100 YEARS AGO.....
The Tracy-Maysfield Oil Company organized. I t owned 1,8 00 acres surrounding those two communities and also in the Cameron area. The company’s treasurer was County Judge W . G. Gillis.
Census organizer Louis Lewis said the northern half of the Rockdale area had been counted but a census taker’s illness had prevented work in the southern half. Lewis also listed a number of census q uestions he said would be asked of all area farmers.
A combination of hamburger grease and gasoline helped to spread fire in the former McCawley & Nealy building. The Rock-dale VFD, assisted by Henne & Meyer employees with a “chemical apparatus” (fire extinguisher), stopped the blaze before it caused major damage.
The Thorn d a l e Thorn newspaper was sold to the parent company of The Thorn d a le C ha m pion , the city’s other paper. The Thorn ceased publication immediately.
FORTY YEARS AGO....
S chool trustees in Milano were ready to meet with a Houston architectural firm to review their plans for an extensive renovation of the main school building, two new vocational buildings and a new cafeteria.
Milam County commissioners completed a new redistricting plan by reducing the number of constables and justices of the peace from eight to four. Milam was one of the few counties in Central Texas with eight constables and J-Ps.
A Rockdale woman died while walking on U S 79 when she was struck by an auto, hurling her 100 feet. The vehicle driver was charged with involuntary manslaughter.
Coaching legend Dana X . Bible, father of Rock-dale resident Barbara “Bar-key” Michalke, died at age 8 8 . Bible had a college football coaching career virtually unsurpassed in the U .S . He coached Texas A& M to five conference championships, Texas to three and Nebraska to six. He is in the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame and the halls of fame of six schools.
TWENTYYEARSAGO....
The Texas Dept. of Transportation showed its Rock-dale U S 79 Loop plans to 200 persons in an open house at the Patterson Civic Center and announced plans to begin contacting land owners along the route.
Rockdale’s “skyline” changed as workers took down a 150,000-gallon “pointed” water tower constructed in 1921 on Mill S treet. I t has been replaced by a modern, 250,000-gallon tank.
About 300 persons attended Cameron I S D S chool Board meeting—and 150 stayed until its conclusion just before midnight—as the board voted to extend the contract of Yoe Head Football Coach/AD Randy S app. S upporters of the coach presented trustees with a 1,000-signature petition.
An arson investigation was underway as a stripped pickup truck burned in the Praesel Addition.
TENYEARSAGO....
Extensive anti-pollution work at Luminant’s S and-ow 4 Power Plant was bringing more than 1,000 temporary workers to town. Most of them showed up at an orientation meeting in the VFW Hall.
Rockdale I S D’s $32.4 -milloion bond issue, which resulted in an expanded high school, new intermediate school and more ended “in the black” by a little over $7,000.
A 22-year-old Milano man was indicted for attempted murder in connection with a shootout with a Rockdale police officer. There were no injuries in the gunplay.
Milano came from behind to defeat Thorndale 50-4 4 in a basketball showdown, earning the Eagles a Top-25 ranking statewide.
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