1975: Fayette County’s John Wilson Forges a Name for Himself

State Representative John Wilson, a Conservative Democrat from La Grange, won a hard-fought, successful battle to create a state utilities commission. House Bill 819 passed 96 to 29. The Texas Observer said, “Wilson knew his onion, every single layer of it and argued evenly and knowledgeably against most of the amendments brought up to weaken the bill. The House members, for once, united in trust of one man, followed his lead on every amendment. It was very much a one-man show for five hours, with members of every political persuasion prepared to take Wilson’s word on what was good and what was bad just because he knew so much about the subject. When Texas Monthly picked Wilson as one of its Top Ten Legislators, it noted, “He came to the House as a hot-headed country boy whom most representatives didn’t bother to take seriously. He grew steadily in stature, broadened as a person, came into his own during the Constitutional Convention and established himself this session. But his influence is all the more remarkable considering he’s not very tall, has an utterly forgettable face and is completely devoid of charisma.” (Wilson’s supporters disagreed with the magazine’s assessment of their native son’s physical attributes.)

Sister Rose Kruppa professed her vows for life as a Sister of Divine Providence on July 4 at Queen of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church at Hostyn. After entering religious life in September 1965, Sister Rose studied at Our Lady of the Lake College in San Antonio, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English and mathematics. After that, she taught for six years at St. Joseph’s School in Yoakum, Providence High School in San Antonio and Bishop Kelley High School in Tulsa.

In his monthly report, Fayette County Sheriff T.J. Flournoy reminisced that the first prisoner sent to Huntsville Prison was from Fayette County. Incarcerated for stealing two steers from John Murchison, the sheriff’s great-grandfather, the prisoner was taken to Huntsville on horseback by the sheriff and five deputies. Reflecting on the recent fundraising event in his honor, Sheriff Flournoy said, “I don’t know how I can express my thanks to the good people of this county and so many friends all over Texas and other states who so generously donated to my defense fund at a time when I was in need of help. It has been wonderful and really appreciated very much.”

In July, America’s retired persons got a raise, with Social Security benefits taking an 8% cost-of-living increase. Checks would be anywhere from $7.60 to $37 fatter, with an average increase of $16 per month for the nation’s 31.3 million Social Security and 4 million Supplemental Security income recipients.

The La Grange High School Library Club was selling reprints of the Souvenir History of Fayette County at various area businesses. The paper sold for 50¢ or a donation. City Librarian Mrs. Lillian Zingelmann said, “If you have not donated to the Fayette County Library/ Museum project, this will give you an opportunity to do a little toward helping our county have a bigger and better library.”

A bolt of lightning started a fire that destroyed a barn and its contents of several hundred bales of hay on the farm of Mrs. Hattie Koenning about a mile north of Winchester on Monday afternoon. The La Grange Volunteer Fire Department got the call at 5 p.m., but the structure was beyond saving when they arrived. They were, however, able to cool down and save another barn.

La Grange Little League all-stars were: Mark Sladek, Dennis Cufr and David Vasek for the Dodgers; Craig Oltmann, Brian Schoenemann and Tommy Prause for the Cardinals; Brent Winkler, Stephen Taylor, Gary Weyand and Steve Willett for the Indians; Eddie Marburger and Pat Fowler for the Giants; and John Bartos and Rodney Zimmerhanzel for the Yankees.

Funeral services were held for: Theodore W. Urner, 60, of La Grange; Mrs. Hermine Giese, 89, of La Grange; James A. Kubenka, 23, a Praha native; Mrs. Emilie F. Zaskoda, 85, of Industry; Mrs. Hermine Becka, 90, of La Grange; Ladislav (L.H.) Maresh, 48, of Granger; Erwin A. Petzold, 74, of La Grange; Jack Klesel, a Schulenburg businessman as well as an agricultural leader and innovator, was selected as Man of the Year in Texas Agriculture by the Texas County Agricultural Agents Association. Klesel had demonstrated many new agricultural practices and was a staunch proponent of soil fertility and other extension service programs. He also gave leadership and financial support to the Pasture 500 program designed to produce 500 pounds of beef per acre annually on improved pastures. Klesel owned both an agricultural service and business, and managed a 130-acre farm in Fayette County where he put agricultural innovations into practice. He also operated a beer distributorship.

The U.S. Postal Service advertised for a site of approximately 17,250 square feet in the vicinity of the existing post office in Fayetteville.

Ludwig F. Michalsky of Ellinger walked away with high honors by taking a first-place trophy and $175 in the 9,000 open class of the Central Texas Tractor Pullers Club event. George Brandt of La Grange garnered third place and $60 in prize money in the 15,000 stock class with his 4430 John Deere.

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