W. D. Starcher came to Spur in 1928 and began the publication of The Dickens County Times. On November 19, 1943 the paper was sold to O.B. Ratliff. The Dickens County Times was the most widely read paper published.
Mrs. Nona Starcher resigned her position with the First State Bank at Roaring Springs and assisted her husband in the newspaper business.
Mr. Starcher was the first Boy Scout Master of Troop No. 35 of Spur. He was also, a Mason, Charter Member of the Rotary Club, Worthy Patron of the Eastern Star Lodge, member of the Odd Fellow Lodge and was an excellent church worker. He served as secretary and treasurer of The Dickens County Baptist Association for 20 years. He helped more people than any other man. There used to be a lot of people that lived in tents. If it was cold,he would see to it that they had food and the children were warmly clothed. Mr. Starcher fell dead of a heart attack in front of The Spur Security Bank on November 19, 1943.
After Mr. Starcher's death Mrs. Starcher opened Starcher Insurance Agency and Real Estate office. The agency started without a policyholder, but in less than a year the agency grew into the hundreds.
Mrs. Starcher ran for Mayor in 1951 and has always enjoyed the City politics. She has been an Evangelist singer and is a member of the Eastern Star. In 1922 she was the first manager of the gin and cotton buyer in McAdoo. She and Mr. Starcher reared and educated five girls and boys.
Bill Starcher had not finished High School when his father died, so she placed him in The Kemper Military Academy where he completed his High School work. He entered Baylor University and lacked six hours of work getting his degree. Upon entering the Air Force he spent four years in Korea. He was in the O.S.I. division and his rating is Captain. Returning home in 1954 he became associated with the business. In May 1959, he went to Lubbock to open an insurance and Home Service business of his own.
To say the Starchers are grateful to the people of Spur and Dickens County would not express their feelings. They know that the greatest people in the West live in Dickens County. They have stood by them and put trust and confidence in their agency. Mrs. Starcher feels that if it had not been for these people, she would have been unable to have sent Bill to school. Thanks.
The Texas Spur Jubilee Addition, Thursday, September 24, 1959
Honored by VFW Nona E. Starcher, Spur insurance agent, was honored this week by the Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post No. 7212 at the annual Christmas banquet. The presentation to the oldest active business person in Spur was made by Dr. Bob Alexander. Mrs. Starcher has been in business in Spur for 50 years.
©The Texas Spur, December 1972
Publisher of Dickens County Times Dies of Heart Attack Friday....by Fred C. Haile
Funeral services were held at the First Baptist Church Tues. Nov. 3, for William Dodge Starcher, publisher of the Dickens County Times, at Spur. Mr. Starcher died of a heart ailment Friday, Nov. 19. His body was held at the Chandler Funeral home pending the arrival of William Starcher, a foster son, who is in the Army and is stationed in Florida.
William Dodge Starcher was born in Richmond, WV, April 22, 1884. He joined the Methodist church at an early age. His career began as a school teacher at Mount Zion, WV at the age of 16. He later came to Texas and taught school at Cooper, Post and Lubbock, and served as superintendent of schools at Odessa. He was instrumental in perfecting the first consolidated school district in Oklahoma.
He was married to Nona E. Cagle of Denton, TX, Dec. 22, 1912. He began his career as a newspaper man at Matador and Roaring Springs, and later, in 1923 he began the publishing of the Dickens County Times in Spur.
He became a charter member of the Rotary Club, the First Scout master of the Boy Scouts, Troop No. 35 of Spur. His activities as a Mason are well known throughout West Texas, as well as his influence in the Eastern Star lodge. His membership in the Odd Fellows lodge of Spur was outstanding. He also served as secretary and treasurer of Dickens County Baptist association, and secretary of the Men's Bible Class. He was loved and respected by his associates in business and in his civic activities, which were many and varied. His kindness and patience were his outstanding characteristics.
At 3 p.m. Tuesday, close friends of the family and relatives arrived at the First Baptist Church to find a large gathering of people who had known and loved Mr. Starcher. Mrs. Madge Alexander played the overture, which was followed by the reading of scripture by the Rev. Doc Love. "Amazing Grace" was sung by the choir, which was conducted by James B. Reed. Prayer was offered by the Rev. Howard H. Hollowell which was followed by the choir singing "Abide With Me." The obituary was given by the Rev. H.L. Burnam, who said, "His was a character that will live in the hearts of those who knew him, a character that was clean, wholesome, and willing at all times to help others...His character was unquestionable for he was a man of God." This talk was followed by the singing of "Lift Me Up" by a quartet composed of James B. Reed, Mrs. Walter Gruben, T.J. Seale, and J.W. Langston.
The sermon by the Rev. Herman Coe was given from the text, "And I head a voice from heaven saying unto me, 'Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord', Rev. Coe said, Mr. Starcher did many things when he should have been resting, but I believe this of him that he would have rather fallen this way while active than to have lain around and rusted. Some one said, "it is not all of live to live, nor all of death to die, but these few years do not end our service."
In a testimonial M.C. Golding said, "I have worked with Dodge Starcher...he has toiled and worked for the comfort of his fellowman...I have been associated with him as a Rotarian, Dodge Starcher has been an exponent of one ideal, 'service above self.' In his life there is a lesson to each and every one of us. It is the cleanliness, and Godliness of Dodge Starcher, I would not hesitate to walk in his footsteps."
W.F. Godfrey stated, "As a business man Dodge Starcher had done more, perhaps, than any other man in this town and community when it came to 'thank-you' jobs. He loved to help others..a good Rotarian.. 'Service Above Self'...he profits most who serves best."
George S. Link stated in his testimonial, "Dodge Starcher came about as near doing his best as any man I ever knew..he did his best, his part and he was a godly man."
V.C. Smart said of Mr. Starcher, "Those of us who have worked with him, know him for what he is, a man loved and cherished in our community. He has always taken an interest in the work of our community, church, and civic affairs. We all know him, and all love him who know him."
Interment was made at the Spur cemetery, with the Masonic Lodge officiating.
W.D. Starcher is survived by his wife, a son, Billie., a foster son, Sgt. William Starcher, and Mrs. Horton Farrett of Santa Fe, NM; 4 brothers: Dommino and O.H. both of Tipton, OK; Coy of Beaver City, OK and Brown of KS; all present at the funeral, and Bob Starcher of Vallejo, CA was unable to attend.
Five sisters: Mrs. Frank Wier of Beaver City, OK was present at the funeral, but Mrs. Bell Cavinar of Altus, OK, Mrs. Tom Nicklas of Comanche, OK, and Mrs. Verna Brandstatt of OK, were unable to attend. An uncle, Guy Stemple, of San Juan, NM was present.
Close friends of the family who attended the funeral from out of town were Dr. Clifford B. Jones and Mr. and Mrs. O.A. Lambert of Lubbock; Mr. and Mrs. Joe Kellem of Gladewater, Lt. and Mrs. Dick Speer and daughter, Marion of Dallas, Mr. and Mrs. Dave Leaverton of Lubbock Mrs. C.A. Renton of London, England, Mrs. Frank Cole and Mrs. Wilber Park of Houston; Mrs. Buster Barren of Lubbock, Jude and Mrs. W.R. Commack of Matador, Dr. and Mrs. W.R. Snow and daughters, Mary Beth and Nona Mae of Abilene, Mr. and Mrs. Dawson Blackwell of Abilene, Mrs. D.C. Lane of Kermit, Mr. and Mrs. A.A. Smith, Jayton; Mr. and Mrs. C.D. Bird, Matador, and Mr. and Mrs. R.L. Williams of Wichita Falls.
©The Texas Spur, November 25, 1943
Funeral services for a long time Dickens County resident, Mrs. Nona Starcher, 84, were held last Thursday at 4 p.m. in the First Baptist Church, Spur.Church pastor, Rev. Norris Taylor officiated at the service.
Mr. Starcher died September 14 about 5 a.m. in Hendricks Hospital, Abilene, where she had been taken following a fall at her home here Tuesday afternoon. She had been recovering from a broken hip. She owned and operated Starcher Insurance Agency at the time of her death.
Married to William Dodge Starcher in Denton in 1912, the couple moved to Spur from Roaring Springs in 1922. Thy established the Dickens County Times newspaper here that year, and continued its operation until Mr. Starcher's death in 1943.
Mrs. Starcher was a member of the Baptist Church; Eastern Star; Daughters of the American Revolution.
She was chairman of the Dickens County Democratic Committee. She had operated her insurance agency since 1944.
In December of 1972, she was honored by the Spur VFW Post 7212 as the Outstanding Citizen Through the Years.
A eulogy, written by Dr. Bob Alexander, was read by Rev. Taylor at the service. Dr. Alexander is recovering from knee surgery at his home here. Among other things, the eulogy pointed out that Mrs. Starcher's trademark was her hats. She almost always had on a hat of some kind. She was very active in politics and counted many nationally known politicians among her friends. They included the late Lyndon Baines Johnson and Congressman George Mahon.
One son, W.D. Starcher, Lubbock survives, along with several nieces and nephews. Two grandchildren also survive.
Burial was in Spur Cemetery.
©The Texas Spur, September 15, 1977
From the scrapbook of Thelma Kimmel Scott
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