REMEMBER WHEN?
50 Years Ago from the files of The Fayette Country Record
March 5-9, 1971
Mr. and Mrs. Hugo Beyer of Schulenburg were presented with the Purple Heart and six service medals awarded posthumously to their son, Sp/4 Edward H. Beyer, who lost his life in enemy action on April 9, 1970, while on guard duty at his post in South Vietnam. Sp/4 Beyer was a nephew of Mrs. Robert Sumbera of La Grange and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Muras of the Radhost community.
Sheriff’s officers were continuing their investigation into a hijacking near La Grange in which a local 75-year-old man was robbed of $15 in cash. The incident occurred on Hwy. 159 between La Grange and Rutersville. The victim told officers he was driving to Rutersville when a car whipped in front of him and stopped. The driver got out and pointed a pistol at him. When the elderly gentleman leaned back to quieten his little dog in the back seat, the assailant struck him across the arm with the gun before demanding all the cash in the man’s wallet.
Combining well-nigh perfect pitching with clutch hitting, the La Grange Leopards overpowered Bellville’s Brahmas, 11-0, in the season opening baseball game at Fair Park on Monday night. Three Lep hurlers platooned and came up with a one-hit mound performance, while their colleagues accumulated six clutch base knocks. They fanned 10. Bubba Riehs tossed the first three heats, allowing the lone Brahma lick, and struck out five. Ricky Kana hurled the next three in hitless fashion and whiffed three. Charles Koether, who pitched the seventh and final frame, fanned two in shutting down the opposition without the semblance of a hit. Jim Quinn set the offensive pace for the Leopards with three RBIs on a two-run single and a sacrifice fly. Johnny Dawson knocked in a pair with a two-bagger, Riehs, Doug Lehmann, Rick and Frank Kana got the other La Grange bingles.
Three Blinn College sophomores from Fayette County were named to the 1970-71 edition of “Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges.” They were: Catherine Belota, Plum; Audrey Janda, La Grange; and Dorothy Prihoda, La Grange.
Fayette County Commissioners Court accepted the low bid of $3,644.11 from Meiners Motor Company of La Grange for a new two-ton truck cab and chassis with a 1960 Model Ford cab and chassis as a trade-in. The new truck was for use in Precinct 1. Commissioners also accepted a bid of $175 from H.P. Davis for scrap iron contained in an old bridge frame across Clear Creek, four miles east of Warrenton. In other business, commissioners agreed to a contract of $600 with Davis & Wilson of Seabrook to appraise county oil properties for taxation.
Aubrey D. (Red) Voelkel of La Grange was appointed to the board of directors of the Lower Colorado River Authority by Texas Governor Preston Smith. A native of the Oldenburg community, Voelkel, 50, was active in a number of La Grange civic affairs.
Edwin W. Jaster and Milroy Krebs were seeking reelection as school trustees in Fayetteville. New candidates bidding for the posts were Robert J. Kovar and J.B. Crowley.
Funeral services were held for: Edward J. Rose, 71, a La Grange native; Martin G. Miertschin, 72, of Serbin; Mrs. Emma Hertel, 88, of Freyburg; Mrs. Mary Sury, 65, of Fayetteville; and Neal O. Henniger, 73, a Fayette County native.
La Grange FFA member Sam Hensel, who caught a calf in the Houston Rodeo calf scramble, received a $200 certificate from the Houston Livestock Show to purchase a dairy heifer. The rules requested that he show the heifer in the 1972 show. Sam was accompanied to Houston by FFA advisor Archie Abrameit.
Fayette County Sheriff Jim Flournoy noted in his report that on February 20, he and his deputies jailed one person for DWI, another for stealing a car in San Antonio and six minors for drinking beer at Swiss Alp. They also arrested three more persons in Ellinger for fighting.
Mr. and Mrs. Gary Satterwhite announced the appointment of Emil Kiesling as manager of White Auto Store in La Grange.
Mrs. Frances Balko, who lived with her daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Otto Krueger of Warrenton, marked her 102nd birthday with several celebrations, long distance calls, flowers and numerous visits from friends and relatives.
L.W. Stolz Jr. of La Grange was reelected president of the Colorado River Water Development Association and Sam K. Seymour Jr. of Columbus was named secretary/treasurer. Directors representing Fayette County were C.A. Lemmons of La Grange, William A. Graeter of Fayetteville and Nelson Holz of Schulenburg.
Sergeant James D. Jahn was on duty at Nha Trang AB, Vietnam. A communications equipment repairman, Sgt. Jahn, who was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd M. Jahn of Schulenburg, was assigned to a unit of the Pacific Air Forces. He was a 1967 graduate of Weimar High School.
Miss Selma Klatt observed her 95th birthday with friends and family at her home. The three-tier birthday cake served to well-wishers was a gift of her companion, Miss Josephine Bartling.
Edgar Lueders was honored at an open house on his 82 birthday.
For more great stories, visit Elaine online at www.elainethomaswriter.com/blog/ or call her at 979-263-5031.