10-20-40-100 YEARS AGO
100 YEARS AGO....
The War Was Over, But, Part One: A front-page Reporter story noted a German U-boat has been sunk by a destroyer off the coast of Spain. It was four months after the armistice was declared in November, 1918.
The War Was Over, But, Part II: Rockdale dough-boy Wynette Marrs sent a post card to The Reporter from Bernsastel, Germany. Marrs said he and other Milam County soldiers C. W. Sledge, A. Ashby, J. Wilson and Bob Laird were together and hoped to be sent home by June.
Sheriff L. L. Blaylock led a raid on a “moonshine still” in the Blockhouse Springs area in the Brazos River bottom-land. Blaylock said he “interrupted a vat of moonshine whiskey” in the making and “everything necessary to make booze.”
Thorndale won a basketball double header from Rockdale, 17-4 (girls) and 22-17 (boys). The correspondent commented on the boys game’s physical play by writing: “both teams felt that the scalp of the other must at all hazards hang below their belts.”
FORTY YEARS AGO....
Rockdale ISD trustees were looking for bids on a portable office building to house the district’s business office. The RISD had lost the lease on a downtown building which had served as the business office.
Johnny Weed (John M. Weed Jr.) was stepping down as fire chief after a 30-year-career at the helm of the volunteer department. He joined the department after returning home from World War II.
A Texas A&M lignite gasification prototype near Rockdale was test producing 400 cubic feet a minute.
Sparked by Joel Page’s 30-point performance, Lew Simmonds’ Tiger track team held off Brenham to win the Rockdale Relays. It was the sixth consecutive year for Big Blue to win its own meet.
TWENTY YEARS AGO....
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) said its long-range plans included widening US 79 from two to four lanes between Rockdale and Hearne.
Two arrests were made and 10 citations were issued after Rockdale police raided what they termed a “juvenile beer party” at a Rock-dale residence.
Filing ended for school and city elections with only one contested race in Rock-dale. Dr. Dee Ellis challenged incumbent Ralph Sifuentes for Place 7 on the school board. Unopposed were trustee Barbara Grayson and council members Gerry Offield and Ray McClain.
After a 24-8 season that ended just short of the Class 3A state tourney, Janet Havelka’s Lady Tiger basketball ended the season with a No. 5 ranking, the highest finish for an RHS girls team since the 1972 state finalists.
TEN YEARS AGO....
An 18-year-old Thorndale High School student was killed when he was struck by a pickup while walking home about a mile north of that town.
Five Rockdale residents, ranging in age from 16 to 20, were charged with felony criminal mischief in connection with two dozen incidents occurring near Rockdale. Sheriff David Greene said 10 road signs were damaged or destroyed and a dog was shot to death.
Milam County missed a dense fog that enveloped South Central Texas, but not neighboring Robertson County. The fog triggered a 20-vehicle pileup north of Hearne. None of the four injuries appeared to be life-threatening, according to the DPS.
Dr. Kathleen Gilmore, legendary 94-year-old archeologist, visited Apache Pass. Dr. Gilmore was instrumental in a 1967 dig near the site of Spanish missions.
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.