Julys Past, 50 years ago, 1967

From The LaGrange Daily News

Front Page News: Progress Has Evolved Into A Continuing Thing In LaGrange

Progress in LaGrange and Troup County has evolved into a continuing thing, affecting the smallest to the largest merchant and person in all walks of life.

When the first progress report was compiled here three years ago by the LaGrange Daily News, we had many things  as of which to be proud of. We talked then about such things as new industry, the revitalized Chamber of Commerce and the declining rate of unemployment.

This first report covered a three-year span starting from the early 60s when LaGrange and Troup County was at a standstill. We were losing population, our unemployment rate was up and our retail sales were down. Since that time, things have been climbing steadily, year by year.

LaGrange has not been a boom-town. And we are glad. Instead, we are experiencing the type of growth our city can keep pace with.

Now, we are attracting workers and their families instead of losing them to the metropolitan areas.

The Georgia Department of Labor recently published some figures on employment covering the period of 1962 through 1966.

In, 1962 the unemployment rate was 7.3 percent of the total work force in Troup County. With a continual downward trend, the 1962 rate decreased to a 1966 rate of 3.7 percent, a 50 percent reduction.

At the same time retail sales have climbed consistently during the past four years, taking a whopping lead to $81 million in 1965. Last year, the sales jumped again to more than $87 million. 1967 is also expected to be a banner year.

Although we have no major new industries to announce for the past year, existing industry has expanded and payrolls continue to increase.

This year, we need only to point to LaGrange and Troup County as the place where progress has become a way of life.

OEO Oks Grant For $381,384

The U.S, Office of Economic Opportunity has approved a grant of $381,384 to Community Action for Improvement, Inc. in LaGrange for a 12-month program serving low income residents in Troup , Carroll, Meriwether, Heard, Coweta, Harris and Talbot Counties.

Luke Gill, executive director of Community Action, said the funds will be used to implement and continue existing OEO programs in the aforementioned counties.

LaGrange High School To Receive Foundation Medal

LaGrange High School will receive the George Washington Medal of Honor, presented by the Freedoms Foundation tonight during a special program at the Atlanta Biltmore. The presentation will be made by Kenneth D. Wells II, vice president of Freedom Foundations in charge of awards.

Miss Louise Owen, government teacher at LHS, will accept the award for LaGrange High School.

This is the second time LHS has won this award, having received it in 1962, the same year Miss Owen received the prestigious Valley Forge Classroom Teachers Award from the Foundation.

The award recognizes outstanding work by national high schools in promoting a deeper understanding and appreciation of the basic principles of the American Way of Life.

Local Boy Scouts Up For Their Safety In Detroit

Seven Boy Scouts from LaGrange on a 10-day goodwill tour spent Sunday night locked up in a Navy reserve armory in Detroit.

The boys were under National Guard care for their safety because of riot action in the area.

Jim Hall, district Scout executive and Boy Scout tour leader, called to let parents know that the boys were all right, and said they had seen the fires and heard the shots in the riot area.

The boys left Detroit Monday to go to Niagara Falls. They will visit Expo ‘67 in Canada today and return Sunday.

Silver Star Receipent From LaGrange

Major Richard R. Maglin of LaGrange was recently presented the Silver Star for gallantry in action near Tuy Hoa, Vietnam.

Major Maglin continuously exposed himself to enemy fire during operation Geronimo as his unti was clearing a village of the Viet Cong.

Maglin has also received the Bronze Star, the Army Commendation Medal for Valor, the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry and the Vietnamese Honor Medal.

Local Archer Places Third In Competition

Bill Katter, a member of the Troup County Archery Club, attended the Southeastern Archery Tournament held in Gainesville, Fla. last week and in the two-day competition won third place in the Class “B.” Freestyle Division.

Katter shot a total score of 142 for the three rounds. Over 400 archers, representing every southeastern state, attended the two-day event.

Kattar is president of the Troup County Archery Club. There are now 32 active members in the club.

Julia Dyar, a retired journalist, is active in the Troup County Historical Society.