Looking back...

10-20-40-100

YEARS AGO

100 YEARS AGO...

The Rockdale High School football team met Rosebud and, after a hard-fought battle, defeated them, 53-13. This was the second game of the season between Rockdale and Rosebud with the first game ending with a score of 7-6 in Rockdale’s favor. The attendance was the best seen on the local grounds for several years, and the boys actually collected a few more dollars than the expenses amounted to.

While returning home from school Tillman Ponton, the 11-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Ponton of Thorndale, was hit and severely injured by an automobile driven by Clarence Kirkman of San Gabriel. He was taken to the Thorndale Drug Store and given immediate medical attention. Later he was taken to a sanitarium in Taylor where some 54 stitches were taken to the wounds.

FORTY YEARS AGO...

School trustees approved a cost-sharing plan proposed by Mayor Bill Avrett to provide paved access to the new junior high school from the north.

The Rockdale City Council okayed the low bid of Texam Construction Co. of Temple to construct Rockdale’s new 3,600-square-foot community center. Texam, with a base bid of $232,479, was the lowest of four bidders when bids were opened.

South Milam County’s United Way campaign had cash and pledges totaling $32,500 in its drive to raise $41,000 for area health, welfare and special needs for people living in South Milam, chairman Wallace Jones reported today.

Mayor Bill Avrett and his wife Benalyn were selected as the grand marshals for the 1980 Rockdale Christmas Parade, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. Entries include local DPS state troopers, cheerleaders, twirlers and antique cars.

TWENTY YEARS AGO...

A “letter of protest,” seeking to overturn the hospital district election that led to a 48-cent tax being imposed on Rockdale residents, netted more than 600 signatures.

Two Christian-based Rockdale organizations offered free meals for Thanksgiving. Both of them delivered to shut-ins.

Football fans won’t be “going to the gap” at Tiger Field any more and that is not a reference to the trendy clothing store. Superintendent Walter Pond told school trustees that the open space between the bleachers and foot platforms will be closed during the summer months due to safety concerns. Pond said the section of home bleachers used by the Big Blue Band at football games had its bleacher gaps closed several years ago.

Christmas Roundup and Blue Santa, two “Christmas cheer” drives which combined to assist almost 1,000 persons the previous year, are gearing up for the 2000 holiday drives.

TEN YEARS AGO...

Rockdale Hospital District officials have no word, officially or unofficially, of any plans Blackhawk Healthcare might have to close Richards Memorial Hospital. There were anxious moments at the 36-year-old hospital over the weekend after a Bastrop hospital, also operated by Blackhawk, abruptly closed its doors.

Rockdale’s annual lighted Christmas parade was changed to a Saturday night event. There was also a parade the previous day, a “children’s costume stroll” which had door prizes.

Twenty-five persons were indicted by a Milam County Grand Jury, including four for an ATV theft ring that resulted in thefts estimated at $200,000.

South Milam County United Way (SMUW) began accepting requests for funds from charitable organizations for next year. Connie Schielack, South Milam first vice-president, said SMUW had set a $50,000 campaign goal for 2011. She said SMUW was in the process of approving requests from South Milam County 501C-3 (non profit) organizations who had applied for funding for 2011.