REMEMBER WHEN?

50 Years Ago from The Fayette County Record

June 4-7, 1972

Mixing large measures of patriotism with entertainment and hospitality, the Round Top Rifle Association staged its 122nd annual July 4th celebration. The event officially opened with a short welcome address by long-time mayor Don Nagel. The next speaker was Round Top’s J.G. Banik, a retired schoolteacher and widely known historian. Lt. Governor-elect Bill Hobby also spoke briefly. Rhonda von Minden of La Grange and Becky Schatte of Round Top were riders on Schatte Real Estate’s second place prize-winning decorated float.

Fayette County would be called upon to provide approximately $168,250 for rights-of-way improvement on two state highways that traversed it. With the expenditure spread over a three-year period, county Judge David M. Murray said no tax rate increase was foreseen. Locations impacted were near West Point, Rocky Creek and Halsted.

Texas was hit with a soaring 3,879 cases of screwworm, the worst week in the 10-year prevention program’s history. The voracious fly had spread to 162 counties.

The Texas Legislature passed the Highway Beautification Act, also known as the Billboard Law. It charged the Texas Highway Department with responsibility for regulating outdoor advertising signs along the interstate and federal-aid primary highway systems. The law provided that any person who erected or maintained a sign within 660 feet of a highway must have a license to engage in outdoor advertising and secure a permit for each one. There were 18,000 miles of highways in Texas at the time.

The Indians overpowered the Dodgers, 9-6, in the last regularly scheduled La Grange game of the season. The Tribe made the most of seven base hits, along with the aid of five bases on balls and two enemy miscues. The losers also collected seven bingles but could not bunch them as effectively as their opponents. Jeff Cook was the winning pitcher, while Stanley Krebs was charged with the loss. The win clinched second place for the champion Cardinals, a halfgame ahead of the No. 3 Round Top-Carmine lads.

Egg prices, which had been at their lowest level since 1968, were forecast to increase, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. E.S. Kovar, who retired as state

E.S. Kovar, who retired as state treasurer of the KJT, was honored by his co-workers and their families at a surprise party at the office. After he tendered his resignation at the annual meeting in January, his unexpired term went to Ben Janda, who had been an office assistant since 1967. Prior to becoming KJT treasurer, Mr. Kovar was in the banking business. He had been associated with Farmers National Bank in Fayetteville for 24 years and 12 years with the First National Bank of La Grange, where he served as vice president.

Six La Grange Scouts attended the LCRA Lost Pines Scout Reservation at Lake Bastrop to work on their merit badges in swimming, canoeing and hiking. Thomas Matocha, Bruce Williams, Danny Blume, Jimmy Guenther, Doug Matocha and Glenn Smith were accompanied by Scoutmaster Leo Wick.

Funeral services were held for John Mikus, 52, of Fayetteville and David Jiminez, 11, of Muldoon.

Approximately 300 descendants of the John, Anton, Joseph and Frank Cernosek and Karel Peter families held a reunion at the KJT Hall in Ammannsville. Mrs. I.J. Cernosek, age 81, of Schulenburg, was recognized as the oldest member in attendance. The youngest was eight-week-old Steven Young, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Wayne Young of Houston. The couple married the longest, 53 years, was Mr. and Mrs. Henry Marek of El Campo.

A.V. Kubena, president of the Ellinger Chamber of Commerce, presented a check for $7,617.27 to Ellinger Fire Department President Raymond Pavlicek. The money, representing the net proceeds of the Ellinger Festival, was earmarked for the purchase of a new fire truck.

Hemie (Submarine) Lehmann, the veteran pitcher for the Warda Aces, was surprised during pregame activities Sunday afternoon at the Warda Ball Park. Mr. Lehmann, who had been involved in baseball most of his adult life, received a plaque that read, “To Hemie, in honor of his contribution and devotion to baseball in Warda and surrounding communities for nearly 40 years.” The Lehmann children presented their mother with a loving cup bearing the inscription “To Ruth, the lady sacrificing the most for Hemie’s success.”

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