Exploring Plainview Texas

City Center

 

New signage alert! City Center on 5th...

 

 

Desire

 

At the end of the COVID-19 epidemic, a group of Hale County residents gathered to determine the fate of the inactive Hale County Historical Commission. Those present at the gathering desired to assist Hale County in their Texas Historical Commission charge to protect and preserve our rich history. It has been a step forward and several back, but we are seeing good things happening and are moving forward with excitement.

One item in the collection I saw today is this...a Roledex of the Lamar School students from 1957-1958. Does anyone recognize this young man?

 

 

 

 

There are so many unique bits of history in the thousands of pieces in the collection, and it is the desire to get this history where it is digitally viewable to the county residents and beyond. It is an arduous task that will cost a considerable amount. We want to let you know that the HCHC is not a museum or a library and has no paid staff, only volunteers who represent the people to help guide preservation and mark landmarks of historic value.

We want you to know that the Seth Ward Cemetery is now recognized by the State of Texas Historical Commission...

 

We will soon unveil the Finney Field marker. Look for more on this celebration and learn about Clent Breedlove and his glider pilots!

The Hale County Historical Commission: Kim Horne, Alice Lockeby, Susan Barkley, Ellysa Harris, Nicki Logan, Janice Payne, Deana Sagesar, Phyllis Wall, and Hale County Commissioner Jerry Bright.

 

 

Mid-town Plainview

 

What fun it is to get this peek at the original brick on this mid-town Plainview building!

 

 

700 Block

 

A wonderful photo from the H. M. LaFont collection of the east side of the 700 block of Broadway Street, Plainview, Texas.

 

 

H. M. LaFont

 

H.M. LaFont was a name well-known in Plainview, Texas, and beyond. The Hale County Historical Commission recently was gifted a few of his photos from his grandchildren. 

 

From the Plainview Herald on November 25, 2003

 

Respectfully as well as affectionately known as Judge, LaFont had the longest continuous law practice in Texas - 73 years - at the time of his death.

An item in the July 3, 1930 edition of The Herald noted that H.M. LaFont has opened a law office with P.B. Randolph in the Skaggs building. A native of Missouri, he has spent the last several years in Washington, D.C. and has been assistant principal for the Woodward School for Boys in that city the past two years.

A native of Conran, Mo., he also lived in Cape Girardeau, where his Sunday school teacher was the lawyer grandfather of radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh.

He graduated from the University of Missouri and received his law degree from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

After coming to Plainview, he soon was appointed deputy county attorney and served as county judge from 1932-39.

While serving as district attorney, he tried the famous Hunt murder case three times. The case stayed in the national press for several years.

He served as county judge and was state representative for this area in the Texas Legislature from 1949-53 and 64th District Judge from 1957-64. He was a member of Committee on Penal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure from 1960 to 1961.

While serving with the Legislature, he authored many bills for the preservation of underground water, the High Plains Experiment Station at Halfway and also served on a special legislative council to study the tax structure, state and local highway construction, uniform commercial code, and the Gilmer-Aiken school finance law.

 

He was a member of First United Methodist Church where he taught a men´s Sunday school class for 50 years and then a women´s class for several years, was a member of Kiwanis Club for more than 60 years, a 32nd Degree Mason and had served as attorney for Central Plains Hospital and Plainview Cemetery Association.

He was longtime chairman of the board of First National Bank. He also had served as a Scout leader and was a former member of the Chamber of Commerce board.

He and his late wife, Jane, were married for 60 years.

His was the first name on the law firm of LaFont, Tunnell, Formby, LaFont and Hamilton in the Skaggs Building on Broadway where you could find him most every day.

 

He said in an interview that he misses the courtroom he stepped out of 30 years ago. But he continued to be active until declining health slowed him down about a year ago.

A quiet, mannerly gentleman, he told a Herald reporter several years ago that he attributed his longevity to a good night´s sleep, eating right and attending church.

Good advice for a man who dispensed much wisdom in much of his 96 years on earth.

 

 

Waggoner Carr was born in Fairlie, Hunt County, on 1st October, 1918. Educated at Lubbock High School and Texas Technological College. During the Second World War he served in the United States Army Air Corps.

Carr graduated from the University of Texas Law School in 1947. He established his own law office with his brother Warlick. The following year he was appointed assistant district attorney in Lubbock. He was also and from 1949 to 1951 as county attorney for Lubbock County (1949-51).

A member of the Democratic Party, Carr won a seat in the Texas House of Representatives (District 19) in 1950. He served for the next ten years and during this period focused on issues such as water, tourism, industrial development. Carr also helped establish a code of ethics for legislators and lobbyists. This included two consecutive terms as Speaker of the House.

In 1960 Carr left the Texas House of Representatives to run for the post of Attorney General, but lost to the incumbent, William Wilson. He stood again in 1962 and this time he was elected. Over the next few years he was involved in the prosecution of Billie Sol Estes and Jack Ruby.

Carr led the investigation of the assassination of John F. Kennedy and participated in the work of the Warren Commission. Carr testified that Lee Harvey Oswald was working as an undercover agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was receiving $200 a month from September 1962 until his death in November, 1963. However, the Warren Commission preferred to believe J. Edgar Hoover, who denied Carr's affirmations.

 

 

 

Wayland Spirit

 

The Wayland spirit leaders (cheerleaders) hosted a one-day cheer camp. It was a really fun day for these kids and cheerleaders, too!!!

 

 

 

Celebrated

 

Today, we celebrated two Starbucks Neighborhood Grants for the Crisis Center and Plainview Ahead. Sarah @ Starbucks does a wonderful job letting her company know about Plainview through her grant nominations.

 

 

Neighborhood Awards

 

Hello!

We are going to be celebrating not one, but TWO (!!), Plainview nonprofit organizations receiving $1000 Starbucks Foundation Neighborhood Grants – Plainview AHEAD & Crisis Center of the High Plains.

Starbucks Plainview would like to invite the community to the celebration that is taking place here at your Plainview, Texas, Starbucks tomorrow, Friday, 8.25.23, from 12:30p-1:00p.

Please join us for celebrations, smiles, & samples as we uphold our promise of giving back to our community!

Thank you for your support,

Sarah Dorney

Starbucks Coffee Company

Store Manager

Store #69658

3600 Olton Rd, Plainview, TX 79072

 

Thank you, Sarah, for your time & involvement in recognizing the Community of Plainview!

 

 

Lines!

 

Intersection work is still happening!

 

 

What Do you Make of This?

 

I saw this today with a worker. What do you make of this???