Today in History for Jan. 3, 2019

Thomas Hill Watts

Jan. 3, 1812 – Joseph Morgan Wilcox, 21, graduated at the top of his class at the U.S. Military Academy. He was commissioned a first lieutenant in the Army’s 3rd Infantry. Wilcox County, Ala. was later named in his honor.

Jan. 3, 1819 – Alabama governor, state legislator and attorney Thomas Hill Watts was born in Butler County, Ala.

  

Jan. 3, 1908 – In Monroe County, H.C. Walston and Edward English killed one another in a shootout in a dispute over a black worker named Jesse Thompson. English killed John S. McDuffie in a shooting in 1904.

Jan. 3, 1909 - Dr. J.S. Frazer preached on this Sunday morning and evening at the Evergreen Methodist Church.

Jan. 3-4, 1915 – Capt. Reuben F. Kolb, Alabama’s Commissioner of Agriculture, visited Evergreen, Ala.

Jan. 3, 1916 - The first term of Monroe County Court for 1916 was held on this Monday, with Judge I.B. Slaughter presiding. “The docket was somewhat lighter than on some former occasions.”

  

Jan. 3, 1918 – The Wilcox Progressive Era reported that “the annual Christmas ball, given by the young men complimentary to the many visiting and home young ladies, at the Masonic Hall ball room last Friday night was an enjoyable affair. A Selma string band discoursed sweet music to the large number who attended.”

Jan. 3, 1918 – The Wilcox Progressive Era reported that there were 7,544 bales of cotton, counting round as half bales, ginned in Wilcox County from the crop of 1917 prior to Dec. 13, 1917 as compared with 4,104 bales ginned to Dec. 13, 1916.

Jan. 3, 1918 – The Wilcox Progressive Ear reported that “the warrants for our old Confederate veterans and their widows have been received at the Probate Judge’s office and have been mailed to the worthy beneficiaries.”

Jan. 3, 1918 – The Wilcox Progressive Era reported that A. Jack Campbell of Mt. Hope beat, “an old citizen, a good and faithful man and Democrat, died last week aged about 75 years. Many friends who admired and esteemed him for his worth regret his death, and to the bereaved in their sorrow our sympathies are extended.”

Jan. 3, 1918 – The Wilcox Progressive Era reported that the Rev. H.T. Strout would preach at the Camden Methodist church on the first and third Sunday mornings and every Sunday evening. Formerly his appointment was only two Sundays in each month, but he would give two extra sermons a month.

Jan. 3, 1918 – The Wilcox Progressive Era reported that S.M. Cobb had been appointed by the United States government as licensing officer for Wilcox County to enforce the Federal laws relative to the sales and transportation of explosives.

Jan. 3, 1918 – The Wilcox Progressive Era reported that Mr. Francis B. Lloyd, formerly of Pineapple, had been transferred from the Dixie Division to the Third officers Training Camp at Leon Springs, Texas.

Jan. 3, 1918 – The Wilcox Progressive Era reported that Lt. Emmet Kilpatrick spent a few days with his sisters Misses Lida May and Ella Kilpatrick during the previous week.

Jan. 3, 1918 – The Wilcox Progressive Era, in news from the Ackerville community, reported that everyone was glad to know that Mrs. W.F. Hasselvander had heard from her solider son, Paul, who had reached the port of disembarkation safely.

Jan. 3, 1924 - The regular annual meeting of the stockholders of the Bank of Excel was scheduled to be held at the bank in Excel on this Thursday at 10 a.m. D.D. Mims was president of the bank.

Jan. 3, 1926 - Rev. U.G. Hicks, the church’s new pastor, preached his first sermon at Asbury on this Sunday.

  

Jan. 3, 1945 – Former Selma, Ala. resident Edgar Cayce died in Virginia Beach, Va. at the age of 67. Known as the "sleeping prophet," he was considered the most documented psychic of the 20th century, giving readings to thousands of seekers while in a trance state. He lived in Selma, Ala. from 1912 to 1925.

  

Jan. 3, 1947 – Evergreen High School’s boys basketball team beat Castleberry, 31-18, in Evergreen, Ala. Aggie forward Melvin Brantley led Evergreen with 12 points, and James Carpenter followed with 10 points. Dees led Castleberry with eight points.

Jan. 3, 1951 – Army Cpl. Robert E. Godwin of Escambia County, Ala. “died while missing” in Korea. Godwin was a resident of Atmore when he entered the service and was a member of the 7th Reconnaissance Company, 7th Infantry Division. He was seriously injured in South Korea on Sept. 28, 1950 and returned to duty on Nov. 4, 1950. He was listed as Missing in Action while fighting the enemy in South Korea on Jan. 3, 1951 and was presumed dead on Dec. 31, 1953. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial. Godwin was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.

Jan. 3, 1953 – “The Lawless Breed,” a film based on the life of outlaw John Wesley Hardin, was released in theaters. Portions of the film were shot in Pollard, and Rock Hudson starred in the role of Hardin, who once lived in Pollard for about 18 months.

Jan. 3, 1958 - The Conecuh County High Blue Devils won their second game of the season from the Evergreen High Aggies 58-43 on this Friday night in Castleberry. Coach Lee Owen Dees’ cagers had only lost but one game up to that point in the season. David Castleberry poured 25 points through the cords to pace the Blue Devils. Gordon Sims added 14; Charles Heaton, 11; Wilson McCreary, four; and Frank Weaver and Billy Garner, two each. Buddy Zukowski topped the Aggie scorers with 15 points. Jimmy Moorer meshed 10; Bill Ivey, nine; Paul Pace and Robert Ellington, four each; and Don Pate, one. The Aggie Bees tripped the Blue Devil “B” squad 33-21 in the preliminary tilt to give Evergreen a split for the evening. McKenzie led the Aggie Bees to victory with 11 points. Others scoring were Tucker, seven; Boykin, six; Eddins and Lewis, four each; and Rigsby, one.

  

Jan. 3, 1961 – The Monroeville Study Club honored Harper Lee, the author of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” during a meeting at the home of Mrs. P.S. Jackson in Peterman, Ala. The entire meeting was devoted to Lee and her book, and Mrs. Lois Bowden led a round table discussion and question-and-answer session with Lee.

  

Jan. 3, 1963 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Bill Sawyer, a senior at Frisco City High School, had been chosen as an end on the Class B All-State Football Team, which was selected by the Alabama Sports Writers Association. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Parvin Sawyer of Frisco City, Ala., and he was the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Hart of Evergreen, Ala.

Jan. 3, 1963 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Evergreen, Ala. would get dial phones for the first time in late 1964. Evergreen was one of the last cities of its size in the Alabama to go to dial phones and was one of the last exchanges of its size in the country to still be operated manually.

  

Jan. 3, 1966 - Tuskegee native Samuel Younge Jr. was killed when he attempted to use the whites-only bathroom at a gas station in Macon County, Ala. He was 21 years old. After receiving a medical discharge from the U.S. Navy in 1964, Younge returned home, enrolled in college, and became involved in the civil rights movement. He was one of the demonstrators in Montgomery on March 10, 1965, who were protesting the March 7 "Bloody Sunday " violence in Selma. In September 1965, Younge was arrested in Opelika, along with six other students, while attempting to transport individuals to register to vote in Lee County. At the time he was killed, he was working a voter-registration drive in Macon County.

  

Jan. 3, 1969 – Army SPC5 Ted Arnold White of Dickinson (in Clarke County, Ala.) was killed in action in Vietnam.

Jan. 3, 1969 - New officers of the Kiwanis Club of Monroeville, Ala. were to be installed by Conrad S. Wall of Beatrice at the first regular meeting of the year on this Friday. Wall was Lt. Governor of Division Seven. New officers to be installed were Jim McAlarney, president; Bill Nettles, vice president; Larry Knight, second vice president; John Bowden, secretary; and L.C. Hendrix, treasurer. New directors to be installed were Wayne Elliott, Fred Nall, Tandy Culpepper, Joe Nettles, Jim Nicholson and Carl Langlois.

Jan. 3, 1972 - Alabama's legislative districts were reapportioned by federal court order to bring them in line with the principle of "one man/one vote."  Neither the first nor the last such federal court action, this plan established single-member districts, which no longer necessarily followed county boundaries.

Jan. 3, 1978 - Louphenia Thomas became the first black woman elected to the Alabama Legislature, filling the unexpired term of John T. Porter.

Jan. 3, 1979 – Ann Bedsole began serving in the Alabama State House as the Representative for District 101 (Mobile) after being the first Republican woman to have been elected to the Alabama House of Representatives. She would serve in the State House until Jan. 3, 1983.

Jan. 3, 1983 – Ann Bedsole began serving in the Alabama Senate as the Senator for District 34 (Mobile) after being the first Republican woman to have been elected to the Alabama State Senate. She would serve in the State Senate until Jan. 3, 1995.

  

Jan. 3, 1984 – The Evergreen City Council authorized by unanimous vote City Attorney Tommy Chapman to prepare a map of the city broken down into five single member districts at its meeting on this Tuesday night. These districts were to be drawn so as to be close as is possible equal in population. Under the proposal, candidates would have to live in the district in which they run. The five members were elected at large at that time.

Jan. 3, 1985 – The Monroe Journal reported that the page width of that week’s Journal was slightly over an inch less than that of previous editions, and the change was permanent – designed to make The Journal’s size equal to those of other newspapers. Newspapers throughout the United States had been changing in recent months to approximately the same page and column widths that The Journal had then. Prior to this date, The Journal last narrowed its page width in January 1979, and at that time converted from eight to six columns per page, widening the columns to make them more readable.

Jan. 3, 1985 – The Monroe Journal reported that several Frisco City volunteer firemen received awards at the department’s barbecue in December. Receiving awards for 1984 were Curtiss Owens, Fireman of the Year; Leonard Racca, achievement award; Darren Wilson, Fireman of the Year and an achievement award; fire chief Ray Owens, honorary Fireman of the Year; Larry Pugh, honorary Fireman of the Year and an achievement award; and Andrea Owens, Rookie of the Year.

Jan. 3, 1985 – The Monroe Journal reported that the University of South Alabama women’s basketball team was off to a fine start that season under the direction of head coach Charles Branum, a native of Monroeville, Ala. The Lady Jaguars had posted a 9-0 record prior to the holiday break. Branum, 43, took the helm of the Lady Jaguars four seasons before after coaching the boys varsity team for 12 years at Evergreen High. Branum was a graduate of Monroe County High School and Livingston University.

Jan. 3, 2008 - Alabama author Olivia Solomon died in Tallassee, Ala.

Jan. 3, 2008 - Hillcrest High School’s varsity boys basketball team whipped area rival T.R. Miller, 62-56, on this Thursday night to improve to 1-0 in the 4A Area 2 standings. Destin Gross, a junior, led the Jags with 22 points, including a 15-of-20 showing at the free throw line. Taft Lark, also a junior, followed with 13 points. Other standout Hillcrest players in that game included Aaron Dees, Lawrence Bennett, DeAndre Lyons, Tony Watson and Zavier Likely.

Jan. 3, 2008 - Sparta Academy’s varsity girls basketball team, ranked No. 4 in the AISA, posted its biggest win of the season, a 48-point victory, in a 61-13 win over Marion Military on this Thursday in Evergreen. Standout players for Sparta in those games included Hayden Armuelles, Maddie Black, Christin Booker, Emily Booker, Savannah Brown, Susan Ann Cook, Camarena Godwin, Morgan Harden, Mallory Kendrick, Erica Palmer, BreAnna Pate, Ashton Raines and Ashton Talbot.

Jan. 3, 2015 – Weather reporter Betty Ellis reported 1.22 inches of rain in Evergreen.