REMEMBER WHEN?

50 Years Ago

March 3, 1972

The new Kleiber Ford Tractor, Inc. business just west of La Grange was hit by burglars sometime Monday night. A new Ford 5000 diesel-powered tractor taken from inside the shop was found abandoned several miles out of town on FM 609, parked on the side of the pavement. It had apparently had run out of gas. Stolen from the outside display area were a three-quarter-ton Ford pickup truck, long gooseneck trailer, posthole digger, and another Ford 5000 tractor that a customer had dropped off for repair. The pickup and trailer were found near a farmhouse about five miles from Bay City. However, the customerowned tractor and posthole digger were still missing. Entry into the rear of the shop building was gained by pulling off a screen and smashing a window.

Invader Corporation, which had doubled its production facilities at Giddings during the prior year, was expanding with a new plant in La Grange, according to the La Grange Industrial Foundation. The company was to immediately begin construction of a 10,000-square-foot facility for boat building on foundation property near Guenther Field. The plant was to employ 40 to 45 people.

When Fayette Water Supply Corporation held a meeting at Luck’s Store in West Point, about 25 interested people attended. If a sufficient number of customers was obtained, the steering committee planned to hire an engineer to prepare a preliminary report on the first phase of the county-wide rural water system.

The City of La Grange’s political pot warmed up when Raymond Zingelmann decided to run for alderman of Ward I, where he would face Frank McElroy Jr., who was seeking his second term. The second city contest was for Ward 2, where incumbent Leroy W. Riehs was being opposed by J.B. (Bob) Simmons. In Ward 4, Arthur J. Friemel had two opponents: Harold Stueber and Dr. John E. Hofmann.

Funeral services were held for: Edmund Albers, 78, of Waldeck; and Mrs. Augusta Schultz, 77, of La Grange.

When local highway maintenance technician Louis H. Zitterich completed 40 years of service with the Texas Highway Department, he was presented with a service pin and certificate. Mr. Zitterich, who started his job in 1929, had worked for the past 33 years without an accident.

Ronnie Stevenson, 5-10 senior, was the only La Grange Leopard picked for all-District 10-3A, west zone, basketball recognition.

Members of the H.J. and A.R. Ehlers American Legion Post No. 102, La Grange, and auxiliaries were preparing to celebrate the national organization’s 53rd anniversary on March 12starting with a barbecue dinner at 3 p.m.

A petition requesting paving of a 3.3-mile area of the Shelby-Haw Creek Road was presented and accepted by Fayette County commissioners at their first statutory meeting of the month. The petition by Norbert Meischen and other landowners sought the hard surfacing of part of the road connecting FM 389 and 1457 with FM 954. The landowners stated they would provide the land necessary to widen the right-of-way to 100 feet, provided the county stood the expense of new fencing and designated it as a state farm road.

The Texana Trail Riders Association of Round Top was doing its part for the annual March of Dimes drive by sponsoring a trail ride and dance on Sunday, March 9. The trail riders planned to assemble at the Nechanitz Store on FM 2145 about 1:30 p.m. on Sunday and ride down SH 237 to Warrenton. After a rest stop, the riders then would move on to Round Top, where they planned to camp at the Rifle Association Hall about 5:30 p.m. The day was to end with a country and western dance at the hall with music by Gaylen Ackley and the Country Gentlemen. Proceeds from the dance were to be donated to the March of Dimes organization.

Mrs. Frances Balko of Warrenton celebrated her 103rd birthday on Thursday, Feb. 24 at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Otto Krueger. Mrs. Balko still enjoyed good health. Born in the Black Jack community on Feb. 24, 1869, she had lived in Fayette County all her life.

Dewey Rivers, 6-9 all-state basketball player from Fayetteville, signed a pre-enrollment application with Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches. His high school coach was Victor Havran.

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