100 YEARS AGO....
A Texas Court of Appeals invalidated the state’s cattle-dipping law on a legal action brought by J.M. Leslie of Sipe Springs in Milam County. Leslie’s attorneys argued, successfully, that the law was unconstitutional.
Burglars forced their way in the office of Milam County Treasurer Dan Tyson in a daring overnight break-in and made off with a small amount of cash, leaving a larger amount as they were apparently scared away from the scene.
C. Weign Rogers, secretary of the Rockdale Chamber of Commerce, in an almost fullpage column, accused the city of being “phlegmatic” (inactive) and said if Rockdale would exploit its lignite and oil resources it could “blossom like an Easter lily.”
Graduates at Rockdale’s African-American school were Milton Allen, Martin Curtis, Eulalia Floyd, Lelma Jackson, Mattie Moultrie and Rosa Bell Phillips. The school had not yet been named for B. Y. Aycock who resigned as its principal during the past year due to health reasons.
FORTY YEARS AGO....
Ernest Zapata and David Holloway were named, respectively, valedictorian and salutatorian of the 133-candidate Rockdale High School graduating class of 1980.
There was a potentially fatal virus making the rounds of the Rockdale area but its victims were dogs. Veterinarian Dr. Fred Kuzniarek said “parvovirus” was sweeping across Central Texas.
“Hats and History,” a style show with local models featuring headgear from 1896 to the present, was held before a large, appreciative crowd in the elementary cafetorium.
Vincent Banks and Angela White won the top male and female awards as Rockdale High School held its annual All-Sports Banquet.
TWENTY YEARS AGO....
A 44-year-old Rockdale man died when an 18-wheeler veered off the 600 block of US 79 (East Cameron) and struck him as he approached his car in the parking lot of a restaurant.
Tim Smith, Rockdale Police Chief for only 15 months announced his retirement from law enforcement and said he and his family were moving to Fort Worth.
A drilling contractor which two weeks previously had bored into Rockdale’s largest water line, drilled into a natural gas line just a few feet away. A separate contractor bored into another gas line in the 1000 block of West Cameron (US 79).
One of Rockdale High School’s best-ever baseball seasons ended in a cold, drizzly rain at the regional level as Big Blue fell 2-0 to Robinson.
TEN YEARS AGO....
Three children died east of Rockdale when the SUV in which they were riding was struck by a freight train.
John Thuestad, Alcoa executive, testified in the Alcoa-Luminant lawsuit that be believed unstable power prices led to the smelter shutdown at Rockdale Operations in 2008.
The Rockdale ISD Athletic Department was sponsoring a wide variety of summer activities for youngsters, including a volleyball tournament.
Thorndale High’s baseball team swept Flatonia 2-0, 7-6 in Class A regional quarterfinal action and was set to tangle with D’Hanis.
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.