REMEMBER WHEN?
Dec. 1, 1972
Santa Claus sent official word that he would arrive on the Square in La Grange on Friday at 3:30 p.m. in a big shiny firetruck. The high school and junior high school bands would play Christmas music while he visited with the kiddies and handed out candy. He said he was looking forward to hearing all the little folks’ Christmas wishes.
Tragically, an eight-month-old infant and a retired architectural engineer lost their lives in separate traffic accidents in Fayette County on the same day, bringing the county’s 1972 traffic toll to 16. Marcia Kay Pokluda of Flatonia died in a Houston hospital from injuries she sustained when the car she was riding in collided with a westbound Southern Pacific freight train engine at a crossing a half mile east of Flatonia. James C. Albertson Jr., 74, of La Grange passed away from injuries sustained in a head-on collision about five miles east of town on Hwy. 71.
The La Grange Leopard cagers opened their 1972 basketball season on a winning note, annexing a great 36-24 defensive battle over the Hearne Eagles. The halftime score was 20-8 for La Grange. After that, the Eagles’ offense retaliated with a fine show of defense utilizing both man-toman and zone brands. For the victors, six-foot-five Greg Smith and Robert Poole each pointed nine times. Smith also came up with 11 rebounds. Lep junior varsitymen didn’t fare quite as well, coming out on the short end of a 67-30 score with their Hearne counterparts. La Grange’s freshmen took Smithville into camp there by a 49-29 score, leading 21-17 at the mid-point but stretching their point margin thereafter. For the Lep frosh, Gary Dippel and Kenny Hatfield each had 12 points and Ricky Fenix had 10.
Fayetteville Rural High School cagers won a pair but dropped a trio in their basketball action. La Grange seventh graders prevailed in the opener, 30-16, getting a 12-point effort from Ricky Dippel, while Eugene Michalsky paced the losers with 10. LHS eighth graders also copped the feature tilt, 29-24, with Ashley pointing 10 times for La Grange and Lee Matocha hitting 12 for Fayetteville’s high honors.
The Colorado Valley Independent Telephone Pioneer Association was formed at a charter luncheon at Cottonwood Inn Restaurant. All the officers were associated with General Telephone Company. From La Grange, J.B. Simmons was serving as vice president and Antone Recek was a member.The purpose of the group was to preserve the history, traditions and ideals of the independent telephone industry. Anyone with 15 or more years in the communications industry or a related business was eligible to join.
Funeral services were held for Edward E. Maeckel, 58, of Ellinger and Justin J. Vitek, 55, a native of Fayetteville.
The La Grange Garden Club was holding an old-fashioned Christmas party at the Faison Home and Museum on Sat., Dec. 9 from 3-8 p.m. The community was invited to attend.
The Hi-Notes were playing for a dance sponsored by the Ledbetter Fire Department on Sat., Dec. 2 at the Firemen’s Hall in Ledbetter.
Mrs. and Mrs. Edwin Boening observed their 50th wedding anniversary on Sat., Nov. 25 at the Home Demonstration Building. The gifts were opened by their daughter, Mrs. Delvin Tietjen; daughter-in-law, Mrs. Leslie Boening; and granddaughter, Sandra Tietjen. Delores Zapalac of Austin registered the gifts. The three-tiered anniversary cake, iced with gold sugar-spun roses and metallic gold leaves, was topped with a golden 50 emblem encircled by a wreath of yellow and white flowers, gold leaves and ribbon. Mrs. Herbert Diers cut the cake that was served by Delores Zapalac and Sue Ann Fritsch.
In celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary, Mr. and Mrs. Ed.A. Giese were honored by their children with a reception on Sun., Nov. 26 at the Travis Street United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall in La Grange. In the receiving line with Mr. and Mrs. Giese were their children: Ed. A. Giese Jr.; Sybil Ruth Giese Beaman and husband Warren; and Betty Ann Giese Breedlove and husband Tom. Ed Giese and Leona Childers were united in marriage on Nov. 25, 1922, at First Methodist Church in Houston. Present at the observance were two members of the original wedding party: the sister of the bride, Mrs. George (Bettie Childers), and sister-in-law of the bride, Mrs. Lee (Minnie) Childers.
Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Koehl of Rosenberg observed their golden wedding anniversary on Sun., Nov. 12, with a renewal of their vows followed by an anniversary Mass of Thanksgiving at Holy Rosary Church. Msgr. Jerome Tydlacka officiated at the ceremony. Eugene Koehl and Lillie Fritsch were married at St. John’s Catholic Church in Fayetteville on Nov, 12, 1922, by Rev. J.J. Vanicek. They had three children: Beatrice K. Fraughnaugh of Milford, Virginia; Doris Jean Koehl of Houston; and Jacob O. Koehl of College Station.
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