Ozona History

November 15, 1934
Funeral services were conducted here at 4 o’clock Monday afternoon for W. Tom Brown, 66, truck farmer and filling station operator on Live Oak Creek at the western edge of Crockett County, who was clawed and bitten to death by his pet bear near his home Sunday afternoon. His chest crushed, arms and legs badly mangled and his body a mass of deep claw and tooth marks. Mr. Brown died within a few minutes after being rescued from the enraged animal. The bear, given to Mr. Brown several years ago by Rocye Brownriggs of Ozona, who captured him as a cub and kept him for a time, had slipped his chain.

November 16, 1944
With the approach of the trapping season, a warning was issued this week by the Crockett County War Price and Rationing Board against the use of cars or pickups in trapping or headlighting for fur-bearing animals. John R. Bailey, chairman of the- board, issued a statement following a conference of the board, in which he declared that stringent penalties might be invoked against ranchmen and others who are known to be guilty of such illegal use of cars, pick-ups or trucks. “Use of cars or pick-ups in headlighting is an unauthorized use of rationed tires and gasoline,” the board chairman said.

November 11, 1954
Another tired veteran of the Ozona Fire Department is soon to be retired. The fire department was given the go-ahead by the Commissioners Court this week to purchase and equip a new fire truck for use in fighting both town fires and grass fires in the country, and appropriated $8,800 to pay for the equipment. The new truck will replace the ancient Dodge, estimated of 1933 or 1934 vintage, whose motor, pump and chassis have begun to show the effects of over 20 years of batting about snuffing out stubborn grass fires or clanking out its water load to conquer town fires.

November 12, 1964
Hugh Coates, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Coates, and Diana Couch, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Couch, have been named 1964 4-H Gold Star winners for Crockett County. The Gold Star award is the highest county 4-H award made available by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service and state 4-H Club office at Texas A & M University. Hugh is a senior in Ozona High School and has been a 4-H member for six years. He has fed commercial fat lambs, show lambs and quarter horses for the county and major shows and has been very active in 4-H judging work the past three years. Diana Couch is a senior in Ozona High School and has been a 4-H member for six years. She has fed commercial fat lambs for six years and one registered heifer which she showed to the grand championship in the county 4-H 11 livestock show in 1963.