Sunday, Sept. 2, 1962

Coosa Valley Fair to feature Debbie Drake



Debbie Drake, America’s shapely builder of the body beautiful, will be a feature attraction of the 14th Annual Coosa Valley Fair, scheduled in Rome Sept. 17-22.

Miss Drake has consented to make appearances at the fair Tuesday through Thursday of fair week, officials announced. In addition to demonstrating for the ladies exercises which develop the perfect figure, Miss Drake will assist in the judging of the preliminary and final event of the second annual Miss Coosa Valley Fair contest.

Miss Coosa Valley fair of 1962 will be selected from among beauties representing the 18 counties of the Coosa Valley area. Entries already are being received for the contest, to be held on Thursday night of fair week.

A preliminary to decide Floyd County’s entry will be held the preceding Tuesday, with entries expected from all the high schools in Rome and Floyd County.

The winning contestant will be awarded a $100 prize and will reign over the two remaining days of the fair. First runner-up will receive $25 and second runner-up $10. All final contestants will receive a $5 award to help defray travel expenses.

Premiums totaling more than $18,000 are being offered for the various entries and exhibits.



Tuesday, Sept. 4, 1962

Catholic schools in 71 counties desegregating



ATLANTA (AP) – Roman Catholic schools in the 71-county Atlanta archdiocese begin desegregation today with 17 Negroes registering to attend classes with white youngsters for the first time.

The Rev. Harold Rainey, chancellor of the archdiocese which includes Atlanta and much of north Georgia, said no difficulties were expected in the transition.

All the Negroes who applied for transfers were granted them, he said. They covered age levels from the first grade through high school, but their names were withheld until after classes opened.

Desegregation plans were announced in June by the Most Rev. Paul J. Hallinan, archbishop of Atlanta.

Affected were 18 elementary and five high schools in Atlanta, Rome, Fort Oglethorpe, Griffin, Athens and Washington where about 7,400 pupils attended classes last year.

The decision to admit pupils to parochial schools regardless of race or color was based in part on the successful desegregation of Atlanta public high schools, church authorities said.

The public schools began the second week of the second year of desegregation with 44 Negroes attending classes with white pupils in 10 high schools.



Thursday, Sept. 6, 1962

Can Calhoun Jackets pull off second miracle against Blue Devils Friday?



Can Calhoun pull off its second “miracle” of the young season Friday night when Coach Fred Shaver’s Yellow Jackets go up against the Model Blue Devils at Claude Satterfield Park?

The Jackets, figured to be the doormats of the area, pulled off win No. 1 last week with a 19-14 upset of Pepperell – a victory which was triggered by the fancy running of lightweight Terry Woods. A triumph at Model tomorrow would just about ensure Calhoun of a successful season, regardless of how the rest of the games come out.

Shaver made passing comment last winter, as he looked over his returning material, that’d it take a miracle for Calhoun to win a single game this fall. It was a natural comment considering that no team in Georgia was harder hit by graduation — 18 of the top 22 boys.

Even when pre-season drills began, things didn’t look much better. “I’ve never had a team that worked harder or had more desire,” Shaver explained, “but they make just too many mistakes.”

You’d never be able to convince Pepperell that the Jackets are a doormat team. Not after the way Woods returned the opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown and then sparked the payoff drive in the second half.

Model played better ball in a 19-0 loss to East Rome than a lot of folks think, especially in the second half. But, by the time the Gladiators had built up two-touchdown advantage.

Ralph Davis proved to be a fine runner, as did Joe House and Tommy Mitchell. They ground out good yardage against East Rome and could give the Jacket defense fits.

Other games in the area Friday find Rockmart at Dalton, West Rome at Chattanooga County, Cedartown at East Rome, Gaylesville, Ala., at Johnson, Adairsville at Cedar Bluff, Villa Rica at Cassville, Carrollton at Cartersville, North Whitfield at Trion. The only Saturday encounter finds Pepperell and Coosa battling it out at Barron Field.

Rockmart is faced with the giant task of stopping the passing of Loran Carter, who last year was Region 3-AA’s top serial marksman. He’s only a junior this time around and last week guided Dalton to a smashing 25-0 victory over rival North Whitfield.

Coach Bill Keller was pleased with everything but the score in Rockmart’s match with Chattooga. The Jackets moved the ball well, yet couldn’t put together a sustained drive. Jimmy Hughes, a speedster, is the backbone of Rockmart’s offense.

West Rome and East Rome both are likely to fill the air with passes tomorrow. Dudley Rush has been limbering up his passing arm in drills at East Rome and Chris Warren has been doing the same in Chieftain workouts.

West Rome Mentor Paul Kennedy has already proclaimed that his boys will come out throwing at Summerville.

He bases this on the way Warren riddled the Rossville secondary for 120 yards last week, while the ground attack only accounted for 33 yards.

Cedartown will bring a solid club to Rome tomorrow, one that completely humiliated Newnan, 27-0 last week.

And with the Bulldogs a three-touchdown pick. East Rome’s only chance is to play a wide open brand of football.

This means Rush’s arm will get a big workout.



Friday, Sept. 7, 1962

Former Roman learns important lesson – but almost loses life



A former Roman took his first ocean swim this week and learned a mighty important lesson – but it nearly cost him his life.

The Henson family moved to Jacksonville from Rome some 30 days ago, after residing for several years on Plymouth Road in Garden Lakes. It was a joyous occasion this week when the family headed for the beach south of Ponte Vedra, and Henson himself was looking forward t his first dip in salt water.

“Our first and worst mistake was swimming at an unattended beach,” said Albert Henson, 41, now living at 4215 Hudnall Rd., Jacksonville, Fla. “We realize that now. A person not familiar with the surf can’t realize the force of the current.”

Those currents swept Henson and one of his sons off their feet and almost drowned them.

Thanks to teamwork by two of Henson’s sons, David, 16, and Dan, 19. Henson was pulled from the water quickly and taken to the Jacksonville Beach Volunteer Lifesaving Station where the beach patrol administered oxygen and artificial respiration.

Henson said he was caught in the same runout which had pulled his youngest son, Mike, 14, into deep water. After he and Dan had gotten Mike to safety, Henson found himself trapped in the swift outgoing current.

Henson said he was exhausted and ready to give up when his son, David, who had approached as closely as possible, called encouragement and urged him to keep trying.

Dan, the strongest swimmer of the group, came back to help and the two boys pulled their 240-pound father from the rough surf. Henson was unconscious when brought to the lifesaving station.

“If it hadn’t been for David’s encouragement, I would have drowned. I’d never have tried to fight anymore,” a proud father explained.

He said his two older sons plan to enroll in a swimming and lifesaving course next summer, not only for their own safety, but for the safety of others.

Dan credited a thorough course in swimming at Georgia Tech for his ability to give assistance. He has sent a note of thanks to his swimming instructor.