Hangar 25

R. E. "Peppy" Blount at Hangar 25
(See pictures below of this event, and of the Hangar)

Peppy Blount, Big Spring High School graduate of the Class of 1943 (seated), chats with Jesse F. Hernandez ('41) before signing his book and high school annual. Blount flew B-25 bombers in World War II, and Hernandez was a ground crewman supporting B-24's.

Peppy came home from the war to attend the University of Texas, and five months after flying his last mission in combat, caught a spectacular pass thrown by legendary Bobby Layne, out-jumping Doak Walker, Paul Page, and Dick McKissack. That 33-yard pass earned a touchdown, a Southwest Conference Championship, and a trip to the Cotton Bowl for the Texas Longhorns.

Peppy was elected to the Texas Legislature at age 21, the youngest member ever, and served three terms in the legislature before becoming a judge in Gregg County in East Texas.

He was in Big Spring to sign copies of his book We Band of Brothers, which just came out in a second release. He also sold and autographed copies of his book Mama's Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up and Play Football. He timed the visit to Big Spring to coincide with Homecoming 2000 at Big Spring High School.

Standing appropriately close to Blount is long time Big Spring newspaperman (and a favorite citizen) Joe Pickle, who moved in 1999 to Austin to live with his son.


This former Webb AFB hangar is pictured at left with an AT-11 trainer plane parked in front. Then a close-up of the plane and hangar, followed by a close-up shot through the Plexiglas nose into the cockpit. The bombardier trainee sat in the near seat. with the pilot and co-pilot behind him. During World War II I (Lane Bond) watched as many as twenty of these planes circling over the farm where I was plowing (ages 10-12). They circled (the circle was really an oval) from a mile south of Coahoma (where I was) and back to Vincent where chalk circles on the ground with makeshift wood piles were used as targets for the dummy bombs the guys used for practice. Each plane followed the path of the plane ahead in repeated runs until someone called them home. They used to waggle their wings at me when I waved to them. It thrilled me! It would thrill me now!

This picture shows about half of the crowd at one given time, the other half buying books in a room to the back, and standing in line to meet Mr. Blount. A most enthusiastic admirer of her brother Peppy, and very busy visiting with friends and her own admirers, is long-time Broadway actress Helon Blount Kaldenberg of Austin, Texas, in the center picture. Helon and Peppy told their mother, Alma Blount, that the school needed a song. She picked a Sousa waltz, according to Peppy, and penned the words of Dear Old Big Spring High just as we sing them, putting it to the selected music. Some minor arranging of the music was later done, according to Peppy, but we owe our song primarily to Mrs. Blount. There is another version of this story. We can forgive Peppy if his rememberer is affected by many years, and the fact that he was just a boy when the song was written. Who isn't prejudiced toward his own mother? Jean Conley Hubbard, class of '48, remembers it somewhat differently. She remembers playing under the table at the Blount's house while her father, Dan Conley, and Mrs. Blount worked on the piece. Here is a picture of a handwritten score of the song, presumably the original or a blowup of the original, which is in the BSHS Museum. In this yellowed manuscript, Mrs. Blount has allowed Mr. Conley top billing on the arrangement, and shares the credit for the words with Elouise Haley. Pictures of the three are at the right of the manuscript. Isn't re-creating history fun? And aren't we all grateful to these three people for giving us the magic song that has done much to "keep us all as one" through these years which have come? In the picture at right above is Don and Betty Green. She was Miss Big Spring of 1948, and those of us (boys especially) who had her for typing about a year later at Big Spring High School thought we knew why. Her personality was as beautiful as her appearance. And still is.

Susan Lewis (BSHS '62) is coordinator for Hangar 25, and was very busy accommodating the guests for the day's event. Peppy seems to be expressing some request at this point in the proceedings. Volunteer Gloria Byrd McDonald (BSHS '53) took a break from shepherding people through the line to have Peppy sign her own copy of one of the books. Blount in a study of total absorption in his work.

Joe Pickle, author, reporter, editor, community leader and friend to many, stands with Jerry Worthy before an Air Force T-33 trainer jet. Jerry is President of Hangar 25, and one of the founders. A Hawker Harrier jet fighter. Directional vents under the wing allow this plane to take off straight up while holding its attitude as pictured, as if lifting itself by its own bootstraps. When this guy lands on a carrier, he slows down to a hover at the ships speed, keeping away from the ship until he is ready, then he slides sideways over the deck and sets it down. What a piece of machinery! This one looks like the general's personal plane. Actually it is a T-37 Tweety Bird, numerous at Webb during its heydey when it was a training base..