would say this is further evi-
dence that our educational sys-
tem needs some sort of reform.
In short, higher education
is pricing itself out of existence.
If you are a student, it’s
going to cost you more than
ever before to earn an under-
graduate degree as tuition costs
skyrocket.
Some students will rack up
six-figure debts just to get out
of school with a four year
degree.
But, if you want to teach at
the college level, you have to
earn graduate degrees like a
Ph.D., which costs even more.
When the best and bright-
est figure out that there’s a 50-
50 chance that they’re going to
go into hock $250,000 to earn a
Ph.D. and still make little more
than minimum wage, how
many of them are going to
accept that?
Not very many.
This will lead to the train-
ing of fewer professors. The
lectuals will result in greater
failures in our educational sys-
tem down the proverbial road.
But where does all the
money go, if the professors
aren’t receiving it?
Building programs, expen-
sive departments with few stu-
dents like minor sciences, fine
arts, and some foreign lan-
guages, tenured professors who
take off a year for sabbaticals, a
large increase in non-faculty
administrative staff, and stu-
dents who remain in college
beyond four years - all of these
seem to be among the culprits
that have led to higher tuition
costs.
One thing’s for sure, most
college professors, at least half
of them anyway, aren’t costing
kids much of anything.
In fact, one student’s year-
ly tuition at Duquesne would
have paid the annual salary for
four professors like Vojtko.
Adjunct professors are the
way that colleges save money.
To be sure, Duquesne saved a
fortune by employing Vojtko.
She did expensive work for
almost nothing.
It is a shame that educa-
tional institutions - in this case,
a catholic university - balanced
its budget on the back of an 83-
year-old woman.
Sometimes, I think we all
lose sight of some basic things
when we debate the left and
right, the conservative and lib-
eral - we lose sight of right and
wrong.
In this case, the conserva-
tives would argue that its not
the university’s fault that an
employee could not manage
their own affairs better than
Vojtko did. The liberals would
argue that Vojtko should have
had union representation. In
fact, they have already started
arguing that.
Gee whiz.
A senior citizen with the
best education possible just
died without heat or electricity
in her home, earning something
less than minimum wage.
This is a pretty horrible
thing - something that doesn’t
need a debate to recognize how
horrible it is.
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The DeLeon Free Press, P.O. Box 320, DeLeon, Texas 76444
(Publication No. 150080) is published by Jon Awbrey, DBA, 51
weeks per year, at 324 S. Texas in DeLeon. Periodicals postage
is paid at DeLeon, Texas 76444. Telephone: 254-893-6868; Fax:
254-893-3550; e-mail\ads@ deleonfreepress.com, web site:
www .deleonfreepress .com.
Mailed subscription rates per year: By Comanche County post
office-$30, elsewhere in Texas-$35, elsewhere in U.S.-$40.
We will be pleased to correct an erroneous description of any per-
son or organization which may appear in the DeLeon Free Press if
it is brought to the attention of the editor. All reprinting rights are
reserved. Copyright 2013.
Publisher-Jon Awbrey
Editor-Laura Kestner
Office Mgr.-Kay Hodges
Staff Writer-Sarah Awbrey
Serving the DeLeon area since 1890,
striving to be a positive voice in the community.
10 YEARS AGO
Sept. 25, 2003. At DHS
Homecoming pre-game festivi-
ties Adam Moreno was
crowned Homecoming King,
and (as a result of a tie vote)
both Rachel Cisneroz and Jami
Brinson were crowned
Homecoming Queen.
Gayle Stroud was the
Coming Home Queen.
Eric Bridges was the
newest DeLeon police officer.
20 YEARS AGO
Sept. 30, 1993. Pictured
with the new playground equip-
ment (provided by PTO
fundraisers) at DeLeon
Elementary were school offi-
cials, PTO members, and vol-
unteers who helped assemble
the equipment, including
Xandra Carter, Larry Nabors,
Pat Demetruk, Carolyn Rogers,
Mark Nowlin, Pat Leatherwood
Doll House
From page 1 -
playing with it for years, and so
did my Mend Loretta Johnson
(later Hanifan) and Louise
Huddleston (later Clark).
Loretta had been in the class
and helped build the house, but
Louise was a couple of grades
behind us in school. When I
outgrew dolls, I gave it to
Louise. My family had always
been such close Mends with
the Huddlestons. So I wanted
her to have it.”
Wofford said that it wasn’t
long before Louise’s younger
brother, Bob, accidently broke
a leg off the iron cookstove,
and Dwain Bills. Not pictured
was Janell Quinn.
The winner of the Free
Press football contest was
Darlene Snider.
30 YEARS AGO
Sept. 29, 1983. The old
Texaco service station, at the
comer of Texas and Labadie
streets (next to the City Hall)
was demolished by bulldozers
to prepare the site for a new
office for Texas Electric
Service Company.
Clay Sharp was the winner
of the Free Press football con-
test, with a perfect entry.
40 YEARS AGO
Sept. 27, 1973. Don
Weehunt was named the new
manager of Comanche County
Telephone Company, Inc.
Mrs. E.D. Williams was
the winner of a portable televi-
sion set at Hardin Ford’s grand
opening celebration. Pictured
with Mrs. Williams was her
grandson, Shane Williams, and
Charles Lucas, the manager at
Hardin Ford.
50 YEARS AGO
Sept. 26, 1963. E.D.
Mahan, of Mahan Chevrolet,
and Charley Bayer, were pic-
tured admiring a brand new
1964 Chevrolet.
Hiram Smith, Jr., president
of the DeLeon Chamber of
Commerce, and Lex Shelby,
chairman of the “retail sales
committee” asked all DeLeon
business men and women to
attend an afternoon meeting to
discuss a pre-holiday sales pro-
motion event. They said that
auto horns would sound at 2:30
downtown as a reminder of the
meeting.
and that their father, Harry
Huddleston, fashioned a tiny,
wooden peg leg to replace it.
Years later, Louise would
hand the house down to her
daughter, Carolyn Clark
Mathews, and Carolyn would
pass it on to her daughter,
Ginger. After that, it was
passed on several more times,
and they eventually lost track
of it.
“But I remember so well
playing with that house,”
Mathews said. “We didn’t have
a lot of toys back then, and you
certainly didn’t get a toy every
time you went to town, so that
doll house was important to
me. Each little room was
depicted so perfectly.”
Mathews still has the bath-
room fixtures that were original
to the house, and Betty
Wofford ended up once again
with the little cook stove when
Louise Clark (now deceased)
returned it to her some years
ago. Wofford marveled at it
recently, and how well it, and
her memories, have stood the
test of time.
Desdemona News
The fall season amved on
Sunday. Our area received three
inches of rain, with cooler
weather - what more could you
ask for?
“Happy 62nd
Anniversary” to Bernard and
Ann Keith in Desdemona, from
the Guthery family.
“Happy Birthday” to our
great-grandson, Justin
By Vonnie Guthery
Homback, from Granny Coon
and Granke Guthery. He
attends DeLeon Elementary in
the second grade.
This reporter continues to
work on a “history project” of
our town, our school and our
churches. If anyone has any old
photos or history they would
like to share, please contact me.
Remember the sick and
shut-ins of our community with
your cards and prayers. Just a
note to say “Hi” means so
much to a shut-in.
Please contact this reporter
with your weekly news. Your
help will be appreciated.
Thanks and have a great
day,
Coon
DeLeon Study Club September Social
On Sept. 16, the DeLeon
Study Club began the new 2013
club year with a social meeting
at the residence of Ronnie and
Kaye Quinn. Members were
seated in the cool evening
atmosphere of their lawn deck.
The traditional salad buffet was
hosted by Kaye and Pat
Loudermilk, who later served
desserts of cookies and ice
cream.
Following the meal,
President Pat Loudermilk lead
the group in a short business
meeting. The 2013-14 year-
books were presented to mem-
bers and reviewed by Pat. A
special yearbook recognition
was given to Rae Jean Hasty,
the club’s charter member.
Other items discussed
were food pantry donations and
the Back Pack Program for the
elementary school. Brenda
Huddleston reported on the
club’s spaghetti lunch project.
Laura Brown then entertained
the group with the club’s auc-
tion. Each member had brought
an item for bidding. The
money from this activity, as
well as proceeds from the
spaghetti lunch, will be used to
benefit the community.
Members present were
Shay Benefield, Laura Brown,
Joyce Clark, Sharon Coan,
Courtney Dowell, Linda Frank,
Rae Jean Hasty, Susie Hodges,
Jana Holland, Brenda
Huddleston, Tara Kellam, Tenia
Smith, Sharon Lesley, Ingrid
Lindsey, Pat Loudermilk,
Bobbie McKillip, Barbara
Nowlin, Christie Owen, Kaye
Quinn, D’Liza Stockman,
Freda VanZandt, Shirley
Wilkerson, and Leslie Yeager.
Chamber News
By Robyn Wilson
Executive Director
Here’s a preview of what’s
coming to DeLeon on Oct. 9:
Culpepper & Merriweather
Circus is coming to De Leon
on Wednesday, October 9 at the
De Leon Community Park,
with two scheduled perform-
ances at 5:00 and 7:30 p.m.
Between 9:30 and 10:00
a.m. come watch the raising of
the Big Top, then stay for the
free tour. This presentation
offers a unique face-to-face
opportunity for families,
schools, and interested commu-
nity members to meet and I earn
all about the Culpepper &
Merriweather Circus family
and includes a walking tour of
the circus grounds.
Performers and entertain-
ers include: Miss Simone and
her amazing single trapeze,
Miss Paulina’s proud prancing
ponies, The Arlise Troupe on
their wild and crazy unicycles,
Natilie’s American Eskimo
Escapades, The Ayalas with
unforgettable foot juggling, a
ridiculous Rola Bola and cer-
tainly a hair raising Hair Hang!
But, lets not forget our favorite
performing Jungle Cats,
Soloman, Delilah & Francis,
presented by Mr. Trey Key, that
will certainly have you on the
edge of your seats - all with
original music written by the
talented Matt Margucci from
Los Angeles, California.
Save money by purchasing
your tickets in advance at these
locations: De Leon Chamber of
Commerce and at DeLeon City
Hall. Prices for advance tickets
are $6 for children ages two to
12, children under two are
always free, and $10 for adults.
On show day tickets will be $ 13
for adults and $7 for children.
Buy your tickets early and save.
For more information or to pur-
chase discount tickets with a
credit card call 866 BIG TOP 6.
Discount tickets will be avail-
able even on show day but,
only at this number till 4 p.m.
Monday - Friday, Central
Time.
Thank You
I want to personally thank
everyone who participated in
the Comanche County
Healthcare Foundation
fundraiser, either by purchasing
tickets, conMbuting with mon-
etary donations, items for the
silent or live auctions, provid-
ing music for the diners, or by
attending the event. Those
who were unable to attend real-
ly missed a treat - the music
was awesome, food was deli-
cious, and everyone had a real-
ly nice time. It is so nice to live
in a community where every-
one comes together to support
an area project. Thanks to each
of you for your support.
PaMcia Butler
Thank You
Thanks to you, Jon, and to
all the members and past mem-
bers of our community for your
support of our Senior Citizen
program. To individuals and to
organizations such as Study
Club - your generous donations
have saved us once again. We
are very proud of our conMbu-
tion to the community, and it’s
really great to know that you
value us, too. We have a temf-
ic, caring staff and some super
volunteers. We are so proud of
them. To all of you supporters:
THANK YOU! THANK
YOU!
Dianne Donegan
Director, DeLeon Senior
Citizens
Comanche
County
Crime
Stoppers
Crime of the Week
The Comanche County
Sheriff’s Office is currently
investigating a burglary that
occurred around May 24,2013
in the 400 block of Peach St. in
Proctor. Taken in the burglary
were a custom-made barbecue
grill, a Craftsman lawnmower,
and a Watercraft boat trailer.
Anyone with information
about this crime or any other is
encouraged to call Crime
Stoppers at 325-356-7533. Any
information that leads to an
arrest and indictment could be
eligible for a $1,000 reward.
You can view past post-
ings of the Crime of the Week
on the Comanche County
Crime Stoppers Facebook
page.
FAX
SERVICES
Make us your
FAX Headquarters
DeLeon Free Press
324 S. Texas
PO Box 320, DeLeon
893-6868 Fax 893-3550
Comanche
County
Republican
Party
Meeting
Why would a political
organization be interested in
what a hospital board member
has to say? Answer:
Government is involved in
every aspect of our lives,
including our healthcare.
Dr. Barbara Williams,
Comanche County Hospital
Board Member, will discuss
“The Area-wide Impact of
Comanche County Medical
Services” at the Comanche
County Republican Party
meeting at 11:30 to 1 p.m. on
Thursday, Sept. 26, at CJ’s
Diner. David Freshour, CFO
and interim CEO of Comanche
County Medical Center, will be
available to answer questions
following her presentation.
Please plan to attend. For
more information, contact
Bonnie Maynard at 254-259-
2347 or Addie Ratliff at 254-
879-3140.
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Kestner, Laura. De Leon Free Press (De Leon, Tex.), Vol. 124, No. 14, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 26, 2013, newspaper, September 26, 2013; De Leon, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth787140/m1/2/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Comanche Public Library.