Flashback: Cowboy Homecoming is proposed by Chamber of Commerce as annual event




Trades kiss for hat-Janie Margaret Schnitz, 5, left, is the envy of Atascosa County small fry. She attended the San Antonio Livestock Show last week, met cowboy star Rex Allen, gave him a kiss and got one of Allen’s famous hats in return. Here, Joy Carolyn, 9, fits the Rex Allen hat on Janie Margaret’s head. Both are daughters of Mr. and Mrs. O.B. Schnitz of Pleasanton. Express photo originally ran in the February 23, 1956 edition of the Pleasanton Express.

Trades kiss for hat-Janie Margaret Schnitz, 5, left, is the envy of Atascosa County small fry. She attended the San Antonio Livestock Show last week, met cowboy star Rex Allen, gave him a kiss and got one of Allen’s famous hats in return. Here, Joy Carolyn, 9, fits the Rex Allen hat on Janie Margaret’s head. Both are daughters of Mr. and Mrs. O.B. Schnitz of Pleasanton. Express photo originally ran in the February 23, 1956 edition of the Pleasanton Express.

less than two weeks there will be a crowd gathered in Jourdanton and it will be all for a good cause-to raise money to make Jourdanton a better looking place to live. The annual barbecue and auction that has been such a success in the past is once again around the corner. Sunday, March 5, is the day that the Jourdanton Chamber of Commerce will gather and prepare a delicious barbecue chicken lunch with all the trimmings. Meals are only $6 a plate.

20 YEARS AGOEddie

Nixon, chairman of the Poteet Strawberry Festival Association Entertainment Committee, announced that two of the entertainment industry’s top flight, rising young stars have signed to appear in concert at the 49th annual 1996 Poteet Strawberry Festival April 12-14. Over the years, the Poteet Strawberry Festival has gained a reputation as a showcase for new stars in the country music industry. “This year we were lucky enough to capture two of the best new stars around and we’re delighted to bring them here for our guests to hear and enjoy,” said Nixon. “We will present the exciting new group, Perfect Stranger, in concert Saturday, April 13 and one of the industry’s premier young singers David Lee Murphy, Sunday, April 14. Both concerts are scheduled for Stage 4, the VFW Pavilion, at 5 p.m. both days.”

30 YEARS AGOThe

new truck of the Piasano Fire Department made its first out of town run on Wednesday, Feb. 19, at about 8:15 p.m. The call was for a one car fire on IH 37 south around the 98 mile marker. One thing that has become evident about making this fire call is the department now has two fire trucks and an important item has become a must. The department needs two way radios for the trucks. The importance of radios is demonstrated in many ways. Contact between trucks is essential if the second truck is needed and a quicker response can be achieved when a second call comes in. There is also a chance in the future there will be a county wide radio service for the county fire departments.

Have you been an athlete, always wanted to be an athlete or just interested in athletics? The Pleasanton Fellowship of Christian Athletics are attempting to form an adult chapter of the organization and an informational meeting has been set for Thursday, March 6, at 8 p.m. Jim Faulk, area FCA director, will be guest speaker when potential members gather at the Fellowship Hall of the First Baptist Church at 400 Reed St. Mark your calendars and plan to attend this important organizational meeting.

40 YEARS AGOA

grassfire burning out of control and fanned by brisk south easterly breezes Monday claimed the old Rossville School. The old building, while not particularly historic in itself, represents what probably is one of the older established schools in Atascosa County. What started out as a routine cemetery cleaning job for Mr. and Mrs. Max Mayers of Poteet set the stage for the flaming fiasco. The Mayers had been cleaning the graves of weeds and trash in the small cemetery adjacent to the old building and although completely calm when they began burning the debris, the wind began to rise suddenly and fan the flames driving them toward the building. Alarmed the Mayers rushed to the Ed Mayers home to call the Poteet Fire Department but the fireboys had truck trouble and it was almost fifteen minutes before they could get to the site. By that time the building was in full bloom.

Pleasanton’s Jaycees are sponsoring a Gun Safety Program and a BB Gun Contest for local young people. A Gun Safety Program featuring a film and lecture by Game Warden, Arthur McCall will be held Friday evening, February 28, at 7:30 p.m. at the Pleasanton Fire Station. Game Warden, Arthur McCall will talk on hunting, gun safety and demonstrate some archery. Saturday morning, Feb. 29, at 10 a.m. at the Fire Station the BB competition for boys and girls ages 7 to 14 will begin. There will also be competition on Tuesday, March 2 and Thursday, March 4, at 7:30 p.m. at the Fire Station.

50 YEARS AGOChamber

of Commerce directors last night unanimously endorsed a proposal that “Cowboy Homecoming” be established as an annual event in Pleasanton, a city that can lay claim to being the “birthplace of the cowboy.” Dr. Ben Parker, C of C president, made the suggestion in detailed form. It drew a warm response from directors. Tentatively the “Cowboy Homecoming” was set for the last Friday and Saturday in August. At the same time, Dr. Parker said that a “South Texas Hall of Fame for Old Trail Drivers and Cowboys” would be established in conjunction with the event. Proposal was advanced to have three old-timers selected each year for the “Hall of Fame” from nominees screened by a special committee. Photographs of these old-timers would be placed in the city hall while a copy would be presented to family descendants.

Alexander (Alex) Ross, retired Rossville stockman and a member of a distinguished pioneer family, died Monday in a local hospital. He was 81. He had suffered a series of strokes and he had been hospitalized intermittently since last summer. Born at Rossville on Feb. 7, 1885, Mr. Ross was the son of John Crisp Ross and Mary Ann Navarro. His father was a Scottish immigrant who landed at Galveston with 127 other persons of Scotch, Welch and English ancestry on Feb. 8,1867. Sixty of the immigrants died as a result of an epidemic. Among them was John C. Ross’ first wife. He later married Mary Ann Navarro, famed Texas Patriot, who is generally regarded as the Father of Atascosa County.

60 YEARS AGOMr.

and Mrs. R.E. Barry will formally open their new 19-unit Encino Motel, located on Hwy. 281 north of Pleasanton, next Sunday. Open house has been set from 1 to 6 p.m. when the motel will be open to public inspection. To this reporter, who obtained a sneak preview yesterday, the Encino unquestionably is one of the finest places of its type in South Texas. “It will meet either Triple-A or Western Motel Association specifications,” said Mr. Barry, former oil field and heavy equipment contractor, who supervised the construction. Mr. and Mrs. Barry personally will operate the Encino Motel with the assistance of Mrs. Barry’s sister, Mrs. Bess Youngblood of Houston.

ROBBIE HAMBY, delves into the Pleasanton Express shelves for news of the past. She may be reached at: rhamby@pleasantonexpress.com.


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