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Stepping
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School Bonanza Saturday
back in time 86-year-old Madisonville man sees likeness of his younger self on downtown Lufkin mural for first time
By RHONDA OAKS The Lufkin News If past attendance is any indication, kids are likely to line up fast Saturday for the 4th annual Back to School Bonanza at Lufkin’s First United Methodist Church. The event, scheduled from 8 a.m.2 p.m., is held by the Junior League of Lufkin in partnership with First United Methodist Church and Buckner Children and Family Services. Sponsors will make it possible for more than 2,000 qualifying area students to receive backpacks filled with school supplies, while also getting haircuts and hearing, dental and vision screenings. Tonja Childers, chairman for the event, said those attending this year are in for a special treat. “Each child that attends and completes their passport will be entered
By STEVE KNIGHT The Lufkin News
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t was a step back in time for an 86-year-old Madisonville man. Durell Gray visited his likeness depicted on the Lufkin-Conroe Telephone Exchange mural in downtown Lufkin on Thursday morning. The visit was a family reunion of sorts and a belated birthday celebration with his wife of more than 60 years, Mary, his daughter, Ginger Freeze of Bryan, and sons, David from Huntsville and Tom from Waco. Gray’s birthday was July 24. The mural on the side of the Lufkin Parks and Recreation Building on the corner of First Street and Frank Avenue depicts Gray as a lineman along with likenesses of A.M. Denman and E.J. Mantooth, who first strung a telephone wire between their offices in Lufkin in 1898, and other historic scenes from the company that pioneered East Texas telephonic communications. The mural was created in 1998 by Lance Hunter, who used a picture taken in the 1950s in Madisonville with
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Contributed photo
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This photo, taken in Madisonville in 1953, was used by artist Lance Hunter as the inspiration for a portion of a mural in downtown Lufkin. Gray wearing his safety belt and lineman equipment. Gray said he was glad to see the mural. “They contacted us to get pictures of any lineman that had gear on,” Gray said. “I had this old-style camera photo they did this from, and it turned out remarkably
woodland heights medical center
Andy Adams/The Lufkin News
Durell Gray, 86, of Madisonville stands in front of a likeness of his younger self on a mural in downtown Lufkin on Thursday morning. It was the first time for him to see the mural, this portion of SEE MURAL, PAGE 4A which was patterned after a 1953 photo of Gray.
business
Reality show’s hot rod hunter makes deal in Lufkin By JESSICA COOLEY The Lufkin News Discovery Channel’s “Fast N’ Loud” hot rod hunter Richard Rawlings made a top-secret deal Thursday morning with Lufkin exotic car dealer Andy House. House, who owns Ultra Hot Motor Sports LLC on John Redditt Drive, sold a vehicle to the Dallas-based Gas Monkey Garage owner Thursday morning. “They came in and bought a vehicle for a future show for an undisclosed amount of money,” House said, adding that he could not talk about the type of vehicle sold due to a contract he had signed. A camera crew accompanied Rawlings on his trip, filming at House’s shop for roughly four hours. “I was a little nervous,” House said. “They didn’t tell me what to say. I had to come up with it on my own. They were nice guys.” The reality show, now in its fourth season, follows Rawlings and his partner Aaron Kaufman’s search for rundown cars. With the help of the Gas Monkey Garage crew, they restore the vehicles for profit. ANDY ADAMS/The Lufkin News House, whose Ultra Hot Motor Sports page on Facebook already has 11,000 Andy House of Lufkin’s Ultra Hot Motor Sports LLC got a visit from Discovery Channel’s “Fast N’ Loud” hot rod hunter Richard Rawlings Thursday morning. From left are the “Fast N’ Loud” camera crew, House’s son Taylor, 8, Ultra Hot SEE CAR, PAGE 4A Motor Sports employees Rudy Chavez and Chris Reynolds, and Rawlings and House.
Hospital sets record for births in one month By STEVE KNIGHT The Lufkin News Woodland Heights Medical Center in Lufkin set a record for births during a one-month period with more than 100 babies born at the facility during July. As of Thursday afternoon, the facility had delivered 103 babies during the month, with at least one more birth possible Thursday night. Cathy Busbee, chief nursing officer, the facility experienced the highest number of births in a one-month period in more than 37 years. “We work extremely hard to stay abreast of the best practices in order to continue to deliver the highest level of care possible to our families,” Busbee said. “We take pride in the responsibility that comes with caring for these families.” The Women’s Center at Woodland Heights has seen a 45 percent volume increase compared to last year, according to hospital officials. The facility has become increasingly busier since opening the area’s first Level II neonatal intensive care unit in December. The unit is designed for babies who require extra attention through oxygen, temperature, blood, weight and nutrient monitoring due to illness or premature birth. “Lufkin is fortunate to have highly skilled physicians who offer the best of care for all women,” said Lisa Miller, director of women’s services. “These physicians work as a team
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Coming Sunday August 3, 2014
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