1972: Fayette County Voters Back Richard Nixon for President
Nov. 10-14, 1972 With 3,383 votes cast, local voters agreed with the nation’s decision to reelect Richard Milhouse Nixon and Spiro T. Agnew as president and vice president, respectively, in Tuesday’s general election. Senator George McGovern and R. Sargent Shriver, the Democratic standard-bearers, received 1,400 votes in Fayette County, while Linda Jenness and Andre Pulley, the Socialist Party duo, polled six. Senator John G. Tower outdid his Democratic challenger, Barefoot Sanders, 3,104 votes to 2,121. Social Worker Party’s Tom Leonard received 2 votes and Flores Amaya of the Raza Unida Party got 10. Texas Governor Democratic nominee Dolph Briscoe won the state by a small margin. In Fayette County, he polled 3,099 votes over GOP hopeful Henry G. (Hank) Grover’s 2,136. Of the 8,346 registered voters in Fayette County, only 5,421 took time to cast their ballots.
Of special interest to Fayette County voters was the commanding lead that La Grange businessman and rancher John Wilson maintained in the District 30 state representative race. Wilson, 33, a newcomer to Texas politics, polled 14,826 votes across the district against 5,868 for Vernon Goodall Smith, an Elgin pharmacist.
In another local race, La Grange television antenna serviceman Ovie Roensch won the constable’s position in Precinct No. 1. Roensch, a write-in candidate for the vacant post, polled 283 votes.
Voters in Fayette County also approved four proposed amendments to the Texas State Constitution listed on the ballot and nixed another 10. Those ratified were: requiring county commissioners to compensate justices of the peace with salaries; allowing certain tax exemptions to veterans; $3,000 tax exemptions to those over age 65; and no denial of equality by race, color, creed, sex or national origin. The proposed amendment taking the biggest licking in Fayette County was providing the lieutenant governor with a salary of $22,500 per annum.
In other old news, a hunting knife in a leather pouch proved the straw that broke the case of the Saturday night break-in at Mr. and Mrs. Gary Satterwhite’s White’s Auto Store in La Grange. Two young East Texans were jailed in Bastrop and formally charged with burglary. The duo was apprehended on a Smithville street by city police Sunday night after the burglar alarm in Smith Pharmacy went off. A third man on the roof of the building escaped. SheriffT.J. Flournoy traveled to Smithville, picked up the knife and brought it back to show Mr. Satterwhite, who identified it. Then Sheriff Flournoy returned to Smithville with the empty carton that the burglars had left on the floor in the store to confront them with that evidence. The pair then admitted their complicity.
Although the regulation 10game schedule had been completed, the La Grange Leopards’ 1972 football season was by no means over. Lep quarterback David Zatopek hit fullback Jim Quinn for two extra points in the end zone in the fourth quarter Friday night to give La Grange a spine-chilling 8-7 victory over the fired-up Rice Consolidated Raiders to cinch the west zone District 13-AAA crown.
La Grange City Council authorized Mayor L.W. Stolz Jr. to formally sign a memorandum of understanding with the proposed Fayette Water Supply Corporation. The resolution spelled out how they would abide by the onehalf mile area adjacent to the city limits.
Mr. and Mrs. Elton Tramp observed their 40th wedding anniversary on the afternoon of Sunday, Nov. 5, at the Plum Hermann Sons Hall. Elton Tramp and the former Glinnie Tiedt were married on Nov. 5, 1932, in Warrenton. They had two daughters, Mrs. Nolan (Vernell) Noak of Carmine and Mrs. Milton (Verlene) Noak of La Grange, and four grandchildren.
Funeral services were held for: Mrs. Annie Dorothy Sumbera, 60, a native of Holman; Alois S. Horak, 75, formerly of La Grange; Etta W. Studtman, 84, of La Grange; Miss Lillian Girndt, 69, of La Grange; Fritz Ramthum, 83, of Rutersville; J.R. Peace, 83, a former superintendent of La Grange schools; and Rudolph M. Zvonek, 80, a Fayette County native.
Mrs. Marguerite S. Willmann and W.L. Morgan sold their stock in Fayette County Abstract Co., Inc. to Robert M. Knox and John Knox Jr. of Giddings. Mrs. Willmann was to continue to manage the La Grange office. Celebrating its 70th anniversary, Fayette County Abstract started on Oct. 2, 1902, although the nucleus of the firm dated back to 1865. Mrs. Willmann’s father, John Schroeder, was employed by the company in 1902, but left from 1909 to 1911. He returned as manager and served in that capacity until his death on the last day of December 1964.
H.C. Henniger, La Grange’s tax assessor and collector for 20 years, was honored with a retirement party by co-workers at the fire station meeting room. Mayor L.W. Stolz Jr. presented Mr. Henniger with a gold-plated pocket watch and chain. Attached was a key to the city.
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