The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

LOVE TO MOTHER’S EVERYWHERE

Throughout my life, Mother’s Day has always been important to me. Mothers not only carry and give birth, but also nurture us through those formative years but when we skin a knee or fall out of a tree Mom will always make it okay. Her tenderness and motherly love is unmatched. Often it’s when you look back you realize just how important her part was in your development. Sometimes it’s after she is gone, when the big picture fully comes to you. The thousands of times she sacrificed for your benefit. Dad loves you but there is nothing like a mother’s love. She’ll lay her life down for you and she’ll be there when everyone else has left you. If you are fortunate enough to still have your mom, hug and kiss her this

Mother’s Day because she deserves it. Remember someday she’ll be gone and that will hurt, really hurt.

SERVICE FOR “ROCK” ROTHROCK HELD

Robert ‘Rock’ Rothrock, age 98, passed away May 1, funeral service was held Sunday, May 5, at First United Methodist Church Slade Chapel, in Orange. He was buried with military honors. “Rock” was from the greatest generation, a WWII Navy veteran. Each day the number of those heroes gets smaller. Rock and his wife, Alice, were regular members of the Wednesday Lunch Bunch. After she died his son, Charlie, brought him to lunch until his death. Rock continued to attend until COVID ran us all home. He was a good man who all of his life gave back to his country and community. Few people have done more for mankind. Our condolences to daughter Debra and Judge Hershel Stagner and their entire family. May he rest in peace. Please see obituary.

TURNING BACK THE HANDS OF TIME

10 Years Ago-2014

The death of Vickie Colburn, 56, in a single car accident is proof that when you wake up in the morning, you never know what the day will bring. For Vickie it brought the end to a good, productive life. We are all guilty of taking every day for granted. Vicki passed

away May 4. A native of Orange Vickie Colburn was a wife, mother and grandmother. Our sincere condolences to husband Oscar and the entire family. *****Gene Brown, of Mauriceville, born in 1934, is old enough to remember when a little money was hard to come by. Gene is a fan of Roy’s ‘Life’s Highway’ column. He says he never picked cotton all day but he picked blackberries. Not a dream job but the price got up to $1 a gallon. Good money in those days. Five or six gallons a week bought a lot of necessities for the family.*****We were sorry to hear of the death of Rev. Bob Simmons who passed away last week. Brother Simmons, former pastor of Maranatha Church and established North Orange Baptist Church many years ago. He was an engineer for Ed Lovelace at KOGT and Ed’s two Beeville stations. He also was an announcer and for many years had a religious Sunday morning show. He was truly a man of God. *****We were also saddened to hear of the death of Edwin Johansson, 91, who died April 29. He had been a longtime resident of Bridge City. Through his civic endeavors he helped a young city grow. *****California Chrome, a 5-2 favorite, raced to a victory in the 140th Kentucky Derby Saturday. Trained by Art Sherman, 77, the oldest trainer to win the Derby, will now take his horse to the Preakness in Baltimore, the next step to the Triple Crown.*****” Celebrating birthdays May 10 are lovely ladies Sharon Woolley, Katie Hubbard, *****May 11, an all important day, Mother’s Day is also the birthday of Pat Collins, and Penny’s little sister Sherry Walles.*****Celebrating on May 13 is longtime school teacher, a great lady Ann Bryant.***** Again we will have a new congressman in our district. The Primary will select a nominee. Both Dr. Babin and Ben Strusand are seasoned politicians. They will face Democrat Michael Cole, an Orange county school teacher and Hal Ridley, from Bridge City, running as a Green Party candidate.

20 YEARS AGO-2004

A longtime provider of internet service in Orange County has been sold to a national company. J. Glenn Hughes, owner, sold EXP Services of Bridge City to Nationwide Internet of Hurst, Texas.*****Two seniors at Little Cypress-Mauriceville high school were recently honored as Mr. and Ms. LC-M. Staci Lumpkin and Jonathan Davis were named at the LC-M pageant.*****Orange Savings Bank will celebrate their 50th anniversary Wednesday, May12, with an open house.*****Jeremy Stolfa, former Bridge City and SFA football star, has been named assistant athletic director at SFA.*****Last week, oil prices went up to $40 a barrel before dipping a few pennies. (Editor’s note: Can you believe how high oil shot up under the George W. years. Once up it ain‘t ever coming down.)*****At this same time Nick Wingate is selling heavy beef New York strips for $3.29 and 10 pound packs of ground meat for $9.90. *****Smarty Jones captured hearts and the 130th Kentucky Derby. Smarty Jones was only the 18th horse to enter the derby undefeated in its 130 years and only the fifth horse to remain undefeated after the derby. The last was Seattle Slew, in 1977 that went on to win the Triple Crown.

45 Years Ago-1979

FHA chapters attend the state convention at Tarrant County Center in Fort Worth. Attending from LC-M were delegates Cathy, Emily and Lisa Fore, Marlene Hodges, Cheryl Choates, Sherri Hardesty, Jodi Bryant, Lana Dowling, Janet Seago and Sandy Dolan. The two advisors are Jo Nell Barrett and Doris Bruce.*****Congrats to WO-S speedster Greg Hill for his performance in the 330 meter intermediate hurdles in last week’s Region III, Class 4-A meet. Hill held the national record briefly with a 36:77 time in the preliminaries, but was outdone in the finals by Dennis Brantley, of Houston-Worthing, with a new national record of 36:58.*****The Texas Association of Basketball Coaches selects Billy Tubbs college “Coach of the Year.” In the third year at Lamar Tubbs turned the program around. In the 1978-79 seasons Lamar’s record was 23.9 with a Southland championship and a berth in the NCAA’s Midwest tournament. Lamar upset Detroit 95- 87 in the opening round but lost to national champion Michigan State. Tubbs three year record at Lamar is 53-35 and 41-18 over the past two seasons. *****Bruce Huckabay, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Huckabay, was named Distributive Education Student of the Year at Bridge City. The DE banquet was held at the Ramada in Orange. Bruce was selected for job attendance, excellent attitude and job performance. W.T. Oliver was the guest speaker.*****John Dubose has been named general manager of the Port Arthur News. John and his family make their home in Bridge City.*****Theresa Hughes will be sweet 16 on May 15. A happy birthday to Angie Behair, who turned

17 on May 8. *****Johnny Phillips and Melissa Mullins will tie the knot on Mother’s Day, May 13.*****Karen Bacon, Ed’s little girl, is back washing, polishing and hand-waxing cars at her dad’s filling station on Green Ave.*****Don Clayton and H.D. Wright are in a runoff for director of Bridge City water board trustees.*****The BC Fire Department Auxiliary elects officers. are Grace Cole, president; Karen Cappell, vice-president; Connie Woodard, secretary; Janice Prevost, treasurer, Mary Callahan, parliamentarian; Johnnie Vercher, reporter; Brenda Baker, historian and Donna Riley and Linda Soloman social chairmen.*****“Spectacular Bid,” lives up to expectations and wins the Kentucky Derby.***** Sabine River CB’er Polar Bear is back from Brazil. Others making the rounds are: Lounge Lizard, Dr. Feel Good, Branco, Slick and Badger.

A FEW HAPPENINGS

Congratulations to our friend, ‘Bear’s’ husband, David Rutledge, re-elected mayor of Bridge City.*****The rains brought mud and cut back on crowds at the weekend festivals across Orange County, but that didn’t stop people from putting on their boots and having a fun time. The annual Mauriceville Crawfish Bash even took the May Fourth Date and played it into the mascot ‘Beau Garcon Skywalker’ dressed in crawfish suit carrying a Jedi sword. Brandi Griggs later spotted him in a Darth Vader mask. And how about crawfish parade with the float featuring a man in a crawfish suit coming out of a paper mache crawfish mound. By the way, neither of them resembled County Commissioner Chris Sowell. Winners of the crawfish boil competition were Tales and Ales in First, plus winning ‘fan favorite;’ Boil Crew in second, and H.B. Neild with third.*****Across the county in downtown Orange, the Train Depot Museum celebrated its tenth anniversary and had the annual Depot Day family event. A big tent set up on the street in front of the century-old train station helped move along the events. Carrie Woliver of Houston, an Orange native who spearheaded saving the depot, was down with her husband, Ron. Rose Simar, Diana Hill and Kacey Burnitt were running around coordinating activities. Orange City Councilor Paul Burch was there with his ‘winter’ haircut. On Monday, he went to his summer-do. Word was a few days ago he experimented with a 1970s-style men’s perm.*****Also at Depot Day, Gisela Houseman, Orange City Councilor Caroline Hennigan with husband Mike, along with Mayor Larry Spears.*****Dayle Gunn Weatherford had her Orange Blossoms women’s dancing group performing. She’s been leading the senior ladies in line dancing moves for years and on Saturday, they wore train engineer caps instead of their trademark black cowgirl hats. Sarah Boehme,  Janet Menchaca, Gemma Lingad, and Rhonda Siegel Kratzer are some of the current members. Some of the Orange Blossoms stayed for the street dance at the depot. Bob and Carol Sims were among those making their steps to the music.*****A group from Orange got a special experience at the Kentucky Derby, thanks to world-traveling priest Father Jim Sichko, who grew up in Orange and lives near Lexington, Kentucky, home of the Derby. Sichko donated the special trip last year to the St. Mary School gala fundraiser. Taking the trip all dressed up were school principal Stephanie Do, along with Cody Dishon and Phillip Tran. Father Jim’s sister, Thereze Sichko, who still lives in Orange, also made the trip. Father Jim, a Pope’s missionary of mercy, a few days earlier had traveled to the Vatican for his regular trip to visit Pope Francis, This time, he gave the Pope a University of Kentucky basketball jersey with the name of the team’s new head coach, Pope, on the back.*****The Orange Rotary Club hosted another Sip ‘n Stroll at Free State Winery as a fundraiser to help give scholarships. People seen included West Orange Mayor Randy Branch and wife Jane, Ida Schossow, Stephanie Roberts, Sherry Hommel, and Maureen McAllister.*****Retirees Marla and John Blanke are vacationing in Greece with Patty and David Mouton. ***** This week, 31 years ago, The Wednesday Lunch Bunch was started by Judge Grover Halliburton, Judge Claude Wimberley and Roy Dunn. Judge Halliburton passed away 20 years ago on May 7, 2004 at age 71, Judge Wimberley died Oct. 9, 2017 at age 82. Roy will be 90-years-old on June 5.

BREAUX BIRTHDAYS

Birthdays celebrated in the next few days. May 8: Tommy Mann, Jr. Patty Cook, Ginger Hogden, Julie Allensworth, Alan Bates.***** May 9: Lee Legate,  Doug Havens, Kevin LaRose, Lynn Scales, Justin Dupuis, Kelly Brown, Ken Reeves, Anna Hughes, Dalton Gilliam.*****May 10: Jacqueline McGee, James Rogers, Katie Hubbard, Patricia Williamson, Preslea Thibodeaux, Chuck Williams, Sharon Woolley, Stacie Dryden, Stacie Teaff, Candace Miller, *****May 11: Sherry Walles,  Gwen Snobes, Pat Collins,  Sarah Moreland, Scott Andes, Tami Vanderheiden.*****May 12: Sierra Allison, Brian Sandifer, Jerry Hardee, Tammy Yawn, Justin Roberts, Bridgett Bonneaux, Hazel Heckendorf.*****May 13: Calvin Granger, Douglas Wilson, Mike McNair, Jamie Garcia, Kate Jackson, Kristie Hughes, Melanie Wilderson, Renee Price, Bob Wood.*****May 14: Madison Lyons, David Gauthier, Janis Gross, James Birdwell, Nikki Smith, L.K. Jarrell, Brad Johansson, Cortney Spring.*****Lots of people celebrated birthdays this past week, and taking the honors were World War II veteran J.D. Dixon, who turned 100, and gathered with friends and family for a big to-do. ***Sheila Faske hit the double-nickel and Annabelle Claybar turned 16, old enough to drive. Her grandmother, Peggy Claybar, hosted a girl’s slumber party for her. Others celebrating included Judy Lucia, Coach Rebekah Ragsdale, Samantha Ziller, Clint Fregia, Loretta Brown, Suzy Permenter, Parrish Bird, Megan Cornwell, Don Sullivan, Brandon Johnson, Ramona Linscomb Walker, Vanessa Villadsen, Larry Schnenider, Connie Nugent Moore, Lindsey Dardeau Brecheen, Cullin Smith, Janice Gooch, West Orange First Lady Jane Branch, Paula Almaguuer Ibarra, Ranella Enmono, Justin Trahan, Kay King Malagarie, Janice Gooch, Bridget Toohey, Amy Bonneaux, Marie Sanders, and Bob O’Neal.***And we can’t forget jack-of-all trades James Scales, who not only had a birthday, but got to celebrate winning re-election to the Drainage District board.*** Our friend of many years Ray Cotton will celebrate his 94th birthday on May 9. It doesn’t seem that long ago we celebrated his 80th with a big party at his club. Cotton is one of a kind, a great life story. Ray has done good to ride the range with. Best wishes for many more. Happy Birthday old friend.***** Happy Anniversary: I can’t believe 23 years have gone by since our buddy Dwayne (The Clown) Marsh and Kathy were married on May 6. I recall it like it was last year. I gave ‘The Clown’ some advice and a schedule of what to expect with each passing year. Best wishes for many more.*****Bobby and Annette Payne are our longest-married anniversary couple this week as they reached No. 45.***Miles and Donna Hall have been married 45 years, while Donna and Curtis Sonnier reached 35 years.*** Nick and Christine Brown Zeto marked 25 years, with Constable Lannie and Melanie Claybar at No. 20.*** Kent and Dallie Miller celebrated their sixth year of marriage.

(Call 409-886-7183 or email [email protected] to place birthday or anniversary notices free of charge in this publication.)

CAJUN STORY

Two 90-year-old Cajun mens, Joe Comeaux and Clovis Meaux, have been friends all dere lives, since dey were small chillums. Joe went to visit his old buddy Clovis, who was on his death bed him.

“You know Clovis, how we have bot loved baseball all our lives?

Clovis you got to do me a favor when you go. Somehow you got to let me know if dere’s baseball in heaven, dat would sure make going easier for me wen my time comes.”

Clovis answer, “Okay, I do dat me.”

A few days after Clovis passed him, Joe was awakened about midnight by someone calling his name. He sit straight up in bed, da hair on da back of his neck is straight up.

“Who is dat wat call me?” Joe axe.

“It’s me Clovis, I’m in heaven me and I got some good news and some bad news for you Joe.”

“Give me da good news first,” says Joe.

“Well says Clovis, da good news is dat dere is baseball here in heaven.”

“Dats wonderful news yea, says Joe. Wats da bad news hanh?”

Dere’s a silence and den Clovis say, “Joe you’re pitching Tuesday.”

C’EST TOUT

THIS WEEK THROUGH THE YEARS

In 1494, during his second voyage to the western hemisphere, Christopher Columbus landed in Jamaica.*****In 1942, this I remember, wartime sugar rationing began in the United States. Many other staples followed and were available only with the proper stamps.*****In 1973 all racing fans will remember when Secretariat won the Kentucky Derby, the first of his Triple Crown victories. He won in at time of 1:59.4, a record that still stands.*****In 2024, on Saturday, May 4, Mystic Dan held on to win the 150th Kentucky Derby by a nose (nostril) in a three horse photo finish.*****With odds at 18 to 1, jockey Brian Hernandez, Sr., rode the rail to win the closest margin in horse racing. It took several minutes for the results. Mystic Dan ran the 1.1/4 miles in 2:03.34 and paid $39.22, $16.32 and $10.*****Last week and next inside our newspaper you will find a circular from Pizza Hut offering coupons for a full menu of your faves, You can’t find better Pizza, Wings, etc. anywhere at such good prices. Coupons run into June so be sure to save the coupon flyer for later use.*****That’s all for me. Happy Mother’s Day to all Moms. Take care and God bless.