This week in Wills Point History Friday, April 15, 1960
At a meeting of the Wills Point Public Library Board of Directors Tuesday night, the location was changed to an upstairs office in the Campbell building across the hall from the office of Dr. J.W. Bettis. Dr. Bettis, who serves as president of the association, stated that the date of the opening is still June 1. We’re still running a little behind the number of books we hoped to have by this time and would appreciate getting any books in as soon as possible. One hundred and twenty three books were donated last week to the library. Those making book contributions were Mrs. Laura Adams, James Brockman, Mr. and Mrs. A.W. Rose and the estate of Mrs. Ellis Campbell. Dr. Bettis asked if anyone has books to donate please call the chamber of commerce office at 54 so they may be picked up or leave them at the office.
Miss Alma Flippo, county home demonstration agent, was the special guest speaker at the Friday noon Rotary program. Mrs. Gabe Scott, president of the Board-Elwood H.D. Club, introduced Miss Flippo. Miss Flippo and Mrs. Scott were guests of E.W. Conn, program chairman for the day.
Teachers for the school term 1960-61 were elected Monday night at a meeting of the school board. One new teacher was hired in the group and two submitted their resignations. J.H. Witcher, will remain as the high school principal while G.Y Hooks remains as elementary principal. R.M. Hooks is the superintendent of the schools. (See newspaper for complete article including names of all teachers.)
Teachers elected for the Cartwright schools are: Mrs. S.A. Sparks, Mrs. Carry J. Wells, Sheldon N. Stringer, Bobby Don Moorehead, Mrs. Mary Strange, Miss Mabel Baxter, Miss F.V. Jones, Mrs. Mildred K. Mullins and Joe (unreadable) Henderson. S.A. Sparks serves as principal of the Cartwright schools.
News Of our Men, Women in Service: Fort Benning, Ga.-Army 2nd Lt. Freddie W. Parker, son of Mr. and Mrs. Opal L. Parker, Wills Point, completed the four-week airborne course April 1 at the Infantry School. Lieutenant Parker qualified as a parachutist and received training in the duties of a jumpmaster. The 22, year old, lieutenant entered the army last October. He is a 1955 graduate of Wills Point high school and a 1959 graduate of Texas A&M College.
San Diego Calif.- Marine Capt. Eldon F. Graves, husband of the former Miss Evelyn C. McDonald of Wills Point, reported for duty at the Marine Corps recruit depot, San Diego, Calif., March 18. He previously served at the Marine Corps air station, Cherry Point, N.C. and has been assigned as depot data processing officer at San Diego. Before enlisting in November 1939, Graves attended North Carolina State and East Carolina colleges.
Western Pacific,-Coy M. Linderman, signalman third class, USN, son of Mrs. Roy M. Linderman of Wills Point is serving aboard the destroyer USS Richard S. Edwards operating with the U.S.Seventh Fleet in the Western Pacific. In early March the Edwards and her crew visited the resort town of Beppu, Japan.
Austin, April 5- The state quota for Texas draft boards in May calls for 350 men, Colonel Morris S. Schwartz, state selective service director, announced Tuesday. The state’s May call compares with a quota of 270 for April and 265 for March.
C.E. LeMay, former resident of Wills Point, died Sunday afternoon in a hospital at El Paso where he lived. Funeral services were held Wednesday morning in a funeral home in Midland. Interment was made in a cemetery there. Mr. LeMay, 76, was born in Wills Point and lived here for many years. Survivors include his wife of El Paso, two sons and a daughter, four brothers including Jim LeMay of Wills Point; two sisters including Mrs. L. Breckenridge of Wills Point. (See newspaper for names of other survivors.)
Funeral services for Mrs. I.F. Luttrull, former resident of Wills Point, were held Friday afternoon, April 8, at the Church of Christ in Sundown. Mrs. Luttrull’s death came only a few days after her husband’s, who died on March 31. A daughter, Mrs. M.E. Goode is a resident of Wills Point. (See newspaper for other survivors.)
Tiger-Cat: Carolyn Mayfield, drum major; and Charlotte Taylor and Sue Curtis, majorettes; received first place ratings at a twirling contest held at Henderson County Junior college, Friday, April 8. Of the 25 twirlers who participated, six received first place ratings and three of this six were from Wills Point.
Tiger tracksters placed third in the District 15-AA track meet at London, last Saturday, April 9. Kenny McSpadden jumped 20 feet 1-1-2 inches in the broad jump and gave the Tigers a first place. Richard Shinn placed fifth in the high jump event. Clifton Williams placed in the discus throw. Ronald Gilbert, Joe McLeod, Rex Rankin and McSpadden won third in the relay. Karl Lybrand won fourth place in the 880 yard run. Others placing in events were Don Travis, Jerry Beck, Lynn Mullins and Paul Hargrove. (See newspaper for complete article.)
A team of three local FFA boys placed second in the area high school meat judging competition held Saturday in Fort Worth. The team made up of Bobby Pirtle, Neal Travis and Wannie Sprague took second honors out of the 15 teams participating in the area competition. The local boys qualified for the state meet to be held at A&M College on April 30.
These articles have been extracted from original copies of the Wills Point Chronicle and may be viewed on microfilm at the Van Zandt County Library of Genealogy and Local History, located in the courthouse annex in Canton.
