Cover from the 1963 Golden Anniversary book
published in honor of Littlefield’s 50^th Anniversary

August 27, 2006

The above picture is taken from the book put together in honor of Littlefield’s 50^th Anniversary Celebration. No credit was given for the book editing or printing, though I suspect Allen "Pop" and Betty Hodges were behind it. Pop and Betty started A&B Office Supply, which has just recently closed. No credit was given to the artist of the steer on the cover, either. If anyone knows the answers to either of these questions, please call me. As you can see, we had some great people willing to give of their time and their skills to show their pride in Littlefield. They deserve to be remembered. A lot of work went into preparation for this celebration, involving a lot of people. Littlefield is 93 years old now, and in 2013 we’ll be ready to celebrate our 100^th birthday. Can you believe it???? (This book will be on display at the museum in the near future.)

Those of you here at that time remember what a wonderful time it was! Littlefield was booming, with an estimated population of over 16,000. The stores were full, and almost every building was occupied. Saturdays "you couldn’t stir ‘em with a stick!"

The Golden Jubilee Celebration ran from June 30^th to July 6^th, 1963. The local merchants joined together for "Old Fashioned Bargain Days" featuring many 1913 prices. There was a square dance in front of the Court House, with dancers from all over Texas. There was a Queen’s Coronation Ball at the Municipal Airport Hangar, and a cake cutting ceremony. We even had a Pony Express Ride from Farwell, New Mexico. There was a big "Golden Jubilee" parade on the 3^rd, and an Independence Day Parade on the 4^th. The Wildcat band gave a concert later, and the director at that time was "Prof" Don Hayes.

Friday, July 5^th, was designated "Good Neighbor Day". There was a concert by the Amarillo Air Force Band, followed by the "Kangaroo Court", which was a preliminary beard judging. I don’t remember the rules of the beard growing contest, but I do remember any man not growing a beard had to purchase a permit and keep it with him at all times. Otherwise, he was thrown in "jail", and friends or relatives had to "buy" his freedom. There was a "Jubilee Bells" style show, and a kiddy parade.

On Saturday, July 6^th, a time capsule was buried in front of the City Hall, which was to be opened in 1988. Then the final judging and awards were conducted for the "Brothers of the Brush" beard growing contest.

There were wonderful events daily, but the most exciting (and work intensive) was the play written especially for the occasion, called "XIT To Industry". Paul T. Haagen of Fostoria, Ohio produced and wrote the play. I don’t know how many "characters" there were in the play, but I can tell you that it seemed almost everyone in Littlefield helped in some way. The football stadium was full all 4 nights.

There were 15 "episodes" and a Grand Finale. The most exciting thing I remember was the fire works – not just because they were fire works, but because the last night a rocket went off right into the trailer that housed the rest of the fireworks. That was pretty exciting, to say the least!!

The president of the Littlefield Golden Anniversary Association was Sidney C. Hopping. The Chamber of Commerce President was Troy Armes, and the Mayor was B. W. Armistead. Our City Council consisted of John Alford, Paul McCormick, H. C. Randall, James Shotwell, B. W. Armistead, and City Manager J. W. Harrison. We had a City Planning Commission, whose members were Albert Perkins (Chairman), Paul Carmickle, Allen Hodges, and David Keithley.

We even had a Board of City Development then. They were: Nelson Naylor (President), Joe Wilson, H. A. Mitchell, Jerry Sanders, Lenton Smith, Ralph Nelson, Otis Bennett, David Penn, and Mrs. T. L. Dunlap. (At that time ladies were referred to in print only by their married name unless they were single. Then it was always "Miss".) The mayor had an Economy Council, too. They were Jerry Sanders (Chairman), O. J. Mangum, Ray Keeling, Bob Manley, J. E. Chisholm, Joe Wilson, and James Lee.

The 1963 Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors consisted of Jack Wicker, Don Bell, Kenneth Reast, Kenneth Ware, James Lee, Jerry Sanders, Troy Armes, Ray Keeling, C. W. Conway, Otis Bennett, Gene Garrison, Jim Mangum, and Arnold Neumann.

Letters of greeting were included in the book from Sidney C. Hopping, Troy Armes, and B. W. Armistead. What’s really neat were the other letters from people like George Mahon, Preston Smith, Lyndon B. Johnson (Vice-President at the time), Waggoner Carr, and John Connally (then Governor of Texas).