Texas Club raising Knob tower funds

By: KEITH STRANGE / Staff Writer, Coalfield Progress
August 29, 2008

Sometime in the late 1940s or early 1950s, a small group of World War II veterans did what many young men their age do — they stood on the corner of Norton’s Park Avenue and 7th Street and decided they were bored.

“We came back from the war and were sort of adrift,” one of those men, Jack Hatcher, said during a Wednesday phone interview from his Tennessee home. “We wanted to have a good time, so we started having parties.”

That fateful day on the corner, the Texas Club was formed.

Called the Texas Club because all of the founding members had served in Texas during the war, the group grew over time.

“As time went by, we started getting married, getting jobs and going to college, but we always kept the club intact,” Hatcher said. “We always got together every year or two to have a party.”

With other veterans, wives and children welcomed into the group, the ranks soon swelled to a gathering of 150-200 people at the event. They came from around the nation to attend the Friday-Sunday parties.

“These were good people having good, clean fun,” Hatcher said. “There was a bond among us folks.”

And much of that bond revolved around a place many of the group remembered well — the High Knob observation tower.

“As we were teenagers and young men growing up in the shadow of High Knob, we used to hike and camp up there and it became a very special place for us,” Hatcher said. “Our group revolved around High Knob.”

When he heard that the tower was destroyed by arson on Halloween 2007, his heart sank.

“I just couldn’t imagine it was gone, and the only thing I could think of for several days was that High Knob tower must be rebuilt,” he said.

Hatcher decided to turn to those he knows best.

Wanting to do something tangible, he called on the members of the Texas Club for donations toward the effort.

“It means so much to our members, I got the idea that I could collect money and send it toward the rebuilding effort.”

So far, he has sent out letters to 200 members and former members, and has raised about $800.

With a goal of raising $2,000, he is hoping some of his friends in Wise County will join in the effort.

He has set a Sept. 9 deadline to receive donations, and has set up an account at his home bank in Nashville to accept donations.

“We’re hoping that some people will remember the club and the good times we had at High Knob and open their hearts and wallets,” Hatcher said.

Anyone wishing to make donations can make checks payable to The Texas Club.

Donations may be sent to Jack C. Hatcher, 2124 Fairfax Ave., Condo 205, Nashville, Tenn. 37212. Donations received so far range from $25-$100, but Hatcher said every penny will help. For more information, call Hatcher at 615/383-8333.

“I want everyone to know that every penny collected will be sent to the rebuilding effort,” he said. “That place is so special to us that we don’t want to take anything away from getting the tower rebuilt.”

His voice got quiet.

“To us, it was an icon that meant something,” Hatcher said. “I don’t know whether we’ll ever be able to have another party or not, but we can rebuild the tower so future young men can enjoy it.”