30 years of Clippings from Diboll Free Press

THIRTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK- Ten of Angelina County's most beautiful and talented girls will be competing for the Miss Lufkin title this year. Those vying for the crown include, Misty Lawrence, 18, Lufkin High School senior; Greta Allgood, 18, LHS senior; Beverly Williams, 18, Angelina College freshman; Julia Matthews, 17, Central High School senior; Lisa Burkhalter, 17, Diboll High School senior; Shelita Kennebrew, 17, LHS senior; Marion Bogany, 17, LHS senior; Dorothy Beck, 17, LHS senior; Karen Lenderman, 17, LHS senior; and Evelyn Carr, 17, Diboll High School senior. The local pageant, considered a first stepping stone to the 1978 Miss Texas and Miss America titles, will be held at the Lufkin Civic Center and emceed by former Miss America 1975, Shirley Cotharn. The annual contest is sponsored by the Lufkin Jaycees.

ONE YEAR AGO

Diboll native and DHS graduate of 1992 Jaime DonJuan is named to the Laredo Latin American International Sports Hall of Fame for his accomplishments as a coach at Laredo Community College.

Early morning fire sweeps through Diboll's Big Tin Barn hardware and building materials store and destroys 42-yearold landmark structure.

Stephen F. Austin State University's The Art Center at the Old Opera House located downtown on East Main exhibits photographs of artist Jackson Pollock at work , one of the leading abstract expressionist of the 1940's and 1950's.

Angelina County Commissioners approve the appointment of members of the Angelina County Historical Society. Newly appointed members include Bill Bartlett, Bob Bowman, Alisha Burrow, Linda Chastain, Amanda Cook- Gilbert, Dickie Dixon, Becky Donahoe, Jeri Fenley, Woody Gann, Jonathan Gerland, Dawn Glover, Mary Jo Gorden, Mary Hicks, Nash Hogue, Emily Hyatt, Bettie Kennedy, Bonnie and Wilton Killam, Glenn Nerren, Royce Read, Carol Riggs, Barbara Thompson, Mary Jane West and Jetta Westerholm.

FIVE YEARS AGO

Members of the Diboll ISD school board are honored at the January meeting in conjunction with National School Board Appreciation Month. DISD school board members include James Rhone, John Flowers, Sharon Brown, Tony Holman and DISD Superintendent Bobby Baker.

Burke Baptist Church honors Bro. and Mrs. Walter Sharry as they celebrate 50 years of dedicated service.

Diboll Lumberjack defensive lineman Joey Tamez is named to the Texas Sports Writers Association's Class 3A All-State Football Team Honorable Mention Selection.

Diboll Cub Scout Troop 128 hosts annual Pineywood Derby at Shepherd Scout House in Old Orchard Park with 19 cars competing. The scouts with the fastest cars are Zachary Hobbs, first place; Austin Dubose, second place; and Jarred Ferrell, third place.

Dian Frost, dietary aide, is selected Employee of the Month for January 2003 by the Trinity Mission of Diboll Family Council.

TEN YEARS AGO

Phyllis Prewitt of Lufkin is named program director of operations of Neches House, a licensed assisted living facility in Lufkin.

Dr. James Lovelady, Technical - Vocational Division Director at Angelina College, receives the Angelina County Chamber of Commerce's Golden Anvil Award and Bob Putnam is honored with the Angelina Award for his leadership role in area Boy Scouts programs.

Angelina & Neches Railroad honors Kay Dean Thornton, 42-year employee of the company and Vernon Havard, 16-year employee of the company with retirement reception.

Diboll High School senior Misty Jones is named finalist to the FINA/Dallas Morning News All-State Scholar-Athlete Award.

Amanda Forrest, cheerleader at Huntington Middle School, is selected as member of the Harlem Globetrotter's Basketball Performance Team sponsored by NCA Junior Pro, a division of the National Cheerleaders Association.

TWENTY YEARS AGO

Temple-Eastex Incorporated participates in the National Association of Home Builders Show in Dallas for the 18th consecutive year. Sales Vice President Joe K. Sample and Marketing Service Manager Roger (Pete) Smart are among the Temple-Eastex Marketing group attending the four-day show.

Country music singer John Williams of Lufkin is selected to travel to Nashville, Tennessee to audition to appear on "You Can Be A Star," nationally viewed Country Music contest on The Nashville Network.

U.S. Federal Judge William Wayne Justice and Congressman Charles Wilson cut the ribbon signaling the dedication of the new United States Courthouse in Lufkin at the corner of Third Street and Lufkin Avenue.

Honored at the 68th annual Angelina County Chamber of Commerce banquet held at the Lufkin Civic Center is Frances Shurley for her work with the Christian Information and Service Center and Joe Byrd for his work with hospice, Boy Scouts, Museum of East Texas and Rotary. Shurley is the recipient of the Golden Anvil Award and Byrd receives the Angelina Award.

U.S. Army Sgt. Ernest Huizar, Jr. of Diboll is awarded the Army Commendation Medal at Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas.

THIRTY YEARS AGO

Ten of Angelina County's most beautiful and talented girls compete for the Miss Lufkin title. Those vying for the crown include Misty Lawrence, Greta Allgood, Beverly Williams, Julia Matthews, Lisa Burkhalter, Shelita Kennebrew, Marion Bogany, Dorothy Beck, Karen Lenderman and Evelyn Carr.

The seventh grade at Diboll's Temple Junior School remains undefeated so far this season. Team members include Jerry Teal, Reginald Barnes, Andy Parrish, Mark Rush, Robert Taylor, Randy Barkley, Matt Amason, Baba Gibson, Kevin Hurley, Andre Vinson, Michael Wyatt, Ronnie, Eric Mettlen

manager) and Coach Charles Smith.

Jayne Carol Alexander and Paul Edward McCurry are united in marriage at the St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church in Lufkin with the Rev. John Francis Caskey reading the vows.

Olen Blake of Diboll wins the Sony color tv set given away by Pavlic's Supermarket in grand opening promotion.

Brad Wyatt, son of former Diboll High School Coach Joe Wyatt, is selected to the All- State Class B squad as a center. Wyatt helped the Axtell Longhorns of Coach Wyatt to a 9-1 record this season.