The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

SERVICE TO BE HELD FOR SENATOR PARKER

Longtime lawmaker and political titan Carl A. Parker passed away Friday, March 22.  He was 89.  Parker was born in 1934 in Port Arthur and left home to live elsewhere twice: the first time when he attended law school at the University of Texas — he graduated in 1958 — and the second when he served four years in the U.S. Navy. For more than three decades, he served in the legislature: from 1962 to 1977 in the House of Representatives and from 1977 to 1995 in the Senate. His accolades abound: He was chosen as Outstanding Senator by Lawmen’s Magazine and named among the Ten Best Legislators by Texas Monthly. He was chosen as one of two Americans at the International Education Roundtable at Oxford University.  He owned The Parker Law Firm in Port Arthur and Nederland.    He wrote legislation to create the Port of Port Arthur. He wrote legislation to create Lamar State College Port Arthur, Lamar State College at Orange and passed a bill elevating the status of Lamar University.  He was elected to the legislature before he was 30 and, while there, became friends with some of the state’s most colorful characters.   Visitation will be held at 1:00 p.m., with funeral at 3:00 p.m. on April 2, 2024 at Calder Baptist Church in Beaumont. Graveside services will be 1:00 p. at Texas State Cemetery, Austin. 

TURNING BACK THE HANDS OF TIME

10 Years Ago-2014

We lost Bobby Taylor, 79, last Saturday after a long and tough battle with cancer. He and Barbara, the Georgia girl he married many years ago, fought the good fight together. In and out of the hospital was constant over the last couple of years. They were true partners, side by side, extending Bobby’s life for as long as they could.***** Congratulations to everyone‘s friend, Gina Mannino who recently received her doctorate from Lamar University. From now on we will have to get used to calling her Doctor Mannino. We‘re proud of our Bridge City grad, she was someone special even before she became a doctor.*****The Swamp Pop show at the VFW, featuring Jivin’ Gene and the Gulf Coast Boys, drew a sellout capacity crowd. People were turned away and the place holds 750 folks. ***** Sheriff Keith Merritt has always thought a lot about former Bridge City Chief Joey Hargrave and was glad Joey came to work for him. *****On Friday, an article in USA Today about Seattle free safety Earl Thomas of Orange stated, “Some regard the two-time All Pro as the keystone of the NFL’s best defense. If Jairus Byrd (New Orleans Saints) is worth $9 million a year, six years for $56 million, there is little doubt Thomas will become the first at his position whose yearly salary averages eight figures.”*****Country music Hall of Famer Merle Haggard will be the focus of two tributes next month. One for an album of his hits, recorded by current country artist and the other from the Academy of Country Music. “Working Man’s Poet, a Tribute to Merle Haggard” will be out April 1. It features Luke Bryan, Garth Brooks, Jason Aldean, Toby Keith and others. During the 49th Country Music Awards on April 6, Haggard’s 77 birthday, he will be the recipient of a music artist tribute segment and will receive the ACM’s Crystal Milestone award, honoring him for 50 years in country music. Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton will co-host. “Working Man’s Poet” will be available through itunes and sold only at Wal- Mart.*****Longview, in East Texas, paid $16,150 to end their contract with rocker Ted Nugent, who was to be the headliner at their Fourth of July celebration. In January, Nugent called President Obama a “subhuman mongrel.” It cost the city half of Nugent’s contract fee to keep him out of town. In the past, Nugent suggested that immigrates, in the country illegally, should be treated like “indentured servants” until they earned citizenship. Longview gave him the money and said, “Adios.***** We remember a special lady, Annabel Anderson, who died on this day, March 26 in 2012, at the age of 90. I know she’s with the angels.***** On March 28, a super guy, a special buddy Garrett Gros celebrates.*** Also the twins Brittany and Tiffany Leverett celebrate their special day. Their sister Jamie Leverett Barber celebrates two days later so I suspect they just have one big party.*****On March 30, longtime retired educator Terry Stuebing, Ella’s other half, celebrates. So does Karen Bergeron, Rhonda Titter Fenton and Lisa Smith.

20 Years Ago-2004

Lisa Nash, general manager of DERA rediscovered the ‘Walking Cane Sycamore Tree’ not far from the club house. The tree was featured in a story by Randy Beeson in a 1974 story.*****Deputy Sheriff Mark Philpott announces for Bridge City Council Place 2. He’s a 17 year resident of Bridge City where he and wife Babette have three sons. *****Sheriff Mike White was rushed to the hospital after a bad scare where a stint was inserted. The Sheriff is reported to be doing well. *****The Bridge City High baseball Cardinals are off to a great start. The team, coached by Billy Bryant, is 15-3 and 5-0 in district. The Cards beat Hardin Friday 11-1. Bridge City’s pitcher threw a no-hitter. Darrel Stephens is now 3-0. ***** Orangefield Bobcat pitcher, Clay Bourgeois, pitched a one-hitter in a shutout against Buna 5-0. *****Bridge City’s Kody Duplechin won the “A” singles title at the Silsbee tennis tournament. Kody soundly defeated all comers. 

45 Years Ago-1979

Griffin’s Smart Apparel for Men moves from downtown Plaza, 709 Green Ave., to new location at 2284 MacArthur next to Gerland’s.*****Come April 6, Edna V. DeMary, (Mrs. Flex), will be 85-years-old. She makes her home at 904 Cherry Ave. with her daughter Annabel and son-in-law Arthur Anderson. She has eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Miss Edna has lived an exciting life with Felix and could tell an interesting story. ***** The Bridge City High class of ‘79 chooses class superlatives. Class favorites are Traci Taylor and Kenny Ronsonette; Best All Around, Alice Martinez and Kirk Harmon; Most Likely to Succeed, Holli Day and David Dutschmann; Friendliest, Nina Scales and Brian Murphy.*****Pam Crew, counselor at the Orange Tourist Bureau, doesn’t only have a beautiful smile, she has the personality to go with it as she greets the thousands of tourist who enter our state.*****Some of the CB handles making the rounds are Tugboat Mama, Blue Max, Snuff Gully, Cowboy, Salt Shaker, Bug Hunter, Lady Godiva, Double Bubble, Lady Bronco, Doc Feel Good and Coon Skinner.

50 years ago-1974

American Party candidate for Texas governor Sam McDonnell, visits area. Billy Cole is his county chairman. *****Jack Luther is the big guy who owns Nelson’s Auto Service.*****Charlie Bullock is manager of Ames Fried Chicken. Jim Ames is owner. *****Sunday night, March 31, at 8 p.m., Joan Greco and Ed Lovelace tied the knot at the Lutheran church. The reception was held at the Orange House. Joan was a beautiful bride; Ed was his same old self. The bride and groom went up to their suite when the clock struck midnight on April Fool’s Day.*****Betty Harmon loads the bus with kids and heads out for Garner State Park.*****Buzzy Gunn goes on diet, loses 20 pounds. Dayle and Buzz are trimming down for their annual summer trip to the Florida beach. *****Sue Collins has surgery. *****Inez Hearn is the new manager of Montgomery Wards.*****Jerry Reid and Bonita Blanda Davis were wed Friday night. *****Bill Towns runs for re-election to school board at Bridge City.

A FEW HAPPENINGS

The Galloping Gourmets of the AAUW (American Association of University Women) gathered at the new Barry's Mediterrean Grill in Orange on Saturday. Jack McKinney and Margaret Light arranged for the outing. They were there along with Karen McKinney, Rebecca Flickinger, Sarah Boehme, Willard and Doris Hudson, Juliet Smith (Jack wouldn't leave his basketball games), Carolyn and Ken Hillsten, Linda and Billy White, Mary Ann Fetchin, Shirley Marshall,  and Kathy Crawley. Not part of the group, but enjoying the new eatery that evening were Al Granger and Scott Hasty. Scott's going to be busy this week in another floral design contest.*****Theresa Cronin will be on the Atlantic Ocean for a few days as she takes a cruise from Tampa all the way to Barcelona, Spain.*****The Hargrove women, Pauline, with daughters Jeannie Alexander and April King, took a spring trip to Louisville, Kentucky. They visited Churchill Downs and a ghost walk through Old Louisville. No reports yet on whether any Kentucky bourbon was tasted.*****Amie Smith and Ronda Allee went shopping at Round Top. Amie's purchases included a custom cowgirl hat and some things that will show up in her floral shop, Trendz. Has Trey Smith seen the bills, yet?.*****Krewe de Onyx this weekend is having a March Madness Sneaker Ball at the American Legion. Semi-formal wear with sneakers. A lot more comfortable for the women than heels.*****Cris McLeod with the Lutcher Theater marked her 35th anniversary with the theater. She is now director of operations, working her way up from beginning part-time in the box office.*****Pat Caillavet rode the Lions Carnival Carousel for the first time in years. She couldn't turn down the request from her great-granddaughter.*****The Lions continued through wet grounds this week with the annual charity carnival. That carousel was already down and in storage on Sunday after the carnival had its last night on Saturday.*****Tammy Burch-Baker and Tamara Baker took a birthday beach trip along with Regina Marple.*****Becky and Ron McAnnelley saw Eric Church at the Houston Rodeo.*****Nancy Denmark, who grew up on 20th Street in  Orange and graduated from Stark High, has become a butterfly and plant expert. She will be back in town Tuesday, April 2, to give a 5:30 p.m. talk at Cottage Cuttings on Bancroft Road about growing native milkweed to help attract butterflies. The night before, she'll have a program at the Logon Cafe in Beaumont at 7 p.m., sponsored by the Big Thicket Association.*****Congratulations to the new 2024-25 cheerleaders at Little Cypress-Mauriceville High. Tryouts were last week and the varsity cheerleaders are Kyndall Davis, Peyton Elliott, Bella Ferro, Kolbi Fountain, Sydney Guidry, Kenidee Istre, Kinley Lacouture, Hanna LaBlanc, Madison Loupe, Cailynn Nichols, Ava Rambo, Jaiden Romar, Ella Russell, Gracelynn Smith, EmmaKate Staton, Brooke Tinsley, Delani Van Pelt, Kylee Vincent, Teagun Wilson, and Zoe Winn, with Lanie Roff as mascot.  Junior varsity cheerleaders are Aubrey Blackman, Jayslea Bourdier, Bristol Castino, Kymber Dogherty, Addyson Farwell, Mattie  Glende, Charley Jones, Jada Jones, Henley Kalena, Ashlynn Mobbs, Kaylee Ray, Laney Reynolds, Emmerson Richards, Arden Robison, Olivia  Scheiderer, Avery Standley, Lilly Tarver, and Morgan Worster, with Chloe Zarate as mascot.*****The Boston Red Sox have been showing some Orange County, Texas. Grant Anderson, a West Orange-Stark grad who pitched last year for the champion Texas Rangers, is now at Red Sox spring training camp along with Chase Shugart, a Bridge City grad. Wonder if OC can get two pitchers on the Red Sox this year.*****Speaking of spring training, Nancy and Tony Dallas have been  in Florida seeing sons Jack and Chad in pro baseball training. Chad is in the Phillies system and Jack with the Blue Jays. Broderick and Leigh Anne Dallas Harrell brought baby Honey on her first plane trip to see her uncles.*****Sherry and Mike Combs had their 54th wedding anniversary and went to Hot Springs Village in Arkansas where the had a cabin  along a picturesque lake.***Gregory and Paris Rodriguez also celebrated an anniversary.***Meri Elen Jacobs is celebrating the engagement of Alayna Jacobs and John Jefferson III. The Combs will also be preparing for a wedding. Grandsone Black LeBlanc popped the question to Alana Sullivan.

BREAUX BIRTHDAYS

A few folks we know having birthdays in the next few days. March 27: Art Mason, Nancy Crew, Jordan Harper, Sarah Coffey, Dale Forse,

Jane Scherer.*****March 28: Mike Roberts, Jennifer Kreamer, Dorothy Keith, Jean Jackson, Lindsey Peoples, Rob Butler, Steve Holland, Annely Domas, Jason James.*****March 29: Katie May,  Kaydee Wingate, Robert Clark Jr., Julie Norwood, Ivalyn Anderson, Julie Walker.*****March 30: Kate Ferguson, Lisa Smith, Terry Stuebing, Karen Bergeron, Cliff Brookshire.*****March 31: Terry Seal,  Malori Walton, Dana Myers, Danny Carter, Hunter Wilson, Mary Lejeune, Matthew Cooper, Rebecca Hunter, Carolyn Whittaker.*****April 1: 93rd birthday McDonald Baptist Church, Tracie Ray, Elizabeth Weir, Pam Savoy, James Williams, Steve Adams, Allison Asbury, Angie Sellers.*****April 2: James "Mack" McDonald, Barbara Riddick, Vickie Foreman, Dalica Marie Bienivides, Ed Whitrock, Jason Vincent, Kellie Fontenot, Kent Pierce, Norma Free, Michael McAllister, Mikayla Kohn, Nevella Toal, Sawyer Hogan.***** Birthday greetings go out to Bill Belcher, who celebrated 97 years with family, including grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Others making another trip around the sun included Larry Fisher, Michael Catt, Raul Burch, Sandra Gross, Connie Powell, Sissy Hargis Willley, Jack McClelland, Pam Nugent, incoming district attorney Krispen Walker, BCISD Police Chief Cliff Hargrave, Cody Strause, Jessica Singer, Marcia Brown, Evan Guidry, Keely Mason, Terry LeGrande, Kelvin  Knauf, Jessica Singer, Adi Hommel, Melissa Ashby, Kelly Griffin, Angela Mills, Joey Robins, Angie Cagle McGee, and Deann Lathrop.

CAJUN STORY OF THE WEEK

Da state of Louisiana was taking some bids for carpenter work on one of the state’s historical buildings. Joe Morceaux, from Carencro, look da job over, him. After measuring and figuring his bid, Morceaux said, “I can do it, me, for $9,000.” I need $4,000 for da material, $4,000 for my crew and dat leave $1,000 profit for me.

“Tex” Walker, from Texas him, look at da job. He measures and calculated, him, dat he could do dat little job for $7,000; $3,000 for materials, $3,000 for labor and still make himself $1,000.

Last bidder, Alsid Fuselier, (I’m not sure if he is kin to Tony or not) from Breaux Bridge, steps up dire and witout looking at da job, he says to Roy Theriot, da government man wat is taking da bids, he say, “Me, I do dat job for $27,000.”

Surprised Theriot, da bid man, ax him to explain his bid. “It’s like dis, Fuselier says, “$10,000 for me, $10,000 for you and we hire dat dere Texan for the utta $7,000.

C’EST TOUT

HAPPY EASTER TO YOU AND YOURS

Easter, a significant festival in Christianity, commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead after His crucifixion. While the core celebration is consistent across Christian denominations, various traditions and customs have developed over time. Easter is a time of joy, hope, and renewed faith for Christians worldwide, regardless of cultural variations. The central message remains constant: Jesus Christ conquered death, offering eternal life to all who believe.*****Thanks for your support through all the years. We are proud to be your community newspaper. Take care and God bless.