REMEMBER WHEN?
50 Years Ago from The Fayette County Record
Oct. 19-22, 1971
Two suspects were in custody and a third still was being sought in an armed robbery at Brown’s Store at Elm Grove near Cistern. Marvin Smith, who lived near his small store, was feeding chickens about 6 a.m. Monday when he was confronted by three men, one of whom pointed a shotgun at him. When Brown knocked the weapon from the assailant’s hands, the trio ran. When Brown dashed to his pickup to get his own gun, two of the suspects jumped in a 1957 green Chevrolet. Before they got away, Brown took several shots at the vehicle that was covered in rust or dirt. A third suspect who fled on foot was later apprehended. About $100 had been stolen from Brown’s store sometime Thursday night or early Friday morning.
An intensive investigation was being conducted into the theft of a large tractor from the Parker-Lueders Ranch between Muldoon and Cistern. The Ford 3000 Diesel was discovered missing on Saturday afternoon. Deputy Sheriff Walter Chernosky said the tractor had been parked under a shed on the ranch. A heavy rain Saturday morning washed away any tracks that might have been left. Therefore, it was unknown whether the tractor had been driven away or loaded onto a trailer and hauled off. Monsoon-like rains early
Monsoon-like rains early Wednesday, riding a squall line ahead of a mild cold front, brought anywhere from .7 to more than four inches of rain across the county. This resulted in the first run-off in a year for eastern Fayette County. The heaviest precipitation was between Rek Hill and Willow Springs.
A fourth down, foot-to-go gamble midway in the third quarter backfired on La Grange’s Leopards Friday night. It gave the Hearne Eagles the opportunity to come out on top, 18-13. The tilt, witnessed by about 1,400 fans, was the first of the season in District 10-3A and the outcome leveled the season for both clubs, each 1-5 for the year. The game was a mere seven seconds old when La Grange got seven points on the board. Marcus Cook kicked off for the Leps. About six minutes deep in the third period, Buddy Grobe intercepted an Eagle serial on the La Grange 25. Line stabs advanced to just beyond the 34, leaving a foot to go for a first. The Leps decided to go for it, didn’t succeed and Hearne took the ball.
The Fifth U.S. Army 60-man band was to participate in the Veterans’ Day Memorial Service at Praha on Sunday, Oct. 24.
Sandra (Sandy) Winkler, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Winkler, was named the 1971 Leopard football sweetheart. Her escorts were Jimmy Zimmerhanzel and Bubba Smith.
The March Against Muscular Dystrophy campaign held in La Grange on Sept. 14 raised $490, according to treasurer George Hajovsky.
Funeral services were held for: Frank Gemar, 81, La Grange; Herbert C. Herbrich, 36, of Mullins Prairie; Mrs. Olivia Louise Hackworth, 72, a native of La Grange; Leslie R. Leonhardt Sr., 53, of Round Top; Emil G. Blankenburg, 89, of La Grange; Melvin A. Wickel, 52, of Carmine; Arthur Henry Ullrich, 70 of Carmine; Joseph Pastusek, 85, of Hostyn; Willie D. Meyer, 86, of Frelsburg; David Frank Zapalac, 3-monthold son of Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Zapalac, Fayetteville; and Edmund Kubos, 66, of Schulenburg.
Almost 40% of 414 persons questioned in a study by the Market Research and Development Center at Texas A&M University favored using credit cards in grocery stores. This was the only major retail industry that didn’t rely extensively on credit card purchases.
The children and grandchildren of Mr. and Mrs. Gus R. Meiners invited friends and relatives to an open house at the Round Top Legion Hall to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Sun., Oct. 24.
At the annual membership meeting of the Engle Farmers Mutual Benefit Association held at the Freyburg Hall, the following officers were elected: Emil J. Zemlicka, president; F.J. Schmidt, vice president; Lawrence Friedrich, secretary; and C.W. Meyer, treasurer. Nolan Bruns, Walter Friedrich, John Graeter and Herbert Demel were named directors. Members voted to insure wearing apparel with a limit of $300 per person as long as the person resided at the insured residence.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank J. Kana Sr. of La Grange celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Sunday, Oct. 17 beginning with a concelebrated Mass at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Hostyn. Rt. Rev. Monsignor A.J. Morkovsky and the Rev. Gerard Cernoch of San Antonio, nephew, were the cocelebrants. Following the church service, a reception was held at the Ammannsville Hall. Patrician Kana of Houston and Marilyn Janda of Austin registered guests. Miss Emilie Cernoch, the daughter of the late John and Mary Cernoch, and Mr. Frank Kana, the son of the late John and Mary Kana, were married at the Dubina Catholic Church on Oct. 24, 1921.
Mrs. C.M. Janda was honored on her 80th birthday Sunday with a family gathering at her home on S. Washington in La Grange. A total of 60 family members attended including all 10 of her children and their spouses, along with many of her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.
For more great stories, visit Elaine online at www.elainethomaswriter.com/blog/ or call her at 979-263-5031.