The Mathis News (Mathis, Tex.), Vol. 57, No. 23, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 5, 1980 Page: 2 of 14
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PAGE 2 THE MATHIS NEWS, Thursday, June 5,1980
(USPS 334-040)
Highlights and Sidelights
bvLYNDELL Wil l IAMS
Yesteryear
For a long time, I tried to
think that my head was as big
as anybody else’s head. Based
upon that assumption, I felt
that I was as capable of
making decisions that affected
my life, as anyone else could
be, but I guess that I was
wrong. I am, first of all, not a
specialist in very many fields,
and we have to admit that we
are living in an age of
specialization.
This, of course, brings up the
question of who would be
considered capable of giving
the last word on anything.
Verdicts of lower courts are
regularly appealed to higher
tribunals, which might affirm,
or overturn the decision of the
lower court, so we are more or
less back to where we started.
When I was growing up,
things were not so
complicated, or at least if they
were, I wasn’t aware of their
being so. My highest appeal
was to Mom and Dad, and what
they said was law. I did lay
many a case before them. It
never took them more than
three seconds to reach a
verdict, and it was always
given with finality. Usually a
simple affirmative, or
negative, and they went on to
other things, which come to
think of it, I did too.
There was a time or so that I
did fool around with fate and
was lucky most of the time.
When the floors needed
sweeping, Mom didn’t look to
see if the nearest offspring was
wearing a dress, or a pair of
overalls. (In those days, boys
and girls did wear clothing that
distinguished them from each
other.)
Anyway, one day, I chanced
to be at the wrong place at the
right time and Mom put the
finger on me for a floor
sweeping job. While I was on
my way to get the broom from
behind the door, where it was
always kept, I saw my oldest
sister. I had one of my
brightest ideas, and said,
“Ruth, Mama said to sweep the
floor.” I do admit to having
neglected to tell her that Mom
specificly said for me to do it,
but by eliminating that part of
the dialogue, Ruth assumed
that she was chosen for the job.
Typically, she obediently got
the broom, and began.
Things were really going
good for me there for a time, as
I rested my tired back in Dad’s
rocker, and revealed in my
success. For some unexplained
reason, Mom suddenly
appeared, and my luck ran out.
I ended the day with not only
the two front rooms, but the
porch, part of the yard and K.
P. as well. Oh, well, I tried.
Now talk about authority!
Every school teacher I ever
went to, was the supreme ruler
of the class room, and they
were some of the people whom
I never dared mess with, as the
saying was in those days.
When I started to school at
White Pond, a typical three-
teacher university, miles from
nowhere in Fisher County, we
had a principal, whose very
shadow commanded respect.
He got my attention, soon after
I started to school there. Dad
moved often in those days, and
since the farmer’s fiscal year
was from January to January,
I started school at mid-term
many times.
Soon after I was issued books
and assigned a seat in the fifth
grade section of the middle
room, Mr. Henderson, walked
briskly into our room one
morning, called the names of
seven boys out of the sixth
grade and had them line up
facing the black-board. The
purpose of his visit was evident
from the beginning. He carried
seven of the longest elm
switches that I had ever seen,
and I’d seen many of them in
Dad’s hands. I knew exactly
what they were to be used for,
even if I didn’t know who they
were to be used on.
With the hapless victims
lined up, the principal
searched the body areas that
he intended to address, for
geographies, or other padding.
Satisfied that all was to his
liking, he backed off to the
correct distance, and began his
address. Oh me, oh my! I
couldn’t breathe, I was
trembling in every muscle and
in a lot of things that were not
muscles.
Each boy got the same
punishment, which was
measured by the length of time
that it took the limbs to wear
down to club length. At recess,
our teacher and a chosen few
students picked up the broken
pieces of the switches, but it
took longer than that for me to
mend my shattered
composure.
With the exception of one
year, I finished grammar and
high school under the capable
guidance of this man who had
vindicated the honor of one of
the school girls, whom the
whipped boys had insulted,
which error had caused their
punishment.
Depend on it, I never came
anywhere near being a
candidate for a stripping from
Mr. Walker Henderson. Just
seeing him in action one time
convinced me he was definitely
the boss.
What a way to go!
LOCAL
Mrs. DeAnne Burtts, of Lake
Jackson, spent a week visiting
with her mother, Mr. and Mrs.
Albert Cordy and her father,
Judge Ridenour recently. She
was recuperating from a
broken arm, but still enjoyed
the visiting very much.
LOCAL
Mr. and Mrs. Bill Cox
recently returned from
Andrews, Texas where they
attended the funeral of Mrs. T.
R. Cox, a sister-in-law.
AUSTIN — When State
Comptroller Bob Bullock an-
nounced a few weeks ago
that he would allow his de-
partment employees to have
their union dues deducted
from their state paychecks,
he created a swirl that has
since generated into a wind-
storm.
Individuals who are dead
set against unionization of
state employees have been
trying to find ways to pre-
vent his dues check-off, and
last week a suit was filed to
stop Bullock.
Two state employees and
the Texas Right to Work
Committee have won a June
9 trial to determine if Bul-
In the May 29, 1980 issue of
the Mathis News, there was an
article entitled “Summer
Activities Offered”. In this
article was mentioned a
summer recreation program at
the Multi-Purpose Center for
area youth. When I called the
number provided for
information I was informed
that this program is not for all
area youth, but just for the
“low-income” youth.
My question is, why are
summer programs geared only
for the “low-income” youth?
Don’t the rest of the youth in
Mathis count? Don’t they need
activities to keep them oc-
cupied; to give them a chance
to meet and play with other
children; to stimulate them? I
feel that they do!
Certainly there are other
children in Mathis, other than
my own, who could benefit
from a program such as this,
even though we cannot qualify
as a “low-income” family.
There is so much emphasis
placed on discrimination today
— discrimination based on
color and national origin,
discrimination against the
elderly, etc. Isn’t this a form of
discrimination against those
children who happen to be
children of “higher-income
families? I feel it is!
We work in this town; spend
our money here ; pay our taxes
here and then we’re told our
children can’t be included in
the summer program that our
taxes are paying for! It is my
understanding that funds for
lock has the right to deduct
union dues from state em-
ployees paychecks. Bullock
had planned to start the
check-off system last Sun-
day, having obtained a go-
ahead from Atty. Gen. Mark
White.
In filing the suit, the plain-
tiffs argue that the Texas
Constitution gives Bullock
no express or implied right
to allow the check-off, and
that such a check-off would
violate the Right to Work
law by becoming a political
tool of department heads.
Bullock’s attorneys argue
there is nothing in state law
to prohibit the check-off.
this program are allocated by
Community Services
Administration, Region 6, 1200
Main Street, Dallas, Tx. 75202,
a Federally Funded Program.
Becuase of the very nature of
our higher income, we are
paying for this program.
Restrictions placed by the
Community Services
Administration limit these
activities to “poverty” level
income families.
A solution to this could be
that all children be allowed to
attend and a fee fixed for the
opportunity according to
family income. In addition to
the recreation program, free
breakfast and lunch are
provided for the “low-income”
youth. I don’t feel this is
absolutely necessary. But even
if it should be provided, it
would be no problem, any more
than it is in the school system
where youth who do not qualify
for free meals either buy lunch
or carry their own.
Parents could help by
providing transportation,
supervision and instruction in
organized sports, provide
snacks, the list goes on and on.
More volunteers would allow
enlargement of this program
with no extra cost to the
taxpayer.
In closing, I would like to say
that I realize that we’re new to
this area and have a lot to learn
about the people and the way of
life here, but don’t Mathis
people all have rights?
S-MRS. WILLIAM (JANICE)
GUSTAFSON
Clements Wants Ban
State law will ban the
check-off next year, if Gov.
Bill Clements has his way.
The Governor, who has
warned other department
heads not to follow Bullock’s
lead, said last week he will
present “as a major item of
business” a plan to ban
union dues check-off for
state employees.
Clements also wants a
plan to store low and high
level nuclear wastes. Al-
though not in a crisis situa-
tion at present, Texas is ap-
proaching a crisis in storing
such wastes, he said.
Democratic first lady escort-
One day the word spread over
town: “Dr. John was in an
automobile accident.”
‘Was it bad?” was the first
reaction of friends who had rid-
den with the good doctor,
remembering his fast pace.
“No, he wasn’t even scratch-
ed - only his pride was injured.
He was hit from behind! ”
But for every yarn that is
spun about his extra activities,
there are also stories about him
catching a plane to make a
“house call” on a patient taken
sick thousands of miles from
home, or jumping in his VW
Bug to rush hundreds of miles
to assist in caring for patient-
friends involved in automoible
accidents.
No doubt the country doctor
will go the way of mustard
poultices, but without a doubt
Dr. John will be remembered
long after the specialist has
retired to his country club
estate.
He’ll probably have the
workshop full and be contriving
a scheme to get all of his many
grandchildren home to put up
an addition.
Friends, family and
employees comprised the
William “Bill” and Pat
McNews party this week at the
pleasant surroundings of
beautiful Sleepy Hollow.
This year is by no means
their first trip to our fantastic
waterways.
Bill and Pat have been
bringing the entire clan for 15
years. As added benefits of
being employed in their
company, McNews Body Shop,
employees are treated to all
the excitement of our
marvelous area each year.
Joining in on the certainly
not average bonus are
children, grandchildren and
dear friends of the family all
from Big Springs, Texas.
Of the 22 present there are
only four women. Perhaps the
most fasinating and interesting
aspects of this retreat is the
fact that each man made a vow
that the four ladies were not to
spend the entire trip enduring
endless chores. They all pitch
in so to say and within minutes
miracles are performed.
Bill wore the chef hat one
evening and with other
masculine help a fish fry was
artfully prepared, beautifully
served and kitchen cleanup
was handled perfectly.
The next night a son-in-law,
Buddy Smithie was the chief
cook and mouth-watering
barbecue was the results —
again an all man crew.
While I sat and visited with
the happy visitors at
shimmering water’s edge
Walter Duggan, friend the
McNews, not only prepared but
served freshly brewed tea and
ice-cold lemonade.
Other members of the party
were daughter, Wanda and her
husband, Jim Tubbs and their
children, Stephanie 9 and
James Windell 19 months old.
Another daughter is Beverly
(Buddy Smithie’s wife) and
ing Mrs. Ford, said “No!”
Killer Bee Reunion
Six of the 12 “Killer Bee”
state senators held an anni-
versary reunion in the back-
yard of Sen. Lloyd Doggett,
D-Austin, last week.
The dozen senators were
dubbed the nickname by Lt.
Gov. Bill Hobby after they
broke a quorum and hid for
five days to prevent a split
presidential primary bill they
considered designed to help
Republican John Connally
and conservative Democrats.
At their reunion, the Bees
pointed out to reporters that
their critics were wrong in
predicting their defeat at the
polls for their boycott. All
who stood for re-election this
year made it through the
primaries.
Reagan Lists Armstrong
Ronald Reagan is looking
for a vice, president and his
list holds four Texans, in-
cluding former U.S. Ambas-
sador to Great Britain Anne
Armstrong, also GOP na-
tional chairwoman.
With her on the list are
defeated presidential con-
tenders, George Bush and
John Connally, and Gov.
Bill Clements.
Armstrong, a surprise ad-
dition to those eyed as Rea-
gan’s running mate, told re-
porters she would very seri-
ously consider a spot on the
ticket.
Strake and White
Texas Secretary of State
George Strake and Atty.
Gen. Mark White have
bumped heads on the issue
of which voters may sign a
petition to put Republican-
turned-independent John
Anderson on the Texas
presidential ballot. At stake
are the number of voters An-
derson will siphon off from
each party.
Strake, a Republican, said
iwu weeks ago only Demo-
crat primary voters could
sign Anderson’s petition.
Last week, at the request of
the House Elections Com-
mittee, the Democrat White
See HIGHLIGHTS, Page 11
their children, Brandie 3 and
Shannon 5. Debbie and Don
Myrick and the third daughter
and son-in-law. They have a
son, Crissy Boy 3. W. J.
McNews is the only son of Bill
and Pat and he is unmarried
but all were loud to acclaim
“he’s looking”.
The remainder of the party
are close friends and
employees. They are Wayne
Myrick, Johnny Clovis, Gary
Martin, Kenny French, James
Dewayne Myrick (a disabled
Vietnam veteran), Roy
Triplett and William Brian
Hutcheson 9.
The all arrived in a borrowed
1961 bus after attempting the
trip in their own bus that
bombed. Another friend of the
family, John Price, heard of
their dilemma and graciously
offered the loan of his bus.
Otherwise it is feared by all
that “Tears would have been
shed”.
There is no doubt in mind the
main motivation for the
long trip from Big Springs each
year. While we visited there
were 19 fish caught. They all
expressed the thought that it is
a poor day indeed when they
don’t catch a hundred a day —
total catch for that day was 51
and it was only 1 p.m.
Another reason for their
delight in coming is the
friendliness and hospitality of
area residents and the
attitudes and helpfulness of
local businesses.
You can put your right hand
over your left shoulder and
proceed to Pat — we were
loudly applauded.
Repeat the same welcome
again the next time you see a
group of happy and fun-loving
visitors — it could be the
McNews again celebrating
another delightful visit to
magnificent Sleepy Hollow and
good old Mathis, Texas.
FIVE YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. E. D. Breedlove
were honored with a birthday
supper Saturday, May 24.
A turkey and ham dinner
with all the trimmings and bir-
thday cake were served.
Mrs. Ray Trollinger of Cor-
pus Christi played the guitar
while others danced. Guests
were from Corpus Christi,
Alice, Bishop and Mathis. Ap-
proximately 30 attended.
TEN YEARS AGO
Mrs. Edna Hoskins of
Bastrop and Mrs. Edith
Purscell of San Antonio attend-
ed the graduation exercises of
their grandson, David Hoskins,
Tuesday night at Mathis High
School.
FIFTEEN YEARS
AGO
Kathy Holmes was hostess
for an autographing party for
the Mathis High School Galleon
staff Friday night at the home
of her parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Allie B. Holmes.
Refreshments of ice cream
and cookies were served to ap-
proximately 24 members of the
Galleon staff, the sponsors, a
Ellif Nichols and Richard ™
Wilcher and guest.
TWENTY YEARS
AGO
Kathy Bomer and Bobby
Wehmeyer, Mathis 4-H Club
members, have been chosen to
attend the District 12 4-H Camp
at Mo-Ranch May 30 through
June 3. ' _
The local club will send the IB
two to the camp near Hunt in
Kerr County.
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS
AGO
Barbara Syma, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Albert L. Syma,
was honored Wednesday with a
swimming party at Lake Cor-
pus Christi.
Refreshments of cake and
cold drinks were served to 13 £
guests.
MEMBER 1980
TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION
SUSTAINING MEMBER
UJJUJU^ 1885
NATIONAL NEWSPAPER
ASSOCIATION
JAMES F. TRACY, SR. & ROBERT W. POOL. JR. - Publishers
SANDRA N. LOYA............................................................Editor
EL1DA TAMAYO......................................................News, Society
BOBBIE HAMMOCK..................................................News, Society
JAMES F. TRACY, JR..............................................Business Manager
JEANIE COONROD & VICTORIA AGUIRRE.............................Bookkeepers
PRODUCTION STAFF:
Eplfanio Paz, Pete Villarreal, Mary Alvarez, Dale Andrews,
Ellas Casas, Diana Rosalez, Raul Gomez, Doris Ortiz,
Sylvia Garcia, Marty Garcia
Second-Class Postage Paid at Mathis, lexas 78368
Address All Correspondence to P. O. Box 38, Mathis
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rate of 10 cents per word. A flat charge of $4.00 is made on cards of
thanks, which do not run over five lines. Stories of deaths and funerals
published in time to retain the news value are not rated as obituaries.
Any erroneous reflection upon the character or standing of any indivi-
dual or institution published in these columns will be cheerfully correct-
ed upon being brought to the attention of the editor. We wiU also
appreciate the giving of any news item, the names of visitors in your,
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assistance will help increase the value of your local paper.
This newspaper is published Wednesday afternoon, with a Thursda
dateline.
Subscriptions are payable in advance; effective Jan. 1, 1978—$7.50 per
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which in most cases requires additional postage, may be made with the
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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Mathis News, P. O. Box 38,
Mathis. Tx. 78368.
from HISTORY’S SCRAPBOOK
DATES AND EVENTS FROM YESTERYEARS
June 5, 1968 — President contender Sen. Robert F. Kennedy
of New York assassinated in Los Angeles by Sirhan Sirhan.
June 6, 1822 — “The year in which there was no summer"
is marked by a ten-inch snow fall in New England.
June 7, 1769 — Daniel Boone begins exploration of Kentucky.
June 8, 1911 — Connecticut becomes first state to require
an aviation license.
June 9, 1959 — First U.S. ballistic-missile submarine, U.S.S.
George Washington, launched.
June 10, 1898 — U.S. Marines capture Guantanamo Bay on
the southern coast of Cuba, from Spanish forces.
* June'll, 1970 — Elizabeth P. Hoisington becomes first woman f
general in U.S. Army.
Church <
[ Directory
s f 0 jiim j mofiif BOBBurn iPP^Tmofijff put m
SACRED HEART
CATHOLIC
118 South Aransas
Father Henry Heese
PRIMERA IGLESIA
BAUTISTA
526 N. Hwy. 359
Reverend Dorso Maciel
LAKE VIEW
BAPTIST
F.M. 3024
Reverend Jack Brundidge
ST. MARY’S
BAPTIST
Corner Duval-Laredo
Reverend John C. Caruthers
GETHSEMANI
PENTACOSTAL
314 S. Atascosa
Reverend Max Garcia
FIRST
EVANGELICAL
LUTHERAN
Orange Grove
LAKE AREA SUMMER
MINISTRY CHAPEL
Pernitas Point near
Fiesta Marina
WEST SHORE
BAPTIST CHAPEL
F.M. 534
Pastor Wright Price
ARGENTA
CHURCH OF CHRIST
Off F.M. 888 and 1040
Minister Joe Wolf
ST. PIUS X
CATHOLIC
Sandia
Father Seamus McGowan
FIRST BAPTIST
404 S. Bee
Reverend Clif Abshier
MENNONITE
721W. San Patricio Ave.
Reverend Jose Calderon
CHURCH OF CHRIST
407 E. Rockport
Pastor Bill Fricks
ST. JOHN OF THE
CROSS CATHOLIC
Orange Grove
FIRST CHRISTIAN
308 E. St. Mary’s
Minister R. E. Bream
LUTHER UNITED
CHURCH OF CHRIST
Hwy. 624, Orange Grove
ST. PATRICK
CATHOLIC
Old San Patricio
LAKESIDE
BAPTIST CHURCH
F.M. 534
UNITED METHODIST
Corner Duval-Hackberry
Reverend Charles Simpson
CHURCH OF CHRIST
Hwy. 624 West
Orange Grove
JOHOVAH’S WITNESS
E. Fulton
Elder Cristobal Garcia
CORPUS CHRISTI ABBEY
Arrowhead
Rt. Rev. Henry Hoenig
LAKE CORPUS CHRISTI
COMMUNITY CHURCH
Arrowhead Airport
OUR FATHER’S HOUSE
F.M. 534
Pastor Robert Gallagher
FIRST BAPTIST
Sandia
Reverend Audie Morris
PEACE UNITED
Tynan
Reverend John Donaldson
BETHANIA TEMPLO
220 S. Duval
GRACE LUTHERAN
1205 E. San Patricio
FIRST BAPTIST
■Orange Grove
TEMPLO BETHEL
1400 E. San Patricio Ave.
ST. PAUL LUTHERAN
Left on F.M. No. 796
Tynan
This Church Directory published
courtesy of the following
Mathis businesses:
Evergreen Nursery
Hub Pharmacy
Jimson’s Department Store
Mathis Grain and
Elevator <Corp.
Villarreal Mercantile Co.
Country Crossroads
Country Doctor Proves
House-Raising Possible
BY KEITH GUTHRIE
The passenger pigeon is ex-
tinct and the whooping crane is
on the endangered list. House-
raising and country doctors
went out of style a couple of
decards back. Well, almost...
Maybe it takes one of the
vanishing breeds to revive one
of the old fashion customs.
► Meet John Tunnell, a genuine
country doctor, who has just
proved that you can still have a
house-raising; that is, pro-
viding you have enough kids.
Dr. John Tunnell is something
of a legend in San Patricio
County, not only for the fact
that he is still guilty of making
an occasional house call, but
also partly because he finds
time to put in 10 hours at the of-
fice and another 10 hours on his
assorted and various vocations
and hobbies. (He collects coins,
stamps, guns, books, Indian
lore, barbed wire - you name
it, he’s got it.)
His hobbies and collections
caused him to take over a wing
of their home when his kids left
home, but that failed to provide
enough room for his many pro-
jects. He needed a workshop.
So, he decided to have a house-
raising.
Invitations went out to his
kids: Come home for Memorial
Day weekend, bring husbands,
wives and grandchildren - Ob-
ject: Build a workshop. By the
time the crews arrived on Fri-
day, Dr. John had the 24x30
foundation poured and
everything laid out with patient
Bob Whitehead (a carpenter by
trade) on hand to furnish the
brains while degreed son and
sons-in-laws sawed and nailed.
Things really got moving, and
even an accident didn’t slow up
the progress. The doctor took
the injured workman to his of-
fice, stitched him up and had
him back on the job, under doc-
tor’s care, within thirty
minutes. By the time darkness
fell on Memorial Day, the roof
was on and a workshop had
been created just like in the
olden days.
Everyone who has known Dr.
John for any length of time has
a favorite tale that they tell on
the good doctor. In his youth he
became noted as a driver who
liked to get to places in a hurry.
Not that he wasn’t a careful
driver - he had a buzzer set to
sound when he hit 80 mph just
to keep him on the safe side.
betters to the editor
Letters to the editor are published in the Mathis NEWS with or
JS i
without the writer's signature. However, in submitting material, the j
signature of the writer, address and telephone number must be *’"j
included along with a statement not to publish the name, if that is W’
desired. Letters will be verified with the sender prior to publication.
The editor reserves the right to reject any letter.
Summer Lakers
by Bobbie Hammock
V
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Loya, Sandra N. The Mathis News (Mathis, Tex.), Vol. 57, No. 23, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 5, 1980, newspaper, June 5, 1980; Mathis, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1040567/m1/2/?q=denton+history: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Mathis Public Library.