85 years ago – June 7, 1940: Dublin guard men stand at the ready

Dublin Courier Herald, Dispatch and Press

When, and if, the Georgia National Guard is called or ordered into service  by the President in the current crisis revolving around Hitler’s ambitions in Europe – and maybe the western hemisphere – some 105 Dublin and Laurens County men will be affected immediately and others just as soon as enlistments are opened, it was revealed today.

Nothing definite on the situation other than Adjutant General John E. Stoddard’s statement that the Georgia guards are ready at a moment’s notice, has come from Atlanta, and local guard officers have no statement to make on the situation. However, it was said that the local guard officers have not been notified to be ready for mobilization by July 1, as was reported with the Tennessee militia.

Two companies of the 121st infantry, commanded by Col. L.C. Pope of Dublin, are stationed here – Company K and Headquarters detachment of the Third Battalion. In all, there are 99 men authorized under new regulations and six officers living in Dublin.

Company K has an authorized strength of 88 men with three officers, Captain C.H. Prince, First Lieutenant William B. Bryans, and Second Lieutenant Alfred T. Coleman, Jr. 

Headquarters detachment has an authorized strength of 11 men and is commanded by First Lieutenant Ralph L. Webb.

Other officers of the 121st Infantry living in Dublin are Col. Pope, who is commander of the regment, and Major Charles F. Pope, plans and training officer of the 121st, who is at present attending a National Guard and Reserve Officers’ school at Ft. Leavenworth.

Adjutant General Stoddard said plans have already been drafted for enlistment of additional men on M-Day and that key men in each county, city, and community had been selected, their appointment hinging only on signature of Governor Rivers to their commissions.

General Marshall, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, told a House committee of Congress, in urging enactment of President Roosevelt’s request for authority to order out Guardsmen that plans now call for the militiamen, if they are ever needed to replace regular army troops who might be needed to occupy possessions in the western hemisphere belonging to vanquished belligerents. The guardsmen, he said, will remain in the United States under the present plan.

DUBLIN SENIORS GRADUATE

Dublin High School seniors, 127 of them, comprising the largest graduating class in the school’s history, wrote the finish to this part of their education in the commencement exercises in the school auditorium on Friday night, May 31, at 8:30.

Dr. M.D. Mobley, Vocational Education Director of the State Department of Education, delivered the literary address.

The program:

Processional – “March Triomphale A. Goria”

Invocation by Rev. J.N. Peacock

“My Heart at Thy Sweet Voice” – by the Class

Introduction of Speaker – A.J. Hargrove, Dublin City School Superintendent

Address by Dr. M.D. Mobley

“God Bless America” – by the Class

Delivery of Diplomas  – James L. Keen, Jr. Member of City Board of Education

Announcement of Awards

“Alma Mater” by the Class

Benediction by Rev. J.N. Peacock

Awards:

Many outstanding achievements were made by members of the senior class, and  representatives of three civic clubs offer awards each year to the special senior who meets certain requirements.

The Mary Hicks Thompson Award was given by Mrs. W.R. Lanier, President of Woman’s Study Club, to Miss Verdie Glover, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E.R. Glover, for making the greatest improvement in the study of English during the year.

The Parnassus Club Music Award for musical ability and scholarship was presented to Miss Mae Daley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B.J. Daley, by Mrs. Fred L. Brown.

Paul Hudson, Jr., a member of the junior class, was given the John Laurens Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution History Award. This award goes to the best student of American history. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Hudson, and the Award was given by Miss Roberta Smith, Dublin Librarian.

Address:

Dr. Mobley delivered a practical and forceful address, speaking first to parents of the graduates, as he gave interesting and informative figures regarding education in the United States.

Then he turned to the graduates whom the occasion honored, declaring that  “the young people of today are far better equipped than were other generations and that they realize they are not the first to have problems to face and to solve.”

He related the Biblical story of David and Goliath, pointing out that “David had more than stones to fight with because he had faith.” Next, he gave the seniors five symbolic stones to guide them: honesty, willingness to work, courage, kindness, and gratitude.” 

He closed his address with this, “Give the world the best you have, and the best will come back to you.”

The Honor Group of the Senior Class:

Joan Bennett, Jean Brigham, Moody Brown, Inez Clarke, Irene Claxton, Jean Combs, Mae Daley, Gerald Daniell, Mattilou Fountain, Regena Grantham James Green, Marilyn Hardy, Willene Holmes, Martha Jordan, Helen Prescott, Neysa Scarborough, Edith Woodard, Dorothy Smith, Hazel Wilder, Evelyn Wyatt,  Willene Wyatt 

Other Members of the Class:

Frances Adams, Louis Alexander, Prentce Atkinson, Nan Bankston, Curtis Beall, Thomas Beall, Moody Bell, Karlan Bidgood, Edith Bland, J..O. Brown, Jr., Elbert Brunson, Aarmistice Butler, Ruby Boone, Evelyn Bacewell, Richard Bracewell, Jean Combs, Darothy Cooper, Rudy Crafton, Mary Criswell, Johnnie Mae Currie, Harold Danniell, Graham Dowling, Helen Dominy, Lillian Dominy, Anne Merle Drew, Jeannette Ellington, Marjorie Etheridge, Homer Fuqua, Dorothy Faircloth, Vrginia Gilder, Verdie Glover, Ruth Grier, Jeannette Hadden, Loye Hardaway, Donald Hattaway, Anna Lou Hobbs, Estelle Hodges, Mavis Hodges, John Hoffman, William Holmes, W.T. Holmes, Lake Jackson, Vestine Joiner,  Wendell Joiner, Thomas Keith, Billy Keith, Moffett Kendrick, Doris Lee, Otis Leverette, Lizzie Pearl Logue, Beatrice Malone, James McKinney, Marvin Madden, Nell Maddox, Bessie Melton, Elizabeth Merritt, Flossie Miller, Mildred Montford, Myra Montford, Wendell Montford, Anita Morgan, Edwin Morrison, Martha Moxley, Blakely Parrott, Yvonne Perry, Eunice Powers, Virginia Prescott, Mildred Renfroe, Elizabeth Rozier, Ruth Sapp, Vernon Sanders, Jimmy Scarboro, Eloise Sconyers, Mittie Seymour, Eloise Shealy, Edward Shepard, Dorothy Smith, Mary Helen Smith, Wynona Stanley, Christine Strange, Hymie Stinson, Edmond Thomas, Morgie Thomas, Mary Thompson, Joe Vaughn, Benjamin Veal, John Vaughn, Kathryn Veal, Mary Wagnon, Harold Ward, Lorena Waar, B.T. Warren, Jr., Wilbur Warren, Mary Weaver, Junior Wilbur, Chris White, Mary Wiggins, Virginia Wiggins, Jeanell Wood, Havelyn Woodard, Saralyn Word, Edith Woodard

Senior Class Faculty:

Miss Zipporah Kidd, Principal; Fred Driver, Dean of Boys; Miss Frances Fordham, Mrs. Pearl Kapp, Miss Frankie Calhoun, Miss Lillian Bedingfield, Miss Ruth Sanders, Mrs. Alfred Eubanks, Miss Maybelle Stith, Miss Carolyn Askew, Miss Frances Odell, J.W. Wiggins, and R. C. Jarrard.

6,905 VOTERS ON LIST

Laurens County’s latest list of qualified voters, prepared by the County Board of Registrars, is on file today with the Laurens County Tax Collector T.C. Keen, Laurens County Ordinary W.H. Adams, and Clerk of the Superior Court E.S. Baldwin.

The list, containing names of 6,905 citizens of Laurens County, is the largest in eight years, Dr. C.H. Kittrell, chairman of the board, reported.

The qualified list two years ago contained only about 4000 names, while the list four years ago was composed of some 5,500 names. Today’s list has 6,731 white voters and 174 Negro voters.

Members of the Board are Dr. Kittrell, Chairman; Walter Lovett, and Thurman Grinstead.

WILKES SCHOOL NAMES TEACHERS

Teachers for the 1940-41 term have been elected by the Board of Trustees of the Wilkes School, Lamar Thigpen, Chairman, and County Commissioner-elect, announced today.

Teachers named follow:

Miss Reba Newsome, Miss Lucile Avery, Miss Clyde Johnson, Miss Shepard, Miss Ruby Blankenship  Miss Bernice Avery, Miss Willie D. Branch, Miss Mary Helen Simmons, Miss Eunice Baggett, Mrs. W.L. Dixon, and Mrs. Lunis Stewart. B.C. Jackson will be Superintendent, and Mrs. F.B. Flanders, a supply.

Members of the Board are Lamar Thigpen, Chairman; C.L. Thigpen, Secretary and Treasurer; J.L Thigpen, L.W. Wilkes, and A.D. Johnson.

CADWELL HOLDS FINAL EXERCISES

Fourteen members of the senior class – seven boys and seven girls – and one member of the Board of Trustees today held diplomas from Cadwell High School following impressive graduation exercises last Monday night.

Laurens County School Superintendent Elbert Mullis delivered the diplomas.

Judge J. Eugene Cook of City Court of Wrightsville, made the literary address on the occasion, speaking on “superior citizenship.” Judge Cook appealed to the young people to prepare themselves for good citizenship and pointed to a four point program for development of superior citizens: 

1. Morality; 2. Intelligence; 3. Foresight; 4. Spirituality.

TWO CENTS, PLEASE

Two cents seems a small matter for complaint on the part of the paper. But if it’s small on the part of the paper, it is even “smaller” for the public to come in and ask for free papers.

To speak real plain about it, it is hard to understand how anyone has the gall to come in and ask to “borrow” a paper or ask for a free one, when so much has been said about it.

So. 

Papers are two cents, please, to subscribers, as well as to non-subscribers.

Thanks.

However it is a pleasure to report that there are only very few people who do this. The majority – and the vast majority – of the public does not make any such embarrassing effort.

CITY TO FURNISH $500

A permanent home for members of the Georgia Highway Patrol stationed here was one step nearer realization today with a $500 cost pledge by the City of Dublin.

Meeting in regular bi-monthly session last night, the city voted approval of a $500 donation for construction of a permanent station for the patrol, the aggregate cost to run to approximately $3,500. Already the patrol has reported that $2,000 is on hand for building of the station, leaving approimaately $1,000 unraised.

Although there was no official comment, it was said that the County Commssioners who will meet today, will be asked to furnish the remaining money needed with which to construct the new building, which will be located on a lot just off Bellevue Avenue, donated by a public-spirited Dublin citizen.

Col. Stanley Reese, Solicitor of City Court, appeared before Council last night and urged the city to furnish a portion of the money. 

Everything has been put in readiness for construction of the building, with the exception of raising necessary local funds. Plans and specifications for the building have already been drafted and approved by the Georgia Department of Public Safety and are now in the hands of contractors who are working up estimates on the building.

Work of raising necessary funds and furnishing the approved location has been pushed by local city and county officials in view of the fact that reports have persisted that the sub-station here might be removed unless some move was made to establish a permanent station in Dublin looking to an eventual increase in the number of patrolmen.

BIGGEST RAIN OF YEAR

A life-saving rain for Laurens County crops – at least those favored with the largest precipitation of the year here yesterday – had lifted spirits of farmers today and hope was expressed that additional showers would cover areas still suffering the lack of proper moisture.

Dublin’s weather observer reported a rainfall of 2.18 inches late yesterday afternoon, “all coming within an hour” as the weatherman’s final touch to the hottest day of the year thus far. Temperatures rose to 97 degrees here yesterday, some three degrees above the previous high record. Another hot day was in prospect today with the mercury standing at 75 degrees at 7:00 this morning.

Reports drifting into Dublin today indicated that yesterday’s rain covered farming areas to te southwest, south, and southeast of the city. All that farmers to the north of Dublin got out of the rain was a slightly damper feel in the air and a look at the heavy clouds hanging over the Dublin sector.

Firemen were called out in the height of the storm to extinguish a blaze in Jenkins Barber Shop on Jackson Street, believed having started by lightning and a short circuit in electrical equipment. Acting Fire Chief Clarence Devereaux said that fire started in the baseboard around a switch but did little damage. 

The heavy rain came just about 6:00 when those enjoying the Thursday afternoon holiday were gettng ready to eat picnic suppers at varied spots over this section or enjoying cooling dips in swimming places.

CHANGE RULES IN SCHOOL SYSTEM

A slight relaxation of rules governing employment of married teachers in the Laurens County School System by the Board of Education was announced today by Superintendent Elbert Mullis, who reported that the Board of Education had voted to amend the rule forbidding married women with children less than six years of age to hold jobs in the county system, making the rule apply only to those with children under four years of age.

The Board told Superintendent Mullis to notify district trustees “to adhere strictly to all rules and regulations of the County Board of Education in all respects and especially to rules pertaining to the recommendation of teachers.”

At the same time, the Board pointed out that rules forbid employment of a man and his wife for “teaching positions in the literary department of the same school.” The Board wishes to say that these rules are not new ones, but are old rules, having been on the minute books for a number of years. However, for the efficiency of the schools, it becomes our duty to enforce these rules.”

Superintendent Mullis prepared a letter to the secretaries and treasurers of the various district boards of trustees informing them of this action taken by the Board. He said that he would enclose a pamphlet containing all rules and regulations on the minute books of the Board.

DUBLIN ROUTE 6

     By Etta Mae Johnson 

Miss Joana Darley spent the week end here with friends and relatives.

Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Ely and children spent Sunday with Mrs. Ely’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. C.B. Senn.

Mr. and Mrs. Roger Brown visited Mr. and Mrs.George Pullen during the week end.

Friends of Prentice Graham are glad he is improving after an illness.

Mrs. Arcie Darley, Johnnie Darley, and Mr. and Mr. and Mrs. Leland Graham had as their Sunday guests John Wood, Frances Darley, Mrs. Morgan Wynn, Mr. Peace, Rev. D.E. Palmer, Mrs. Thomas Darley, Mrs. Buster Senn, and Tom Wynn. 

Miss Louise Pullen has returned to her home after spending the week with her sister, Mrs. Leagle Brown of Dublin.

Mr. and Mrs. Basil Bush and children spent Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. Kelly Johnson.

IRISHMEN LOSE TO WAYNESBORO

Dublin’s winning streak of three games in Ogeechee League competiton had suffered a temporary set back today with strong Waynesboro tied with Louisville for top honors, furnishing the impetus to curb the revamped Irish’s uphill climb.

Waynesboro came to town yesterday for a game with Dublin. The Irish knew the boys from over in East Georgia were tough, being tied with Louisville for top honors. “But hadn’t Dublin handed Louisville here only two defeats within a week, to give Waynesboro a break?” argued the Irishmen, and hadn’t the Irish started winning before tackling Louisville?” That was the mind set of the Irish team as it went onto the field. That was in their mind up until the ninth inning with the score 4-3 in favor of Dublin.

But Waynesboro came to bat in the ninth and were not forced out of that coveted position until three runs had been tallied. 

The final score was Waynesboro 5 and the locals 4.

Poctor, who held Louisville to four safeties last Thursday afternoon, was in fine form, giving up only six scattered safeties, until the ninth when three Louisville batsmen found the apple for safeties.

That, combined with a walk and one error, was enough to put the foe out in front. And the Irishmen could do nothing with Randall hurling for Waynesboro in the last half of the ninth, going out in one-two-three order and being credited with six safeties.

MT. CARMEL NEWS

Miss Myrtle Jean Gilbert and Darrel and Margareta Smith of Dexter were guests of Mr. and Mrs. G.A. Witherington and family of Chester visited Mr. and Mrs. R.E. Witherington last Sunday.

James Dawkins visited Mr. and Mrs. Linton Dawkins on Sunday.

Mr. and Mrs. Edison Fordham and daughter, Patrica Ann, were Sunday guests of Mr. and Mrs. I.J. Stripling.

Mr. and Mrs. D.F. Warnock and family of Tarrytown were Sunday guests of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. R.E. Witherington.