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Parts of the country were quite chaotic during 1968, as assassinations, riots and the Vietnam War dominated the national news (although I remember that the Apollo 8 lunar orbit on Christmas Eve helped end the year on a high note). Things in Llano County, on the other hand, seemed to be going along quite smoothly.

The lead headline in The Llano News on January 4, 1968, was “1967 was Generally Good and Prosperous.” Among the bits of evidence cited to back up that statement was the fact that even though one hundred Llano boys were serving in the military, none had been seriously injured during the previous year. And while rainfall had been below average at 24.6 inches for the year, more than 11 inches had fallen in the last four months.

The political season was opening, and several elected officials had filed for re-election. They included Sheriff Gale Ligon, Commissioners Euel Moore (Pct. #3) and Marvin Elliott (Pct. #1), Tax Assessor/Collector David Stewart, District Judge Jack Miller, County Attorney Carlos Ashley Jr. and (in February) city council members Taylor Virdell, Mac Hutto and Jack Watkins. Former State Senator Louis Crump filed to run for District Attorney. A new city sales tax was due to go into effect April 1.

Another headline declared, “Deer hunt season no record buster,” but a small story mentioned that hunters had discovered the remains of a pickup truck, reported stolen from Ratliff Automobile Company 18 months earlier, in a Bluffton area pasture. It had been “stripped of everything removable,” and camouflaged with a tarp and tree branches. An article reported that a rock and mineral show was planned for the end of the month; another told how drivers licenses would soon require photos of the driver.

The headlines on January 11 reported that Howard Lee Smith, former pastor of the First Baptist Church, would be the keynote speaker at the Chamber of Commerce banquet, where Ross Bauman would be installed as president for the second time. Another headline told how “Bank deposits stay above $10 million.” The Junior Livestock Show attracted 317 entries, and both Burnet and Llano Counties reached 89% of their savings bond goals. The interesting part of that story was that Llano’s goal was $140,000, while Burnet’s was only $70,000!

Maria Louise Najar, born January 13, was the “first Llano baby,” and Irene Marschall King won an award from the Texas State Historical Survey Committee for her book about her famous grandfather, John O. Meusebach.

Quite a few young people won honors at the Junior Livestock Show. Among them were: Richard Rabb, referred to as a “perennial winner” in the swine division; the McBride brothers, Gerald Paul and Dan Edward, who showed the Grand Champion Steer and Heifer; Janelle Sagebiel and JoAnn McAnally, who repeated as co-champions in the Food Exhibit (Janelle also exhibited the Grand Champion Turkey and champion yearling doe of the Angora goat division. Roland Rode won the Championship Rosette with his Fine Wool Lamb, and Clinton Lang won the Rosette for Champion Medium Wool Lamb (he also showed the champion Southdown Lamb.)

Euel Moore, a Kingsland-area rancher who had served as county commissioner for 18 years, died at the age of 80 in Llano Memorial Hospital. His son, Jim Moore, was appointed to fill out his father’s term, and soon announced that he would be running for re-election.

After a two-year wait, People’s Savings and Loan finally received its charter and prepared to open an office in Llano. Henry Buttery was president, and Carlos Ashley was secretary of the new organization. Grace Episcopal Church got a new organ; Governor John Connally unveiled the 578-mile Hill Country Trail, which passed through the middle of Llano, and 800 people attended Llano’s Gem and Mineral Show. Good rains filled up area lakes and rivers.

“Aunt Sally” Templeton, Llano County’s oldest resident, celebrated her 101st birthday. She had moved to Llano County in the 1880s, “when Texas was a land of Indians and longhorns,” and had lived the rest of her life here. Mike Virdell accepted a scholarship from Baylor. He had been Llano High School’s star football lineman, named All-District on offense and defense for two years; All West Texas, All Central Texas and All Super Central Texas in his senior year; he also was president of the student council.

An airport improvement project started on February; the runway was to be paved, and new fences, a beacon and a lighted wind cone were to be installed. A new bridge over Lake LBJ was under construction in Kingsland, to connect Hwy 71 on the south with Hwys 1431 and 29 on the north. All three incumbents were re-elected to the city council in Llano, a story reported that 7.46 inches of rain had fallen by February 21, and a headline announced that “Swine are Economic Boon to County.”

San Antonio was preparing to host the 1968 World’s Fair, and Pinkie’s Grocery was offering free tickets to six shoppers each week for eight weeks. Other major advertisers were Acme Dry Goods, Patt’s Variety Store, Grimsley’s (“Serving you a little bit better”) and Clymer’s (“at the bridge.”)

On Monday, March 7, a new branch of Community Savings & Loan opened at 809 Berry Street, across from the courthouse. On Wednesday, March 9, they were closed down (at the request of People’s Savings & Loan) by District Judge Jack Miller; a hearing was scheduled for the following week. It turned out that Community had not obtained the necessary permit to open a branch in Llano (and the S&L commissioner was in South America); an injunction against them was granted, and apparently they never re-opened.

On March 14, a hail storm left drifts as deep as two feet across the Llano-Castell Road. Roland Rode showed the Grand Champion Hereford Heifer at the San Angelo Fat Stock Show. The Lake Country Club (now Packsaddle?) opened in Kingsland, and the home of Mrs. Carl Moss was destroyed by fire. The 10-room cut stone ranch house had been a county landmark, and its owner was one of Llano County’s leading historians; it was filled with historical documents and artifacts when it burned.

Llano County had 3,689 registered voters in 1968, but just 2,738 registered passenger cars. The Llano Library contained 14,000 books. Almost 14 inches of rain had fallen by April 9, and a headline announced “Bluebonnet Trail thrills sightseers. The Prairie Mountain Community Center chartered a bus to attend the Hemisfair in San Antonio. Karen Walker was named valedictorian for the Class of 1968; Mary McCall was salutatorian. World War I vets prepared for a reunion in Llano, and 1965 LHS graduate James Sterling was reported “badly injured” in Vietnam.

A photo in the May 30 issue of The Llano News showed a “modern-day cattle drive,” with a herd crossing the Llano River on their way from the A.W. Moursund Ranch in Blanco County. They were headed for the railroad depot, awaiting shipment to pastures in the Dakotas. That was 1968.