The Cherokeean. (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 125, No. 46, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 9, 1975 Page: 1 of 12
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Kicrci il i Cent. r. I it
P. 0. Box li.5i4.36
Dallas, r«XC3 7^-
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Volume 125
Number 46
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The Cherokeean
Texas' oldest weekly newspaper, established as the Cherokee Sentinel, Feb. 27, 1850
Rusk. Texas. Thursday, January It. 1975
14c Per Issue
40 Pages
'Round
TOWN
With Mrs. Roundabout
With what we feel is
justifiable pride, we submit
to you, the reader, this edition
of The Cherokeean. To have
achieved the goal of recogniz-
ing Rusk State Hospital-its
past, present and future-was
no easy task for the staff
members of Whitehead En-
terprises. At the same time, it
is an accomplishment that
could not have been realized
without the aid of many
persons outside the realm of
staff personnel.
The Rusk Chamber of
Commerce is to be com-
mended for its support of our
efforts and their own recogni-
tion of the facility at tonight's
annual membership banquet.
Obviously, the mental institu-
tion is the largest employer in
Cherokee County. This is a
significant factor in the
recognition, but there are
other facets equally impor-
tant in the salute. In the order
presented, we cite the history
of the facility and its
predecessor, the East Texas
State Penitentiary.
Perhaps the most impor-
tant achievement of this
issue, however, is the indepth
profile presented regarding
the treatment of the mentally
ill of the area served by RSH.
Recovery statistics bear
testimony to the improve-
ments made in the field of
rehabilitating those persons
once regarded by society as
'hopeless.' Today there are
no 'hopeless' cases, as such.
Every person can be helped
toward a better life. We hope
that the factual account in
stories and photographs of
life for patients at RSH
reflects the advancements
now utilized to help the less
fortunate. Progress has been
made. There is still more to
be achieved. There always
will be.
We feel humble, yet proud,
to have had a part in the
production of this special
issue which is Rusk's first
concrete observance of the
Bicentennial. It is vital that
we look to the past to
appreciate the present and
plan for the future. We hope
that this collection of intro-
spective reporting con-
tributes to public understand-
ing and education of what
really comprises Rusk State
Hospital and its services to a
31-county area of East Texas.
The facility's more than
1,000 employees could not all
be mentioned by name, nor
photographed. Tliis is regret-
able because each person
who serves RSH is equally
responsible for the progress
in service and growth to the
area's mentally ill. It is our
hope that the hundreds of
persons who are not men-
tioned by name will under-
stand with us that satisfac-
tion is not always derived in
public recognition. It is a
very personal emotion that is
based on that person's
feelings for having contri-
buted to the overall goal of
improving some less for-
tunate soul'8 outlook on life.
Each employee at RSH is
deserving of credit for his or
her part in bringing this
Institution to its present place
In time. It Is one of the finest
In Texas, because the
employees make It so.
Some day historians will
review this edition, long after
many of us are gone and
forgotten. For that historical
record, we want to include
the names of those persons
who have been responsible for
the editorial content, photo-
graphy, advertising and
mechanical production of this
issue. The writing is the work
of Dan Kellum, a graduate
student at Stephen F. Austin
State University, assisting
regular staff members Mary
Patterson and Sandy Allen.
The three of them with yours
truly contributed to
photography. We are also
indebted to the work of Glen
Brown, former staff member,
in the use of file photographs
from earlier years. The
Cherokeean also appreciates
the loan of negatives for print
from Rusk State Hospital and
the drawing of the Old
Alcalde, loaned by Mr. and
Mrs. Roy Kennedy. Photo-
graphs from the MSU riot in
1955 are the work of Wiley
Shattuck, local photographer.
Where possible, credits were
given for writing and pic-
tures. Other staff personnel
assisting with advertising
and mechanical production
include Himself, Sam
Florian, Sarah Shields, Rose-
anne Burran, Sandra Rine-
hart and Steve Gunter.
We worked as a team more
hours than we care to
remember, but as in child-
birth, the accomplishment of
a goal achieved blots out the
agonizing memories. There
were moments with mechani-
cal problems for instance,
when it appeared several
times that the task simply
could not be completed on
schedule. In one of those
situations, the fraternal
assistance of our neighbors at
the Daily Progress saved the
day. Work continued with
their help, and on Friday,
Jan. 3, the last of the special
28-page salute was finished.
It is perhaps significant
that this edition of The
Cherokeean is the largest
single issue to ever to be
published in this newspaper's
history. Yes, we are proud-
proud to have participated in
a work which we know is long
overdue praise for this fine
institution and its leadership.
We are proud of the financial
support so generously given
by the firms of Cherokee
County and its neighbors to
make the publication pos-
sible. We are deeply grateful
to the people who comprise
the staff at Rusk State
Hospital for their cooperation
in allowing us to obtain the
information necessary for
such a comprehensive look at
the institution. It is evident
that the help and assistance
of many person was neces-
sary for this edition. To all
persons who cooperated, our
sincere thanks.
RSH can look forward to
more in change and achieve-
ments under the leadership of
Dr. Robert Sheldon, superin-
tendent. To those who have
served in the past and present
we say 'well done.' To those
who are yet to come, we say,
'you have inherited a legacy
in service-'nuture, preserve
and keep it!'
State Hospital Featured in 28-Page Salute
This week's Cherokeean contains a 28-page Special
Edition tribute to Rusk State Hospital for its 56 years of
state service. This marks the first concrete recognition to
be given the Bicentennial celebration in Rusk.
The staff of The Cherokeean has attempted to put
together a comprehensive report of all the RSH units,
departments and sections. Taking 83 pictures and writing
50 stories, the news staff has worked two months on the
finished product that is inserted in The Cherokeean.
Hopefully, this Special Edition will enlighten the
general public on the capabilities of Rusk State Hospital's
Mental Health and Mental Retardation facility and will
dispel any misconceptions that might have been held. The
employes of RSH are doing a much required job and they
are doing it well. Improvements in MH-MR care were
seen and recorded by The Cherokeean staff. As Dr. Robert
Sheldon, new RSH superintendent, said, "We're getting
away from the 'insane asylum' concept where patients
are 'warehoused' but instead are using therapeutic
treatments successfully and integrating these people back
into society."
The Cherokeean would like to thank Dr. Sheldon and all
RSH staff members who took time off from their busy
schedule to give us their stories and let us know what it's
like to dedicate a lifetime to helping others overcome
mental disorders.
Also, a special thanks must be expressed to the area
merchants who have born with us through the special NeW
Year's Edition and this salute to RSH. The paper's size
can only be attributed to their help in presenting "Rusk
State Hospital: Past, Present, Future."
...Banquet Speaker
Happy Shahan Speaks
To Chamber Tonight
Happy Shahan, well-known
tourist developer in Brackett-
ville, will be the guest
speaker at the annual
banquet of the Rusk Chamber
of Commerce at 7 p.m.
tonight (Thursday) in the
New Southern Motor Hotel.
Also on the agenda for the
banquet will be installation of
new officers and board
members and the naming of
the Citizen of the Year.
Joe Terrell, outgoing pres-
ident, will turn the leadership
over to the new presidnet
James I. Perkins. Other
officers are Bill Holland, first
vice president; Joe Ray
Ocker, second vice president
and Lewie Byers, treasurer.
Other members of the
executive board are Mrs.
Mary Buchanan, JoEd An-
derson and Joe Terrell.
Happy Shahan was born at
Whitehouse and spent his
early days in his grand-
father's grocery store and in
the neighbor's cotton pat-
ches. Basketball, in which he
and his team dribbled
themselves to a Tri-State
Championship, was his first
step toward fame. This was
cut short by an automobile
accident which almost cost
him his right arm. Only faith
an a father's understanding
persuaded doctors to elay
amputation. Happy went on
to become an outstanding
athlete, being unanimous
All-State as junior basketball
player at Tyler Junior
College, and to captain the
basketball team at Baylor,
where he gained his degree in
Sociology in 1940.
Happy's dream of owning
land has resulted in a
sprawling ranch near Mex-
ico, where instead of fields of
cotton, his fine Black Angus
cattle roam in and around the
Shahan Angus Ranch.
Shahan's interests and
talents are not confined to the
bounds of Bracketville and
Kinney County; the singing-
rancher is known throughout
the State as one of Texas'
most dedicated disciples in
promoting and developing the
tourist industry in Texas. He
is chairman of the Interna-
tional Tourism Committee
for South Texas and Mexico;
Chairman of the Tourist
Promotion Committee for
South Texas Chamber of
Commerce; President of the
Discover Texas Association;
on the Governing Board of the
Texas Tourist Council; Presi-
dent of Brackettville Cham-
ber of Commerce and past
president of Old Spanish
Trail, Texas Angus Associa-
tion and Texas Feed Manu-
facturers Association.
Shahan, six-times mayor of
Brackettville, is the owner of
Alamo Village and recording
artist specializing in Country-
Western music.
+ See SHAHAN, Page 5
HISTORIC STRUCTURE-The present administration building
of Rusk State Hospital once served in the same capacity for the
East Texas State Penitentiary. The structure has undergone
minor changes, but the basic building including the round guard
towers, remains as it was originally built in 1873.
photo by dan kellum
'V.
RUSK STATE HOSPITAL
Special Edition
A Bicentennial Salute
Extra Copies Available
At The Cherokeean--15c
. r:
ip p
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The Cherokeean. (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 125, No. 46, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 9, 1975, newspaper, January 9, 1975; Rusk, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth151104/m1/1/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Singletary Memorial Library.