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

Lee Roy Jordan of Excel

26 YEARS AGO
MARCH 7, 1996

Tax-office vote is set March 26: A special election has been scheduled for Tues., March 26, pending approval by the U.S. Justice Department.
The Monroe County Commission met in special session Tuesday and approved the election date for a referendum to combine the offices of tax assessor and tax collector into a newly created position of revenue commissioner.
Tax assessor is Fonde Melton, and tax collector is Charlie Deer. If the positions are combined, the revenue commissioner will take office on Oct. 1, 1997.

Panthers live up to high expectations: Excel High School’s varsity baseball team lived up to its preseason billing as being one of the top teams in Monroe County this season when the Panthers recorded wins over Hillcrest and St. James high schools last week.
Excel’s Panthers, using four different pitchers to control the game, upended Hillcrest’s Jaguars 8-1 Thursday in Excel. The Panthers topped the season-opener Saturday in Montgomery when they swept a doubleheader from St. James, posting wins of 5-1 and 9-4.
(Top players on Excel’s team that season included Jimbo Bishop, Matt Cole, Rob Hill, Lynn Janes, Chris Lint, Kevin Luker, Jason McLelland, Stacey McPhaul, Keith McKinley, Steven Pharr and Travis Smith. Larry Burt was head coach.)

New plant means 50 jobs: A lease has been signed and applications are being taken for work at Boss Manufacturing, a work glove plant tentatively set to open here March 27. The new plant will occupy the former Evan-Picone site in the corner of the former outlet center. Mary Maness, a former Vanity Fair employee, has been hired as plant supervisor.

51 YEARS AGO
MARCH 4, 1971

Boy Scouts hold flag ceremony: Monroeville Boy Scouts held a flag ceremony last Sunday at 8:30 a.m. at the Monroe County Courthouse to show their appreciation and gratitude to the servicemen now serving in Vietnam.
The American flag was raised with a color guard, following a prayer for the honored servicemen by Rev. Pruitt Willis, pastor of the Monroeville Methodist Church. County Probate Judge Otha Lee Biggs addressed the scouts and was presented the main American flag used in the ceremony.

Excel QB Club hears Lee Roy Jordan: The pro football Dallas Cowboys’ star linebacker Lee Roy Jordan addressed about 220 persons at the annual banquet of the Excel Quarterback Club Saturday night. The former Crimson Tide star who hails from Excel reminisced about the high spots in his career and laced his talk with humor. He said he plans to play two more years and then retire. Following the banquet, the two-time All-American signed autographs for about an hour and had his picture taken with officers of the club: Mabry Black, president; Aaron White, vice president; Elmer Womack, secretary; and Tom Sawyer, treasurer.

George Thomas Jones was elected president of the Monroe County University of Alabama alumni chapter when friends and alumni met last Thursday at the Hi Ho Restaurant at noon. Other officers elected to serve were: Russell Sikes, vice president in charge of the men’s division; Mrs. Dianne Sellers, vice president of the women’s division; and Bob Burns, secretary-treasurer.

76 YEARS AGO
MARCH 7, 1946

David L. Long Dies Thursday: David L. Long, president of the Coca-Cola Bottling Co., died at his home in Frisco City Thursday morning at 10:30 after a brief illness.
A resident of South Alabama most of his life, Mr. Long came to Brewton from Frisco City 23 years ago and has since been in the soft drink business and was nationally known in the bottling industry.
In his death, Frisco City has lost one of its most public-spirited citizens. He served as mayor of the town for a term, and the town prospered during his administration.
One of the longest funeral processions ever seen in Monroe County and the beautiful floral tributes were evidence of the high esteem in which the deceased was held.

HIGH SCHOOL BAND GOES TO MARDI GRAS: The Monroe County High School band, with Prof. John C. Williams as director, left Monday morning for Mobile to play during the carnival which is in progress.
For several years before the carnival was discontinued on account of the war, the band had been invited to assist in furnishing the music. The band has always made a fine record and judging from the practice rounds over the town, it will maintain its fine reputation.

Albert O. Thomas of Frisco City, Route 1, son of Mr. and Mrs. E.C. Thomas, has been honorably discharged from the Army after serving 37 months. He served 18 months overseas as AAF flight radio operator. His awards included the Good Conduct Medal, European, Asiatic-Pacific and American theater ribbons.

101 YEARS AGO
MARCH 3, 1921

Mr. J.T. Kinney sustained a heavy loss by fire on Feb. 15, near half a million feet of lumber having been destroyed on his yard near Tunnel Springs. The fire was of accidental origin.

Having practically completed the work of laying off the grounds, setting shade trees and building graveled walks, Mayor James K. Kyser states that he is now ready to surrender the public square to the Civic Improvement Club for such further improvement and adornment as may be deemed appropriate and desirable. The local Commercial Club as well and the city authorities stand ready to render any assistance in their power to the ladies who may take the matter in hand.

Mayor Kyser would remind the public that the graveled walks through the public square were built not merely for ornament but to walk upon. The walks have been arranged to intersect each other, so that those desiring to reach a given point may do so without trampling out unsightly pathways in irregular directions and thus interfering with the plans for grass plots and floral borders. A word to the wise should be sufficient.

From observations made on short trips in various directions from town on a recent afternoon, we conclude that the preparations of lands for planting is well advanced. Much of it had been deeply broken and carefully harrowed.

Mr. F.W. Hare, who is an alumnus of the API, attended the installation of the new President, Dr. Spright Dowell, at Auburn last week.

126 YEARS AGO
MARCH 5, 1896

Cowardly Assassination: Monroe maintains her unenviable reputation for violence and bloodshed.
On the night of the 26^th ult., in the northeast portion of the county near Simpkinsville, Jake Petty, son of Mr. John Petty, was assassinated by some party or parties unknown. Particulars of the killing are very meagre. It is learned that suspicion strongly attaches to one Yancey Stinson, between whom and the deceased a feud had for some time existed. The evidence adduced before the coroner’s jury tended to confirm the suspicion, and a warrant has been sworn out charging Stinson with the murder.

Work on the Presbyterian Manse near town is progressing rapidly and the building will be ready for occupancy within a few weeks.

Claiborne: Our old town is on a boom now. The streets are full of wagons from morning until night, hauling commercial fertilizer. The farmers are very busy preparing for planting in this section.

Perdue Hill: Several of our young ladies decided to make a journey through the country in the neighborhood of Bear Creek Mill last Saturday to have a “good time.” All was well till noon, when, as a last resort, they had to partake of a sylvan banquet. On their return, they “bogged in the mud,” so said one of the party. Regardless of these and many other mishaps, they said they had a “good time.”

Pineville: Ex-Sheriff J.S. Harrengton of Monroeville was in town several days last week.