20 years ago…
February 16, 2006
WHITESBORO PUBLIC LIBRARY RECEIVES TRULL FOUNDATION GRANT
Ginger Garvin, director of the library announced Monday that the Whitesboro Public Library via the Friends of the Whitesboro Public Library received a $2,500 grant from the Trull Foundation.
The money will be used to purchase children’s and young adult books.
The Trull Foundation is located in Palacios, Texas and has been operating in some form since 1967 and for over fifty years the Foundation has been actively interested in various educational, religious, cultural and social programs, primarily within the State of Texas. The Trull Foundation concentrates on helping people by improving the quality of life, especially those living with oppressed conditions.
“We feel very fortunate to have received this generous grant for our children’s programs,” Garvin said. “The Board and Trustees of the Trull Foundation are truly dedicated to helping the people of Texas and this funding will allow our staff to create challenging, interesting, and fun programs for the summer.”
30 years ago…
February 15, 1996
REBUILDING RESTAURANT BUSINESS TAKEN LITERALLY BY DAVISES
In the early morning hours of August 6, 1995, Robert and D’Ann Davis received a telephone call at their 150-acre farm nestled in the rolling countryside near Dexter. Their restaurant, Catfish Haven, located on Hwy. 377 north between Whitesboro and Gordonville, was on fire. A passer-by reported seeing flames coming from the roof at 4:30 a.m. A routine report following the incident determined the cause of the fire to be lightning. The wiring in the electrical boxes was melted together.
Faced with the enormous task and expense of rebuilding, the resourceful Mrs. Davis devised a plan. The couple had spent five years building the two-story, 14-room house they had moved into with their four children in 1980.
Their oldest son Bobby built all the cabinets for the house using walnut wood they had harvested and had kiln dried before sawing it.
During this time, his parents purchased the necessary tools and machinery to outfit a woodworking shop at home.
Salvaging everything they could, it took three weeks to clean these materials. Everybody pitched in and helped, including their sons and Mr. Davis’ father.
The dimensions of the new metal building measure 80 feet by 66 feet. It will have a seating capacity for 170 diners.
The dining area will feature 56 full booths with upholstered Kelly green seats. There will be 28 full booth tops and ten table tops. All tile, carpentry and upholstery work has been done by Mrs. Davis with the support and assistance of friends, Roger and Melda Snider of Sherwood Shores.
“We’re just friends helping friends,” Mr. Snider said. “We are here because we want to be.”
There will be some changes whenever the restaurant reopens. In an effort to offer “our more health conscious patrons a wider menu choice,” Mrs. Davis will add a wider selection of vegetables. She will also offer grilled fish, beef and chicken.
Another change will be that the business will remain open seven days a week, with hours of 11:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and on weekends the restaurant will remain open until 9:30 p.m.
40 years ago…
February 20, 1986
CITY SECRETARY SEEKS TO BE ‘SILVER HAIRED LEGISLATOR’
Whitesboro City Secretary Elizabeth “Liz” Morelan has announced her candidacy for the office as an elected “Silver Haired Legislator” in the state’s first “Silver Haired Legislature.”
Two delegates from Grayson County will be elected and these elected candidates must uphold the responsibilities of the office as an elected Silver Haired Legislator.
Election will be held Friday, May 30, 1986, and balloting will begin with absentee voting on Thursday, May 1, through Friday, May 23.
Candidates must be elected by persons 60 years of age or older during this special election.
The objective of the Silver Haired Legislature is to serve the needs of both present and future older Texans. The Texas Legislature has offered this occasion to provide older Texans an opportunity to become knowledgeable about the legislative process through involvement.
Mrs. Morelan is launching an all-out campaign under the direction of her campaign director Mildred Wilson of Sherwood Shores.
Active in political matters, Morelan has served five years as a precinct worker to secretary to Roger Hunsaker, Tarrant County chairman.
She is a member of the International Institute of Municipal Clerks, the Association of City Clerks and Secretaries of Texas, Whitesboro Senior Citizens Activity Club and American Association of Retired Persons. Additionally, she is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
The First Texas Silver Haired Legislature will meet in the Texas Capitol in 1986 for the purpose of considering and voting on property legislation that concerns the needs of older Texans.
The Texas Legislature has offered this opportunity in an attempt to develop a forum for older Texans for discussion of senior citizen issues, debating these issues and establishing legislative priorities for the Texas legislature to consider.