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The riots that rocked several American cities in 1968 never made the papers in Llano, which chose to emphasize the plentiful rains and bumper crop of wildflowers that spring. On the last week of May, it was the upcoming rodeo that dominated the local headlines, not the upcoming primary in California. The rodeo producer was Lloyd Woodley; the featured rodeo clown was Bo Bland. A “big street parade” was scheduled for 4 p.m. on Thursday.

Three eighth-graders had their pictures in the paper that week: Nan Needham was class valedictorian, Patsy Zucha was salutatorian, and Rimmer Fowler was “high ranking boy.” More than 21 inches of rain had fallen by the end of May that year. For some reason, the May 30 issue of The Llano News contained several articles reprinted from the 1913 paper: one was an editorial saying, “Big Sandy Creek should be bridged.” There was a picture of the recently-completed Highland Lakes National Bank; the caption mentioned that a new bridge across Lake LBJ was currently under construction. Tommy Cooper advertised “Old Time Pit Barbecue.”

The Vietnam War rated mention in an article that told how Roy B. Inks had received a promotion in the U.S. Navy, but there was apparently no mention of Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination on June 5; the headline news that week was the crowning of Sherry Sawyer as Llano County’s 1968 Rodeo Queen. The next week, Llano’s 4-H Livestock Judging team made headlines by winning the state championship. Terry Wootan “captured high point honors.” His teammates were Geep McBride, Richard Rabb and Reggie Osbourn.

At the end of June, Community Savings lost its appeal case, and was forbidden to re-open its office on the west side of the square. In the meantime, People’s Savings and Loan was busy renovating the East Main Street building (eventually Bill’s Dollar Store) recently vacated by Ratliff Automobile Co. And the Buckhorn Café celebrated its 30th anniversary under the management of Eugene and Mildred Fisher. On July 3, the highest temperature yet recorded was the 96 degree high on June 12.

A headline on July 18 reported that Llano County bank deposits were up by $1.5 million in the previous year. Moore State Bank had surpassed $5 million, but most of the growth was at the Highland Lakes National Bank, which had jumped to $5.5 million. Paving was completed on the runway at the Llano Municipal Airport.

On July 25, the Highland Lakes Canoe Race was the big news. A Country Music Festival was planned for the Kingsland Country Club. Frances Grenwelge was named Farm Bureau Queen, air conditioning was installed at the Llano museum, and the Field Creek post office received notice that it would be closed. Business leaders discussed the possibility of a junior college in Brady and a “modern Llano Motel.” Representatives from Llano, Burnet and Lampasas Counties got together to ask the state for a bridge across the Colorado River north of Tow.

The headline August 8 said “Unusually Cool Summer is Enjoyed.” High temperatures the first week of August ranged from 94 to 98, and it wasn’t until August 10 and 11 that Llano first reached 100 degrees. Despite the cooler weather, Grace Episcopal Church was involved in “the installation of a cooling and heating furnace system” for its then-80-year-old building. The system was part of a major expansion project which included a new parish hall. Pending completion of the project, Grace Episcopal had rented “the little white house across the street” for Sunday School classes.

Mayor Gordon Donop received a letter of congratulations on the airport improvements from Harry Shapiro, a prominent San Saba merchant and LCRA director. Bill Simpkins was elected president of the new Llano Industrial Foundation.

Grimsley’s took out a full page ad bragging about its “Back to School Values.” A budget of $566,000 was adopted by the school board, and 82 high school boys tried out for the football team. The school district’s personnel totaled 82 back then (51 were teachers), and there were 1,012 students enrolled in the three Llano schools. There were 167 Llano students enrolled in 33 colleges that year – a new record for the town. Southwest Texas State College was the most popular, with 31 Llano students attending. UT, Tech and Tarleton State trailed with 19, 18 and 17, respectively.

A news article on August 29 reported that the Pecan Creek Bridge would be widened. The city received its first-ever quarterly city sales tax check; it was for $7,825. City Manager George Rogers reported that the amount was higher than expected, and that it would be very helpful to the city’s budget. Llano Home Health started serving home-bound Llano residents that month, and Llano native Lynn Garrett released a “Sacred Album” of hymns, accompanied by the J.T. Adams Chorale of Sulphur Springs. Garrett had served as Minister of Music for Llano’s First Baptist Church from 1961 to 1963. The Lions Club was sponsoring a second Hemisfair bus; the round-trip ride to the San Antonio World’s Fair would cost residents $5.50.

Waylon Jennings made the news in September, when he scheduled an appearance at Llano’s Ramblin’ Rose (now Oestreich’s Rose). A sports headline proclaimed, “Jackets Nose Out Hillbillies 9-6.” (I always thought that the Fredericksburg “Billies” were named for goats!) Otherwise, the biggest news on September 26 was the introduction of the new 1969 cars at Ratliff Automobile Co, and T.G. Houston Ford.

That October, Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Nobles celebrated their 65th anniversary, and a hint of fall weather was in the air, as temperatures dropped to 60 degrees one night around the middle of the month. School administrators were clamoring for a new high school to replace the overcrowded 1925 facility (regular classes were being held in the auditorium, because there were not enough classrooms). George Wallace was running ads in The Llano News, promising to stop sending aid to anti-American nations, if he was elected president.

Hundreds of tourists flocked to the first annual Highland Lakes Art and Craft Trail the second and third weekends in October; 550 registered in Llano, which was one of about a dozen stops.

The headlines on November 7 noted that Richard Nixon had been elected president (although Hubert Humphrey had won in Llano County), and Preston Smith had been elected governor. Another headline said: “Deer Season begins with a Bang,” and a smaller story on the front page noted that there were 20 nominees for Homecoming Queen. In the following week’s paper, we learned that Dana Duncan had won that honor, and also that snow had fallen on a very cold Opening Day of the hunting season. On November 28, The Llano News reported the completion of the 2900 bridge in Kingsland with a headline reading, “LBJ Bridge puts end to ferry era.” That was 1968.