Depot delights Homecoming crowd
About 250 attend 74th annual event

By KEN ESTEN COOKE
Reporter Publisher

 As the songstress sang “Grandpa, tell me ‘bout the good old days,” there was plenty of that, along with plenty of grandpas and grandmas at the 74th annual Rockdale Homecoming, held Sunday at the Patterson Civic Center.
 About 250 attended the event, though only about 60 percent stayed for the meal. Others enjoyed a come-and-go coffee and donut breakfast earlier in the morning, said Wenda Jo Dyer, Homecoming Association president.
 Many also had taken in the I&GN Depot Museum tour on Saturday or were going to after lunch on Sunday. All said it added another attraction to town.
 “I worked relief for ‘Big Boy’ Cates at the Depot,” remembered Harold Rowland, class of ‘44, now a Taylor resident. “I used to lay on the loading dock and watch the martins dip into the railroad’s water tower.”
 Joe Duncum, class of ‘47, now calls Alpine home. “I always enjoy coming back, but my wife and I always loved Alpine and the mountains,” Duncum said.
 James Gary of Albuquerque got an award for traveling the farthest. “Rockdale will always be home,” he said. “If you can get the weather better, I’d come back,” he joked.
 Next year’s Homecoming board is looking for ideas to make the 75th Homecoming a special one. Contact any board member to offer suggestions.
 New board members elected were Harvey Holliman and Evelyn (Pearson) Woodward. Next year’s officers will be: Lucile Estell, president; Judy Slusher, president-elect; Billie Noack, treasurer; Wenda Dyer, secretary; and Ramona Barlow, historian.

ken@rockdalereporter.com