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Texas Club raising Knob tower funds
By: KEITH STRANGE / Staff Writer, Coalfield Progress
August 29, 2008 |
Sometime in the late
1940s or early 1950s, a small group of World War II
veterans did what many young men their age do — they stood on the
corner of Norton’s Park Avenue and 7th Street and
decided they were bored.
“We came back from the war and were sort of adrift,” one
of those men, Jack Hatcher, said during a Wednesday phone
interview from his Tennessee home. “We wanted to
have a good time, so we started having parties.”
That fateful day on the corner, the Texas Club was formed.
Called the Texas Club because all of the founding members
had served in Texas during the war, the group grew over
time.
“As time went by, we started getting married, getting
jobs and going to college, but we always kept the club
intact,” Hatcher said. “We always got together
every year or two to have a party.”
With other veterans, wives and children welcomed into
the group, the ranks soon swelled to a gathering of 150-200
people at the event. They came from around the nation
to attend the Friday-Sunday parties.
“These were good people having good, clean fun,” Hatcher
said. “There was a bond among us folks.”
And much of that bond revolved around a place many of
the group remembered well — the High Knob observation
tower.
“As we were teenagers and young men growing up
in the shadow of High Knob, we used to hike and camp
up there and it became a very special place for us,” Hatcher
said. “Our group revolved around High Knob.”
When he heard that the tower was destroyed by arson on
Halloween 2007, his heart sank.
“I just couldn’t imagine it was gone, and
the only thing I could think of for several days was
that High Knob tower must be rebuilt,” he said.
Hatcher decided to turn to those he knows best.
Wanting to do something tangible, he called on the members
of the Texas Club for donations toward the effort.
“It means so much to our members, I got the idea
that I could collect money and send it toward the rebuilding
effort.”
So far, he has sent out letters to 200 members and former
members, and has raised about $800.
With a goal of raising $2,000, he is hoping some of his
friends in Wise County will join in the effort.
He has set a Sept. 9 deadline to receive donations, and
has set up an account at his home bank in Nashville to
accept donations.
“We’re hoping that some people will remember
the club and the good times we had at High Knob and open
their hearts and wallets,” Hatcher said.
Anyone wishing to make donations can make checks payable
to The Texas Club.
Donations may be sent to Jack C. Hatcher, 2124 Fairfax
Ave., Condo 205, Nashville, Tenn. 37212. Donations received
so far range from $25-$100, but Hatcher said every penny
will help. For more information, call Hatcher at 615/383-8333.
“I want everyone to know that every penny collected
will be sent to the rebuilding effort,” he said. “That
place is so special to us that we don’t want to
take anything away from getting the tower rebuilt.”
His voice got quiet.
“To us, it was an icon that meant something,” Hatcher
said. “I don’t know whether we’ll ever
be able to have another party or not, but we can rebuild
the tower so future young men can enjoy it.” |
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