ROCK GARDEN MEMORIALIZES FORMER MAYOR RUTHERFORD

Phillip Rutherford, former mayor, was a linguist, specializing in onomastics. After retiring to his hometown of Roxton, he immediately began work on special projects, including the Roxton Veterans Memorial, the City Drug Store Museum, and the Dr. Lura Gregory Memorial Library. His final project was to help design a rock garden at the triangle in the south part of town.

Since Roxton was named for the rocks in the surrounding area, Phillip felt that something should be visible to commemorate such. He wanted a garden filled with sandstone rocks from the Roxton area.

With the financial backing of the Chaparral Rails to Trails Museum and a grant from Northeast Texas RC&D, Phillip?s dream has come true.

Just a couple months before the Roxton ISD closed its doors forever, Shawn Burt and her horticulture students volunteered to help with the project. Working diligently and hard, the students landscaped the area, creating a perfect triangle. Then, they spread a ton of rocks inside the triangle.

The Chaparral Board agreed that the perfect rock for the garden was the one Kenneth Springer placed on the museum lawn several years ago. It was just the size and shape needed to make an impression. But, who could move it to the triangle? Mike Bush, a member of the Chaparral Board, offered to handle the task. It was amazing to watch as he, single-handedly, wrapped a strap around the rock and moved it with a front end loader the equivalent of a city block, placing it in the exact spot needed. Then, he scouted creeks on the Perry Enterprises land and hauled several more large rocks to the rock garden.

Next, Milton Sims helped members of the Chaparral Board plant drought-tolerant yucca and Blackfoot daisies. So far, they have survived the hot Texas summer.

The City of Roxton City Council voted to name the sign for the late mayor and engaged Jackie Taylor of Kansas Post Rock Store in Dodd City to carve the stone that reads ?Phillip?s Garden.?

Now, Roxton has one more beautiful spot to visit, reflect on the past, and look to the future, a future that fulfills Phillip?s dream of Roxton becoming and, if not already, being the best place possible to call home.