50 Years Ago: August 20, 1974

Dublin Courier Herald

ABSENTEE BALLOTS WEDNESDAY
Absentee ballots for the Runoff Primary on September 3rd will be ready on Wednesday, according to information from the office of the Laurens County Board of Registrars. The absentee ballots can be obtained through a request to the Board of Registrars.
The Registrars also said that they would keep their office open on Saturday of this week from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Those wanting absentee ballots can obtain them during these hours, but will have to use the back door since the Court House is now closed on Saturdays. The back door is on the east side of the Court House and is accessible by a ramp from Jackson Street.
The Board of Registrars also stated that they will keep the office open on Monday, September 2, Labor Day. No official information is available now as to whether or not the Court House will be closed on Monday, but if it is closed, people wanting absentee ballots can get them by using the back door on Monday. The office will be open at 8:30 a.m and will remain open until 5:30 p.m.
The usual rules will apply as to who can get absentee ballots. It was pointed out that if you voted a Democratic ballot in the regular Primary, you must vote a Democratic ballot in the Runoff. The same applies if a Republican ballot was voted in the regular Primary.
For the regular Primary a total of 287 ballots were requested, 275 Democratic and 12 Republican.

NEW SCHOOL ATTENDANCE POLICY
The Laurens County Board of Education has adopted a new policy regarding attendance which will be in effect in county schools this year when school opens August 2.
Under the new policy, when a student misses more than 30 school days in one academic year the principal must meet with the student’s parent or guardian for each day absent after 30. A doctor’s excuse will be required for the student to be admitted again.
According to the School Board the new policy was brought about in an attempt to prevent cuts in teacher allotments, which are made according to average daily attendance of students. Also, concern for the student’s quality of education and system accreditation figured into the adoption of the new policy.
Under the new policy, the principal may withhold credit if a student misses 30 days or more. The principal can also attempt to place such a student on a hospital-home bound program.
Parents or guardians will be notified that the student’s absence could affect him academically on the 10th 20th, and 25th day a student is absent.
Students whose attendance problems are not corrected by these measures will be referred to the Board of Education.
In other business, the Board approved the appointment of John Morris as principal of Laurens Elementary School. Mr. Morris has had an outstanding professional career. For the past 14 years he has been a teacher, assistant principal, Director of Headstart Program, and a principal of Valdosta Jr. High School. He holds a Master’s Degree from Valdosta State College. He is married and has five children.
The time of regular Board meetings will be changed to the second Thursday in every month at 4 p.m.

OUR MEN IN SERVICE
New River, North Carolina – Marine PFC Herman Petty, son of Mrs. Flossie Smith of Route 2, Buckeye Road, Dublin, Georgia, was promoted to his present rank while serving at the Marine Corps Air Station here.
He joined the Marine Corps in December 1973.

U.S. FORCES, Germany – Army Specialist Four Joseph McClendon, 22, son of Mrs. Lena M. McClendon, Daley Street, Dublin, Georgia, participated in a field training exercise in Germany.
Specialist McClendon is a truck driver in service battery of the 75th Field Artillery’s 2d Battalion in Hanau.

LEAGUES’ CHAMPIONS
Giants
The Giants of the Dublin Parks and Recreation Department Midget League captured the League title. Coaches were Charlie Berry and Malcolm Alligood.
Players were Reginald Brown, Charlie Davis, Terry Bush, Kerry Bush, Danny Smith, Eugene Smith, Mike Pritchard, David Smith, Michael Berry, Dariel Fielding, and Greg Mack.
Twins
Coached by Wayne Fuqua, the Championship Twins were Stan Jackson, Mike Prosperi, Barry Walker, Allen Davis, Pete Richardson, Steve Long, Jim Palmer, Richard Allen, Douglas Sharpley, Sid Jesup, Jay Brantley, Alex Smith, Kevin Fambrough, and Sheldon Rozier.

MILLEDGEVILLE PAIR WINS TOURNAMENT
Phil Herring and Jeff Morgan of Milledgeville teamed up to win the Championship Flight of the highly popular Pabst Blue Ribbon Invitational at the Dublin Country Club in the two-day affair. The duo shot 64-67-131.
The tournament is co-sponsored each year by Paul Baker of Southern Sales and the Dublin Country Club. This year 80 teams from around Georgia entered.
Herring- Morgan’s 131 was seven stokes below the nearest challengers, Ronnie Baggett and Melvin Hester of Dublin, who shot 69-69-138 to claim second in the Championship.
Dr. Nelson Carswell and Bobby Gay were one stroke back at 68-71-139.
The youthful Dublin team of Jim Rowland and Earl Towns, Jr. claimed first in the First Flight with 71 on Saturday and 67 Sunday for a two-day 138 total.
The Wrightsville team of B.R Hall and Bob Newsome led the field in the Second flight with 75-69-144.
Third Flight honors went to Denning Jones and Al Swann of Macon with 75-76-151.
The Fourth Flight was won by Mike Maffett and Michael Maffett with 78-73-151.
Harry Hart from Warner Robins and Roger Hobbs of Macon shot 80-76-156 to win the Fifth Flight in a playoff over Jack Simons and M.L. Roberson, who ended thirty-six holes of play with an identical card, 80-76-156.
The Houston County team of Robert Miller, Warner Robins, and Charles Smith, Bonaire, carded 83-75-158 to take the Sixth Flight.
Dublin’s Bill Andre and Gene Solomon of Macon shot 86-80-166 to win the Seventh Flight.
Tournament Notes
The team of Bob Wilton and John White came the longest distance to play in the Pabst Blue Ribbon. Wilton and White are representatives of the Pabst Breweries in Milwaukee.
Tournament registration was closed two weeks before the Saturday start.
Phillip Baker, one of the tournament organizers, teamed with attorney Jim Hilburn to win second place in the Seventh Flight.
Baker and Brother Claxton were co-chairmen of the Tournament Committee which included Al Lamb, Ray Prosperi, Henry Cantera, Tunk Carswell, Melvin Hester, and Roy McCluskey.

DUBLINITES TOP TENNIS
Two Dublin tennis players captured the doubles championship of the Middle Georgia Tennis Open at Warner Robins last night.
Pete Shumway and Tom Perry won three matches enroute to their victory for the championship, 6-0, 6-1.
Shumway and his wife Pat were defeated in mixed doubles play, 6-4,2-6, 5-7.
The tournament was sponsored by the Warner Robins Recreation Department.

JOSEY BLANKS BARNESVILLE
The Josey Academy Warriors scored twice in the second quarter and once each in the last two quarters of their 1974 opening game at Barnesville last night, blanking Barnesville Academy 26-0.
The victory equalled last year’s one win, also against Barnesville, 6-0, and put the Warriors, coached this year by Barney Hester and Larry Daniel, in the proper frame of mind to improve on their 1973 record of 1-9.
Coach Hester was happy with the outcome and particularly elated over the fine physical condition of his small squad.
“We had thought that we might not be ready for our first game, but we clearly wore down the Barnesville team, and we were going strong at the finish,” Coach Hester said.
The Warriors showed strong offensive and defensive line and a trio of running baks that accumulated 254 yards rushing, 162 by tailback Jeff Aaron, 150, a junior.
Aaron also scored the first and fourth touchdowns for the Warrior, going across on runs of 11 yards and 44 yards. He lugged the leather 20 times during the game.
Roy Yates, 160, junior halfback, totaled the second and third six pointers, bolting 10 yards for his first score and six yards for his second.
Yates plunged into the Barnesville forward wall for 60 yards on nine carries, including runs of 11 and 10 yards besides the touchdown thrusts.
Sophomore fullback Tim Graham, 140, was the other Josey Academy ball carrier. Graham’s number was called 10 times and he responded with a 32-yard total. Graham also scored the two extra points after the Warrior’s third touchdown in the third period.
Newcomer to the squad Sonny Spivey, 15, senior, and Tim Graham, playing the monster, shared defensive honors for the Warriors with seven tackles assist as did David Williams.
Other tacklers included Allen Williams, Jim Graham,Roy Yates, James Sharpe, Aaaron Joel Sapp, Jeff Graham, and Anthony Carter.
Sharpe, 245, junior tackle, recovered two fumbles for the Warriors.
Neither team completed a pass although Josey Acaademy tried two aerials and Barnesville four.
Josey fumbled four times and Barnesville six times.
The score should have been higher in Josey’s favor for Aaron darted in from about 30 yards out only to have the run called back because of a penalty, and on the first series of downs in the game, the Warriors fumbled into the end zone where the pigskin was recovered by Barnesville for a touchback.
The Warriors showed good ball control in that their touchdowns came after long drives.
Coach Hester had a lot of praise for the linemen all of whom turned in fine performances. Standouts included Allen Williams, Mike Killingsworth, and Joel Sapp who flip flopped to the strong side.
“I believe that the only time Barnesville got inside the 50 was after recovering one of our fumbles,”Coach Hester said.
A good crowd of Josey Academy fans accompanied the squad to Barnesville.
Playing for Josey were A. Williams, Killingsworth, Spivey, Jim, Jeff, and Tim Graham, Roy and Dent Yates, Sharpe, Aaron, Sapp, Alan Carroll, Brown, and Carter.

TWO RAIDERS WILL MISS FIRST GAME
Two standout ball carriers in the West Laurens backfield will miss the opening game of the season on Friday night, according to Coach Al Manning.
Danny Knight, starting fullback and defensive tackle, joined the Raider’s practice sessions last summer and did not pass his physical examination on Tuesday. He will miss the Jeff Davis game on Friday night but may be ready for Dublin on September 23.
Also missing from the lineup on Friday night will be Donelle Dupree, full-time offensive halfback. Dupree injured his ankle in practice on Saturday and has not recovered satisfactorily. He is walking on the ankle but has not regained his speed. The coaches are holding him out of this game so that he will be ready for the Irish in two weeks.
Quarterback Steve Brown has recovered from a bruised rib cage and will be at full speed on Friday.
Manning is particularly pleased with Brown’s throwing. He said that the senior quarterback’s passing abilities are his best ever. Mark Fountain, who will step in for Dupree, and Pete Ussery, end, will likely be the favorite targets of Brown’s aerials.
The loss of Knight and Dupree coupled with the summer heat have not taken off part of the edge that the Raiders have built up during the pre-season practice, Manning said. Most Raiders seeing action this Friday night go both ways. Replacing Knight at the halfback will be Eddie Patisaul, who also handles the kicking assignments. Greg Mullis will take over Knight’s tackle duties on defense. Ulysses Edmonds is expected to play at halfback also.
The Raiders have been working on the kicking game, and it looks like quarterback Brown will do the punting chores with end Ussery coming also well punting. As the season progresses, Ussery may take over as punter, Manning speculated.
Manning does not know what to expect from the Yellow Jackets. He does not have a Jeff Davis game film, and coaches who faced the Yellow Jackets last season have been reluctant to offer advice. Manning said the Jackets may go with a Wishbone offense and a 5-2 defense, a setup similar to West Laurens.
The Raiders will leave for Hazelhurst about 5:30 Friday afternoon, A pep rally is planned for the last period of school on Friday, and the band, under the leadership of Clarence Jackson again this year, will make the trip.
LATER NEWS: Knight Gets OK
Danny Knight has passed his physical examination and will play tonight when the West Laurens Raiders meet Jeff Davis in Hazlehurst in the season opener for both clubs.
Knight normally goes both ways, playing offensive halfback and defensive tackle, but tonight he will start at defensive tackle and may play in the offensive backfield only in the second half.
Donelle Dupree, fullback, is still on the injured list with a sprained ankle and will not play tonight.
Otherwise, the Raiders are healthy and experienced. Seven starters on the offensive unit and six on the defensive have two yeas varsity experience under their belts.
Carlton Godfrey, Ernest Pryor, Willie Turner, and Mark Fountain will begin their fourth year together as the defensive secondary.
Here is the starting lineup for tonight’s game as announced by Coach Al Manning. Following their names are their heights, weights, year in school, and number of varsity letters.
Offense
Left End – Clayton Jones, 6-3; 210; Jr. 1
Left Tackle – Bobby Wood, 6-2; 218; Sr. 1
Left Guard – Steve Manning, 5-11; 174; Sr. 2
Center – Clifton Jones, 6-3; 205; Jr. 1
Right Guard – John Judon, 5-10; 186; Sr. 2
Right Tackle – Curtis Stuckey, 5-10; 205; Sr. 2
Right End – Pete Ussery, 6; 180; Jr. 1
Quarterback – Steve Brown, 5-11; 180; Sr. 2
Fullback – Eddie Patisaul, 5-8; 167; Sr. 2
Right Halfback – Ernest Pryor, 5-9; 163; Sr. 2
Left Halfback – Mark Fountain, 5-9; 165; Sr.2
(Willie Turner will shuttle in plays during the night at right end with Pete Ussery.)
Defense
Left End – Clayton Jones
Left Tackle – B. Wood
Nose Guard – J, Judon
Right Tackle – Danny Knight, 6-1; 195; Sr. 2
Right End – Clifton Jones
Linebacker – E. Patisaul
Linebacker – S. Manning
Secondary
Carlton Godfrey, 5-9;; 162; Sr. 2
Willie Turner, 6-1; 170; Sr. 2
E. Pryor
M. Fountain

COMMUNITY CHORUS PLANNED
Under the sponsorship of the Dublin Association of Fine Arts, plans are being made for the organization of a Community Chorus for Dublin and the surrounding area.
The purpose of the effort is two-fold. First is to offer an opportunity to musicians of the area to come together and to enjoy singing some of the classics of choral music and literature, and second is to provide for the music-loving public opportunities to hear the “Music of the Masters” in concert form.
It is anticipated that an out-of-town director will be secured for all teachers and directors who desire to participate. Membership will be open to anyone who is interested and can qualify.
The first meeting has been planned for Monday evening, August 26, at the Laurens County Library Auditorium.

E. DUBLIN STREETS SIGNS
The East Dublin City Council, in a divided vote last night, voted to purchase twenty street signs to be used along the main thoroughfares of the city. The signs will have a green background with white letters and will be made of reflecting materials. The 3-2 vote put Councilmen Bracewell, Luecke, ad Shepherd for the purchase of the signs with Edge and Warnock against.
The Council also voted to accept the bid of $550 of S & S Fence Co. for five pens and gates to be used as a dog pound. All the votes favored the bid, but some modified their votes by asking for enforcement of the laws against stray dogs in the town.
An ordinance was passed outlawing trucks of 12,000 pounds or more on some of the residential streets in the town. The ordinance will go into effect at 12:01 on September 1st, or later – when appropriate signs are installed.
With Mayor Hugh Wood presiding, Councilmen attending last night were Wadis Bracewell, Herman Luecke, John Shepherd, Ira Warnock, and Ralph Edge.

STUDENTS RECEIVE CAPS
Practical nursing students of the Dublin MDTA Program recently received their nurse caps in a ceremony at the Laurens County Library.
Mrs. Sybil Rogers, Director of Nurses at Laurens Memorial Hospital, welcomed the many guests, and Mrs. Duggan Weaver and Mrs. Don Bryant presented them with Bibles from the Gideon Society. Guest speaker for he ceremony was Father Raphael Toner of the Church of the Immaculate Conception.
The caps were presented to the students by their instructor, Mrs. Carol Thigpen. The nurses receiving their caps were Cleo McRae, Anna Wimberly, Lisa Judd, Verlie Moore, Jenny Hernandez, Patricia Bradham, Marjorie Brown, Sharon Atkinson, Jean Edwards, Eunice McRae, Helen Estep, Margaret Thompson, Cheryl Page, Cecelia Lowther,and Helen Perdue.
After the ceremony, an open house was held at the school, which is located at the Laurens Memorial Hospital.

PHILLIES ENTERTAINED
The Phillies of the Dublin Parks and Recreation Department of the Tee League were recently feted at a banquet at the close of summer baseball play. They came in second in their League and were given a banquet at the Oconee Electric Membership Corporation in Dudley.
Members of the team are Phillip Howard, Chuck Odom, Dessie Sutton, Jeffrey Alligood, Allen Belote, Don Brantley, Ron Gay, Ernie Powell, Ken Radcliffe, Ronnie Stone, Chris Mimbs, Johnny Howard, Britt Parker, Daryl Davidson, and David Lord.
The team’s coach was John Chappell, and the Assistant Coach was Larry Davidson.

CHURCH NEWS
Jefferson Street
The August General Meeting of Jefferson Street Baptist Women’s Missionary Society was held on Wednesday at the church with Mrs. Jake Evans presiding. The meeting was opened with prayer by Mrs. Leon Underwood.
Plans for a Prayer Retreat were discussed. The Call to Prayer was given by Mrs Berta Thomas.
Mrs. E.B. Martin presented the program, “Assisting Baptist Centers.” She was assisted by Mrs. Ollie Godwin, Mrs. Coy Joiner, Mrs. Paul Jones, Jr., Mrs. Gertrude Underwood, and Mrs. E.S. Swinson, who closed the program with prayer.
Sandy Ford
Homecoming Day will be this Sunday at Sandy Ford Baptist Church with Sunday School at 10:00 a.m. Devotional services will begin at 11:30 a.m. and preaching at 12:00 noon by the pastor. Dinner will be served after the service.
The evening services will begin at 2:00 p.m. and will be conducted by the pastor, Rev. D.D. Edmond.
The weekly services will begin on Monday night with prayer service at 7:30 p.m. The visiting pastor will be Rev. Thomas from Albany.
Monday night – Shady Grove, Green Grove, Second Baptist, St. Paul
Tuesday night – Montford Grove, Zion Baptist , Millville, Faith Temple
Wednesday night – Rice Hill, Mount Tilla , Mount Hiah,
Thursday night – William Chapel, First Baptist, Howard Chapel, Hogan Grove
Friday night – Starlight Church of God, Spring Hill, Rose Hill, Jackson Chapel, Sandy Ford
Everyone has a cordial invitation to come out and worship with us during these services.
First Baptist
The morning Woman’s Missionary Society of the First Baptist Church met at the, church on Tuesday with Mrs. Carl Nelson, Sr. presiding assisted by Mrs. O.T. Tarpley.
The session was opened with singing hymns, accompanied by Mrs. Cecil Walters, pianist.
The Call to Prayer was given by Mrs. John Jones.
The report of the Nominating committee was read by Mrs. Milo Smith Sr. Members of the committee were Mrs. Maynard Combs and Mrs. Earl Edenfield. and the following officers were elected to serve in 1974-75. They are the following:
Mrs. Carl Nelson, Sr. – President
Mrs. Milo Smith, Sr. – Secretary
Mrs. W.G. McLees – Mission Action Chairman
Mrs. W.H. Champion – Mission Study Chairman
Mrs. J.A. Durden – Mission Support Chairman
Mrs. E.D. Lindsey – Publicity Chairman
Mrs. Cecil Walters – Pianist
The program was led by Mrs. W.H. Champion, who was assisted by Mrs. Nelson, Mrs. Carl Cochran, Mrs. Jones, and Mrs. Crump, who gave the closing prayer.

BIRDSONG NAMED PGA GOLFER OF YEAR
Tommy Birdsong, a former professional at the Dublin Country Club, has been named “Florida PGA Golfer of the Year,” winning over five other top golf pros from throughout Florida.
The Fernandina Beach, Florida, pro received this honor from his fellow pros at recent annual meeting of the Florida PGA.
Earlier in the session, Birdsong lost a shadow-thin race for the treasurer position to Disney World’s Bobby West.
“I wouldn’t swap places with you for anything, Bobby,” said a tearful Birdsong in accepting the highest honor that can be bestowed on a Florida golf professional.
Birdsong is currently serving as Florida PGA tournament chairman. He is the head pro-golf director of the City-owned Fernandina Beach Country Club.
Many of the younger golfers at the Dublin Country Club started playing the game when Birdsong and his wife Mary were here.

SIMONTON LIKES SMALL SQUAD
Prior to going to the week-long football camp at Martha Berry School at Rome, the Irish football team worked out each night at 6:00 at the Shamrock Bowl undergoing physical conditioning drills.
At the camp, they will have two-a-day practice sessions in pads. They will learn the proper execution of offensive plays, work hard at defense, and utilize the four-four formation.
Asked about the small number of players on the varsity squad, 31, Coach Simonton said, “We like the small squad. First, it enables the coaches to provide much more individual attention to the players, and second, all the boys, with the one exception of Freddy Burch, a junior, who recently joined us, are experienced players, giving us the opportunity to make them more versatile players.”
Offensively, the team is being directed by four quarterbacks, Billy Adams, David Brack, David Adams, and Steve Edwards.
“With the small squad this year, most of the players will play both offense and defense,” he said.