Looking back...

10-20-40-100 YEARS AGO

100 YEARS AGO....

Two men died in a bizarre shootout across the street from the Milam County Courthouse. The men, brothers-in-law, reportedly had a falling out over a family matter. Meeting, apparently inadvertently, on the street, each emptied a six-shot pistol into the other. Five of the 12 shots found their mark as Cameron citizens who were the downtown fled stray bullets.

Rockdale had its first official City Health Officer. Dr. R. W. Wallis told The Reporter he would be making his rounds and “would not be any respecter of persons; everyone will be treated the same.”

Rockdale school officials met and named E. S. Guest of Pittsburg (Texas) as the school system’s new principal. Guest would also be in charge of the school system’s athletic activities.

Rosebud area voters went against the grain of recent elections and rejected a bond proposal to repair and replace area roads. While the motion was okayed 136-107, two-thirds majority was required for it to be enacted.

FORTY YEARS AGO....

Milam County was recovering from torrential rains of up to 14 inches, linked to the remains of Tropical Storm Claudette. At times both US 79 and Texas 36 were closed with water over the roadway. Rockdale received “only” 7 inches, but there were numerous street intersection floodings, according to City Manager Dan Roark.

Bob Reynolds, an educational consultant for the Texas Education Agency in Austin, was named the new principal at RHS.

The first project from the new RISD bond issue was completed as acoustic tile to deaden echoes was installed in the RHS Band Hall.

Braving the rains, the Rockdale Chamber of Commerce’s Youth Activities Program held a disco dance at the Fair Park pavilion.

TWENTY YEARS AGO....

The Rockdale Historical Society acquired the turn-of-the-century International & Great Northern Railroad Depot and announced plans to fully restore it as a museum and town landmark.

John Contreras was named Rockdale High School assistant principal and junior-high band director Bailey McAnulty was promoted to high school director as the Rockdale ISD filled two key positions in advance of the 1999-200 school term.

Faced with the loss of $25-million from the tax rolls—Alcoa had reached an agreement with the Milam County Appraisal District—the Rockdale ISD adopted a budget with six less teacher positions than in 1998-99.

Alcoa taxable values also triggered an almost $10-million drop in the Milam County tax base.

TEN YEARS AGO....

The Milano ISD was converting portable buildings, recently purchased by the Rockdale ISD which was in a building program, into a junior-high school.

Final totals for the month of July in Rockdale: Twenty-three days with highs of 100 or greater, nine days above 105 and just 1.05 inches of precipitation.

Rockdale ISD officials rolled out new bus routes for the 2009-10 school year which included busing all students to the new intermediate campus, recently completed on US 79 at the western city limits.

Ninety Tiger hopefuls showed up for the first morning of two-a-day football practices, according to RHS Head Coach Casey Creghan, down from 102 in 2008.