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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Wednesday, June 23, 1999
Chamber given approval for trademark
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, June 23,1999--It's almost official. Pecos, Texas, the Home of
the World's First Rodeo, is also home of the Texas Rodeo Hall of Fame.
In name, at least.
Pecos Chamber of Commerce executive director Tom Rivera said this morning
that national approval of the hall of fame trademark was received verbally
about two weeks ago, and the application is making its way through the
formal process in Washington, D.C.
"We have the state trademark approved," Rivera said.
Now all that's left is finding a building to put it in and obtaining
grant funds to renovate it.
Rivera said the chamber has appointed a committee to work on by-laws
for the non-profit corporation that will apply for grants, under the umbrella
of the city's 501-C3 (non-profit) designation.
Under the city's umbrella, the chamber's corporation can apply for federal,
state and private grants.
"If we put it under the chamber, it wouldn't qualify for a lot of private
foundation money," Rivera said.
The group has already chosen the old railroad depot near the West of
the Pecos Museum as the ideal location. The city of Pecos owns the building,
but it sits on railroad property, and Union Pacific has been reluctant
to release it.
"I checked with a couple of foundations, and they would have to have
the land at least on a long-term lease," Rivera said.
The depot is in good shape but "just needs to be spruced up," he said.
"They don't build them like that now."
City Manager Kenneth Neal said the chamber has agreed to allow AMTRAK
to use a part of the building for a "whistle stop" depot if passenger service
is restored between Fort Worth and El Paso.
Passengers would obtain tickets in advance, and the train crew would
be notified to stop in Pecos to pick them up - or let them debark. Otherwise,
the train would "just whistle on through," said Rivera.
He said the lobby of the Hall of Fame could serve as a waiting room.
Neal said that he is working on a grant application to the Texas Department
of Transportation under their statewide enhancement program. He had planned
to seek funds to restore the depot for use by AMTRAK, but since the chamber
has plans for the Hall of Fame, he now is looking for a building to house
a transportation museum.
"I have until August 9 to get the application in, so I am trying to
come up with a new idea," he said.
The museum would house old cars or buggies, and he would like to locate
it near the West of the Pecos Museum.
He said the former Pecos Motor Co. building located at Second and Cedar
Streets would be ideal. Kevin Duke is using that building to house his
sign-painting business.
With the addition of the Texas Rodeo Hall of Fame in the old depot and
a transportation museum in the Pecos Motor Co. building, the three blocks
surrounding the museum would form a complex showcasing varied facets of
local history.
A new shed is under construction behind the Pecos Motors building to
expand the museum's farm and ranch annex. On the west side of the museum
are the Jersey Lillie, Clay Allison's grave, a Union Pacific caboose and
the Linebery museum that houses an authentic ranch chuckwagon.
Visitors to Night in Old Pecos and the West of the Pecos Rodeo can get
a history lesson along with entertainment.
Postmaster still awaiting delivery
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, June 23,1999--Where is the new Post Office going to be?
That is a question posed often to Postmaster Ramona Sterling. And Sterling
doesn't know.
Six bidders proposed locations for the one-story building that the U.S.
Postal Service hopes to build within an area bounded by Third, Cedar, Walthall
and Eddy Streets.
Sterling said that some question about utilities came up as the group
making the decision evaluated the bids, and they are doing further checking.
"They will send a list so I can post it," Sterling said of the finalist
selections.
The delay has thrown the project off schedule, but Sterling said she
hopes to have construction complete by the end of the Year 2000. That would
be two years after the project was set in motion.
Sterling said the first floor of the three-story Post Office building
at 100 W. Fourth Street is too small for mail sorting operations, and it
is not feasible to use the second and third floors of the 64-year-old building.
The Postal Service has been busy putting in new Post Offices in cities
around the United States over the past few years. A new post office is
also scheduled to be build at Toyahvale in southern Reeves County.
Former Pecosite returns in time for birthday
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, June 23,1999--A former Pecos resident and educator has come back
to the community she says she loves and is looking forward to her birthday
soon.
"This is just one of the nicest communities anyone could ever live in,"
said Marana Orsborn Humphrey, who will be celebrating her 99th birthday
next Monday, June 28.
Humphrey said she is glad to be back in Pecos. "I'm just so happy to
be here, everyone has been so nice to us," she said.
Marana Orsborn Humphrey was born June 28, 1900 to Gus and Nellie Osborn.
She is the great-granddaughter of Emory Rains, after which a county seat
and county were named.
Rains was also served in the Texas Senate, and was instrumental in many
of the early Texas laws. He was the father of the homestead exemption law.
Marana was the oldest of five children. Her father was sheriff of Rains
County for five terms.
Her mother, Nellie, died when Marana was in her teens, and she took
over the household. She married Joseph Robert Humphrey of Point on Aug.
29, 1923.
"Joe Bob," as he liked to be called, had graduated from Pecos High School
in 1916, after coming to live with his sister Nancy Couch, because he wanted
to graduate from an accredited high school. He attended Trinity University
until World War I interrupted his studies.
Humphrey returned from France when the war had ended. He had also studied
at Lyons University while there, and became principal of Pecos High School.
After Joe Bob and Marana were wed they headed to Van Horn, where he
was superintendent of schools.
In 1925, they returned to Pecos, where Joe Bob was superintendent of
schools, and Marana taught school. They spent a number of happy years in
Pecos. Marana's sister, Lillian, and brother, Sparks also came to Pecos
to live with them and attend high school. The couple enjoyed being active
in the First Presbyterian Church, and enjoyed their family including, Nancy
and Bob Couch, and Mary Kate and J.E. Couch, their niece and nephew, as
well as many friends.
After Marana and Joe Bob left Pecos, they moved to Olney, where he was
superintendent of schools. During this period of time, he completed his
doctorate, and their first daughter was born, Martha Jo.
After Olney, Humphrey became superintendent of schools in Temple, and
later president of Temple Junior College. Their second daughter, Lillian
was born during these years.
In 1950, the family moved to Austin, where, "Dr. Joe" was with the Texas
Education Agency.
Marana registered at the University of Texas, where she completed her
B.S. degree, and also her master's degree.
She taught in the Austin schools until her retirement in 1968. She loved
her teaching days, and her last school was Woolridge Elementary, where
she spent 12 happy years in the same classroom. During this time, she was
voted teacher of the year twice, and was recognized with honors at her
retirement.
"She taught in the Pecos schools and several of her former students
have been coming in here and telling us some nice stories about when she
taught," said her daughter, Lillian Creasy.
In 1972, her husband passed away, and she continued to live in their
home in Austin. During the next two decades plus her grandsons lived with
her for varying periods of time while they attended The University of Texas,
and even after. "This was a joy for Marana, and afforded a closeness with
her grandsons that many grandmothers do not get to experience," said Creasy.
She has four grandsons, Robert Rhea, Scott Rhea, Lillian's sons, and
Joe Bob Muirhead and John Muirhead, Martha Jo's sons.
In 1998, Marana's sister, Lillian Orsborn, came to share her home. She
passed away in October of that year.
Last June, Lillian, with her husband, Richard Creasy, came to Pecos,
for her to sing in her cousin, Alan Zeman's wedding to Nan Wylie. "When
we saw the `for sale' sign on the State Theater, we were so excited, because
owning a theater has been our dream," said Creasy.
The couple purchased it with cousins Alan and Nan, and began making
plans to move to Pecos and bring Marana with them.
In March, Marana, Lillian and Richard moved into their home in Pecos.
This also is closer to her daughter, Martha Muirhead, who lives in El Paso.
"My mom has been reunited with some of her former students and acquaintances,
which has been a pleasure," said Creasy. "Both my sister and I are also
teachers," she said.
Mrs. Humphrey will celebrate her birthday with a reception held in her
honor at the First Presbyterian Church immediately following the service
on June 27. Any former students or friends are invited, according to Creasy.
City, county saw job gains
PECOS, June 23,1999--The start of harvest season helped boost both
the labor force and the number of jobs in Reeves County in May, but the
increase in workers sent the county's unemployment rate to its second-highest
level of 1999.
According to the Texas Workforce Commission, Reeves County added 270
jobs last month, with the number of people employed surpassing the 6,000
mark. However, the labor force grew by more than 340 people, causing the
unemployment rate to rise from April's 12.1 percent to 12.6 percent.
That's the highest since February, when TWC reported a 12.5 percent
unemployment rate for Reeves County. The highest unemployment rate of the
year was in January, at 14.3 percent. Since then the county has added 742
new jobs and 727 new workers.
Pecos' jobless rate also was up last month, from 13.8 to 14.3 percent.
The city added over 250 jobs, but that was offset by the addition of more
than 270 people to the labor force.
The city and county normally show an increase in both jobs and labor
force in the spring, when the local onion harvest begins, followed by the
cantaloupe and bell pepper harvests during the summer and early fall.
Reeves County and Pecos weren't alone in seeing their jobless rates
climb from April to May. The Permian Basin as a whole saw unemployment
grow from 8.6 to 9 percent, and both Midland and Ector counties and the
cities of Midland and Odessa reported increases of about one-half percent
in their jobless rates.
The only exceptions were Ward County, where the jobless rate held a
10.9 percent, and Dawson and Winkler counties, where unemployment was down
for the month.
Winkler County's rate fell from 14.2 to 13 percent in May and is down
from 18 percent in January, but the TWC said that's due to a drop of over
300 in the local labor force, as the number of jobs was the exact same
as it had been five months ago.
Guilty verdict returned on citation
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, June 23,1999--Pecos Municipal Court jurors on Monday found Ricardo
Corrales guilty of backing without safety and assessed a $25 fine plus
court costs of $46.25.
Corrales exercised his right to a jury trial after receiving a citation
from city police following a traffic accident. He represented himself at
trial.
City Attorney Scott Johnson prosecuted for the city of Pecos.
PHA seeking USDA funding for FLH repairs
PECOS, June 23,1999--An application for federal assistance from
the U.S. Department of Agriculture for renovation of the Farm Labor Housing
apartments will be the topic of discussion at the regular Pecos Housing
Authority Meeting.
Board members will meet at 6 p.m., Thursday, at the PHA/FLH Administration
office, 600 Meadowbrook Drive.
Renovating the Farm Labor Housing apartments was discussed briefly at
the last regular meeting and PHA Director Nellie Gomez told the board at
that time that she would seek funding for the project.
The board will also discuss CIAP 98 project and budget update.
Under communication the board will listen to an notice of re-organization
of the PHA Resident council.
Under regular business the board will discuss the monthly income and
expense reports; monthly accounts payable and the monthly occupancy report
for both the housing authority and the farm labor housing apartments.
LOTTO
AUSTIN (AP) — Results of the Cash 5 drawing Tuesday night: Winning numbers
drawn: 4-5-20-31-38. Number matching five of five: 0. Matching four of
five: 187. Prize: $1,098.
***
AUSTIN (AP) — The winning Pick 3 numbers drawn Tuesday by the Texas
Lottery, in order: 3-5-4 (three, five, four)
Obituary
Dorothy Fay Marcum Griffin
Graveside services for Dorothy Fay Marcum Griffin, 79, will be at 2:30
p.m. Thursday, June 24, in Evergreen Cemetery in Paris, Tx., with Rev.
Julie Halstead of Paris and Rev. Don Griffin of Jones, Okla. officiating.
Services will be under the direction of Fry & Gibbs Funeral Home.
Griffin was born on Aug. 1, 1919 in Deport and died this morning in
her home in Paris.
She attended school in Red River County and married E. Jerrell Griffin
in Deport on Sept. 26, 1953. She was a member of the Oak Park United Methodist
Church in Paris, and of the V.F.W. Auxiliary and was a former member of
the Eagles Lodge.
She was proceeded in death by two sisters, Loys Golden and Lorene Matlock,
and by twin brothers Ronald and Donald Marcum.
Survivors include her husband, one daughter, Gail Jones of Crosbyton;
a son, James Ricky Exum of Pecos; a sister, Mary Westbrook of Virginia
Beach., Va., four grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the Ella McFadden Hospice, St. Joseph's Hospital,
820 Clarksville St., Paris, Tx., 75460.
WEATHER
PECOS, June 23,1999--High Tuesday 91; low last night 70. Light sprinkle.
Tonight, partly cloudy. Low in the upper 60s. South wind 5-15 mph. Thursday,
partly cloudy. High in the lower 90s. South wind 10-20 mph.
Pecos Enterprise
York M. "Smokey" Briggs, Publisher
Division of Buckner News Alliance, Inc.
324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772
Phone 915-445-5475, FAX 915-445-4321
e-mail news@pecos.net
Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.
Copyright 1999 by Pecos Enterprise
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