The Rockdale Reporter and Messenger (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. 81, No. 48, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 17, 1953 Page: 1 of 24
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: The Rockdale Reporter and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Lucy Hill Patterson Memorial Library.
- Highlighting
- Highlighting On/Off
- Color:
- Adjust Image
- Rotate Left
- Rotate Right
- Brightness, Contrast, etc. (Experimental)
- Cropping Tool
- Download Sizes
- Preview all sizes/dimensions or...
- Download Thumbnail
- Download Small
- Download Medium
- Download Large
- High Resolution Files
- IIIF Image JSON
- IIIF Image URL
- Accessibility
- View Extracted Text
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
INSIDE TODAY
Sports News
Murder Suspect
Women's Page
Editorials, Features
Classified Ads
Page 2
THE ROCKDHLE REPORTER
24 PAGES TODAY
/Or the Copy
Rockdale Messenger Established 1179
AND MESSENGER
Rockdale Reporter Established 1893
VOL. 81
ROCKDALE. MILAM COUNTY. TEXAS. THURSDAY. DEC. 17. 1953
NO. 45
Judges to View
Homes Tuesday
Entries in the Residential Christ- of all entries would be made short-1
mas Decoration Contest will be ly before the judges arrive and
judged Tuesday night by a team that all residents who think they
from the Cameron Chamber of j might be overlooked are urged to
Commerce and all Rockdale citi-! notify the Chamber office of their
zens interested In taking part in
the contest were urged to have
their displays completed prior to
the judging by Bob Greenwald,
manager of the Rockdale C. of C.
Merchandise prizes valued at $60
will bo given away this year to
the winners. The prizes include a
clock-radio us first prize; auto-
matic iron, second prize; pyrex
dinnerwarc set, third prize.
Greenwald pointed out that these
prizes are now on display in the
lobby of the Rockdale State Bank.
The Chamber manager also ex-
plained that a preliminary survey
School Census
Dale Changed;
Due Next Monlh
The date of census enumeration
for all schools ot Texas has been
changed from the month of April
to January, it was announced this
week by school officials.
In view of the change, it now
becomes necessary for parents of
all children to properly negotiate
census blanks which are available
at the school. Especially is it im-
portant for parents who have chil-
dren that will be 6 years of age
on, or before, September, 1954, to
see that they are enumerated in
January, Supt. W. C. Grissom ex-
plained.
Parents may call 5443 or set
Miss Yashti Smith for informutioi
concerning the census blanks.
(Rambling
ROUND ROCKDALE * *
W.H.C.
Coming Up.
TIMES a-wastin’. Only six more
shopping days until Christmas.
Ease Up.
TF THE Christmas rush has you
* going in a whirl, slow down.
Here’s an interesting little bit of
nonsense that will help you relax
and get your mind off your wor-
ries: Multiply your shoe size (us-
ing the nearest round-number) by
two. Add 39.. Multiply that total
by five. Then place a 3 to the
right hand side of the total. Sub-
tract the year in which you were
born. The left digit will show
your shoe size, and the numbers at
the right will be your age.
Bushdale Road Set Up as
Next FM Road in County
location and entry.
Judging will be on the following
basis: general effect in relation to J
the Christmas theme, 30 points;
originality and distinctiveness, 30,
points; color, light and visibility.
20 points; use of materials and,
workmanship, 20-points. The basis
of judging will be similar to thati
used in the window display and '
parade contests sponsored by the ,
Chamber earlier and held in con-
junction with the Christmas Party.!
Rockdale residents were remind-
ed that the decorations must be
visible from the street.
The Cameron team who will do
‘.he judging is being furnished on
an exchange basis as used in past
contests. A group from the Rock-
lale C. of C. is scheduled to view
md rate the Cameron homes Mon-
day night in that city’s decoration ;
contest.
Rockdalians who will judge the
Cameron homes are Mr. and Mrs. t
W. T. Pearson, Jr., Mr. and Mrs.,
Bill Scurlock, and Mr. and Mrs.
Bob Greenwald.
Improvement of the Rockdale slated 6.1 miles of the Bushdale
area highways and County Hoads Hoad
has been scheduled in the near fu-j .*•-nth pointed out that funds
lure according to a report recently allocated Highway 79 was a eon-
made by Milam County Judge, Unuation of efforts to improve the
Charles C. Smith, Jr. j highway throughout the county
l ones have been, set up by the and was designed primarily to cn-
Ilighwa.s Department for the wid-, hance the safety of the newly
cuing of the shoulders of Highway Improved road,
79 from a point 5 miles east ot Highway 79 was recently wid-
, Thorndale wes* to Rockdale, u dis-1 ened a total of 6 feet and black
limits.
are hopeful that we may
soon be able to do the same tiling
to the concrete portion of High-
way 79 from Rockdale cast to Mi-
lano that has been done with the
p irtlon west of Rockdale," Smith
said.
The county judge also stated that
“construction was slated next sum-
mer and funds approved for re-
Road Work.
THERE’S good news in a story on
this page concerning farm to
market road and highway work
scheduled for this1 section of Milam
county in the coming year. Credit
County Judge Charles C. Smith, Jr.
for digging up this information for
the press, and credit Charlie also
with doing a good job of plugging
for Milam county better roads and
seeing that the Rockdale precinct
got its share. It was at. Charlie’s
insistence that the Rockdale road
was set up as the next farm to
market project.
Thanks, Joe.
T WOULD like to add my personal
* thanks to mv good friend Joe
Moore, of Guuse, for on interesting
talk at the Rotary Club here Tues-
day. Joe, who marie a name for
himself in twelve years of Major
League baseball as an outfielder
with the New York Giants, says
he is not a speaker, but he is a
darn good one if you ask me, and
spins some interesting yarns about
his baseball years. It's hard to
get him to talk about Joe, but he
talks interestingly about the ma-
jor league in general, and the indi-
vidual players in his day. Inci-
dentally, like most of the boys
who have been up there, Joe will
tell you that it is the players who
make the managers, not the mana-
gers who make the players.
Storm Fund.
THE Tangle wood storm fund is
* lagging a bit. Maybe I scared
a lot of you off last week when I
said the list was being started off
with a $25 donation. That doesn’t
mean everyone is supposed to
make a big contribution. Any
amount is acceptable, so send in
your dollar, or five dollars, or ten
dollnrs, or whatever you want to
give to help.
Bob Greenwald, Chamber of
Commerce secretary, lists the fol-
lowing contributions received since
last Thursday: Mrs. M. N. Strieker
$25, Mr. and Mrs. J. L Hetfig. $5.
Mrs August Mrosko $5. Phillip L
Griffith $10. To this add $25 al-
ready given by Sam Perry and $2
from the Baptist Church.
You can contribute to this fund
simply by mailing your check to
the “Tanglcwood Storm Fund”
care Rockdale Chamber of Com-
merce. Or drop by the C. of C
office or The R 'porter Office.
Parking Ticket
Holders Warned
Of Court Action
Persons with over-due parking
’ickets were warned this week that
ailure to pay the regulation fine
n due time would bring court ac-
ion on the part of the police de-
partment.
City Judge E. A. Crane stated
that all over-due ticket holders had
been mailed second notices and
ihat a third one would be mailed
soon. After that, it will be a mat-
ter of paying or facing court pro-
cedures, he said.
Crane asked the support of
Rockdale residents in complying
with existing parking regulations
and urged each to see that ade-
quate parking time remained on
meters before leaving. "Too often,
local drivers pay for 12 minutes
of parking when they know their i
business transactions will take I m
longer; in many cases an extra _
penny would save the embarrase-
ment of having a ticket issued," he
said.
MARCUS N. STRICKER—Rockdale businessman and Milam
I District Boy Scout worker, is shown above with his recently
j acquired Silver Beaver Award, presented Thursday at the
Annual Meeting of the Heart o’ Texas Council, Boy Scouts
of America, for “outstanding service to boyhood.” Strieker
was one of three council workers to receive the award. (Re-
porter Staff Photo).
For Outstanding Service
M. N. Strieker is Presented
Scout Silver Beaver Award
Marcus N. Strieker of Rockdale
was presented the Heart o’ Texas
Council, Boy Scouts of America,
Silver Beaver Award at the an-
nual meeting of the council last
Thursday night in the Roosevelt
Hotel, Waco.
I Strieker, one of Rockdale’s most
take Unlive civic and service organizu-
John Parmelee,
Lamar Simmons
Win CIO Posts
John Parmelee and Lamar Sim-
mons were named vice president
and trustee, respectively, at nn
Christmas
Band Concert
Set Friday, 8 p. m.
Presentation of the Annual
Christmas Concert by the Rockdale
High School Senior Band has been
announced for Friday, December
18, in the school gymnasium at
8 p. m. by Bandmaster Howard
Gill.
The concert will feature the
senior band playing winter and
Christmas music. The program is
expected to last approximately 45
minutes.
Director Gill pointed out that all
proceeds from the concert would
go into the instrument fund and a light vote of only 92 ballots be
that ;;; spite of th< starting of the j |i,k . ,i:,t. StfTUTlOTU Wftl UROPpOMd
school Christmas holidays Friday, I on the ballot, Parmelee was one
a good turnout is expected. ( of four candidates for the Vice-
Admission for the concert will I presidents post. Others were Willie
be 25-cents for adults, 15-cents for I williams, Ernest Schoppc and A. C.
students. I Carnes,
tlon leaders, was one of three
workers In the Heart o’ Texas
Council who received the high
award “for outstanding service to
boyhood" during 1953. Others
were E. F. McQueen, Killeen, and
Hugh Thompson, Waco.
The award, made annually to
three workers of the Council of
approximately 2000 workers, was
presented by Clyde Robertson,
Council Scout Commissioner of
Killeen, Strieker was commended
for his active participation in civic
and church affairs, the Boy Scout
program, and for his successful
chairmanships of the Milam Dis-
trict for a number of years and
was* instrumental in the organiza-
tion and furtherance of the Boy
Scout program in Rockdale.
A* Thursday night’s presenta-
jtanoe of 8 miles and the next FM topped from a point 5 miles east i surfacing the portion of Highway
construction In the county is of Thorndale to the Hockdalc city 179 from Mil.mo WMt t© the MSln
i Two Rockdalians
Injured In
Truck-Car Crash
I Two Rockdale residents recciv-
i ed injurie in an auto truck crush
| approximately one mile east of
Gnuse at 2:30 p in. Saturday. They
were Mr* H. 11 Coffield and Mrs.
Anna Male Perry, Also injured
was Al Johns of Austin.
Of the trio, Mrs. Perry sustained
the most serious injuries and is
hospitalized in Austin at Brecken-
ridge hospital. She received a dis-
located hip, chest injuries and lac-
erations of th.-> face and shoulders.
Her condition was reported as im-
proving but visitors have not been
permitted to see her.
Mrs Coffield is confined to Rich-
ards Clinic recovering from num-
erous bruises and a fractured toe.
Johns sustained bruises about the
head, shoulders and legs; hi* was
treated at Richards Clinic and
later released.
They were shaken up as were the
four riders in the cab of the truck,
driven by Walter McCoy, Heurne
negro.
According to reports available
tin Coffield car was enroutr to
East Texas at the time of the ac-
cident, traveling East on Highway
79. McCoy, driving West, was mak-
ing a left-hand turn off the high-
way in front of the approaching
Coffield car, a Cadillac driven by
Johns. The car struck the right
rear jxirtion of the truck, a 1950
Chevrolet 2-ton truck owned by
Lee Reeves of Henrne, who had
loaned the vehicle to McCoy.
Damage was reported to have
been heavy to both vehicles, tho
Coffield ear being demolished in
the accident.
McCoy had three passengers In
the cab of the truck at the time of
tin* accident, but none was report-
ed to have been seriously injured.
election of officers held by the I tion he became the third Ifockdal-
United Steelworkers Ix>cal Union
No. 4895 hero Monday.
N. F. Macnamara, president
stated that both men were named
to fill vacancies created by recent
resignations. Parmelee succeeds
Virgil Haggard ns vice president
who resigned recently due to bad
health and Simmons replaces Wil-
liam Burnett who resigned in
order to devote more time to other
commitments.
The election was held Monday
of this week at the CIO Hall with
ian to receive the coveted award.
II. H. Coffield and II. D. Maxwell
huve also received the honor.
Coffield. who has been a worker
in the Boy Scout movement for
years, was named to the Executive
Board of the Heart o’ Texas Coun-
cil for 1034 at the meeting and he
also had charge of the installation
services of new officers elected.
Three other Rockdalians were
honored at the annual meeting.
John Harper, Alcoa’s Rockdale
Works manager, was elected a
Council Vice President in the busi-
ness session: Dr. John T. Richards
and Frank Hyder were selected as
Council Members-at-Large for
1954.
Four Cameron Hoy Scout work-
See STRICKER, Page 7
Mrs. Cynthia Saage County Chairman
Community Chairmen For
March of Dimes Named
Community Chairmen for Milam • be announced later. | Mrs. Saage pointed out that the
County's March of Dimes were | For the dramatic Mothers March vaccine validity trials mark the
named this week by Mrs. Cynthia climax in Rockdale, Mrs. John T. opening of the "fourth front" in
Saage, county drive chairman. The
1954 March of Dimes is scheduled
TWO ROCKDALIANS wore injured in the above ve-
hicle damaged in a collision with a truck one mile east
of Cause Saturday afternoon. Injured were Mrs. 11. H.
Coffield and Mrs. Anna Mate Berry of Rockdale; also
AI Johns of Austin, driver of the car. The Cadillac is
owned by H. II. Coffield of Rockdale. (One-Minute Polar
old Photo).
DESIRE BIG SUCCESS FACTOR,
MOORE TELLS ROTARY CLUB
“The one thing any man must
have to succeed In baseball--nr In
any other business Is desire”
These are tin* words of Joe
Moore, of Gause, former player
with the New York Giants, who
told Rockdale Hotnrians about big
league baseball at the luncheon
here Tuesday, Moore, now retired
on his farm at Gause, played In
I three World Series with the Giants
liti their heyday.
| Joe Moore, a country hoy with
a lot of natural baseball savvy,
I started he; professional career
I twenty-five years ago with the
Copulation Jumps
From 2311 to 4550
But Now It’s 4950
for January 2-31.
The community chairmen as an-
nounced by Mrs. Saage arc as fol-
lows;
Baileyville, Richard Ellison,
Buckholts, Harold Fuchs: Burling-
ton, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hodges;
Cameron, Rev. John Solomon; Da-
villa, Mrs. Clyde Moore; Gause,
Mrs. Juanita Thomas; Jones Prair-
ie, Mrs. Robert Glenn; Maysfield,
V. T. White; Milano, Mrs. R. L.
Mills; Minerva, Mrs. A. J. Jenkins;
Rockdale, W.. T. Pearson, Jr.; San
Gabriel, Mrs. Hope Camp, Jr.;
Thorndale, Leon Towery; Tracy,
Mrs. Otis Charles; Sharp, George
Lamb; Clarkson, Mrs. John Ma-
tyastlk; Conolcy, Mrs. Babe Sur-
vanl; Yarrellton, Mrs. Buster Grif-
fin.
The drive, starting January 2,
will continue through the month of
January and will be climaxed by
the Mothers March on Polio which
will be scheduled for one night in
the last week of January. The
Hale has been named chairman, the war on polio. My embarking
In Cameron it will be Mrs, Bill on a nationwide polio prevention
Burns. Mothers March chairmen
for Thorndale and Buckholts have-
not yd been appointed, but will
be named shortly, Mrs. Saage said.
No one in Milam county enjoys ,, ' , ,
the confidence of all the people Mi,rch 01 ])"
more than Mrs. Saage, county ,
school nurse. With her record of|f'v,"« '*na"'cla' ■"-> P-
community service and health wr- l,rfnifl^ho n<:"'fl\ ,nI'
vice to the children of Milam coun- 8?'rnl,,l<: ,l"V
ty, the March of Dimes in this '*''**' «V‘nK
county this year is expected to *»«**»»(* to qualified stud, oh
surpass even the results achieved -j to *‘3”ci(,ll1/e
1 and'treatment of polio patients or
program, the March of Dimes ac-
tually has moved from a position
of defense to one oi attack.
“Up till now," *hc said, “the
has concentrated
on a triple-headed polio program;
in past years.
“Faced with the added burden
of financing validity testing of
trial polio vaccine and the com-
mitment to purchase a vastly in-
creased supply of gamma globulin,
which together add up to approxi-
mately $26,500,000, the national
March of Dimes this year must
rely heavily on special gifts in ad-
dition to the dimes and dollars
which, in the past, have been the
main support of the National
Foundation for Infantile Ruraly-
date of this Mother’s March will • sis,” Mrs. Saage said.
I olio research.
“Now we're marching right out
Into the highways and byways ol
the nation armed with vials of
a trial vaccine to carry the buttle
to the enemy.
While we realize that $28,500,-
000 is not exactly small change,
we know that the American peo-
ple agree it's » small price to pay
if, indeed, r suit* in V-Day
over polio. Th’-* s why we’re sure
everyone m Milam, County will
give more in ’54”.
Rockdale was recently elevated
from the small Milam county com
munity of 2,311 population to one
of 4,550 by the installation of ra-w
highway markers, but what has
Chamber of Commerce officials
wondering is what to do with them
now that tta- population has in-
creased to 4,950.
Chamber Manager Hob Crcen-
wald stumbled into the new popu-
lation figure while completing a
survey 1fl .l.-t.-rmine uneeific ef-
fects of the industrialization of the
city. The survey was being com-
piled for Henry Jeanes of the In-
dustrial Development Department,
Texas Power & Light Company
and produces many Interesting
facts of Rockdale's rapid growth,
including an increase iri popula-
tion.
In commenting on the signs,
Greenwahl explained that his first
corn , pondenee to the Highway
Department regarding a churige in
the highway signs population fig-
ure was made in July of this: year.
The council passed the required
resolution denoting an official
population figure on August II
"At Ihat time, the council used the
number of water connections and
the base multiplier of 3,5 persons
per meter to arrive at a figure
of 4,530 persons,” Greenwald said.
Since that date, 125 new water
conn. < lions have been made bring-
1 n;' the total to 1,425 as of the first
of December. Using the establish-
LAST CALL!
This is tho last call for Chil-
dren'* loiter* to Santa Clau* to
bo published in The Reporter
next week. December 24.
This newspaper will publith
all letter* received before
Tuesday. December 22. We
cannot guarantee publication
of letter* received alter that
date.
Loiter* should be brought to
th* Reporter office, or ad-
dressed to Santa Claus, car*
Rockdale Reporter. Rockdale.
Texas.
ed multiplier of 3.5 Rockdale would
have an acceptable estimated popti
Intion of 4,950.
According to the Highway De
purl merit’s policy, city population
signs can not be changed more
frequently than every 2 years,
which would qualify Rockdale to
change their signs again in Ha-
summer of 1955.
There \v.e, nn i llm ile :ivnIliihll*
from the Chamber manager of the
number of apartments using a
minimi water meter. Green wain
See POPULATK >N, Pug< 7
West Texas la-ague. From there
he went to San Antonio in Un-
Texas League, and after one year
was called to the New York Giants
organization. With the Giants,
Moore was recognized as one of
Hu- steadiest and best in a great
baseball aggregation.
After being taken over by the
Giants, the Gause sandlotter .- pent
one year wih the Newark, N J.
t’lut) on orders from tin- big boy .
MeGruw. He led the International
League that year, tint tin- next was
■cut to Bridge,ml His hopes faded
when In- was sent to. New Jersey,
but alter only sixty days, aftet
MeGruw retired and a new man-
ager look over, he was recalled to
the Giants where he remained as
a star outfielder until his retire
ment ten years ago.
Moore, a slow-speaking typical
Central Texan, made a big bit with
See MOORE, Huge 4
C. of C. Quarterly
Meeting Slated for
Tonight at 7:45 p. m.
A combined meeting of Cham-
ber of Commerce directors and
members at large will be iield m
ning of the concrete section and
that all ot 79 from the Brazos Riv-
er up to Milano was reworked dur-
ing the pas* summer and was m
excellent condition,
other Items of interest concern-
ing hlghwuy progress in Milam
County as planned by county of-
ficials and the Texas Highway
Depart t ent w -re outlined by
Judge Smith’s report as tollows:
The San Gabriel River bridge on,
Farm-to- Market Road 486 near
San Gabriel will be lengthened so
as to make this road more of an
all-weather road and avoid tuning
to close it because of high water.
The estimated cost of tills project
is $6,500
The District F.ngineci’s offnv at
Bryan has Informed itv* that they
have certified to the Commission
rt Austin the segment of FM No
487 between Traej an t Sharp for
contract letting and that such con-
tract will be lei nil Oi about tho
9th dm of January, 1934. The
i ii’.ht of wav d -oils for this l re-
ject were transmitted by the
County Judge several months ago,
but this project had to be deferred
because ot limited supervisory
personnel, their services being re-
quited on two major projects, U. S.
79, an underpass project, and th S
190 from Cameron West to Bell
County It is interesting to note
that during most of 1953 thirteen
of the seventeen employees attach-
ed to tl > Senior Resident Engi-
neer’s office at Henrne have been
assigned to projects in Milam
County,
Also of general interest is tho
fact that the Highway Department
bus completed a piellminarv sur-
vey for extending FM 487 from
Sharp to Davilla, and we have been
assured that we will receive the
field notes for the right-of-way
early next year, whereupon we
will secure the necessary right-of-
way deeds. This segment has ul-
icutly been approved and the
money therefor allocated, and con
sequcntlv it is just a matter of
time until it is completed
The Highway Dei nrtment has*
also completed a similar prelim-
inary survey for a road designat-
See ROADS, Pago 7
Wildcat Set For
Milam County's
New Gause Field
A 4,000 foot Glen Rose wildcat
was scheduled Saturday to be drill-
ed by Ralph Myers Contracting
corporation of Abilene at the No. 1
Clayton Barton, it has been re-
pot ted here tins week
Contract had not been let. for
Hus wildcat which will be about
10 mib-s west of the I). If. Byrd
No. I Lucinda Green, nearest deep
production. The Greene, Milam
county’,* deepest test, was complet-
ed lu June as a dual gas well on
upper Glen Rose perforations at
6,245-313 feet and upper Pettit per-
foration.- at 7,682-700 feet.
The Myers location is 1,350 feet
from the northwest line of the 781
act c lease, 3,800 feet from the
the Chamber office; at city hall: northeast line oj the lease anil the
tonight (Thursday) .it 7 4> p. m., Sarah Wilhelm Survey.
I’he meeting has bc-n .designated
as a quarterly one with all mem-
ln-r.-i Invited to participate in tho
business session,
Dsatlon also scales 400 feet
from the northeast of the C E.
Itos.s and Skaggs No I Clayton and
Agnes Barton, 2,050 foot dry hole
Chamber members with biiMm-.-.s- It scales 3,750 feet southeast of a
lo be brought before i.he body aie 2,250-foot, diy mm- drilled by C.
especially invited to attend, ! Huffman. Temple Te leg rum.
NP'W POPULATION SIGNS- Rockdale's rapidly increasing population was given recogni-
tion here recently when the Texas Highway Department installed new city limit markers
denoting a population of 4.550. The rapid growth of the city has now marie these starts ob-
solete as it has been announced that new population estimates reach 4,950. Bob Greenwald,
Left, Rockdale Chamber of Commerce Manager, and Fled Trammell, right, Chief of Police,
are shown looking over the signs and pondering Ideas of legally increasing that population
J figure. (Reporter Staff Photo). *-------------
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Matching Search Results
View four places within this issue that match your search.Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Cooke, W. H. The Rockdale Reporter and Messenger (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. 81, No. 48, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 17, 1953, newspaper, December 17, 1953; Rockdale, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth694012/m1/1/?q=Lamar+University: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Lucy Hill Patterson Memorial Library.