County Voters Follow National Trend to Create Democratic Landslide

Nov. 8-12, 1974

Only one-third of Fayette County’s qualified voters – 2,702 out of the 8,346 registered –turned out for the general election on Tuesday. However, those who did followed the trend of the rest of the nation by giving Democrats a huge victory. The small turnout in the county, as in many others in similar situations, was attributed to the fact there were no local county-wide contests. Voters in Precinct 3 elected a new justice of the peace via writein, L.G. Garbade of Flatonia. Dolph Briscoe was reelected Governor of Texas and Bill Hobby was returned to Austin as lieutenant governor.

The Houston-based architectural firm of Clovis Heimsath Associates, Inc. was engaged to design, plan and coordinate the proposed new library-museum complex in La Grange, a bicentennial project. Heimsath, who resided near Fayetteville, said in addition to performing the standard architectural services including schematics, structure and engineering, his company would do everything that needed to get done to provide the La Grange city council with what it wanted. This included working with the local fundraising committees involved in the project.

There was great excitement at the Jerome Kubos’s home at Hostyn on Monday night. When the family dogs started howling, Mr. Kubos snapped on the porch light just in time to see the canines chase something under the flowerpots on a porch stand. It was a young wolf that had apparently strayed from the pack.

The La Grange Leopards beat the Hays Rebels by three touchdowns last Friday night at Leopard Field, and the Rebels came right back and scored a three-TD victory over the Leps. These two lopsided outings, the two halves of a football game, ended with 21-19 to La Grange’s advantage, allowing the Leopards to cling to their hopes for the District 25AA title. The whole game came down to a great defensive play by Gary Matocha, who broke through to drop Rebel quarterback Ernest Garza for a five-yard loss when it looked as if nothing could stem the tide.

Fayette County Sheriff T.J. Flournoy reported that during October, he and his deputies assisted Smithville officers in apprehending three men who broke out of jail in Smithville. Officers jailed DWI offenders on Oct. 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 19, 20, 27, 28 and 29. Among the many cases the sheriff’s department investigated the previous month was the theft of a chainsaw from the schoolhouse in Flatonia.

Ivan Fajkus was elected president of the La Grange Chamber of Commerce, succeeding John W. Bouldin. Dr. John Hofmann was elected vice president. Mr. Fajkus was a partner in the La Grange Royal Crown Bottling Company and Dr. Hofmann owned La Grange Veterinary Clinic.

Funeral services were held for Van Baker, 77, of Fayetteville and Mrs. Ernestine Besetzny, 68, of St. John.

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Eilers of Oldenburg celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary and the 84th birthday of Mrs. Eilers on Saturday, Nov. 2, at the home of their son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Oppermann of La Grange. Although Mr. and Mrs. Eilers were making their home with the Oppermanns, Mr. Eilers drove to his farm every day to do chores and check the cattle.

Mr. and Mrs. C.D. Gilbert of La Grange were honored with a golden anniversary reception on Sunday, Nov. 3 at the First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert were married on Nov. 8, 1924, in Houston, where they lived until retiring in La Grange. Hosting the celebration were: Mr. and Mrs. T.J. Flournoy, Mr. and Mrs. Stewart Brown, Mr. and Mrs. D.C. Wiley, Mr. and Mrs. Billy Seale and Mrs. Charles Gauntz.

On Sunday, Nov. 9, Mrs. Marjorie Melcher honored her mother, Mrs. George Bruns, on her 80th birthday.

James T. Makinson, M.D., of La Grange was named a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. The degree was attained in one of two ways: successful completion of 600 or more hours of accredited continuing medical study or achievement of diplomate status in the specialty of family medicine as a result of passing a certifying examination administered by the American Board of Family Practice.

Navy Commander L.D. Nagel was relieved as commanding officer of Training Squadron 21 during traditional change of command ceremonies at Kingsville, Texas. Nagel, a native of Round Top, had served as commanding officer of the advanced jet training squadron since October 1973, a year after he assumed the post of executive officer. He was to report to the Chief of Naval Operations in Washington, D.C., for duty in a flying status with the Operations Test and Evaluation Center.

Dr. Don Mayer of La Grange was installed as the president of The University of Texas Longhorn alumni band, the largest organization of its kind in the world.

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