Remember When?

Sept. 8-12, 1972 Members of Fort Hood’s 3rd Squadron, First Calvary Division, were engaging in “Operation Rocky Rapids,” the code name for an exercise in which La Grange, Columbus, Wharton and Bay City would be ‘captured.’ Supported by helicopter, the Army intended to ‘attack’ the cities by air and on rafts from the Colorado River. The force, consisting of about 30 soldiers, was participating in the mock invasion as part of the Modern Volunteer Army’s Adventure Training Operation emphasizing small unit training and the development of individual skills.

In other old news, although a Rosenberg man came out unscathed, his airplane was damaged when it made a partial belly landing at Guenther Flying Service Airfield. Frank Guenther, owneroperator of the flying service, said when the pilot was landing his Globe Swift, he slowed down and was about to taxi off the paved runway when the left wheel mechanism of the retractable landing gear gave way. The plane skidded, damaging one blade of the all-steel propeller and causing minor damage to the belly fuselage and left wingtip. Mr. Guenther undertook the necessary repairs so the pilot could fly back to Rosenberg. Blue Bell Creameries, Inc. was celebrating the opening of its new $2 million ice cream plant in Brenham with a three-day open house. President Ed F. Kruse invited the public from the 50-county area that Blue Bell served to attend.

On La Grange Leopards 1972 squad were: Billy Miller, Frank Heger, David Zapalac, Marcus Cook, John Eilert, Charles Koether, George Kaehler, Tim Sulak, David Zatopek, Buddy Grobe, Jim Quinn, Edward Hardy, Eddie Oppermann, Freddie Adamcik, Calvin Bohot, Kevin von Minden, Maurice Bouldwin, Richard Wagner, Charles Mayer, Sonny Scott, Bubba Smith, Mike Maxwell, Clifton Pyburn, Larry Hatfield, James Divin, Mark Behrens, Sammy Hensel, Jack Scharnberg, Johnny Johnson, Charles Martin, Douglas Logan, James Koopmann, Tommy Cox, Daniel Urban, Justin Bartos, Wayne Zimmerhanzel, Neal Miller, Daniel Cernoch, Kenneth Williams, Ricky Fenix, Charles Schulz, Arthur Muerer, Darrell Matula, Kenny Zimmerhanzel, Gary Dippel, Jeffrey Lindemann, Shelby Willett, Gary Matocha, Kenneth Hatfield and Lyman Smith. Jimmy Zimmerhanzel and Gene Larrimore were team managers.

Four members of the La Grange Schroeder Drug Demons were on the list when the 1972 south zone all-tournament of the National Baseball Congress named its picks. They were: pitcher – Ron Kainer; first base – Ricky Peters; second base – Jim Langford; and outfielder – Bill Bohne.

Funeral services were held for: Charlie Fred Vinklarek, 61, of Cistern; Mrs. Frances Polcak, 88, of Industry; Mrs. Emma Johanna Schmidt, 81, of Warrenton; J.T. Parma, 88, a Fayette County native; James T. Garrard, 66, a former La Grange resident; Ernest T. Zimmermann, 61, who was buried in the Waldeck cemetery; James Dockal, 74, of Industry; Miss Ella Drawe, 88, of Warrenton; Mrs. Mary Zvonek, 78, a native of Fayette County; and Otto von Minden, 71, a former La Grange resident.

Fayette County anticipated it would spend $994,669.06 for its 1973 operations.

The La Grange Parent-Teacher Association presented the coveted Rosa Meinecke 1971-72 term awards to: freshmen – Suzanne Hruska, Margaret Joost, Barbara Kobersky, Darrell Matula and Neal Miller; sophomores – Anne Ermis and Mary Lou Mayer, twoyear winners Karen Fritsche, Gene Larrimore and Colleen Maas; and juniors – Charles Mayer and John Williams, three-year winners. Virginia Legler and Barbara Liska and Cynthia Schultz were twoyear winners.

M/Sgt. Daniel L. Zitterich, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis H. Zitterich of La Grange, graduated from the Strategic Air Command (SAC) Noncommissioned Officer Academy at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana.

Vada Pearl Ellis received a $15 check for winning first prize at the state level in the annual Texas Firemen’s and Fire Marshal’s Association’s fire prevention poster contest. La Grange Fire Chief Stanley Webb and local fire poster chairman C.V. Creuzbaur made the presentation.

The La Grange Radio Club was holding its regular meeting at the Legion Hall on Thurs., Sept. 14 at 7:30 p.m. Those interested in two-way radios were urged to attend.

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