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

A Public Service of The History Center

ONE YEAR AGO

Lois Cooper, a 33-year veteran of the newspaper publishing and printing business is named to succeed Candace Velvin as publisher of The Free Press. Velvin moves to Cameron, Texas to assume duties as publisher of The Cameron Herald.

Diboll Day 2006 Events Committee announce country music entertainer Larry Gatlin will kick off the Diboll Day celebration with concert at The History Center in September.

Earl and Joyce Carr celebrate 50th wedding anniversary with reception hosted by their children.

Newly elected officers of the Diboll 4-H Club include Arthur Meza, president; Brandel Pouland, vice president; Colin Lowther, treasurer; Selena Meza, secretary; Sarah Smith, reporter; Sarah Capps, council delegate; Rachel Seaman, alternate council delegate; Jennifer Reeder, parliamentarian; Benjamin Lowther, equipment manager; and Courtney Franks, calling chairman.

Stephen F. Austin State University Lumberjacks football team holds first scrimmage of the 2006 fall camp at Homer Bryce Stadium. Junior quarterback Danny Southhall was 6-of-7 for 45 yards, which included a five-yard scoring strike to junior transfer Nick Rhodes.

Members of the Lufkin High School Class of 1971 are planning its 35th reunion for September which will include a picnic at the Red Barn and dinner and dance at Crown Colony Country Club in Lufkin.

FIVE YEARS AGO

The Diboll Ladyjack coaching staff for the 2002-2003 school year include Pam Matlock, Jana Raymond, Donna James, Lindsey Cathey and Meridith Shaw.

Lufkin High School Coach John Outlaw is honored at the 70th Annual Texas High School Coaches Association as Texas Sports Writers Association's Coach of the Year after guiding the Lufkin Panthers football team to the State 5-A Division II State Championship.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association and Abitibi-Consolidated host 2002 Lufkin Vegas Bowl Benefit at Lufkin Lanes Bowling Alley.

Helen Anderson of the Pilot Club of Lufkin donates toys to Memorial Health System of East Texas for children visiting Memorial's emergency room.

Local historians and school officials with Central ISD dedicate state historical marker in front of Central School commemorating the consolidation of five smaller Angelina County schools in 1929 to form Central Consolidated Common School District.

Newly hired at St. Cyprian's Episcopal School are Jill Carswell (teach 4K); Alisha Douglas (teach 4K); Ashlee Valdez Ballard (teach 3rd grade); Sarah Sheffield (teach 3rd grade); Patti Clemons (teach 4th grade); Lisa Griffin (teach middle school); Elizabeth Simpson (teach middle school); and Charlotte Kuebler (teach Spanish 3K-8th grade).

TEN YEARS AGO

Members of the Dixie Youth League 9-year-old championship team representing Huntington are James Waldron, Jeff Fisher, Jeremy Smith, Blake Stanbery, Ryan Goddard, Christopher Gee, Kyle Gerner, Caleb Lawson, John Wesley Hoyt, Jarrod Grimes, J.J. Adams, Robert Pool, Christopher Pinner and coaches Jimmy Waldron, Ben Ogden and Jeff Smith.

James Jared and Larry Matthews win the Bob Sealy Fishing Tournament held at Lake Sam Rayburn with total fish catch of 28.89 pounds.

Mr. and Mrs. Ramiro Perez of Lufkin announce the engagement of their daughter Jelyitsa to Felix Tamez, Jr. son of Mr. and Mrs. Felix Tamez of Diboll.

Victory Temple Church of God in Christ of Diboll celebrates Pastor Rennis James and Rhonda James first anniversary service.

Homer Cemetery located in Southeast Angelina County receives Texas Historical Marker showing existence of the early settlers who migrated to Texas during the 1880's.

The Grammy Award winning gospel singing group, The Imperials, performs in concert at the Center Christian Fellowship in Center, Texas.

TWENTY YEARS AGO

Television personality Horace McQueen and home economist Mary Sue Cole, authors of "East Texas Country Cooking," autograph copies of their cookbook at the Kitchen Stuff in Lufkin Mall.

The history and work of the Christian Information and Service Center (CISC) is discussed at the meeting of the Angelina County Historical Forum by Mrs. Pauline Walton.

Four students from Diboll are among the candidates for summer graduation from Stephen F. Austin State University. The students and their major are: Donna Wright, BS in home economics; Gayle Beene, MED in elementary education; Doyle Crager, MED in physical education; and Penny Cecil, MED in elementary education.

State Representative Bill Haley (D-Center) announce he is a candidate for the State Senate seat being vacated by Senator Roy Blake.

A ribbon cutting ceremony is held for a new Lufkin business, Expressions, located on Old Union Road. On hand for the celebration are owners Mary Jo Gorden and Gladys Saska, Chamber of Commerce Trailblazers and numerous area business representatives and friends.

Rebecca Reed Smith of Pollok is the top ranking senior in summer commencement at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Champion International's Lufkin Mill employees participate in company golf tournament. Winning first place are Harry Hubbard, state AFL-CIO president; Maxie Cooper, Workman's Committee chairman of Oil Chemical Atomic Workers; Ted McComber, plant controller; and Thomas Henderson, maintenance.

THIRTY YEARS AGO

Newly elected officers of the Diboll Jack Backers Club include Arthur Powell, president; Bobby Amason, vice president; and Juanita Amason, secretary-treasurer.

Southland Paper Mills, Inc. is advised by four union locals representing workers at the company's Lufkin mill that new labor contracts have been accepted by the locals in membership voting. The new three-year contracts call for increased wages and improved employee benefits, including insurance and retirement.

Jack McMullen, president of the Texas Forestry Museum board of trustees, announce that due to demands, the Texas Forestry Museum will now be open for visitors on Sundays.

Karla Smithart and Robert Lynn Swindle are united in marriage at the First United Methodist Church in Lufkin with Dr.W. Morris House reading the vows.

Newly elected officers of the Diboll Band Boosters include Betty Burkhalter, president; Sam Coleman, vice president; Jeanette Wolf, secretary-treasurer; and Wanda Clark, reporter.

Mrs. Ted (Jeni) Williams is appointed the 1977 Breath of Life Campaign Chairman in Diboll for the North-East Texas Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Out of town visitor (Topeka, Kansas) is told she can not attend Pine Grove Church in Beulah because the church does not approve of women wearing pantsuits to church.