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rIE-MAN CRUSADE
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'Taxes Solemn Obligation,
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Retired Haslet Doctor Says Because a 78-year-old retired country doctor believes people should pay their taxes, Haslet is the brightest spot in Tarrant county on Delinquent Tax Collec- tor Horace Walker's map. Less than $20 in delinquent' taxes remains on the books against Haslet residents. Largely respon- sible for the record, say Walker's aides, is Dr. J. H. Gammill, physi- cian and president of the old Has- let State Bank. 'Solemn Obligation.' "Taxes are a solemn obliga- tion," Dr. Gammill said Saturday. < "People should support the coun- ty government if they expect pro- tection and services from it. The f. man who doesn't pay his taxes put his share of the load on some- f one else." And, because be feels this way, DR. J. H. GAMMILL. Dr. Gammill' conducts a one-man crusade among his neighbors. He Lincoln County, Tennessee i not only urges them to pay taxes 1899. A bachelor, he lives with but helps them out financially a sister, Mrs. G. E. Reed, in the when they can't meet the bills. old bank building. Dr. Gammill doesn't toD there. He received his medical degree Occasionally, he pays a neighbor's in 1900 at the old Fort Worth tax bill himself. He paid up taxes University and for years traveled for the Church of Christ in Has- on horseback when making the let although Walker assured him rounds of his rural patients. He they probably could be written no longer practices medicine. off the books. "Sometimes I'll prescribe for Leadi-g Citizen. an old friend," he said. "I leave Dr. Ganmill literally bought practice to the young fellows and Haslet out of receivership in 1913 do what I can to help Haslet keep I for $7,000. For that sum, he got a good name. most of the buildings in town and "We always met or exceeded 65 acres of land. He has been a our war bond and blood donor leading citizen there since. quotas during the war. Now After World War I, Dr. Gam- we're going to try to get every mill helped organize the Haslet delinquent tax dollar in the com- State Bank. In 1928, fearing a de- munity paid up." pression and convinced many- country banks would be ruined, he and the other directors voted to disband. "We had a hard time getting people to withdraw their money," Dr. Gammill recalled with a smile Friday.- "They just didn't think hard times were coming. But we finally convinced th.em." Came From Tennessee. Dr. Gammill. who is still alert and active, came to Texas from
