Sunday's Internet Edition, July 20, 2008.
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| Student Council class officers and executive board members and their sponsors are: Back Row (L to R) Josh Grado, Chad Engle, Adam Granizcny, Rutesh Bhakta, and Emmiley McCoy. Front Row (L to R) Hayley McCoy, Leilani Vejil, Sherri Molina, Julio Baeza, Arlene Baeza, Rosalinda Corrales. Sponsors are Michelle Barrandey and Jeanette Rangel. |
- Come join the fun! Homecoming week is October 1-5 and the high school student council has planned many activities for the school and the community. Everybody is invited to come and join us as we celebrate and travel back ‘through the decades’.
On Monday, at 6:30 pm, there will be a Powder Puff flag football game at the practice football field. The students will be participating in this game and we encourage the community to come watch and support the players. On Wednesday at 7:30 pm there will be a Movie. On Thursday, the Homecoming Parade takes place at 6:00 pm. If anyone would like to participate in the parade, entry forms may be picked up in the high school office. The whole community is encouraged to participate in the parade. Following the parade will be the bonfire at the cotton gin area near the airport.
Friday all VHHS Exes are invited to come to the high school anytime from 8:00 am until 1:00 pm to look at the class hallway decorations and vote on which class’s hallway they like the best. At 2:15 will be the Homecoming Pep Rally. Everybody is invited to come and show their spirit.
Friday night will be the Homecoming Game against Iraan starting at 7:30 pm. The Homecoming Coronation will be during halftime. Come support and cheer for the Eagles!
Column One
By Dawn Simpson
There’s some new fun things going on in our community this weekend and next, which will also bring in some out-of-town folks and that’s always a good thing. Fall is a great time for outdoor activities here. You couldn’t ask for a nicer climate than we have, especially at this time of year.
This weekend is “The Pack M/C West Texas”. This is the first of what they hope to make an annual event. There’s a Poker Run to Ft. Davis and what on earth is a swinging hot dog? I’ll bet there will be lots of nice motorcycles coming to town. Read about it in this week’s issue.
Next weekend is something else new. Well it’s not actually new – just bigger and better this time. Leave it to Dollar J (Jason and Bucky) to plan a big event that gets people to town, and from what I here they have lots of folks coming for “The Dollar J Classic #4”, a car, pickup and ATV barrel race. There’s a race for all ages, even kids. There’s lots of other fun things added this time, even a chance to dance under the stars. So check their ad in this issue and plan to have a family fun time next Saturday afternoon out at KOA Kampground. But like they say, “Don’t come if your scared!!”
I hear a certain teller at the bank is going to be racing and that I want to see!
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If you are reading the following, it’s probably because I won out or because I gave the Editor this too late for him to find something else to fill this spot. He doesn’t like attention, but I decided that turning 65 years of age, and having spent half of that time as Publisher/Editor of the Van Horn Advocate deserves a little attention, so here is my……..
SALUTE to the Editor on his 65th birthday
Larry Simpson was born in Wabash, Indiana on Oct. 1, 1942 to Charles and Helen Simpson. He grew up with one sister who he was very close to, Farley (Roberts). When he was three, he and his sister and mother boarded a ship for Germany to join his father, who had been serving in the Army there during the last years of the war. He was able to have his family join him after the war as he remained in Germany with a Quarter Master unit closing down operations there. They came back to the states in 1948 and his dad was assigned to Ft. Riley, Kansas for a short time and then to Ft. Bliss in El Paso. It was there the family remained, with both his parents getting their degrees at Texas Western College (UTEP) and becoming teachers.
Larry graduated from Ysleta High School in 1960. He received a BA degree from Texas Western College in 1965 with a major in History and a minor in English. He was in the ROTC program and on graduation received a commission into the US Army as a 2nd Lieutenant. His first assignment was Ft. Knox, Kentucky for Armor Officer Basic. In October 1966 he received orders for VietNam, but first to a Jungle Operations School in Panama. During that first tour in Nam he was a tank Platoon leader and then Executive Officer of the 1st Battalion, 69th Armor. He returned to Ft. Knox where he was a company commander in the Armor Center, taught Laotian Officers and completed Advanced Armor Officer Course. He was accepted into the Army Aviation School learning to fly helicopters. That was a free ticket back to VietNam for a second tour, where he transitioned into flying the Cobra gunship.
He has never talked a lot about those times, but I know when I see the medals in the shadowbox frame hanging in our home that he was a good officer. Awards and medals he received include: Vietnam Service Medal w/ 4 Bronze Service Stars; Army Aviator Badge; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; Air Medal w/ numerals 13; Army Commendation Medal w/ 1 Oak Leaf Cluster; Bronze Star Medal w/1 Oak Leaf Cluster; and Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry w/ Palm.
When returning home from his second tour in Nam he was assigned to Ft. Hood, Texas as the personnel officer (S-1) for the 1st Squadron 9th Air Cav, and later became Company Commander in the 1st Battalion, 81st Armor.
With the end of the VietNam war, promotions slowed down drastically and he knew he would probably not attain his dream of becoming a General. So as a Captain and after 8 years of service to his country, he decided to return to civilian life in 1973. He used the GI Bill to get his rating in fixed wing aircraft, as well as an instrument rating. He had hoped for a business of his own in the field of aviation, but that was not to be.
In looking for a good place to raise our two daughters, our paths led us back to the town of my roots - back here to Van Horn to purchase our own business – The Van Horn Advocate and Office Supply, in September of 1975. Yes, many times he may have regretted that decision to leave the military because making a living in this little town has been tough. But he puts a lot of trust in God’s providence and guidance on our lives, so who were we to question.
As the newspaper editor in a small town, he feels so close to the very heartbeat of the town – a town he has learned to love inspite of it’s problems and struggles over the 32 years that he’s been a part of this community. I don’t believe there is anyone who has remained so positive in what this town could become, and so sad at times when it seemed to take one step forward and two steps backward.
If he has one passion as editor it is ‘the public’s right to know’, and is a strong advocate for the Freedom of Information Act. That at times has probably caused some irritation with various boards and elected officials, but hopefully short-lived irritations. I wish I knew just how many hours he has set in board meetings over the past 32 years. So, if at times he seems to have some definite opinions about how our governing bodies should operate, it is probably because he’s been watching them over all these years. He doesn’t do investigative type reporting and he isn’t an ambulance chaser, mainly because he just doesn’t have the time, since the newspaper has to be only a part of our business due to the lack of an advertising base here in Van Horn.
Several years ago he purchased the fuel concession at the local airport from Don Collins, and although it’s not a money-maker at this time it keeps him in touch with his love of flying. Although not financially able to own a plane of his own, he loves the contact with other pilots and occasionally another VietNam era pilot will stop in for fuel and he gets to ‘talk shop’ with those who understand.
Since he has little time for hobbies or other interests, his enjoyment revolves mostly around his family – two daughters he adores, two son-in-laws that he respects deeply, and six grandchildren that are his pride and joy. If he had the time he would love to play golf again. He was quite good in his Army days. He also hopes to have more time to read the many books he has some day, and just more time to enjoy our back yard and knocking out that long honey-do list.
What are some of his favorite things? He loves Patriotism, Mexican food, Hummingbirds, and a well-manicured yard. His favorite Bible books are Romans, Daniel and Revelations. (Yes he really gets into the study of end-time prophesies and he knows who wins!) He likes action movies but also an occasional ‘chick flick’. He loves music - all kinds of music, from classical to country (except hard rock.) He really enjoys a long nap on Sunday afternoons, and he even likes our cats (honest). He likes ‘Fox&Friends’ with his black coffee, fresh-squeezed orange juice and cereal for breakfast. (That’s the only time of day that he isn’t in a hurry.) He enjoys following the stock market and commodities markets, although has never had much at all to invest.
But as for retirement? It will probably never happen. And maybe that’s a good thing for Van Horn since he doesn’t think small-town newspapers are very much in demand. It would kill him to have to print the final issue of the Advocate.
So, I pray for continued strength, both physical and mental, for the man I share almost every waking and sleeping hour with. How blest I am! Happy 65th Birthday, Honey!
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
September 27th - The Van Horn Junior High 7th grade football teams is slated to play Ft. Hancock here today beginning at 5 p.m. The 8th grade team will play Ft. Stockton in Ft. Stockton today at 5 p.m. The Eagle JV squad is open today. Members of the Van Horn Volunteer Fire Department are slated to meet this evening at 7 p.m. at the firehouse.
September 28th - The Van Horn Eagles take on the Ft. Hancock Mustangs in Ft. Hancock this evening with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m.
September 29th - The Van Horn Junior High volleyball teams are scheduled to play in the Ft. Hancock Tournament today in Ft. Hancock. The Van Horn Lady Eagles volleyball teams are slated to play Ft. Davis this evening beginning at 6 p.m. in Ft. Davis.
September 30th - Attend the church of your choice.
October 1st - The Van Horn Junior High volleyball teams are scheduled to play Alpine this evening in Alpine beginning at 5 p.m.
October 2nd - Members of the Van Horn Rotary Club are scheduled to meet today at noon at Chuy’s. The Van Horn Lady Eagle volleyball teams are scheduled to play Alpine here this evening beginning at 5 p.m. The Van Horn City Council is scheduled to meet tonight at City Hall beginning at 7 p.m. The Singing Men of West Texas will be in concert here tonight at 7 p.m. at the First Baptist Church.
October 3rd - Nothing scheduled at press time.