Looking back...

10-20-40-100 YEARS AGO

100 YEARS AGO....

Bugs were bugging Texas farmers. E. E. Scholl of the Texas Dept. of Agriculture came to Rockdale to instruct area farmers how to combat the Mexican Boll Weevil which had arrived in Texas in 1900 and continued to pose problems for cotton growers.

Citing the presence of typhoid fever in adjacent counties and neighboring communities, Rockdale Mayor H. C. Meyer proclaimed July 8 as a general cleanup day with special attention to getting rid of standing water.

Rev. W. E. Copeland, a Confederate, returned from the annual reunion of Hood’s Texas Brigade in Bryan at which he had been elected chaplain.

Four planes from Ellington Field in Houston were off on what was planned as a transcontinental flight to demonstrate aviation safety and recruit for the Army’s new air corps which had seen extensive action in the recent World War.

FORTY YEARS AGO....

Edward Burleson, assistant superintendent at Port Arthur was named new superintendent of the Rock-dale ISD. He replaced Dr. Walter Vincent who had accepted the superintendent position at Gainesville.

Houston Oilers owner K. S. “Bud” Adams out-bid the Rockdale Civic Center Board and purchased Rock-dale’s Lockett Home, a Victorian-style landmark which had been the symbol of the town’s centennial celebration in 1974.

Municipal Court Judge Fred Gilbert warned Rock-dale parents that criminal mischief by teens had become a growing problem and could result in fines up to $5,000 per incident.

City Council members appointed former councilman E. E. (Buck) Henry to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Margie Abbott who was moving from Rockdale.

TWENTY YEARS AGO....

Milam County’s 107-year old courthouse doubled in height as workers installed a new base, clock tower and Goddess of Liberty as part of an extensive renovation.

Workers poured a concrete foundation for the new 26,000-square-foot Brookshire Bros Super Market. It was replacing the store which burned one year earlier.

The Milam County Sheriff’s Department had received about 40 calls of “sightings” of serial killer Rafael Resendez-Ramirez, including several from the Gause area. All proved false.

The American Novice Horse Association’s annual fourth of July event at Fair Park drew 684 barrel racers and more than 1,000 runs were recorded.

TEN YEARS AGO....

Rockdale police said they were “stunned” when a jury acquitted a Bryan man of the Nov. 6, 2006, aggravated robbery of Sunny Food Mart. The suspect was still under indictment for a similar incident at Gill’s Stop-N-Go.

June, 2009, was the hottest June ever in Rockdale’s recorded weather history with 18 days of 200-degree highs, breaking the record of 17 set in 1998. Those century-mark readings were on 18 consecutive days.

A 19-year-old suspect ran from Rockdale twice, once when he was originally approached and again when he was being brought into the police station to be booked. He was apprehended both times.

Rockdale’s seven-on-seven football team was headed for its third straight trip to the state tourney at Texas A&M.