Photo couresy of The History Center Thirty Years Ago This Week The Friends of the T.L.L. Temple MemoDiboll’s Neil McGilvra (22) goes up for a shot for the Angelina College Roadrunners in their 106-97 victory at AC Gym over Wharton College. McGilvra scored 16 points behind Chris Hagen’s 20 as the Roadrunners win their third straight home game and ran their record to 5-6. Morgan Oil Company of Nacogdoches announces it will build a truck stop at the abandoned site at Diboll’s north city limit.

Diboll’s Amanda Drake competes in the Nike Cross Country Nationals in The Woodlands in the Girls Open Race and takes 9th place with a time of 20:39.8 in the 5K race.

Texas Association of Basketball Coaches Poll list Diboll High School Ladyjacks as the No. 1 team in 3A. The Ladyjacks and the No. 2 rank Bullard are set to meet shortly for East Texas bragging rights.

Diboll City Council amends the council district map adopted last May in the city charter. The amendment brings the four council districts within 10 % of each other in population.

Diboll’s newest restaurant, El Marinero, is now open on North Temple Drive where Pissetti’s Pizza used to be. El Marinero offers seafood and Tex-Mex seven days a week.

FIVE YEARS AGO

Local authors, Claire and Margie Brody, a mother daughter team, pen their first children’s book, “Skippy Dimpledot, The Christmas Elf.” The story is based on a family tradition and features a character, Annie, based on Claire at age 7.

Members of the Angelina College Concert Bank, Lufkin Community Band and tubists from all over East Texas and surrounding area presents East Texas annual “Tuba Christmas” in the Lufkin Mall.

Burke Baptist Church conducts parent-child dedication service whereas the service dedicated 35 children and involved 20 families. Pastor Bonner Magness conducted the special services.

Katrina Hackett scores 26 points to lead the Angelina College Lady Roadrunners to an 84-64 win over Louisiana State Uiversity- Eunice at Shands Gym.

Diboll Junior High School student Jeannette Mireles competes in the 2004 USATF XII Cross Country Championship in Dallas and places third, qualifying for the National Championship.

Lufkin High School football Panthers defeats the Longview Lobos 31- 21 in the Class 5A regional semifinals at Homer Bryce Stadium.

TEN YEARS AGO

Texas Governor George Bush names Carolyn Elmore, corporate communication executive for Temple-Inland, to the Texas Environmental Education Partnership Fund Board.

Big Dawg Golf Tour Players play Neches Pine Golf Course in Diboll.

Diboll High School Ladyjacks drop 48-43 decision to Woodville Lady Eagles. Kiana James paces the Ladyjacks with 12-point effort. Diboll’s 36 turnovers doomed the team.

Hudson Lady Hornets taste first defeat of the season as they drop 43-39 decision to the Class 5-A John Tyler Lady Lions.

Angelina County Drug- Free Business Partnership Awareness Award are awarded to Bill Sloan, S & W Quality Body Works; Phyllis McDaniels, Wal- Mart; Diane Shaw, St. Cyprian’s Episcopal School; and Ronnie Robinson, Dunagan Warehouse.

Diboll ISD is sound financial shape according to the accounting firm of Saul & Pechacek.

The PTSA sponsored “Christmas Homes on Tour” begins with Diboll homes of Fran McClain, Cathy Martz, Jenny Cochran and Gayle Beene.

TWENTY YEARS AGO

Ribbon cutting ceremonies are held on First Street in Lufkin for its newest restaurant, The Hot Biscuit.

Stephen F. Austin State University football Lumberjacks makes history as it advances to the I-AA semifinals where they will face defending I-AA national champion Furman Paladins.

Pine Valley couple Louie and Inez Fisher celebrates 60 years of marriage with reception hosted by their children.

Temple-Inland’s Pete Smart receives appreciation plaque for his service to the Angelina County Chamber of Commerce.

Congressman Charles Wilson joins other members of Congress in co-sponsoring resolution urging President Bush to test the constitutionality of a presidential line item veto.

Diboll High School football Lumberjacks place five on elite first team: James Stewart, running back; Ruben Esteves, offensive lineman, defensive lineman; Richard Farley, punter; Marcus Mitchell, defensive back.

THIRTY YEARS AGO

A time capsule is loaded at place at the site of the new Temple-Eastex Corporate offices in Diboll. The capsule contains various company memorabilia including The Free Press special edition on the new offices. The time capsule is scheduled to be open in December 4, 2023, the 50th anniversary of Time-Temple merger and the 130th anniversary of the founding of the first Temple industry.

Lufkin High School head football coach/athletic director Ed Cauley is named Coach of the Year by District 14-4A coaches. Cauley’s Panthers won district for the second time in three seasons under Cauley and was 8-2-1 this season.

Coach Charles Simmons caps off the greatest season at SFASU by becoming the first Lumberjack football coach to be named Lone Star Conference Coach of the Year. Simmons directed the Jacks to an 8-3 season as well as 17th final rankings in the poll.

God’s Children, a youth choir of First Baptist Church in Diboll presents musical, “Down by the Creek Bank,” written by Dottie Rambo. The choir is directed by Jeannie Sanford.

Diboll’s Lisa Burkhalter wins her fourth pageant title as she is selected as Miss Haltom Richland. Miss Burkhalter’s previous titles were Miss Diboll Day 1976, Miss Lufkin 1977 and Miss Nacogdoches 1978.