Newstory:  1973 Cemetery Marker Dedication

Contributed by Brenda Scott Hines
January 2011
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The Robert Lee Observer, Coke County, TX - 1973

1973 Cemetery Marker Dedication

	Dedication ceremonies for the Official Texas Historical Marker 
for Robert Lee Cemetery were held Sunday 2 p.m. in the Robert Lee High 
School Auditorium.  A large crowd attended with 85 persons registering.

The marker was sponsored jointly by the Coke County Historical Survey 
Committee and the Hayrick Masonic Lodge No.696.  The Robert Lee Chapter 
No. 187, Order of the Eastern Star, donated $100 toward payment of 
the marker.

The cemetery is owned by the Hayrick Lodge, which acquired the land 
for $1.00 from L. B. Harris and members of the Cartledge family and was 
formally established in 1891.

Robert Lee High School Band, under the direction of George Strickland, 
presented patriotic music as people assembled for the program and after 
the ceremonies as the audience gathered in the cafeteria for refreshments.
 
Supt. Jimmy Bickley was master of ceremonies.  The invocation was given 
by the Rev. Roy Epperson, pastor of the Robert Lee Baptist Church.  The 
colors were presented by Shell Williams, Randy Bessent and Walter Flowers 
of Boy Scout Troop No. 461 as the band played the National Anthem.  They 
also led the audience in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
 
With Mrs. Wilson Bryan at the piano and George Strickland leading, the 
audience sang "America."

Mayor S. E. Adams gave the welcome, and Mrs. Bryan Yarbrough, chairman of 
the Coke County Historical Survey Committee, introduced special guests.

J. T. Henry of Bronte, past District Deputy Grand Master, 77th Masonic 
District, gave the history of the Hayrick lodge which was organized 
Dec. 11, 1890 at Hayrick.
 
C. R. (Butch) Service, Master of the Hayrick Lodge, introduced the Hon. 
Thomas C. Yantis of Brownwood, Grand Senior Warden of the Grand Lodge 
of Texas, who was the featured speaker for the occasion.

F. C. Clark and C. S. Brown, 50 year members of the lodge, unveiled the 
marker.  The marker is to be erected at the cemetery with a base including 
fine Masonic square and compass symbol.  L. B. Menielle of San Angelo, a 
member of Hayrick Lodge, read the inscription, which follows:

                     ROBERT LEE CEMETERY

Established in 1891, two years after the founding of the City of Robert 
Lee, Texas.  Developers L. B. Harris and Eugene Cartledge, as president 
and secretary off the Austin & Northern Land & Cattle Company, on Sept. 
29, 1892, sold for $1.00 this 11.7 acre burial ground.  Already site of 
several graves, it was deeded to Hayrick Lodge No. 696, A. F. & A. M. for 
"sole use as cemetery grounds for the members, relatives, and friends."  
Later it was named by the lodge.
 
Buried here are 34 Civil War veterans, as well as solders of later wars 
and members of many of the families in Robert Lee.
 
                             1973

The cost of the material and labor for erecting the concrete triangle and 
the square and compass built out of tile, was donated by Mr. and Mrs. 
Menielle.  Menielle, who is also chairman of the Cemetery Association, 
recognized the Cemetery Association members.
 
Elton T. Mims of Water Valley, vice chairman of the Coke County Historical 
Survey Committee, made a short talk in memory of the late Hawley C. Allen.  
Mr. Allen was a 60 year member of the Masonic Lodge and a well known law 
enforcement officer.  Mims said "he was the Grand Old man of Coke County."  
Mims also gave the benediction.

County Historical Survey Committees were represented from Coke, Runnels and 
Tom Green Counties.

Towns represented were Austin, Brownwood, San Angelo, Carlsbad, Water Valley, 
Winters, Abilene, Silver, Bronte and Robert Lee. 

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in the Coke County TXGenWeb and/or the Coke County Archives of the USGenWeb.

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