65 years ago, Dec. 9, 1954
“Hundreds of Marion County school children are eagerly awaiting Saturday afternoon, Dec. 11, when they will march behind their school’s float in the big Christmas parade scheduled to form at 2:30 and to pass the post office at 3:00 o’clock, as thousands line the streets of the business section of Columbia to watch the parade.”
60 years ago, Dec. 10, 1959
“The official board of First Methodist Church voted Sunday night to present the Rev. James Franklin Campbell a check for fifty dollars at the special meeting to be held at East Columbia Methodist Church Thursday in honor of his 50th anniversary of his admission into the Mississippi Methodist Conference.”
50 years ago, Dec. 11, 1969
“The Marion County School Board Monday night named the principal of Marion County High School and the assistant principals. Named to serve as principal of the one county-wide high school under court order is Donald Hillman, assistant principal of West Marion High School, which will became an eighth grade. Assistant principal will be Roosevelt Oatis, principal of Marion Central High School, which will no longer include the first eight grades but will house the county-wide high school. … The school was given the name of Marion Central High School when it was formed during the consolidation program of a few years ago, as it is centrally located among the county schools. Under the plan, West Marion was formed to serve the west side of Pearl River, and has an enrollment about equal to Marion Central. Plans were considered to consolidate Bunker Hill, Improve and Hub and to place these students in a school to be built and named East Marion, but these plans never materialized and the three smaller schools were continued until the recent order of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals demanded that all students in grades nine through 12 of the county school system attend “The Marion Central Attendance Center.”
“Large groups urge staying in school: Helmon Johnson, president of the Marion County Civic Club, said Tuesday in a prepared statement that Negroes in Marion County will not boycott public schools. … The Marion County Ministerial Alliance this week released a statement on its position on the school integration situation, at a special meeting of the Alliance held on Dec. 8, 1969. In the meeting, the ministers were unanimous in their support of the public schools in Marion County. … The Columbia Parent Teacher Association Council this week issued a statement in support of public education.”
“President-elect Riley Berry of the Marion County Chamber of Commerce this week announced the chairmen for the organizations major committees for the coming year. … Agriculture – Dwight Wesley. Arrangements – Jack Byrd. City Planning – Donald Thornhill. Communications – Sedgie Griffith. Community Betterment – Hazel Barnes. Education – Dick Yarborough. Finance Committee – Van M. Morgan. Industrial – Tom Shows. Legislative – T.D. McNeese. Membership – Jerry Breakfield. Pearl River Development – Maurice Dantin. Publicity – Peggy Stringer. Retail Merchants – Frank DeBay.”
“Zeno Goss, composer and writer from Columbia, Miss., ‘climbed a mountain top’ in the final moments of the 1969 Southern Republican Conference held in New Orleans on Dec. 5 and 6. A special feature at the climax of this momentous and historic conference of Southern Republicans was the public debut of a stirring patriotic musical production entitled, “The Other Ninety Nine,’ which was written, produced and performed by Mr. Goss. Over one thousand delegates to the conference, which was attended by Vice President Spiro Agnew, numerous dignitaries, congressmen, senators and cabinet members, enjoyed this unique production.”
40 years ago, Dec. 13, 1979
“Eleven countians pled guilty to misdemeanor vote fraud charges and were sentenced by Judge R. I. Pritchard III in Marion County circuit court that’s still underway this week.”
“’Greater love hath no man than that he lay down his life for his brother …’ Mayor Robert Bourne quoted from the Bible as several presentations were made at a memorial service Friday at City Hall, marking the first anniversary of the death of Policeman Leonard Conerly, who was killed while on duty with the Columbia Police Department. A permanent plaque citing Conerly for his dedication and service will hang in City Hall, and a small replica was given to Mrs. Conerly to keep.”
30 years ago, Dec. 14, 1989
“Members of the Marion County Historical Society and members of the Catherine Ard Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution joined forces recently to do some ‘deep cleaning’ at the John Ford Home. Ann Simmons, president of the historical society, and Maryann Hyatt, regent of the DAR chapter, were concerned about preservation of the historic pioneer home, which is owned and opened for tours by the historical society. Catherine Ard, for whom the local DAR chapter is named, was the wife of John Ford and the DAR members gave special attention to the room that was her bedroom. Participating in the clean-up effort were Simmons, Hyatt, Elizabeth Beach, Katherine Edwards, Jo Newton Lawrence and Mary Louise Supinger.”
20 years ago, Dec. 11, 1999
“On Monday, the City of Columbia and Columbia Recreation have honored two individuals as Volunteer of the Year. Curtis Young and Larry Jenkins were honored on Dec. 7 at the Board of Aldermen meeting. They were presented with a framed Certificate of Appreciation/Volunteer of the Year signed by Mayor Harold Bryant. Columbia Recreation Director Paul Pounds did the presentation.”
