Hunt Co., TX - Newspaper: Headlines Aug. 12, 1960
******************************************************
This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb by:
Sarah Swindell <sss@texoma.net>

USGenWeb Archives. Copyright. All rights reserved
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
******************************************************

         Headlines, August 12, 1960, The Celeste Courier

Making the front page on August 12, 1960, was Wanda Thacker.  She was the
prospective bride of Larry Rowell.
    The headline read, "One Texas Child in Every Five Rides a School Bus."  And
back in those days, the bus drivers were pictured in the annuals.  This was
before the time every student had his own car and schools had to provide acres
of day parking spaces. . .parking was for teachers and fans!
    There was a time when this scene was true:  father telling his child about
the time when he was young and having to walk to school in sunshine, rain,
sleet, snow, and hail.
    The article beings, "Mary's legendary little lamb would have a hard time
following her to school today in most Texas communities."  One Texas school
child in every five now rides the school bus each day to and from the school
house, the Texas State Teachers Association reported today."
    Total distance covered by the buses averaged 482,384 miles a day.  Stretch
those miles over 175 days of instruction (minimum school year) and you get an
85-million mile trip.  That's the equivalent of almost a round trip to the moon
every day.  There were 7,847 school buses receiving state aid.  An average
school bus last year traveled sixty-one miles a day and carried fifty-one
children on its route.
    "State transportation aid is provided for those children who live two miles
or more from school where public transportation facilities are not available,"
the article concluded.
    It would be interesting to note who our bus drivers are this year and how
many miles they drive.  How many students ride the routes?  Seeing those yellow
buses to and from school is another aspect of our lives that we take for
granted.
    As far as we know, Jack Ruff was the first school bus driver.  This was in
the days when our buses were blue. . .or maybe in the days before our buses
were blue.  The picture of Jack beside the bus. . .well, the bus appears to be
"blue!"
    Hunt County's first bale of cotton was reported...but it was brought in by
A. L. Anderson, a Royse City farmer.