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Show Old Dice Sign Poses Problem Texas Community Studies a 'Slogan' DECATUR, Tex. The city fathers fa-thers of this community of 4,200 residents have a problem. Dice players the world over have been crying "Efghter from Decatur, the county seat of Wise," for years. This is Decatur, the county seat of Wise, and the local city council would like to tell the world about it. But there is a problem. The aldermen aren t quite sure whether they want to put their official approval ap-proval on the fame of this north Texas town. The problem hinges on a faded signboard which has hung for years near the railroad station here. The sign has proclaimed, to one and all: "Eighter from Decatur, the county seat of Wise." According to Mayor Syl Hard-wick, Hard-wick, the city fathers are faced with deciding what to do about the sign. For years, tourists passing by the sign have had their pictures taken in crap-shooting poses. This sort of "tomfoolery" doesn't please some of the residents of Decatur. But some residents are pleased. These include filling station and restaurant owners who say the faded sign and its well-known slogan means more business from travellers who might not otherwise other-wise tarry. Mayor Hardwick favors a motion mo-tion "that a new and bigger 'Eighter 'Eight-er trom Decatur' sign be erected." He promises to "put it where all can see it if the council approves." According to Cliff D. Cates, author of "The Pioneer History of Wise County," the "Eighter from Decatur" slogan is attributable to this Texas community on the basis of historical facts. It teems Decatur became famous among dice players because of a Negro girl in Decatur who was named Ada. |