1975: Leps’ Big Last Half Trounces the Tigers

Nov. 18-21, 1975

With the district title sacked away, the La Grange Leopards suffered through the first half doldrums at Smithville on Friday night. Then the Leps churned out a typical performance for the second half, pulverizing the Tigers 40 to 7 in their District 25AA finale. The first three touchdowns came the easy way, the last three the hard way. Tommy Supak, Pat Smith, Curtis Ray, Bert Vasut and Garry Matocha were mainline defenders, while Johnnie Johnson intercepted three passes and Kenny Zimmerhanzel contributed a key fumble recovery. Offensively, the Leps utilized a bruising ground attack, plus the big play passes of Kenny Hatfield.

Although the Burton Panthers knocked off the Schulenburg Shorthorns, 29-21, at Burton on Friday night, the Fayette County team wound up covered with laurels because Lexington defeated Somerville. With one game ahead of Burton and Somerville, the Horns, who had already clinched a state playoff berth, wound up as District 27A champions.

Frank Pavlicek, a 56-yearold Schulenburg man, was fatally injured in a traffic accident at the Hwy. 77 and Hwy. 90 underpass. Mr. Pavlicek’s tragic death was the sixth traffic fatality in Fayette County in 1975.

Five young people from Smithville and Bastrop were admitted to Fayette Memorial Hospital via Fayette County Ambulance Service after a one-car accident at Hostyn on Saturday night. Officers reported when their car emerged from FM 2436, the Hostyn paved road, it crossed Hwy. 77, ending up in a pasture on the opposite side of the road. None of the teens were seriously hurt, and all were later released.

La Grange’s receipts from the 1% city sales and use tax levy amounted to $71,148 for the calendar year, with the receipt of a $9,483 check representing August collections from State Comptroller Bob Bullock’s office in Austin.

A representative with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service warned that outbreaks of diphtheria still occurred. Immunization was still the only effective protection. Babies could be immunized at about two months of age, but weren’t fully protected until they had had all three doses of the series.

Funeral services were held for: Joe C. Syptak, 46, of Fayetteville; Mrs. Olga Gerdes, 82, of La Grange; Herbert J. Ickert, 63, of La Grange; Mrs. Leonie Neese, 86, of Carmine; George H. Kiesling, 82, of Schulenburg; Albert J. Laux, 76, of Schulenburg; Mrs. Antonia Minar, 88, of Fayetteville; William Osina, 76, a native of Holman; and Mrs. W.H. Blezinger, 70, of Industry.

Andrew Srubar, the son of Mr. and Mrs. August Srubar of West Point, was elected Future Farmer of the Month for November by the local chapter. Serving as the new chapter vice president, Andrew had been on the chapter conducting team for two years, served as sentinel in 1974 and Greenhand treasurer during his freshman year. He was working at La Grange Feed & Egg under the ‘coop ag’ program.

The fourth Bilroy Discount Center of Fresh Foods was ready to open in Yoakum. The newest store of the La Grangebased supermarket chain was located on Hwy. 77A Business in the building formerly occupied by Hub City Market. The store had been rebuilt and refurbished. The first Bilroy’s opened in La Grange in 1965. The second location opened in Hallettsville in 1971 and the third in Elgin in 1972.

Fayetteville Bank announced the election of three new directors: Gordon Van Liew, Thomas B. Transou and Alois Keilers. Van Liew was the owner of GVL Ranch, located two miles south of Fayetteville, and the chair and president of Cal-Texas Citrus Juice Co., Inc. in Houston. Transou, who owned a ranch south of Fayetteville, was president of United Plastics and Twin Enterprises in Houston. Keilers, a Fayette County native and owner of National Flange & Fitting Co., owned four buildings on the Fayetteville Square and lived in a farm northwest of town.

Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Baca of Fayetteville were honored with a celebration to mark their 60th wedding anniversary on Sunday, Nov. 9, in the recreation hall at St. John Catholic Church in Fayetteville in Fayetteville. Mr. and Mrs. Baca were married on Nov. 9, 1915, at that church by the late Rev. John Vanicek.

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Eilers of the Oldenburg community celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary and the 85th birthday of Mr. Eilers on Sunday, Nov. 2, at their home. Henry Eilers and Frieda Schmidt were married on Nov. 2, 1913, in the Haw Creek community.

Kathy Holub, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry F. Holub of West Point, was enrolled in the Vocational Office Education class at La Grange High School and employed by Fayette Memorial Hospital. Betty Berger, a senior at La Grange High School and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Melroy Berger, was a member of the La Grange Office Education Association, who was employed by Fayette County Abstract Company, Inc.

Carl L. Wendler, Schulenburg High School’s vocational agriculture instructor, was reappointed to the commercial steer committee of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Wendler had served on the committee for seven years.

Gale Minzenmeyer, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elmo Minzenmeyer, was awarded a Texas A&M University College of Agriculture scholarship. Her selection was based on high school grades, leadership activities and character.

The LCRA board granted the Fayette County Historical Commission $2,500 to save the Biegel house, the home of one of the area’s pioneer German settlers, located in the footprint of the Fayette County Power Project.

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