 |
Kerr teens at Ingram Dam, 1968.
Click on any image to enlarge. |
I've noticed posts on social media about the Tivy High School class of 1968, which will be celebrating its 50 year reunion this year. I understand quite a few are hoping to attend the Tivy Homecoming celebrations in a few weeks, when the Tivy Antlers play Memorial on October 19th at Antler Stadium.
Going through my photo collection, I've found quite a few images from 1968. In honor of the 1968 Tivy graduates, I thought I'd publish a few here.
 |
| Tivy pep rally, downtown Kerrville, 1968 |
 |
| Tivy pep rally, downtown Kerrville, 1968 |
I have a few images of downtown pep rallies from 1968. It was a long tradition for pep rallies to be held at the intersection of Water and Earl Garrett streets on Friday afternoons before the football game that evening.
When I was a student at Tivy, the Tivy cheerleaders, the Tivy band, Golden Girls and Antlerettes would march to town from Antler Stadium, coming down Sidney Baker Street and turning left onto Water Street. This happened for every home game, but a much bigger parade was held for homecoming.
In 1968, however, it's likely the starting point was not the stadium, but the high school, which, in those days, was where the B. T. Wilson campus is today, on Tivy Street.
Once downtown, a large circle formed at the intersection of Earl Garrett and Water Streets, with the Antlerettes, Golden Girls and the Tivy Band all facing in toward the cheerleader, drum major, and twirlers in the middle. The fight song would be played, cheerleaders would lead the crowd in cheers, and the Tivy Alma Mater would close the event.
Regular home game downtown Tivy pep rallies ended in the 1980s.
I also found a 1968 photograph of a very popular spot for Kerr County youths, still popular even today: kids sliding down Ingram Dam. When I posted this photo on social media it brought back lots of memories, mainly of fun times and holes in jeans and bathing suits made from sliding down the dam.
 |
| Unloading furniture from train, 1968 |
 |
| Kerrville freight depot, 1968 |
In 1968 freight trains still came to Kerrville. (Passenger service ended years earlier.) I found two photos from 1968 featuring the old railroad: one of the freight office, and another of men unloading furniture for Crick's Furniture onto a truck. Crick's Furniture was on Broadway; I went to school with the children of the owners.
 |
| Grand opening of Gibson's, 1968 |
 |
| Grand opening of Gibson's, 1968 |
In 1968 Gibson's Discount Center opened, and I found a few photos from that event. In one, a woman is giving away necklaces to shoppers; in another, a crowd of shoppers stands around the jewelry case.
 |
| Up With People ensemble, behind library, 1968 |
 |
Up With People performance,
Kerrville Municipal Auditorium, 1968 |
 |
| Up With People parade, downtown Kerrville, 1968 |
One big community event in 1968 was a performance by "Up With People;" apparently several local teenagers were also part of the cast. There was a parade, a performance behind the new Butt-Holdsworth Memorial Library, and a performance in the old municipal auditorium. I noticed how well-dressed the audience was for the performance.
 |
| Kerrville City Council members with electric car, 1968 |
Lastly, I think the 1968 Kerrville City Council was way ahead of newcomers like Tesla -- I found a wonderful image of several members of the council inspecting an electric car. I recognize John M. Mosty, Francis Swayze, and Marvin Hunter.
While I cannot find a news story to accompany the photograph, I hope to hear the full story from my friends Mosty and Swayze.
Until next week, all the best.
Joe Herring Jr. is a Kerrville native who remembers Kerrville and Kerr County as it was in 1968. This column originally appeared in the Kerrville Daily Times October 6, 2018.
I have two books available, both filled with historic photographs of Kerr County. Both books are available at Wolfmueller's Books, Herring Printing Company, and online by clicking HERE.
LCRA purchased its first electric car in 1968. The Marketeer 1 was produced by Westinghouse Electric Corporation to provide economical short-range transportation for city dwellers. The vehicle was powered by 12 six-volt lead-acid batteries. It had a top speed of 25 miles per hour and a range of about 50 miles on one battery charge.
ReplyDeleteBetween May 8 and July 22, 1968, LCRA’s Experimental Electric Shopper was taken on a special trailer to every city served by LCRA and also to the headquarters of every REA co-op on the LCRA system. At each stop, an LCRA representative demonstrated the car and instructed the utility personnel in its operation.
Thanks for the great memories from a '68.....
ReplyDeleteThe electric car was a LCRA promotion. I don't recall this particular photo obviously taken in the parking lot of the old City Hall. Marvin Hunter attended only one council meeting. He didn't plan on doing even that but Fuzzy and I insisted that he be at the meeting. He resigned immediately after the meeting setting up a crippled 2-2 Council which was unable to function for a while. It is little wonder that I don't recall the photo given what we had to look forward to as a functioning council. Sometime we will do the "rest of the story". John M...
ReplyDeleteThanks for the happy memories of a fun time in beautiful Kerrville.
ReplyDeleteThanx, love looking back.
ReplyDelete