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At this particular time in history, surrounding towns in West Texas referred to the city of Breckenridge as “The Dynamo of West Texas. That name stuck and the Breckenridge High School newspaper used “The Dynamo” for their school newspaper in the 1930s. The Breckenridge Weekly Democrat often referred to the title of “Dynamo’s,” especially in sporting events as reported on the Amateur Athletic Union (A.A.U.) Texas High School Girl’s Basketball Tournament to be held in Breckenridge with the Buckarettes from BHS as a contender. “The Dynamos took the tournament by storm,” according to one reporter.
Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce enlisted the whole town and all organizations to help stage the tournament including the Medical Society and Lions Club. The streets of the city were decorated with American and Texas flags under the direction of mayor, B.S. Walker, who declared a holiday for the whole town from March 17 to March 20, so that everyone could attend the games and also give the Buckarettes their full support. All teams ate in the BHS cafeteria during the three days of the tournament. The Buckarettes had earned their place in the state tournament and the hometown advantage surely helped the girls advance into the state finals, with an opportunity to win the state championship, which they successfully accomplished. The Buckarettes went on to win the A.A.U. State Championship again in 1929 with a different coach, Myra Germany.
The Lions Club hosted all the coaches and the A.A.U. officials to a luncheon prior to the first day of games. The BHS orchestra, under the direction of Pop Frazier, supplied the entertainment. Other teams that qualified to play in the A.A.U. State Tournament in 1927, included Mingus, Aledo, Dublin, Cross Plains, Sardis, Muleshoe, Lorraine, Frankell, Cisco, Cedar Springs, Handley, Roane, Roscoe, Thalia, Newcastle, Lone Star, Champion, Ysleta, Trinidad and West Rayland. One of the local businesses in Breckenridge offered a $5 Gold Piece to the girl who was the high scorer for the tournament and that honor went to Doris Bates of Cisco who dropped in a total of 113 points in five games, for a 22.6 average for each game. The girl’s coach, Wolfenbarger, and the BHS Buckarettes later conveyed their appreciation for the town’s support on the front page of the Breckenridge Weekly Democrat. When the All-State A.A.U. Team was announced, Breckenridge was well represented. On the first team was Irene Sullivan at forward and Gertrude Johnson at guard; second team included Thelma Russell at guard and the third team included Sylvia Thurman at center. Honorable Mention honors for the Breckenridge girls included Kathryn Guinn, Laura May Speer and Ruth Alexander. In addition to the Breckenridge girls, other young ladies in the county received recognition as well. Alina Langford from Caddo made the first team at forward, Madge Robinson of Frankell made the second team and Ellen Cowart of Caddo made the third team. Honorable Mention honors included Pansy Langford of Frankell.
Meanwhile, the Lions Club was busy organizing a trip over to Albany to help that community start their very own Lions Club. A group of 75 to 80 Lions Club members traveled to Albany on two buses for the meeting at the new McLemere Hotel. The Breckenridge orchestra and dance band, Harrison’s Texans, accompanied the Lions Club caravan to provide the entertainment. Sen. Jesse R. Smith visited Breckenridge and remarked on the changes that included signal lights and the projected 10-story hotel under construction. He also was here to explain the new gasoline tax enacted in the legislative session just completed in Austin. Sen. Smith explained that Stephens County and other counties in the state would retain 30 percent of all automobile registration fees which formerly all went to the state. He believed the $40,000 to $50,000 annual income that Stephens County would retain could be used for new roads and bridges or maintaining the roads within the county. Sen. Smith was going on to Baird in the company of the 100-man delegation from Breckenridge for the meeting of the Oil Belt District of the West Texas Chamber of Commerce. It was reported that Constable Lyles and his men raided three “Chock Joints” and arrested seven for gambling and six men who were intoxicated, all misdemeanor charges, that would keep them in the local jail for a day or two, along with a hefty fine. Superintendent L.T. Cook reported an enrollment of 3,016 students in Stephens County as compared to the 2,850 students the previous year. He was most proud of the attendance improvement which moved from 91.6 percent last year to 94.94 percent this year. He also reported that some schools in the county were eligible for state or rural aid. The State School Inspector, William J. Ellers, visited the Stephens County schools and indicated that Wayland, Gunsight, Eolian and Pleasant Hill would receive state aid and Harpersville and Eureka would receive rural aid for county schools with a high school. The schools would receive $5 per month, per child who attended high school. Several schools in the county were voting to consolidate. Veale and Frankell were due to vote May 21, on consolidation. Also, Eureka, Eolian and Elam were due to vote at the end of the school year to consider consolidation through community votes. The school districts of Union and Caddo had already made the choice on consolidation for the fall of 1927. Texas school taxes were not levied until 1884, at 12.5 cents and elevated to 35 cents by 1920. The state of Texas was leading the nation in consumption of lumber for the active expansion of building and construction of oil derricks. Texas also was first in cotton, sulphur and a new cash crop of sweet potatoes. Cotton acreage had decreased and farmers looked for a new cash crop and that was sweet potatoes. Texas led the nation in ice plants. Land was valued at $8.81 per acre. The one cent gasoline tax per gallon generated $4,980,866.61. Texas highways got a major slice of that money for highway construction at $3,735,649.96 and the School Fund received $1,245,216.65. Oil well owners contributed $5,380,607.88 to state coffers between Sept. 1, 1925 to Aug. 31,1926. |
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