Whatever happened to…. 09.18.21

TWENTY YEARS AGO

(2001)

       -- Big plans were being made for a celebration following Gatesville's designation as the "Spur Capital of Texas."

       -- Coryell County employees gathered on the courthouse square to pray for the nation, and the victims of the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C. Commissioner Cliff Price spoke briefly, and City Attorney Robert Salter offered a prayer.

       -- The 2001 "Western Days" Homecoming was held at The Grove.  The day finished with dancing under the stars with Tommy Ross and Still Country.

       -- Gatesville Mayor James Erwin signed a proclamation for Constitution Week, Sept. 16-22. Corinne Erwin, a member of the Coryell County Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and Christy Garner, DAR regent, witnessed the signing.

       -- Medical Plastics Laboratory, Inc., in Gatesville was recognized as the winner of the Texas Workforce Network's 2001 Texas Current Workforce Award of Excellence.

       -- The Evant Elk cross country team, on the legs of Joshua Carswell, ran to a fifth-place finish at the Hamilton meet at the Perry Country Club.

THIRTY YEARS AGO

(1991)

       -- Laura White was selected as the “Bill Duncan Friend of Child" recipient during a banquet held for the Coryell County Child Welfare Board. Mrs. White, a counselor at Gatesville Junior High School, was recognized for "her service to abused and neglected children" in Coryell County.

       -- September 29 marked the 100th anniversary of the only legal execution ever performed in Coryell County. Jim Leeper and Ed Powell, both Coryell County residents at the time, were hanged Sept. 29, 1891, for a robbery and murder they had committed on Dec. 17, 1889.

       -- Weldon and Ida Lee Rogers were honored at the First United Methodist Church. The United Methodist Women presented them with a Special Mission Recognition in appreciation of their dedication and the many hours they gave to church work.

       -- Elizabeth Pollard Isbill, a member of the Class of 1949, was crowned Coming Home Queen at the Oglesby Homecoming game. She was escorted on the field by Joe Hamilton.

       -- The Gatesville High School Graduating Class of 1971 were preparing to celebrate their 20-year reunion during the annual GHS Homecoming.

       -- Melissa Necessary of Gatesville was a candidate for degrees awarded in summer commencement ceremonies at SWTSU. Necessary, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Necessary, received a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in psychology.

FORTY YEARS AGO

(1981)

       -- Karen Bartlett, 16-year-old Gatesville High School junior and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Bartlett, was named Stingette of the Week at the Hornets' first football victory of the season.

       -- Paving of the parking lot at the Gatesville Country Club was completed. The Men's Golf Association and Ladies' Golf Association made sizeable contributions toward meeting the project's $7,000 cost.

       -- At Gatesville High School, the Freedoms Council began the practice of presenting achievement awards to a boy and a girl each month for excellence in a particular field, and the first winners were seniors Rob Smith and Susan Lee.

       -- Pianist Jeffrey Arnold presented a concert of works by Beethoven, Chopin, Ravel and Scott Joplin in the Hughes Recital Hall on the campus of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.

       -- David Mayhew was elected president when Industrial cooperative training students at Gatesville High School chose 1981-82 officers for their ICT-VICA unit.

       -- Barbara Simpson, director of the Gatesville Senior Citizens Center, accepted a $50 check from Dene Smith, treasurer for the Coryell County Homemakers Extension Council.

FIFTY YEARS AGO

(1971)

       -- Staff of the First Baptist Church in Gatesville increased with the appointment of Rev. Gary Brown of Gatesville as director of outreach and assistant to the pastor and the naming of Buddy Wells, a Baylor University student, as youth director.

       -- Catherine Healer, a personnel clerk at the Stale Schools for Boys who had been a leader in many civic and social undertakings in Gatesville, was selected as the Outstanding Young Woman for 1971 in the U. S.

       -- Walls Industries Inc. of Gatesville had been named one of 25 industrial expansion citation recipients by Gov. Preston Smith.

       -- Airman Donald R. Waddill, son of Mrs. Donnaleta Waddill of Oglesby, had completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio.

       -- Mr. and Mrs. Nelton L. Long of Levita were honored on their 25th wedding anniversary Sept 19 when friends and relatives gathered in the Howard Merritt home in Austin.

       -- Debbie Floyd, Gatesville High School junior and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Floyd, was chosen Outstanding Stingette of the Week for Sept. 13-17 by the school's drill team leaders.