Small Town News Item

When I was 6 years old, the town I lived in had a population of about 900 people. That's a small town.

Today, I live in a COUNTY with just over 15,000 people. We have two red lights, one at the intersection of two US highways and the second in front of the county high school. The county seat has 1001 people, as of the 2020 census.
Where I grew up in New Mexico that would be considered a major metropolitan city. Our village was so small that they had "Goodbye" painted on back of the "Welcome" sign
 
When I was 6 years old, the town I lived in had a population of about 900 people. That's a small town.

Today, I live in a COUNTY with just over 15,000 people. We have two red lights, one at the intersection of two US highways and the second in front of the county high school. The county seat has 1001 people, as of the 2020 census.
Our County also has two red lights on the North end and a flashing light on the opposite end of the county.
 
You seem to have a great local newspaper there. Here every local story is confusingly written, grammatically incorrect, and sorely lacking in details. Our local rag is owned by a group that owns several Texas newspapers.
Ours is the same. Twice we got mad aand cenceled, sat at the table every morning and just looked at each other because there was no paper to read. Turned on the TV and got mad again and renewed the newspaper. I dunno
 
I've been to Denton, looking for the next Miss America.
Yep, you weren't wrong. Denton was once Miss America Central, thanks to the coeds of North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas). In 1971, a North Texas State student, Phyllis George, became Miss America. She had a long career on CBS Sports, and eventually became the First Lady of Kentucky.

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Four years later, another North Texas State student, Shirley Cothran, became Miss America.

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Two years later, in 1977, North Texas State student Carmen McCollum finished as second runner-up in the Miss America competition. Johnny Carson was so annoyed that Carmen hadn't won, he invited her to appear on The Tonight Show instead of the actual winner.

miss-20texas-201976-20-20carmen-20mccollum-orig_orig.jpg


Johnny Carson was right. I was Carmen's undergraduate advisor at North Texas, and I can tell you that the above photo doesn't begin to do her justice. She came to my office dressed and made up just like any other female student of that time, but she was so stunning, it was difficult to concentrate on making out her degree plan. She also played a mean saxophone. She should have won!

During that period, Playboy magazine (which I only read for the articles, of course) once listed North Texas State as a Top Party School. The capsule description they used to describe a typical coed was "A divorced Miss America". That was a pretty accurate description in those days.
 
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A very small town near my second home in Kinney County Texas still publishes a weekly newspaper as it is both the county seat and the only town in the county. It is usually about six pages, all local news. Mainly about goings on at the high school and Sheriff’s reports, also fires, weddings, accidents, and deaths. Otherwise it’s just advertising for the few local businesses including a Dollar Tree, a Dollar General, a small supermarket, three restaurants, one gas station, a tire shop, a liquor store, and two hardware stores. That’s pretty much all that’s there. No doctor, dentist, vet, hospital, or drugstore. Need to drive to Del Rio for those.
 
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Yep, you weren't wrong. Denton was once Miss America Central, thanks to the coeds of North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas). In 1971, a North Texas State student, Phyllis George, became Miss America. She had a long career on CBS Sports, and eventually became the First Lady of Kentucky.

5c0af164b424e.image.jpg


Four years later, another North Texas State student, Shirley Cothran, became Miss America.

1c0d1659f80c774771f321bec4526451--old-fort-fort-worth-texas.jpg


Two years later, in 1977, North Texas State student Carmen McCollum finished as second runner-up in the Miss America competition. Johnny Carson was so annoyed that Carmen hadn't won, he invited her to appear on The Tonight Show instead of the actual winner.

miss-20texas-201976-20-20carmen-20mccollum-orig_orig.jpg


Johnny Carson was right. I was Carmen's undergraduate advisor at North Texas, and I can tell you that the above photo doesn't begin to do her justice. She came to my office dressed and made up just like any other female student of that time, but she was so stunning, it was difficult to concentrate on making out her degree plan. She also played a mean saxophone. She should have won!

During that period, Playboy magazine (which I only read for the articles, of course) once listed North Texas State as a Top Party School. The capsule description they used to describe a typical coed was "A divorced Miss America". That was a pretty accurate description in those days.
Texas Women’s University is also located in Denton. For a long time it was a woman-only university, but back over 30 years ago it went Co-Ed. I once had a male employee who graduated from there. Not sure I would like my diploma to say Texas Woman’s University. My old boss, Eddie Chiles, was once on the Board of Regents of North Texas State University, now UNT. He was also the then-owner of the Texas Rangers baseball team. I had use of his luxury box at the Arlington Stadium if it wasn’t otherwise occupied. I never once used it, which shows my level of interest in baseball, then or now.
 
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Texas Women’s University is also located in Denton. For a long time it was a woman-only university, but back over 30 years ago it went Co-Ed. I once had a male employee who graduated from there. Not sure I would like my diploma to say Texas Woman’s University. My old boss, Eddie Chiles, was once on the Board of Regents of North Texas State University, now UNT. He was also the then-owner of the Texas Rangers baseball team. I had use of his luxury box at the Arlington Stadium if it wasn’t otherwise occupied. I never once used it, which shows my level of interest in baseball, then or now.

I wonder how many folks remember, "I'm Eddie Chiles, and I'm mad as hell." "I'm mad too, Eddie?" or "If you don't have an oil well, get one."
 

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