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Archives for November 2016

Bright K. Newhouse, Jr.

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Bright K. Newhouse, Jr., died Sunday, November 20, 2016, in Clarendon at the age of 85.

Services were held Wednesday, November 23, in the Clarendon Church of Christ with Bright Newhouse, III, officiating. Cremation and arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Bright K. Newhouse, Jr.
Bright K. Newhouse, Jr.

Bright was born April 11, 1931, in Fisher County to Willie Marie and Bright K. Newhouse, Sr.  He married Cloe Ann Noles on October 1, 1955, in Fisher County.  He received his bachelor’s degree from Abilene Christian University and was a US Air Force veteran.

Bright had been a resident of Clarendon since 1962.  He worked for USDA and was an insurance agent for American General Insurance Company.  He was a life and sustaining member of the MDRT and served 40 years on TLRT.  He also was a member of the Clarendon College Board of Regents from 1966-1996 and served as Chairman of the board. Bright was a member and the minister of the Hedley Church of Christ.

He is preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Billy J. Newhouse; a sister, Roena Weltman; a granddaughter, Amy Newhouse; and a grandson-in-law, Dustin Monroe.

Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Cloe Ann Newhouse of Clarendon; two sons, Mike Newhouse and wife Rhonda and Bright “Bubba” Newhouse, III, and wife Theresa, all of Clarendon; a daughter, Kim Maxfield and husband Ken of Murphy; a brother, Don Newhouse of Abilene; a sister, Margie Anderson of Abilene; eight grandchildren; and 18 great grandchildren.

The family request memorials be sent to the Donley County Senior Citizens or the Christian Relief Fund.

William E. Patman

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William E. Patman, 94.  Our country lost a hero on Nov. 13, 2016, as Bill passed away peacefully in the home of his daughter in Orlando, Florida with his family present.  Last year, his wife of 63 years, Helena DeKay Townsend, won their long race to reach heaven first.  Bill was born in Clarendon on March 15, 1922, where he was raised by his parents, William Marvin Patman and Charlie Mae Taylor.  Bill was the last living relative to have known his great uncle, Texas Trailblazer, Charlie Goodnight, who, Bill recounted, he and his best friend feared.  Bill warmed to his great uncle after Charlie periodically opened his hand, presenting Bill with the choice of a nickel or dime.  Bill always selected the larger coin, much to his Uncle Charlie’s amusement.

William E. Patman
William E. Patman

Bill will be remembered as a by-the-book man, maybe with one exception.  In 1943, a typical placid day in the Texas panhandle was rudely disrupted.  A speck appeared just above Hwy. 287 north of Clarendon, preceded by a dull vibration, growing in intensity.  As it approached mid-town, 100 feet above the centerline of the highway, the shadow grew into the shape of a B-24 Liberator, the bomber’s 4 engines, throttles open, roaring.  As it crossed the town center, rising in a banking turn, an object was dropped from the B-24 by its bombardier.  The object opened under a small crude parachute which was snagged on a phone line.  The fire department was called out.  By ladder, they retrieved the package, a hollow casing of a .50 caliber machine gun round tied to the parachute.  Tucked inside was Bill’s brief handwritten note to his mother, Charlie Mae, to whom it was promptly delivered.  The B-24 returned safely to Pueblo, Colorado with Bill’s training crewmembers sworn to secrecy about the inadvertent breach of flight regulations.  The shell, parachute and the note are still safely in the hands of Bill’s family.

Bill was called to serve in 1943 while attending college at West Texas A&M University. First Lieutenant Patman served 36 missions in enemy territory as the bombardier of a B-24 Liberator while stationed at Old Buckenham Airfield in England with the 453d Bomber Group of the USAAF (along with his Group Executive Officer, Jimmy Stuart).  Having finished their required 35 missions, Bill and his eight crewmembers volunteered for yet one more bombing mission so they could finish together with their 10th crewmate who, while ill, had missed one mission.

Bill recounted that each of his crewmates were given a small token-size bottle of scotch after each mission.  Bill saved his up.  He only opened them after his last mission.  Bill was not known to be much of a drinker, maybe with one exception.  On the evening of his crew’s last mission, Bill – who had adeptly navigated his plane to its targets with the top-secret precision of a Sperry bombsite – found himself incapable of navigating his legs around the corner of the tavern.  Two days before his passing, Bill mustered the strength to phone and chat with his one surviving B-24 combat crewmate and friend, Willard Bardwell, who resides in Slidell, La., a mere 20 miles from Bill’s Mandeville, LA home.

After the war, Bill recounted, without equivocation, that he flipped a coin to decide whether to buy a new car or to return to college at the Colorado School of Mines, where he had been accepted for a second degree.  He drove an old Model A Ford to Golden Colorado where he obtained a degree in geological engineering.  He worked his entire career as a geologist with Chevron, prospecting in remote locations such as Sudan and Venezuela.  He lived primarily in Mandeville, LA where he and Helena raised their family.

Bill was preceded in death by his brothers, Ardis and Alan.

He is survived by his sister, Ruth Word Robinson, of Clarendon, his son, Larry, of Pass Christian, MS, and his daughter, Lisa Kelly, of Orlando Florida.  He leaves two grandsons, Connor and Colin Kelly, both of Orlando, FL.

Bill will rest peacefully with his bride, brothers, and parents, and a few wild turkeys, in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon where a service was held at on Saturday, Nov. 19.

Glenn William Sloan

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Graveside services were held November 2, 2016, at Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon with Rev. Anthony Knowles, officiating.

Burial was in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon.

Arrangements were under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Glenn was born November 25, 1922, in Sonora, New Mexico to Mitchell and Ernie B. Wylie Sloan. He married Lovonia Swinney in September 1941 in Memphis, Texas. He had been a resident of Donley County most of his life. He loved music and playing the piano. Glenn was an avid hunter and fisherman.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Lovonia in 1998; 2 sons, Mike and Gary Sloan; four brothers; and two sisters.

He is survived by a daughter, Vicki Sloan of Clarendon; four grandchildren and one great grandchild.

The family request memorials be sent to the American Cancer Society or Donley County Sr. Citizens in Clarendon.

Robinson and Hommel to be honored at CC homecoming

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Clarendon College exes and friends are encouraged to attend homecoming activities this week that will include honoring two distinguished alumni and dedication of a state historical marker for the Panhandle’s oldest institution of higher learning.

Festivities will begin Thursday, November 17, with CC’s fall theatre production of “Dulcitius,” at 7 p.m. in the Harned Sisters Fine Arts Center, which will also have a matinee performance Sunday, November 20, at 3 p.m.

The Bulldog basketball team will be in action in the Dawg House Friday, November 18, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, November 19, at 1 p.m. as they host the

Also on Saturday, the Donley County Historical Commission will dedicate a state historical marker recognizing Clarendon College as the first college in the Texas Panhandle having been established in 1898. That ceremony at 3 p.m. will be held in front of the Instructional Center with a reception to follow in the Vera Dial Dickey Library.

Saturday evening, CC graduates Ruth Robinson and Laura Hommel will receive the college’s Distinguished Alumni awards during a presentation at the Bairfield Activity Center.

Grahn wins bronze at state

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By Sandy Anderberg

Clarendon senior Bryce Grahn runs for his third place finish at the state cross country meet last week in Round Rock. Enterprise Photo / Travis Harsch
Clarendon senior Bryce Grahn runs for his third place finish at the state cross country meet last week in Round Rock. Enterprise Photo / Travis Harsch

Clarendon High School’s Bryce Grahn ran to a third place finish in the State Cross-Country Meet in Round Rock last weekend.

Grahn finished the race with a time of 16:35.75.

Clarendon High School sophomore Gavin Word also ran in the meet and finished a respectable 34th with a time of 17:48.59.  Grahn and Word ran a personal best in the meet.

This was Grahn’s fourth trip to a state cross country meet.  Before coming to Clarendon, Grahn ran in the Colorado state meet as a freshman.  In his sophomore year as a Bronco, Grahn finished 13th and last year he ran 6th.

“We knew this year he had a chance to finish at the top, but you never know how a season is going to go,” coach Kalen Grahn said.

“The runner from Sundown that was the state champion is a very good runner and the young man from Port Aransas who came in second was last year’s state champ.  We felt great where we came in.”

Gavin Word competing at the State Cross Country meet in Round Rock last Saturday. Word placed 34 over all. Courtesy photo / Lisa Grahn
Gavin Word competing at the State Cross Country meet in Round Rock last Saturday. Word placed 34 over all. Courtesy photo / Lisa Grahn

“We had a blessed week at Round Rock,” Grahn continued. “Bryce and Gavin both ran great races.  Gavin grew as a runner to understand what a state meet feels and looks like.  You can tell him, but until you experience first-hand, then you fully understand what it is like. it is the fastest meet you will be in.”

Word has improved his time by over a minute the last two weeks and he will be leading the Bronco team next year, according to Grahn.

“He has made some great steps the past two weeks to show himself and the other runners that he is ready to take over the leadership role of this team,” Grahn said.

Grahn was appreciative of the support the CC team received.

“We want to thank the Clarendon School for all their support,” Grahn said.  “Especially want to thank the other CC runners who ran and competed this year.  I enjoyed taking Gavin and Bryce to state, but I want to take our entire team to Round Rock and bring back a State Championship trophy not just medals.”

Editorial: Trump may disappoint his backers

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The 2016 election was certainly one for the history books, and now the nation looks to see what Donald Trump will be like as president.

Most people were surprised by last Tuesday’s outcome. Hillary Clinton was leading all the polls, and Trump had offended almost everyone at some point during the campaign. But two things were key to Trump’s victory. First, perhaps even the man himself did not fully grasp the anger of the working class toward Washington, DC; and second, the Democrats possibly didn’t understand how much people absolutely hate Mrs. Clinton.

The campaign then set up the clash of a brash Washington outsider and a classic poster child for DC corruption. Or, depending on your point of view, a racist misogynistic bigot vs. a champion of women and the downtrodden.

Roger Estlack, Editor
Roger Estlack, Editor

For your humble editor, it was a case of an exceptionally unpalatable Republican who seemed to demean the very things that makes America truly great (i.e. a free press, freedom of religion, and the strength that has come from the melting pot of a nation of immigrants) and a lying, conniving, vindictive witch who sounded like nothing more than an angry white woman. Which is why I voted for Gary Johnson, and went to bed with a clean conscious.

The most amusing thing has been to see the people on Facebook who two weeks ago were posting memes touting the abolition of the Electoral College become last Wednesday the biggest fans of the Electoral College.

So what are we left with? A second Clinton administration would have been easy to predict – an extension of B.O.’s policy’s, more liberal judges on federal courts, an even larger role for the federal government, and a former president molesting interns in the East Wing of the White House.

But a Trump administration… now that’s a wild card!

Donald Trump is beholden to no one. He’s independently wealthy, and largely bankrolled his own election. Someone like Trump could make tremendous positive changes in Washington by taking on the established bureaucracy, finding compromise solutions to actually fix things like the tax code or Social Security, etc.

Someone like Trump could do that, but it remains to be seen if Trump is that person. And in fact, right now, it looks doubtful.

Diehard Republicans like to tell you that the party works for limited government, reduced taxes, reduced spending, and conservative judges on the courts. Unfortunately, their record is spotty at best, giving us the PATRIOT Act, No Child Left Behind, expanded federal programs, uncontrolled spending, and Chief Justice John Roberts – the traitor who single-handedly kept Obamacare as the law of the land. You do get generally lower taxes though.

Trump is not a typical Republican. Indeed, many of his positions aren’t very Republican at all. So it was quite curious that he became a hero for the Grand Old Party, and even more curious how evangelicals rushed to embrace the man who exhibited the least Christian attributes of any major candidate running. But he had one thing going for him… he wasn’t Hillary Clinton.

The president-elect may quickly become a disappointment for his backers. He has now come out and called the question of gay marriage “settled” (which should inflame many of his supporters), and he’s already softened his position somewhat on repealing Obamacare, indicating that he may decide to keep the provision that requires insurers to cover pre-existing conditions (although, frankly that seems like the one thing that is driving insurance rates through the roof). You can’t really take those positions to the bank though. They will likely change a couple of times before he takes office in January.

Which is the problem with electing a man to office that doesn’t seem to have any core principals when it comes to political philosophy. That being said, Donald Trump is a smart man. You don’t build the empire he has without some high level of business acumen. But how well can he translate business smarts into running the government? And more importantly, will the divisive language he used to get elected actually reflects his true feelings and the way he will govern?

Trump realistically has one year to prove himself. If he can somehow watch his tongue – and tame his Twitter account – and act sensibly, there may be some hope for him as president. But if he can’t, then you can look for the divide in this country to get even wider and expect the Democrats to take control of Congress in two years.

City repeals most building codes

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Building permits are no longer required in Clarendon following action taken by the City Council at its regular meeting last Thursday.

Two weeks after a visit from a representative of the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, city aldermen deliberated the municipal codes governing such things as construction and electrical and plumbing work and the costs associated with inspecting those activities.

City Administrator David Dockery said after the meeting that the city feels there is no longer a need for building permits due to the low volume of construction in Clarendon and because of the requirements for inspections to be performed by a certified inspector.

The council voted to specifically repeal codes governing plumbing and electrical materials in houses moved into the city, fences extending into streets or alleys, the building code, the residential code, the plumbing code, the fuel gas code, the mechanical code, and the electrical code.

Still in force are codes governing Property Maintenance and Dangerous Structures.

City officials say plumbing, electrical, building, and mechanical work within the corporate limits of Clarendon will now fall exclusively under state laws governing those areas.

In other city business, the council approved increases to animal fees, raising the cost of dog tags from $1 to $5, the first increase for dog tags since 1901. Other increased rates were impounding, $55 up from $50; boarding, $10 up from $8; and adoptions, $27.50 up from $25.

A schedule of fees was adopted to cover the cost of city workers and city equipment during demolitions of dilapidated properties. Those fees are published in a legal notice in this week’s Enterprise.

The council took no action on electrical bids for work at the City Barn, and approved a proposal by architect Lynn Ramsey to conduct an ADA evaluation of City Hall.

Ronna Newman was appointed to a vacant seat on the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation Board, and aldermen accepted the contract with the Donley Appraisal District for the collection of taxes for fiscal year 2017.

Wheatly wins easy re-election

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A Republican tidal wave hit the polls in Donley County as local voters chose Donald Trump as their preferred candidate for president during last week’s general election.

Of the 1,480 votes cast, 1,073 voted a straight Republican ticket, and Mr. Trump picked up a total of 1,225 votes in Donley County. Democrat Hillary Clinton received 191, Libertarian Gary Johnson picked up 40, and the Green Party’s Jill Stein got 14. Four other write-in votes went to Evan McMullin.

In the only locally contested race, Precinct 3 County Commissioner Andy Wheatly received 226 votes over his write-in challenger Neil Koetting, who picked up 88.

In terms of percent, voter turnout locally was up slightly from the last presidential election with 64.2 percent of registered voters casting ballots, but the actual number of voters going to the poll was down from four years ago with 1,480 this year compared to 1,539 in 2012.

Clarendon native Republican Mac Thornberry coasted to another term in Congress and received 1,266 votes compared to 95 local votes for Libertarian Calvin Deweese and 45 for Green Party candidate Rusty Tomlinson. Ken King (R) of Canadian was also unopposed in seeking to represent Donley County in the State House of Representatives and received 1,273 local votes.

District Judge Stuart Messer was unopposed and received 1,291 votes. District Attorney Luke Inman also faced no opponent and got 1,252 votes.

All other county level races were also uncontested with incumbents cruising to re-election. Results are as follows: County Attorney Landon Lambert 1,258, County Sheriff Butch Blackburn 1,313, County Tax Assessor/Collector Linda Crump 1,334, County Commissioner Pct. 1 Mark White 295, County Commissioner Pct. 3 and Constable Prcts. 3&4 Doug Wright 578.

The Hands of a Boxer

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By Brian Whitt, Goldthwaite Eagle

Two weeks ago, hands that have worn boxing gloves, grappled in wrestling rings, cooked chuck wagon meals and repaired teeth rested from their labors. For Dr. Keith “Fuzzy” Hudson, November 2 marked the conclusion of a highlight-filled dental career that has garnered accolades not only in Texas but nationally and internationally, and as he recalled favorite moments, the stories flowed.

For nearly a decade, patients visiting Hudson’s office in San Saba have had access to a visual history of his life, told through high school report cards, awards and other mementos decorating the walls of his office. How good of a dentist has he been? In a word, exceptional.

Dr. Keith Hudson (a.k.a. Buddy Hudson to his hometown friends, a graduate of Clarendon High School and a distinguished alumnus of Clarendon College, stands with some of his many awards. Hudson retired from a successful career as a dentist earlier this month. Courtesy Photo / Goldthwaite Eagle
Dr. Keith Hudson (a.k.a. Buddy Hudson to his hometown friends, a graduate of Clarendon High School and a distinguished alumnus of Clarendon College, stands with some of his many awards. Hudson retired from a successful career as a dentist earlier this month. Courtesy Photo / Goldthwaite Eagle

Hudson is much more than a family dentist. To his colleagues and law enforcement officials, he has been one of the world’s foremost forensic odontologists, tasked with identifying human remains at disasters and crime scenes based on the individual characteristics of teeth. Perhaps his best-known identification was of Branch Davidian leader David Koresh and dozens of his followers after the gun battle and fire in Waco in 1993. Modestly, he is quick to mention the people who worked with him.

“We had the best forensic team in the world, and they made us look good. You’re no better than the people you’re surrounded with,” Hudson said.

His leadership in the dental profession has brought Hudson extensive recognition and numerous awards. As a dentist practicing in Colleyville, he was Vice-President of the Texas Dental Association and a multiple nominee for Texas Dentist of the Year. Hudson is also a member of the International College of Dentists, and the list of honors goes on. As a teacher and example, he has helped other dentists to be their best through innovation, which has in turn benefited their patients.

Summing up his friend’s achievements, fellow dentist Dr. Tom Cody Graves said Thursday, “He’s really good for dentistry.”

In his youth, Hudson was also an accomplished athlete, starting out as a boxer while a student in Clarendon, Texas, and progressing to wrestling at the University of Texas. That love of athletics continued on into later years, when he was a member of the Board of Directors of Texas Golden Gloves, where he helped instill a sense of purpose and self-respect in young men from difficult backgrounds.

“Any time you can help a kid or an adult or anybody, it’s a big, big deal,” he said last week. That philosophy lies at the center of his life, and has served him well in sports and dentistry.

Like any good dentist, Hudson has his hobbies, among them chuckwagon cooking. Charles Goodnight, founder of the ranch where Hudson lived as a boy, invented the chuckwagon, and it’s not hard to imagine how young Keith Hudson was inspired by tales of the famous rancher’s exploits.

“I grew up on the ranch that the chuck wagon was invented on,” Hudson said, and of his chuck wagon cooking experiences, he said, “It was so much fun.” He has received letters “from all over the world” praising Dr. Fuzzy’s cactus stew.

Perhaps his early days on the sprawling Goodnight ranch did as much as anything to shape the larger-than-life man Hudson became. He was never going to be average, that much was obvious to his classmates, teachers and colleagues. As the Russians prepared to launch Sputnik, he and his Clarendon High School friends sent their own model rocket flying so high it vanished from sight. When ABC, CBS, and NBC sent crews to film their second launch, the rocket appeared on the radar screens at a nearby Strategic Air Command base.

Leaving a bright rocket trail across the years, Dr. Fuzzy Hudson retired last week to care for his beloved wife Olivia. He vividly remembers the two of them dancing to the music coming from yet-unfinished Sundance Square early in their courtship, and their ranch wedding the first year of the new millennium. His heart filled with gratitude, he set down the tools of his trade and returned to the dance.

Patsy Jo Barton

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Patsy Jo Barton, 75, died Saturday, November 12, 2016, in Howardwick.

Graveside services were held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 16, 2016 in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon with Rev. Anthony Knowles, officiating.

Patsy Jo Barton
Patsy Jo Barton

Arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

REMARKS-

Patsy was born March 1, 1941, in Borger to Curtis James and Audrey Voyles Henry.  She married William Albert Barton, Sr. on September 17, 1965 in Wellington.  She had been a production tech at Pantex prior to her retirement.  She had been a resident of Howardwick since 1999.  She loved fishing and her flowers.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, on January 28, 2015; and several brothers and sisters.

She is survived by 2 sons, Jim Chambers and wife Shawn of Little Elm, and William Barton, Jr. of Amarillo; 4 grandchildren, Brittney Clark, Ryan Yacques, Andy Barton, and Kyle Barton; 2 great grandchildren, Liam Clark and Kynleigh Clark.

The family request memorials be sent to the Harrington Cancer Center.

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