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2014-1 Remembrances Special Edition1 City of Schertz Remembrances Publication Special Edition 2014-1 Presented by: Schertz Historical Preservation Committee Schertz in the 1960s – A Turning Point The decade of the 1960s was a significant turning point in what might be called the “cultural fabric of American life”. Events began to occur that changed the tranquil and peaceful life of the 1950s to a rapidly changing and emotionally challenging period. Social unrest among American youth led to racial equality demonstrations/riots, the hippie movement, draft dodgers, and the women’s liberation movement. Violence in the form of assassinations (President Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X), war protests, and a soaring crime rate (nine times that of the 1950s) brought about a sense of unease in the American spirit. A counterculture in music (acid/psychedelic rock) and introduction of an American drug culture widened the rift in what was to be called the American “Generation Gap”. Closer to home, life in the City of Schertz, Texas at the beginning of the 1960s was beginning with a new leader at the helm. By a margin of just 12 votes, Doctor (Dentist) Roy W. Richard had been elected the City of Schertz second city Mayor, replacing Schertz State Bank owner H. P. Tuleymeyer. Dr. Richard’s mayoral term lasted throughout the 1960s (replaced in 1972). His mayoral tenure was the second longest (tied with Earl Sawyer at 12 years) behind Mayor Hal Baldwin (18 years). Dr. Richard took office at what was to be a turning point for Schertz. Dr. Richard’s assessment of the City of Schertz’ historic position as the decade of the 1960s began was well stated in a speech given to representative of Randolph Air Force Base early in his term. Following a brief complimentary statement as to the importance of the Air Base in the development of the area, Dr. Richard stated the following regarding Schertz’ position at the time: Dr. Roy W. Richard “Like most towns this community started along a railroad track with a cotton gin and a dry goods store. Today, according to the 1960 Census Report we are a city of 2,867. We have 11 miles of city streets. The city was incorporated in 1958 after two previous unsuccessful attempts to do so. In December 1958 an election for a mayor, 5 alderman and a city marshal were elected…We are serviced by the following utility companies: Valley Electrical Co-op, Inc. Gonzales, Texas; Utility Gas Co.; Schertz Water Works Incorporated; and, Western Bell Telephone Co. … We have a volunteer fire department which started on a subscription basis of $25.00 per house or unit… Fritz Rusch is the City Fire Marshall and we find him very capable. Archie Woodward who recently retired from Randolph Air Force Base is the fire department (volunteer) chief. Under the tutorage of these two well trained men we have mustered a force of some 20 volunteer firemen to serve our city… The city council room is located in the fire house. Very soon we expect to have a large elevated siren installed at the fire house to supplement our telephone alert system. Eventually, we hope to obtain a second pumper truck. A chamber of commerce was started approximately two years ago and recently they obtained a 2 charter from the State of Texas…. The chamber of commerce is a sponsor of the Civil Air Patrol at Randolph and also recently had the street markers repainted in the City of Schertz. Author Seiler is Chamber President at this time. The V.F. W. and the Lions Club (Converse, Schertz, Cibolo) are hard working organizations who contribute greatly to this area. Our school system (the Schertz, Cibolo Common School District) is State accredited. Sixty percent, maybe even as high as seventy-five percent of our property owners are either active Air Force personnel or civilian employees of this base. We feel this is the key to our future growth. By location we are near the commissary and Brooks General Hospital which is certainly attractive to retired personnel. Active personnel and civilian employees find Schertz near to duty or work. What is in the future for Schertz? Our road block to growth at the present is a sewer system. A preliminary survey has been made by a qualified engineer to determine the cost of this project. His estimated cost for a modern sanitary sewage system and disposal plant was approximately $300,000. This $300,000 is our problem. Our tax assessments at present are $1,250,000 which gives us roughly $12,500 tax money so you can readily see we could never finance a sewer system under the present evaluations. The City council is at present studying the tax roll trying to determine what adjustments need to be made where by we might be able to undertake this project… In the very near future we hope to have garbage collection, dog pond, and street lights. Probably more distant are curbs, side walks, streets paved from curb to curb, city park, children’s play ground, municipal creed, storm sewers for more complete and proper drainage, and maybe even a jail house.” No doubt, the city leaders had their work cut out for themselves if Schertz was to develop into a modern suburban city that could support a growing urban population. There were 16 Aldermen (City Councilmen) and a City Attorney who partnered with Mayor Richard during the decade including: Elgin Beck, George P. Bolton, A.O. Haverloh, W. E. Ebert, Walter A. Schertz, R.R. Cosby, Ralph R. Ikels, Robert B. Stedman, Raymond G. Koym, Malford Koch, Ottomer Schertz, Clifford Rowell, Samuel R. Perryman, Edgar T. Marx, Leonard Kazben, Jimmie V. Dunham and City Attorney Louis Saegert. . The decade began with the city being in its second year of incorporation. The 1960 population was 2,281and grew to 4,061 by 1970. The size of the city, in geographic terms, was less than one-half of what it was to become by the end of the decade (see decennial census population maps below). The early 1960s 1.2 million dollar tax assessment estimate of Mayor Richard had increased to 2.9 million by May 1965 and 4.9 million for tax year 1969 while the property tax assessment remained at $1.00 per $100.00 throughout the period. 3 The 1960s was a decade that secured the foundation for what was to follow in terms of Schertz growth and prosperity. Like the nation, Schertz faced significant challenges. The city’s most pressing concern, as noted above by Mayor Richard, was the need for development of a city sanitary sewer system. Work on that initiative had begun in October 1959 when then Mayor Thulemeyer was directed by City Council to enter into a contract for survey and planning for such a system. The answer as to how to pay for such a system came in November 1961 when City Council approved the submission to voters of a $315,000.00 bond package. On December 16, 1961, the bond proposal was approved by voters. The sale of bonds was authorized in September 1962. It wasn’t until October 1968 that bids were opened and contractors selected for supplying pumps, supply lines and a storage tanks for this most important utility project. Another essential element of future growth for the community was its water supply. The city was then dependent for water from two wells and pump stations owned by the Schertz Water Works Corp. (Walter A. Schertz, President). In November 1962, City Council passed a resolution allowing submission of a $100,000.00 bond package to the voters that would finance the purchase of the Schertz Water Works Corp. The voters passed the bond Dr. Richard at Cibolo Creek Bridge package and the sale eventually went through. The City of Schertz opening added a third well and pumping station that secured water for the city into the future. On September 7, 1961, City Council voted unanimously to grant United Gas Corp. a 25 year franchise to provide gas services to the community. In July 1963, the Council voted to purchase the existing electrical distribution system and/or construct a new distribution system. That same month a vote by Council to either build a by-pass around the city or to widen FM 78 resulted in a favorable vote (3 to 2) to widen the highway. Utility and transportation needs were being addressed. Having succeeded twice, the City brought yet another general obligation bond package before voters on January 11, 1964 for street improvements. The voters rejected that proposal. At its February 6, 1964 meeting, City Council voted to pursue an urban renewal plan and to establish a City Planning Commission to advise Council regarding matters affecting the operation and development of the City. By year’s end the Commission had become known as the Buffalo Valley Renewal Project of Schertz and would lead the urban renewal project that was about to come into existence. A master development plan to include land use, street and thoroughfare development, community facilities and public improvements began to be considered. By late 1965, a Board of Commissioners had been formed to pursue the urban renewal project and Walter A. Schertz was selected as Chairman. Urban renewal planning and implementation continued throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s, eventually producing better housing, better streets, a community center, a city park with pavilions, and a new city hall. Starting from scratch as the 60s began; the City Council had much in the way of ordinances to develop. They began with the development of a fire prevention code (Jan. 1960), followed by an electrical ordinance (Feb. 1961) and several other ordinances that followed thereafter dealing 4 with matters such as: civil defense, train speed, court costs, weed control, garbage collection, water and sewer service line installation, traffic regulation, zoning and building codes, plumbing, fire prevention, appeals boards and defined fire districts, etc.. There were a couple of what might be considered “silly” ordinances by today’s standards, such as: Ordinance No. 86, passed April 4, 1963, that made it “unlawful to allow the running at large of horses, mules, asses, hogs, goats, cows or other domestic animals or fowls within the corporation limits of the City of Schertz” and/or Ordinance No. 187, passed in May 1969 that prohibited personal dispensing of garage or service station gasoline except by the garage or service station owner or his employee under penalty of a fine between $1 to $100. (no self-service). Proposals for public low income housing and industrial park development were approved by City Council in late 1968 (October) and mid-year 1969 (August), respectively. Annexation petitions began appearing and receiving approval as the sanitary sewer and water projects progressed. New communities were being added to the City such as Westland Park, Village I, II & III, Greenfield Village #1 and Lone Oak. Several individual property owners were petitioning to have their properties annexed so as to benefit from water and sewer amenities. Mayor Richard and his colleges worked diligently throughout 1960 to set the groundwork that allowed the Schertz community to grow and prosper in subsequent decades. This story of Mayor Richard and his colleges is the story of key events that have brought Schertz to its present position. Knowing the history of our community provides the citizenry with a sense of pride and honor that comes from knowing better the sacrifices of men and women who made that history. The Schertz Historical Preservation Committee salutes these leaders and remembers their contributions with much gratitude.