As of January 1, 1950, the City of Jackson had only $15,000 in bonded debt. Mrs. W. H. Mallet, city clerk and tax collector, reported that collections for 1949 were better than ever. The city’s tax rate in 1949 was 13 mills: 10 mills for support and operation of the city government, and three mills to pay interest on the bonded debt.
At the same time, Ralph Carr, Sr. was sworn in as a councilman, succeeding M. G. McCrary in the first ward.
All other officers and employees remained the same: J. H. Rooks, superintendent of the water and light department and fire chief; E. B. Perdue, engineer at the water filter plant; W. H. Polk, chief of police; M. W. Pope, marshal, Walter E. Watkins, extra and supply policeman. Tax assessors and registrars were: T. G. Willis, W. H. Merritt, and H. P. Bailey. Miss Mary Downs assisted Mrs. Mallet with clerking duties.
Total fines assessed at the Jackson Police court for the year 1949 amounted to $9,386.75, a record total. A considerable amount of the fines were assessed on person from out of town for drunken driving and speeding. Mayor W. M. Redman presided over the court. “The police force is a good one and is doing full duty to suppress and stamp out crime,” said the mayor.
Alert police officers arrested four men from Williamson as they drove a complete still outfit through Jackson on January 22, 1950. The arrest took place in front of the First Baptist Church.
As of the first of February 1950, the Jackson High School band had new uniforms courtesy of the Exchange Club and public-spirited individuals and firms. The 36 uniforms cost a total of $1,200. Plans were to parade the band through the business district of the city to show off the new uniforms and thank those who made them possible. Sheriff Bud Pope and J. T. Beckham led the effort.
In February 1950, the Pepperton Cotton Mills awarded a contract to build an additional 130,000 square feet of space at the mill in Jackson. On the north side of the existing building, a two-story building was added, and a one-story building extended the slasher room. The mill had recently installed 114 new looms resulting in greater production. The mill employed some 500 people, who had a good relationship with the management and never experienced labor trouble.
JACKSON RED DEVIL BASKETBALL 1950
Jackson - 19, NEWNAN – 55
JACKSON - 39, Monticello - 29
JACKSON – 30, Milner – 26
Jackson – 33, EATONTON – 34
Jackson – 33, FORSYTH – 37
Jackson – 25, SOCIAL CIRCLE – 34
Jackson – 30, COVINGTON – 35
JACKSON – 33, Roberta – 31
JACKSON – 48, McDonough – 33
JACKSON – 38, Forsyth – 17
Jackson – 29, NEWTON COUNTY – 49
Jackson – 23, MILNER - 32
JACKSON – 55, McDonough – 31
JACKSON – 36, Forest Park – 22
JACKSON – 41, Milner – 30
Jackson – 44, MANCHESTER – 50
JACKSON LADY DEVILS BASKETBALL 1950
JACKSON - 20, Newnan - 15
Jackson – 30, MONTICELLO - 32
Jackson – 19, MILNER – 32
JACKSON – 47, Eatonton – 30
Jackson – 23, FORSYTH – 39
Jackson – 23, SOCIAL CIRCLE – 33
Jackson – 15, COVINGTON - 35
JACKSON – 40, Roberta – 13
JACKSON – 47, McDonough – 15
Jackson – 20, FORSYTH – 31
Jackson – 24, NEWTON COUNTY – 27
JACKSON – 28, Zebulon – 24
Jackson 23, MILNER – 32
Effective with the March 1950 billing, electric rates for residents in the city decreased. It was estimated that the reduction would save domestic customers a total of $5,500 a year. With the new rates, 25 kilowatts was $1.30, 100 kilowatts was $3.33, and 500 kilowatts was $8.95 net.
By the end of March 1950, the REA had completed its move from its original headquarters at the corner of Oak and Second streets to its new building between Mulberry and Oak streets. It held an open house on May 21.
A blast of buckshot fired from a single barrel shotgun snuffed out the life of Rufus McClendon on April 8, 1950. Eddie Lee Watson was charged with the murder, which took place in an alley in back of the Rufus Head Café.
On May 22, 1950, Jackson High School graduated 55 seniors.
On June 1, 1950, the Greyhound Bus line began operation along the Jackson Short Route. The line originated in Atlanta and went to Macon. The bus went to Macon in the morning and returned in the afternoon.
According to the 1950 Census, made public in early June 1950, Jackson had a population of 2,043, an increase over the 1940 Census figure of 1,918. The population of the county as a whole decrease from the 1940 Census figure of 9,282 to 9,088.
On July 8, 1950, a man came to Carter’s Barn in the city to inoculate dogs against rabies. The mayor and council asked all dog owners in the city to inoculate their dogs that day because after that day any dog without a tag and collar was to be disposed of.
In August 1950, the first Butts County youth called up under the Selective Service were Jim Henry Jenkins, Olin Edward Kelly, James Key Leverett, Howell Lunsford, Thomas Elwood Robison, Jr., John George Smith, Tommie Joe Smith and Albert Alice Taylor – four Whites and four Blacks.
The Selective Service Act, passed in 1948, required any man born after August 1922 to register. Young men had until their 19th birthday to register or face immediate induction.
After several years of being held in a tent on the school grounds, the Butts County Fair got organized in the Fall of 1950. The Butts County Fair Association was incorporated, and a building program was commenced. The fair was still held under a tent in 1950 with seven community exhibits from Butts County’s communities: Flovilla, Towaliga, West Butts, Stark, North Butts, Iron Springs and Jenkinsburg.
At the suggestion of the ladies of the First Baptist Church Missionary Society, the mayor and council of the city voted to begin ringing the bell in the courthouse on September 25, 1950 and each day thereafter a 9 a.m. until further notice. The sound of the bell was to remind people to pause and offer their prayers for world peace and for the men serving and preparing to serve under the flag of the United Nations in the Korean War.
In the city primary held October 24, 1950, Howard Bailey won the third ward seat on the city council with 105 votes to 50 votes for Wade Watkins. Morris Redman was reelected mayor without opposition, and Harold Barnes was reelected to the council from the second ward without opposition.
Richard Eugene Bunn, 21, who enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1946, was killed in action in Korea in October 1950. He was born and raised in Jackson.
On November 5, 1950, James K. McClendon, veteran of World War II and operator of Mack’s Taxi, was killed at The Mecca, and his brother-in-law, J. C. Earnhart, was charged in the shooting but was held blameless by Judge Frank Willingham.
According to witnesses, McClendon began arguing with his sister, Mrs. Earnhart, in the restaurant. She slapped him, and a scuffle ensued. McClendon exited the building, went to his car, got a pistol and came back in shooting. Mr. Earnhart, who was ducked behind a counter, fired a shot through his body that killed McClendon instantly.
JACKSON RED DEVILS FOOTBALL 1950
JACKSON – 12, Eatonton – 0
JACKSON – 7, Jonesboro – 6
JACKSON – , opponent – 0
JACKSON – 27, Monticello – 0
JACKSON – 14, Austell – 0
Jackson – 6, COVINGTON – 13
JACKSON – 44, Hawkinsville – 20
JACKSON - 19, Tucker – 7
JACKSON – 25, Manchester – 7
JACKSON – 37, Forsyth – 6
At 9-1-0, it was the best record the school had ever had. Though because of insufficient number of region games, the Red Devils did not figure in the playoffs and did not get the region title. Jackson was widely considered to be among the top 10 Class B teams in the state.