Yesteryears by Elizabeth Tanner
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1980 stock show sees record entry for steers, lambs
By Elizabeth Tanner
Billy George Taylor stands with his reserve champion calf selected at the annual junior livestock show.
70 Years Ago
Post moviegoers raised $321.51 for polio victims at Gonzales Warm Springs Foundation, Tower Theatre Manager John Hopkins revealed. Tower Theatre was only one of 567 Texas theaters to participate in the Texas Theaters Polio Fund which raised $171,934.08. Audience collections were made following showings of a special film titled “A New Year’s Message from Governor Allan Shivers” which featured not only Mr. Shivers but also Ansett Teel and Jana Lee Davis, polio victims being treated at Gonzales Foundation.
Eight grade school pupils, Royce Anthony, Bobby Green, David King, Patty Lott, Jackie Redman, Harold Reese, Twana Teague and Mack Kemp, completed the reading requirements for a gold seal and life membership in the Texas Readers’ Club, Librarian Nola Brister announced. “The importance of what the boys and girls read is emphasized rather than how many books they have read,” Brister said.
Ned Myers showed the grand champion calf at the annual junior livestock show. Placing first in the heavy milk fed division, the calf, named Yellow Fever, sold for a top price of 50 cents per pound to Ray C. Ayers of Slaton, Texas. Earning reserve champion was Billy George Taylor’s heavy dry lot calf which also sold for 50 cents per pound to Piggly Wiggly of Post, Texas. In the swine division, Bowen Stephens’ gilt took grand champion and Melvin William’s took reserve. With 13 calves sold at the show, over $200 in prizes were awarded along with ribbons and rosettes. “It was the best show we’ve ever had,” County Agent L. C. Herron said. “I estimate at least 600 people were present.” General Superintendent George Samson agreed. “I was really pleased with the turnout and thought we had a great sale,” Samson said. “This was a highly successful show.”
60 Years Ago
Post was hit with a severe wintry blast which dumped .93 of an inch of welcome moisture. The cold front hit with sleet and biting winds which dropped the temperature to an overnight low of 15 degrees, dismissing Post schools early and completely closing school the following day as the streets slickened with heavy ice. However, it wasn’t long before county residents were making the most of the treacherous weather. David Newby, local oil man, built a sled in his home workshop big enough for six children to ride at once and spent the rest of the day giving neighborhood youngsters rides.
Four gallons of gasoline turned out to be mighty expensive for Barney Bradshaw of Brownfield who paid fines totaling $62.25 after breaking a lock and stealing a gasoline can on the Robert Craig farm, seven miles west of Post. Craig, returning home, sighted Bradshaw and his two companions driving away from his farm home and reported theft to the sheriff’s office. Bradshaw, his wife and M.A. Carroway were arrested later that night at a tavern. Mrs. Bradshaw and Carroway were charged with drunkenness, both paying fines of $24.65. Bradshaw, who had $17 in his pocket when he was arrested, told officers that he and his wife had six children at home to take care of. The trio spent two nights in jail before pleading guilty to charges, paying their fines and being released.
The latest tavern burglary didn’t take long to solve as Deputy Sheriff Elton Corley arrested the 16-year-old burglar at his local home, recovering most of the loot which included six packs of beer, 27 packs of cigarettes, 14 packages of peanuts, eight sausage sticks, nine packs of gum and $4.30 in change from coin-operated machines. The youth said he gained entrance to The Westerner by kicking in the back door.
Corley reported that the change was found in an old purse in the youth’s room with the remainder of stolen items in a shed behind his house. The youth was on probation at the time of his arrest.
40 Years Ago
The three-day 1981 Garza County Junior Livestock Show saw a record number of steer and lamb entries as 254 animals were entered amongst 127 contestants. Animals entered included 112 lambs, 107 hogs, 25 steers, nine horses and one pen of rabbits, which were new to this year’s entries.
William Morrow, son of Mrs. and Mrs. Charles Morrow, decided to take his father’s first new pickup, bought in 1954, and restore it to its former glory. The F-100 Ford, which had been previously rusting in a field since 1969 when it had last been used as a hay pickup, took a little over six months to restore.
Morrow, who had taken mechanic courses at Western Texas College, did most of the work himself with assistance from his father. Also putting in a little elbow grease was Johnny Collazo who repainted the exterior and Nahum Sullivan who redid the upholstery in bronze velour rolled pleats. Morrow, who put in $2,500 to get the truck in running shape, said all parts, engine included, are original.
William Morrow stands with his father’s 1954 F-100 Ford which he spent six months restoring.
