Caption: In this photo from 40 years ago, May 18, 1978, the newly elected officers for the Crown Club are seen. From left are President Sarah Wellons, Publicity Chairman Cindy Ritchey, Corresponding Secretary Lauren Miano, Recording Secretary Lee Anne Walker, Vice President Carol Conerly and Sergeant-at-Arms Anna Gonzalez. Harriet Taylor was secretary of the club sponsored by the Columbia Junior Auxiliary.
65 years ago, May 21, 1953
“W.O. (Ollie) Robertson was nominated as city marshal of Columbia in second primary balloting Tuesday, and will join with Mayor-elect Roy Goss and other nominated officials in the carrying on of the city’s business for the next four years upon taking office in early July.”
“Winners in the annual Spring Cotton Dress Revue have been announced by Mrs. W.F. Clark, county home demonstration agent. The revue was held Wednesday afternoon, May 13, at two-thirty in the auditorium of the Columbia Primary School. … Winners are as follows: Afternoon dress group: Blue Ribbons, Mrs. T.J. Thompson of Ebenez er Club and Mrs. J.C. Conner of Popetown Club; red ribbons, Mrs. Arthur Robbins of Enon Club and Mrs. Myles Griffith of East Columbia Club. Family group: Blue ribbon, Mrs. Billy Fox Byrd of May Club, and her little daughter and son, Beverly and Allen.”
60 years ago, May 15, 1958
“First Baptist Church will celebrate its 75th anniversary during Sunday services May 18, which will also be observed as Building Fund Sunday. Morning services will begin at 10:30 and evening services at 7:30. The Rev. Howard H. Aultman, pastor, will conduct the services. … The present church was organized May 14, 1883, under the direction of the Rev. T.S. Powell, pastor of the Bunker Hill Baptist Church, who had been holding monthly meetings in Columbia.”
“Dr. David Allen Ratliff was honored at a Tuesday noon luncheon at the University Medical Center in Jackson during the 90th annual session of the Mississippi State Medical Association, May 13-15. He was presented an award for having practiced medicine for fifty years. Dr. Ratliff was born July 9, 1886, in Clinton, Louisiana, the youngest of nine children. His parents were William Quitman and Lucy Lee Yarborough Ratliff. Dr. Ratliff attended private school in Clinton, La., later enrolling at LSU. From there he spent threes years at Tulane and then transferred to Chicago College of Medicine and Surgery, from which he received his M.D. degree in 1909. … After coming to Columbia, he took a course in surgery at Cook County Hospital in Chicago and specialized in obstetrics, which line he followed for many years until giving up this specialty about 1948. … In 1913, Dr. and Mrs. Ratliff came to Columbia as bridge and groom, and they have taken an active part in the civic, social and religious life of the community ever since.”
50 years ago, May 16, 1968
“Charles Robbins, a seventh grade student at West Marion School and son of Mr. and Mrs. Lavern Robbins of Route 1, Foxworth, recently served as a page in the Mississippi House of Representatives. He was named a page through the auspices of Rep. Vasco Singley.”
“W.E. (Bill) Walker, Columbia business and civic leader, has been appointed 1968 Chairman of Radio Free Europe Fund, Inc. for the Southwest Mississippi Area. … RFE successfully challenges the Community monopoly of news and information for the 85 million people in the Eastern European countries. … Walker is president of W.E. Walker Stores, Inc.”
“A telegram received this week from Congressman Bill Colmer to The Columbian-Progress read: ‘Have just wired Mayor E.D. McLean Jr. as follows: Glad to advise protest resolved regarding contract to Pioneer Recovery Systems, Inc., Manchester, Conn., for 1,887 parachutes. They have received contract with work to be done at Columbia. Amount as per our wire to you of May 2: $1,000,110.”
30 years ago, May 19, 1988
“Charlie Conerly, director of the Marion/Jeff Davis County Civil Defense, received special recognition during the annual meeting of the Mississippi Civil Defense Association held recently in Jackson. … The association presented Conerly with a special award for recruiting the most members for two consecutive years. … In the history of the association, no director had ever signed up more than 100 members until 1986, when Conerly recruited 118. Last year he surpassed that number with 135. This is a significant achievement considering that there are only 227 members in the entire state, which means over half of them are right here in the immediate area.”
“The Mississippi Economic Council has announced that Jason Andrew Carney has been selected as the STAR Student at West Marion High School.”
