Mineral Wells Index (Mineral Wells, Tex.), Vol. 85, No. 201, Ed. 1 Sunday, December 29, 1985 Page: 5 of 26
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Palo Pinto County Newspapers and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Boyce Ditto Public Library.
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Sunday, December 29,1985
MINERAL WELLS INDEX
Page5
Orders to go!!
Hwy. ISO E. 325-4433
Skyline
RESTAURANT
Daily Specials inc Salad Bar
PLATE LUNCH...295
Counrty
BREAKFAST.....250
Open 6 a.m.-2 p.m.-7 Days
A*k About Our FuS Service
.jw "Retirement Inn*
\ * Housing Assistance Avaiablc
325-6414
M MATING ANO
COOUNO
Area students
earn degrees
at Tarleton
VSO Info Line
by
Kenneth Simcox
Veteran Service Officer
(817) 594-7321 of Metro 488-9087
For confidential information and help-call:
Campbell Memorial Behavioral Medi^ne
_ , 71S East Anderson Street
Tern 7MWI
The Campbel) Memorial Behavioral Medicine
Center provides individualized treatment to
adults and adolescents experiencing emotional
problems A full range of evaluation and in-
tervention strategies are utilized in the Center s
services to adults and adolescents
* Total Coat *150 terms available
Teen Age Driver Ed Program
•Age* 15 to 17
• State Approved • 10% Insurance Deduction
Jan.4toJan25 Feb. 16 to Mar. 8
Jan.25toFeb.16 Mar.8toMar.29
Adult Program Noser number of lessons. ^25 per how
[Pick Up and Return To Your Home
I_______L________Lwngftd_______________
—325-15U
Certain recipients of Veterans Ad-
ministration benefits must submit
Eligibility Verification Reports
(EVR) by Jan. 1, 1986, to avoid in-
teruption or suspension of their
benefits, according to the Waco
Regional Office. Completion of the
Jprm is required by law
Approximately 32,500 .veterans,
surviving spouses, and children
under the pension program in effect
before 1979 and parents who get
Dependency and Indemnity Compen-
sation (DIC) benefits in Texas were
sent an EVR on October 1 in the first
phase of a change in VA’s income
reporting procedures. “To date, 7,500
recipients have not submitted the re-
quired verification,” said Dr.
Stephen L. Lemons, Director ot the
Waco VA Office. 1
The EVR replaces the old Annual
Income Questionnaire which used to
go to all VA pensioners at the same
time. The VA is now cycling income
reports throughout the year
Beginning Dec. 1, and running
through Sept 1, 1986. EVRs will be
mailed to the nearly 700,000 reci-
pients of VA “improved” pensions
nationwide at the rate of 70,000 a
month.
In all cases, the VA encourages an
early return of the form to avoid last
minute processing bottlenecks.
We wi be open al day
New Year's Dey.,
Furr’s~i
OPEN SUNDAY DUO-FAST
8:30-6 00 Man.-rn. rao-too . w.
Hyy.281______Mineralwells 325-7804
A party for Leon.................
We Can Make A Difference
In Your Life
Driving School
215 SX 1st St
Mineral Weis .
Now Enrolling Students For
STEPHENVILLE, TX - Degrees
were awarded to a total of 233
graduates in commencement exer-
cises held Sunday, Dec. 15 at
Tarleton State University. The
number included 41 masters and 192
baccalaureate degrees
Dr. O.H. “Bud” Frazier, director
of the Texas Heart Institute in
Houston, was speaker for the winter
commencement which was held in
Wisdom Gymnasium. Dr. Frazier
warned graduates that their educa-
tion was not over and that future
years will make them aware of just
how little they know.
The noted heart transplant surgeon
told the members of the graduating
class that' ‘success is not achieved by
serving yourself, but by serving
others.” He told the student not to
take themselves “too seriously” and
to remember that the most important
aspects of success are the qualities
learned during childhood.
“The values and traditions that
Tarleton stands for are the cor-
nerstones on which this country has
been built,” said Frazier, a recent
recipient of the Distinguished Alum-
nus award at Tarleton.
Dr. John. Dunn, a member of the
faculty At Tarleton for over 30 years,
was named the fifth recipient of the
Presidential Award of Merit at TSU.
Dr. Dunn has served the University
as professor, coach, department
chairman, and, currently, as Assis-
tant to the President for Develop-
ment. The presentation was made by
TSU President Dr. Barry B. Thomp-
son who praised Dunn for his service
and dedication to the University.
Dr. Thompson and Vice President
for Academic Affairs Dr. Robert
Fain conferred the degrees on the
candidates.
Among the graduates were 44
honor graduates.
(Continued from Page D
You can’t begin as a shoe shine
boy, grow into a shoe shine man, and
finally be proclaimed “a leather
maintenance technician” without
noticing when your dream of har-
mony among all people shines for a
moment, especially if it’s your own
birthday.
What Rosa Parks did for
desegregation in Selma, Alabama by
sitting down on the front seat of the
bus, Cross has done for Mineral Wells
by opening his heart and sharing his
music.
Furthermore, he will be doing his
part in a new suit this year. After all
the well wishes and a lively party in
the Crazy lobby, Mr. and Mrs Cross
were taken by limousine and he was
fitted with a new suit by Stuart.
Mrs. Cross is a little afraid her hus-
band’s good taste in clothes cost
Stuart too much, but anyone can see
that if was not only loving and
generous, but captured a model that
money could not buy.
Seeing Mr. and Mrs. Cross decked
down, if one may borrow a Dallas ex-
pression, is an elegant sight in deed.
To greet them on Sunday morning is
to know how rich people look, those
who have not only a comfortable
home and well educated children, but
full hearts and music in their souls.
With four of their sons alive and
Leon Jr having left them with a
legacy of eldest grand children, the
Crosses are surrounded by tapestries
and fine furniture. Their generosity
over the years with both time and
money has returned to them, and
their life on S.E. 3rd. Ave. is both
warm and pleasant
That's more than a little
remarkable when one realizes that
they raised Leon Jr., Arthur, Leslie,
Herbert, and Albert with money
earned from popping shoe shine and
dusting rags
All the Cross sons are self suppor-
ting, and two have masters degrees.
Cross acknowledges his wife's work
as “a household engineer" when he
speaks of educating his sons.
Before his death, Leon Jr was
responsible for finding jobs for hun
dreds of the low income unemployed
in Mineral Wells. Arthur, is
employed at Texboro. Leslie took his
master's degree into the education
field and is a school administrator in
Lubbock Herbert, who also has a
master's degree, is a principal in
Lubbock, and Albert is an auto in-
spector here in Mineral Wells.
In addition to his family, what are
some of Cross’ best memories of his
80 years?
There’s a 22-pound “appalooea"
catfish that he caught on a rod and
reel below Possum Kingdom dam. “I
mean I had some fun with that fish,’’
Crees said.
< Hp enjoyed his years of school in a
one room frame building on the
branch where the old ice company
stands in Mineral Wells.
There is also his experience in
scool in Dallas. He learned to spell
phonetically, syllable by syllable,
and to read music. He beqame an
avid reader. Now, his favorite two
things to read are the Bible and sheet
music.
Also a performer of the music he
reads and some he has written. Cross
is well known for his musical talents.
He speaks fondly of his band the
Rebops, as in bebop-a-reeba
That included Robert Richardson
on piano, son Leslie on tenor sax, son
Herbert on alto sax, and Cross on
banjo and vocal sax.
Cross still performs for friends and
especially children. His favorite
music these days is to hear grandson
Billy Earl Cross accompany the
Hughes Chapel young people’s choir
on piano.
Next to Billy Earl, his favorite per-
former is Ray Charles. His eyes
twinkle when he recalls big band
music. Count Basie, Duke Ellington
and other big band greats have in-
fluenced his own style over the years.
Also on his all time hit list are
gospel singers Andre Crouch and
“James Cleveland with that big choir
behind him.”
Earl Hines is special on piano, and
the downhome blues sounds of B.B.
King and Bessie Smith also make
Cross’ exceptionally good music list.
When Leon Cross, Sr. talks about
music, you can almost hear the
notes, and when he pops a shoe shine
rag, you can almost hear the melody,
not just the beat
No wonder, to become a “really
professional rag popper," he practic-
ed in Dallas in Deep Elm, pronounc-
ed Ellem, as an eight-year-old boy
listening to fox trot records in the
Palace Shine Parlour
He was 10 or Uyears-old by then
and on a salary of 99 per week plus
tips His pre-professional days were
at the age of eight and nine for three
and one/third cents a shine That
Police Report.
ABC
Two juveniles assaulted a victim in
the Brazos Shopping Center at
3:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 23 and
stole |14. They were identified and
turned over to juvenile authorities.
Four shop-made toilers were
reported stolen from an open lot at
T&S Manufacturing on Monday. The
trailers were removed some time
between Dec. 16 and the report date.
A set of golf clubs were reported
stolen from an open garage/yard
area at 1501 N.W. 5th. Ave.
Criminal mischief during Sunday
night involved shooting a left rear
window with a small calibre weapon
and breaking of a side window in a
vehicle in the 100 block of S.E. 7th. St.
Reports, were also made on Mon-
day of harrassment, and of pumping
of $10 worth of gas without paying
Arrests for Monday included that
of Mary Perales Parrack of Stephen-
ville for disorderly conduct and
failure to show proof of financial
responsibility.
Children Under 12
unday Dinner
AT
\ WEST TEXAS CAFE
(Hwy 180 W Next to Pinto Inn
SERVED
11:00am to 2:00 pm
* Roast Beef yj /xau
☆Fried Chicken JKZl MS
☆Beef Stroganoff
w/Noodles
☆Corn Beef & Cabbage
w/New Potatoes <|>XeV5
Choice Of Three Vegetables
☆Mashed Potatoes ☆Broccoli Spears
☆Glazed Carrotts ☆Creamed Peas
Sunday Breakfast fljr
Served Ji
8:00am to 11:00am
SHOPPING SPREE - Eva Reed, accompanied by her
son Shawn, accepts $500 worth of shopping spree
money which she won in a Downtown Association give
away just before Christmas. Presenting the money-
sized certificates are Debi Crowell, president of the
(Index Photo)
Association, and her daughter Heather. Reed, who is
an inspector at TRW called the win "a blessing. I’ve
been figuring bow to spend it ever since I heard it. 1*11
have to wait until It sinks in first,” she said.
Armando Andrade of 104 Davidson
was arrested for disorderly conduct.
On Tuesday, Dec. 24, report was
made of simple assault following an
argument between two neighbors.
Christmas Eve also brought a report
of harrassment in a conflict at the
Pak-A-Sak on S. Oak.
Ronald Heath of 814 S.E. 8th. St.
was arrested for disorderly conduct
after being involved in a disturbance
at 814 S.E. 8th. St.
326-1031
PAINT SPECIAL
For Most Cars
Mon.-Frl.
8:30 5:30
Sat.
8:30-12:30
third of a dime was the commission
from a Greek with a stand across
from the Adolphus Hotel at Eichler
and. Commerce who furnished the
equipment and polish.
With his shine money, Cross would
go to every theatre in downtown
Dallas. He would pay for his own
shoes to be shined and give a dollar
tip and “act like a big shot?'
Then, at 14, Cross came home to
Mineral Wells.
Now shines are 11.00 for low
quarters, $1.50 for boots, and an ex-
tra fifty cents if your feet aren't in
the pair when it’s polished. Afterall,
that leaves a man with no audience.
The audience is the key to Cross’s
success and his position in the com-
munity. Those who know him well
believe that popping the rag is just a
gift God gave him to allow him to
spread his philosophy which covers
I 1219 S.E.
'I 6th Ave.
Vinyl Tops OKz
Light Mechanical Work
KEN'S
BODYSHOP J
everything from peace making to
how important communication is in
life.
Asked if keeping peace and pro-
moting harmony is his favorite thing
to do, Cross said, “it’s a wonder I
haven’t been killed, keeping people
from fighting,”
At eighty, the man who puts a shine
on shoes with his rag and a sparkle on
spirits with his smile, advises:
"When there's a problem, talk it
out. Nothing beats understanding."
With that, here is the best possible
phonetic spelling of a rag popping
tune:
Pappy, perm pay, to pooh .. and
many more ... to the king of the popp-
ing rag, the steward of the church,
and one of the most beloved keepers
of “goodwill to all men" with whom a
community could be blessed, Mr
Leon Cross, Sr.
EAGLE SOUTHWEST
it Fixtures
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Bennie, Bill. Mineral Wells Index (Mineral Wells, Tex.), Vol. 85, No. 201, Ed. 1 Sunday, December 29, 1985, newspaper, December 29, 1985; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1170330/m1/5/?q=waco+tornado: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boyce Ditto Public Library.