Death claimed one of Milam county's leading citizens Monday evening of this week when Mr. R.L. Hale of Rockdale died at his home in that city. Mr. Hale was manager of the Scarbrough & Hicks General Merchandise store, one of the largest mercantile institutions in Milam county. He was a man of fine business ability and had friends through this section of the state by the thousands. His death, which occurred at 6:30 was unexpected, as he had spent the entire day at his place of business, only leaving at 6 o'clock. After leaving the store he visited his aged mother for a few moments and then went home. A short while after reaching his residence he was seized with acute indigestion and died immediately.
R.L. Hale started life on his own hook and is a self made man. Thirty-seven years ago he took a place with Scarbrough & Hicks store and grew from delivery boy to manager of the store.
The funeral of Mr. Hale was held Wednesday afternoon at the First Baptist Church at Rockdale, of which he has been a life long member. The services were conducted by his pastor, Rev. Stewart, assisted by Rev. B.B. Blaylock of Cameron, formerly his pastor, and Rev. Hamlett of Austin. Interment was made in the I.O.O.F. cemetery.
Those attending from Cameron were: Jeff T. Kemp, W.G. Gillis, Will T. Yates, Newton McDonald, Jack Lewis, Dick Clark, Clyde Franklin, Miss Minnie Wolf, Mrs. M.C. Sapp, Mr. and Mrs. T.S. Henderson, Mrs. Wm. Henderson and Miss Mary Lake Henderson. Cameron Herald, July 15, 1920
CARLYLE POST NO. 358 (Researched by Louis Rinn)
Carlyle Post 358 was organized May 2, 1922. The name Carlyle was selected to honor two local fallen comrades, Hicks Carlyle and James W. Carlyle. The two brothers were killed the same day, October 8, 1918, only thirty days before Germany raised the White Flag of surrender. The Carlyle brothers resided in the Hamilton Chapel Community which is four miles southwest of Rockdale.
The first meeting of Carlyle Post 358 was held in an upstairs room of the Dr. H.T. Coulter Building at the corner of North Main and West Cameron streets. Later a meeting place was furnished by the city at the City Hall.
At the first meeting of Carlyle Post the following men were elected as officers of the Post: Dr. C.E. Wisecup, Post Commander; Percy Diehl, Vice Commander; H.H. Turner, Post Adjutant; John T. Hale, Finance Officer; Fred Eads, Post Historian; Dr. I.P. Sessions, Post Chaplain; and C.U. Cates, Sergeant at Arms.
The following men were also charter members of the Post: H.E. Blenden, Robert H. Floyd, Dr. H.T. Coulter, Max Ferrari, William F. Vogel, Clyde Franklin, Dr. T.E. Crump, J.P. Horton, Alvin M. Johnson, and Ralph Larrieu.
In 1935 Carlisle Post purchased the Wolf Hotel at the corner of North Main and East Milam Streets. Plans for a new home were soon drawn by Clyde Franklin. This home was completed in the early forties.
1952 was the peak year for membership. The total membership for that year was 326. W.P. (Red) Hogan was commander of the Post at that time.
Carlisle Post has sent at least one boy to Boys' State in Austin each year since it was organized. The Post has sponsored the American Legion baseball team and has participated in civic affairs that have taken place in the city of Rockdale. A History of Rockdale, Texas 1874-1974
According to a Rockdale Reporter article dated Nov. 15, 2001 . . . In 1935, Post 358 purchased the former Wolf Hotel, one of Rockdale's most historic turn-of-the-century structures. The hotel, at the corner of Main and Milam, was renovated and served as Carlyle Post's home for more than 60 years. Carlyle Post has been through periods of inactivity but still retains some membership and has plans for a new building. The old Legion building (Wolf Hotel) has been razed. That project was completed earlier this year.
Rockdale War Veteran Dies From Shell Shock. Special to The News. Rockdale, Texas, March 13. -- A telegraphic message was received by Mrs. J.A. Phillips of this city that her eldest son, James Kolb Phillips, had died in a hospital at Chattahooche, Fla. The immediate cause of his death was a recurrence of shell shock, resulting from his service with the American Expeditionary Force in France.
Young Phillips was brought home from France in 1919, and remained in Government hospitals at Newport News, Va., and California, for some months before being discharged as cured. After two years in New Mexico, he returned to Texas and resumed his studies at Texas A.&M. College, where he graduated in the class of 1924 with his younger brother, Charles. For the last few years he had been engaged in the citrus fruit and nursery business at St. Petersburg, Fla., with his uncle, C.L. Kolb.
He was the son of the late Dr. J.A. Phillips, and is survived by his mother, Mrs. J.A. Phillips of Rockdale; a sister, Mrs. Clyde Franklin, Rockdale; a brother, Charles C. Phillips of Vicksburg, Miss.; an aunt, Mrs. Maie Vanderventer, and an uncle, O.K. Phillips of Rockdale. The body will be brought to Rockdale for burial. Dallas Morning News, March 14, 1930
