March 31-April 6, 1949

Dr. John B. Ray of Leaksville has been named "Practitioner of the Year" by the Rockingham County Medical Association. 

Dr. Ray, a former Leaksville mayor, draft board chairman and school board member, has practiced medicine in the county for 51 years since graduating from Baltimore Medical School. 

During the typhoid epidemic of 1902, Dr. Ray had 212 cases, of which only 13 died. Besides saving lives, he has brought thousands of babies into the world. 

He also boasts that he rode on the first steamboat to come up Dan River from Danville to Leaksville and that he also rode the first train on the Danville and Western Railroad. 

The post-war business boom is over but there's no cause for alarm, Reidsville Kiwanians were told by Winston-Salem banker Willliam H. Neal. Neal, first vice president of Wachovia Bank and Trust Co., said the nation's economy appears to be settling down to normalcy, after a boom in manufacturing and buying brought on by pent-up demands. ... The 1.5 million gallon reservoir at Leaksville's municipal water plant will be expanded to assure at least one week's reserve supply at all times, Public Works Superintendent W.O. Jenkins said. ... The Rockingham Grange had a record attendance at a meeting at Matrimony School by Grangers from Intelligence, Ayersville, Wentworth and Matrimony. Mrs. Ruffin Cardwell was elected secretary to succeed Mrs. J.R. Carter. ... Nearly 200 Reidsville teen-agers crammed into the lobby area of the Community Center building for the formal organization of a new Youth Club. Bryan Watlington was installed as president, Dorothy Talley as vice president and Dorothy Wilson as secretary. 

Reidsville has topped its assigned March of Dimes quota of $4,500 by $1,942.45. Rockingham County contributed $14,930, exceeding its quota of $13,500. ... Voters in Rockingham County and its municipalities will vote April 12 on a $1.6 million school bond issue. If passed, new schools would be built and existing schools renovated in the county and in Reidville, Leaksville and Madison. ... C.C. Campbell has begun his 21st year on the Leaksville Township school board after being elected to a fifth term this week. 

For the Easter parade: New Easter dresses in Oxford crepes, smoke pearl buttons, six-gore skirts, $25. 

For the bedroom: Fieldcrest muslin sheets, 81 x 108, $3.49; pillow cases, 89 cents. 

Keep it cool: Pickett's Inc. has Philco advanced design refrigerator with built-in freezer, $399.50.