100 YEARS AGO....
At 6 p.m. on a Wednesday, Rockdale residents were advised U.S. Vice-President Thomas Marshall would visit town early the next morning to make a speech urging support for the new Liberty Loan bond drive. Apparently working overnight workers installed a platform and scaffolding at the Cameron-Main intersection. Marshall’s train was met and he was given breakfast at the home of Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Phillips. Schools were turned out so students could attend the speech, which was given before a crowd of hundreds. Marshall was back on the train and departed before 12-noon Thursday.
Hotel Larrieu, described as Rockdale’s finest was undergoing a major renovation. It was to re-open by May 1st.
“We even dream about oil,” wrote The Reporter’s Tracy correspondent who noted “Tracy is bidding to become a second Thrall.”
The Thursday Reading Club said it had the required signatures on a petition asking the school board to institute a kindergarten program for Rockdale.
FORTY YEARS AGO....
On a 4-1 vote, Milam County commissioners okayed a tax reappraisal for the county. Alcoa had threatened a lawsuit if the county did not enter a “tax equalization” program by May 1.
A 145-foot parachute, carrying a 4,500-foot payload of infrared astronomy equipment slowly descended over Milano, nearly hitting Milano’s water tower and landed in full view of excited elementary students. The package had been launched from a Palestine (Texas) research facility.
Teal Barlow and Margaret Krenek were valedictorian and salutatorian of the 135-member Rockdale High School Class of 1979, according to Principal Harold Chafin.
Rockdale’s Gene Grayson finished second in the 330-yard intermediate hurdles at regional to qualify for the state track meet in Austin.
TWENTY YEARS AGO....
Two juvenile boys, ages 12 and 14, were placed in a juvenile detention center after police accused them of making threats to blow up Thorndale and Taylor high schools.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) unveiled maps showing options for a US 79 Loop around Rockdale. Much of the large crowd in the Patterson Civic Center left after viewing the maps and discovering their home and/or property did not appear on the maps.
Rockdale police arrested a 47-year-old man at gunpoint in the McDonald’s drive-through after receiving reports of threats directed against individuals and police.
The Rockdale ISD was most definitely in the computer age. Technology Coordinator Marcia Proctor told trustees the district had purchased 196 computers during the school term.
TEN YEARS AGO....
An 84-year-old New York priest, who had been in a temporary fill-in role in Rockdale on May, 2008, was indicted by a Milam County Grand Jury for sexual assault and prohibited sexual conduct.
Rockdale ISD trustees okayed a 2009-2010 school calendar which included, for the first time ever, classes running into June.
World-class running couple, and natives of Kenya, Jacob and Hellen Rotich of Manor, won the men’s and women’s overall honors at the annual Dewberry Run 5K.
After a year’s hiatus, the Rockdale Lady Tigers were returning to the state softball playoffs. Rockdale assured itself of a playoff ticket with a 4-3 win over Caldwell.
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