%
tution at Dallas,
approximately three weeks.
(AIDS.)
prison’s infirmary.
Vol. 96, No. 47
25 Cents
By CHARLOT M. DENMON
Staff Correspondent
She was 58 years of age when she
joined the staff of The Dallas Post.
That was in 1950. She was a home-
maker, mother and a grandmother,
at a time when most women her age
were staying at home, keeping
house, baking, waiting on others.
But not ‘Hix’, as most Back Moun-
tain residents remember her.
Her formal name was Mrs.
T.M.B. Hicks, Jr., but somehow
when she joined the staff of The
Dallas Post, she became known as
“Hix.” The mother of four, two sons
and two daughters, Hix was always
a writer.
She wrote volumes of poetry
during the years her sons were in
World War II and, for 20 years,
wrote the column “From Pillar to
Post” for The Dallas Post.
For those 20 years, she kept the
attention of the public with her
weekly stories on her children,
grandchildren, people in the com-
munity, little noticed, but important
happenings and by 1962, 12 years
after she joined the staff, The
Dallas Post was an outstanding
Northeastern Pennsylvania weekly
with a reputation for excellence and
an enormous circulation. ‘‘Hix”’
respected and, in return, was
respected by the late Howard
Risley, then owner, publisher and
editor of the paper.
Now five years after her death in
1980, Hix’s daughter, Barbara Hicks
Harding, has been successful in
getting her mother’s first book off
the presses — just in time for
Christmas. For not only did Hix
write for The Dallas Post, but in
between times she found time to
write the story of her early child-
hood.
The book ‘When The World Was
Flat” is the story of her life in the
straight-laced 1890’S. In it there is
per Women and in 1964, her
editorial on President John Ken-
nedy’s assassination brought her
international recognition for excel-
lence when she was awarded The
Golden Quill.
During her last year as editor,
1970, Hix received the coveted Key-
Marsy, an entire year older than his
live-wire, spright little sister,
already destined for a medical
career. Papa is the vigorous young
doctor, setting up practice in a
Baltimore row-house and Mamma is
courageous in the bringing up of her
family far from her beloved country
home in Chatauqua County in New
York State.
Hix came to this area with her
husband in the 1940’s and, in 1950,
they moved from Kingston to the
‘Pump House” on Goodleigh Farms
on Upper Demunds Road. Later
they purchased and moved into
their big, old home on North
Pioneer Avenue.
Longtime residents of the Back
Mountain remember ‘Hix for many
things — perhaps best of all for her
snow white hair and flashing brown
eyes, eyes so piercing they saw into
Many knew her for her compassion,
others for her keen sense of humor,
still others for her sharp wit.
Neither snow, ice, nor fog stopped
her from driving to her destination
in her little (or was it dark blue)
BMW.
As a columnist, a reporter and
then editor of The Dallas Post, she
kept the paper before the public,
earning prizes annually for her out-
stone Editor’s Award. She was 77
years of age and the oldest working
newspaper woman in the country.
Her writing, ‘‘Newswoman’s
Prayer,” is still used by the Penn-
sylvania Newspaper Woman's Asso-
ciation.
She was a stickler for spelling and
taught her four children fo be the
same. Her two sons worked at The
Post for a while. Warren S. Hicks,
now living in Bayonet Point, Fla.,
was an editor for The Dallas Post in
1938 and Thomas M.B. Hicks, III,
now living in Rockville, Md.,
worked on the staff of The Dallas
Post in 1937 and 1938 while he was
attending college. Barbara Hicks
Harding of Herndon, Va., teaches
English and formerly wrote for the
Herndon Tribune. Persis Hicks
Mitchell of Hampstead, N.H., is
director of nursing in Salem Haven,
N.H.
In 1970, “Mrs. Hicks Day’ was
held at College Misericordia when
she was honored by leading citizens
and organizations throughout the
entire area.
When she was finally convinced to
leave the Back Mountain area prior
to the 1972 Hurricane Agnes, Hix
went to live in Herndon, Va., where
she had her own apartment in her
daughter Barbara’s large home.
Hix left the area, but she didn’t
give up her love for life whether it
be for one of her 22 grandchildren
or a small bird, fallen from its nest.
That was Hix! To know her was to
Happy leader
Dallas Post/Ed Campbell
Deer
photos,
page 9
the depth of the minds around her.
Concerts
scheduled
This week begins the Holiday
season in the Dallas School District
with two special concerts. On Thurs-
day at 7:30 p.m. in the Junior High
auditorium, the Junior High School
Band and Chorus will present their
concert and on Sunday after at 2
p.m. in the Senior High School
auditorium the Senior High Band
and Chorosu will also present music
for the holidays.
In junior high, the band begins the
concert with several holiday songs
including a collection of familiar
carols in which the audience will
join. This also includes the Chorus.
“The Noteables’’ introduce ‘‘Winter
Wonderland” followed by Christ-
mas! Christmas!” and ‘Hanukkah
is Here.”” A special feature will be a
guest, Llewelyn Kopko, who will
participate in ‘“Welcome St. Nicho-
las” and “Up on the Housetop.”’ The
Boys’ Chorus selected the spiritual,
“Amen’’ and all join in on “Just a
Little Baby.”
Accompanists are Karen O’Con-
nell, Julie Persing, Megan Har-
disky, and Danielle Baler,
The S 7 High St geil}
Bag
also pr it hoftday’
selections. i
The Senior High School Mixed
Sunday’s concert with Handel’s
‘‘Hallelujah, Amen’’ from Judas
Maccabaeus, thus celebrating on
the 1st day of Hanekkah as ell as
the Christmas season. J.S. Bach’s
“Alleluia’’ from Cantata No. 142.
For Us A Child is Born is included
in German and English. Both pieces
are in honor of Bach and Handel's
300th birthday. ‘‘Christmas Alle-
luia” is followed by a Finnish carol
sung by Rotary Exchange student
Minna Tolvanen.
lighting traditions in both the
Jewish and Christian faiths give a
setting for ‘‘Candles of Hanukkah,
Candles of Christmas’, in which a
“live” Menorrah and Advent can-
dles are used. ‘The King’s Carols”
followed by solo “O Holy Night”
sung by Lisa Bealla continues into
contemporary songs. The 2nd grade
students will sing ‘‘Rudolph the
Red-Nose Reindeer’’. The Chorus
will then sing ‘‘Where Will It
Lead?”, “Christmas Love’, “A
Little Chrismas” (Medley) and the
Dal-Hi Choristers will present
“Hurry Home for Christmas”’.
The concert will conclude with the
first published composition of
Dallas graduate, Bill Cutter, “And
the Glory of The Lord.” Accompa-
nist are Michelle Lamoreaux, Katie
McKeown, Lisa Bealla, Beth Adams
and Becki Nicely.
both concerts which are free of
charge.
Grants available
The Luzerne County Office of
applications for the 1986-87 Luzerne
County Human Service Develop-
ment Fund grants are nwo available
to eligible non-profit and govern-
ment agencies.
Agencies interested in obtaining
the applications should contact the
Luzerne County Office of Human
Services at 111 North Pennsylvania
Blvd., Wilkes-Barre, 826-8800.
Inside The Post
Calendar ..............
a Classified ......... 13,14
2 Commentary ......... 6
¢e Co0kbOOK .............. "7
SLR Crossword ............. 2
Reunion held ; eres | Obituaries... 2
The Dallas Borough High School Class of 1950 will hold a Brokenshire Miller, Carol Monast Shaffer, Maureen Keloly Little Pilgrim People 3
reunion during the summer in honor of its 35th graduation Veihmeyer, Polly Michael, Jean Monk, Shirlee Allen Jones. Thomas Browne, a student School aR 1 1.12
anniversary. The reunion dinner was held at “The Barn” Second row, John Katzbach Bruce -Roberts, Dolly Roberts, at the Dallas Township Ele- ool ..... sesesenns 3
restaurant at Newberry Estates. The following day a picnic was Frank Michael, Ruth Besecker, Betty Sebolka, Alwyn Sickler, mentary School, portrays a | SPOILS ................ 9,10
held at Lake Te-Ja in Kunkle. Those class members and Robert Monk, John Navich. Third row, Kenneth Shaffer, Robert Pilgrim during the school’s
guests who attended the dinner are shown here. From left, first Bodycomb, Donald Besecker, Burton Sickler, Andrew Sebolka, annual Thanksgiving play
row, Betty Berrettini Moore, Pat Patsey Katzbach, Joan Richard Miller. held last Friday.
i =
J