Veterans get derrick for park

By LESTER MURRAYnews2@kilgorenewsherald.com

A new addition was made to Harris Street Park Friday with a lot of help and generosity for the Kilgore Veterans Monument Organization.

John Edney, head of the Kilgore Veterans Monument organization, asked Rick Huey, Lufkin Automation if he knew of anyone with a small derrick to donate to be placed at the Kilgore Veteran’s Monument.

Huey said he made a few calls and located a 30-foot derrick at EOG Resources in Longview. Rick Schatz and Ken Byrd at EOG donated the derrick to the Veterans organization.

Lufkin Industries then took over the project. Kip Stansell with Lufkin Services, his crew and all the equipment to transport and erect the derrick were donated by Lufkin.

Charles Miller laid the base for the derrick and everything was ready to go on Friday when Lufkin’s crew arrived with the derrick. In less then an hour the crew had the derrick in place.

Edney said the derrick will need some minor cosmetic repairs and a new coat of paint prior to the dedication. “I just want to thank everyone involved,” said Edney. “Not only EOG and Lufkin, but the Longview and Kilgore police departments for their coordination in the moving of the derrick from Longview to Kilgore, the Kilgore Cable Co. and of course Charles Miller.”

Edney said the derrick will get a star on top and be lighted. “We also just put new sod in the area of the monument which will be easier to keep maintained,” said Edney. They also are installing a surface-mounted star which will be visible from Harris Street.