Augusts Past, 50 Years Ago, 1967

From The LaGrange Daily News

Front Page News

The City of LaGrange will have one of the most attractive off-street parking lots in the state, thanks to the E. Fuller Callaway Foundation.

City Council Tuesday night formally executed a lease agreement with the Foundation on the new parking facility, located on Main Street in front of the former Chevrolet building.

Now open, the lot will accommodate 135 cars. Meters are to be installed and more improvements still are planned. It will feature 10-hour parking meters, designed for all day parkers in an effort to relieve the parking problem on our city streets.

The lot will have some two-hour meters as well as 75 long term (10 hour) meters.

Fuller E. Callaway, which owns the land where the lot is located, paid for all improvements and paving at the facility.  The only cost to the city was the erection of meters and lights.

School board gets hike in tax rate

The Troup County Board of Education adopted a resolution at Tuesday’s meeting authorizing J.W. McAllister, superintendent of Troup County schools, to appear before the County Commissioners later that afternoon and ask for a tax levy of 17 mills plus one for bond issue. This millage rate for ad valorem taxes was adopted by the commissioners.

Last year’s millage rate for maintenance and operation of the county schools was 15 mills. McAllister asked for 17 mills to operate this year, plus the usual one mill for the payment of principal and interest in outstanding bond issues.

Helicopter Pilot Cited For

Heroism

Captain Robert Stewart has just returned from Vietnam where he was an armed helicopter pilot in the Mekong Delta and led a light fire team.

His chopper was packed with four flexible mounted machine guns, two door guns and 14 rockets. Stewart and his platoon (Thunderbirds) of the 336th assault company gave general support and provided escort service for ground troops and big helicopters.

While fighting a war he also received an impressive collection of medals including; three Distinguished Service Crosses, two purple hearts, the Army Commendation Medal for Valor With “V” Device, and 28 Air Medals (Each medal for 25 combat missions). On Jan. 19, 1967, he received a Republic of Vietnam Medal for heroism while engaged in aerial flight on connection with military operations against a hostile force.

Pressley honored Posthumously At Benning

Tribute was paid to Sgt. James E. Pressley of LaGrange in a posthumous ceremony at Fort Benning recently when the Bronze Star Medal was presented to his mother, Mrs. Jesse Henson of LaGrange.

Sgt. Pressley was cited for his heroic actions as a squad leader during a Viet Cong attack on his unit. During the attack he placed highly effective fire into the insurgent ranks, and through the unit’s suppressive fire, momentarily halted the Viet Cong attack. He than led a fierce counterattack against the enemy, motivated his comrades, and engaged the enemy in hand-to-hand combat. After he was mortally wounded, his unit went on to completely defeat the enemy.

Local horse breeders donate trophy

LaGrange Morgan horse breeders, Joe and Helen Young of Pineland, have donated the first challenge trophy offered to the Chattahoochee Plantation Horse Show of Atlanta.

This is the first challenge cup offered to the show and the first challenge trophy offered to the Morgan horses of the five Morgans.

Local Golfers Winners

Ivy Newman and Suzanne Jackson took honors in the Newman Country Club Golf Tournament Thursday afternoon. Miss Newman won a golf bag for her first place finish in the “B” Division of the Championship Flight, while Miss Jackson won a bag and club covers as the low medalist in the “A” Division of the Championship Flight.

Two Troup 4-hers win honors at rifle shoot

Carolyn Perdue and Joel Wood earned the title of Georgia 4-H rifle champions last week at the state rifle match held near Dahlonega, Georgia.

Carolyn shot a score of 1063 out of a possible 1500. Her closest competition only shot 743.

Joel shot 1253 with the next closest score being 1041. Carolyn proved to be a better shot than all of the boys competing except Joel.

Col. James Boddie (Ret.) and Hugh Galbreath, Assistant County Agent, work with the 4-H Junior Rifle Club in Troup County.

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