Hood County News from Granbury, Texas • Page 1

How bout it? Howard My neighbor Woodie says: "God gave you two ends one to sit on and the other to think with. Success depends on which end you use most!" Howard Clemmons More than a newspaper, a Hood County legeqd since 1886 Published Wednesday and Saturday Granbury, Texas 76048 Saturday, June 13, 1992 50c I.i.'nlff istonc house at old colieee bums Fire officials suspect lightning sparked blaze Historical Society chairwoman Mary Saltarelli. "I think it's a big loss to the county's heritage," she stated. The history of Clark House and Add-Ran College began in 1855 when Army of the Republic of Texas veteran Pleasant Thorp brought property there. The Virginia pioneer had first visited Hood County in January 1841 with an army expedition hunting marauding Indians.

Thorp named the resulting town and a nearby spring of strong sulfur water after himself. Years later, Thorp convinced 29-year-old Randolph Clark to leave Fort Worth's Male and Female Seminary and start a new college in Thorp Spring. Thorp built a sturdy 2 12 story stone house as one of the college's buildings. It later became known as Clark House. Randolph Clark became vice president of Add-Ran College.

Randolph Clark's brother served as president, while Clark's father was the college's business manager. by LELAND DEBUSK Assistant Editor A landmark Hood County house that played a prominent role in the history of Texas Christian University was destroyed by fire late Wednesday night. Firefighters theorized that lightning may have triggered the spectacular 11 p.m. blaze that leveled the 1870s-era Clark House in Thorp Spring just off FM Road 4 North. Clark House was built in the 1870s as part of the old Add-Ran College five miles north of Granbury.

Add-Ran College later became Fort Worth's Texas Christian University. Clark House, still in good condition, had last been used eight years ago. The fire was still under investigation at presstime, but fire officials believe the blaze was sparked by lightning from a powerful thunderstorm that roared through Hood County Wednesday evening. Though it was not storming at the time of Wednesday night's fire, officials believed the lightning started a smoldering fire that later flared up. Wednesday 's fire was so intense that its heat could be felt hundreds of feet away.

Granbury Fire Chief Jerry Campbell stated firefighters poured 15,000 gallons of water on the flames, but still failed to completely douse the fire. Hood County historical buffs mourned the destruction of the stately 2 12-story home that played a prominent role in area history. "I think we lost a really important historical site," said Hood County HCN PhMatl tland Ifelvk i fit Enrollment at Add-Ran reached iA hCfcf Inferno 11 201 in the 1876-77 school year, with enrollment peaking at 445 in 1893. Financial troubles led the CI arks to surrender ownership of the college to the Church of Christ in 1893. Add-Ran College moved to Waco in 1896, later changing its name to Texas Christian University.

After a fire at the Waco school in 1910, the college moved to Fort Worth, where it has been ever since. Clark House and the original Add-Ran college location continued to serve for a series of Christian Above, historic 1870s-era Clark House was destroyed Wednesday in a spectacular 11 p.m. fire in Thorp Spring north of Granbury on FM Road 4 North. Firemen believe the fire was ignited by lightning from a powerful thunderstorm Wednesday. The fire apparently smoldered for several hours before flaring up, they theorized.

Clark House was built in the 1870s as part of the old Add-Ran College campus in Thorp Spring. Add-Ran, later known as Texas Christian University, eventually moved to Fort Worth. Clark House, still in good condition, was last occupied in September 1984. Left is a 1988 photo of Clark House. i I 1 4 (Please see FIRE, P.2A) HCN PlHtoUlaii4 DcBuk Dan Wright Catches Th Country Spirit OooLches idded Leach eyes fulltime AD duties Brutal murders stay unsolved; tips continue Hood County News 106th Year Number 82 Inside: Births- 4B Bulletin Board 5B Church Increasing number of athletes sparks changes in coaching staff.

by ROGER ENLOW Editor A proposal by Granbury Pirate head football coach Randy Leach moves him out of coaching and into the role of a fulltime Granbury High by LELAND DEBUSK Assistant Editor This weekend marks the anniversaries of two unsolved brutal murders in Hood County. Today (Saturday) is the sixth anniversary of one of the most brutal slayings ever recorded in Hood County -the stabbing death of Port RidgleaEastresident Dorothy "Dot" Sanders, Sunday marks the fifth ry of the abduction and drowning of Granbury convenience store clerk Bonnie Barber. Investigators have had strong suspects in the cases for years, but' say they have never obtained enough evidence tomake an arrest. Officers are still hoping to crack the cases someday. AD duties require about 90 percent of his time, but Leach said his goal is to be an athletic director.

Granbury may move up to Class 5A in two years, and several Class 5A schools have fulltime athletic directors. Leach's proposal approve the board addresses three thinfc school coaches will work closer with middle school athletes, the hiring of more coaches will reduce the athletecoach ratio and head varsity coaches will not have to overlap into other sports. School officials want more coordination between the high school and middle school athletic programs. Under the new assignments, varsity basketball coaches Sieve Locke and Leta Andrews, football assistants Jay McWilliams and Shay Nanny, and volleyball coach Fran Dunson will work at the middle school one period each day. This past year only one coach instructed every 57 middle school athletes.

(In seventh-grade football, only two coaches Instructed 128 (Please see COACH, P.2A) Classified 8B-11B Lifestyles 1B-4B Obituaries 3B Real Estate 6B-7B School 8A-9A Sports 10A-12A Weather DAY AM PM RAIN Monday 71 96 0 Tuesday 70 96 0 Wednesday 70 S3 1.20 1992 rainfall to elite: 20.55 in. 1991 rainfall to dsie: 19,60 in. Forecast: Cloudy, thunderstorms through Monday. res in 7U's rt night to t'O's in day. Headings take i by wc.er or Qviinn at 7 a.m.

17 p.m. fiter 21 i -s: 2t The brutal slaying shocked the lakeside development off County Road 303-A near Acton. No one has been charged in the case, but a former Granbury man has been a strong suspect for several years. The man has never been arrested because officers have been unable to uncover enough evidence to charge him, investigators say. The suspect, a repairman, was reportedly seen in the neighborhood the morning of the slaying, said district attorney's office investigator Ronnie Blasingame.

The suspect also failed a polygraph test in connection with Sanders' murder, but officers failed to turn up any corroborating evidence, he stated. The suspect now lives in Louisiana, said Blasingame. Another twist in the Sanders case came in April 1991 when officers received a Crime Stoppers tip, said sheriff's department investigator Ronnie Pace. The tip pointed out that on the day of Sanders' murder, a 1980 (Please see MURDERS, P.2A) School athletic director. Leach now fills the role of both head coach and athletic director.

Leach's proposal was part of a plan presented to the school board Tuesday night that increases the number of coaches and reorganizes the coaches' duties. Leach's request about giving up his coaching duties was not discussed, and he is expected to remain the head coach this coming season. Increased participation in Granbury athletics has caused the need for additional coaches, school officials said. The board voted 6-1 to hire three more coachesan assistant boys basketball coach, an assistant girls basketball coach and an assistant girls soccer coach. Leach saidffie increased staff will make Granbury comparable to other schools in the district Also included in the additional personnel proposal were three teachers-Englishreading, health and social studies.

The extra teachers are needed to meet the enrollment growth. The six additional personnel will add about $160,000 to the budget. The assistant boys basketball coach will help in the off-season where up to SO players have been participating. The assistant girls coach replaces the freshman girls basketball coach who is taking over the tennis job. The assistant soccer coach will help with the increasing number of soccer players, enabling the girls to field a junior team.

Leach, already planning to coach the Pirate football team this fall, said the' coachAD issue might be addressed next year before the start' of the 1993 campaign. He said the Dorothy "Dot" Sanders On Friday, June 13. 1986, Sanders was found dead by her husband at their home on Elmwood Drive in Port Ridglea East. She had been stabbed 1 10 times. Master of ccrcrrior.ics i'l to Torn I 'i Hafford.

A falent show iva- Shanley seniors 'yll-1 CIS t' 3 S. Orr will imitate Dolly Parton, Edgcrton will dance ilie waltz, Morris will dance. will mimic Carol Burneit, and Click will sins. on tzp are cntertainnicr.t numbers. They inducte Cono Ibe dsnccrs, Jo Walker 2 Mcxicanht dance, Glean I VT-.

slr.zlv.z anJ SLa Get ready to be entertained! Shsnley House participants will compete for the crown during the senior citizens aiinuul QuccnContt c.i Wednesday night. Action heats st 7 p.m. at Use Granbury Opera IIose. Cot arc Girlie Orr, Mary Jc-iic igris, Ri.h and Dcds CUk. ex; i.

i compliitors will follow contest. Acts Hry VJ.i i Dal StricWl, i pcrforrr.irj a Joanna Dur.n Dnrct Lc 1 'i a ict; I ul i I -y 1 1: i.i a Lt, il i s. compete ror crowning glory.