January 11, 2019 Coats Museum News
The “Eagle Scout President,” as Gerald Ford was nicknamed, was serving in the White House in 1974. Gerald Ford was a handsome young man and when in high school, he had won a contest as the Most Popular Senior and traveled to Washington to be honored. In high school, he also lettered in five sports in Grand Rapids, Michigan. While a scholarship recipient at the University of Michigan, Ford was named the Most Valuable player on the football team. He was offered contracts by the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions. He elected instead to take a job as assistant football coach at Yale.
While coaching at Yale, he took law courses and finished law school at age 27. Ford gave up a law practice to join the Navy after WWII began. After war, Ford returned to his law practice and married Betty Bloomer, ran for and was elected to the U.S. House. He became a powerful leader and was picked to replace Spiro Agnew as Nixon’s vice president. Ford was never elected to the presidency. He had replaced President Nixon who had resigned. Ford’s role in history was to clean up the mess made by others. He turned the economy around and Ford brought back openness and honesty to the White House. He granted presidential pardon to Nixon and offered conditional amnesty to Vietnam draft evaders.
During Ford’s term, Smokey the Bear retired from public service and the movie Star Wars was released. Catfish Hunter signed with the NY Yankees for $3.5 million (Bumann, Joan and John Patterson, 40 Presidents Facts and Fun, Willowisp Press, Inc. 1981, pp. 144-148).
Was the practice of placing pink or blue bows in front of houses to announce a new baby around in 1974? I do know that two pink bows would be waving in the wind to announce the arrival of two little girls in February. Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Dalton Jernigan announced the birth of Lisa Faye on February 27th while Mr. and Mrs. Walton Williams the birth of a daughter on February 28th. Both were born in BJMH in Dunn (Daily Record Mar. 1, 1974).
Who remembers when there was an A&P Grocery Store in Dunn? One could purchase a pound of chuck roast for 69 cents, a pound of ground beef for $1.08 and 8 O’Clock coffee for 85 cents per pound. What a difference from prices in 2019 (Daily Record Mar. 6, 1974).
Obviously price of sugar had seen a big increase and as a consequence, there was less moonshine being made in NC and Harnett County according to the officials of the Alcoholic Tax and Firearms Unit. The unit had reported fewer operations had been found since sugar sold for $1.20 per five pounds (Daily Record Mar. 7, 1974). Were the operations formerly called liquor stills?
A public meeting was to be held at Coats School to discuss consolidation. Edward Turlington of the county education board and M.H. Brock of the commission board would be present to answer questions from the public (Daily Record Mar. 11, 1974).
Can you recite the pledge of allegiance to the US flag? Do you know what the stars and stripes represent? What do we mean by patriotism? In 1974, the first graders at Coats discovered the answers to those questions and other related ones as they had studied a unit on love of country and respect for the American flag and fellowman (Daily Record Mar. 11, 1974).
John B. Ennis, 67, of Route 1, Coats had died suddenly on Wednesday afternoon. The farmer was called “Bunk” by his friends. His services were held at the Cromartie-Pearsall Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Condary Ellis officiating. His survivors were his mother, Mrs. Stella Sorrell Ennis; his wife, Mrs. Ethel Lee Ennis; two sons, Donald and John Bruce Ennis; two daughters, Mrs. Rachel Hinsley and Mrs. Rebecca Williford. His siblings were R. Otis, Hunter, Ed, Richard Ennis and Mrs. H.E. Creech, Mrs. Frank Moffitt and E. Williamson (Daily Record Mar. 14, 1974). Does someone know the name that the E. represents?
Crocuses were likely breaking through the warming soil and the yellow bells might have been popping out of the draping limbs of the spring bloomers when Becky and Dennis Adams brought home a new daughter who was born at Rex Hospital. Becky and Dennis lived on Route One, Benson. They named the baby daughter-Michelle (Daily Record Mar. 15, 1974).
While Becky was changing diapers, the Charles Hunter Ogburn family was planning a June wedding for their daughter, Sue Lou Ogburn, who was to wed Robert Paul Wellons, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Howard Wellons , Sr. of Dunn (Daily Record Mar. 15, 1974).
Mrs. Helen Avery Butts of rural Coats was also making wedding plans for her daughter, Denise Lynn Butts, to William Earl Cox, Jr., of Erwin. Prospect FWB Church was to be the wedding site. Sadly, another family was planning the funeral of Coleman Caudle, 66, a retired Erwin farmer, who had died at the BJMH in Dunn. His services were at the Red Hill Church where Rev. Jerome Pope and Rev. P.O. Jackson officiated. His survivors were his wife, Eva S. Caudle; two daughters-Mrs. Inez Moore and Mrs. Verline Jones; two sisters-Mrs. Vance Norris and Mrs. Larkin Norris (both of Coats) and three brothers-Jonah Harold, and Bradley Caudle (Daily Record Mar. 22, 1974).
Mrs. Jennifer Flowers Collins, one of Harnett’s “prettiest young school teachers” was elected as president of the Harnett County Democratic Women. Mrs. Collins, a graduate of Coats High School and Campbell University, was a teacher of Special Education at Lafayette High School. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dathan Flowers. She had been active in the Robert Morgan for Senate campaign. Mrs. Collins followed Mrs. Juanita Hight of Buies Creek (Daily Record Mar. 26, 1974).
Members of the Future Homemakers of America and their mothers (98 of them) had gathered for the annual “Mother-Daughter Banquet” “F.H.A. –A Butterfly of Spring” was the theme of the event. Mrs. Odelia Gentry was the guest speaker and music was provided by Anne McKoy, soloist. Degrees were presented during the banquet. The Junior Degrees went to Martie Byrd, Sharon Barefoot, Terri Lloyd, and Michelle Harvell. Chapter Degrees went to Doris Turlington, Peggy Denton, Susan Matthews, Sharon Clayton, Nell Hawley, Dianne Flowers, Toni Salamoni, Sheree Wise and Ann Langdon. Denise Adams was recognized for receiving the State Degree (Daily Record Mar. 26, 1974).
Question-do the high schools have home economics and Future Homemakers of America? Who remembers all the wonderful benefits of taking home economics and being in FHA?
This I do know. Rescue officers of the Coats Auxiliary Police Force had been selected at a recent town meeting. Stacy Byrd was picked as the reserve chief and Joseph Lee was operations officer. Katherine House was secretary and treasurer. Both Ronnie and Keith Parrish were squad leaders. Other members of the reserve were James Grimes, Don House, Gary Denton, Joe Odom, Dorsey Daniel and Leon Whittington (Daily Record Apr. 1. 1974).
Airman Marvin L. Lee, son of Mr. and Mrs. James O. Lee, of Coats, NC, had been assigned to Kessler AFB in Mississippi, after completing Air Force training. Airman Lee had been assigned to the Technical Training Center. He was a 1970 graduate of Coats High School (Daily Record Apr. 2, 1974).
Rev. and Mrs. Ralph Byrd of Coats announced the engagement of their daughter, Sharon Elizabeth, to Clifton Wayne Royal, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Clifton Royal of Erwin. Miss Byrd was a senior at Campbell College and Mr. Royal was a senior education major. The wedding was planned for Antioch FWB Church.
Another young man from Coats was in military service. Army Private Bobby S. Hayes, 19, son of Mrs. Ruthie Hayes, was assigned to the 2nd Armored Calvary Regiment in Germany. Pvt. Hayes was a ground sensor specialist with Troop B, 1st Squadron of the regiment in Bindlach (Daily Record Apr. 9, 1974).
Do you ever hear a name and can think of only positive things about that individual? Such is the case of a former student who graduated in 1971. This man showed outstanding leadership in high school, college, the military, political arena and private sector. If our former Coats High School had a Hall of Fame as some schools do, this man would be a strong contender to be one of the first inductees. Surely you are wondering who this man is. Did anyone guess Baxter Ennis? Baxter Ennis, now a resident of Chesapeake, Virginia, has never forgotten where he got his start. Thank you Baxter and Glenda Ennis for remembering the museum this Christmas and for all the encouragement and support you have shown to the Coats Museum for so many years.
The “Eagle Scout President,” as Gerald Ford was nicknamed, was serving in the White House in 1974. Gerald Ford was a handsome young man and when in high school, he had won a contest as the Most Popular Senior and traveled to Washington to be honored. In high school, he also lettered in five sports in Grand Rapids, Michigan. While a scholarship recipient at the University of Michigan, Ford was named the Most Valuable player on the football team. He was offered contracts by the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions. He elected instead to take a job as assistant football coach at Yale.
While coaching at Yale, he took law courses and finished law school at age 27. Ford gave up a law practice to join the Navy after WWII began. After war, Ford returned to his law practice and married Betty Bloomer, ran for and was elected to the U.S. House. He became a powerful leader and was picked to replace Spiro Agnew as Nixon’s vice president. Ford was never elected to the presidency. He had replaced President Nixon who had resigned. Ford’s role in history was to clean up the mess made by others. He turned the economy around and Ford brought back openness and honesty to the White House. He granted presidential pardon to Nixon and offered conditional amnesty to Vietnam draft evaders.
During Ford’s term, Smokey the Bear retired from public service and the movie Star Wars was released. Catfish Hunter signed with the NY Yankees for $3.5 million (Bumann, Joan and John Patterson, 40 Presidents Facts and Fun, Willowisp Press, Inc. 1981, pp. 144-148).
Was the practice of placing pink or blue bows in front of houses to announce a new baby around in 1974? I do know that two pink bows would be waving in the wind to announce the arrival of two little girls in February. Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Dalton Jernigan announced the birth of Lisa Faye on February 27th while Mr. and Mrs. Walton Williams the birth of a daughter on February 28th. Both were born in BJMH in Dunn (Daily Record Mar. 1, 1974).
Who remembers when there was an A&P Grocery Store in Dunn? One could purchase a pound of chuck roast for 69 cents, a pound of ground beef for $1.08 and 8 O’Clock coffee for 85 cents per pound. What a difference from prices in 2019 (Daily Record Mar. 6, 1974).
Obviously price of sugar had seen a big increase and as a consequence, there was less moonshine being made in NC and Harnett County according to the officials of the Alcoholic Tax and Firearms Unit. The unit had reported fewer operations had been found since sugar sold for $1.20 per five pounds (Daily Record Mar. 7, 1974). Were the operations formerly called liquor stills?
A public meeting was to be held at Coats School to discuss consolidation. Edward Turlington of the county education board and M.H. Brock of the commission board would be present to answer questions from the public (Daily Record Mar. 11, 1974).
Can you recite the pledge of allegiance to the US flag? Do you know what the stars and stripes represent? What do we mean by patriotism? In 1974, the first graders at Coats discovered the answers to those questions and other related ones as they had studied a unit on love of country and respect for the American flag and fellowman (Daily Record Mar. 11, 1974).
John B. Ennis, 67, of Route 1, Coats had died suddenly on Wednesday afternoon. The farmer was called “Bunk” by his friends. His services were held at the Cromartie-Pearsall Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Condary Ellis officiating. His survivors were his mother, Mrs. Stella Sorrell Ennis; his wife, Mrs. Ethel Lee Ennis; two sons, Donald and John Bruce Ennis; two daughters, Mrs. Rachel Hinsley and Mrs. Rebecca Williford. His siblings were R. Otis, Hunter, Ed, Richard Ennis and Mrs. H.E. Creech, Mrs. Frank Moffitt and E. Williamson (Daily Record Mar. 14, 1974). Does someone know the name that the E. represents?
Crocuses were likely breaking through the warming soil and the yellow bells might have been popping out of the draping limbs of the spring bloomers when Becky and Dennis Adams brought home a new daughter who was born at Rex Hospital. Becky and Dennis lived on Route One, Benson. They named the baby daughter-Michelle (Daily Record Mar. 15, 1974).
While Becky was changing diapers, the Charles Hunter Ogburn family was planning a June wedding for their daughter, Sue Lou Ogburn, who was to wed Robert Paul Wellons, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Howard Wellons , Sr. of Dunn (Daily Record Mar. 15, 1974).
Mrs. Helen Avery Butts of rural Coats was also making wedding plans for her daughter, Denise Lynn Butts, to William Earl Cox, Jr., of Erwin. Prospect FWB Church was to be the wedding site. Sadly, another family was planning the funeral of Coleman Caudle, 66, a retired Erwin farmer, who had died at the BJMH in Dunn. His services were at the Red Hill Church where Rev. Jerome Pope and Rev. P.O. Jackson officiated. His survivors were his wife, Eva S. Caudle; two daughters-Mrs. Inez Moore and Mrs. Verline Jones; two sisters-Mrs. Vance Norris and Mrs. Larkin Norris (both of Coats) and three brothers-Jonah Harold, and Bradley Caudle (Daily Record Mar. 22, 1974).
Mrs. Jennifer Flowers Collins, one of Harnett’s “prettiest young school teachers” was elected as president of the Harnett County Democratic Women. Mrs. Collins, a graduate of Coats High School and Campbell University, was a teacher of Special Education at Lafayette High School. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dathan Flowers. She had been active in the Robert Morgan for Senate campaign. Mrs. Collins followed Mrs. Juanita Hight of Buies Creek (Daily Record Mar. 26, 1974).
Members of the Future Homemakers of America and their mothers (98 of them) had gathered for the annual “Mother-Daughter Banquet” “F.H.A. –A Butterfly of Spring” was the theme of the event. Mrs. Odelia Gentry was the guest speaker and music was provided by Anne McKoy, soloist. Degrees were presented during the banquet. The Junior Degrees went to Martie Byrd, Sharon Barefoot, Terri Lloyd, and Michelle Harvell. Chapter Degrees went to Doris Turlington, Peggy Denton, Susan Matthews, Sharon Clayton, Nell Hawley, Dianne Flowers, Toni Salamoni, Sheree Wise and Ann Langdon. Denise Adams was recognized for receiving the State Degree (Daily Record Mar. 26, 1974).
Question-do the high schools have home economics and Future Homemakers of America? Who remembers all the wonderful benefits of taking home economics and being in FHA?
This I do know. Rescue officers of the Coats Auxiliary Police Force had been selected at a recent town meeting. Stacy Byrd was picked as the reserve chief and Joseph Lee was operations officer. Katherine House was secretary and treasurer. Both Ronnie and Keith Parrish were squad leaders. Other members of the reserve were James Grimes, Don House, Gary Denton, Joe Odom, Dorsey Daniel and Leon Whittington (Daily Record Apr. 1. 1974).
Airman Marvin L. Lee, son of Mr. and Mrs. James O. Lee, of Coats, NC, had been assigned to Kessler AFB in Mississippi, after completing Air Force training. Airman Lee had been assigned to the Technical Training Center. He was a 1970 graduate of Coats High School (Daily Record Apr. 2, 1974).
Rev. and Mrs. Ralph Byrd of Coats announced the engagement of their daughter, Sharon Elizabeth, to Clifton Wayne Royal, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Clifton Royal of Erwin. Miss Byrd was a senior at Campbell College and Mr. Royal was a senior education major. The wedding was planned for Antioch FWB Church.
Another young man from Coats was in military service. Army Private Bobby S. Hayes, 19, son of Mrs. Ruthie Hayes, was assigned to the 2nd Armored Calvary Regiment in Germany. Pvt. Hayes was a ground sensor specialist with Troop B, 1st Squadron of the regiment in Bindlach (Daily Record Apr. 9, 1974).
Do you ever hear a name and can think of only positive things about that individual? Such is the case of a former student who graduated in 1971. This man showed outstanding leadership in high school, college, the military, political arena and private sector. If our former Coats High School had a Hall of Fame as some schools do, this man would be a strong contender to be one of the first inductees. Surely you are wondering who this man is. Did anyone guess Baxter Ennis? Baxter Ennis, now a resident of Chesapeake, Virginia, has never forgotten where he got his start. Thank you Baxter and Glenda Ennis for remembering the museum this Christmas and for all the encouragement and support you have shown to the Coats Museum for so many years.