Old newspaper excerpts from The Monroe Journal newspaper of Monroe County, Alabama

Former Excel High School coach W.C. Majors

NINE YEARS AGO

MARCH 26, 2009

FCHS supporters picket school board: More discussion on plans to close Frisco City High School (FCHS) will be held tonight (Thursday) during the monthly meeting of the Monroe County Board of Education at J.F. Shields High School in Beatrice at 6 p.m.

An eight-member executive committee of the Frisco City Community Committee to keep the school open plans to ask the board to consider other cost-saving measures rather than close the school, which has been open since 1929.

Boykin tosses no-hit shut-out against WCHS: A no-hit shut-out from junior JoDarious Boykin helped Monroe Count High secure a playoff spot with a three-game series sweep of region foe Wilcox Central last Thursday and Friday.

In game two of the doubleheader last Thursday, Boykin struck out 15 of the 16 batters he faced in the five-inning 10-0 win, and the only baserunner made it to first on a “controversial call” when the umpire ruled the ball dead and gave the batter first after the ball hit his hands, according to head coach Marshall Presley.

(Other standout MCHS players in that game included Dekendrix Bettis, A.J. Chaney, Taylor Crutchfield, Robert Lemons, Antrone Lett, D’Andre McMillian, Justin Nettles, Zack Presley and Grant White.)

Joe Henry Shelley of Excel celebrated his 100^th birthday with family and friends at a reception at Excel Baptist Church Sunday. The Excel Town Council recently declared Sun., March 21, as Joe Henry Shelley Day in Excel.

34 YEARS AGO

MARCH 22, 1984

High school basketball all-stars named: The second annual Monroe Journal high school all-star basketball team is headlined by 15 players chosen from the area’s eight schools and Monroe Academy coach Rob Kelly, who was selected as Coach of the Year.

Topping the list of this season’s first team players is Repton High senior Bill Dukes. The six-foot-eight, 220-pound center led the Bulldogs to a 31-2 win-loss record.

(Other players making the first team included Winston Davison, James North and Nathaniel Thomas, all of Repton; Eric English of J.U. Blacksher; Patrick Munday of MCHS; Charlie Bryant and Perry Williams, both of FCHS; Vincent Lambert and Ernest Millender, both of Excel; Lesly Thames and Scotty Preyear, both of J.F. Shields; Tim Eager of Monroe Senior; and Michael McCrory and Hudson Hines, both of Monroe Academy.)

Frisco house burns: Frisco City volunteer firemen responded to a house fire on Snyder Avenue Friday at 2 a.m., but by the time they arrived, the roof was caving in, according to Assistant Fire Chief Larry Pugh. Fire Chief Ray Owens said nine firemen responded. The house, which belonged to Layton McNeil, burned to the ground, and the cause had not been determined early this week.

Mary Elizabeth McCall, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. L.T. McCall Jr. of Monroeville, recently completed a one-month internship in the Washington, D.C. office of U.S. Rep. Jack Edwards of Mobile. Miss McCall is a freshman at Birmingham-Southern College in Birmingham. The Monroeville resident had a first-hand opportunity to see the government in action and to experience the functioning of a congressional office.

59 YEARS AGO

MARCH 26, 1959

Fort Short Millsap, Monroeville’s National Guard Armory, is undergoing a series of improvements, according to Master Sgt. John B. Sims, Administrative Assistant, of the local unit, Battery D, 108^th Anti-Aircraft Battalion.

Work inside the armory began March 10 and is expected to be completed during the first week of April. Exterior improvements already completed include the paving of 2,000 square feet of frontage and on the drive side of the Armory.

The annual “E-Day” game at Excel High School will be played Friday afternoon at 1:15 and will bring to a close spring routines.

Coach W.C. Majors listed the following lineups for the annual meeting: Juniors – Shelton Casey, left end; Bobby Boatright, left tackle; Jimmy Wright and Rondall Simpson, left guard; Braddock Dawson, center; Junior Sheffield, right guard; Doug Murphy, right tackle; Sonny Burkett, right end; Paul King, quarterback; Harry Sawyer, left half; Larry Hancock, fullback; and Edward Felts, Gary Wright and Tom Sawyer, right halfs.

Seniors – Cecil Matchett, quarterback; Leroy Jordan, fullback; Kenneth Johnson, right half; Winston Sessions, left half; Hugh Lee, left end; Garland Sawyer, left tackle; Freddy Kilpatrick, left guard; Julian Lambert, center; Bud Linam, back; and others from junior squad to fill remaining positions.

J.C. Lunsford, President, Frisco Textile, Inc., was named vice president of the Frisco City Kiwanis Club at a meeting Monday night. He replaces Roy Ray, who recently moved to Jackson.

84 YEARS AGO

MARCH 22, 1934

LIGHT SNOW FALLS HERE ON MONDAY: The sudden drop in the temperature following the rain Sunday night brought a light snow to Monroeville on Monday morning. The snow fell lightly at intervals during the morning, but was never hard enough to collect in any quantity. This is the second time during the present season that snow has been seen in the county.

The Monroe County League opened its baseball schedule Tues., March 13, with Excel playing Frisco City in Excel and Uriah playing Monroeville in Uriah. The Friday games were between the same teams with Excel going to Frisco City and Uriah to Monroeville.

Frisco City bumped into a stellar pitching performance by Birnie Coleman and went down to the tune of 8 to 2. On Friday, the situation was reversed with Smith of Frisco City allowing Excel one hit and no runs while his teammates gathered 11 hits and 11 runs.

Monroeville defeated Uriah in both their contests, the first one, 17-4, and the second. 10-9. The second game was pulled off the ice by the pinch hitting of Rumbley who cracked out two hits for as many times at bat, and the relief pitching of Bill Stevens.

Quarrel Results In Death At Old Texas: Mr. Dave Wallace was shot and instantly killed by a Mr. Stevenson just across the Conecuh County line near Old Texas Monday afternoon about five o’clock. Our information is that the killing was the result of a quarrel over the location of a fence. Mr. Stevenson was placed in the Conecuh County jail in Evergreen. Both men are well known in the Old Texas community.

109 YEARS AGO

MARCH 25, 1909

Mr. J.U. Blacksher, Monroe’s most extensive timber operator, was a visitor to the county capital Friday.

MONROEVILLE R.F.D. NO. 2: I don’t think we have ever witnessed such rain falls as we have had, but we are enjoying a shower of sunshine now.

Mr. Helton says Montgomery has never witnessed such floods of rain as fell in Montgomery. It rained off and on for nearly three weeks.

MAROS: Quite a crowd from this place went down on the train to Mt. Pleasant to view the “big river” which is higher than it has been for several years. All came back and expressed themselves as well paid for the trip.

Mr. J.C. Hybart was up from Perdue Hill a few days ago and reported one of the biggest rivers ever seen at Claiborne.

Mr. C.C. Hare was over from King last week. He reports phenomenal rise in the river in that neighborhood.

Capt. T.B. Nettles was down from Portland Tuesday. He says backwater from the river has done great damage in that section. Among other items of damage the Captain lost 50 or 60 pieces of square timber which he had on the river bank ready to be rafted.

The workmen have made very good progress on the bank building during the past week.