A look back at 30 years of press clippings

As Black History Month comes to a close, special recognition bestows Diboll's William James Jackson. Jackson, a talented musician who is widely known as "Professor," taught legendary band leader Harry James how to play the trumpet. Jackson moved to Diboll in 1920 at age 50 to teach and serve as director of a brass band. At the age of 72, Jackson took a job with Texas South-Eastern Railroad and retired at age 92. Professor William James Jackson died on Nov. 19, 1972 just a few months short of his 103rd birthday.

A Public Service of The History Center

ONE YEAR AGO

Primera Iglesia Bautista of Diboll celebrates fifth anniversary. Primera Iglesia Bautista of Diboll began as a mission of First Baptist Church of Diboll and Lakeview Baptist Church.

Students in Tammy Joseph's kindergarten class at Diboll Primary School celebrate 100 days of school with learning activities using the number 100.

Diboll Lady Jacks basketball squad falls to the Lady Bulldogs of Crockett High School at the Regional Tournament Finals held in Huntsville. The Lady Jacks ends 2006-07 season with 30- 6 record.

Temple-Inland Inc. announce plan to sell off its strategic timberland, spin off its financial services operation and spin off its real estate operation.

FIVE YEARS AGO

Newly elected officers of the Diboll High School FFA are: Jade Temple, sentinel; Megan Paresa, treasurer; Brady Franks, president; Trey Jones, historian; Jonathan Jones, vice president; Clayton Pavlic, secretary; Brandon Franks, reporter; and Adam Thompson, student advisor.

Pollok Central High School Lady Bulldog softball pitcher Candace Terry opens softball season by pitching no-hitter as Lady Bulldogs wallop Joaquin 10-0.

Ave Marie Rodriquez, a 1999 graduate of Diboll High School graduates cum laude from Hardin Simmons University in Abilene with degree in speech-language pathology.

Apple Springs High School Seniors Dustin Jarrett and Stephen Currie are named to the First Team Academic All-State Football Selection in Class A from the Texas High School Coaches Association.

Angelina County commissioners receive 26 applications to fill the County Veterans Service Officer's position to replace retiring Jack Roberts who held the position for the last ten years.

Temple Elementary School student Amanda Jordan achieves 150 points in the Accelerated Reader Program.

Girls basketball All District 20-3A picks are: Vanessa Suarez (Diboll); Crystal Arriola & Shaunterra Patton (Hudson); Anna Whiddon (Huntington); Temeka Barnes (Newton); Amesha Forward & Jessica Adams (Jasper); Amanda Riley (Woodville); and Selitha Doggett & Christen Aldredge (Pollok).

TEN YEARS AGO

Ms. Lee Richardson Thompson of Diboll announces the engagement of her daughter Jana Annette to Bradley Kencade Jones, son of Jimmy Jones of Diboll.

Richard Bickley, Bryan Brooks, Randel Henry, Lindsay Shumaker and amber Roberts, all members of the Pollok Central High School FFA, are winners at the Fort Worth Calf Scramble and the Southwest Exposition and Livestock Show held at the Will Rogers Coliseum.

Danny Ray, who has served as Diboll's Police Chief the past 17 years, retires and moves to Tyler to take over family business.

Chosen as St. Valentine King and Queen at South Meadow Nursing Home are Harry Nevins and Hester Beaty.

Angelina College Theater Department presents "A Sleep of Prisoners," centering around four prisoners of war being held in a church.

Carthage's Terry Williams is selected Professional Bull Rider's Association (PBR) Stock Contractor of the Year for the third time.

TWENTY YEARS AGO

D.L. Busby and Peggy Busby announce the opening of Diboll's newest business, "The Variety Store" located in the Village Shopping Center next to Bill's Dollar Store.

Lufkin Industries' structural fabrication department is award jackets to employees with perfect attendance for 1987. Honorees include Wayne Hodges, John Hodges, Joe Watson, Roger Williams, Perry McKnight, David Meaux, Noel Marshall, Truman Belrose Otis Jenkins, J.D. Skinner and Noel Marshall.

Native Dibollian Capt. E. Blant Ferguson, Chaplain USN is selected to the position associate director of the Presbyterian Council for Chaplains and Military Personnel in Washington, D.C.

Rehearsals are ongoing for the theater production of "Picnic on the Battlefield" to be held in the Fine Arts auditorium on the campus of Angelina College in Lufkin.

Honored for 40 or more years of service with Temple-Eastex Incorporated are John Fenley (40), Lumber Operations; J.C. Welch (40), Forest Division; Chester Williams (40), Pineland Operations; Joe D. Smith (40), Lumber Operations; and Leonard A. Busby (45), Lumber Operations.

THIRTY YEARS AGO

James E. Rhone is promoted to superintendent of the Temple Division's road truck and shops departments.

Linda Carol Oates of Diboll and Richard Allen Grobmyer of Little Rock, Arkansas are united in marriage at the First United Methodist Church in Diboll.

Newly elected officers of the Huntington Garden Club are Elizabeth Thomas, president; Merle Summers, first vice president; Othal Lowery, second vice president; Margie Green, treasurer; Mabel Welch, secretary; and Pamela Moore, reporter.

Mrs. Cecil Purdy and Mrs. Diane Tate win prizes at the grand opening of Pine Tree Garden Center in north Diboll.

The Sid Richardson Foundation of Fort Worth announce grant of $40,000 to the Alabama-Coushatta Indians to be used to produce the fourth season of the play, "Beyond the Sundown" in the Sundown Amphitheatre at the East Texas Indian Reservation this summer.

District Judge David Walker swears in his son George as a practicing attorney in Texas. The oath is administered in the district courtroom at the Angelina County Courthouse.