(Story courtesy of Mount Vernon Optic-Herald)

Memorial Service Will Honor Bus Accident Victims of September 29, 1959             Friends, family members and survivors will gather Tuesday to remember the eight who died as a result of a Mount Vernon school bus wreck on Sept. 29, 1959.      The memorial service to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the school bus accident will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29 at the monument site on the school grounds.      The 2009 memorial service will include a speech delivered at the dedication of the monument on Jan. 27, 2002 by the late K. B. Copeland, who was superintendent of schools at the time of the wreck. Dr. Copeland’s son, Ken, was running late and narrowly missed the bus. Ken Copeland will deliver his father’s address at the 2009 service.      The monument was built with donations from family members, survivors, and friends, and was designed by Thomas Rowden, nephew of Jack Henry, who died in the accident. Don Bohlken was the volunteer contractor for the project, and Rex Tillery, president of the Rotary Club, was overseer of the work.      Eight died as a result of the accident, which happened near Cooper. Twenty-two students were hospitalized, many with serious injuries, and seven were released after emergency treatment.      The school bus was hit head on by a salt transport truck on its way to Grand Saline at the intersection of Hwy. 154 and FM 54 to Cooper. The intersection has since been altered to allow better visibility of oncoming traffic. The wreck also changed the way school buses were designed, in an effort to make them safer.      Jack D. Henry, 44, driver of the bus and elementary school principal, was killed instantly, as was Mrs. W. B. Meek, 43, elementary school teacher and pep squad leader. Billy Max Henry, only son of Jack Henry, also died in the crash.      Kenneth Hightower, 12, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Hightower, and a starter on the Mount Vernon High School football team, was killed.      Rex Weatherford, 12, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Weatherford, died. His twin brother, Lex, was in critical condition, but survived.      Audry Sue Turner, 11, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Aubrey Turner, died in a Paris hospital.      Jauquita Lou Raney, 12, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lois Raney, died in a Paris hospital.      Zack Taylor, 11, son of Mrs. Flora Taylor and Holley Taylor, died in a Sulphur Springs hospital.      The bus was carrying the Junior High pep squad, cheerleaders, and several members of the Mount Vernon High School football team to attend a scheduled Junior High game at Cooper. The game was never played.      A second bus carrying the Junior High football team was a short distance behind the pep squad bus and arrived shortly after the crash.      Mr. and Mrs. Clive Elledge and Mathus Black were in the fi rst car that arrived at the crash and helped all that they could from the bus. Mr. Black drove a car load of children who could sit up to a Cooper clinic. Coaches Mark Jones and Mark Boatright also helped remove some of the injured and dead.      Ambulances began arriving at the scene and the injured were taken to hospitals in Sulphur Springs, Cooper and Paris.      J. M. Warrington, driver of the truck, was taken to a Paris hospital, where his condition was reported as good.      Surviving family members, survivors and friends are urged to attend the service to pay their respects to the victims. No invitations will be sent, and those interested are asked to contact others who have an interest and might not receive the Mount Vernon Optic-Herald.      In the case of rain, the ceremony will be conducted in the High School Library.