The Bicentennial Celebration of 1976

 INFAMOUS H&H GANG PREPARES FOR HOLDUP

This shot of the notorious H&H Gang, wanted in several states for train holdups and bank robberies, was snapped Saturday as they emerged from a brushy hideout northwest of Roscoe to hold up the RS&P Bicentennial Passenger Train and terrify its occupants.

Name of the one who took the picture, the first ever made of this band of desperadoes, is withheld for fear of retaliation by the desperate crew, believed wanted in 5 states and Mexico. This is the only known photo of the badmen.

Rumors say the gang has been working around Roscoe, caring for cattle at the H&H Feed Lot while planning their escapades.

Standing, left to right: Kenneth Reed, Larry Cornoyer, Johnny Jay, Doug Richards. Mounted: Byron Byrne III, Barney Barnett, Zenaido Sanchez, Marcus Box.

Not pictured, although a participant in the holdups, was Keith Bowen.

Editor's note: This photo and caption are as they appeared in the July 9, 1976 Roscoe Times.

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THE BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF 1976

For a town its size, Roscoe has always been remarkable for its outsized celebrations of July the 4th. Its parades, community activities, sports competitions, fireworks shows, and other events have always drawn people in from the surrounding area to come and help us celebrate the holiday.

Now, as the big day once again approaches, this might be a good time to look back at Roscoe’s biggest July 4th holiday of all—the Bicentennial Celebration of 1976, when our country celebrated its 200th birthday.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t here that year to witness the event as I was living in Austin, but I do remember the bustle of activity as local people prepared for the event. As they had done in 1957 for Roscoe’s Golden Jubilee, or fiftieth anniversary as a town, many women made and wore outfits that brought the earlier time to mind, in this case, long-skirted dresses and mob caps such as Betsy Ross might have worn. Men got into the spirit by participating in the Roscoe Jaycees’ beard-growing contest, and practically all the local organizations worked on patriotic floats for the parade. Exhibits were prepared, and arts and fashion shows planned. It seems that almost everyone was doing something to get ready for the holiday.

Roscoe’s largest business at the time, the Roscoe, Snyder & Pacific Railway, prepared what turned out to be the most memorable activity of all, train rides in vintage passenger cars brought in especially for the occasion. Tickets were $3, and the rides were packed with both adults and children, many of whom were riding in a train for the first time.  

The result was an outstanding success that was claimed at the time to be the biggest celebration in the town’s history, which is most likely true. Since then, nothing has matched it for size or involvement and participation of its citizens.

So, rather than try to describe the occasion from the point of view of someone who wasn’t there to witness it, I will leave its description to the following articles that appeared in the Roscoe Times the following week. Written by George Parks, the paper’s editor and publisher, the descriptions provide the details and impart some of the excitement that characterized the celebration.

From the Roscoe Times, July 9, 1976.

CELEBRATION IS ‘GREATEST’

Roscoe's long-awaited Bicentennial Celebration finally arrived last weekend and turned out to be a smash hit surpassing the fondest hopes of even the most optimistic of its planners.

From its opening flag-raising ceremony at the Roscoe State Bank, at 7 p.m. Thursday, to the closing appearance by Uncle Sam In Action, and the worship service at Howard Park Sunday, the program moved like clockwork, always with big enthusiastic crowds.

Hundreds of visitors coming “back home” for the event, or from other area points, brought in what many claim to be the largest crowds ever recorded here.

The big parade at 1:30 p.m. Saturday was a case in point—having not only hundreds of people in it, but thousands on the sidelines to view it.

Crowds were large all day Friday and Saturday at the various exhibit rooms, and continued even Sunday when the main events were at the Park.

Even a light rain at the height of the parade failed to dampen enthusiasm Saturday, and both ones in the parade and ones watching paid no heed to the raindrops.

Of course the largest crowd, but one that would be impossible to estimate, was the one that viewed the fireworks display Saturday night. Although the crowd at the ball field is large, it makes up only a small per cent of the total, since most Roscoans see the display from their homes, and all parking areas, streets, and roads near town are covered with cars of those who cannot get any closer. The number would be pretty large if the total could be known.

Anyway, the entire Celebration was a great event in Roscoe's history, superbly planned and carried out.

Ronnie Graham, general chairman of the event, and his helpers did a great job in its planning and execution.

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PICKIN'S

The Times has always felt that when Roscoe people start out to do something, they can do it as well, or better than, anybody.

The Bicentennial Celebration of last weekend proved that point again, with a performance that would have done credit to a much larger community.

The art show, the displays in various windows, the antiques, the parade, the fashion show at the park, the poster contest, the Jaycee barbecue, well, just the entire thing, was so well planned and executed that right now this column can find nothing that could have been improved upon.

So many worked upon all of the committees and groups that arranged the fine event that getting the names of everyone who had a part in it would be difficult, if not impossible—so we'll just say it was a fine community effort.

The general feeling seems to be "Let's do it again next July 4th."

Why not, indeed? A little work, and a little fun, never hurt anyone, we say.

It should be an annual affair. Not a Bicentennial, just a celebration because we feel like celebrating.

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TRAIN RIDES FEATURE HOLDUPS

Approximately 600 persons took advantage of the opportunity for a train ride offered as a Bicentennial Celebration feature to Roscoe and Snyder by the RS&P Railway.

And ones aboard the train on each run from Roscoe to Inadale and back Saturday, especially the younger ones, got the thrill of their lives out of the old fashioned, true to tradition, holdups, staged by a crew from H&H Feed Lot.

“Don't shoot my mama,” one little fellow kept pleading with the badmen, forgetting his own danger in the face of the threat of his mother's safety.

There was considerable amount of consternation among the younger passengers, and even the oldest got a kick out of the performance. particularly their daring horsemanship as they boarded the train, and the true-to-character make-ups.

Cars stopped all along the highway to stare at the holdups, and people in other states are probably hearing by this time that “Texas is still as wild as ever. They still run trains here, and we saw one held up!"

The holdups here went over so well that Snyder came after the "H&H Gang" to hold their train up Sunday on its run to Hermleigh and back.

Even without the holdup, the train ride was a novel experience for the young, and a retreat into the past for the older riders.

It was a fine gesture by the RS&P and to the two cities whose name it bears.

The Railway leased the 3 restored passenger coaches in St. Louis, and they were pulled here without charge by the Santa Fe. The RS&P made nothing from the event.

Roscoe Lions and Jaycees sponsored the rides here, and after paying insurance charges for the coaches and riders, split the profits between the two clubs.

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JAYCEES FEED 1150 AT BARBECUE

Roscoe Jaycees had another fine barbecue last Saturday, the second day of the Bicentennial Celebration, and fed close to 1200 persons.

The Jaycees started the day south of the school cafeteria as they began cooking, but the afternoon shower ran them inside the gym for serving the delicious meal.

The "Big Wheels Gang" entertained inside the gym, as they did everywhere they were needed during the 3-day affair.

And they were always good!

Editor’s Note: Does anyone remember who was in the Big Wheels Gang?

 

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SCHOOL BOARD ANNOUNCES COMMUNITY MEETING

 

The Roscoe Collegiate ISD Board of Trustees and Administration invites the Community to join in an informational meeting to address community questions and concerns about Roscoe Collegiate ISD. The meeting will also keep the community informed about the school district’s goals, programs, and activities.

If you have concerns or questions you would like to see addressed, please submit them by Friday, August 6, by using this link: https://forms.gle/mqu7jyZtqvyccmoQ7 or send them directly to a School Board member:

Aaron Brown: aaronbrown72@yahoo.com or 325-829-8284
Jerad Alford: jeradalford@hotmail.com or 325-721-5266
Cheyenne Smith: cheyennersmith@gmail.com or 325-260-6030
Allen Richburg: allen.richburg@yahoo.com or 325-236-5666
David Pantoja: davidjpantoja@yahoo.com or 325-236-3680
Eloy Herrera: eloy.herrera@sesco-bolting.com or 325-338-3811
Kenny Hope: kennyh69@yahoo.com or 325-455-6528

The meeting is on Tuesday, August 31, at 7:00pm in the RCISD Cafeteria.
 
We look forward to hearing from you and hope to see you there.

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GIRLS’ BASKETBALL TEAMS IN MERKEL

The Roscoe girls’ basketball teams—varsity, junior varsity, and 8th grade—will play in the I-20 Shootout in Merkel tomorrow and Friday.

I-20 Tournament Schedule
All games played in Merkel

Varsity Girls
Teams: Eula, Veribest, Jayton, Shockerz, Westbrook, Hermleigh, Roscoe, San Saba, Christoval, Cooper

Thursday, June 17
4:40 Roscoe vs Hermleigh (Elementary Gym)
6:40 Roscoe vs Shockerz (Elementary Gym)
 
Friday, June 18
10:40 Roscoe vs Jayton (Elementary Gym)
2:00 Roscoe vs Eula (Elementary Gym)
             4:00 Starts Bracket Play

Junior Varsity Girls
Teams: Jayton, Glen Rose, Eula, Greenwood, Hermleigh, Fredericksburg, San Saba, Roscoe, Merkel, Jim Ned, Wall 1, Wall 0, Veribest, Levelland

Friday, June 18
8:40 Roscoe JV vs Christoval (Elementary Gym)
12:00 Roscoe JV vs Eula (Aux Gym)
4:00 Roscoe JV vs Jayton (Elementary Gym)
8:00 Roscoe JV vs Veribest (Aux Gym)

8th Grade Girls
Teams: Jayton, Shockerz, Cisco, Roscoe, Merkel, Jim Ned, Wall, Comanche, Christoval

 
Thursday, June 17
9:20 Roscoe 8th vs Christoval (Elementary Gym)
3:20 Roscoe 8th vs Merkel (Aux Gym)
5:20 Roscoe 8th vs Cisco (Aux Gym)
8:00 Roscoe 8th vs Jayton (Elementary Gym)

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WEATHER REPORT: A SURPRISE RAIN
 

The rain pours down on Monday morning.

On Monday morning, Roscoe got a surprise rain. Like many others around town, I checked the weather for Monday the night before and saw a forecast that gave the area a 20% chance for precipitation. Anyone who’s spent any time at all in west Texas knows that when a forecast is for a 20% chance of precipitation, that usually means in real terms about a 5% chance, if that. So, when we woke up Monday morning, the sky was overcast with what appeared to be normal morning clouds, and I’m sure others, like me, just assumed that the drying out that had been going on for over a week would continue and made preparations accordingly.

However, just before 8 o’clock the sky suddenly turned dark, and shortly thereafter there was a flash of lightning and a clap of thunder. Surprised, I went outside to see what was going on, and about a minute later, the rain began. And it wasn’t just a sprinkle, either—it was pouring, along with the occasional sound of a hailstone hitting a car or metal house roof. Thankfully, the hail never got any heavier than an occasional marble-sized stone, but the rain continued until 8:45 or so before letting up and turning to a light drizzle.
 
The storm was unusual in that it came from the northeast, and Roscoe was near its western edge. On the radar screen, it appeared that the rain was probably done, but around 9:20 or so, it started again, although this time much lighter, hardly more that a drizzle. Later, it came down harder for a while, and when I checked my gauge at 10:30, the total had increased to 2.1”.

I heard the frogs croaking again that morning. This has been a banner year for them. It’s not often that they get to celebrate as much as they have lately.

People I talked to afterwards reported totals of anywhere from less than an inch west of town to as much as 3 inches or more, with most having at least an inch. Roscoe weatherman Kenny Landfried reported an official 1.56” at his home in east Roscoe and 1.27" on his Cottonwood Creek farm northwest of town.

In any case, the drying out from the earlier rains was interrupted, and many farmers are waiting again for the fields to dry up enough for them to be able to plant their cotton.

Before the Monday rain, we had all been trying to get used to the summer heat. From last Wednesday to Sunday, the coolest high we had was Wednesday’s 98°F. Friday was our first triple-digit day with a maximum of 102°, Saturday dropped to 99°, but then Sunday was back up to 100°. Monday’s morning rain cooled everything off, and the high dropped to 87°. Yesterday was not that hot with a high of 93°, but it was very humid, so it felt hotter than it actually was.

The rest of this week is forecast to be like the latter part of last week—sunny and hot with highs of about 96° increasing to 102° on Sunday. Lows will be in the low seventies, and the chances of rain are almost nil.

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