50 years ago: November 5, 1974

DUBLIN ELECTION ON MONDAY

A cloud of doubt will hang over the Dublin city election when the polls open at 7:00 on Monday morning.

As late as Thursday, it was questionable that the election for three at-large aldermen would even be held. Now the possibility exists that whoever is elected may never take office.

The election was thrown in limbo last Friday when City Manager Jack Crane was informed that two Dublin black men were bringing suit in district court to halt the election. However, there was little solace in Judge Lawrence’s warning that the results of the election would probably be invalidated by a future suit similar to the one to be ruled on Thursday.

So, with the uncertainty surrounding the election, Monday’s election mood is likely to be one of the most peculiar in modern times inDublin. At stake in the election are the three at-large seats now held by Ed B. Martin, Albert Franks, and James (Buddy) Adams.

Here is a look at the three posts and the candidates in each:

Post 1

Ed B. Martin 

He is the incumbent. Principal of West Laurens Junior High School, he has served onCity Council for two years. A native of Dublin, his father was also a city councilman.

Marvin Browning 

 A newcomer to city politics, Browning is manager of Laurens Hardware Company. He is a native of Laurens County and lives in north Dublin with his wife Joyce, and three children. 

Earl Hadden

A resident of the north Dublin area, Hadden is a home contractor. He has run for City council once and also for County Commissioner.

Loutrell Fambrough

A school teacher’ aide in the Dublin City Schools, she is one of three Black candidates seeking election. Fambrough is the daughter of the late Addie Carroll Edmond and attended Dublin City Schools.

Post 2

Dr.Joel Radney

A  chiropractor, he is making his first venture into city politics. Dr Radney was educated in the Dublin City Schools. He has practiced here for fifteen years.

Emery C. Thomas

A former educator and farmer, Thomas ran for City Council in 1973 and finished behind Alderman John Reed Deamer in Ward 3. He has lived in the Dublin area for forty years.

Clarence Jackson, Jr.

He is the band director at West Laurens High School. A resident of Dublin for 13 years, Jackson attended Alabama State College, Florida A&M, and the University of Georgia. He is a member of the St. Patrick’s Festival Executive Committee.

Kenneth Baker

At 27, Baker is one of the youngest candidates in Monday’s election He is a native of Dublin and attended Dublin High School and GMC.

Post 3

Albert Franks

He is the incumbent.  Franks is vice-president of Cochran Provision Co. He has served on City Council for one term and is presently mayor-pro-tem.

Johnny W. Warren 

A convenience food store operator, Warren ran against Franks two years ago, but lost by a arrow margin. He attended Georgia State University and Georgia College.

DETERMINED FALCONS THRASH RAIDERS

     By Tony Johnson and Doug Hall

Earlier this week it was written in the Courier Herad that determination would decide the outcome of the first ever meeting between East Laurens and West Laurens.

Well, last night a determined bunch of East Laurens Falcons,  their emotional pitch sky high, set out to prove those lines with a convincing 21-7 thrashing of West Laurens before a packed Homecoming crowd at Raider Stadium. For East Laurens Coach Tryon Reynolds and his bunch, it was the most rewarding way to end an unpredictable but satisfying, 5-5 season. Only  A few days before the season began, Reynolds was named coach to take over the job left when Coach Cardon Daley resigned to return to Albany.

The loss gave West Laurens a 5-5 season likewise, but for a team that was thinking region championship three weeks ago it was a bitter way to close the season.

There will now be a ten day or so period for fans, players, and coaches from both schools to think about what was or could have been before the Falcons and the Raiders plunge headlong into the basket ball season. But the win last night makes the sag between seasons much more enjoyable forEast Laurens.

On paper, both teams were evenly matched. Against common foes they had fairly similar records. But the Falcons made a decided turn around after their surprising 13-11 loss to Wilcox three weeks ago and since then there has been no stopping them.

Last night they simply wanted to win, apparently more so than the Raiders. On countless plays, the gold and back clan bunch swarmed their teammates when good plays were made, and Coach Reynolds never quit striding on the sideline, clapping enthusiastically  almost beside himself with joy when the Falcons put the game away with a quick insurance touchdown in the final period.

It was a well-earned win for the Falcons who dominated play almost completely from the first snap.

The Falcon offense ground out 332 yards on 70 possessions and was forced to punt only once. Freshman quarterback Jeff Clayton, playing all the way, could connect on only one pass, but he meant business on that one – 29 yard touchdown strike to Curtis Warnock.

And what a night it was for Jerry Wright, Leon Davis, and David Walker. Wright led the Falcons with 121 yards on 17 carries. Davis, a sophomore, lugged the pigskin 112 yards on 17 carries, and Walker provided 90 more yards on 20 trips. Calvin Wright picked up 10 yards and was the only other Falcon to gain yardage. 

The Falcons got terrific line play on offense and defense, particularly from Mike Sheppard, Johnny Martin, Virgil Moore, Jim Brown, and Frankie Faircloth on offense and from Faircloth, Leroy Montford, Larry Montford, Curtis Warnock, Julius Miller,Tommy Morris, and Martin on defense.

It took the Falcon offense only 1:24 to get on the scoreboard after the opening kickoff. On the first play from scrimmage, Jerry Wright burst through a wide hole off right tackle and raced 79 yards to the Raider six. Three plays later, quarterback Clayton kept for the touchdown. The extra point attempt was wide, but with 10:16 remaining, the Falcons had served notice that they were ready to play football.

The Raiders moved 29 yards in their first possession, but a Steve Brown pass was intercepted on the Falcon 36 by Moore. The big play of the series was a 28 yard Brown to Mark Fountain pass.

On their third possession, the Falcons drove 44 yards in eleven plays to the Raider sixteen, but Charlie Thomas’ field goal try was blocked by Eddie Patisaul.

West Laurens got things going on their fourth possession, after halting a Falcon drive at the Raider 38. The 62 yard drive took nine plays, with  Brown covering the final 20 yards on a sweep of right end. Clay Dixon, freshman halfback, earned 23 yards on the drive in four carries. With 1:05 remaining in the first half, Barry Boss made the score 7-6 with a perfectly placed PAT.

Dixon held West Laurens rushers with 35 yards in eight carries. Ernest Pryor and Eddie Patisaul gained 15 yards each. Fountain caught one pass for 28 yards, and Willie Turner hauled in another for 32 yards.

The Falcons moved 30 yards after the Raider touchdown, but time ran out with the ball on the Raider 45.

In the first of the third quarter, the Falcons’ Virgil Moore fell on a Raider fumble at the East Laurens 41. From there the Falcons moved to the Raider 26 but again failed to score with good field position.

Following a West Laurens punt, East Laurens began its second scoring drive at their own 35. The big plays in the 65 yard drive were an 18 yard run around left end by Davis, and the 29 yard scoring pass from Clayton to Warnock. Jerry Wright slashed through the right side of the line for the two points. With 11:14 remaining in the game, the Falcons were out front to stay: 14-7.

The insurance touchdown came eight plays later when Walker found a hole in the Raider line and darted 15 yards into the end zone. The score capped a four play drive that went 44 yards. Walker got two yards on the first snap; Wright went over right tackle for seven more. Davis went up the middle for 20 to the 15, and Walker went the final 15. Thomas’ extra point was good. 

West Laurens’ only other glimmer of the night came in the fading minutes when Brown hit Willie Turner for 32 yards to the Falcon 43. East Laurens took over on downs in the final two minutes and shoved their way to the Raider 14, but two15 yard penalties moved them back to midfield.

Time ran out with the ball in Raiders’ hand after Barry Boss intercepted Clayton’s third pass of the night at the West Laurens 26.

The otherwise great football night was marred after the final whistle by a brief skirmish that broke out on the field between some of the players and a few fans. No one was hurt, but it was a disappointing way to end the evening.

Playing for East Laurens were Larry Montford, Clayton, J. Wright, Davis, Cuyler, Edwards, Walker, Warnock,Scott, Faircloth, Moore, Clements, Brown, Miller, Darsey, Daniels,Sheppard, Scream, Martin, Leroy Montford, Fennell, Morris, McCullars C. Wright and Thomas.

West Laurens players were Turner, Boss, Byrne, Fountain, Brown, Edmonds, Godfrey, Veal, Patisaul, Dixon, E. Jones, Pryor, Prosser, B. Knight, Dupree, Clifton, Jones, Beard, W. Judon, Ward, Lord, J. Judon, Stuckey, Holmes, Wood, Clayton Jones, Bryant, and Ussery.

Fittingly for the first-ever meeting between these two in-county rivals, it was the first ever Homecoming at West Laurens.

Miss Christine White was crowned Homecoming Queen, and Miss Judy Kemp was crowned Raider Sweetheart during Homecoming Festivities at halftime of the West Laurens -East Laurens game.

Miss White is the daughter of Mrs. Isaac White. She was escorted by Charles Lee and crowned by Willie Lee Turner, senior football captain.

Miss Kemp is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lawton Kemp. Her escort was David Currie. She was crowned by football captain Steve Brown.

Allison Irwin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Willie F. Irwin, and Lori Dunn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M.I. Dunn, Jr., served as crown bearers.

The Queen, Sweetheart, and Court strolled onto the field through a huge bell formed by the West Laurens Marching Raider Band during the halftime ceremonies.

Members of the court included 

Ninth Grade Representatives :

Tina Jackson, escorted by Walter Butts 

Cecilia Willis, escorted  by Tommy Hinley

Tenth Grade Representatives:

Renee Woodard, escorted by David Killingsworth

Chandra Willis, escorted by James Moore

Eleventh Grade Representatives:

Arnette Rozier, escorted by Daryl Rozaar

Bonnie Lord, escorted by Jim Kemp

Twelfth Grade Representatives:

Alesia Fordham, escorted by John Knight

Peggy Foreman, escorted by Gary Butler

IRISH – “GREAT MOMENTS – IMPORTANT GAME”

The Dublin Irish have had some great moments while accomplishing a 6-3 season thus far, and it would be trite to say that the success of their gridiron year rests with the outcome of the 3-AA battle with Dodge County at Eastman next Friday night.

A triumph over the Indians will only add to the laurels already captured by Coach Tom Simonton’s gallant crew and possibly give them an opportunity to attain greater heights, a thought unheard of when they started the season coming off a 3-7 mark last year.

A loss to the Dodge Countians will mean the Irish are finished playing football for the season and allow Coaches Joyce Brown and Jim Richardson to start their basketball schedules on Friday, the 22nd, as scheduled against Hawkinsville in the Dublin High gym.

The Irish hope a large crowd of Dublin fans will accompany them to Eastman The squad and the improving Dublin High Band are worthy of any support fans might give them. The team and the band have worked hard and acquitted themselves handsomely in the process.

Co-captains Stan Couey, Don Edwards,and Guy Cochran head a list of eleven seniors who could be playing their last game. Others are backs, David Brack, Bob Davis, Billy Adams, Tony Prosperi, and Jeff Sims; and linemen Blan Trollinger, Victor Stuckey, and James Brantley.

Dublin lost to Dodge County 21-0 last year; 20-14 in 1972; and 15-14 in 1971, making it three years in a row that the Indians have defeated the Irish.

The last victory by Dublin was in 1970 when O.J. Knight and company upset the Indians, 13-6.

Everybody, including coaches Simonton, Metts, Johnson, and Davis, agrees that this is the most important game of the year, next Friday night when they take on the Indians of Dodge County in a 3-AA Region tilt. A win for the Irish could mean another chance on taking on the mighty Americus squad.

“If we win this game and we see a playoff with Americus, we’ll have to change the offense some. We will have to throw the ball more, and we’ll have to change of lot of blocking to be able to move the ball.” As for the current injury situation, Coach Simonton said that the team is probably in as good a shape as it has been since the beginning of the season. Eddie Dudley and Jeffery Sims have fully recovered. Billy Adams is recovered enough to be a factor in the game, and there are no other injuries other than the ones we have had all year, Matt Roberts and Arthur Robinson.

Coach Metts believes that the team knows what to expect at Dodge County because he has been running the Dodge County offense against the Irish defense.

Coach Johnson believes that the Irish backs are as good or better than Dodge County backs. “We had some good backs at Oconee High, and of course, we had three or four that were in Eddie Dudley’s class. We had a tremendous fullback in 1964 that Coach Pepper Rogers wanted to get out to Kansas. Most of the backs then were small, with the exception of that fullback. Our backs now could have played with any of those Oconee teams.

Speaking of beating Dodge County, Coach Davis said, “There’s nothing I’d like better than to whip them.” He observed that the Irish have had about 15 weeks of practice and  by now coaches have ” taught all you can really teach.” Trying to keep the boys on edge and healthy is about all that coaches can do this late in the season.

JOSEY IS VICTIM OF BRENTWOOD

The Texas A & M Cadet student body many years ago became famous as the Twelfth Man when they arose as a group, some 5,000 strong, to scurry onto the playing field to give their football team a player in order that the Aggies could finish a game with Texas. It seems that injuries had gotten the Aggie team down to 10 players. Since that time, the A& M students stand during the entire fray of all A& M games, seemingly ready to volunteer to put on a uniform.

Josey Academy’s coach Barney Hester needs this same kind of cooperation from the Josey student body now, for the Warriors, suiting but 12 players for the Brentwood game and finishing with only 11 when Dent Yates was hurt in the second period, as the Warriors lost to Brentwood 43-6 in Sandersville.

OUR MEN IN SERVICE

Airman First Class Sammie Coney, Jr.

Columbus, Mississippi – special recognition has been accorded to a Dublin, Georgia, man at Columbus AFB, Mississippi. Airman First Class Sammie Coney, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. David Harvey, Jr., 1100 Rutland Drive, Dublin, Georgia, was selected Outstanding Airman of the Quarter in his unit in recognition of his exemplary conduct and duty performance.

Airman Coney, an air traffic control specialist, is assigned to the 1948th Communications Squadron..

He is a 1971 graduate of East Laurens High School. The airman’s wife, Kathlene, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Flanders Wright, 307 Alabama Street, Dublin.

W.H. Dudley, Jr.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina – Sergeant W.H. Dudley, Jr. has been promoted to Master Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force.The son of Mr. and Mrs. M.H. Dudley, Sr., 1500 Telfair Street, Dublin, Georgia, he is an administrative supervisor with a unit of the Tactical Air Command.

He is a graduate of Oconee High School. His wife, Elizabeth, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Sanders, 114 Academy Avenue, Dublin.

Johnnie C. Coleman

Rantoul, Illinois – Airman Johnnie C. Coleman, son of Mr. and Mrs. E.B. Coleman of Dexter, Georgia , has graduated at Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois, from the United States Air Force aircraft mechanic course conducted by the Air Training Command.

The Airman, who learned to maintain and service multi-engine jet aircraft, is being assigned to Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, for duty with a unit of the Strategic Air Command.

Airman Coleman is a 1973 graduate of West Laurens High School, Dublin, Georgia.

Sergeant Allen D. Getman

Terceira, Azores – Sergeant Allen D. Getman, son of Mrs. Alice Stevens of Dublin, Georgia, is a member of a unit that recently received the U.S. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.

Sergeant Getman is a law enforcement specialist at Lajes Field, Azores. with the 1605th Air Base Wing, which earned the honor for meritorious service.

ANNIVERSARIES

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Fountain

On Sunday, October 13, 1974, at 3:00, in the home of Mr. and Mrs. F.A Josey, the 25th wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Fountain was celebrated. Rev. C.E. Vines, who had officiated at the wedding, led in the renewal of the vows and double ring ceremony.

All of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Fountain stood with the couple for the rites, and afterwards they cut a wedding cake in the traditional fashion. 

Refreshments were served to the guests until 5:00.

Mr. and Mrs. D.C. Crafton

Celebrating their Golden Wedding Anniversary, along with their children and grandchildren, Mr. and Mrs. Donnie C. Crafton of Route 4, Dublin, were guests in the home of their son, Don C. Crafton, in Hawkinsville on Sunday, November 3rd.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Crafton were born and reared in Laurens County and have lived here all of their lives. They have two children, a son, Don C. (Billy) of Hawkinsville, and a daughter, Mrs. James (Nell ) Walker of Dudley.

They have one grandson, Gene Crafton of Hawkinsville, and three granddaughters, Mrs. Linda Crafton Carter of Atlanta, Mrs. Cathy Walker Holton of Atlanta, and Miss Lisa Walker of Dudley, who assisted in the celebration.

PATCHWORK BAZAAR

If you have a long or a short Christmas list to fill, bring it to the fourth Annual Bazaar at the First United Methodist Church on  West Gaines Street. The Patchwork Bazaar will be open on Friday, November 22nd, from 5:30 – 9:00 pm. and on Saturday, November 23rd, from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. in the Social Hall of the Church.

At the Patchwork Bazaar you will find the Country Kitchen, serving meals on Friday evening and at Saturday noon.

The Bake and Sweet Shoppe will feature cakes, pies, candies, cookies, and canned goods.

The Patchwork Gifts will include such items as stuffed animals, pillows, aprons, pot holders, yard stick holders, magnetic items, wall hangings, calendars, lap robes, and many, many like items.

The Christmas Corner will have such items as bell pulls, Christmas stockings, fireplace brooms, tree decorations of all shapes and sizes, Santa boots, yo-yo  wreaths, and other decorations.

In the Gardeners’ Corner, you will find usual and unusual potted plants, dried flower arrangements, and Indian corn – just to name a few items.

On the stage in the social hall you will find a Nearly New Nook filled with early, new, and used items. ( You know that someone’s trash may be someone else’s treasure.)

A special feature of the Patchwork Bazaar is the Mission Village Corner. Here are items handcrafted at foreign mission villages in several foreign countries.

Funds from the Bazaar will be used for home missions, foreign missions, and the local church.

Come one. Come all.

VA AWARDS

On Friday,  October 24, 1974, Dr. E.L. Maddry, Chief of Staff at the Dublin Veterans Administration Center, presented Service Pins and Special Awards to the following employees:

Henry O. Kersey, Dublin – Medical Administration Service – 25 Year Service Pin

L. Joy Woodard, Dexter – Nursing Service  – Suggestion Award

Joy Willhite, Dublin – Medical Administration Servie – 25 Year Service Pin

Capitola G. Bridger. Dublin – Building Management Service – Quality Increase

Ethel T. Leonard, Chester – Supply Service -10 Year Service Pin

Kodell M. Thomas, Dublin – Library Service  – 15 Year Service Pin

Charles Warnock, Dublin – Engineering Service – 15 Year  Service Pin

Geneva M. Lord, Dublin – Nursing Service – 20 Year Service Pin

Dwight L. Morgan, Dublin – Rehabilitation Medicine Service – 30-Year Service Pin

Daniel W. Thompson, Dublin – Nursing Service –  30-Year Service PIn

JOHN LAURENS CHAPTER DAR MEETS

The  November meeting of the John Laurens Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution was in the home of Miss Leah Kittrell with Mrs. A.E. Daniel and Mrs. Leon Green assisting as co-hostesses.

Chapter Regent Mrs. E. B. Claxton, Jr. presided at the business session and announced that an American Flag had been presented to a Girl Scout troop at Camp Shady Dale. Accompanying her for the presentation were Flag Chairman Mrs S. M. Kellam and Mrs. Pete Wicker. She also announced that Mrs. Luther Watson of Twin City, Georgia State Regent, will be the guest speaker at the December 7 meeting. She invited the chapter to a covered dish luncheon at her home, 101 Rosewood Drive, for the meeting.

Mrs. John Gilmore gave prices for a monument to be placed in the old City Cemetery behind the First Methodist Church marking the grave of a Revolutionary War veteran’s daughter, the great-grandmother of Chapter member, Miss Elizabeth Lanier. She also quoted prices for a Plaque to be placed at McCall’s Point, the intersection of Bellevue Avenue and Bellevue Road. The chapter voted to purchase these two markers with proceeds from the sale of “The History of Laurens County “, books I and I.

More than 400 patients were served at the chapter booth at the Fall Carnival at the Veterans Administration Hospital, and several ward visits were made in October.

Miss Claire Smythe of Perry spoke on the three schools supported by the DAR and C.A.R. chapters, Berry, Georgia; Tamassee, South Carolina; and Crossnore, North Carolina. She noted that the land for the Tamassee School had been donated by a Chapter member, Mrs. John Harris.

A delightful social hour concluded the meeting.