REMEMBER WHEN?

50 Years Ago

May 8-12, 1970

La Grange City Council gave final approval to a subdivision ordinance, studied provisions for a proposed mobile home ordinance and planned the next step regarding rights-of-way to the site of the new sewer plant east of the city. The subdivision code spelled out the role of the owner or developer, as well as the city, within the corporate limits of La Grange and within five miles of the corporate limits.

Karen Williams, who had been elected La Grange Duchess to the annual Brenham Maifest, was to ride in the parade with her escort, Bob Simmons. Kenny L. Stork was driving the Cottonwood Inn pick-up truck that would tow the La Grange Chamber of Commerce float.

La Grange Independent School District trustees opened sealed bids on the half acre of school land on Hwy. 77 once occupied by Bluff School. The parcel sold to the highest bidder, William C. Myers, for $800. Emil Dornak, who owned the property next door, had entered a bid of $350.

The Pirates dumped the Yankees, 4-2, and the Indians prevailed over Round Top-Carmine, 6-4, in two spirited La Grange Little League games. Larry Bippert, hurling for the victorious Pirates, allowed three hits, walked four, struck out seven and contributed a double. The Bucs got six licks. The Indians got but three base knocks to win over RT-C, all for extra cushions. Jeff Lindemann hit a homerun and a double, while George Eilert contributed a two-bagger. The losers nicked winning pitcher Lyman Smith for nine bingles.

Candidates from Fayette County receiving Associate in Arts degrees from Blinn Junior College included: Beth Brandt, Mark Edward Brown, Burt Clifford Carter, Johnny L. Gaertner, Paul Edward Gause, Kenneth Wayne Harbers, Monte Floyd Hengst, Leeroy Harry Hrbratschk, Steve Janda, Marie Annette Jurk, Marie Georgia Kruppa, Doris Jean Liska, Darold Lyn Moellenberndt, Daniel Lee Petras, Ruth Dale Ruether, Florence Marie Sulak, Carolyn Ruth Wessels, Ronald James Von Minden and John David Kana of La Grange; Johnny Joseph Becka, and Michael Edward Krenek of Fayetteville; Jessie Marie Petrich, Danny Lee Rohde and Roger Dale Weyand of Round Top.

The La Grange Noon Lions Club president Weldon Scholtz presented Albert Kozel of Swiss Alp with the 1969 Fayette County Conservation Farmer Award. In Schulenburg, Rotary Club president Tim Patrick presented Lawrence Friedrich of Freyburg with the 1969 Fayette County Conservation Comeback Farmer Award.

Rev. Norman D. Roe, the pastor of the Travis Street United Methodist Church of La Grange, was awarded the Masland Fellowship at Union Theological Seminary in New York City for the fall semester of 1970. He was one of two Methodist pastors from across the country that was granted the opportunity to study at the interdenominational school.

Charles Ray Pazderny and James Henry Treybig were the top graduates at Fayetteville Rural High School for 1969-70. With a projected average of 92.707, Pazderny was class valedictorian. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Pazderny. Salutatorian Treybig, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Alton Treybig, had a projected average of 92.646.

Power hitting that accounted for 11 runs in the first three innings propelled the Plum Ravens to an 11-4 triumph over Serbin. Plum dished three tallies in the first frame, one in the second and seven in the third to amass a lead that Serbin was unable to overcome. Leading the offense was Bill Prihoda with four hits. Doyle Roensch and Ray Prihoda had three apiece. Larry Zbranek and Mike Petras each got a pair.

Fayette County native and Round Top-Carmine High School graduate Don Steinbach was named fisheries demonstration assistant on the headquarters staff of the Texas Agricultural Extension Service. Steinbach attended Blinn College before enrolling at Texas A&M University where he was awarded a BS degree in wildlife studies with a major in fisheries biology in 1967.

A funeral service was held for Mrs. Sophie Gray, 79, a Fayette County native.

Construction started on the $32,000 rural water system sponsored by the Ledbetter Water Supply Corporation projected to serve approximately 40 local residences and businesses.

For more great stories, visit Elaine online at www.elainethomaswriter.com/blog/ or call her at 979-263-5031.