Page 1 of Aug 2 1979 Issue of De Leon Free Press in De Leon, Texas

De Leon Free Press August 2, 1979 Page 1 old newspaper archives

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De Leon Free Press (Newspaper) - August 2, 1979, De Leon, Texas Per copy de Ceon tree press a serving de Leon for Over 90 years volume 92, number it mum a de Leon Home of the annual a peach and Melon festival thursday August 2,1979 ten pages and three inserts j Ripe Gayle Wilkerson s town talk this years peach and Melon festival is off to a Good Start with pleasant temperatures. The rain tuesday afternoon will Cool the temperature Down somewhat. Congratulations to Cathy Bruton on being chosen Queen of the 65th festival and to Little Shelli Hammit for being named Little miss de Leon. This is always quite an Honor for the winners and their parents. As the festival continues each night this week is filled with Many activities. Done to miss the big Parade wednesday at 7 00 . As it promises to be a Good big one. The Parade begins at the High school and travels South. Done to forget the Watermelon slicing and seed spitting on saturday afternoon. Everyone especially kids enjoy eating the melons so come a Little earlier and try your skill at seed spitting. We have some very pretty trophies at the free press for the winners in each division. See you at the festival a a tee Cathy Bruton chosen Queen of 65th annual peach and Melon festival Cathy Bruton sixteen year old daughter of or. And mrs. Glenn Bruton was selected by a panel of out of town judges monday night As Queen of the 65th annual peach and Melon festival. Twelve girls were in the contest. Cathy will be a Junior at de Leon High school this fall where she is a twirler for the mighty Maroon band and a member of the National Honor society. Cathy enjoys sewing cooking Tennis and water sports. She is a member of the Church of Christ. Her sponsor was the de Leon swimming Pool. First runner up in the contest was Joy Morris daughter of or. And mrs. Jake Morris who was sponsored by the de Leon Volunteer fire department. Haven Eisenrich daughter of or. And mrs. , was second runner up. Her sponsor was the de Leon study club. Other contestants were Elsa Villanueva Suzanna Hanson Lisa Walker Janet Higginbottom Julie Andress Brenda Cox Janet Paul Gaytha Frost and Becky Ward. The 1978 festival Queen Donna Nowlin presented the new Queen with Flowers. Serving As the master of ceremonies was Dennis Templeton of Abilene general manager of Taylor county coliseum and the West Texas fair and also president of the Texas association of fairs and expositions. The twelve p amp m festival contestants made appearances in both undresses and formal gowns during the revue. Entertainment was provided by Pat Webb and Marc Wilson. Loving cups were presented to each of the contestants by this years festival chairman Lannes Callison. Judging the contest were Debra Cronin 1974 miss Texas Usa and a Home economist for Texas agricultural products from Arlington Gene Ditmore sales manager of Kean radio in Abilene and Bob Scott who owns a Floral shop in Stephenville. Shelli Hammit wins Little miss de Leon title Shelli Hammit daughter of it. And mrs. Freddy Hammit Ras named Little miss de Eon for 1979 monday night on lie festival stage. Judges for the contest were Ebra Cronin of Arlington Jene Ditmore of Abilene and lob Scott of Stephenville. Last years Little miss de Eon Winner misty Wilkerson Vas introduced to the audience. Mayor of de Leon Clyde Brinson crowned the new Little miss de Leon and Lannes Callison chairman of this years festival presented Loving cups to each of the contestants. First runner up was Kasey Bruton daughter of or. And mrs. Glenn Bruton. Michelle sides daughter of or. And mrs. David sides was the second runner up. Other contestants in the five year old age group of the Little miss de Leon contest were Jessica Lynn Wofford Jennifer pounds Becky Vas Quez Darla Seckinger Pattie Laurie Summers Stephanie Shoemaker Patti Burk Melody sides Shana Frazier Angie Burkeen and Kellie Hardin. Dennis Templeton of Abilene was the master of ceremonies. Escorts for the Little miss contest were Michael John Richardson son of or. And mrs. Michael Richardson and Chad Pickens son of or. And mrs. John Pickens. Free press gives the weather temperature the 1979 Little miss de Leon chosen monday night is Shelli Hammit 5-year-old daughter of or. And mrs. Freddy Hammit. A gospel meeting planned at South Side Church of Christ a series of gospel meetings Are scheduled to begin on sunday August 5, and continue through sunday August 12, at the South Side Church of Christ in de Leon. Location of the Church is just Date july 24 july 25 july 26 july 27 july 28 july 29 july 30 no rainfall reported High Low 94 71 94 73 93 73 92 74 93 72 98 73 97 73 Fruh ph.817 8 w. H. Smith or. Chamber of Commerce features member of the month a along about 1965,1 retired the free press had it on the front . Smith retires. I came out to the peach Orchard and Ever since its been 14 hours a Day 14 months a year. I used to fish and Golf and All that stuff and now i done to even have time for that a says . Smith. In talking to the tall trim 82-year-old Smith you realize he probably enjoys working with his peaches As much As anything. In fact his son Hiram jr., and grandson Byron had to talk him out of sorting peaches so he could be interviewed and have his picture made. Smith was born Quot right out Here on the Haynes place in 1897. He went to school Here then enrolled at Texas . He did no to graduate from a a a for the country was involved in world War i and needed Young men. A the army was bound to get me at a a a they were grabbing at my coattails. I had a brother who was killed in France in the army and i decided id Volunteer for the Navy instead of getting drafted a Smith said. Smith was never shipped he was enrolled in an officers training school and received a chief machinists rating then the armistice was signed. In 1920 Hiram was married to Mamie Daniel also a native of the area. She attended what is now Texas women a University. A a it la soon be 60 years a Smith said. He laughs then says a she thinks she knows just about everything about Al let it me. In 1920 Smith and a Friend Bob Steakley were working at Higginbotham a in de Leon. One night they decided to ask the manager for a raise. If they did no to get it they planned to quit and go into business for themselves. The manager not Only did no to give them a raise he laughed when they told him they were going into Competition with him. Steakley had a brother in the Bank though and through him the two men were Able to borrow enough Money to buy out a merchant. The store remained Steakley and Smith until 1928, when a Steakley got the Chevrolet Bug. He wanted to Start a Chevrolet place. I bought him out and he made two million dollars and i made a Flop a Smith laughs and then says a no in be been real Happy. Its All worked out Fine and just Money Wasny to the in 1934, Smith bought too acres of land for Twenty dollars an acre. The land had about it then. Now its the largest individually owned peach Orchard in Texas and is the oldest under one management. A a we be got 1,100 acres accumulated which is about 1095 too Many every time it freezes out a Smith said. A we have about 50 to 55 thousand Trees of which about 30,000 Are peach Trees. It All belongs to Hiram or. Now. In a just another hired hand a he said. Its doubtful Hiram or. Will Ever be a just another hired hand to Hiram jr., who told the photographer As he left with a Lackful of fresh peaches a a you re really recognizing a great Man week filled with peach and Melon festival activities Queen of the 65th annual peach and Melon festival is Cathy Bruton 16-year-old daughter of or. And mrs. Glenn Bruton who was selected by a panel of out of town judges monday night. Coronation ceremonies will be wednesday night at 9 00 . On the festival stage. Texas football Magazine picks de Leon As number three team in District South of the City limits on Highway 16. Speaker for these services will be Larry Robertson of Springfield Missouri. Or. Robertson is not new to the de Leon area having held several meetings in de Leon in years past. He is Well noted for his sincere approach to All biblical topics. Services Are to be at 10 30 . And 6 00 . On sundays and 7 30 . During the week. The Public is cordially invited to attend All these services. The recent edition of Texas football Magazine has the de Leon bearcats number three in District 10-a for the 1979 season. San Saba is listed the top team in the District As Well As the pick for the class a state Champion. The number two team in the District is Dublin. Texas football states a de Leon leans heavily on tradition to carry it to another season like last year when it went 9-1 and tied for the title with san Saba. It will have to lean heavily because it can t count on experience. Fifteen Letterman return but Only 3 started on offence and Only 2 on defense. Tim Hare a 6-0, 220-Pound senior guard and tackle would be the logical Choice As the teams top player but senior de Clynt Taylor 5-9, 165 May Surprise people. Another senior de Roger Winkles figures prominently As do 3 juniors at key positions Jerry Walker 5-9, 230 at guard and it Jimmy Lewis in the Backfield and Joey Mahan 6-0, 180 at have a Nice week at the festival activities continue All this week during the 65th annual peach and Melon festival. Wednesday at 1 00 . Judging of melons peaches cantaloupes pears and apples As Well As Booths will be done at the festival shed. The Shakespeare club will Host the Queens reception at 4 00 . At the first United methodist Church. Following the 7 00 . Street Parade will be the auction of the prize melons and fruits at the roping Arena at 8 30 . The Queens Coronation will be at 9 00 . On the festival stage. Tractor pull thursday Friday and saturday nights will feature the annual tractor pull. Starting times for thursday and Friday nights Are 7 30 ., while saturdays event begins at 7 00 . Grapevine opry on the festival stage thursday night at8 30 . Will be stars from the Grapevine opry. Free blood pressure checks the Cross timbers health clinic will once again have a station at the Entrance to the festival grounds from 7 toll . Each night for free blood pressure checks. Fiddlers contest the annual fiddlers contest will be Friday night of the peach and Melon festival beginning at 8 30 . With the finals at 10 45 . Sex students reunion saturday August 4, at the City Hall the de Leon sex students association will meet with doors opening at 9 00 Contd to Page 2 on saturday night pennies will be playing for a 9 00 . Saturday As part Joe Paul Nichols and the five Public dance on the slab beginning at of the 65th annual peach and Melon Comanche Public Library Box til c Oman he to 7 6tt2

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