Refugio Timely Remarks (Refugio, Tex.), Vol. 14, No. 46, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 10, 1942 Page: 1 of 12
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The News from Every Section of Refugio County
VOL. XIV.—No. 46
REFUGIO, REFUGIO COUNTY, TEXAS, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1942
Twelve Pages
Life in Refugio
Regains Normalcy
City Cleared of Debris
Left Worst Tropical Storm
Ever to Hit Section
Life in Refugio resumed a more
even keel this week after the town
had been buffeted by the worst
hurricane ever to hit this imme-
diate vicinity.
Most of the normality, as far
as the aspect of the town goes, is
caused by a cleaning-up process
which had to take place before
routine traffic could be resumed.
Few really big repair jobs were
in process because of the difficul-
ty of obtaining materials and
labor, but many plate glass win-
dows have been restored in the
downtown section, the streets
cleared, and everything from wet
furniture to intimate atricles of
wearing apparel which draped
houses and yards have dried dur-
ing two days of sunshine and been
taken out of the public eye.
The repair jobs consisted main-
ly of replacing window panes,
screens, doors and sections of
roofing so that the showers and
mosquitoes which are now prague-
ing the town could be withstood.
It is reported that several private
fueds have arisen over strips of
corrugated iron which were strewn
about promiscuously. A number
of persons who thought they rec-
ognized their own sheetiron in
neighboring yards and went over
to gather it up met other people
with the same ideas. Possession,
in this case, constituted nine
points of the law, and the man
who got there fustest with the
mostest men won the battle.
. The rapid resumption of service
by utilities companies heartened
the public considerably for the job
of rebuilding, and the news that
priorities on lumber and metal
had been relaxed for the emergen-
cy cheered up those who had large
amounts of repair work in pros-
pect.
The City Hall was the rendez-
vous for scores of persons of all
races, conditions and sexes, for
here an investigator had been in-
stalled by the Red Cross to lend
aid in rebuilding and clothing the
needy. Permission to purchase
building materials released by the
OPA also must be obtained
through the Red Cross.
The aspect of the downtown
section was greatly improved by
the fact that trees in King Park
and around the court house had
been raised and tied in place. It
was believed that most of these
would live, as well gs many given
up for loss around private resi-
dences.
No decision had been made as
to when work would begin on the
Presbyterian Church, whiqh still
opened the mouths of tourists on
the highway. Services were be-
ing held in the annex of the build-
ing, which is in good shape, and
it is definitely planned to restore
the main auditorium as soon as
possible. An architect inspected
Our Lady of Refuge ChurGh,
which is slightly out of line and
leans toward the north, and pro-
nounced it safe for use. He be-
lieved that it could be straight-
ened and repaired successfully.
The depot was recrowned and
its signal tower erected once more.
Some of the oil and oil supply
companies had their own work-
men in from other places to re-
pair damaged business houses, but
one of the supply warehouses
■which was almost demolished will
simply be closed. No plans had
been made for rehabilitation of
the old red brick school, which is
well debricked. around the top.
Residences which had lost,
roofs, walls or large hunks of
either mostly remained in their
hapless state, but the families in-
habiting them had moved to oth-
er homes or were staying with
friends. At the small home of
Mrs. Allie Rigby, however, which
had its entire north wall tom off
practically in one piece, friends
had put the wall back in place
and made the house habitable. In
isolated cases automobiles re-
mained trapped in garages which
(Continued on Page 8)
-*-
No Alarm, Phone
Ops Face Dilemma
Telephone operators faced a
real dilemma Saturday afternoon
when an alarm was phoned in
from the Gulf Service Station.
Their connection with the fire
siren on the water tower was out
of order. They called the home of
Buck Williams, who lives next
door to it and had been touching
off the siren for them. No one was
home. In desperation they began
rooting out the truck driver and
volunteer fireboys individually by
telephone, and succeeded in as-
sembling a crew.
By the time the department
reached the service station, how-
ever, the proprietor, R. F. Michna,
and employees had succeeded in
extinguishing the blaze which was
on an automobile belonging to C.
E. Feacock, sitting in the station
driveway. Little damage was done
to the car.
had fallen in on them, but most
people had tom down their ga-
rages, if they were unusable, and
Serve Our Country
/VWVAAAyVWWWWNAA/VWSAAAAAAAAA
MIKE C. MILLIFF
Soon to be blasting Axis
Zeros and Messerschmitts from
the sky with blazing bullets
from 50-calibre Browning ma-
chine guns mounted in the tur-
ret, stinger or bathtub of one of
Uncle Sam’s big bombers is Mike
C. Milliff, 18, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Mike F. Milliff, of this city.
He is graduated this week at the
Harlingen Army Gunnery School.
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111!
DODSON A. MARSH
Young Marsh, who is only 18,
is attending the Naval Training
School at the University of Wis-
consin, studying radio. He is
the son of Mrs. Oda Marsh of
Bayside, having enlisted in the
navy last May.
FLOYD E. CARTER
Private Carter is a member
of the Marine Corps, stationed
at the present time at Seattle
Wash. He enlisted May 26, this
year. He is the son of Mr. and
Mrs. F. T. Carter of this city
and a graduate of Refugio High
School, class of 1939.
-A-
Gregorcyk Now
In Great Britain
Miss Brownie Adler had a big
surprise Tuesday morning—she re-
ceived a cablegram from Great
Britain. The message was sent by
Sergeant Arthur Gregorcyk, form-
er Shelton-Bailey employee, and
announced his safe arrival in Great
Britain. The cable was dated Sep-
tember 2.
Sergeant Gregorcyk, who is with
the U. S. Army Signal Battalion,
was inducted about 18 months ago
and came home to visit in July,
receiving orders to sail shortly
thereafter.
Milliff Gunnery
School Graduate
Mike C. Milliff, 18, son of Mr.
and Mrs. Mike F. Milliff, has
graduated from the army gunnery
school at Harlingen, and now
wears silver gunner’s wings, com-
bat air crew insignia.
He was promoted to the rank of
Sergeant and left the school with
sealed orders to join a combat unit.
Sheriff Ira Heard
Heads State Body
Veteran Refugio County
Peace Officer Elected
Association President
Recognition for long years of
faithful, intelligent service as a
peace officer was accorded Sheriff
Ira Heard, when he was unani-
mously elected president of the
Sheriff’s Association of Texas at
the state convention held in San
Antonio last week.
This was quite an honor for the
Refugio County sheriff, who has
been a member of the association
for 14 years He succeeds Sheriff
R. A. (Smoot) Schmidt of Dallas.
Sheriff Heard succeeded to his
office in 1928 upon the retirement
of the late Sheriff Charles P.
Fox, and has been eminently effi-
cient at his post. A native of Re-
fugio County, he began his career
as a law enforcement officer early
in life when he joined the Texas
Rangers. For several years he
served on the border during the
hazardous days when bandits from
across the Rio Grande made forays
into southern Texas. After becom-
ing sheriff, he earned the admira-
tion of all in this section by the
decisive manner in which he cop-
ed with the many difficult situa-
tions arising from “boom” days in
oil-producing area. He has also
rendered outstanding services for
surrounding counties by co-operat-
ing with their peace officers in the
apprehension and trial of criminals.
His legion of supporters in the
county and his many friends
among the most prominent person-
ages in the state were highly
gratified to learn of his election to
the presidency of the state
sheriff’s association, an honor
which they feel is well deserved.
----*-
Bed Cross Opens
Emergency Office
The Red Cross has opened a re-
habilitation and disaster relief sta-
tion in the clubroom of the City
Hall, and is doing a rushing busi-
ness.
The official in charge, Miss Ruth
Hill of the St. Louis office, stated
Tuesday that this portion of the
work is merely an emergency
period, designed to, estimate and
report on damage. The Red Cross
is concerned only with truly needy
cases which could not recover
from the hurricane damages un-
aided. These reports will automa-
tically become part of the rehabili-
tation program, which will not be
begun until the first part of the
work is completed.
Applications on priorities on
lumber, metal and other building
materials which have been lifted
for the storm emergency by OPA
will also be handled in Refugio
County through this office. Mrs.
C. D. Skeen is assisting Miss Hill
in her work while she is here.
-*-
Defense Guards
Get Uniforms
Uniforms for each enlisted man
in Company C, 21st Battalion,
Texas Defense Guards, have been
received, Captain C. D. Skeen re-
ported this week. The uniforms in-
clude garrison cap, coat, shirt,
trousers and windbreakers, all of
wool olive-drab material, along
with gloves. They are provided by
the Federal government.
Captain Skeen also stated that
there were several openings for
enlistments in the Refugio com-
pany, and urged that all those in-
terested in taking part in this
work contact him at once.
Reported Missing
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MILTON GREEN
All Refugio mourns with Mr.
and Mrs. John S. Green in the
reported “missing in action” of
their son, Milton Green. Young
Green was graduated from the
Refugio High School in 1939,
and joined the navy in 1940.
When last heard from he was
assigned to a heavy cruiser in
the Pacific area.
-.?*-
Hungry Mosquitoes
Descend on City
“Flea-bitten” is an apt descrip-
tion for Pefugians this week, only
the bites turn out to be from
mosquitoes.
Those iesidents who are forced
to walk somewhere (and no one
ventures cut of doors without ex-
cellent reason) do so with collars
buttoned up, cuffs down, handker-
chiefs draped a la lion-hunters
garb from bats. A prerequisite to
this costume is some sort of “beat-
er" that is used in the ungraceful
hula dance performed by pedes-
trians along the street. A peculiar
aroma infests both the persons and
the homes of local residents, the
odor of anti-mosquito lotion. It
grows or. X re.
The size of the swarm seemed to
be lessening somewhat the early
part of the week—or else people
had achieved a sort of immunity
from being bitten so much. As
one local man remarked, “They’re
so hungry.”
---
Army Recruiter
Here September 11
Sergeant Gerald F. Schmitz,
army recruiting officer in Victroia,
will be at the Selective Service
Board in Refugio on Friday after-'
noon, September 11, from 12:30 to
4:00 o’clock, to interview appli-
cants for enlistment in the army
of the U. S. The army is in need of
qualified men for all branches of
the service. For additional infor-
mation contact Sergeant Schmitz
at the Selective Service Board at
the above-mentioned time.
—----I--
Weddington Now
Army Captain
A former Refugian, Charles
Weddington, has recently been
commissioned a captain in the U.
S. army engineer corps, friends
here have been informed.
Captain Weddington coached in
the Refugio high school, then ac-
cepted a position in the county en-
gineer’s office, before going into
the state highway department.
Refugian Reported
Missing in Action
Milton Green, Refugio High
School Graduate, Among
First to Enlist in Navy
One of Refugio’s finest and most
popular young men, Milton Green,,
is reported by the Navy Depart-1
ment to be missing in action in the
Pacific.
The distressing message arrived
at the home of his parents, Mr.
and Mrs. John S. Green, Friday,
and prostrated the mother, who
was already worn from repairing
damages caused to their home by
the hurricane.
The wire said: “The Navy De-
partment deeply regrets to inform
jmu that your son, James Milton
Green, third class storekeeper,
USN, is missing following action
in the performance of his duties
and in the service of his country.
The department appreciates your
great anxiety, but details not
available, and delay in receipt
thereof must necessarily be ex-
pected.”
James Milton Green, whose
twenty-second birthday is due
October 20, graduated in 1939
from Refugio high school, where
he was one of the most popular
students. He was among the first
of the Refugio boys who began
enlisting as World War II began
to spread, leaving here on July 3,
1940. At the San Diego Training
Station, after only six days in the
navy, he was named chief petty
officer of his training company
and later was selected at the honor
training man of the group. The
young man received leave of ab-
sence during September, 1940, and
made his only trip home since his
enlistment, as he was assigned to
a ship and sent to sea when he
returned to duty.
When his last letter, written
July 15, was received, he was still
stationed on a heavy cruiser of the
Pacific fleet. His half-sister, Mrs.
C. C. Robinson of Baton Rouge,
La., arrived Monday night to be
with her father and stepmother as
they struggle to hang on to the
little thread of hope that their boy
is still safe.
-*-
Tot Run Over
By Automobile
A grievous accident occurred
Saturday afternoon, when little
Jimmie Reese Burke, one-year-old
son of Mr. and Mrs. George Roy
Burke, was run over by an auto-
mobile.
Mr. Burke glanced about the car
before getting under the wheel to
back out of the driveway, and
thought none of the four children
were in the vicinity. In some
fashion, the baby managed to get
under one of the back wheels,
which traveled laterally up half
his body.
Although in a serious condition,
little fellow was reported
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Heads Sheriffs
:
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* • ■
—
Wm
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SHERIFF IRA HEARD.
Mr. Heard was elected presi-
dent of the Sheriff’s Association
of Texas at the annual meeting
of that organization held in San
Antonio last week.
-*--
Refugio High Still
Coached by Germer
Louis G. Germer is succeeding
his brother, W. F. (Sandy) Germ
er, as head coach at the Refugio
High School this year, “Sandy”
having resigned to accept employ-
ment with an oil company here.
The new coach formerly occupied
the same position with the local
high school for two years, but last
year was athletic director at Haw- j Virginia
the
seemingly somewhat improved
Monday in the Refugio County
Hospital where he was immedi-
ately rushed for treatment.
-*-
State Interested in
Hynes Bay Land
The attorney general’s depart-
ment has manifested an interest
in the Hynes Bay land in Refugio
County sued on this week to sat-
isfy state and county tax claims,
according to Hobart Huson, tax
attorney for the county. The
move indicates, it is stated, a
probable effort on the part of the
state to have the land in question
declared state free school land.
Months Will Be Required to Repair Damage Caused by the
Worst Tropical Hurricane in 56 Years, CP&L Manager Says
Viewing the storm area as a
whole, interruptions to electric
service were comparatively light
following the worst hurricane to
hit the central coast of Texas in
56 years, according to J. B. Wil-
son, manager here for Central
Power & Light Co., although it
will takes months to repair all
the damage wrought by the
the storm which descended on
this section Sunday a week ago.
In Goliad, Refugio and Woods-
boro interruptions were unusual-
ly prolonged due to excessive
damage to transmission lines in
the vicinity.
No power plants were shut
down by CPL, although many
miles of main transmission line
were down for a short time.
Heaviest damage was due to lo-
cal distribution lines in the va-
rious communities served by the
electric company. Because of
the fact that CPL brought in
crew after crew of its service
men from all other parts of the
company’s territory, service to
individual homes and stores was
re-established much quicker than
would have been possible other-
wise.
CPL service employes from
Laredo, Del Rio, Uvalde and the
Lower Rio Grande Valley were
rushed into the storm belt, fully
equipped with trucks, tools and
materials to supplement the ef-
forts of local servicemen. “These
fellows worked all day Sunday,
all night Sunday night and all
day Monday without a wink of
sleep. Some of them even
worked through Monday night
and Tuesday without having
slept since early Saturday night,”
Mr. Wilson said.
“In every town in the hurri-
cane zone, efforts were made to
restore electric service first to
water and sewer systems and to
hospitals in order to protect
public health. Service was
brought back to many electric
users before they were able to
use it, because their homes or
buildings were practically de-
molished by the 75 to 110-mile-
an-hour winds. When one con-
siders that strongly built build-
ings were blown over, it is only
natural that many wires were
broken by falling trees or that
poles were blown down. It was
our job to get the service back
to the user as quickly as pos-
sible, and the company is ever-
lastingly grateful to the never-
tiring employes who just-
wouldn’t quit until service was
brought back to every custom-
er,” he said.
Matagorda, probably worst
hit of any community by the
hurricane, had electricity at 5
p. m. Monday. Yorktown,
Runge, Karnes City and Ken-
endy had service resumed by
Monday, while Camp Hulen’s
electricity was available on
Sunday afternoon, despite in-
tense destruction in the vicinity.
Lon C. Hill, CPL president,
made a tour of the major part
of the storm area Sunday aft-
ernoon before the high winds and
rains had subsided. Mr. Hill
said he was satisfied that all
lines were being rebuilt, at least
for temporary use, as fast as it
was humanly possible. “It was
possibly the worst hurricane
that the affected territory ever
had to contend with,” Hill said,
“and it was certainly the most
generally destructive that CPL
has ever encountered anywhere
in South or Southwest Texas.
President Hill pointed out that
customarily the company has
greater advance warning than
was given for the disturbance,
but that war regulations have
reduced weather predictions to
a minimum. Also, high water
made it impossible to reach_some
sections where lines were down,
“Despite these difficulties, the
recovery has been prompt, and
electric users were very patient
and co-operative, for which we
are grateful,” Hill said.
thorne Junior High, San Antonio.
Football practice was delayed
this year, first because a majority
of the players have been working-
on county road projects, this week
bacause of the continued showers.
Coach Germer hopes to whip a
good team into shape for District
38-A football, however. The first
game is scheduled for Friday,
September 18, with Palacios High
School at Bobcat Field.
Telephone Service
Almost Normal
The Refugio telephone service is
rapidly resuming its normal rou-
tine after being almost completely
disrupted by the hurricane, Mrs.
Lulu McCartney, local manager,
reported Monday.
While awnings blew off the
front of the office and window
panes crashed about them, the op
erators stuck to their posts and
kept open what lines they could
during the stormy night. When the
power lines went dead, they
switched onto an emergency bat'
tery, good for eight hours, which
kept them going with the aid of
hand cranks until the district of-
fice in Corpus Christi could rush a
dynamo motor to their aid the next
morning. Mrs. McCartney said
that 173 “permanent” lights ap-
peared on the board, showing
cables filled with water or severed
during the night, and had to be
plugged. In addition the company
has replaced over 200 drop lines
into residences and stores, while
1100 feet of cables had to be re-
paired or replaced.
Four construction crews and
trucks began work immediately,
and by the end of the week, most
of the telephone lines were back
in operation. Those which were not
required more materials than pri-
orities and transportation facilities
could furnish at once. The district
plant superintendent, Mr. Timber-
lake from the Corpus Chrsiti of-
fice, spent some time in Refugio
and directed repair work last
week.
In the meantime Mrs. McCart-
ney hopes that the public will be
patient with interruptions in tele-
phone communications, which are
being restored to service as rapidly
as possible under difficult circum-
stances. She could make no esti-
mate on the huge repair bill the
company will have to face from
Refugio until all bills were receiv-
ed, which will be about a month.
t -*-
Tire Ban Placed
On School Buses
School buses which carry foot-
ball teams to games will lose their
eligibility for tires, the Refugio
County Rationing Board has been
advised. This includes, also trans-
portation of school bands, debating
teams and other such groups on
excursions. School buses, under
tire rationing rules, may be used
exclusively to transport teachers
and children from their homes to
school and back again.
This means that Refugio High
School’s football team of 1942 is
going to have to depend on private
means of transportation or on pub-
lic conveyances. The games on the
schedule all are within a 100-mile
radius.
-4*-
Buy National Defense Bonds.
Refugio Schools
Start 1942-3 Term
723 Enroll in Public
School and More Than 100
• at Our Lady of Refuge
Refugio’s two public schools en-
rolled a total of 723 students dur-
ing the first day, Tuesday, but ex-
pected. this number to reach 750
by the end of the week. The first
day’s enrollment represented a drop
of 182 students over the first day’s
enrollment of 905 last year. Forty-
four senior students were in the
high school, most of them having
signed up for courses during the
preceding week. Superintendent
John L. Cooke stated that the
largest increase in enrollment dur-
ing the week was expected to come
in the Latin-American primary de-
partment, where many students
are being kept at home because of
after-storm conditions.
Work began Wednesday morp-
ing with four teachers less than
the faculty numbered last year,
but only two of these positions will
be filled. One is instructor in grade
school, the other science in high
school. Newest recruit to the ranks
is Miss Bernice Collins of Paris,
graduate of Baylor University,
who is teaching Spanish in high
school and mathematics in the
grades. Seven teachers have been
elected to positions by the school
board during the past month and
have resigned before they even be-
gan work.
The present faculty is as fol-
lows: First grade—Mrs. Ruby
Moore, Miss Mary Louise Iley, for
the Latin-American primary, Mrs.
Ethelyn Grimland, Miss Margaret
Wyscarver; second grade—Miss
Viva Mae Thomas, Miss Evelyn
Cassens, for Latin-American, Miss
Neva Heinlein; third grade—Miss
Frels, Miss Elizabeth
Scruggs; fourth grade—Miss Rosa •
Lee Brown, Mrs. Marjorie Wright;
fifth and sixth grades—-Miss Jua-
nita Poteet, Miss Clematis Taylor;
seventh and eighth grades—Miss
Lula Rice, Miss Theresa Fielder.
High school: R. L. Moore, prin-
cipal; B. W. Cromeens, ninth and
tenth grade English; Miss Lillian
Killough, eleventh and twelfth
grade English; R. H. Renfro, com-
mercial work; Louis G. Germer,
coach and math^ t>cs; Mrs.
Mabyl .Varfcn, girls physical edu-.
cation and librarian; Jess F. Har-
bin, director physical education in
both high and grade schools; Miss
Lucille Pfluger, homemaking; Miss
Bernice Collins, Spanish in high,
mathematics in grade schools; W.
E. S. Dickerson, band director and
mathematics.
Negro school: A. T. Barefield,
principal: Lottie Nell Richardson,
Susie G. Elliott and William
Henderson.
The Latin-American primary
grades, which formerly assembled
in the old, red brick school, are
being- taken care of in the main
building at present. Since 1 the
faculty is two teachers short, this
leaves sufficient room to house the
children, until some definite ar-
rangements can be
their building.
made about
Our Lady of Refuge School be-
gan work this year with a fully
accredited high school system for
the first time. At the close of last
year’s school work, the school was
awarded 15 affiliated credits by
the State Department of Educa-
tion, and this year it is working
for three more.
With a staff of five faculty
members this year the school en-
rolled over 100 pupils Monday and
Tuesday, 20 of these in high school.
A special registration day had been
observed Monday, especially for
those pupils entering the school for
the first time so that classes were
able to begin work Tuesday. The
enrollment is 25 pupils below that
of last year, but some students
will probably be added before the
week is out.
Priorities Lifted for
Storm Sufferers
By special delivery letter, Coun-
ty Judge Gentry Jeter was avised
last week by Governor Coke
Stevenson that the highest priority
rating for civilian use, A1A, had
been granted on lumber for repair
of damage done during the recent
hurricane.
Lumber dealers must apply to
the Red Cross disaster relief office
at the City Hall for their priorities,
and individuals who are eligible on
other equipment should also apply
there.
Refugio lumber dealers were
selling out their stocks and mak-
ing out more orders to replace
them, in accordance with instruc- (
tions.
•--.— #
Retired Specialist
Guest in City
Dr. William E. Howard, retired
Dallas specialist}, has been a guest
for the last few days of Attorney
Hobart Huson. The doctor was
on his way to visit his farm south
of Woodsboro, when he became
water bound in Refugio. Since
guest and host are historians and
Texana collectors, the interim was
pleasantly spent, Mr. Huson re-
ported.
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Jones, J. L. Refugio Timely Remarks (Refugio, Tex.), Vol. 14, No. 46, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 10, 1942, newspaper, September 10, 1942; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth848305/m1/1/?q=+date%3A1941-1945: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Dennis M. O’Connor Public Library.