65 years ago, Jan. 7, 1954
“Funeral services for Leon N. Cook, 70, were held at two o’clock Friday afternoon, Jan. 1, from the Improve Baptist Church with the Rev. O.O. Davis, former pastor of the church, officiating. Interment was in Cook cemetery at East Columbia under direction of Walden’s Funeral Home. Pallbearers were Paul Stringer, Vernon Cook, Vernon Broom, Dr. Carl Cook, Vincent Broom, M.L. Cook, J.C. McDaniel and Fred McDaniel Jr. Mr. Cook succumbed at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31 to a lengthy illness at his home at Improve. He was a native of this county, the son of Elisha and Mary Stringer Cook, and was born Aug. 8, 1883. He spent a goodly portion of his life in public service, serving three terms as circuit clerk of this county and was employed in later years in the sheriff’s office. He had also taught school in Marion and Lamar counties.”
60 years ago, Jan. 1, 1959
“New officers were unanimously elected following the report of the nominating committee of the Marion County Electric Club at its second meeting, held Dec. 20. Elected to serve as president for the coming year is Patsy Rushing. Other officers include Cassie Tullos, first vice president; Major Patterson, second vice president; Linda Blue, secretary; Mary Fortenberry, reporter; Danny Terry, Recreation leader, and Tommy Fortenberry, program chairman.”
“Marion County’s cotton crop, through November, was slightly over half of the 1957 crop, according to the latest cotton ginning report. The report, issued by the Bureau of the Census, U.S. Department of Commerce, showed Marion County had ginned 2,224 bales of cotton through November, compared with 4,284 in 1957.”
“MIAMI, Fla. — (AP) Playwright Tennessee Williams gives the human race 10 years if it doesn’t settle down in amity. ‘People talk glibly about what kind of cars they will have in 1970 and how long it will take to get to the moon,’ Williams told a Sunday Herald interviewer. ‘My opinion is that you and I, not to speak of the rest of the human race, won’t be here by 1970. I think Armageddon is really at hand this time. We have speeded up time itself, travel in jets … and talk seriously about living in outer space when we haven’t yet learned to live on earth without fighting each other.’”
50 years ago, Jan. 2, 1969
“An anti-poverty grant of $715,544 to Pearl River Valley Opportunity Inc. by the Office of Economic Opportunity was announced today by John Paul Roblin, executive director of PRVO in Columbia.”
“The businesses in the cooperative telephone alert system of the Marion County Chamber of Commerce can be notified of bad check artists and shoplifters within a matter of 10 to 15 minutes. Under the system, each business firm has three other firms to call and these in turn call others.”
“Carey E. Robertson received the diploma in theology in commencement exercises Dec. 20, 1968, at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the son of Mrs. J.C. Roberson of Columbia and the late Mr. Robertson.”
40 years ago, Jan. 4, 1979
“Robin Suzanne Matulich of 916 Courthouse Road, Gulfport, has been awarded a Graduate Fellowship from the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International for the 1979-1980 academic year. She plans to study elementary education at the University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia. … Miss Matulich is teaching second grade at Gaston Point Elementary School in Gulfport Municipal Separate School District. She was born Aug. 25, 1954, at Columbia. Her parents are Alderman and Mrs. Frank Matulich Sr.”
“Mark Strum, a senior at Columbia High School, recently signed a football scholarship with the University of Tennessee at Martin, Tenn. Watching him sign are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Billy Strum, 601 Church St. He played offensive tackle, lettered two years and participates on the track team.”
30 years ago, Jan. 5, 1989
“Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association recently awarded 24 of its employees service awards at the association’s annual Christmas dinner. … Local award recipients include Claude Daniel, 40 years; Kenneth Stringer, Willie Ray Brown, Olan Lott, Mary Frances Sinclair and W.T. Shows, all of whom have served 30 years; June Reagan, 20 years; Jan Lott, Bobby Stovall and Wyndol Thornhill, all with 15 years; Vertis Williams, 10 years; and Ann Beach, five years.”
“The Columbia High School Class of 1933 held its first reunion at the Western Corral Steak House the evening of Nov. 5 — more than 55 years after graduation. Frank Matulich, class president, said he wasn’t sure if that is a record, but that the class did finally meet. … All class officers elected in 1933 were present; Frank Matulich, president; Grace Bass, vice president; Albert Bridewell, secretary and treasurer; and Storer Crawley (Gilbert), reporter. W.D. Burnett was the class sponsor. The class flower was the red rose. Class colors were green and silver. The class motto was, ‘Tonight we shall launch, where shall we anchor?’ … The class voted to not wait another 55 years to hold its second reunion, but set no date.”
“Joe Ann Franklin’s is a familiar face around Marion County, especially at Jack’s burger stand at the corner of Honey Alley and Meak Alley in downtown Columbia. 1989 will mark the 40th year of Franklin’s association with Jack’s. She began working as a teenager when the tiny burger stand opened. Jack Drummond was her first employer. For the next 40 years, she worked off and on (‘mostly on,’ she says). She says things have really changed at the popular lunch spot since its opening. Franklin says she can remember when hamburgers were 10 cents; cheeseburgers were 15 cents; a chili pie cost a customer a dime; an ice cream was a nickel; and cigarettes were only 20 cents a pack.”
25 years ago, Jan. 6, 1994
“The Columbia High School Fine Arts Department is pleased to announce the following cast for its 16th annual musical production. This year’s show is The Wizard of Oz. … Dorothy: Theresa May and Kayce Davis; Scarecrow: Jack Bourne and Chad Davis; Tinman: Thomas Herrington and Jeffery Virgil; Lion: Gary Elkins and Joey Johnson.”
