A look back
By By Dr. Bill Stewart
Dec. 10, 1959-Leo Pettit of Hartselle has been elected to a three-year term on the board of directors of the Morgan County Cattlemen’s Association. He succeeds another Hartselle resident, R. H. Fuller. Among those continuing to serve are Horace Roberts, James E. Peck, and W. D. Lindsey, also Hartselle residents.
Dec. 11, 1959-Several Hartselle leaders were in Decatur this morning to meet with Congressman Bob Jones at the Hotel Lyons. Among the topics discussed were federal finance and inflation, labor-management relations, and states’ rights bills.
Dec. 11, 1959-The Decatur Red Raiders beat MCHS 67-57 in a basketball game played here tonight. Jimmy Speegle led Hartselle scorers with 16 points.
Dec. 11, 1959-A Morgan County man died in the electric chair at Kilby Prison in Montgomery early this morning. The convicted murderer was the first person to be executed as a result of a death sentence rendered in this county since 1927.
Dec. 11, 1959-W. H. (Bill) Stewart, owner of Stewart Brothers Motor Co., has been elected vice-president of the Decatur and Hartselle Automobile Dealers Association.
Dec. 12, 1959-More local Auburn football fans will be able to see Tiger football games in the future. The university’s board of trustees voted this morning to enlarge Cliff Hare stadium by 13,118 seats. Auburn will have five home games during the 1960 season, not, of course, including Alabama.
Dec. 12, 1959-A. L. Guyer, age 87, died at Hartselle Hospital early this morning. Funeral services will be tomorrow at his home church, Hartselle First Methodist, and conducted by the pastor, Rev. Warren Hamby. Pallbearers will be Grady Freeman, John Horton, Humphrey Breeding, Leon Guyse, Cline Thompson, and Dr. R. W. King.
Dec. 13, 1959-”Billy the Kid,” a Hartselle prison parolee who frequently uses this alias, was arrested for violating the terms of his release tonight at his father’s home. “Billy” had allegedly shot at someone earlier in the day.
Dec. 14, 1959-This is statehood week in Alabama. Alabama was formally admitted to the Union on this date in 1819-140 years ago.
Dec. 14, 1959-The Morgan County Board of Revenue (county commission) voted this morning to hold a school tax election on January 19. Ballots will be cast on a small property tax increase in all precincts except Hartselle and Union Hill where voters have previously approved such revenue raising measures.
Dec. 14, 1959-Hartselle city employees are hoping the local council will take a cue from their Athens counterparts. Tonight they voted to give all employees a $10 bonus as a Christmas present.
Dec. 14, 1959-James E. Peck was elected president of the Morgan County Cattlemen’s Association at a meeting here tonight
Dec. 14, 1959-MCHS beat Falkville 46-43 in a basketball game played there tonight. King had 11 points for the Tigers and Lawler and Speegle had 10 points apiece.
Dec. 15, 1959-Rev. Frank McWhirter is the new minister of the Baptist church in Falkville.
Dec. 16, 1959-The Alabama Crimson Tide football team left for Philadelphia and their Liberty Bowl game with Penn State today, traveling by train. Few if any local fans will see Saturday’s game in person but they will look forward to watching it on TV. Birmingham’s Channel 13 will carry the game beginning at 11:45.
Dec. 16, 1959-A 17-year-old member of the senior class at Falkville High took his own life near his parents’ home in the McKendree community this afternoon. His father is a prominent Falkville businessman.
Dec. 16, 1959-Star MCHS end Jimmy Speegle has been named to the all-TVC football team. The announcement was made at a coaches meeting.
