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“The City of Tool Volunteer Fire Department would like to say THANK YOU to the Eustace Volunteer Fire Department for donating 40 cases of water to the fire department to help take care of the fire fighters in this summer heat. Left to Right is City of Tool Fire Fighter Donald Gordon, Chief of City of Tool Shaun Williams, Eustace Chief Chris Anthony, and Eustace Assistant Chief Eddie Anthony.”
((Found on the Eustace Fire Department FB page))
At the December meeting of the Henderson County Retired School Professionals, members enjoyed a wonderful Christmas program presented by the Athens High School Show Choir led by Kern Railsback. After a Christmas luncheon the choir sang Christmas songs and led the group in some old favorites. The Christmas spirit was shared by all.
The TVEC Charitable Foundation has awarded a grant in the amount of $3,000 to the Athens Public Education Foundation (APEF). The grant was awarded Friday, Jan. 3.
Pictured are, from left, Sarah Grey and Colin Barrett of APEF; Kari Wilmeth, TVEC; and John Trent, APEF.
The Athens Public Education Foundation is a non-profit corporation that supports educational opportunities for students in the Athens Independent School District. The goal is to involve the community in building a strong public school system that delivers quality education to the leaders and workers of tomorrow.
The TVEC Charitable Foundation is funded by donations from Operation Round Up. Operation Round Up is a voluntary program that allows TVEC members to round up their monthly electric bills to the next whole dollar amount. The portion that is rounded up goes to the TVEC Charitable Foundation and may be used to award grant requests to local charitable organizations.
Howard Burton “Slick” Alfred, 80, of Athens, passed away, Jan. 2, 2014, in Tyler. He was born Nov. 23, 1933, in Tyler, the youngest child of Ross and Elizabeth Burton Alfred.
Known as H.B. “Slick” Alfred, he spent 42 years in law-enforcement, first as a Texas Highway Patrolman, then as a Texas Ranger, and finally as Sheriff of Henderson County, from 1988 through 2000.
He graduated from Tyler High School in 1951 and served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. Soon after, he joined the Texas Department of Public Safety and later the Texas Rangers, first stationed in Dallas and coming to Athens in 1976. As a Ranger, he served Henderson, Freestone, and Navarro counties.
With his first wife Iva Jones Alfred, Slick had four children, two of whom survive: Janet Alfred Feltman and her husband Billy of Lufkin and Julia Alfred Dotson and her husband Bobby of Jacksonville. Preceding him in death were two sons, Phillip Wayne Alfred and David Howard Alfred. In addition to his parents, Slick is also preceded by his sisters, Betty Marie Lee and Patsy Bryans, and his brother William Ross Alfred.
Slick was married in May of 1979 to Mary Alice Insley Harrup who survives. Three step-children also survive: Mary Webb, her husband Gary, of Charleston, S. C.; Paul Harrup III of McKinney, TX ; and Angus Harrup and his wife Tinika, of Highland Village, TX.
Slick is survived by seven dearly-loved grandchildren: Carrie Lynn Glaze, Casie G. Matthews (John), Chelsie G. Page (Eric), Alicia D. Ferguson (Dan), Kyle Dotson, Aaron Alfred (Tara), and Candace A. Donnell (Damon), step-grandchildren Ian and Ava Harrup, and 11 great-grandchildren.
Slick was fond of nieces and nephews Sharon Miller, Karen Lee, Jeff Lee, Melissa Hughes, Mark Alfred, and Gary Alfred.
Slick loved his law-enforcement friends, many of whom gathered with him regularly at the Old West Steak House, and he loved fishing with his special friend and neighbor, the late Ginger Murchison.
A private burial will take place at Bascom Cemetery in Smith County on Saturday, Jan. 4, led by an Honor Guard of Texas Rangers.
A memorial service will be held on Monday, Jan. 6 at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Rebecca Love and Rev. Dr. Joe Warren officiating. A reception for friends and family will follow in the Activities Building.
Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 911, Athens, 75751 or Henderson County Food Pantry, P.O. Box 2061, Athens, 75751.
The Henderson County Fire Marshal’s Office reported the following statistics for the month of December on its Facebook page.
“As you can see, our grass fires almost tripled so please be aware of the dead and dry grass around your properties during any burning activities,” the post reads.