REMEMBER WHEN?

50 Years Ago

Jan. 22-29, 1971

The La Grange Leopards ran up against a tree-tall Hearne Eagle quintet in the Robertson County School’s gym. The Eagles won the District 10-3A title, 73-49. However, the Leopards roundly outscored their adversaries in the third period when Coach Richard Peters’ charges put 21 points through the hoop against 10 for the Eagles. Willie Mazon hit 16 points and Johnny Dawson scored 14 for La Grange.

Funeral services were held for: Willie H. Neidig, 74, of Round Top; Jerome Baca, 53, of Schulenburg; P.A. Kubala, 74, of Schulenburg; Eric Mensing, 65, a Fayette County native; Mrs. Elsa M. Walther, 60, of Warda; and Mrs. Luella G. Tiemann, 63, of La Grange.

All United States air and surface mail to Great Britain, which included England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, was suspended by the first all-out postal strike in the history of the British Postal Administration. U.S. military mail was not affected and air and surface mail to Ireland was still being dispatched.

Grumpy’s Restaurant in Flatonia was holding its grand opening from Jan. 22-31. The new drive-in establishment was owned by Joe Grieve and Gary Krause.

The insurance premium for the minimum 10/20 -5 policy in Territory 19, which included Fayette County, rose to $27 annually on a passenger car used either for pleasure or driving to work. This represented a 20.1% increase over the 1970 rate.

The La Grange Leopard teams were no match for the strong Houston Elmore quintets on Friday night, but gave their adversaries plenty of competition before the Bayou City team prevailed in both games of a twin bill. Elmore won the feature tilt, 96-63, and the junior varsity clash, 52-49. Johnny Dawson paced the Leps with 26 points. Ken Ripper was runner-up with 14.

Texas House Speaker Gus F. Mutscher announced the appointment of State Rep. Charles Jungmichel of La Grange as chair of the House Committee on Public Education.

Flatonia State Bank reported its best year ever in 1970. Over a 10-year period, deposits had more than doubled from $2,433,168 in 1960 to $6,137,517 at the end of 1970. Edwin E. Zapalac, who had been with the bank since 1957 and served as a vice president, was elected as a new director. Other directors reelected were: G.F. McWhirter, R.D. Zapalac, F.X. Brunner, M.A. Freytag and Barney Wotipka.

Harvey Albers was elected president of the Cummins Creek Water Control & Improvement Board. A.P. Vitek was named vice president and W.O. Rauch, secretary-treasurer. Board members were Elo Marburger and Dorman D. Sell.

Hilltop Grocery invited the public to come in and register for a Sunbeam steam iron giveaway. There was nothing to buy, nor was it necessary to be present to win.

A former graduate of Round Top-Carmine High School and Blinn College, Marine Maj. Harold F. Kuhn, was cited for meritorious service with the Third Marine Division during the transition from a fighting unit in Vietnam to a combat-ready unit in Okinawa. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Neumann. His father was the late Edwin Kuhn.

Unable to overcome a scoring spurt that the Cardinals initiated late in the third quarter, La Grange’s Leopards fell to Columbus 52-41. Johnny Dawson pointed 13 times for the purple and gold. Willie Mazon was a close runner-up with 12.

Circulation at La Grange City Library increased more than 60% in 1970, according to librarian Mrs. A.E. Flathmann.

Two new businesses were getting ready to open in La Grange. La Grange Shoe and Saddlery, owned and operated by Tyson Parker of Plum, was moving to 142 N. Washington in the former H.W. Willmann Jewelry building on the east side of the Square. The Sewing & Vacuum Center was opening at 110 S. Washington in the space formerly occupied by John’s Shoe & Saddlery. It was selling Morse sewing machines and Kirby and Eureka vacuum cleaners, as well as repairing and servicing all makes of sewing machines and vacuum cleaners.

Mr. and Mrs. Fritz Maas celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with an open house on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 24 at St. Paul Lutheran Church’s fellowship hall. Although Mr. and Mrs. Maas requested that no gifts be given, the large assortment received was placed beside the couple’s wedding photo on a white satin clothcovered table. Also on display was the guest book and pictures taken at the Maas’ 50th wedding anniversary.

Mr. and Mrs. Emil Kolenovsky of Fayetteville observed their 50th wedding anniversary on Sunday, Jan. 24 at the Ellinger Chamber of Commerce hall. Mrs. Kolenovsky, the former Albina Janish, and Mr. Kolenovsky were married on Jan. 18, 1921, at Frelsburg Catholic Church with Rev. Dombrovsky officiating. They renewed their vows at St. John’s Catholic Church at Fayetteville with Msgr. Jerome Tydlacka of Rosenberg celebrating Mass assisted by Rev. George Tydlacka of Granger and Rev. James Janish of San Antonio. The Ray Baca orchestra provided the music for the dance. Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Kolenovsky led the grand march.

The VFW Home in La Grange was the setting for the 50th wedding anniversary celebration of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Moerbe of Warda. The couple had five children: Mr. and Mrs. John Moerbe of Giddings, Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Moerbe of La Grange, Mr. and Mrs. William Roy Moerbe of Fresno and Mr. and Mrs. Monroe Mertink and Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Schulz, both of Houston.

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