Burleson Star (Burleson, Tex.), Vol. 20, No. 37, Ed. 1 Monday, February 18, 1985 Page: 1 of 20
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Lace, veteran weather watcher, dies
Teacher of the Year
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Byron Black gives plaque to Peggy Barnes
Holiday moves up Star mailing
Because of the postal holiday on Some governmental offices and
Monday. Feb. 18, this, edition of the most financial institutions will be
Star was prepared for mail and closed on Monday while almost all
newsrack distribution on Saturday, businesses will be open. The Star
Feb. 16. offices will be open for business as
Please check advertisements for usual,
effective dates on sale items. The Wal The City of Burleson will also
Mart insert, for example has sale conduct business as normal, with city
prices which do not take effect until hkll open and no charge in g«rh«g»
Monday. collection schedules.
He was virtually at retirement age
when he began a new endeavor of
service to the community he was
brought up in and lived in for the last
33 years. He was the rain man. He
wasn't the kind of rain man who had
anything.to do with the amount or fre-
quency of precipitation—although be-
ing a farmer, there were probably
plenty of times Russell Lace would
have liked to be able to make it rain.
He didn’t even try to predict the
weather, although he did study it in-
tently and was well aware that Texas-
weather seemed to fall into a pattern
of cycles. “It’s one extreme after
another,”.he would say sometimes.
Another time he pointed out that ex-
treme drought periods in North Cen-
tral Texas seemed to come at 22 year
intervals and always .seemed to be
followed by a deluge of rainfall.
For almost 22 years he recorded the
v
rainfall in Burleson, checking his
stainless steel rain gauge every
morning at 7 a m and recording the
data for monthly transmission to the
U.S. Weather Service office in North
Carolina. There was no such thing as
the Burletan Star when Lace first
began making his weather observa-
tions in July of 1963. Not long after the
establishment ot this newspaper just
over 20 years ago, however. Lace be-
came our local resident authority on
Burleson area weather. Besides be-
ing, a ready source of information,
twice he was featured in front page
articles about his weather-related ac-
tivities. Not long ago his name came
up in a newsroom staff meeting as the
potential subject of another feature
story since itBad been six and a half
years since his work with the weather
service was detailed in print.
We waited too long to write that
story. Russell Lace died early this
week, two months before his 66th
birthday and Jess than a year after
the death of his wife of 50 years.
He was born in Dallas on Aprils,
1899, and spent some of his early life
in that city, but most of his upbring-
ing was in the Burleson area. In fact,
he was raised in the farmhouse that
he later would spend the last 30 years
Of his life in.
The son of Hattie and .Edwin Lace—
his father was .a professional gos-
pel singer—Lace graduated from
Texas A&M University in 1924. Later,
he served in the U.S. Army as a ma-
jor and during WWII was in charge of
supplies at Fort Hood. Prior .to the
war, be was.a school teacher, first in
Johnson County and then in West
Texas. For a number of years after
that, he was a feed salesman for Ral-
See Russell Lace, Page 2
MARTHA AND RUSSELL LACE
Barnes honored as top teacher
BY TERRY M. EVANS
The Teacher of the Year, an-
nounced at the annual chamber of
commerce Banquet Thursday even-
ing, has been a professional educator
for nearly 12 years. Peggy Barnes
now teaches social studies at Burle-
son High School, but when she started
her career it was as a physical educa-
tion instructor in a Fort Worth middle
school.
Barnes accepted her award from
BISD Board of Education Chairman
Byron Black amid cheers of approval
from the large audience. According
to Black, the educator barely edged
out her competition. Also nominated
were Jim Crocker, BHS music direc-
tor, and Nancy Porter, a kinder-
garten teacher at J.W. Norwood
Elementary.
Bob Spurlin, assistant superinten-
dent of BISD, said that three of the
five committee members felt Barnes
represented herself just slightly bet-
ter in her package of information
than did the other two candidates
They saw her classroom techniques
and philosophy of education as being
of quality a tiny bit superior to the
other nominees
BARNES DIVIDED her philosophy
into three basic areas—teaching
style, rapport with the students, and
discipline. “I fee) that a teacher
should possess positive assets in all of
these areas to be effective,” she
wrote
For Barnes, the classroom repre-
sents a new and exciting chal-
lenge every day of her career, she
said. “Generally, no two days are
alike nor are there ever two classes
alike. Each class has its own per-
sonality as well as its own needs. As
an educator, I feel it is necessary to
adjust my teaching techniques and
styles to meet the needs of my
students. I am flexible as far as
techniques go, but I will not com-
promise my standards. The ultimate
aim must be to reach the optimum
level of student achievement.”
Good rapport is a valuable tool to
aid in the education process, Barnes
believes. She said a teacher must be a
counselor, an advisor, a listener, a
referee, but, above all, a teacher
must remain faithful to him or her-
self, “The students must know that
I truly care about them and that I do
want to help,” she said. “I try to
maintain a high level of honesty with
my students and I expect them to do
the same thing with me. When this at-
mosphere is established, then the
channels of communication are open-
ed and real learning can occur.” .
The third facet, positive discipline,
is also essential to Barnes’ style of
education. “I am stirct, but not
harsh; firm, but fair; relaxed, but in
control. This allows both my students
and me a sense of security and an at-
mosphere bpilt on consistency, allow-
ing us to come to class each day
knowing a positive atmosphere will
prevail and planned activities can
and will be carried out.”
BARNES QUOTED someone she
described as “very wise” saying,
“Don’t say anything to your students
that you wouldn’t say to your moth-
er.” She said that at the time she first
heard the statement, it seemed corny
and trite to her. But, as time passed,
the words gained significant wor
thiness.
“Throughout my U years of teach-
ing, I have used this quote as the
framework for my philosophy of ed-
ucation. I want to come to class every
day and treat my students the way I
would wish to be treated or the way I
would want my children to be treat-
ed.”
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12 PAGES IN 1 SECTION
MONDAY
EDITION
Vol. 20 No. 37
February 18, 1985
BURLESO
TAR
For Mail Delivery
295-0486
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Gramm addresses banquet
Citizen of the Year
Bill Stribling congratulates Sue Miller as Burleson ’* top citizen
Culminating an evening of awards
ahd recognition, Senator Phil Gramm
addressed a warmly receptive au-
dience ip the Burleson High School
gymnasium Thursday night,, when
the Burleson Area Chamber of Com-
merce. hosted the 20th annual cham-
ber reception and banquet.
Before speaking of national mat-
ters, Gramm extended his thanks to
all his supporters in the Burleson
area, noting that 70,000 people in
Texas contributed to his Senate cam-
paign with their time, talent, and
money Gramm spoke of the strong
economic recovery which has occur
red in past years as well as vast im-
provements in the military services.
“Four years ago, we were not meet-
ing pur recruitment goals in any
branch of the military. Fifty percent
of our combat aircraft wouldn’t fly,”
he said. Gramm added that, through
the building of a new spirit of
patriotism, all of that has changed
. “Of those entering the armed serv-
ices now, 94 percent are high school
graduates, and a high IQ level of
recruits has been achieved We’ve
done more than rebuild the national
defense and establish economic re-
covery, we’ve, rekindled the ancient
pride and confidence in our nation,”
Continued Gramm. That confidence
might easily be lost, however, if the
problems of the nation aren’t dealt
with properly, he said.
. LESS THAN HALF the savings
called for in the budget proposal of
four years ago have been imple-
mented. though 49 states indicated
they “don't want to raise taxes so that
government can go on spending as be-
fore." he said. A tough budget has
been presented by the president, and
Gramm expressed confidence that
most of the budget proposals will be
adopted by the U.S. Senate
Reform of the defense procurement
MiUer ‘Citizen of Year’
The announcement of Sue Miller as
the Burleson Citizen of the Year was
enthusiastically received by a large
chamber banquet audience Thursday
night The warmtfr and high regard
for Miller’s accomplishments in civic
activity which was shown by banquet
guests, were also reflective of the
reasons for her selection for the
honor
Immediate Past Chamber Pres
ident Bill Stribling expressed it best
as he commented. "No task of civic
and community endeavor is ever too
small or too great to warrant her en
thusiastic attention.” He also ap-
plauded her ability to motivate and
inspire the cooperation and support of
those who work with her on any proj-
ect
Among the humanitarian efforts
with which she has been recently in-
volved are the American Cancer
Fund, the March of Dimes, the Amer
ican Heart Association, the Bur
leson Ministerial Alliance Fund, and
the baseball and soccer teams for the
youth of the community.
An active member for m^ny years
and the first woman to be chosen as
president of the Burleson Area Cham-
ber of Commerce, her accomplish-
ments and chamber involvement
have been many and varied. In 1979
she was instrumental in helping
establish the Ambassador’s Club and
served as its first president. Other
areas of planning and coordination
for chamber activities include in-
volvement with the annual bass tour-
nament, the Burleson July Fourth
celebration, the chamber auction,
and chairing the Industrial Develop
ment Committee of the chamber.
As a former member of the Bur
leson Historical Committee, Mil
ler served as chairman of the com-
mittee to write the history of bps
iness in the Burleson community for
the book The too Year Malory of
Burteaoa. In 1980 she was honored by
her selection as the Woman of the
Year by the Burleson Business and
Professional Women’s Club
She and her husband Bob Miller are
owners of Miller Jewelry and have
system and the Pentagon has been
proposed. “There will be a lot of op-
position to this reform,” said
Gramm, “but I’m hopeful it will be
successful. “I believe the American
people want the tax system changed
—simplified—and made more fair.
And the. key to the adoption of
a tax .reform system is getting the
American people involved in the
legislative process.”
“America is not a great nation
because of its many natural re-
sources, but because of its system of
freedom, opportunity, and respon-
sibility which has drawn forth ex-
traordinary results from just or-
dinary people like us—people who
built America in the first place,” he
continued.
In behalf of the city. Mayor Jerry
Boone presented a gift to Senator
Gramm following his talk.
Prior to the guest speaker’s ad-
dress, special presentations of awards
to Teacher of the Year Peggy Barnes
and the Citizen of the Year Sue Miller
were made by School Board Presi-
dent Byron Biack, and Stribling, re-
spectively. Banquet guests heard re-
marks from both Stribling, as he re-
tired the gavel, and Patsy Dumas,
who has assumed the duties of cham-
ber president.
STRIBLING SPOKE of the many
things initiated in Burleson during
been in business in Burleson for 14
years. Demonstrating her philosophy
that a business owes more to its com-
munity than taxes, Mrs. Miller has
made outstanding contributions to
the business professional, social, and
civic growth of the Burleson area
throughout those years
Stribling concluded his comments
on the achievements of the honored
citizen with the words, "She is always
cheerful and maintains a positive at-
titude She represents Burleson well
wherever she goes; the image she
portrays is always a credit to the
community of Burleson. I am proud
to present Sue Miller, a truly ded-
icated citizen, as the Burleson Cit-
izen of the Year, 1985 "
the. past year,, including the Beau-
tification Council and ongoing proj-
ect slogan “Burleson Beautified by
Pride;” the establishment of the
Doughnut Forum and the first annual
chamber auction. He presented the
presidential award to Dumas, who in
turn made the past presidential
award to Stribling just before the
gavel was exchanged. .
Dumas spoke of the chamber goal
—people working together for the bet-
terment of .Burleson. “Much is possi-
ble for ’85 if the chamber works hand
in hand with the schools, city, and
churches,” she said.
A special presentation also went to
Barbara Gieser, on her retirement as
executive vice-president. Doris Mil-
ler, who will assume the chamber
position, was introduced with her hus-
band Ira.
The chamber banquet was well at-
tended both locally and by represen-
tatives of chamber, city, and county
officials from other communities. Dr.
Harold Putnam, chamber president
elect, introduced special guests, in-
cluding representatives of State Rep.
Bruce Gibson!s office, Senator Bob
Glasgow’s office, and Speaker of the
House Gib Lewis’s office. Mayor Bob
Bolin of Fort Worth and Mayor
George Marti of Cleburne were in-
troduced, along with city and school
officials ot Burleson.
Phil Gramm Commentary
Senator Phil Gramm addresses the diners at the annual Burleson Area
Chamber of Commerce Banquet. Attendees also saw Sue Miller named
citizen of the year and Peggy Barnes awarded teacher of the year.
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Moody, James. Burleson Star (Burleson, Tex.), Vol. 20, No. 37, Ed. 1 Monday, February 18, 1985, newspaper, February 18, 1985; Burleson, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth761092/m1/1/?q=kitchen: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Burleson Public Library.