A look back
By By Dr. Bill Stewart
April 1, 1960—Visits to 55 million residences began today in connection with the 1960 census.
Prior to now every household should have received a copy of the census questions by mail.
Filling these out in advance is advised.
April 1, 1960-Members of the vo-ag class at Falkville High have recently constructed 30 concrete FFA mailbox stands. C. A. Blevins is their teacher.
April 2, 1960-A “road-e-o” program that has its objective to encourage safe driving by teenagers was held today at Decatur Transfer and Storage Co. Gurney Lawrence, a member of the Hartselle Jaycees, was one of the leaders of the program.
April 2, 1960-A Birmingham man, Irvine C. Porter, has been elected president of the National Rifle Association (NRA).
Many area residents are strong supporters of the NRA because of its consistent advocacy of gun owner rights.
April 3, 1960—Morgan County now has approximately 18,000 voters.
April 3, 1960-Only one man will be drafted into the military from Morgan County in April, according to Selective Service officials.
April 4, 1960-Famed Hartselle author William Bradford Huie of Hartselle is suing NBC based on its broadcast of the film “The American.” Huie alleges that NBC and its hired writer Merle Miller plagiarized from his copyrighted work, “Our Torture Execution of Marine Hero Ira Hayes.” NBC denies the claim of Hartselle’s most internationally famous citizen.
April 4, 1960-According to an AP dispatch, the state of Alabama recently sold 12 used cars and trucks to a man employed in Mobile as a liquor agent for $25 each. No bids were taken prior to the sales.
April 5, 1960-Changes in the Barkley Bridge Road southwest of Hartselle are currently being discussed by the Morgan County governing board. Property owners in the area are naturally concerned since some houses and other buildings will probably have to be moved during the construction process. Board Chairman Guy Roberts is assuring residents that no immediate start to the work is anticipated.
April 5, 1960-Eva High School senior Brenda Pirkle has been elected secretary of the state Beta Club.
April 6, 1960-The new Hartselle garment plant is now in full operation, according to plant manager W. C. Barber. The factory is starting with 60 women, but more will be added as time goes on.
April 6, 1960-Max Merrill is currently a student at the University of Alabama School of Dentistry in Birmingham. Due to his excellent record he has been tapped for membership in Delta Sigma Delta, a dental fraternity.
April 7, 1960-Hartselle native and Democratic U.S. Sen. John Sparkman has formally qualified to seek a third term in the Senate.
After being born here and graduating from MCHS and UA, Senator Sparkman settled in Huntsville, from which he was elected to the U.S. House in 1936. He was his party’s candidate for vice-president eight years ago.
April 7, 1960-Alabama hunters are now authorized by the State Conservation Department to shoot or trap beavers year-round with no limits imposed. Many landowners have felt that the beaver population was getting out of control.
April 7, 1960—Morgan County Probate Judge T. C. (Cliff) Almon is running as a candidate for delegate at-large to this summer’s Democratic National Convention. Judge Almon is not committed to any presidential candidate and says he will not walk out of the convention under any circumstances. This happened three conventions back.
