The Seminole Sentinel (Seminole, Tex.), Vol. 49, No. 31, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 28, 1956 Page: 1 of 16
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This Week's Weotfcer
Date High Low
June 21 99 67*
June 22 98 64
June 23 98 63
June 24 97 65
June 25 97 65
June 26 94 67
June 27 96 ts5
June 28 67
•.41-inch rain.
VOLUME 49 . SIXTEEN PAGES
SEMINOLE, GAINES COUNTY, TEXAS Thursday, June 28, 1956
PRICE 10c
Number 31
Fiie Chief Resigns in Protest
Against City's "Indifference"
Jack Spruill, Seminole assist-
ant fire chief, Thursday had as-
sumed the office of chief follow-
ing the resignation of Chief Char-
lie Benson.
i Chief Benson resigned in pro-
test over what he termed "fla-
grant indifference" on the part
of city and county governments,
particularly the city, toward the
Seminole Volunteer Fire Depart-
ment.
City to Purchase Fire Signal
For West Sector of Seminole
City officials were moving
Thursday to improve the city's
fire alarm system.
Fire Chief Jack Spruill ap-
peared before city aldermen at
their meeting Tuesday night and
requested that the city install a
fire siren in the western part of
the city.
In that area, the fire chief
■said, the volunteer firemen can-
' 'not hear fire alerts.
Aldermen voted to purchase
the new siren. Prices of effective
units range from $239 to $399
each. The city officials also in-
structed City Secretary Ruby
Heath to obtain data on automa-
tic switches which would extend
the period of fire alarm alerts
and cause a fluctuating signal,
thus causing the alert sirens to
| be more effective in summoning
volunteer firemen and in warn-
' ing motorists that fire equipment
South Seminole
IPIafs Approved
Platting of an 80-acre sector of
IJland in south Seminole, for prob-
future development, had
approved Thursfciy by the
ft boara of a|iermeft. *
Two separte plats, totalling the
0 acres, were approved by fee
sfficials at their Tuesday night
sting^
Owner of one tract is the Dal-
it family. Owner of the other
lis W. D. Hart. Both tracts of
Eland are in the south portion of
(what is knows as the old Austin
(Miller Addition.
The properties lie to the left
IlTvd right, of the Odessa Highway
In thie southernmost area of Sem-
inole.
is ready to roll.
Chief Spruill is the city's new
fire chief. He assumed office last
Thursday following the resigna-
tion of Chief Charlie Benson.
Driving Discussed
Chief Spruill told aldermen
that the fire department wants to
cooperate with the city officials
in every way possible, and, in re-
turn, he asked for the purchase
of the new fire signal.
During the discussion, Alder-
man N. C. Steger asked Chief
Spruill about driver safety train-
ing within the fire department.
"Some of the firemen are driv-
ing too darned fast," said Alder-
man Steger. "I think you should
have some sort of driver safety
training."
"We have," answered Chief
Spruill.
City Attorney Alton Freeman
said he had heard some com-
plaints about the volunteer fire-
men driving fast when answer-
ing fire calls. But, he said, he
also had complaints that citi-
zens refuse to heed the siren and
red light warning signals on the
firemen's vehicles.
May be Deat
He said that it might be possi-
ble that some of the motorists
and pedestrians wJ»o fail to heed
the emergency equipment warn-
ing devices might be partially
deaf. A little caution on the part
of the drivers of the vehicles
might prevent a tragedy, lie said.
An accident involving the ve-
hicle of a fireman bound for a
fire last Sunday morning was not
mentioned during the meeting of
aldermen. Although two persons
were hurt in the accident^ injur-
ies were of minor nature. The col-
lision between the fireman's car
and that of a Latin-American oc-
curred at the intersection of Ave.
B and Second St., SW.
PAUSE m HIKINr. — Seminole TraffU- MNw W: H. RtaHr
briefly during one of hi* daily 18-mile foot trips around
downtown area of Seminole. Chalk In hand, Officer Black
on the vehicles of motorists who would violate Seml-
parking restrictions. When not working his traffic de-
Mr. Black maintains a garden as » hobby.
Vs-• ;.v:v!r .1..' n W It nl.
v ■T""® «®y oluClJO
Two Unidentified
Men Die in Crash
Two men, unidentified at mid-
afternoon Thursday, died in a
flaming head-on automobile col-
lision at about 1:30 p. m. Thurs-
day near Florey on the Andrews
Highway.
State Highway Patrolman
Jean Pate quoted witnesses as
saying that two automobiles
were drag-racing northward on
the Seminole highway when owe
of the racing vehicles crashed in-
to a southbound vehicle.
Both cars burst into searing
flames. Bodies of the victims—
one man to each oar—were
burned beyond recognition. No
identification papers survived
the craslv
Bracero Pay Meet
Slated in Snyder
Representatives of the West
Texas Chandler of Commerce
will meet July 6 in Snyder to dis-
cuss the wage problem arising
over wages paid Mexican labor-
ers during last year's cotton har-
vest period.
A. D. Quillen, chairman, and
other members of the Gaines
County Cotton Growers Associa-
tion, have been invited to attend
the meeting. The session will be
held at 10 a.m. in the Snyder
City and county officials have i scj2°<>1 cafeteria.
1 The meeting was called by
The chief resigned at last
Thursday night's meeting of the
firemen. He said that, as a civil-
ian, he will continue to work for
strengthening the fire depart-
ment and improving its service.
"I am sorry to leave and I re-
gret having to dissassociate my-
self from you men," said Chief
Benson. "But I have stood this
lack of cooperation from the city
and from the county as long as
can, and I'm tired of boosting
and pushing for a better fire de-
partment when all of my efforts
fall on deaf ears."
Needs New Truck
Chief Benson said that the fire
department needs a new fire
truck, but that city officials will
not provide the funds.
'•'Neither have they provided
any improvements in our fire
alarm system, something I have
been advocating for a long time.
In some parts of town, firemen
cannot hear the alerts."
He warned that the city's busi-
nessmen and householders may
face higher fire insurance rates
unless the fire department is
strengthened and improved.
County Bond Issue Proposed
To Build Recreation Center
★ ★ ★
★ * ★
been discussing the possibility of
a joint purchase of a fire truck
to bolster efficiency of the Sem-
inole Fire Department. Negotia-
tions, however, apparently have
broken down.
Firemen passed a resolution
praising Chief Benson for b<s
work on the volunteer de^i t-
ment during the past 10 years,
during which Mr. Benson rose
from the ranks of a private.
The department voted to hon-
or the retiring official at a steak
supper to be held in July.
'r
Loyan H. Walker, manager of
the West Texas chamber's agri-
culture and livestock depart-
ment, following a conference be-
tween the C of C members and
Department of Labor representa-
tives in Dallas.
The federal government con-
tends that many cotton farmers
did not pay prevailing wages to
Mexican nationals last year, and
has hilled some of the cotton
growers for amounts the govem-
: mant says due. The farmers are
/■Opposing the federal action. .
niln i M >11 Vii rfrir-tt*. <•*< :irrw .n,, f,
Operator Ohnstead Sab lease
The 140-acre Seminole Muni-
cipal Airport Thursday was
again under lease to V. L. Olm-
stead, but with a sizeable in-
crease in rental.
City aldermen voted Tuesday
night to lease the field to Mr.
Ohnstead for $600 per year, on a
five-year basis. The flyer and
crop duster had leased the air-
port for the past five years, but
the rental had been only $1 per
year.
In re-newing the lease, but at
the higher figure, aldermen re-
tained right to terminate the
lease at the end of any lease
year. The lease year dates from
April 18.
Runways Versus Streets
Mr. Olmstead appeared before
aldermen to make his bid orally.
He said that he planned to
move a home-office structure
onto the airport, from which he
operates his crop dust:r<T busi-
ness.
The field operator said that
operation of the airport only
was not a paying proposition and
wouldn't defray the field's utili-
ty bills. However, since the field
was a base of operation for his
business, he accepted the price as
offered by the aldermen.
Meanwhile, the Seminole Jun-
ior Chamber of Commerce is con-
sidering a campaign for improve-
ment of the airport. Some discus-
sion has centered around the pos-
sibility of using local and federal
funds for construction of an en-
tirely new field, one which will
withstand a growth In air activi-
ties of Seminole.
City aldermen discussed this
possibility briefly at their Tues-
day night meeting.
'.'The city cannot afford to
spend that kind of money on the
airport. We have to weigh the
use of the airport against the use
of our streets which need pav
ing," said Mayor Earl Denton.
Walking ond Chalking ...
Sixteen-Mile Hike is Routine
For Seminole Traffic Officer
For some fellows born along
the Mississippi River in Arkan-
sas, even the thought of a 16-
mile hike every day might be
wearying, but 63-year-old Henry
H. Black, Seminole's traffic of-
ficer, takes it in stride.
And Officer Black is a living
refutation of the idea that the
traffic cop has big feet. He wears
a size 8 shoe.
Mr. Black is the grey-uniform-
ed policeman with the stick of
chalk who keeps a sharp eye on
motorists would over-park on
downtown Seminole streets.
There are 9% blocks of street on
whioh there are two-hour parking
limits.
Officer Black makes a circuit
of tiie restricted areas nine times
daily, five and one-half days a
week, walking an average of 16
miles a day, using a three-inch
piece of chalk every eight hours.
Marks aire Different
With the chalk attached to the
end of a metal rod, Officer Black
marks the tires of parked vehi-
cles to Indicate the. length of time
the vehicle is partted.
Sometimes referred to as the
"tire marshal," Officer Black
uses a different mark on tires of
cars in the different limited park
ing areas. In this manner, he can
tell whether a motorist has mov-
ed his vehicle from one location
to another
Sometimes a motorist will
park at one location, then drive
off in his car and return to the
exact location, Mr. Black said
But the officer can still tell that
the motorist has moved and re-
turned
"Once in a while, though, one
time in 40, to be exact, the chalk
mark will show up in the same
position as it was before the car
was moved. Then, I've got a
problem. I can't really tell if the
motorist has moved and return-
ed."
The policeman is the only trif*
fie officer Seminole has had.
Issued 1,673 Tickets
He was sworn into office Jan.
17, 1954, two days before the traf-
fic restrictions first became ef-
fective in Seminole. He petoted
the traffic lines, then began en-
forcement. He has missed only
a ><Vv.
RECREATION PLANNING — Discussing plans for a county - wide golf course and recreational
facilities are, left to right, Jlmmlc Adams, golf professional from Lamesa, Seth Woltz, chairman
of the Gaines County Recreation and Golf Association, and Ike Moore, Seagraves golfer and
backer of the county recreation plans. —Photo by Roberts Studio.
|T . '.■'"I" i —' '
Heck ond Neck
Thieves and burglars in Sem-
inole are not only radio-active,
(but apparently are wired for
sound.
M. C. Hobdy, owner of the
Western Auto Associate Store,
reported to City Policeman
James Denton that a shoplifter
stole a $41.95 portable radio
i£rom the store Wednesday.
And Melvin Brown, 204 NE
Second St., reported that burg-
lars had stolen a record player
irom his home. The burglars
Slit a screen on a window to
gain entry into the home.
gan. except, of course, for vaca-
tions and designated days off.
Mr. Black has issued 1,673
(See Traffic Officer, Paget
2-Year Sentence
Set in Check Case
tarry A. McDaniel, 23, Thurs
day was under a two-year pen-
itentiary sentence after pleading
guilty to charges of defrauding
Benniett Motor Co. in Seminole
with a worthless check.
The man was accused of pass-
ing a worthless check on March
12 in connection with an automo-
bile purchase.
McDaniel was captured May 2
by City Policeman James Denton
and Deputy Sheriff Floyd Taylor
aS> the suspect entered Cothes
Drug Store on South Main St.
across from the courthouse.
District Judge Louis Reed ac-
cepted 1he man's guilty plea and
passed sentence.
The Judge also passed sent-
ences in four other cases follow-
ing guilty pleas during his last
week's session irt Seminole.
Robert Rainwater and Jay
Math is each received two-year
terms, Rainwater for passing a
forged instrument, Mathis for de-
frauding with a worthless check.
Lloyd Edwin Speck received a
two-year probated sentence for a
second offense of driving while
intoxicated.
Richard Lee McCoy received a
year probated sentence for
lary.
up in Junior league
Baseball, Graves' Leads Ponies
Junior baseball in Seminole
rolled along at a neck-and-neck
pace Thursday as two teams
were tied for the lead to the
Junior League series.
Leading the Little League
were the Dearing & Alexander
team and the Seminole Auto
team, each with three wins and
one loss in four games played.
Girl Scouts Urged
To Register Early
For Summer Camp
Girl Scouts planning to attend
the July 23-28 Buffalo Lake Girl
Scout oamp session should con-
tact their troop leaders for reg-
istration as soon as possible,
Mrs. Marie Rowland, Scout lead
sr said Thursday.
Camping fee is $17 per girl, she
said.
Independence Day,
Wednesday, to Be
Seminole Hbliday
Loading Zone Ok'd
For Florist's Shop
Parking restrictions to provide
a loading zone for Turner's Flow-
erland, South Main at Avenue C,
were brought into effect Thurs-
day.
City Aldermen authorized es-
tablishment of the loading zone
three days of work since he be- during their Tuesday night meet-
at City Hall
loading zone will be on
C on the southside of the
shop.
July 4, Wednesday, will be a
holiday for Seminole.
City and county government-
al offices will be closed. The
Seminole State Bank will close,
and most business concerns
will close to observe the Inde-
pendence Day.
Heading the Pony League was
the Jim Graves' Jewelry team
with four wins, tv.o ties and
three losses.
In games of the week, last
Monday night's action pitted
Piggly Wiggiy and Jrn Graves'
Jewelry in Little League play
with Piggly Wiggiy emerging
the winner 20-13. In the Pony
League game Anthony's lost to
Jim Graves' 0-15. Or. Tuesday
Aryain's was defeated by D&A
13-16 and Oswalt's beat the Jay-
cees 7-6. On Friday nii.ht, White
Auto dropped Tower Appliance
12-11, and Oswalt's won over An-
thony's 11-1. Saturday night, Sun
'n Sand edged Seminole Auto
Supply 12-11, and Jim Graves'
scored over Ary&in'i 20-2 and
Jim Graves' over Oswalt's 4-0.
LITTLE LEAGUE
W
Seminole Auto Supply . .3
Dearing Alexander Gro. 3
Tower Appliance ......2
White Auto 3
Sun 'n Sand 2
Jim Graves 2
Piggly Wiggiy 2 3
Aryain's 1 4
PONY LEAGUE
W L
Jim Graves' Jewelry 4 3
Oswalt's 5 4
Jaycees 4 4
Anthony's 2 6
The Gaines County Recreation
and Golf Association Thursday
unanimously pressed for a coun-
ty bond election to provide funds
to finance a public recreation fa-
cility and golf course midway be-
tween Seminole and Seagraves.
Endorsement of the bond is-
sue came at a meeting of more
than 40 members of the associa-
tion at the Courthouse last Fri-
day night.
Members voted to petition
County Commissioners Court to
call the election after the asso-
ciation's steering committee rec-
ommended public bonds as a
method to finance the proposed
facility.
A specific amount of bonds
was not recommended, pending a
detailed study of requirements.
Complete Facility
Proposed recreational facilities
would include a nine-hole golf
course, with area for expansion
into an 18-hole course, a golf
club house, a park and play-
ground area, facilities for pic-
nicking, barbecues, and a pavilion
for group meetings. Fencing of
the playground area is proposed.
The playground, jn addition to
play apparatus ior youngsters,
would Include a wading pool, pre-
liminary plans indicate.
A Two-Cl#, Plan
Such facilities would be an in-
novation for Gaines County, par-
ticularly the golfing
Numerous get
golf have to Urive W oOW coun-
ties to play. Proponents of the
recreation project SiakJ that it
not only will provide wholesome,
out-door entertainment facittf
much-needed in Gaines Cou
but will provide them
iently, and at home.
(See Bond Issue, Page ff)
J. 0. Anderson
Succumbs After
Heart Attack
J. O. Anderson, 68, a retired
Seminole grocer, died Wednes-
day night at his home, 210 Ave.
F, NW, following a heart attack.
Mr. Anderson, to ihe grocery
business in Seminole for several
years, was a native of Mineola,
Tex. r
Mr. Anderson moved to Sem-
inole in 1942 from Lamesa.
Funeral services will be held
at First Baptist Church in Sem-
inole at 3 p.m. Friday with Pas-
tor H. D. Christian officiating.
Funeral arrangements are with
Alpha's Memorial Chapel.
Mr. Anderson is survived by
his wife; two sons, Rev. Ross
Anderson of Fort Worth and
Odes Anderson of Lamesa; three
daughters, Mrs. Rena Bille Fin-
ney of Amarillo, Mrs. Minnie
Faye Rogers of Hereford, and
Mrs. Bessie McGuire of Plato-
view, and a step-daughter, Mrs.
'Ella Mae Smith of Lamesa.
Burial will be to Seminole
Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Mr.
Anderson's grandsons.
Three Referendum Issues Set
For July Demo Primary Ballot
The Gaines County Democra-
tic Executive Committee will
place three special issues for ref-
erendum vote on the July 28 pri-
mary election ballot, County
Chairman Joe Anderson said
Thursday.
The executive committee earl-
ier in the week met to draw
places on the ballot for the can-
didates in the primary races.
Absentee balloting will begin
July 9.
Persons who will be out of the
county on the July 38 election
day must ballot absentee to the
period between July 9 and July
24. They may ballot through the
24th. Absentee ballots may be
cast to person at County Clerk
Chester Browne's office, or bal-
lots may be obtained by writing
t:A-ik - -r
Mr. Browne.
Special referendum issues to
be on the ballot were listed by
Mr. Anderson as follows
Inter-Position
1. For specific legislation ex-
empting any child from compul-
sory attendance at integrated
schools attended by white per-
sons and Negroes. Against speci-
fic legislation exempting ahy
child from compulsory attend-
ance at integrated schools attend-
ed by white persons and Negroes.
o For specific w>otn»>/vw per
fecting state laws against inter-
marriage between white persons
a" Negroes.
Against specific legislation per
fecting
marriage
and Negros.
3. For the use of inter-posi-
tion to halt illegal federal en-
croachment.
Against the use of inter-posi-
tion to halt illegal federal en-
croachment.
The racial and inter-position
questions are an outgrowth of
federal supreme court rulings
pertaining to integration in pub-
lic schools.
Mr. Anderson said that 4,375
ballots have been ordered for
the Gaines County voting. The
I 1 9 Jtetn ItMi—1
vwuitvjr nao v|-x«v \}iuuurcu Twerxo.
Candidates seeking offices,
oal and state
Gaines
,
t i ^ r„ t I 1 '
a m» ^
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Thompson, Barney. The Seminole Sentinel (Seminole, Tex.), Vol. 49, No. 31, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 28, 1956, newspaper, June 28, 1956; Seminole, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth416166/m1/1/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Gaines County Library.