70 Years Ago
June 26, 1952
Jack Bowen, who formerly was with the San Saba News, spent a few days here winding up some of his business affairs. He has accepted a position with a daily paper in Bryan.
Vacationists to San Saba are expected to be doubly rewarded this season by having the San Saba Jaycee Rodeo, and with west and central Texas coming in here daily for fishing and camping, numbers of them are to take advantage of the threeevening rodeo at Rogan Field to fill in a well rounded week of fun. During the past few weeks fishermen have come in from O'Donnell, Amarillo, Lubbock, Plainview, and Ralls, while a group have been to the Gorman Falls area from Waco and Gatesville. Frank Sloan Sr., employed at the Jeff Byrd Grocery says more vacationists are coming in to the store for picnic lunches and camping supplies.
Hulon Dunnahoo had as guest his son, Houston Dunnahoo, a member of the 49th Armored Div. of Fort Hood National Guard. His wife of Fort Worth joined her husband here while he was on leave.
Bert McBride of the Sloan community was a business visitor here on Tuesday.
The turkey business has been among the leading industries of this county for the past year. Thousands of turkey eggs were sent out of this county during the laying season and they brought from 25¢ to 30¢ apiece to the breeders. An estimate of $5 to $10 per hen was realized for the season lasting some four months. Some 75,000 poults are being grown by the turkey ranchers.
Sixteen men serving aboard the destroyer tender USS Prairie have been advanced in rate. Advanced to gunner's mate, 3rd class was Jesse L. Bates, USN, son of Mr. and Mrs. D. R. Bates of San Saba. He reported aboard the Prairie, Dec. 1950.
50 Years Ago
June 29, 1972
Three San Saba area students have earned "Distinguished Student" ranking at Texas A & M University. The local students include Glennon B. Mays, freshman pre-veterinary medicine major, son of Mr. and Mrs. Buford Mays of Richland Springs; Gary R. Briggs, senior range science major, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jody Whitley; and Richard G. Little, senior environmental design major, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Little.
Mr. and Mrs. Ezra Cook of Pontotoc have returned from a two-week visit in Germany with their son, Sgt. Charlie Cook. Sgt. Cook, who is stationed at Munich with the U.S. Army Signal Corps, will soon complete his three-year tour of duty, having spent one year in Vietnam. Mr. and Mrs. Cook also toured Austria and Switzerland before returning home.
Many persons viewing the rodeo parade were surprised to see an old-fashioned covered wagon among the entries. The covered wagon and team was driven by owner, Cecil Harbour of Lometa and Mrs. Jean Sowers gave him a third place ribbon for his out-of-town entry. He said it took him six hours to drive here from Lometa to enter the parade and he remained to attend the rodeo.
Sisters, Jill and Kim Mask, had the highest scores at the annual San Saba County Dress Revue and will represent the county at the District Dress Revue in Abilene. Members of Richland Springs 4-H Club, they are the daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Malcom Mask of Richland Springs. Jill was the winner of the senior division of the county event and Kim captured the junior division.
John Griffay of San Saba must be the champion tomato grower of the county, at least he has exhibited the largest ones seen this season. The larger of two tomatoes weighed one pound and three ounces and measured 14 inches in circumference. It grew an inch in circumference in a week. The smaller tomato weighed a pound. They were produced on a vine 8 feet high and still growing. Griffay said he didn't know the variety of his tomatoes as W. A. Long gave him five plants, one of which produced the two tomatoes which ripened on the vine.