REMEMBER WHEN?

50 Years Ago from The Fayette County Record

April 11-14, 1972

Through a nationwide alert issued by Sheriff T.J. Flournoy, the long arm of the Fayette County law reached all the way to Kelso, Washington, to find the third suspect in the Kleiber tractor theft. Two of the suspects already were in the Fayette County Jail, while the third was escorted back to La Grange by Deputy Sheriff Walter Chernosky, who flew to Portland, Oregon, to get him. While one more suspect still was wanted in the tractor thefts, Sheriff Flournoy commented, “We’ll get him, too.”

Ben Bloomer, a seven-year coaching veteran at Rockport, Texas, was elected as LGISD’s new head athletic coach. Mr. Bloomer, 37, was bringing three assistants with him from Rockport, a Class AA school.

Over $45,000 was pledged or contributed at a special meeting at Bishop Forest High School in Schulenburg, and another $45,000 was sought by April 15th to ensure the school would remain in operation since parishes no longer would be assessed to support it. The Bishop Forest High School Educational Foundation was formed at the meeting attended by a large crowd of parents and patrons of the school. Named to the fundraising committee were: Jack Klesel, Mrs. Leon Langhamer, Albert Muras, T.E. Muras and Edwin Haidusek.

The La Grange Leopards went to the top of the ladder in the west zone, District 10-3A baseball race Thursday night when they shutout A&M Consolidated’s Tiger’s 7-0, at College Station. The Leps of Coach Paul Hoelscher got a nohit hill performance from their ace lefthander, Bubba Riehs, while the locals were pounding out a dozen base knocks of their own – two going for extra cushions. Riehs fanned 15 and walked three, and was in trouble in only one inning. That was the fourth when an error and two bases on balls loaded the strikeout for third out and settled that without damage. Mark Cook, Lep leftfielder, led the charge for La Grange, lashing out a triple and two singles. Steve Kovar was a close second, singling three times in four trips.

La Grange received a total of $75,355 from the 1¢ sales tax collected during 1971, according to city secretary Margaret S. Mason. By comparison, Columbus received $65,187 for the same period.

Charles L. Bybee, a Houston banking executive and civic leader, passed away at Round Top, the town he and his wife had been restoring. He was 71.

A group of energetic ladies got together on Saturday morning to paint ‘Guenther Field’ and ‘La Grange’ in large marking on the hangar at the local flying field. This was a project of an international organization of women pilots called the ‘99s.’ With 10- foot letters in traffic yellow enclosed in a 7½-inch black border, the artwork met Federal Aviation Authority specifications. The airport markings were designed as a safety measure for pilots flying by ground reference.

The Farmers Home Administration approved a $55,000 loan to the Ledbetter Water Supply Corporation of Fayette and Lee counties. Loan funds would enable the corporation to extend the existing rural water system to serve 35 additional families in north Fayette County. The loan carried repayment terms of 40 years at a rate of 5%.

Funeral services were held for: Hubert M. Potts, 46, of La Grange; Chas. C. Koenig, 91, of Waxahachie; Lad J. Hornak, 57, of Fayetteville; Mrs. Christine Evanicky, 69, of Rocky Hill; and Ludvik J. Lidiak, 83, a Fayette Countynative.

Annette Citzler, a graduate of La Grange High School and a Texas Lutheran College degree candidate in May 1972, received a foreign grant to study in Switzerland. Miss Citzler, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Atlan M. Citzler of La Grange, had maintained a college scholastic achievement of 3.72 out of four points.

Larry Malota, a Fayetteville Rural High School junior, was one of the area winners of the Government-in-Action youth tour oratorical contest sponsored by Fayette Electric Cooperative. The six finalists spoke on the subject of The Rural Electric Cooperative – A Partner in Community and Economic Development.

Mrs. John Berry celebrated her 90th birthday with a typical German-style party and lunch.

Miss Carol Adamcik, brideelect of Eugene Janecka of Houston, was honored at a tea shower Sunday afternoon at the La Grange State Bank Community Room. Taking turns in receiving the guests were: Mrs. E.L. Fitzpatrick and Mrs. Wesley Steinmann; along with the honoree and her mother, Mrs. Ted Adamcik; the groom-elect’s mother, Mrs. Adolph Janecka of Weimar; and his sister, Mrs. James Dilley of Alvin. Mrs. James Karstedt served the fruit punch, and Mrs. David De Marco and Mrs. James Zimmerhanzel presided at the coffee service.

Friends and relatives visited in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Otto Loessin on the occasion of Mrs. Loessin’s 86th birthday.

Applications were being accepted for janitor at the Fayette County Courthouse.

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