1972: White’s Auto Store in La Grange Burglarized

Burglars entered Gary Satterwhite’s White’s Auto Store in La Grange sometime during the night on Saturday or early Sunday and made off with a quantity of merchandise. Intruders broke a skylight on the top of the building, crawled between the double floors – two feet apart – and knocked down a number of 1x6-inch ceiling boards over the block ceiling tile to drop to the floor some 12 feet below. Although Mr. Satterwhite had not yet completed a full inventory, he knew the loot taken included several guns, a television set, a stereo and several tape decks.

In other old news, Fayette County voters were expected to go to the polls in large numbers, along with the rest of the state and country, to vote on national, state, county and precinct hopefuls. For the first time in the nation’s history, 18 to 21-year-olds were eligible to cast ballots if they had registered. Fayette County had a total of 8,346 registered voters, slightly under the 1968 presidential election total of 8,559. The race of greatest interest to all American voters was Republicans Richard Nixon/Spiro T.Agnew versus Democrats Senator George McGovern/R. Sargent Shriver. Republican John G. Tower, who was seeking his third elective term in the U.S. Senate, was challenged by Republican Henry C. (Hank) Grover, Socialist Party Worker candidate Deborah Leonard and Raza Unita Party candidate Flores Amaya.

The rock-ribbed defense again stood La Grange’s Leopards in good stead Friday night when the purple and gold defeated the upstart Yoakum Bulldogs at Yoakum and took over the driver’s seat in the hotly contested District 13-AAA west zone grid race. The score was 20-6, all points going on the board in the actionpacked first half. A 63-yard gallop by 160-pound halfback Buddy Grove, posted La Grange’s first six-pointer in quarter No. 1 after Yoakum got the game underway via his kickoff and the two teams had exchanged punts. The Leopards had returned the Bulldog boot to their 32 and Jim Quinn got five to make it a second and five at the LG 37 to set the stage for Grobe’s romp. David Zatopek’s pass for two bonus points was batted down and the score remained 6-0, La Grange.

The Texas Highway Commission approved the development of 3.6 miles of farm-to-market road in Fayette County as part of the 1972 Texas Farm-to-Market Road Program. The proposed new FM road, commonly called Haw Creek Road, was to take off from FM 954 about three miles north of Fayetteville in an easterly direction to the Austin County line near Shelby.

Buescher State Park, two miles northwest of Smithville, had received a facelift that included new electrical hookups, restrooms and a headquarters building.

Mechanical difficulties with the equipment cut short the visit of the Alamo Area Tuberculosis Association’s mobile x-ray unit on Saturday. The problem emerged about 2:30 p.m. after 124 people had undergone chest x-rays and contributed $108 toward operating expenses. The La Grange Chamber of Commerce, which facilitated the visit, said the unit would return to La Grange at a later date.

The Round Top Barracks WWI Veterans No. 1611 and Auxiliary were observing Armistice Day on Nov. 11 with a gettogether and basket dinner at the RoundTop Legion Hall. Members were invited to attend and bring their eating utensils.

The La Grange Rotary Club was hosting its annual pancake supper on Friday, Nov. 10, at Hermes Elementary Cafeteria. The serving of pancakes, sausage, coffee and milk, along with good fellowship, was to begin at 5 p.m. Adult tickets cost $1.25 and student tickets were 75¢.

Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Hobratschk observed their 40th wedding anniversary on Saturday, Nov. 4, at the VFW Hall in La Grange. The couple was married on Nov 20, 1932, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda by the Rev. Paul C. Eifert. The couple’s original attendants were all present for the occasion. The bridesmaids were: Mrs. Edwin H. (Elsie) Pietsch, Mrs. Walter (Alwine) Zoch, Mrs. Willie (Hedwig) Giese, Mrs. Vastine (Glennie) Janssen, Mrs. Willie (Ruby) Lehmann and Mrs. Anton F. (Lorine) Pietsch. The groomsmen were: Edwin H. Pietsch, Willie Giese, Edwin W. Pietsch, Anton F. Pietsch, all of La Grange; Vastine Pietsch of Brenham; and Rudolph Schmidt of Houston.

Airman Jimmie C. Turner, the son of Mr. and Mrs. T.J. Turner of La Grange, had been assigned to the technical training center at Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois, after completing his basic training. Airman Turner, a 1972 graduate of La Grange High School, was to receive specialized training in metalworking.

Airman Lenoir Colvin, the son of Mrs. Eliza Colvin of Ledbetter, was assigned to Lowry Air Force Base in Colorado after completing his basic training. Airman Colvin, a 1970 graduate of Giddings High School, was to train as a food services specialist.

Twenty-four La Grange Girl Scouts were canvassing door-todoor to sell Girl Scout calendars. Sponsors of the project were Mrs. Kenneth Ullrich and Mrs. Allan Wolff.

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