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%*%Anm'versm/ ^ (The Scxntt /V'*»r~aix* +The News-TexanThe- Largest Home Delivered Circulation In Grand Prairie/IIH i dt 7;' ),sc. i'V .IX. I-1 k-7.-* P.V ° *p^/.a3IS . 16sth: aniv. 1 - .54VOLUME 69ENTERED AS SECOND CLASS MATTER AT GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS. POST OFFICE UNDER ACT OF CONGRESS OF MARCH 3, 1879 a;NIMY AUGUST 31. 1958number 93-Tn‘rGay Calendar Of EventsMarksLabor Day And Texan’s BirthdayParade Leads To Pageant In BowlJOKE .'-TINGS FROM ACROSS TIE S$A - -Charming Bjorg So-j.rensen. Grand Prairie's first Foreign Exchange student who |hlt just arrived in the city for a year’s stay in the home of :;Dr. and Mrs. Truce Brannon, was introduced to Mayor C. R. Sargent Friday afternoon. And at their first meeting, she presented the Mayor with a proclamation and greetings from the mayor of her home town in Oslo, Norway. The young lady, who is fast winning friends with those jhe has met, will enroll at -Grand Prairie High School Tuesday morning where she will be lt;• member of the senior class. Miss Sorenson Is in Grand Prair-,i« through the cooperation of American Field Service. fCronJ Photo). j vJABigger SchoolsSet For Class± It's all over Tuesday morning at 'lt;:30, summer vacation for Grand Prairie's 6900 •choolage children, that is.With die new school term, Several major changes will be /noted. Namely, the expansion v Of four of the schools to fit[jthe growing needs of the city's j'jjpchool population and several |jbiaJor changes in top school ^personnel.At Austin Elementary, llar-(cenliower will take over as rincipal, replacing Ervin ATiitt, who was moved to jef-|iferson Junior High as princi-ipal, Marvin \'ail is Crockett's ft Elementary school's newprin-v Cipal, and Tom Holley, form-■lver principal at Jefferson has | moved to Grand Prairie High School where he will serve as principal.Holley succeeds L. E. Boze at the high school post, afterBoze was named assistantI superintendent for curriculum Teachers and pupils alike ■I’will welcome the new additionsto Austin School, which has had two rooms added, Houston, two new class rooms, Dal worm, four new rooms and ten new rooms to Milam elementary school which are 90 percent completed at this time.The exact enrollment anticipated Tor this school year according toSupt. H. II, Chambers, is 6970 pupils as to last year's enrollment in Septem-?mm £upeher of 6556.1 nere are twelve additional teachers in the school system this year.Full day sessions are plan-, ned for the firet day In allschools, officials stated.•it,* -to I*«. •* IBY CHARLES LEWISThe Scoper and 71 other members of The Texan staif plus our 40 carrier boys humbly dedicate this special 50th Anniversary edition to the early settlers of our town.Their sacrifices and farsightedness should be examples to us all.We repledge ourselves to giving Grand Prairie the best hometown newspaper in Texas, aiming at another Sweepstakes Championship in the ensuing year of publication.We realize that a newspaper is only as strong as its readers and advertisers make it. Therefore, we ask the continuation of the wonderful support which has enabled us to completely modernize our printing plant here during the past year.It is a pleasure working for the advancement of Grand Prairie, ard we thank you, ur patrons, for working with f toward greater Grand ralrie horizons.NOBLE E. AVERYLast Rites Slated ForN. E. AveryA well known Grand Prairie realtor, Noble E, Avery, -30 Blackburn, died suddenly at his home early Friday morning following a heart attack,Avery, who was employed by G. H, Turner Real Estate, had seemingly been ir. good health until a few ^ minutes, prior to his death. He awoke about 4 o'clock Friday morning and cymplainedof indigestion but told his wife he was not sick enough to call a doctor. A few moments later, before aid could be summoned, he had passed away.A native of Lamosco, Texas, he had been a resident of Grand Prairie since 1946 coming here from Kilgore.He was a member of the Baptist Church and of the Noon Optimist Club, Avery was one of the most active members of the Optimist Club. He served the club as vice-president, director, extension chairman, and other key positions.Survivors include his wife, Dorothy, two sons, Jerry, 17 and Bobby, who is 15, six brothers, Elbert, Calvin and Marvin, all of .Fort Worth, Earl and Bob Avery, both of Grand Prairie and Roy Avery, of Dallas, four sisters, Mrs. Eva Lee McFarland, and Mrs. Oma Robertson, both of Grand Prairie, Mrs. Earl Newman, San Jose, California and Mrs, Lola Colby, of Texahoma,Texas.Services have been set for 2 o’clock Sunday afternoon at Moore Funeral;Chapel with Rev. Ernest Duncan officiating. Burial will be In Southland Memorial Cemetery.The Grand Prairie Texan Monday celebrates its Fiftieth Anniversary amidst the gaiety and excitement of Labor Day.The day will be the last one nrlor to the start of school, with classes resuming at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. A festive occasion, for both reluctant pupils and adults, has been planned by The Texan and local merchants.A colorful climax will come in the evening when a torchlight flambeau parade forms at 7th and Dalworth at 7 p.m.The procession, including a special car for former Mayors and for pioneer residents, will lead to the Gopher Bowl via Main St. There, a five-act pageantwill summarize local history, commencing with the date the First Grand Prairie Texan was delivered and closing with the advent of the aircraft manufacturing era to the city.Out of respect to children celebrating their last day prior to resumption of school,a theater party arid a circus show have been planned downtown by the Texan.Doors of the Uptown Theater will open at 9 a.m. to school-aged children. The free movie will give mothers a chance to conclude last-minute back-to-school shopping.During the day, mothers may register for a new bicycle for their children at the following downtown stores:Llien’s Shops, Loyd’s Variety, Postscript Hardware, J.C, Penney Co., Paul Goff’s, Wyatt Food Stores, Millar Drug, Mott s 5 an(j ]q cent Store, Leddy's Western Wear, Firestone Store, Grand Prairie State Bank, and Montgomery Ward,The drawing for the bicy-will coincide with a circus show at 4 p.m. at Center and Main. This feature will include a rightwire walker, trapeze artist, and clowns.Shippers will have ample time to complete back-to-school buying prior to the parade, which will have an historic theme fitting in with, the celebration of 50 years of local history.Local industries Friday put final touches on expensive floats depicting the progress of industry and the industrial worker. TTie National Guard granted permission for an all- ,Grand Prairie brigade to man motorized troop carriers as the Guard Entry in the parade.Hensley Field and Naval Air Station personnel planned patriotic entries.An ancient fire truck, carrying retired firemen, autos belonging to members of the Antique Auto Club and Horseless Carriage Club, and western Riding units from Leddy's Western Wear, Arlington Saddle Club, and Hill's Riding Stable will add a historical flavor.Six beauty queens will ride in the prarade, as well ascheerleaders representing Grand Prairie High, Jefferson Junior High, and Lee Junior High.Beauty Queens will include Miss Oulda Daugherty (Miss Geep Hi and Miss Flame, )Miss Janie Echols (Miss Naval Air Station,) Miss Jo Ann Leach, (Miss Hensley Field), Miss Carrell Ann Curry (Miss Dallas), Miss Linda Johnson (Miss Navigation), and Miss Local 893, whose identity is to be announced Labor Day.The Grand Prairie High School band will provide march musicPUBLISHER AND HIS ‘PETS'—Like most weekly newspaper publishers, W.A. Brundage spent as much time in his plant and office a.s he did in his home. And all who knew him knew he loved it. He died in his composing room in 1940 while workingon a special edition for the new North American Aircraft plant. He had published the paper 17 years. Above, Brundage poses with two of his Linotype machines. The photo wa3 made m 1936, (Photo Courtesy of Mrs. Mollie Brundage.)Sweat, Foresight Built TexanDown through half a century of local history, some of the least publicized civic leaders have been chose pioneering men and women who have produced the city's hometown newspaper, The Grand Prairie Texan.Reams of newspaper articles contain only a handful of reference to the editors, publishers, printers, and printers devils who have recorded the city's history via the free press.It is through personal interviews with a few of the surviving personalities that this history of The Texan is brought to you, the readers.The Texan was born on Nov.6, 1908 in a ramshackled frame building in what Is now the 100 block of E, Main St.The editor, Ross Simpson, the publisher, Bill Stringer, and the 15-year-old printer’s devil R. M, (Dick) Hatfield produced the first issue on a Vaugh’s Ideal Hand Cylinder press.atfield, who now resides in Irving and is best known as foreman emeritus of theDallas Times - Herald composing room, supplied the sketchy hut colorful details of the first 15 years of The Texan's history.The Vaughn's Ideal press was a hand-fed, hand-inked contraption which requiredfrom 1.0 p.m. on a Thursday night until 6 a.m. of a Friday morning to produce a 350-paper press run.Stringer and Simjbson were partners in the paper: Young Hatfield was the sole employe-at $3 per week.If a circulation of 350 seems inconsequential in this day and age, the population of Grand Prairie (less than 900) puts it in proper focus. In fact, the city was not incorporated until a year after the origin of The Texan.Hatfield recalls that gathering of news was no problem in those days. Folks just brought it all into the of-IAYORS, PAST AND PRESENT—(5rand Prairie has been served by 13 mayors, six of whom are still living. These six men have been given special invitations to ride in the Labor Day Parade Sept. 1 and to be introduced at the Texan's 50th Birthday pageant at the Gopher Howl The mayors include (top row left to right) E. E. Hall (1915-1917), L, 0. Turner (1917-19)'G. H. Turner (1923-1935, 1937-1949): (bottom row), E, Carlyle Smith (1949-1953), John w[ Daugherty (1953-55), and C, R» Sargent (1955-present),fice - or phoned it in on the brand new telephone line.Advertising sold at a rate of 15 cents per column inch— and less if you happened to be a merchant with whom the owners had a charge account.Personal notices made up the bulk of the news content of the paper, along with plain-spoken columns by - lined by the Sandlapper and other peppery-penned writers.Editor Simpson was gifted in the art of prose and could turn out whatever editorials and personal observations were required to fill any leftover space.Hatfield recalls that one of the severest calamities which beset the infant newspaper occurred when he, himself, accidently melted the press roller.This event occurred in the normal wintertime routine of heating the inking stone; the printer's devil forgot and left a coal oil lamp under thestone too long.Very little capital was required in publishing a newspaper in those days, as was evidenced in the fact that 22-ycar-old Dick Hatfield became publisher of the Texan in 1915, He had leased the paper from Simpson for $20 per month,Hatfield was one of the best known men of the community, but not solely because of his journalistic abilities. He was also one of the town's best boxers and wrestlers, abilities which stood him in goodstead in those early times.I hey didn't know any other fine than $5.10 for me, Texan publisher recalled aft er telling of one altercation in which an assailants knife almost cost him the use of one hand.In that instance, Dr. Copeland (still a cherished G resident) not only sewed up the wound but paid the editor's fine.A major step forward was made at The Texan shop in 1912, when Simpson and Stringer obtained a Country Campbell press which inked itself.By then, the paper had been moved to better quarter's in a spot now occupied by Grand Prairie Savings and Loan.Simpson, a man of varioustalents, was soon lured into the%electric light business and operated the first light plant In Grand Prairie. When still greener pastures beckoned intheV.PDallas, Dick Hatfield, backed first by David Cowdin and then L.G, Tinsley, leased the paper.Promptly, the circulation v*as Increased through contests and prizes (a geniune diamond ring was one gift), to 700.The Hatfield regime was short-lived. Cowdin went into die construction business and still is one of Dallas's topcon-tractors, and Tins ley turned tooil speculation. Young Hatfield himself was conscripted into the army.Acid-tongued Fred Kreiger then moved onto the scene.Kreiger was the pulp-backed novel version of a newspaper man, heaping multi-syllabled scorn on any clique or individual who roused his ire.For instance, he editorialized against a pay raise for teachers, stating that the w^ge boost would put them on a par with railroad section-hands.With hard-hitting Kreiger, however, came more advances. The paper’s circulation grew, and hand-setting of type was discarded for the time-being. It was in 1919 that Kreiger introduced to Grand Prairie the first mechanical type - setting machine, die Lino-Graph,Kreiger, a colorful figure who enjoyed tooting a trumpet In the town’s brass band, ran into trouble, however, when the Little Motor Car Co. corne to town, locating on asite now occupied by .American Body Works.The promoter of the Little Car talked Kreiger into helping him promoting the9tockof the vehicle, 'and Kreiger obliged by publishing a ,50,000-copy extra edition of die paper devoted almost entirely to virtues of investing in Americans newest and fastest growing motor car company.When die firm went into financial turmoil, Kreiger, who had had visions of Grand Prairie as a great industrial city, left the paper and Grand Prairie.In the early Twenties, the newspaper saw some of its shakiest days. Even die revolutionary Line-o-Graph machine went into receivership.For a brief time in 1923, four Grand Prairie men (J. C. Swadley, Sr., Charles McDaniel, G. H. Turner, and one unremembered bene-. (MORE ON 7)DICK HATFIELD From Devil to PublisherASAKS:# ..SfrSW 'ffux .....J.F. BRADFORD Editor in 1910End Seen For Rain FloodingCity Manager Larry Crow, long cautious in his comments .on cures for Inglewood Park drainage problems, Friday made a definite statement that overall solution is near.anCrow based his optimiston a big storm drainage pro ;ect which Centex Construe cion Co., Inglewooddevelopei will start in the near futureCentex will lay a 1.550 foot drainage line south c Marshall Dr. under S.Line Kd. It will tie Into shorter city-financed line a ready underway in die Mat shall Ur, vicinity.e
Newspaper Details
Grand Prairie News Texan
Grand Prairie, Texas, US
Sun, Aug 31, 1958
Page 28
Full Page
Clipped by
Thomas C.
TX, USA 19 Oct 2019
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