100 YEARS AGO....
Texas voters were turning in a split decision at the ballot box on the two most controversial issues of the day. Texans voted in favor of Prohibition but, with some votes still to be counted, were turning down women’s suffrage. Milam County voters were mirroring the statewide results.
A hotly contested topic in Milam County was whether to dip cattle to fight ticks. During the week the Maysfield dipping vat was destroyed by what appeared to be a “large charge of dynamite.” It was the county’s first act of violence in connection with the controversy.
Nine seniors graduated from Rockdale’s high school for African-Americans. Principal B. Y. Aycock was unable to attend, being confined to bed with a fever. School trustee Ben Loewenstein Jr. handed out diplomas.
Rockdale Public Schools held end-of-term ceremonies, terming the 1918-19 school term a success even though two months of classes were lost due to the worldwide flu epidemic.
FORTY YEARS AGO....
The City of Rockdale’s application for a $1.5-million Dept of Housing & Urban Development grant was turned down, along with similar requests from Milano and Cameron.
The Rockdale Chamber of Commerce officially adopted a resolution in favor of the Texas Highway Department’s proposed US 79 loop around Rockdale.
Ground was broken for Rockdale Knights of Columbus Council 7014’s 14,500-square-foot KC Hall on a 10-acre tract east of town on US 79.
The North Lee County community of Tanglewood placed second in its region in Texas Community Improvement Program (CIP) competition. It had earlier won district competition.
TWENTY YEARS AGO....
It was a close call but graduation ceremonies for the RHS Class of 1999 proceeded at Tiger Field unimpeded by weather. A roiling dark cloud which spawned a thunderstorm on Lee County was easily visible over the visitor side bleachers.
A 31-year-old Gause man fled while he was being served with a warrant. He was tracked down by search dogs and a dozen law enforcement officer about 2-1/2 miles away.
Months of uncertainty about the future of Alcoa’s Rockdale Operations came to an end when the Texas Legislature passed an emissions bill the company said would not greatly increase its costs.
Thorndale ISD trustees were considering hiring an interim superintendent after the resignation of Wayne Calhoun who had held the position for two years.
TEN YEARS AGO....
The Texas Workforce Commission reported that roughly one fourth of those laid off in the closing of the Alcoa’s Rockdale Operations smelter had found new jobs.
Thomas Merka IV was valedictorian and Jason Korenek was salutatorian of the 111-member Rock-dale High School graduating Class of 1999.
The Rockdale City Council scheduled a meeting to narrow down its list of city manager applicants. The council was searching for a replacement for Randy Holly, who had announced his retirement.
“The Miracle Worker,” Milano High School’s entry in the Class A UIL One-Act Play Contest was set to compete at the state competition at Hogg Auditorium at the University of Texas.
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