10-20-40-100 YEARS AGO
100 YEARS AGO....
Nine days of continuous sunshine gave road crews a chance to work on many projects in the Rockdale area. Wagon loads of material were being delivered to the Gay Hill-Thorndale Road. Grading had begun on the Lexington Road. Wagons of schist were being hauled to the Cameron road and graveling continues on the Tracy Road.
Roy Long was returning to Rockdale to again become owner of the Dixie Theater. He promised to enlarge and modernize the facility.
With approximately 1,000 cases of flu reported in the Cameron area, public gatherings in the city were forbidden, schools closed and a major jury trial was suspended.
Texas gubernatorial candidate Pat Neff became what was believed to be the first Texas politician to campaign by airplane.
FORTY YEARS AGO....
Rockdale Housing Authority was in the process of ranking 17 sites as possible locations for a federal housing complex.
State Rep. Dan Kubiak (D-Rockdale) decided to seek a seventh term in the Texas House of Representatives. Kubiak had been mulling a possible run for the state senate.
A new volunteer fire department was organizing around the Milam-Burleson line. The Black Jack VFD was awaiting delivery of a pumper truck from the Texas Forest Service
The taxman leaveth. Valter White announced he would not seek re-election as Milam County Tax Assessor-Collector, a position he had held for 34 years. White was elected in 1946 and never had an opponent, either in the Democratic Primary or general elections.
TWENTY YEARS AGO....
Longtime Rockdale resident Jennie Shields Richards of Rockdale celebrated her 107th birthday with a fire truck ride, courtesy of the Rockdale Volunteer Fire Department.
Nationwide reports of chicken nuggets being made from diseased birds caused the Rockdale ISD to check on its lunchroom supplier. Supt. Walter Pond said the RISD’s nuggets came from a different poultry company.
The city library’s expansion fund had grown to $177,000. Goal was $200,000.
Janet Havelka’s Rockdale Lady Tigers notched their eighth consecutive district basketball titles with a 56-47 over Hearne in the RHS gym.
TEN YEARS AGO....
James Birkhead announced he would not seek re-election to the Rock-dale ISD School Board. Birk-head had served on the board 15 years, the final eight as president.
In a special session of the school board, trustees placed air conditioning the 74-year-old elementary gym at the top of its facilities priority list.
Hearne native John Randle, whose 137 sacks in a season was the most by a defensive tackle in National Football League history, was elected to the NFL Hall of Fame. Randle played for the Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks.
The Rockdale Tigers basketball playoff hopes sustained a major setback when Taylor defeated Big Blue 69-67 in a thrilling overtime game as RHS turned the ball over on three straight possessions down the stretch.
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