The Waco Citizen (Waco, Tex.), Vol. 59, No. 69, Ed. 1 Tuesday, September 1, 1987 Page: 11 of 24
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Come
Country
to do your
BANKING!!
Come to the Robinson State Rank
Where you are a name...
not a number!!!
You don’t have to dress up
come as you are!
The bank that
works for you!
Personalized, friendly banking
nOBINSON
state Bank
410 South Robinson Drive • 662-3930
BUD PRICE,
PRESIDENT ...
, Ml
Waco
Poised For Growth
By BILL FOSTER, Publisher, Citizen Newspapers
The Bureau of Business Research at the University of Texas
says downturns are just as necessary in business as upturns.
Well, Texas is “enjoying” some downturns, right now, but
Waco seems to be holding up fairly well through this “ad-
justment” period.
We don’t know if the boys down at Texas University are
any smarter than our folks at Baylor, or even our “Aggies” at
A & M, but we do agree with them, that this is the way a free
economy should work, and that over the past 210 years it has
worked. We’ve seen some mighty great progress since,
Thomas Jefferson signed the Declaration of Independence on
July 4,1776.
OVERCOMING DOWNTURNS
Waco is overcoming some economic downturns caused by
some of our largest manufacturing plants having to close
because they didn’t modernize or keep up with the times. But
on the other hand, this is a new challenge and this means we
have buildings and workers ready for those that want to come
into a ready made situation, poised for growth.
Just this year we have seen four new manufacturing
facilities and a large distribution center come to Waco. And
we hear there’s a few more about ready to announce. Waco
has almost 200 manufacturing or distribution facilities. Being
in the center of the state makes it ideal for getting the goods to
market. Waco is quality of life and our good work force help
Waco be an important industrial center. Waco is still small
enough to be friendly but large enough to attract growth. The
Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce has a new song out
titled “Waco: where you can get a new beginning.”
Waco is still small enough so you can get around in your
auto easily. You can generally get to work in less than 15
minutes from wherever you live. However, more and more
traffic is being seen on the streets and highways each day, as
we continue to grow.
Wilton Lanning, Chairman of the Greater Waco Chamber
of Commerce, credits our forefathers like Jack Kultgen arid
Harlon Fentress with seeing to it that our infrastructure is in
place for a steady growth forward. And indeed while other
cities were having a water shortage, Waco never did need
rationing, even though we had many days of 100 plus degree
weather. Mr. Kultgen saw to it that Interstate 35 came right
through Waco, to help insure our growth, instead of
bypassing it like it has so many towns.
LAKE BRAZOS
Waco is fortunate to be on the largest river in Texas. The
Brazos. And now after millions of dollars invested, we have a
dam that creates a constant level lake right through Down-
town Waco. Early Wacoans say the Brazos is the largest river
west of the Mississippi. When it is full of water it certainly is
among the prettiest.
In a recent interview of the WACO TODAY radio talk
show, hosted by yours truly on KBBW, Lanning said there
are many positive things happening right now in Waco. He
cited our increased industrial budget that went from $5,000 to
$525,000. The city of Waco, Baylor University, and Waco
a arirl . 1986-87 PAGE 3
Industrial Foundation have joined with the chamber of com- and beautiful junior college, due to the great leadershm of 11-:
merce to go after more industrial development. This project is William Ball, the administrator. Baylor, of course is the
headed up by Curtis Cleveland who has an office at the largest Baptist University in the free world. It’s celebrating its
Camber inthe.Hilton hotel complex. 100th birthday in Waco. ceieorating
™sland leading in politics
sr ~ - - - «—»»«.
industrial plants or in a recent case, a large depot for PX’s Waco is also the home of mom, „r0ot c
that Ch0Se WaCO 0Ver Ft- W°rth these, including Gov. Mark Whitest sevens inwTco
and San Antonio LEADERSHIP FOR TODAY
The chamber has a multi-media slide show and other grow is helping to provide leadership for todav and
materials available for new prospects or present ones wanting tomorrow. Also the chamber has organized a leadership h
to expand Business on the Brazos is a new committee headed Waco committee to help train new lefders Some 70 appLa
byaily Johnson to look after the needs of our present in- lions were received for the 20 positions P
Lanning says our air service is one of the most important is Sve°in wlco!^
things that needs improving and even this is happening since hats off to a great future for Waco P °
our talk show interview. American Eagle, a branch of -
American Airlines, has increased the size of their commuter
planes operating between Waco and DFW (Dallas-Ft. Worth)
where you can catch a plane to anywhere usually within the
hour.
Rio-Delta has a combination going that is “up in the air.”
If they don’t stay with it, apparently Delta will bring in
another commuter.
Waco has a shuttle bus service between here and DFW, its
called the Eagle and is very satisfactory for its passengers.
Rates are $30 one way or $50 round trip.
GROW—Grass Roots of Waco, is looking into several
alternatives for future air service and high-speed rail. One
idea is to merge them together at TSTI Airport. Also TSTI is
a very likely place for a centralized air cargo freight depot to
serve all of Texas.
COTTON WAS KING
Back when Waco began, in 1850 Cotton was king, and
buyers came to Waco from all over. As much as a million
bales were produced on farms in the area. Today this has
given way to a more industrialized economy, as Waco
becomes more metropolitan. Waco is still the largest “shop-
ping area” for people in McLennan and the surrounding 14
counties. A BUY WACO and a SHOP WACO FIRST cam-
paign is resurfacing.
FINANCIAL CENTER
Waco is the largest financial center in Central Texas with 13
banks plus a great number of savings and loan outlets.
Numerous credit unions abound all over Waco and even
today a new one is going up on Sanger.
HEALTH CENTER
Waco is becoming more and more of a health center. If you
combine it with Temple’s Scott & White and other medical
facilities, you sure enough can put that label on us.
WACO IN EDUCATION
Waco is in the business of education. With 4 schools of
higher education we lead many other cities in this field. We
are first in vocational-technical training because of Texas
State Technical Institute. Waco has one of the few black
colleges around. Paul Quinn is now reaching out all the way
to Africia to bring in students and train them, so they can go
back home and become leaders in their field. MCC is dynamic
When you compare our checking account those over 60 years of age . . . travelers
plans with others, you'll know why more and checks, money orders, cashiers checks, no-
more Central Texans are opening their ac- tary service, financial counseling and guaran
counts with us. Each account is designed to teed direct deposit . . . all ar no charge,
fit a particular need and we return your can-
celled checks. . COMMERCIAL CHECKING
ACCOUNTS
•REGULAR CHECKING ACCOUNT A cost efficient business account gives you
The convenience of complete check writing credit for your available balances. You can
and low balance requirements. You can avoid avoid a monthly service fee by simply main-
service charges by maintaining a specified taining an adequate balance.
average balance.
• PLUS CHECKING ACCOUNT
Total checking at a minimal cost. This ac-
count is designed for those who don’t write
many checks hut still want full service
checking.
• THE VINTAGE ACCOUNT
A complete package of hanking services for
• MONEY FUND CHECKING
ACCOUNT
Competitive market rates and full service
checking privileges. Rates subject to change
daily and reflect current money market
conditions.
Experience full service checking at Central
Texas Savings. Come see us today!
CENTRAL
k. ’ TEXAS
(H SAVINGS & LOAN ASSOCIATION
We’re changing with you..
Waco • Temple • Marlin • Mart • Rosebud • Dallas
MEMBER FSLIt
Citizens Forum Sets Goals Program
As part of the Sesquicentennial
celebration chairman Roy Waithall,
wanted to incorporate a “goals
program” into the historical
celebrations. “Many other cities were
conducting goals for their com-
munities,” Walthall said, “and I
thought after the General Motors
Saturn ‘hunt’ made us focus on both
our pluses and minuses that a
program like that here would be well
worth the effort.” However, the idea
got nowhere with county officials,
but Bill Foster, publisher of the
Waco Citizen agreed with Walthall
thought it was time for us to focus in
on Waco’s positives and correct its
negative image.
forums to allow citizens the oppor-
tunity to speak out on Waco’s future.
All of these efforts lead last March to
the creation of the Grass Roots
Organization of Waco & McLennan
County (GROW) by some thirty
concerned business leaders, who are
determined to just not talk about
Waco growing, but in actually
helping to effect changes that will
make it grow.
The objective of GROW is to
promote active citizen participation
in providing vision and leadership in
determining the goals and direction
for the future of the greater Waco
area.
The group is composed of four
Grass Roots of Waco and tlcL ennan County
Together they planned a meeting
in May of 1985, with concerned
citizens that defined the following
goals: Attract more basic industry,
provide stronger leadership, improve
our image, improve communications,
work on an area wide basis including
suburbs, McLennan and Bell coun-
ties, and improve relations with
ethnic groups within Waco.
Soon thereafter the Heart of Texas
Council of Governments and the
Waco Chamber of Commerce held a
two-day forum last October featuring
“Megatrend” author John Naisbett,
and San Antonio’s Mayor Henry
Cisneros. They told the forum of
Waco’s geographical strengths and
predicted future progress for the
area.
The Chamber of Commerce this
spring, began a series of public
task forces comprised of: Entertain-
ment & Tourism headed by Fred
Tosch, Economic Development
chaired by Foster, Political Action
headed by John Restivo, and Tran-
sportation chaired by Walthall. Jeff
Olson, a management advisor acts as
a general coordinator for the group.
Already in its infancy the group
has scored major breakthroughs in
GROW Meeting Sept. 25
The next regular meeting of
GROW—Grass Roots Organiza-
tion of Waco, has been set for
Thursday, Sept. 25, 11:30 at the
regular meeting place, 6801
Sanger. All committee chairmen
will be given a chance to make a
report.
GROW MEETING—Business leaders from throughout Waco meet
regularly at the Executive Plaza each month to provide leadership ideas for
Greater Waco.
convincing the City Council to ex-
tend drinking hours past midnight.
The chief goal was to negate Waco’s
image of a town that rolled up the
carpet at 10 p.m. and wasn’t open
minded enough to see two sides to
any issue. GROW believes the
council’s action will increase Waco’s
tourism and convention trade.
Another victory was scored when
Walthall, visiting the Texas Railroad
Company which is spearheading the
rapid rail system, and officials from
the Texas Railroad Commission
agreed in principle to his inner-
triangular proposal as opposed to the
German consortium’s idea of an IH-
45 route followed by an IH-35 and
later an IH-10 system to connect
Dallas-Fort Worth to Houston and
San Antonio. Under that plan it was
doubtful if the rapid rail would even
stop in Waco, much less make it a
centerpiece of the system.
The third area which is a hot topic
of conversation is the idea of
popularity electing Waco’s mayor
and creating an odd-numbered City
Council. Presently there are six
councilmen with the mayor elected
from within the council. A City
Charter Commission is studying the
proposals and tentatively are
scheduled to make their recommen-
dations to the council in October. In
a public hearing held this summer,
Mayor Pro-Tern David Sibley, who is
a frequent visitor to the meetings and
is spearheading the elected mayor ef-
fort got public endorsements from
fellow Councilmen Jay Larsen, and
Ruben Santos. Earlier at the Cham-
ber of Commerce public forum
Councilman Malcolm Duncan
agreed to the idea of the people elec-
ting their mayor. Councilman Ray
Shackleford has always maintained
that the people should ultimately
decide the question. Mayor LaNelle
McNamara opposes the idea.
In cooperation with transportation
the economic development task force
has developed solid leads on air
freight carriers willing to look
seriously at Waco and the old James
Connally AFB becoming an air
freight terminal. In a recent interview
with Gene Evans, chairman of the
TSTI Board of Regents, he agreed
that an air freight center would be
good if it passed all environmental
impact requirements and left the
educational environment of TSTI in-
tact.
GROW meets monthly at the
Executive Plaza Office Building on
Sanger Ave. and Highway 6 (across
from Target’s). Their next meeting
will be on Thursday, September 18th
at 12 noon and any interested citizen
wanting to help Waco grow is invited
to attend.
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Foster, C. A. The Waco Citizen (Waco, Tex.), Vol. 59, No. 69, Ed. 1 Tuesday, September 1, 1987, newspaper, September 1, 1987; Waco, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth621518/m1/11/?rotate=270: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .