SCENE IN PASSING
MARIE WHITEHEAD
Last week several pictures of a high moment in the life of our community from the early 1950s, was shared with you. Most of those in the photo were not identified. The winner honoree of a queen title was given, but it was wrong. The newly crowned queen was Joy Fox. Thanks to Darla Johnston, Frances Richey Bivins and Roberta Riggs Wilson-Slover for their contributions. Queen Joy grew up and married another Rusk man, Carroll Wayne Moseley. Both are now deceased. Others in the group are believed to have included Jenny Lynn Jared, Yvonne Willingham, Bobbie Lynn Hassell, a guess of one is Lougene Henderson. It is sad that so few have exact memories of the moment, but it has been more than a half century. It was good to learn that one of Jake and Wanda Johnson's daughters grew up and married here and is still here. She Wanda Pierce. This is just small vignette of what can happen when one begins to "clean house." Katie Gillespie found the pictures in her household of many years' accumulation. She has enjoyed the ripples of memory created by yesterday's photography.

Another apology this week goes to David Durrett of New Birmingham Natural Resources, for incorrectly identifying his firm in a recent news story. He had played a part in a film, spearheaded by our own Tom Townsend. The program, "Weaponology," has already aired, with a focus on the French Foreign Legion. Our writer, Leland Acker, did a great job of relating the local angle. Land used in the operation of New Birmingham Natural Resources on FM 343 east proved to be ideal for shooting scenes that originally happened in North Africa and Vietnam. Mr. Townsend's role in movie making has grown considerably through his ongoing collection of actual machinery of war including vehicles. He was asked to help with this venture because of his membership in the French Foreign Legion.

Seen through the eyes of outsiders, our area may appear to be dull and maybe boring. But to those of us who live and work here, it is anything but.

Moving to the future, don't forget to attend or send your best wishes to a gentleman who is celebrating another birthday. He is Alvin Burchfield, who with his late wife Ruby, is well known to a host of relatives and friends. Daughter Judy Williams wants everyone to know they are invited to the party at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23 at Salem Missionary Baptist Church's fellowship hall. He will be 95.

These young people just keep on growing up and moving on. One of our former staff members, John Wayne Garbutt, has just added another degree to his wall. He received a master's degree in history last December from SFASU. His thesis was titled, "We Were Soil Soldiers: The Civilian Conservation Corps Camps of the Lufkin District." Dr. Archie McDonald, regents professor of history, directed his thesis study. John was an assistant to Dr. McDonald during the time he was pursuing his degree. His focus on public history and his interest in the National Park System will hopefully lead to continued service. He is also positioned to teach at the junior college level. Earlier degrees had been earned from TJC and UT Tyler. John Wayne's dad, also John, is well known for his role at the Texas State Railroad more than a decade now and his interest in the history of Cherokee County. Mom Janet is a faithful on staff with the Cherokee County Teachers Credit Union who shares her family's enthusiasm for preserving the past. Best wishes for a happy future is always in order to our graduates. And that reminds me, we will pay special recognition to this special group of young adults in the near future.

John Nickle and spouse Bonnie Ellen live down the street. He enjoys estate sales and the historical "stuff" he finds. Bless his heart, he returned to me the original copy of a statement sent by this newspaper to the Texas Cafe. Now. Do you remember this business on the west side of the square? It occupied the space later to become the second half of Mathews-Miller. Now who owned and operated the Texas Cafe? I believe it was Polly Guynn and her husband, Ben. But I am always open to the possibility of needing correction. There was only one charge on the bill. It was for a six-inch advertisement on Dec. 20. But how do we know when? My Better Half had marked the bottom, "Paid, 2-1-63, EHW." Well, it probably was a Christmas greeting ad, thus the 12/20, and the cost factors out to 60 cents per column inch. And 45 years later, we have tangible evidence that something really happened on Feb. 1, 1963. That was the year our Child No. 2 celebrated her fifth birthday. That was also the year of one of the saddest days in the entire history of our nation--Nov. 22, 1963-- Dallas, Texas.

It bothers me to ponder the mystery of memories stored in my head. Next week we're going to observe the 158th birthday of this newspaper. Everyone is invited to join us from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Please come and add your "John Henry" to our guest register. Some historian may find your name on the list and discover a missing link in a family genealogy search. Who knows.

Thanks so much to each of you who read this space. Words without readers have no value. Think about it... and keep smiling. herald@mediactr.com