History Center Press Clippings . . . . Events from the pages of The Free Press

A Public Service of The History Center

ONE YEAR AGO

Local Black History historian Rev. Bettie Kennedy takes on the persona of the late Rosa Parks in a moving tribute to the civil rights pioneer during a Black History program held at the Diboll Community Center sponsored by the H.G. Temple High School Alumni Association.

The Booth Brothers perform their gospel music in concert at the Trinity Baptist Church in Lufkin.

Diboll Cub Scout Pack 128 holds their annual Pineywood Derby races. Winners include Austin DuBose, first place; Logan Bailey, second place and Timothy Hewitt, third place.

Diboll Volunteer Fire Department earns a plaque of appreciation from the Pilot Club of Diboll. Brenda Jones, wife of Fire Chief Gary Jones and the DVFD Ladies Auxiliary accepts the plaque representing all of the Diboll Volunteer Fire Department.

Marjorie Harris-Moreland graduates Magna Cum Laude from Stephen F. Austin State University with a bachelor of social work.

U.S. Air Force Benjamin T. Horton of Hudson graduates from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

Trey Hearne receives the 2005 Collegiate Pitcher of the Year Award at the South Texas Winter Baseball Banquet in Corpus Christi. Hearne posted an 8-1 record for the TAMUCC Islanders with 2.00 ERA. Hearne is drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals.

Hudson culinary students show off their skills at Brookshire Brothers Gaslight Store in Lufkin. Students include Johnny Brantner, Ashley Hearn, Amy Nowak, Tony Eaves, Lore Redd, Sarah Robinson, Nathan Blim, Tim Spelling, Chris Sears, Cody Havard, Matt Murphy, Tanner Hines and instructor Patricia Parten.

Diboll Lumberjack Jamon Porter receives full scholarship to play football at Tarleton State University in Stephenville.

SFA Junior pitcher Brian Steinocher is named Southland Conference Pitcher of the Week by league officials. Steinocher earns the honor in the program's first week of baseball since the 1995 season.

FIVE YEARS AGO

Diboll City Council approves on first reading a request for annexation to expand the Deer Trace sud-division by taking in an additional 17 _ acres to the east.

Mike Bay and Anita Standridge is the new owners of Mize Department Store in Nacogdoches.

Woodland Heights Medical Center announces two new additions to its management staff- Michael Sherwood is named department director and Anna Rodriquez is named assistant administrator.

Joy Rich joins PineCrest Retirement Community in Lufkin as its new marketing director.

Cydney W. Adams, a member of the Department of English at Stephen F. Austin State University, is named 2001 Poet Laureate of Deep East Texas.

Diboll Lumberjack football players Craig Young and Oather Spencer sign letters-of-intent to play football at Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

Angelina County commissioners approve on a trial basis the acceptance of credit card payments to cover fines in Precinct 5 Judge Esther Barger's court.

Kenneth W. Jastrow, chief executive officer of Temple-Inland, Inc., one of Texas leading companies, speaks at the Deep East Development Association' s annual meeting held at Crown Colony Country Club in Lufkin.

Local students named to SFASU Preident's Roll include" Catherine Higginbotham, Dixie McClendon and Casey Yates (Diboll); Keri Boles, Meagen Carswell and Kori Wallace Estrada (Lufkin); Tiffani Hartwig and Danny Whiseant (Pollok); Jessica Smith (Apple Springs); Delores Carter (Wells); Crystal Harris (Zavalla); Rebecca Griffin (Alto) and Sammy Johnson (Huntington).

Diboll Rotary Club Student of the Month for February is Diboll High School Senior David Smith.

The Daughters of the American Revolution honors area high school students with the DAR Good Citizens Award. Honored are LaDonna Erwin, Central; Tarurs Allen, Diboll; Christopher Taylor, Hudson; Elissa Denby, Huntington; Anne Castleberry, Lufkin; and Rachel Morehouse, Zavalla.

TEN YEARS AGO

Allocations totaling $335,700 for the community groups and civic projects have been approved by the board of directors of the Diboll Booster Club from the proceeds from the 1996 Diboll Day fundraising campaign.

Angelina County commissioners unanimously approve the posting of speed limits on county-maintained roads. The new law will lower speed limits on a number of county roads from the present 55 mph to a slower speed to be determined over the next few months. This is not to increase funds or write speeding tickets argued the commissioners.

Diboll High School's debate team of Rachel Cordell, Cody Wilbanks, Shannon Craig and Jennifer Moreno heads to state UIL cross-examination debate.

Angelina College sets new spring enrollment record with 3,867 students.

Mr. and Mrs. Tim Hession of Diboll announce the birth of their son, Brit Daniel Hession born January 18 at Woodland Heights Medical Center. Grandparents are James and Dorothy Hession of Tyler and John and Elaine Smith of Diboll. Great-grandparents are John and Virginia Hession of Mississippi and Curtis and Iva Hodges of Diboll.

Diboll High School Student Council members Brandi Clark, Anita Sarmiento and Jerry King present entertainer Hope Shiver with special gift for performing for the high school students during the Black History Month observance held at the Lottie & Arthur Temple Civic Center.

Lowe's Companies, Inc. celebrate the grand opening of its new superstore in Lufkin.

Bobby and Rosemary Baker of Lufkin announce the engagement of their daughter Kimberly Ranae Baker, to Paul Daniel Vann, son of James and Hazel Vann of Lufkin.

Diboll natives Chris Byrd, Kenny Nash and Jason Phillips participate in the Angelina College theater department production of "Close Ties" in the Fine Arts Auditorium.

TWENTY YEARS AGO

Moore's Gulf Station in Diboll is the recipient of the February Certificate of Beautification from the Angelina County Chamber of Commerce and the Diboll Beautification Committee.

Diboll ISD administrators begin screening some 72 applicants who are seeking to become the new head football coach and athletic director at Diboll High School.

Arthur Temple takes delivery of the first copy of the just-published history of Diboll, "The Cornbread Whistle." Diboll Historical Society vice president Teena Kellam presents the hardbound volume to Mr. Temple.

A gift of 56.87 acres of land by W.J. Spear of Kilgore to Kilgore College opens the doors for construction by the college of a modern firing range and pursuit vehicle driving course for the East Texas Police Academy.

St. Patrick's School receives $25,000 grant from the T.L.L. Temple Foundation to assist in the school's operations.

Meals being served in the DISD cafeterias this Wednesday:

Western burgers/pinto beans/whole kernel corn/ milk/diced pears.

Mr. and Mrs. Ferman Clark of Diboll announce the engagement of their daughter Tonya to Barry McCoy, son of Mr. and Mrs. Marvin McCoy of Dallas.

Temple-Inland Inc. announces Admiral B.R. (Bobby) Inman, U.S. Navy (Retired) is elected to the company's board of directors.

Davy Crockett National Forest closes two roads (509-B and 510-D) in effort to protect wildlife.

Diboll High School's Shelia Johnson is named All-State in volleyball for 1986-87. Johnson is one of 12 players selected in class -3A.

Baskin's sales of the week: Red Wing work boots-$49.95; Wrangler reg. fit. boot jeans -$11.88 ;Levi 501's-$16.99.

THIRTY YEARS AGO

Diboll's Family Affair Club's Top Ten Songs:

1. I Wish-Stevie Wonder

2. Spring Affair- Donna Summer

3. Something About You- Latimore

4. Love Ballad- LTD

5. Disco Duck- Rick Dees & His Cast of Idiots

6. Fly Like An Eagle- Steve Miller

7. Dazz- Brick

8. Shake Your Rump to the Bump- The Bar Keys

9. Best Disco Sounds Around- The Richie Family

` 10. Groovey People- Lou Rawls

Cathy Carr is named Diboll High School 1976-77 General Mills Family Leader of Tomorrow.

Mr. and Mrs. Boley Havard of Zavalla celebrate 50th wedding anniversary at the First Baptist Church of Zavalla.

State Representative Buddy Temple of Diboll states that the new proposed district court for Angelina County moved a little closer to reality with the passage of the Omnibus Courts Bill by the Texas Senate.

Temple Industries' long haul trucker Almon O. Felice is honored by the company for driving another 100,000 miles without an accident. This is the fourth year in a row for Felice- 400,000 miles without a fender bender.

Joe Paul Nichols and his Five Pennies is the featured act at the country music concert held at the Huntington High School Auditorium.

A fourth quarter surge sends the Diboll Lumberjacks to a 57-53 win over the Huntington Red Devils giving the Jacks their finest season since 1969-70. Coach John McGilvra's squad ends the season with a 16-10 record.

The Diboll Junior High Littlejacks beat Hemphill 27-22 to end the 1976-77 season with an 18-1 record.

The East Texas Retriever Club sponsors "Hunting Dog Seminar" featuring Rufus Deskins, professional dog trainer. The program is held at the Roger Heins Farm on FM 226.

Marine Lance Corporal Gary White of Hudson reports for duty at Marine Corps Base, Twentynine Palms, California.

A recent completed survey of Diboll High School faculty members reveal that teachers believe that as many as 28% of their students may be involved in some form of drug usage.

Diboll City Council holds public hearing at the Fair Acres Community Center on the proposed rate increase that is requested by Texas Power & Light Company.