On March 16, high winds created a high fire damage threat. The Olney Volunteer Fire Department [OVFD] quickly responded to a blaze located in the area of FM 3329 and Herring Road, near the Brazos Communications warehouse, along with residential structures in the direct path of the fire. OVFD’s quick response helped save the warehouse and homes.
The City of Olney Administrative Staff were decked out to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Mar. 24, 2022. Pictured L-R: Tammy Hourigan, City Secretary, Arpegea Pagsuberon, Interim City Administrator, and Office Workers: Kathy and Nikki Photo By Neal Welch
In 1925, J.M. Bloodworth (1871-1947) sold the lot for this house to his son Bert C. (1895- 1981) Bloodworth and his wife Burch (Mann) (1895-1981), who married in 1915 in Decatur. The Bloodworths may not have lived in Olney all this time because Burch seemed to have a fixation on West Texas—especially Abilene. They were the parents of a daughter, Kathryn Jean, who evidently graduated from OHS and married Frederic Higginbotham at First Baptist Church here in 1941. Fred was born in DeLeon, reared in Graham and attended Texas A&M when they married. Unfortunately, he had to go off to war soon after the wedding. He enrolled in Hardin Simmons in Abilene and majored in hospital administration on his return from the service. After graduation, he worked in hospital administration in Abilene, San Antonio and Atlanta. The penultimate of his career was in Atlanta, where he became an executive for Blue Cross Blue Shield. Bert’s house was next to Gilbert’s Grocery on Oak Street, owned by his brother-in-law, Earl Gilbert, whose wife was Velma Bloodworth.
As a student at Olney Elementary through Olney High School, I had a classmate named Jerry Bishop. Many Olney residents will remember Jerry Bishop, the high school quarterback who led the Cubs to victory in the 1959 and 1960 playoff seasons. These teams produced numerous awards and record-breaking college scholarships. Jerry showed his leadership abilities, which seem to have been passed to his grandson, Drew Timme. Drew has been showing his leadership abilities for the Gonzaga Bulldogs. His team during the NCAA Selection is #1 overall out of a field of 68 NCAA teams. The Zags have been to every NCAA Tournament held since 1999, where they made a Cinderella run to the Elite Eight and have appeared in every final AP poll since the 2008-09 season.
What started as a class assignment turned into an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC., for one Olney High School student, and accolades for a second when winners of an essay contest were announced Feb. 28.
213 E. Main St.
PO Box 577
Olney, Texas 76374
Phone: (940) 564-5558
Fax: (940) 564-3992