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Show - page 13 September 12, 2000 Basin LIFE Uintah Basin Standard SHE INFILTRATED COMMUNIST PARTY housewife reveals secret double life A mild-manner- ed EdUor'i Note: This is part two of a feature series detailing the efforts ofa former Roosevelt womanand her husband who worked as FBI informants against the Communist party in America. When passing people at church, in the grocery (tore, or walking down her neighborhood street, Thells was worried that she might betray her thoughts and others would learn of her double life. By Cheryl Mecham Living in Lot Angeles, the Brock family appeared as any average family livingona suburban street. However, Dan and Thella Brockjoined the Communist party at the request of FBI agents to become undercover informants, which they did for a little over 20 years. The communists knew oftheir children, their church affiliation and that Dan ran his own photographic studio. The inner turmoil and sacrifice became too much at times for Thella, "Extending communists the benefit of the doubt made our role easier, but we could not even pretend to agree with much they said and did. They were wrong, and Dan and I both knew it. We would often observe to each other that we could never agree with the communist way of victimizing innocent people. These were the times silence was hardest," who was leading a double lifa. She was conservative, a faithful member ofthe LDSchurch, and waaofien involved in routing. She would pasaionately plead with Dan to end the service to their country. "I went storming into the studio at night. 1 told him I wanted my freedom of speech back and 1 wanted it right then! Dan would stop his work and put his arms around me, Thella said. Communist Aims The Brockswitnessed firsthand the work of the communists who organised unions. Thella recorded that they were determined to gain political power and found various ways and means to do ao. Civil disobedience was promoted and honored. The party encouraged civil unrest inside the Hispanic and African American cultures, heartily supported the American Civil Liberties Union, orchesp trated the passing of the law, and worked to create class consciousness and separation to provoke jealousy and oontentionamongpeople. It was difficult for Dan and Thella to remain silent a silence that excluded everyone but each other and one of the 14 FBI agents they worked with over the yean. "Extending communists the benefit of the doubt made our role easier, but we could not even pretend to agree food-stam- Thella Brock uyithe TODAY work she does today as Relief Society president is just as important, if not more so, than the civil service she performed for the FBI yean ago. Shecunently lives in StGeorge and speaks about her experience as an informant on occasion. fk t with much they said and did. They I were wrong, and Dan and 1 both knew it. We would often observe to each other that we could never agree with the communist way of victimizing innocent people. These were the times silence was hardest," Thella recorded in her book. She also writes of a difficult time when her daughter Draza won a patriotic essay contest and her entry was to be published in the school newspaper and sent to national competition at Valley Forge Freedom Foundation. Their FBI agent said, "That would blast you folks right out of the water." The Ila couldn't explain to Draza she only told her that her father and mother didn't want the essay published and asked Draza to tell the principal to give the award to the next little girt. The principal was furious YF.ARS OF LABOR and rolled to give Thella a tongue-lashin- g cobUerock fence was constructed over a 22-eThis 300-fotime period by Rac Scholcs - but she couldnt explain and family members w ith rock cleared while lav ing foundations and water lines and digging areas for septic tanks. the reason. What began as a garden wall grew and grew and grew, though "the rocks got heav ler w hile w c grew w eakcr," Scholcs The Brocks couldn't allow their said, laughing. son's photos where he wore an Eagle scout uniform to appear in the newsCOBBLEROCK WALL HOLDS MEMORIES paper, nor could they display an American flag even when their sons were selling them to raise money for scouting. At communist meetings the American flag was removed or ignored while a Russian anthem was sung. "Every meeting had its shocking stab to the heart where we learned to sit silently looking down until the vilifier exhausted himself. Berating America was constantly encouraged and every small grievance magnified. kids would get up and walk on top of I wore high collars, lest someone should Bv Cheryl Mecham it." When the wall was glance at my neck and see a pounding When t he wall began, two of Raes When Raa Scholcs began a pulse. Our investment in America was too great to turn aside. We would cobhlerock wall for his garden long ago begun, two of Rae's granddaughter. Jamie and Jounie be just sc holes, bad just been bom. and at the 22 years, to be exact continue." granddaughters had just Communism Grow Bold didn't know bow long it would grow or completion of the wall both were recently married yet anot her way the Ironically Thella's potential to love the length of time he'd be working on been bom. At the complewall will hold family memories it. Today, the solid edifice. 18 inches extended to her comrades. She develtion of the wall both were Rae settled on the property with oped dose friendships with a few wide, and over four feet tall, st retches his wife Ema 24 yvars ago Together women zealous in communist ethics, over 300 feet, from one end ofScholes' married. recently but looked for the good in them, which backyard to his son Kendall's backthey raised four chddren Terry, Kendall. RaeAnn ar,d Benny. Now she found, and worked to love them. yard. "I tried to quit several limes," Rae bed holding the last few rocks which Terry Uvea in I oka. Kendall next door. The 11a raised her children and cared RaeAnn tAlIdndge; in Fillmore and for her family while the covert work said, explaining that Kendall insisted weren't selected for the wall. continued for ten years. It was now the rock wall "wouldn't look finished." But, the true beauty of the thing. Benny in Tay Vorwule. "We did it night and weekends; 1968 and the communist party had So. the family just kept working on it. Rae explained is the fact that the wall some years we didnt lay up ary. I'm Acemenl foundation supports the was a family project grown bold. Recruiting posters were "Even the groat grandkida worked just relieved its done, but it's been prominently displayed. When they rxk and cement work that is surely a stand through the joined in 1958, it had been a "hush, thing of beauty. The various shapes on it he said, adding, "It's customary fun. Im sure it of cobblerork in red, that after we finished a section the millennium," Rae concluded hush, by private invitation only" af- - and multi-hue- s (hir for the Brocks and everyone was grange, tan and gold mates heauliftil ' and solid divider from backyard to suspect The level of suspicion was very pasture below. Two rows of large col highat times. You would be frazenout orful cobble rock form the width, with if suspect. People would turn their "chucker." or small cobblerork used hacks when you came through the as fill inside, all held together by door and wouldn't speak with you. It concrete, with small pipe sections to allow water drainage into the field was hanh human treatment." below. Thella returned to college, graduBefore the Lust section was comating in September 1969 with a bachelors degree in Home Econom- plete all the rocks dug up and cleared ics and Child Development-Sh- e found off the Sc holes property had been a teaching position at the Mayberry used li was the firet time the family Street School in elementary educahad to gu looking for rock. It was tion. As her teaching career eontin- - donated by Mike Davenport in Neola and hauled to Rae's place in hi old SEE DOUBLE LIFE on page 20 1950 truck, the fiat Chevy pick-u- i nine-year-ol- d ar ol Not the Great Wall of China, but unique just the same w-,- 1 -- Hola Single Adults! Come join us for a Mexican Fiesta on F riday, Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. at the East Stake Center. Single adults ever 30, all friths welcome, LDS standards apply. Attention Scout Leaders p King's Peak District Scout Training basic count will be held at the Rooeevvlt West Stake Building ( 1 50 South Skyline) at 6 10 pm. on Friday, Sept. 15. It will continue on Saturday Sept. 16at 8am. The Saturday suasion will go until 1 p.m. Call Paul Chambers at 9, Bob Hoopea at to sign up for the date. 722-903- 738-220- Area Qullters Quillen are rolled to a meeting on Tuesday, SepC 12 at 7 pm. at the Moon Lake building. Bring UFO's and lots of ideas. All Area Open House After of Public Health WARMING FAMILIES Service project gets whole family involved By Helen Johnson Service, Marilyn Suinmetz is retiring many years from T riCounty Health Department. You are cordially invited to attend an Open House in her honor on Wednesday, Sept 1 3 from 3 6 pjn. at the Moon Lake Electric Building in Roosevelt. Little Blossom Support Group Little Blossom Intervention will be Early program offering a "Mamas-To-Be.an-d Daddies, Too" Support Group on the tliird Monday of each month, beginning Monday, SepC 18 at 7 p m. at the Little Blossom Center, Fort Duchesne. For further information roll Kathryn Larson, Little Blossom Program Coordinator at 4. AARP 55 Alive Class In everyone's life there are times of hardship. Sometimes it leads to months of financial stress, in other roses people can lose everything That's why Kim Hirken, Roosevelt, decided to get behind The Warming Familea Project This project is designed to get all member of the family involved in helping provide needed blankets to many homeless families and shelters. The Wanning Families Piqject is sponsored by TheFaniiycum and OncHeart.org OneHeartisachanty foundation founded by Alan and Suzanne Osmond. The goal of the Wanning Families project is to have people who like to sew, crochet or knit make handmade items such as blankets for donation to families in need. Everyone is welcome to participate including church groups and senior citucns. as well as any individuals interested in aseiftmg in thw great challenge to provide shelter across the USA and Canada with w arm blankets. For more information or to find out how to help, contact Kim Hicken at 722-343- There will be a AARP 55 Alive Class on Friday, Oct. 6 from 5 pm. and Saturday. Oct.7from8a m.-1- 2 pm. at the Criiwroada Senior Center.Sign up at the Senior Center or for more information roll Judy Smith at Libertarian Candidates Coming Libertarian Party US Senate Candidate Jim Dexter, and US House of Community Dances Start the Fall season o(T with dinner and . 722-429- Sew Creative Conference Sew Creative Conference coming Wednesday, Sept. 27 at USU-Rooaeve- lt sponsored by USLEx tension. Full day of clauses on different aspects of sewing including fit ting, fabric and notion selertion.quilUng, felting, ideas for Christmas sewing and for children. For more information roll USU Ext 143. PerformingEchoWorkshops The award Mountain Performing Troupe will be holding winning Workshop classes for all ages at the Moon Lake Building, Roosevelt on Thursday. Fndoy.SepC 21 2 from 3 5 p.m Call Bonnie Faueell for family rates and more information at days! or 722 3243 (evenings). 722-240- Copy awarded with the Duchssne County Soil Conservation District's Lifetime Service and Achievement Award for 2000. LaMar retired from the district in July. He began ht professional career working for the Soil Ccmserva twn Senior asanengineering technician in 1956. He retired from the federal agency on Jan. 3, 1 986 after 30 rears, but didnt take much time ofT before embarking on his next career. In fret, LaMar didn't take any time off at all because the following day, on f Jan 4. 19S6.be became district the Duchesne County Soil Conservation District 11 accomplishments with the Sent Conservation District are numerous Some of I he more distinguished successes include both the tree and the PAWS On programa. Due to LaMar ' efforts, the tree program has grown from 22iW trees to over 18.000 trees per year. In ackiitioa, LaMar was instrumental in beginning the PAWS On Program TAWS stands for Plante, Animals. Water and Scu! and this w here student are Ukcn into the field and lesson in agriculture gtvvn a hands-oand natural resources lnl999akme. ever 22t0 student participated in at lr ist one PAWS event and there were oror partner involved LaMar ha always been commu man-agero- dancing at the Crossroads Center on Tuesday, Sept. 19. Dinner 7 p.m., dancing, 8 30 10.30 p.m. Thera w a 6 for more information charge for this event Please roll Judie at or to make a reservation. ext Wilson honored with Achievement Award -- Representatives Candidste Kitty Burton, will be speaking st the Befjamin Franklin Academy School located at 266 W. 100 N, Vernal, on Sept 15 at 7 pm. 722-928- 4 SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT LaMar Wilson was recently 1-- at LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT UMjt Wilson was recently trued from the Duchesne County Soil Conservation District. LaMar worked for the Soil Conservation Service and Liter the Duchesne County Soil Conservation District for a total of 44 y ears. LaMar and his w ife Onetinc plan to cent inuc to be involved in the communitv. n The IIkUo ts QUILTS FOR CHARITY KdJ up two quilts The dragonfly quilt wav put together by the lUkcv 1jm"'v d the bLvk qui!t consists of bUxkv vent by people 1kv ghoul she country nity minded He spent eight years servings an EMT He had many year with the Jeep Posse A a director for the Dry Gulch Irrigation Company, LaMar was instrumental in initialing the "call system making irrigation systems more efficient. LaMar is a proud member ofthe LDS Church and has served in tnanv church positions including Ward Clerk. Elder Quo- rum President, 11 gh Priest Group Leader. F ir.ancial Clerk. H igh Coun cil. and Counselor to Bishop Frank Madsen and Bishop Michael Knight Over the roars, LaMar has accom-- . plished much and has received many awards Some of the highlights include: SCS Special Achievement 1977. Franc: T. Holt State Conservationist Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Uinta Basin Conservation Program, February 1585. SCS Employee of the Year, 1985 Vernal Chamber of Commerce Golden Shorol Award for Outstanding Service in thel'intah Rivcin Water Programs, Water Development, and Conservation Practices, February 19V6. LaMar is dedicated to hit community , w a hard owrker, and never hesitates to help out a neighbor. Yet. bis proudest moment are with his fam- SF EWl!SON on pep 20 |