Palacios Beacon (Palacios, Tex.), Vol. 59, No. 19, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 12, 1966 Page: 1 of 8
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EARLY TIMES
By JACK STEWART
m
V
MORE ABOUT OLE SLIM
In a previous story, you read
about how olc Slim had a knack of
getting into trouble. Better yet,
trouble wsis always in ole Slim.
Sometimes it just had to come out.
Now Slim wasn't a bad looking fel-
ler. Sorta lanky, about 6' 3" and
would weigh in at about 16o
pounds, right after a good rain;
hair about the color of mildewed
hay; a wee bit horse faced and
somewhat narrow between the
eyes. Not a bad looking sort at
all. In fact a lady's man, or so he
thought.
One day as he was nursemaiding
some steers up the trail to Kansas,
they came near a settler's dugout
so ole Slim, friendly sort of critter
that he was, rode over to pay a
visit.
Kigh', outside the door was just
about ths prettiest red haired girl
that he had seen since leaving
South Texas. Course ole Slim gave
the girl a big wink, stuck out his
somewhat bony chest, and was
just about to go into his wooing
routine, that had always won them
over in the trail towns at end of
trail. Always won them when he
had a pocket full of $20's—double
eagles, that is.
He didn't even get started good,
as that wink sent the little red
haired filly, that was as pretty as
a spotted pup under a yellow
wagon, a running and a hollering
for someone named Jasper. Natur-
ally, Slim, smart feller that he was,
cut and built a fire under his horse
back to the herd.
It wasn't long till a somewhnt
irato husband was soon riding fast
toward Slim who was now riding
point with the boss. As the figure
astride the plow horse came closer,
he was seem to be carrying one of
those big bore, owl head hammer,
muzzle loading two barrel, 10
guage shot guns, and he was com-
ing straight towards Slim.
As he came up along side, he
shouted "Mister, I want to talk to
you about flirting with my wife."
Ole Slim turned towards him and
that right eye was blinking like
60. Slim asked, "Who, me? What
about?" The Sodbuster just looked.
He must of looked for five min-
utes; Slim's right eye opening and
closing as fast as Slim could work
the lids.
Finally the man asked, "Does
your eye work like that all the
time?" "Oh Yes," says Slim, "It's
been like that since I was no big-
ger than a churn." Satisfied, the
gent rode back to his outraged
wife and Slim breathed a deep,
deep sigh of relief. That was close
and he wasn't armed. Even if he
had of had the .45 on, the only
thing that he ever used it for was
driving staples in fence posts.
Now, one time ole Slim was try-
ing to run a few cows of his own
down near the border when a
friend of his, running for com-
missioner, came to see him and
said, "Slim, I need you to help
me. I need votes in a bad way if
I am going to win." Slim asked,
"How many would you need to
win?" His friend said that he
needed at least 75-80 votes to
cinch it. Slim said, "Man that's
gonna be tough as we only got
about 90 votes, both alive and dead
in this whole end of the county.
But if you got the price of a couple
barrels of whiskey, I'll get you the
75 votes."
So Slim got the money; got the
whiskey; and got about 75 of his
friends from across the border to
come to the party. Course Slim
was the election judge and thus had
the ballots. Ballots he had plenty
of. By the time the first barrel
was about empty everyone had
voted for Slim's friend plus upon
being asked, "Juan, have you got
any kin that will vote for my
friend?" The answer was always
"Si, Senor Sleem, my cousin Pablo
she vote." So Slim would write
Pablo's name on the ballot. About
midway thru the second barrel, sev-
eral fist fights and two near knif-
ings, Slim came up with the bril-
liant thought that 76-80 votes was
cutting it mighty thin for his
friend, so he voted them all again
and again and then some.
The final tally from the 91 man
precinct was 28 against Slim's
friend and 487 for.
VOLUME LIX NUMBE1R 19
PALACIOS, MATAGORDA COUNTY, TEXAS
THURSDAY, MAY 12, 1966
10c Per Copy
Vocational Courses Planned For High School
Tidehaven School
Closing Exercises
Set For May 22-23
The Rev. Milton MeWilliams, Jr.,
rector of St. Mark's Episcopal
Church in Bay City, will deliver
the sermon at the Tidehaven High
School Baccalaureate Services on
Sunday, May 22 at 7:30 p.m. in the
high school gymnasium.
The Rev. Claude Cagle, pastor of
the First Methodist Church of
Markham will give the invocation
and the Rev. H. C. Wells, Jr. of
the First Baptist Church of Bless-
ing, will give the benediction.
Commencement Exercises will be
Monday, May 23, at 8 p.m. in the
Tidehaven High School Gymnas-
ium.
Irving S. Moore, practicing at-
torney of Wharton and a former
County Judge of Wharton County,
will deliver the address. The invo-
cation will be by the Rev. G. T.
Parker of the First Baptist Church
of Markham and the benediction
by the Rev. Edmond Bily of St.
Peter's Catholic Church, Blessing.
Jr.-Senior'Parly'
r ■ ■ m * PS . ■
H. S. Social Event
With the 1965-66 school year al-
most over, school social events,
especially for the seniors, have been
unreeling at a fast pace the past
few weeks and this Friday night
there will be another big affair.
The Junior-Senior party happens
to you only twice in a life-time
and it will happen for the last time
for 60 Palacios High School seniors
Friday night.
The Junior Class is the tradi-
tional host of the party, the big-
gest social event of the school
year. This year's grand affair will
be held in the Palacios Recreation
Center.
The 100-member Junior Class
has been busy this week putting
the final touches on decorations and
program arrangements.
Blue jeans, gingham dresses and
touseled hair go into discard this
night as "Tom-boyish" high school
girls turn into lovely ladies in
evening dresses with the latest hair
styles, out for a social whirl. And
it's a good bet that the boys who
have been satisfied with a pair of
di-ess slacks and blue jeans have
been badgering their parents for a
new suit lately.
One of the highlights of the
evening will be dancing to the mu-
sic of the Rhythm Nites.
C. C. Women To Meet
The members of the Women's
Division of the Chamber of Com-
merce extend an invitation to all
women of the town to attend their
"Dutch-Treat" luncheon meeting
at Petersen's Restaurant at 12
noon, Tuesday, May 17.
May Callaway Celebrates Ninetieth
Birthday; President Sends Portrait
May Myers Callaway celebrated
her ninetieth birthday at her home
at the Luther Hotel on Saturday,
May 7th.
Mrs. Callaway was born at old
Burns Station in DeWitt County,
the third child of Sam Houston and
The Weather
Date
Max. Min.
Prec
May 4
69° 62"
1.90
May 5
69° 62°
0.96
May 6
70° 65°
0.55
May 7
74° 65°
1.54
May 8
78" 65°
0.00
May 9
82" 65°
0.00
May 10
78° 68°
0.00
Total rainfall for year 17.56
Elizabeth Myers. Her father was
named by the illustrious Sam Hous-
ton who was visiting in the Myers
home in Brandon, Mississippi, when
the baby boy was born. Mrs. Calla-
way is a direct descendant of Col.
Robert Rankin, the only Revolu-
tionary officer buried in Texas.
Among her many gifts was a
colored portrait of President John-
son with his family and a special
congratulatory note from the
president. She has followed the
president's career since meeting
bim as a boy in his home town of
Johnson City in 1919.
She received many ctftrds and
telegrams from children and grand-
children scattered from New York
to California.
Local Girl Scouts To Hold
City-Wide Round-Up Saturday
Culminating the activities for
the year, approximately 815 Girl
Scouts of Palacios plan to have a
City-Wide Girl Scout Roundup this
Saturday, May 14, at the Baptist
Encampment, from 8:45 a.m. until
1 p.m.
A special Flag raising ceremony
will be conducted by Cadette Troop
No. 639, under the leadership of
Mrs. Rose McClary. This will be
Quarterly Meeting
Hospital Auxiliary
Held Mon.r May 9
The quarterly meeting of Wag-
ner General Hospital Auxiliary
was held Monday, May 9, at 3
p.m. with 12 members present.
The following officers were elect-
ed to serve for the ensuing year:
Mrs. D. D. Carter, president; Mrs.
Amos Duffy, vice-president; Mrs.
Garrett Hope, historian; Mrs. Carl
Backen, treasurer and Mrs. Ernie
Tresselt, secretary.
Annie Rendon and Kathryn
Weed have each earned their 100-
hour pins. Several others have
earned 100-hour bars.
To brighten the nurses' dining
table at Easter, the Pink Ladies
furnished a flower arrangement.
After disposing of current busi-
ness and clearing up of ways to
estimate the time that was marked
on the record cards, which have
.vanished, the meeting was ad-
journed.
The next meeting will be held
Monday, August 8, at 3 p.m.
The auxiliary could use several
more volunteers. If you are inter-
ested in becoming a Pink Lady
and bringing cheer into the lives
of the ill, contact any of the above
mentioned officers.
Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Neeley were
at College Station Sunday to at-
tend the Texas A. & M. Parents
Day Review and see their son,
Jimmy, who is a junior and mem-
ber of the Aggie band, graduate
from the R. O. T. C.
followed by a Town Hall meeting
of all the troops, a sing song by
Mrs. Catherine Crawford, and a
special "Get Smart" session to de-
termine what has happened of sig-
nificance this ye'ar. Mrs. Juanice
Ward, Neighborhood Chairman,
will preside over the morning ses-
sion and will help guide the dis-
cussions.
To add variety to the activities,
Mrs. Barbara Fisher will lead all
the troops in group recreation.
Mrs. Doris Hansen, Troop Con-
sultant, will help with the after-
noon Town Hall meeting, which
will try to carry out the theme of
the Roundup, "Values to Hold—
Worlds to Explore!"
Special awards and recognition
ceremonies will be included in the
afternoon schedule. Mrs. Kthelene
Keel, Junior Scout Troop No. 594;
Mrs. Jeanette Oglesby and Mrs.
Dorothy Brown, Brownie Troop No.
338 leaders, will help with the
recognition program.
Recent Open House programs for
Sharks Tracksters
Second In State,
Break Relay Time
Despite a record breaking 3:20.7
in the mile relay—the final event
in the State AA track meet—the
Palacios Sharksi failed in their at-
tempt to overtake the Taylor Ducks
as they were nosed out '53 to 50
points.
The record relay was run by
Roland Flores, Donald Washing-
ton, Jerry Haynes and Ernest
Haynes.
Palacios won second place in the
440-yard relay. Charles Polk, Don-
ald Washington, Jerry and Ernest
Haynes were the participants in
this event.
Ernest Haynes was a close sec-
ond behind Marcus Heierman of
Taylor. He ran a 9.9 while Heier-
man clocked 9.8.
Donald Washington won third
place in the 220 yard dash, which
was also won by Heierman.
parents and this City-Wide Round-
up should help bring to a close a
very lively and successful 1965-66
Girl Scout year for Palacios. Train-
ing sessions for new adult work-
ers will be held in late August in
preparations for the new year. Ap-
preciation isi expressed by this
year's Scout leaders for the fine
support of both parents and com-
munity.
3 Jr. Hi Teachers
Are Accepted For
Summer Institutes
Three Palacios Junior High
School teachers have been accepted
to participate in summer insti-
tutes.
Mrs. Mary Griffin, Special Edu-
cation Teacher, will participate in
an institute in Reading sponsored
by NDEA at Texas Woman's Uni-
versity in Denton, Texas. Mrs.
Griffin will take courses in Ele-
mentary Language Arts, Clinical
Aspects of Problems of Communi-
cation, and in areas of mental re-
tardation, brain injury and emo-
tional disturbances.
Mrs. Allie Mae Whitley, eighth
grade Mathematics and Algebra I
teacher, will participate in the
Summer Institute for Secondary
School Mathematics Teachers spon-
tsored by the National Science
Foundation at Drew University in
Madison, New Jersey. Mrs. Whit-
ley will take advanced Mathe-
matics courses! in matrix algebra,
basic concepts of geometry, and
numerical analysis.
Marvin Schofield, Related Mathe-
matics teacher, will participate in
the summer institute sponsored by
the National Science Foundation at
Andrews University in Berrien
Springs, Michigan. Mr. Schofield
will take advanced courses in Lin-
ear Algebra, and Non-Euclidean
and Projective Geometry.
Hell's Half Acre is a series of
rough elevations about 21 miles
southeast of Marathon, Texas.
Oil And Gas Industry Is
Big Business For County
As Texas celebrates its 100th
anniversary as an oil-producing
istate, Matagorda County shares
in the development that made the
Lone Star State the No. 1 energy
source for a booming American
civilization.
In 1866 Lyne T. Barret—a man
most history books forgot—drilled
the first Texas oil well near Nac-
ogdoches at a depth of 106 feet.
In the one hundred years that fol-
lowed, the search for oil and gas
spread to every county in Texas,
and today Matagorda County is
one of 210 which produce oil or gas.
Barret and other pioneer Texas
oil men left a legacy for Mata-
gorda County that can be measur-
ed at approximately $48.3 million
a year, based on statistics compiled
by Texas Mid-Continent Oil & Gas
Association.
During Texas' first century of oil
production (29 billion barrels),
Matagorda County has contributed
approximately 150.7 million bar-
rels, its record dating from 1904.
The latest U. S. Bureau of Mines
figures (1964) show Matagorda
County produced more than 7.2
million barrels of crude oil valued
at $21.3 million; and 217.5 billion
cubic feet of natural gas worth $27
million. The 19615 output would be
approximately the same, prelim-
inary estimates indicate.
Matagorda County ranks 20th
among the Texas counties produc-1
ing oil and gas.
Payrolls, distribution of royalty
checks to local landowners, new
drilling ventures and tax payments
are some of the ways by which
oil and gas revenues are injected
into the Matagorda County econ-
omy.
One of the most important
"crops" harvested by Texas ranch-
ers, farmers and other landowners
is the royalty Interest from oil and
gas operations. These payments
are at the rate of approximately $0
million a year in Matagorda Coun-
ty. Many more thousands a year
are paid in lease rentals and bon-
uses on acreage which operators
hope will some day yield oil or gas.
In addition to sharing the tax
load for local schools and levels of
government, oil and gas producers
and royalty owners send some $2.9
million a year to the State Treas-
ury in severance taxes. Oil taxes
account for $1 million; gas $1.9
million. Several schools in this
county depend on the oil and gas
property taxes for a sizable part
of the annual locally-raised bud-
gets. Some examples: Bay City,
54%; Palacios, 74% Tidehaven,
89%; and Van Vleck, 84%.
Triggered by the first discovery
in 1904, the search for oil in Mata-
gorda County is still under way.
The Oil and Gas Journal reported
T; ""ells were drilled in the county
h: \ year. Thirty six of these were
"v. Idcats" seeking new fields or
production from new strata. Re-
sults: 8 oil wells; 21 gas wells; 32
dry holes; 2 service wells. These
(figures include 12 offshore dry
holes. Oil men and other investors
risked an estimated $9.6 million in
Matagorda County to drill 755,000
feet of hole. Some $6.3 million dis-
appeared forever in dry holes.
The Texas Employment Commis-
sion, reports an industry payroll of
about $5.5 million a year for Mat-
agorda Countians who are directly
employed by oil and gas firms.
This, of course, is only part of the
total employment created by pe-
troleum operations for many oth-
ers work in related service and
supply jobs.
One of the most significant tech-
nological developments of the last
two decades has been the high re-
covery of liquids like butane and
propane from natural gas. Nine
plants operating in the county pro-
cess approximately 533 million
cubic feet of gas a day, which gives
added value to gas production here.
Petroleum refining and produc-
tion of chemicals from oil and gas
account for a large part of the
total value created by manufactur-
ing in Texas. This county's manu-
facturing industry includes two
P"troch?mica! p^nts.
W inners
Birkner Returned,
Local Voters Slay
With Slate Officers
A total of 567 voters turned out
at the polls in Palacios Saturday
to cast their ballot in the Demo-
cratic Primary.
In the governor's race, Palacios
turned in 395 ballots for John Con-
nally, who was the leading con-
tender throughout the state. His
closest opponent in Palacios, Stan-
ley C. Woods, polled 126 votes,
while Johnnie Mae Hackworthe re-
ceived 21.
Austen H. Furse cinched the
county judge's post with 270 votes
compared to 261 for incumbent J.
J. (Jack) Spurgeon locally. County-
wide Furse led Spurgeon 2228 to
1982.
Gulp Krueger carried the local
box with 306 votes in the state
senator race, District 18, to Will-
iam N. (Bill) Patman's 221 but
district-wide Patmari was the vic-
tor by more than 7,000 votes, as.
well as leading in the county 2110
to 2050.
For state representative, District
30, Palacios voters gave Otha
(Skeet) Birkner a large majority
over hisi opponent Barney E.
(Buddy) Bernstein, 482 votes to 57.
Local vote in the other races
were:
For Lieutenant Governor: Pres-
ton Smith 425, Bifl Hollowell 107.
For United States Senator: John
R. (Jack) Willoughby 132, Wag-
goner Carr 401.
For Attorney General: Galloway
Calhoun 100, Crawford Martin 203,
Franklin Spears 21212.
For Commissioner of Agricul-
ture: John C. White &50.
For Commissioner of General
Land Office: Fred Williams 174,
Jerry Sadler 352.
For Comptroller of Public Ac-
counts: Robert S. Calvert 556.
For State Treasurer: Jesse
James 555.
For Railroad Commissioner: Paul
B. Haring 247, P. S. (Puss) Ervin
54, Byron Tunnell 209.
For Supreme Court of Texas,
Chief Justice: Robert W. Calvert
5154.
For Supreme Court of Texas,
Associate Justice Place 1; Clyde E.
Smith 549.
For Supreme Court of Texas,
Associate Justice, Place 2: Joe
Greenhill 555.
For Court of Criminal Appeals,
Judge: John F. (Jack) Onion 220,
W. T. McDonald 288.
For Court of Criminal Appeals,
Thirteenth Supreme Judicial Dis-
trict: Associate Justice: T. Gilbert
Sharpe 555.
For Representative, 14th Con-
gressional District: John Young
567.
For State Board of Education
District 9: Mrs. Ralph E. Gray
151, Conde N. Anderson 150, Mrs.
George M. Juneman 24, Richard
Kirkpatrick 162.
For County Treasurer: Otis
Bickham 554.
For District Clerk: J. Grady
Walker 554.
For County Clerk: Hilma S.
Huitt 552.
For County Surveyor: John F.
Rother 5150.
For County School Superintend-
ent: Tom P. Hale 548.
For County Chairman: Burt
O'Connell 55I2l
For Justice of Peace: W. R.
(Bill) Hasley 545.
For Precinct Chairman: Eli May-
fieild 555.
Several Courses
May Be Offered In
Next Two Years
The Palacios Senior High School
is considering offering one or sev-
eral vocational courses within the
next year or two. Information con-
cerning these courses may be ob-
tained from the High School Prin-
cipal or the High School Counselor.
Any parent that is interested in
the course contents and its relation
to the regular school curriculum
should contact the above people as
soon as possible. The following
courses have been approved and
will be taught if enough interest is
shown by students and parents.
Welding: For all students 16
years of age or older. A 3 hours
course each day with a 2 credit
value. All types of welding will be
offered as well as ihe theory. A
student completing this course
either in one or two years will be
able to work as an apprentice
welder.
Pre Lab. Vocational Agriculture:
(See "COURSES," Page 4)
Service Training
Program Started
For Teachers Tues.
A stepped up program of in-ser-
vice training for teachers began
Tuesday, May 10, according to Joe
Ward, Superintendent of Schools.
A special program in the Palacios
Schools will offer help to students
with special problems and disad-
vantages this spring and summer
under the provisions of the Ele-
mentary and Secondary Act. In
order to aid teachers to work more
effectively with children who are
recipients of extra aid, selected
teachers will be enrolled in in-ser-
vice training beginning in May and
extending through six weeks this
Bummer.
Tuesday, May 10, teachers heard
a nationally known authority on
youth problems define the scope
and extent of the problems existing
among the nation's youth. Dr. E. V.
Waltmr, Director of Guidance Ser-
vices at College Station, Texas,
has been employed by the Palacios
District to direct the in-service
training. The consultant currently
provides in-service training for
nearly 1000 teachers, guidance
counselors, and school administra-
tors in providing help for almost
30,000 students each year.
Formerly head of a teacher edu-
cation department and member of
the Academic Council and grad-
uate faculty at Texas A&M Uni-
versity, Walton resigned in 1960 to
devote full time to work with youth
problems in the public schools of
Texas. He is a member of the
American School Health Associa-
tion, The Texas Association of
Mental Health, and the Texas Per-
sonnel and Guidance Association.
In addition, he is listed in Who's
Who in American Education. He
is a world traveler and has lectur-
ed on guidance and counseling at
the University of Madrid and in
Universities in the far East. He
(See "TRAINING," Page 4)
Cub Scout Troop To
Visit Game Preserve
On Outing Saturday
On Saturday, May 14th the Cub
Scout Pack 47M is planning an
outing at the Austwell Game Pre-
serve. Parents and Cub Scouts are
to be at the Palacios Recreation
Center at 8:00 Saturday morning.
Cubs are to have a written per-
mit that they can go also a sack
lunch. Each boy's parents will be
contacted by the boy's Den Mother
for complete details and arrange-
ments. This should be a big day for
each Cub Scout so let's make every
effort to go and enjoy the day.
More Memorial Books
For Library; Summer
Reading Program Set
The following memorial gifts are
gratefully acknowledged: Mrs. Ern-
est Tresselt and the Wednesday
Club for Mr. Joe Edge, and the V.
F. W. Auxiliary for Mrs. Blake T.
Baker.
Last year our memorial gifts
were the major source of the new
books added to our collection.
The Palacios Library plans to
sponsor the Texas State Summer
Reading Program again this year.
It will run from June 1 to August
3H. We now have 200 juvenile books
on loan for a year from the Texas
State Library,
Book Ends will be needed in the
library this summer. Those enter-
ing junior high through the 12th
grade are eligible. Please leave
your name at the library and you
will be assigned to a definite work
time.
Recreation Aissn. To
Meet Thurs., May 12
The Palacios Recreation Associa-
tion will meet Thursday, May 12,
at 7:30 p.m. at the Palacios Recre-
ation Center. All members are
urged to attend and each club or
organization thaK: is a member of
the association is requested to have
at least one representative at the
I
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Dismukes, Jesse V. Palacios Beacon (Palacios, Tex.), Vol. 59, No. 19, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 12, 1966, newspaper, May 12, 1966; Palacios, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth428234/m1/1/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Palacios Library.