February 13, 2017

The Diboll Business Association was proud of the response to the 4^th Annual BEST OF 75941. Congratulations to each winner and let me thank everyone for the two awards Poulands’ The Everything Store received. Andrea received the Best Store Clerk. Personally, I think she is very deserving and has probably worked in her position longer than anyone, starting when she was a junior at DHS. She is a very hard worker, dependable, loyal, knowledgeable and reliable. We are very proud of her! The second award was for The Best Place to get a cup of (free) coffee. Anyone is welcome to not only enjoy a cup of hot coffee but sit and visit at the “round table”. Quite a few ladies enjoy coffee with the guys who seem to have more time to spend reminiscing about “the good old days.” We cordially invite any and every one to stop by and visit.

Andrea has started carrying the popular Circle E candles which have made nice Valentine gifts for some of our customers. Sam McDonald from Corrigan and his brother, Bob from Livingston, stopped by. Sam bought his wife Bonny a Bird of Paradise candle for Valentine’s Day. They have been married for 48 years. Sam retired as high school principal from Corrigan-Camden ISD about 15 years ago and remembers working with Jim Dunlap and Don Robbins. Sherry (Sprayberry) Hughes is the present superintendent and he was quick to say he taught her in high school and hired her as an English teacher after graduating from SFA. She later became a principal and a few years ago was selected as their superintendent. Bob McDonald enjoyed a Junior High teaching career in the Big Sandy ISD. Another customer bought his wife one the fragrant candles and shared that next year they will have been married 50 years.

Dennis Lenderman stopped by for a short break before joining his wife Karon for lunch.  He carried her some chocolate covered strawberries that Andrea had made. They had enjoyed dining out the evening before and Dennis had plans on Valentine’s Day to cook supper for their parents. His menu was grilled chicken and sautéed mixed vegetables. Their two granddaughters and their parents, Ashley and Raul Rios were driving to San Antonio for 14-year-old Kylie to participate in the Calf Scramble at the stock show. 10-year-old Kyna was going along to cheer for her sister. Perhaps Kylie can depend on her experience from catching a calf at this year’s Ft Worth stock show. We wish Kylie and also Gentrie Eldridge “good luck” in San San Antonio. Gentrie is also competing in the calf scramble and traveling with Sheila Eldridge. After the scramble, they had plans to spend the night with Jordan Eldridge in San Marcus.

John Ralph and I traveled all the way to Tyler to meet former DISD superintendent Bill Ward and his wife, Neita Fran, for lunch at Traditions. Bill and I enjoyed having liver and onions which is hard to find on most restaurant menus. After a good lunch we drove to “Valerosa” which is Neita Fran’s art gallery in Tyler’s Bergfeld shopping center. Neita Fran also had a gallery during the years they lived in New Mexico where she designed and sold custom made southwest jewelry. She has incorporated the jewelry into the Tyler gallery as well as art work from local artisans. They presently live in Neita Fran’s hometown of Arp in a gated area. Their home is for sale and Bill can hardly wait to build a new home on the range.

Gaylon Wallace enjoyed visiting at the round table with JR and Gary Gaylada from Slocum. They discussed trail rides, horses, mules, donkeys, wagons, dogs and just about everything else in between.

Sue and J. D. Johnson have celebrated recent birthdays. Sue’s birthday is February 7th and J. D.’s is the 10^th. Sue’s nephew and wife, Bo and Cathy Haney, treated them to lunch at Ralph and KaCoo’s and presented Sue with a Pandora “Aunt” charm and a gift certificate to Boot City for J.D. Andrea gave them two packages of her homemade peanut brittle and J.D. said he thoroughly enjoyed eating both packages.

Lisa Crager was wearing a wide smile when she came in with her husband David. She had been retired about two hours and couldn’t have been happier. She took an early retirement even after working 41 years starting at Temple Industries. She worked two years while in high school. Her first job was working in the attic of the old commissary building adding labels to paint buckets filled with rich lighter. After graduation she worked in accounts payable with Lena Coody, Jewel Smith, Jimmy Nelson, Sue Johnson and others; for Spencer Knutson and Dennis Maynard in Forest Division; Environmental/Engineering with Gary Frost, Ben Crim, Linda (Poland) Syler, G. Wayne Hardy; Lumber mill for Darin Simpson; Safety with Jack Matthews; Minerals for Lowell Woods; Maintenance with Bill Fulmer and retired back in environment with Pat Miller. I probably missed some of this but David said she worked in every department except legal and sales! David and Lisa were leaving that afternoon to enjoy some R&R in Jermyn where they have family land they plan to build on.

1. D. Johnson and Sue were still seated at the RT when Lisa shared her work experience at Temple, they all agreed it was a great place to work. Sue retired after 34 years and J. D. retired after 43 years. He also worked in several places including: sawmill, “fighting the bear”; treating plant; fiberboard with Ruben Saxton; sales; invoicing with Frank Smith and Jerry Hall and finally in “Personnel” with Vernon Burkhalter, Betty Baskette, Geraldine Pouland, Betty Barkley and Lucille Warner.

We also learned that Stacy Lucas is happy about retiring on the 17^th and Ruby Gordon retired on the 10^th after 50 years!! What loyalty. Congratulations and enjoy your retirement!!

Mark your calendars. The FISH truck will be in our parking lot on March 1^st from noon until 1PM. It’s time to start stocking ponds.

Again, thank all for voting for us and don’t forget to stop by and visit us…’round the table.