Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 29, 1977)
TEN The Gazette-Times, Heppner, Ore., Thursday, Sept. 29, 1977 Irish Navajo turns cowboy by Justine Weatherford Robert B. Henry is a real American, a full-blooded Navajo, who came here from New Mexico and the big Navajo Reservation near Four Corners. Since he has lived in Morrow County about four years, it seems like his fine red blood is getting green streaks. When he prepared for the 1977 rodeo season he invested in new chaparajos (chaps to you). What design did he choose? Well, somehow he found some marked with shamrocks. Last week he presented us with a snapshot taken at the John Day Rodeo which shows his chaps better than it shows his face. My husband Bill considers Bob a natural athlete. Bill first met Bob when he came to live on the ranch that Bill had sold and where Bob's Uncle Roger Henry was then employed. Bob rode Bill'smorning school bus to town with his "little" cousin young Roger. Robert played football with the Mustangs (formerly the Fighting Irish just like Notre Dame, but lighter and younger) that first year and often walked the 16 miles home after practice in the dark and cold as there wasno activity bus out toward Butter Creek. He hadn't yet earned nearly enough to buy the motorcycle that whizzes him around now. His Uncle Roger, now employed by the W.E. Hughes Ranches, was one of Oregon's Chemawa School's most outstanding athletes. Bob also played some basketball and baseball for Heppner High and soon joined the Rodeo Club. Unfortunately scholastic eligibility rules mowed him down, and he couldn't compete as much as he wanted to. We were very pleased that he completed his high school work last spring with the Heppner class of 1977. Robert had attended reservation schools at home and was mostly raised by beloved grandparents who spoke the old Navajo language. His English vocabulary was pretty undeveloped when he entered school here, and he found the teachers and students using words that were meaningless to him. However, he learned our lingo pretty quickly. Since he has lived in town he loves watching television which has given him lots of background that he missed some good and some not so good. Incidentally, in my opinion, the Kinzua Mill ball team is missing some really good help by not getting Robert on its roster. Of course being on the swing shift doesn't allow him soft-ball hours; but then too, playing ball could interfere with attending the weekend rodeos he loves so much. Twelve yeai sago when I was about to move to this cowboy county from the Willamette Valley, several persons bragged to me that this was an "all white" community. They didn't realize that just saying this made me think they were not truly "white-spirited." I knew that the Weatherford family, which I had been invited to join, has some good, red blood. I was proud of that, as they are. For years I'd had some very special friends with very dark skins. My own family records only go back to 1066 (the Doomesday census), but I read of several wildish ancestors and can easily hope and imagine that noj ajj. i.-n.. .z. - .-. v r rs F ' . . I. f - N - . ' v f h 7 141 i v ( j Legion The first fall meeting of Heppner American Legion Post No. 87 and Auxilliary was held Monday, Sept. 19 at the Legion Hall, beginning with a potluck dinner. Plans were reviewed for the Hunters Breakfast to be held all night, Sept. 30. Also discussed was the dues drive now under way. Department has set Nov. 11 as the date for reaching quota. District 6 Conference will be Oct. 8 at the La Grande Legion Hall, beginning with a potluck news dinner at 6:30 p.m., with the business meeting following. This is the department chair man and officers visit to our district, and an opportunity to meet them and hear them explain some of our programs. District 6 President, Evelyn Sweek, Heppner, recently in stalled officers at Athena. Going with her were Rita Hedman, past District 6 presi dent, and Martha King, secre tary of Legion Auxilliary No. 87. $5C0 REWARD For the arrest and conviction of persons who took wood-burning cook stove from Don Bennett cabin near ArLockSe corrals. 676-9771 or P.O. Box 466, Heppner, Oregon 97836 AUTOMATIC CAR VASH 1 PER VEHICLE 7M i W fr vern's zm 1 A QUALITY J55J I II I I I I I Heppner 676-5184 PRICED FAST.. ..TWO MINUTES SAFE TO YOUR CAR'S FINISH CLEAN. EVERY NOOX & CRANNY You don't even have io Robert Henry, Heppner's shamrock-chap clad Navajo Indian rides Mr. Ilixson at John Day. of them were pale-faces. It has long seemed to me that America's strength comes from the melting-pot system, from the blending of many ethnic strains. It is my hope that this county will grow by more blending. I am happy here in "New Ireland" as one ethnicity, "a social group often misleadingly referred to as a race, though not biologically differentiated", that I have always most admired is that fun-loving, fighting group called the Sons of Eire. Our friend Robert B. Henry, who wore his sham rocked chaps around the lesser rodeo circuit this year as he mounted plunging bulls and bucking broncos clearly demonstrates that no matter what color skin it comes wrapped in, the friendly, linhl.i.,,. Irish spirit will always shine through. ( Hospital Notes j County WW Post seeks new members Activity at the Pioneer Memorial Hospital from Sept. 20 through Sept. 27 included the dismissal of Ruth Van Winkle, Raymond Corwin, Andy Anderson, Clarence Warren and Gladys Beckett, all of Heppner, as well as, Cammie Papineau and Frank Robinson, Lexington, Emma Moore, Condon and Randall Allen, Noonvik, Alaska. Still hospitalized are Will iam Weatherford, Heppner; Warren Miller, Kim berly; and Isidoro Sanchez, lone. New Langue arrives Mr. and Mrs. Eric Langue, North Plains, are the parents of a daughter, Tanna Janette, 6 lbs., 14 oz., born Sept. 6. Grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Walter Langue, North Plains, and Mr. and Mrs. Pete Hams, lone. RUBBER STAMPS 676-9228 Morrow County V.F.W. Post 4184, winners of the 1976 District 8 membership trophy are doing all they can to win again this year. The bell-shaped trophy is awarded for the biggest per centage of membership in crease in the previous year. The Morrow County Post doubled its rolls last year and are trying to make it 200 per cent this time around. Thomas Blue, a spearhead in the recruiting effort, urges all veterans to join the V.F.W. now and keep that trophy here for the coming year. Ironical ly, Blue, a two-year Heppner resident, isn't eligible to join the Morrow County group since he already holds a lifetime membership in the Hermiston Post. Meetings are held every second Tuesday at 8 p.m. at the Wagon Wheel Cafe. Veter ans interested in joining Post 4184 are invited to call Blue at 676-9641 or Chuck Flynn, Quartermaster, at 676-9259. Wives, mothers, sisters and daughters of veterans who fought in foreign wars are eligible to join the V.F.W. Auxilliary. For more informa tion call Doris Flynn at 676-9259. A New Book About Eastern Oregon ARLINGTON Child of the Columbia 1 ARLINGTON: ) MmuonT.Wiathi"0 N' ",.- " "I Child of tfie Columbia, by Marion T. Weatherford. Oregon Hutortesl SiJckvji A full and affectionate history of an eastern Oregon town by a native son. From the passage of Lewis and Clark to relocation due to the John Day Dam construction. Photos. Maps. Index. 250 pp. Paper, $6.50. From the Oregon Historical Society. Please send me copy ( ies ) of ARLINGTON : Child of the Columbia, by Marion T. Weatherford at $6.50 a copy. I have enclosed $ which includes .75c for mailing. Name Address. Send order to: Publications Department, Oregon Historical Society 1230 S.W. Park Avenue Portland. Oregon 97205 I Hungers... I We're coohin' I 24-Kiours a day I Friday Sept. 30 I Saturday, Oct. 1 I OPfW SUNDAYS, T001 I I Wagon Wheel i Main & Willow 676-5025 1 I : Cheers, excitement, crowds, and action. It's all part of the football season. And so is First Federal Savings & Loan. Because we're giving away football helmet coin banks and cozy sport robes as premiums for deposits. The coin bank, available with your choice of team insignia, is being given as a gift with a $250.00 deposit. The Cherokee Pak-A-Robe comes in camel, red, or navy with bold center and border stripes. It's both a sports robe and afghan thrown in its own carry case, and it's yours with a deposit of $1,000.00. Start a new account or add to an exist ing account to win these gifts. A fun fall offer. For the sis-boom-ba season. From the people with a commitment to you. Cf v 1 Supply is limited. One gift per customer, please. BEE IS First Federal Savings AND LOAN ASSOCIATION OF PENDLETON Other Offices: Milton-Freewater, Hermiston, Boardman leave the driver's & Pendleton-Home Office
