KILGOROUND
LINDA BALLARD

"My inlaws came here during the oil boom," she said. "There were no concrete streets and places to live were hard to find. They opened a store on Commerce Street and lived upstairs in an apartment that had been turned into very nice living quarters," said Florence Abram Waldman. The store was named Fair Store and the owners were Joe and Clara Waldman.

"I moved to Kilgore in 1948," she continued. "No one will ever really know what Kilgore was like unless they drove in on Highway 80 from Louisiana and saw the derricks lining the roads. I could not believe the (oilfield) refineries and how someone had actually designed, built and had them working!"

"My first paying job in Kilgore was teaching. Nathan Waldman owned a shoe store at the time. He sold it and worked with his parents in Fair Store. We married in 1951 and have been in Kilgore ever since." In 1952, Florence quit teaching to begin raising a family.

Nathan loved to work

with material in the store. After his parents retired, Nathan moved the store to Main Street where it was then named the Famous Fabric Shop. The sales ladies, Ada Findley, Myrtle Smith and Bertie May Webb who originally worked for his parents came with him to the new store. They retired Nathan when decided to retire.

The Waldmans opened two other Famous Fabric Shops, one in Henderson and one in Longview. Florence would work the cash register and help out during special sales. "During one particular sale, I answered the phone to hear this voice, say, 'Mrs. Waldman?' 'Yes,' I answered. 'An explosion has occurred at the home of Bertie Webb. Her husband was inside but he is all right.' I whispered what had happened to Nathan and he told Bertie that she needed to get in the car with him and go right then. A main sewage line had been hooked up and the gas had caused the explosion, lifting the entire roof up on their house. Bertie's husband, Noah had been in bed sick when the explosion took place. He was not harmed."

After the birth of two children, and a "fifteen year vacation," Florence returned to teaching at the college. "I loved it so much," she said. "I stayed 26 years." Both of their children currently live in Plano and visit with her frequently. Florence is now 81 years of age. She still owns two of the original display tables from Fair Store.

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The Korean War Veterans Association posthumously awarded Travis Martin with the Medal of Honor, on March 25 at the Gladewater Park Cemetery. The Medal of Honor is awarded for bravery above and beyond the call of duty. The U.S. Congress passed a resolution setting March 25 as Medal of Honor Day to honor our recipients.

Milton H. Holland, an emancipated slave from Carthage was the first Texan awarded the Medal of Honor for action at Chapin Farm, VA. on September 29, 1864 for taking command of his Company after all of the officers had been killed or wounded, and gallantly led it.

Other Texans receiving the Medal of Honor include: Audie Murphy, of Hunt County, most decorated soldier of World War II; Roy Benavidez, Cuero, most recent Vietnam Medal of Honor recipient, for saving the lives of eight wounded soldiers, and, of course, James Logan of Kilgore for charging a German machine gun team protected by a rock wall with supporting infantry.

Six Medals of Honor have been awarded since Vietnam. Today, only about 130 veterans are alive who have received the Medal of Honor.

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Blowing out the candles today are Josie Atchley, Lyness Crim, J.W. Frazier, Linda Tyiska, Martha Doss, Mark Griffin, Jay Bearden, Martha Pyner, Baby Ruth Taylor, Jerry Raines, Alisha Steele, Elaine Terry, J.R. Smith, Kevin Wheeler, Ashley Miller.

Celebrating another year together today are Mr. and Mrs. David Wilson.