1973: La Grange Records Closest School Board Race Ever

La Grange School Board incumbent Rudolph Voss won reelection by one vote in Saturday’s election for Place 7. He got 405 votes, while his challenger, Joe G. Bargas of Holman, brought in 404. Mr. Bargas formally filed application for a vote recount following the announcement. Lloyd Kolbe, running in Place 6 that was vacated by long-time trustee Dr. L.D. Boelsche, was elected by acclamation. In the La Grange mayoral race, incumbent L.W. (Sonny) Stolz Jr. successfully beat back a challenge from Milton von Minden to win a third term. Mr. Stolz, who had succeeded Mr. von Minden four years before, polled 461 votes. The former mayor, who had served for 18 years before retiring in 1969, had 221 ballots cast in his favor. In the city election’s Ward 4, U.S. postal clerk James V. Zimmerhanzel became the new alderman with 106 votes, defeating Emmett Johnson with 59 and Gary Roberts with 8. Mr. Zimmerhanzel succeeded Charlie Ripper who chose not to run for reelection after serving for three terms. In the other contested race, Ward 1 Alderman George H. Giesber was returned for another term with 92 votes over his opponent, Raymond Zingelmann, who polled 69. Winning reelection unopposed were aldermen Milton J. Pechal of Ward 2 and Chas. W. Priebe of Ward 3.

In Schulenburg, voters elected two new school board members. Winning the positions were Bill Bucek, owner of Double B Foods, with 359 votes, and Leonard Winkler, an employee of Flatonia City Market, with 280. They beat out the third candidate, Johnnie Valchar, who received 231.

La Grange High School was sending four competitors to the regional meet at Conroe. Eddie Oppermann, 220-yard dashman; Sammy Scott, hurdler; Jim Quinn, shot putter; and Brian Prause, discus thrower; were to vie for honors at the meet.

La Grange area bank deposits gained 14.7% in a 12-month period, according to figures from the first quarter bank call issued on March 28, 1973. The five banks totaled $38,432,336.07, the highest number ever. The First National Bank of La Grange was the largest with $14,406,395.03, while La Grange State Bank reported $13,326,102.50. Carmine State Bank’s total was $2,854,815.40 and Round Top State Bank confirmed $2,107,475.35.

Fayette County commissioners accepted a bid for construction of a boat ramp on the Colorado River below the bridge on State Hwy. 71 west of La Grange. A concrete ramp approximately 70 feet deep was to be built in the location of the existing ramp. Scholtz Construction Company of La Grange was low bidder on the project with a base bid of $900 for the first 40 feet plus $21 per foot on the overage. Funding for the work was through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department with Fayette County acting as the agent.

Mayor L.W. Stolz Jr. signed an official proclamation to make April 9-14 Beautification Week in La Grange, a designation requested by the La Grange Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors. Chamber President J.C. Warhol said busloads of visitors from organizations, senior citizens and school students had made arrangements to visit here. They expressed interest in seeing Monument Hill State Park, the Faison Home, the Winedale Inn and wildflowers.

Funeral services were held for: Dr. Arnold J. Darilek, 66, of La Grange; Charles Frank Forres, 83, of Fayetteville; Mrs. Katherine Gerhardine von Minden, 76, of La Grange; and Mrs. Joe Krischke, 87, of Schulenburg.

The Fayette County Chapter of the National Foundation – March of Dimes announced its health careers awards scholarship committee for 1973. Members were: Milton Schmidt, La Grange High School, chairman; Ben Sustr, Schulenburg High School; Kelley Sartain, Bishop Forest High; Mrs. Lanelle Wehmann, Flatonia High School; John Cufr, Fayetteville Rural High School; and Mrs. Madeline Wittineben, Round-Top Carmine High School.

Charles Albers of Carmine was named to the dean’s list at Texas Lutheran College.

Longtime La Grange cotton merchant and civic leader Alfred R. Ehlers passed away at the age of 77. Active in almost every organization in the city until only a few years before, he was still on the board of directors of The First National Bank and the board of trustees of the Girl Scouts of America. Mr. Ehlers had been instrumental in the formation of the La Grange Quarterback Club and the Old Cotton Belt Association of Texas, which encouraged increased cotton production and better prices for farmers. A cotton buyer for over 50 years, he was a Texas A&M graduate and a World War I veteran.

A familiar face would be missing at the La Grange school board’s next meeting. Dr. L.D. Boelsche had retired after more than 38 years of service, all but five of them as chair. Mr. Boelsche told The Record that he was first on the school board from 1937 to 1942. After serving in the Army during World War II, he was elected again from 1944 to 1955. The third time he served from 1957 to 1973. Dr. Boelsche was proud of his accomplishments, such as overseeing the consolidation of smaller county schools with La Grange, building the auditorium in 1967 and establishing a vocational school. Although always interested in school athletics, Dr. Boelsche said he focused on the academic side of education. Under his leadership, the board decided on full integration of the schools in 1965, weathered the dress code controversy of 1970 and started the enriched speech program with special courses to help students overcome regional accents.

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