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

A Public Service of The History Center

ONE YEAR AGO

Diboll High School Athletic Director Finis Vanover is presented with an appreciation plaque from Jackbacks Booster Club commemorating his 13 years at Diboll High School during farewell reception. Vanover is leaving for the athletic director and head football coach position at Angleton ISD.

Diboll City Council narrows list of city manager candidates to three: Stephen Abraham, director of municipal development for the city of Terrell; David Moss, city manager of Southside Place; and Kenneth Williams, currently assistant manager for Lufkin.

The Tailor Made Band performs benefit dance at Diboll VFW Post. Members of the band include Eddie Hurd, Shane Matthews, Will Lewis, Robbie Primm, Derrick Billingsley and Cody Wood. The Ladies Auxiliary sponsors the benefit every year with proceeds going to the fight against cancer.

The History Center in Diboll welcome patrons and local residents to book signing for Richard Donovan's "Paddling the Wild Neches." Also at The History Center is the new Neches River exhibit.

Participants in the "hairy legs contest" at Trinity Mission of Diboll include Theresa Messer, Jeanette Clark, Peggy Camp and Robin Brashear. The residents and staff alike enjoy the "Razorless Beauty Contest" event that includes outrageous costumes.

FIVE YEARS AGO

Diboll High School graduates 97 members of the Class of 2002 with Valedictorian Angela McNeil topping the list.

Newly installed Diboll Garden Club members include Clara Breazeale, installing officer; Peggy Burt & Dolly Whitaker, co-vice presidents; Connie Courtney, president; Kathy Sample, secretary and Gloria Neel, treasurer.

Scores of nature lovers take advantage of annual 10-mile "Neches River Rendezvous" canoe trip for spectacular views of the Neches River.

Diboll High School Senior Joey Sosa and Tameshia Miller are chosen Mr. and Miss Diboll High School.

Carpenter's Way Baptist Church in Lufkin sponsors week of 'catch the buzz' on a Bug Safari- a week of lessons that are re-enforced through Bible stories.

The Texas Historical Commission designates Renfro #1 Cemetery as historic Texas Cemetery.

Marty and Tom Harris celebrate 25th wedding anniversary with reception at Burke Baptist Church hosted by family and friends.

TEN YEARS AGO

Diboll City Council considers the renaming of Mill Street to Martin Luther King Street.

Honored with 30- year service award pin from Diboll ISD are Mary Ingram, Helen Cheshire and Billie Jean Capps.

Diboll's Bud Still shoots 10-under par at 278 for 4 rounds and wins Nike Upstate Golf Classic in Greenville, South Carolina.

Burke Masonic Lodge host luncheon to honor widows of its members. The widows include Jeanette Smith, Maudarie Conner, Ruth Tidwell, Florine Smith, Catherine Lee, Eunice Whitman, Lanett Read and Margie Johnson.

Bug Scarborough of Diboll catches 50-pound catfish on trotline while fishing at Lake Livingston.

Unclaimed property list by the State Comptroller's Office includes area names: Morris Refrigeration of Diboll; First Baptist Church of Diboll; and Diboll Volunteer Fire Department.

Jennifer and Chris Sims of Austin announce the birth of their first child, Jake Christopher, weighing in at 8 pounds and 15 ounces. Grandparents are Paul and Paula Murphy of Diboll and Billy and Jan Sims of Diboll.

TWENTY YEARS AGO

This year's top students at Diboll High School are valedictorian Tara Sims with a grade point average of 98.34 and salutatorian Kelly Hicks with a grade point average of 94.25.

Diboll Junior High science teacher Beth Stubblefield receives 30-year service award at Diboll ISD Service Award Banqut.

Diboll ISD employees receiving service awards at annual DISD service awards banquet are Jerry Rector (6 yrs), Pauline Graham and Teodora Villanueva ( both 8 yrs), Vivian Lewis (9 yrs), Marilyn Alexander, Linda Mills, Christine Glover and Shirley Butler (all 6 yrs), and Shirley Rast (7yrs).

Kindergarten students with perfect attendance records at Diboll Elementary School this year include Brian Frankens, Angie Peck, Jamie Holman, Melanie Wilkerson, Tamara Harrell, T'Nell Scott and Derrick Camp.

The Museum of East Texas exhibits art work titled "Works by Women" showing the strength of women artists in America. The collection contains works by Georgia O'Keefe, Mary Cassatt and Grandma Moses.

Dr. Kellie Sterling, recent graduate of Texas A & M University's School of Veterinary Medicine, becomes the first ever woman veterinarian in Angelina County as she goes to work at the Diboll Veterinary Clinic. Dr. John Wood has the distinction of hiring the first woman veterinarian to take over the clinic in Diboll.

Diboll High School baseball Lumberjacks places 8 players on the District 18-3A All-District squad. Members making the first team include Judd Capps, catcher; Carlos Medina, first base; Aniseto Hernandez, second base; Ignacio Hernandez, shortstop; second team selections include Chuck Murphy, pitcher; and Kenneth Fields, centerfield; honorable mention honors goes to Chuck Mann, third base; and Faustino Salaiz, left field; and Coach Cooper Farris selected as Coach of the Year.

THIRTY YEARS AGO

Dr. Byford Denman is honored by the Board of Managers for Woodland Heights General Hospital for his 50 years in the medical profession.

The Free Press bike contest gets under way for boys and girls and this year even adults can participate. All participants must sell 30 one-year subscriptions to win bike.

Clyde Cheshire, Diboll Post Office letter carrier, is officially seated on the Diboll ISD school board to serve out the unexpired term of Rev. Larry Weaver who has recently moved to accept a position with the First Baptist Church of Cleveland.

Rev. George Hearne is the new pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Diboll and Ryan Chapel Methodist Church.

The "Diboll Golf Machine" Malcolm Still shoots one over par 217 to win the 54-hole Diboll Jaycees Memorial Day Golf Tournament for the fifth time in seven years.

The Reds of the Diboll Pee Wee League include Jessie Prieto, Wes Amason, Keith Dover, Wayne Havard, John Moreno, Steven Burns, Daryl Stewart, Dwayne Stanford, Johnnie Hernandez, Wilson Clark, Domingo Prieto, Richy Rector, Wayne Wright, Henry Fox, Bruce Broussard, Dennis Mewborn and Coach Jerry Rector.

Minnie Faye Jones is honored at Splash Day activities held at Walter Allen Park in Diboll. Jones has the distinction of scoring 73 points in a single basketball game for the former Temple High School.