Rains County Leader (Emory, Tex.), Vol. 99, No. 51, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 28, 1987 Page: 13 of 20
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Allergies
Can’t
Overcome
Donnie
Taken from the
Wood Count> Democrat
h> Dana l erretani
Donnie Burge of Alha is like
most 4-\ear-old boys He loves
trains and he is highly
fascinated with the movements
of oilwell pump-jacks
His sparkling, dark brown
eves and non-stop chattering
reveal his youthful, energetic
manner.
Arid Donnie's desire to learn
is probably a little exceptional
considering he reads on the
first grade level, recites the
ABCs forward and backward,
identifies the names of all 50
states and can easily pronounce
and describe all the bones ot
the human body
But Donnie rarely able to
share his talents and good
times with others his age
because he lives with an illness
that literally prohibits the life
most 4 year-olds enioy
The son of Ron and Leanna
Burge is allergic to just about
"everything.'' his grand
mother, Saundra Burge, of
\lha said Donnie is also the
grandson of \S T Hass Jr of
Alba and the great-grandson of
l>ori' H.os ot l-.mory and Vk
I Hass Sr of Green Acres
Nursing Home of Emory
Only Donnie's allergic rcas
lions are not the sneezing. snif
Donnie can only eat meats
such as rabbit, squirrel, guinea
and quail Other foods Donnie
may eat safely include okra,
squash, beets, carrots, apples,
green beans and strawberries
But all of his foods must be
rotated about every four days,
or he may become allergic to
them, and he can also become
allergic to medicines if they are
not rotated "Anything he
takes for tour or five con-
secutive days he becomes
allergic to." Ioanna said
Donnie, as well as family
members and other visitors to
his special room, must always
wear cotton clothing Donnie
also has to sleep under cotton
sheets in "special" pajamas
that prohibit his scratching at
night
Donnie may drink only spr-
ing water, and baths, allowed
just once every three or four
days, must be taken in well
water using a special soap
And even though Donnie
should not be allowed out-
doors. his parents and grand
parents often "splurge and let
him out "
"We have to take hint once
a day to look at all the oilwells
(pump jacksi," Saundra said
"That's his outing
Although doctors cannot
verify the possibility. Donnie's
family maintains hopes that he
w ill one day ' 'grow out of' his
allergies " Thev sav thev ll
They Danced Their Way
to a Long, Happy Marriage
by IJbSeb 'Uiaylor
RAINS COUNTY LEADER
Emory Texas Thursday Nay 21, IW7 Pag* 13
Now how does someone who
has hardly been out of Texas,
and never out of the United
States, write an artlcte on a
couple like the Rodes, who
has not only traveled to
almost every spot In the
world, but has also dined with
the President of the United
States1
The Rodes were one of
twenty Texas couples invited
to a Washington party at the
Whltehouse with President
Lyndon B, Johnson.
Pete, a staunch Democrat,
had met President Johnson at
a Young Democrats
Convention held In Beaumont
In 1940.
This was only one of the
Rodes* many
accomplishments In life.
Others Included his being
appointed by Governor Price
Daniel to the State Securities
Board when It was created in
1957.
He was twice chosen to
represent the 4th
Congressional District at
National Democratic
Conventions, attending tne
\
PV9
PETE AND LILLIAN RODES will oe married fifty nine years this
September.
Staff photo by Deb Traylor
Pope
Get-Together
Tnose attending the
Memorial Weekend Get
Together In the home of Mrs.
Dio V. Fenter In Point,
Saturday were:
Mr. ond Mrs. Wesley Gowlns,
'Ar. and Mrs. Joe Kinnord, Mr.
jnd Mrs. Don Hawley, Kim
:nd Chrlstin, Mr. and Mrs. Earl
3arker, Mrs. Faye Donald,
•irs. Lavra Wooten and
.ouren all of Ft. Worth;
Mr, and Mrs. H. N. Coker of
Jorslcana, Mrs. Esta Lee Pope
ind Mrs, LaDonn Dalton of
Jallas;
Mr. ond Mrs. Gene Pope and
Tim of Point, and
Mr. and Mrs. Ronnie Fenter,
dark, Connie and Amy of
Imory.
All enjoyed a delicious lunch
jndan afternoon of visiting.
Reported
Letters to Editor
DEAR LEADER:
Enclosed you will find a
check for $12.75 for 1 year
subscription of the LEADER,
——oe—see*—sc—tug—address-
POINT
NEWS
Due to the Memorial Day
holiday, Point News did
not reach the Leader
Office. We hope for the
news to be back for the
readers next week.
*****
Man has to go to the den-
tist to keep his teeth in good
condition so that he won’t
have to go to the dentist.
Ogden Nash
ti mg a no watcrv rvrv snared
by a majority of persons
Rather. Donnie’s skin becomes
red. irritated and itchy, some
limes to the point that his
^matching leads to bleeding
Donnie was struck by the so
called "rich man s disease" in
January. 1RH6. when his fami
Is moved into their newly con
'trusted home in Alba
Although horn with topis
dermiiitts. Donnie was able to
play outside ansi live a normal
life
When construction of their
new home started. IX’nme
"began going downhill And
when we moved into the new
house the bottom just fell
out Leanna said "He was
allcigK to everything
Medical tests reseated Don
me had become allergic to
almost every tv pc o! tumc.
tosxj and liber
Finally at the request ot
doctors in Dallas, the Burges
rebuilt one room, a room that
hesame Donnie’s entire world
We had to use a spesial
glue tor the tile spesial
(vaint everything had to be
spesial Saundra explained
Fquipped with a specially
designed ait sleaner. Donnie s
room is furnished with a bed,
tabic and shairs. a toybox
stosked lull of playthings and a
tclcv i sion
Donnie s family spends
most ot their time in his room
with him eating all of iheir
meals iticre. Leanna said "We
nuke it feel like he's not really
isolated, she added
Medical specialists explain
ed the formaldehyde, a major
component ot almost every
building materia! msludcd in
their new home "overloaded
his system "
VVe found that everything
is tilled with formaldehyde,
even bread and milk And he
cannot come near these
things, laranna said
And with a list of only about
20 fix Ms he can safely cat.
IXmine's diet is often unusual
grow out of it at about 10 or 12
(years of age), bui that il could
go internally and cause all
kinds of internal problems
Saundra said
It Donnie s special home
room doesn't work, he will
have to lx- placed in total isola
turn units at the Environmental
Health Center in Dallas
Both Saundra and Leanna
agreed the support they have
received from friend' and the
Alba community has been
tremendous
English Heirs
Reunion Held
The heirs of FM and May
English held a reunion May
1 V lb and l'th in \ ictoria at
the railsh of James \ Ruby
English, with barbecue and all
the trimmings on Sat Mas
lNh
Those attending were
May me Burns. Greenville.
Vollic A Matalinc English,
daughter Delores, and lXmnis
\ son Chris Dief/el. Victoria.
Noble Fnglish. son George and
daughter Melinda (Harrisi ot
Victoria and daughter lorry
and Jim McMcnamy from
Florida. James and Ruby
English. \ istoria. and son
Allan. Jim and Linda English
A Mtkie, Alvin. I\ Ray
mond's son) Diane -English'
A Danny Hinxley, Danny.
Troy. Renca frxmi Perry land.
Danny Paul English. Danna A
Iravis from Houston lalXm
and Marie English Kim,
Christopher A Misty, Rasa
dena, Brandon English. Hous
ton
\ isitors were 1 ikld Hen
drix. Cindy Gome/, Annie
Hanna from Victoria. J D
and I.ake Culncr. from lexus
Cuy
J VS and June English from
Robert Lee were unable to at
tend Reported
Headline on a S' ashington
Pint article about the fact
that motorists may not
always get the high-octane
gas they are (laying for:
"Tiger in ^our Tank May Be
a Kitty."_
1944 convention in Chicogo
which nominated Truman
and the 1960 convention
which nominated
Kennedy,
Littian Whittington was Porn
in Paris, Texas, and was the
Ocughter of Marcus and
Emma Rhodes Whittington.
She wos the youngest of six
--Htt-1-
along we grew," Pete told me
of those first years as the
Ponk President.
"The oank here was one of a
mere handful in Texos that
Pelo w.
Thank you,
Mrs. Charles L. PiDpin
2405 Livenshire
Garland, Texas 75041
Jr- < ** -
s-< C-" tr
Ray Wilson
Heoting or.d Air Conditioning
Sales & Service
SERVICE ON ALL MAKES i MODELS
EMORY, TX 75440
RT. 2 BOX 428
473-2536
Gerry's Florist & Gifts
j
DOWNTOWN EMORY
GERRY THARP - OWNER
4’J 349C
N gnts 66.' SJT0
44’ 2642
p C BOb S/3
tMO«B ’HAS ’S44C
FLOWERS
~ CumitiBte Car Tune-Up—
& Brake Repair
ALL WORK GUARANTEED
ALEX’S GARAGE
473-3636
the seven counties of the. 4th
District os Presidential
Elector in 1964, and President
Roosevelt appointed Pete as
war Pond coordinator during
World War II.
I must admit I was a little
nervous aPout this interview.
However, my anxieties were
Quickly put to rest upex
orrivol ot the Rodes1 home.
Lllllon, who was in the front
yard cutting a PouQuet of
yellow roses when I arrived,
greeted me with a smile cs
lovely as t’ e flowers she held
In her lend.
We went Into the house ond
after a grand tour of their
Peautlfut home, we joined
Pete in the den for tlse
interview,
WltOur Maxwell Rodes, more
commonly known as "Pete",
was born September 2, 1905
to the union of Oney Hervey
und Minnie Mae Stuart Rodes.
Pete attended most of his
school years at Emory, Put he
went to Greenville to finish
high school after the Emory
school burned,
Pete's recollections of
boyhood days Included
memories of hunting, fishing,
playing baseball and going
down to the swimming hole,
tl*en called Brick Mill, for a
refres* ing dip with friends.
Pete's grondfather and
fattier were both prominent
men in Rains County, His
grandfather was Judge David
Maxwell Rodes. He was an
attorney in Rains County for
a number of yeors.
His father, Oney, was also an
ottor'vey. He also served
Rains County In the capoclty
of County Clerk and County
Judge,
Oney was one of the
organizers and original
stockholders of The First
National Bank of Emory,
serving continuously as a
Director of that Institution
and as Its Chief Executive
Officer from 1922 until his
death,
Pete later followed in his
father's footsteps.
Pete attended the Wesley
College at Greenville and the
Austin College In Sherman,
majoring In business.
In 1927, he began what
would be a tong career In
banking at the North Texas
Notional Bonk In Dallas,
which later merged with and
became ttie Republic National
Bonk. He worked In the
bookkeeping deportment, as a
teller, and as an assistant
cashier during his eleven
years here.
It was white he was In Dallas
that he morrled Lllllon.
.1, i l . c ,
boy.
"We moved from Paris to
Cooper wher. I was quite
young," Lillian tola me as we
talked.
Lillian graduated from
Cooper High School. "1 was
only fifteen wren
graduated, so took a
business course that wos
offered by the Greenville
Business College there at
Cooper."
Soon after came Lillian's
first job, a secretarial position
for a lawyer there In Cooper.
In 1927, stie too moved to
Dallas where she again went
to work os a secretary for c
law firm,
"When and where did you
two meet1" I asked and Pete
began the story of ’sow their
courtship come about.
"I roomed with a boy at
college wtvo was from
Cooper, and during breaks I
would occasionally go home
with him. That Is when I first
met her."
"But I was still young,"
Lillion coded. "After I went to
Dallas to work, I ran into ^ete
it tt <- drugstore ore day. He
askea me out ond after that
we went together for about a
year before we married,"
"We had o wonderful and
active courtship. Both of us
loved to dance and that was
during the Big Band Era.
Tommy Dorsey and the
Dorsey Brothers were popular
at tnat time. We would spend
many an evening dancing ot
the peaco*~k Terroce at the
Baker Hotel."
On September 30th, 1928
Pete ond Lillian repeated
their marriage vows In the
presence of family and a few
close friends at the
Presbyterian Church,
After their honeymoon In
Hot Springs, Arkansas, which
Lillian said was quite a trip
back In 1928, they continued
to live and work In Dallas.
In 1939, Pete's father, who
was III, called and asked him
to come back to Emory and
help him In the management
of the First National Bonk.
Later In that some year his
father passed away, and
management of the bonk
became Pete's responsibility.
Tte banking business at that
time was on a fine line due to
the depression. "During the
depression a lot of banks had
to close down. The times
were precarious, the crops
were not paying much during
those years. In the 40's it
began to get better. Oh ot
times, like In 1941 when the
hall destroyed the crops, It
was liard, but as we went
never -a nee to pay a
dividend," Lillian noted.
Pete and Lillian have two
children, David who is a
Professor at the University of
California and Juay who is a
foreign service officer.
Lillian, a devoted
mother, was also very active
In civic organizations and
projects In Emory.
She wos County Democratic
Chairman for ten years,
Directo- at the Bank, and the
teacher of an adult class at
the Methodist Church for
more than thirty yeors. She
was a charter member of the
Women's Service Club and
twice president of the PTA.
I asked the Rodes what they
thought hod been the
highlight of their lives and
they both ogreed that It was
their children and the
accomplishments they had
achieved In their lives.
Pete retired In 1980 and sold
the First National Bank to
John Armstrong ond h|s
associates. He and Lillian now
enjoy their life of retirement
In their home on 2795, which
they purchased in 1939, They
enjoy watching television,
reading, traveling and just
being together.
"It hos been nice being
married to Pete. He has a
good sense of humor and
that's Important I think,
because if you don't laugh
about it — It's going to be
hard sometimes," Lillian told
me.
When I left that day I knew
that Pete and Lillian, though
they have traveled and have
done things I wilt never do,
they ore down-home,
country-at-heart people just
tike you and me.
Deer Leader,
Please renew my subscrip-
tion of the Rains County
Leader for another year.
Enclosed you will find a check
for Si 5.00. Please send to the
following address:
Charles Collins
347 W. Hillsdale St.
Ingtew ood, Cc 90302
I have enjoyed reading the
Pains County Leader.
Thanks,
Charles Collins
JAZZ DANCE
.Sow Being Offered
Bob Max School-Emory
Girls Ages 8 and Up
Beg. Tues. 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Ad\. Tues. 7:30-8:30 p.m.
Feei *20®° No.
Instructor: Sharon Burney
REGISTRATION:
Tues.. June 2. 6:30
Classes Start June 9th
(Limit first ten
enrolled per class)
A
The
Movie Co*
Video Rentals & Sales
—No Membership Required-
Over 800 Tapes to Choose From
Daily Specials thru the Week
We Rent VCR’s & VCP’s
We also Special Order Tapes
at Discount Prices
So Come On By & See Us!
S.E. Corner of Square
We Have A Game Room
in back of The Movie Co.
Video • Pinball • Pool
'Ti ii m ii in 11 n i
HOSPITAL NOTES
Curtis Drake of Point
was admitted to the
Citizen General Hospital
in Greenville last
1uesdav.
Mrs. Johnny Ferris of
Alba was dismissed from
the Hopkins County
Memorial Hospital
Wednesdas.
Mrs. Lucinda Mitchell
of Emory was dismissed
from the Hopkins County
Memorial Hospital last
week.
♦
William H. fouse and
Calvin C. Pruitt both of
Alba were admitted to
Medical Center hospital
in lyler last Ihursdav.
Woodrow Asbitl was admitted
to Hopkins County Memorial
Hospital Saturday,
B.N. Stokes was dismissed
from Baylor Hospital In Dallas
Friday,
•
IXirothy Pound of tmory
was ailm111ed to Mothpt
I ranees Hospital in
lylpr last week.
Lillian Spence oT
Emors and Curtis Drake
ot Point were dismissed
(ram the Citizen General
Hospital m Greenville
late last week.
Pauline Fount) ot tmory
was admitted to Mother
t ranees
K 1 •> i I I lilUS
hospital in
SPECIAL
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$5.95
20 Lb. Cat Chow
$11.95
See the Difference
For Yourself
-PURINA pays—
Douglas Country Feed
Rt. 3 Box 500 FM Rd 3274 Emory 473-2817
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Becknell, Kathleen Hill. Rains County Leader (Emory, Tex.), Vol. 99, No. 51, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 28, 1987, newspaper, May 28, 1987; Emory, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth765453/m1/13/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rains County Library.