Hunt Co., TX - News: Greenville Herald Banner, 1986 ***************************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb by: Sarah Swindell USGenWeb Archives. Copyright. All rights reserved http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ***************************************************** In the Saturday, July 19, 1986, Greenville Herald Banner is a story about Albert Granberry entertaining visiting foreign students. It was written by Betty Hensley, HB staff member. At that time Albert had been a widower and had retired from First National Bank in Celeste for four years. He had decided to host foreign students and was having more fun than the students, so he said, and we knew! His guests were four young men--Rene Stenvang, 20, from Copenhagen, Denmark; Daniel Alvas, 17, from Lisbon, Portugal; Robbie Fisher, 17, from Melbourne, Australia; and Kolja Tessendorf, 18, from West Berlin. Each was a member of the Leo Club, the younger Lions group. Some of the events Albert treated the young Leos to were a swimming party and barbecue outing at Ernie's and a tour of the business. One young man had never tasted barbecue! The boys liked Celeste and the pretty girls. Rene Stenvang said, "We learned to say, 'I love you,' twenty-three different ways in a week." Tessendorf added, "The best part of the party was the pretty girls." Alvas noted, "Celeste is a nice town." The Australian was surprised with all of the greenery he had seen in Texas. He said, "I expected to find more cactus and John Wayne-looking people." Stenvang, who worked to pay for his airfare to the US commented, "The most important thing in the exchange student program is the development of a belief in the future and hope." It wasn't in the article, but wonder if the boys made sure that their seatbelts were fastened? One time Albert took a group of boys to Six Flags. When the boys returned, they all agreed that they enjoyed Six Flags very much, but the scariest, most exciting ride of all--was Albert's car trip over and back! Albert was always excited when one of this former guests would write him. I don't know how long this communication continued. . .wonder what has happened to those groups of young men as individuals? Wonder if they ever think of big heart in small town? Also, wonder if this was Albert's first group? Wonder how many times Albert sponsored the four or five boys each summer?