REMEMBER WHEN?

50 Yeard Ago from the files of The Fayette County Record

July 24-31, 1970

Trustees of the La Grange Independent School District accepted the bid of La Grange State Bank for five-year warranties to cover purchase of two new school buses, stiffened its policy with respect to the vaccination of schoolchildren and decided to re-advertise for bids on the house built by trades students of the Area Vocational High School. Board President Dr. L.D. Boelsche said the board would be within state school laws if it refused to enroll students whose parents or guardians did not allow them to be vaccinated against preventable communicable diseases.

A human skeleton found in a dry creek bed near I-10 in the Borden area of Colorado County was positively identified, although the findings had not yet been disclosed. Raabe Brothers was clearing about 20 acres of brush on Mrs. Bertha Thumann’s farm directly across I-10 from the Midway Cafe when the discovery was made.

At its August meeting in Dallas, the Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association planned to recognize Otto L. Fuchs Jr., a vocational agriculture instructor at Round Top-Carmine High School, for 20 years of service. A graduate of La Grange High School, Mr. Fuchs received his BS degree from Texas A&M University. While teaching at Round Top-Carmine High School, he organized a Young Farmer chapter, which had 25 members, and had prepared many FFA teams to compete in leadership and judging contests.

Rudy F. Zoch, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Alvin T. Zoch of Wards, completed all requirements for a Doctor of Education degree.

Funeral services were held for: Charles J. Tschiedel, 84, of Rutersville; Joe J. Knippel, 86, a native of Fayetteville; Mrs. Marie Cernosek, 88, of La Grange; Mrs. Phala Faye Fritsch, 84, of La Grange; and Harry W. Doherty, 72, the husband of a former La Grange resident.

The Plum Ravens smashed out 15 hits and scored in all but three innings to defeat Manheim, 11-1, in a Community League game. Plum tied for second place with four more regular games remaining on the schedule. Danny Muzny and Hank Holub led the victors with three hits apiece, while Bill Prihoda, Doyle Roensch and Larry Vasek came in with two each. Doyle Roensch hurled the first seven innings for Plum, allowing five hits and fanning 12 for the win. Larry Vasek took over for the last two heats, allowing one hit and whiffing four.

The La Grange-Fayette County Citizens Band Radio Club planned to hold its annual CB Fest and Picnic on the Sunday afternoon and evening of July 26 at Monument Hill State Park. All area Citizen Banders were invited to attend and bring a covered dish. Those interested were asked to contact Darryl L. Dippel, KKY 3802, for more information.

Paul Edward Gause, the son of Mr. and Mrs. T.L. Gause of La Grange, received a Merit Award Scholarship offered by the faculty of Texas A&M University. A premed student, he graduated from Blinn College in May 1970.

The La Grange Chamber of Commerce forwarded a 10-foot long petition containing about 400 signatures to U.S. Postal Department officials, two Texas senators and district Congressman. The petition implored officials to keep the La Grange sectional center facility open rather than move it to Austin.

Susan Fritsche, a 19-year-old from Winchester, was crowned queen of the Fayette County Farm Bureau by Nora Jean Schuetze, the previous year’s winner. Susan, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Fritsche, was to compete in the District XI contest in August. A graduate of La Grange High School, Susan was employed as a secretary for the Texas Rehabilitation Commission in Austin.

The La Grange All-Stars connected for a dozen solid base hits to shut out CWS (Weimar and Schulenburg) to win the Area III, District 13 Little League baseball championship. This enabled the team to enter the full district tournament at Hallettsville. Gary Dippel hurled the distance, doling out only two hits and fanning 10. Weimar-Schulenburg hurlers Lawrence Kana and Michael Kasparek gave up 12 bingles, including two homers and a double between them. Kana got one strikeout.

The area’s newest business was La Grange Plumbing Co., headquartered 2.5 miles northeast of the city on State Hwy. 159. The owner, H.W. Knoetzke Jr., had worked in his father’s plumbing business in Houston for 23 years. He recently had finished the plumbing job on Houston Lighting & Power Co.’s new office building in downtown Houston. The firm’s slogan was “Do it right the first time.”

In 1960, Schulenburg had a population of 2,207 compared to the 1970 census count of 2,238, an increase of 31 persons in 10 years.

S/Sgt. Robert L. Heinrich, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Heinrich of Schulenburg, was on temporary duty at a forward base in the Western Pacific. Sgt. Heinrich, a weapons mechanic, supported B-52 Stratofortress bombing missions against enemy targets.

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