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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 1987)
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CO/MPUTER (409) 268-0033 MICROCOMPUTERS AND SUPPLIES 403B University Dr. (Northgate) College Station VISA/MasterCard IBM, Hercules and Phoenix are trademarks of their respective companies Page 8/The Battalion/Tuesday, September 1,1987 CALL-AMERICA Fitness centers struggle through weak economy HOUSTON (AP) — The ailing economy seems to be taking its toll on the country club set, with private clubs finding membership down and trying to cope with new aggressive marketing campaigns. “If a person wanted to build a country club right now, I’d send him to a head doctor,” said Rick Forester, owner-developer of the soon-to-be completed club Cypresswood. Some Houstonians faced with paying membership fees, monthly dues, greens fees, locker fees and guest fees during economic hard times have decided they can no longer afford club life. Corporate accounts, once the mainstay for many clubs, have been canceled by some businesses. Young clubs with young clientele that counted on residential devel opments in outlying areas for mem bers suffered as the housing market stalled. Some clubs did not survive the downturn. Other clubs have tried to cope with it by using more aggressive marketing, discounted memberships and expanding activities to include such sports as basketball and volley ball. “There’s no doubt the economy has hurt the country club business at every level,” said Duke Butler, Houston Golf Association executive director. “What happened was we had all that abundance and now we’re back to normal times — although no one wants to think of them as normal. We’re talking about reality com ing back to us. We don’t want to think it’s reality, but it is and ive have to deal with it. ” — Bill O’Connell, presi dent of the men’s only-Lo- chinvar Country Club "F.ven River Oaks and Houston juntry Club are being impacted," said. “It’s hurting the overall mem- rship a little and it's hurting the erall traffic and food and bever* e business," he said. “Not as many rounds of golf are ing written off as business ex* rises," he said. ness, and fees for tennis courts and the golf course are down. Braeburn Country Club had losi about 100 members when its boardL of directors voted to drop its initia- ; lion fee from $15,000 to $3,750 las: W I Tex a jump pent leral I half ' December. ei Ken Lindsay, immediate pasi president of the club, said, ‘‘There m were a lot of people w io could al 19 ford the monthly du es, but the $15,000 to join was a stumbling block." cr< Braeburn was able t o fill its 55(1 Ct membership slots. wl Some clubs, howeve r, ref use to cli discount memberships l>ecause it 59 may anger establishe d niemben who’ve already paid the membership fee in full. Bill O’Connell, president tht Even those clubs that have re tained membership are seeing de clines in the food and drink busi- men’s only-Lochinvar Country Club, said the drop in the economy has had "a profound effect on golf." “If you want to go back to thelau ’70s or 1980s, everyone in town way playing golf in the afternoons,’|> O’Connell said. “Business was goof They didn’t have to sell thinff T hings were selling themselves. "What happened was we hadi* that abundance and now we’re bjalj to normal times — although no<nt|| wants to think of them as normal. 1 “We’re talking about reality ccrli ing back to us.” Junk dealer will hang himself to prove escape by outlaw GIDDINGS (AP) — Junk dealer Woodrow Wilson is going to hang himself on a gallows he and his wife built alongside U.S. 290, but only be cause it would cost $100 to hang someone else. Wilson plans to survive the Sept. 20 hanging. It’s part of his effort to prove that outlaw Bill Longley also survived when he was hanged here in Lee County in 1878. It is Wilson’s hypothesis that Longley paid off the local sheriff, donned a life-saving harness under his clothing and walked out of his coffin shortly after the hanging. “He headed for Louisiana,” he said, pointing to photographs of a grave bearing Longley’s name. ‘T’ve got proof that he’s buried and died down there in Louisiana.” Wilson, 67, pictures a festive cele bration complete with entertain ment. The hanging will be the highlight of what he hopes will be the first Bill Longley Day. Wilson’s decision to portray Long ley was based on pure economics. “I had two men that would do it for $ 100 apiece,” he said. "But I’ve put a lot of money m this thing here," he said. “If I can save S100 I’m going to do it.” The official word is that Longley, a murderer and all-around outlaw, was about 30 when he died by the noose. Wilson, whose grandfather married Longley’s sister, claims his no-good uncle died at age 71 from complications after prostate surgery. The junkman named for the man who was president when he was born said his version of the non-death of Longley is based on local lore and a cousin’s research. “One man that buried the coffin said, ‘Let’s open up the coffin and see if he’s still in there,’ ” Wilson said. “But the sheriff said, ‘The first SOB that opens up that coffin is going to get shot.’ The hanging re-enactment is touted on a roadside sign near the homemade gallows. “Bill Longley Hang Out Ded icated to His Memory and Giddings History,” the sign says. “There’s some people in town who are not happy about this,” Wil son said. Some people think it’s not becom ing to the history of Lee County/' said. “I’m not trying to immortL him, but this is Lee County bistovj he said. “It doesn’t show any more rc-l lence than what TV would," hee j “In 10 minutes on TV I’ve scent'I killings.” Wilson is working out the finale' j tails of his own hanging. He plasr j have a “good friend" slip the rw/ around his neck. T here should be no real dar? - ’! lie added. "The only thing is with that | slipping up and snapping my ntci he said. “You’ve got to allow for that, M son said. “It’s jus^a stunt. Witim 1 own life in jeopardy I aim to praakt i it more than just once.” It’s good, clean fun, Wik claims. “If anybody gets hurt I’m goings be the one to get hurt,” he said vis a hint of gallows humor. 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