100 YEARS AGO....
Politics was big news, and entertainment, in 1920. In a Hillsboro speech, Pat Neff, a Democratic candidate for governor, charged his opponent, former U.S. Sen. Joe Bailey, could not serve because he was “not a citizen of Texas.” The Reporter printed the entire speech on the front page.
Cameron-area voters, by a 540-14 margin, okayed $25,000 in bonds to gravel “the waste lands” south of town thus ensuring a “pike road” between Cameron and Rockdale.
“The city election generated very little interest,” noted The Reporter with no candidate receiving more than 90 votes. All candidates were unopposed and paper said there would be very little change in “the city family.”
Effie Gee, Rockdale’s wellknown telephone operator came down with influenza and died five days later. “A particularly sad feature of the death was that she was to have been married,” The Reporter noted.
FORTY YEARS AGO....
Rockdale’s newest water tower was under construction at an Allday Street location. The 120-foot tower was replacing the half-century-old Westwood tower.
A shooting death in a Childress Street apartment was ruled a suicide. Police said a 22-year-old man shot himself in the head with a .22-rifle.
Milano ISD trustees were talking to architects concerning a building expansion plan to include two vocational buildings, a new cafeteria and extensive renovations to the main school building.
Charlie Martin, Milano Eagle boys basketball team announced his retirement at the end of a Class B bi-district playoff game. Martin coached for 34 years in Rockdale and Milano.
TWENTY YEARS AGO....
A 43-year-old Sears service man was killed when his van flipped over a bridge railing and down an embankment near San Gabriel.
Richards Memorial Hospital Administrator Ed Lynch said RMH would shut down its downtown Rockdale Heritage Center and terminate nuclear medicine diagnostics in an attempt to cut costs.
Rockdale Lady Tiger softball pitchers Ginger Owen, Amy Ogea and April Frei tossed 13 consecutive innings as RHS defeated Lockhart and Jarrell.
It was one of those. A shot literally at the buzzer lifted Wortham to a 57-56 Class A bi-district basketball win.
TEN YEARS AGO....
It was quite a sight if you happened to be downtown Rockdale. A wingless C-130 cargo plane, on a very long trailer, cruised down US 79 begin transported from San Angelo to Columbus, Georgia.
County Judge Frank Summers won the Democratic Party nomination for the office he held, out-polling O. C. “Chip” Dunsmoor. Summers was to face Republican Dave Barkemeyer in November.
A Rockdale policeman, pulled over a vehicle on a traffic stop, discovered 13 grams of crack cocaine and arrested a Cameron man.
Top 25-ranked Milano was the favorite in a Class A boys area basketball playoff but underdog Somerville pulled off a 43-40 upset in the new Rockdale High School gym.
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