Keeping up with the Thorndale Exes

February will be ending by the time you read this. My how time flies. Our condolences to the family of Katybell Rodenbeck Mikus, Class of 1942, of Waco, who passed away Feb. 10, 2019. She was 93 years young, the fourth daughter in a family of six girls and two boys. We know she will be lovingly missed by many family and friends. Many thanks to Byrleen Kelly Terry, Class of 1968, of Marlin, for going to the trouble to send the copy of her obituary out of the Waco newspaper. What a help this is. Nice picture of Katy so it will be on display at Homecoming. Byrleen reads our news articles and we are always happy to hear that. Congratulations to senior Scott Guzman, Class of 2019, as he signed to play baseball at Sul Ross State University in Alpine. Nice picture of him with his parents and other family members in the paper. Nice small picture of ex-teacher, Jean Griffin, in the paper. “Explore the Exciting World of Art” was being conducted this past week by J’Lin’s Studio Gallery in Thorndale. It was held in the Rockdale City Library. Jean was our number one art teacher here in Thorndale from 2002 until 2015. She will demonstrate two of the teen/adult classes offered at the gallery and the program is free. If I was younger, I would surely give it a try. Our many thanks to David and Starla Rodenbeck Hall, Class of 1985; Allen Hall, Class of 2013; and Mary Ann Sielaff Rodenbeck, Class of 1949, for very generous donations in memory of Katy-bell Rodenbeck Mikus who passed away Feb. 10. We really appreciate it. Visited with Charles Olbrich, Class of 1975, by phone a couple of times this week. That’s always fun. Retirement is beginning to get boring to him, so he says. There was a nice big colored picture in the paper of the 300 pounds of food donated to the Rockdale Christian Services Food Pantry. Volunteer Willie Calvin, Class of 1973, helped bring in the food. I understand that he helps distribute free food on a regular basis in Rockdale. Our exes do get around and it makes us proud. Our exes friend Jack Brooks is at it again. He sent a nice big picture of one of our surrounding schools that will be included at a later date. Can’t thank him enough for all the great “stuff” he send us. And all is so interesting. There was a nice big picture of newly elected offices of the Fireman’s Auxiliary. They are: Ann Goerdel Zuehlke, Class of 1981, Vice President; Billye Kelm Schwarz, Class of 1949, Treasurer; Denise Decker Melde, Class of 1977, Chaplain. We congratulate them, but know it is unpaid work as they volunteer their time and sometimes their money, too. 10 Years Ago: The No. 1 State ranked, 27-3, Thorndale Lady Bulldogs were set to begin the post-season against Iola. Thanks to the Rockdale newspaper for this interesting tidbit. A little Amish Wisdom: He who teaches a child is as if he had created him. God gives us two ears and one mouth so we can hear more and talk less. Money buys everything but brains. Better a hen in the hand than an eagle in the sky. He who likes to take does not like to give. I think this ends the Amish Wisdom as I haven’t received any lately. It was fun while it lasted and I’ll still include it from time to time if it starts back up. I have five copies of “The Thorndale Circuit Rider” written by one of our previous Methodist preachers, Rev. Ray Reed and his wife, Cathy. The 1one-page (legal size) articles were written each month about a different community near Thorndale. This one dated April 2000 is about the Sharp Presbyterian Church. It was sent to the Reeds by the then Pastor at Sharp. Sharp is 16 miles northeast of Thorndale on FM 487 between San Gabriel and Little River. Settlers began arriving in the Sharp area in the 1870’s. The first store was built in 1892 by Charlie Campbell and a Mr. Branstetter. Ed Zedlitz built a blacksmith shop about the same time. Will Davis built a general store about 1896 and stayed open until 1981. (I think he was father-in-law to our ex-teacher, Lohma Davis, Homemaking teacher here from 1967 until 1974.) The community was named “Sharp” after a beloved Davilla physician in early 1900’s. It was a few years later that free mail delivery to rural areas began and their post office was closed. They still use the Buckholts, Rt. 1 address. In early 1930 many of the nearby schools consolidated to form Sharp Rural Consolidated High School. They had three full-time teachers, were fully accredited and served a 75 square mile area. Four bus drivers provided their own vehicles and expenses and were paid $80 a month. After WWII many folks moved to urban areas so Sharp’s population decreased and eventually the school closed. The building was still standing when this was written in 2000 and I think still stands. More next time. And many thanks to exes friend, Jack Brooks, for these very interesting articles. We can be found on the web at www.thorndale.txed.net or you can e-mail locojo@austin.rr.com. You can call 512-898-2072 or you can write to Thorndale Ex-Students Association, P. O. Box 393, Thorndale, TX 76577. We love to hear from our exes.