Tom Karvonen, Ollie Theophilus, George Karvonen, Peggy Karvonen, Karen Karvonen, Karl Karvonen and Peg Theophilus

1974 recording equipment HSC Brentwood Odessa

Ector County Children's Services had a case involving Mexican National families and Fran and Martin travelled to El Paso to meet with the Mexican Consultant and had some fun along the way.

On 01/23/74 Fran & Martin meet with the Mexican Consulate in El Paso regarding the Garcia children family. The kids had been abused by a Grandmother in Mexico and the family came to the US. The family came to the attention of Ector County Children's Services due to neglect. The Mexican Government wanted the children returned to Mexico and we fought the request in court to prevent their going back into an abusive situation in Mexico.

Martin dated Jan Pool an Odessa High School teacher 01/31/74 to 04/24/74. They met when she asked Martin to present information about Ector County Children's Services to their school.

 

02/09/74 Shills birthday

Fran helped Martin adopt Shilo, a Siberian Husky who was born on February 9, 1974

Shilo's AKC Registration

Jackie's Midland High School student who came out to ride cycles with us

Bruce and Jackie

Martin returning from El Paso

In the Big Bend with Jackie & Bruce • looking into Mexico

Bruce on River Road by famous rock

Martin on River Road by famous rock

03/26/74 Doobie Brothers

Seals & Croft - Dallas, Texas April 16, 1974

In 1974 Fran, Bruce and Martin rode in Bruce's Courier pickup through Pinto Canyon and rode cycles from the canyon to Candelaria and Ruidosa on the Rio Grande.

Fran preparing to ride in the Candelaria area

Fran & Bruce Big Bend

Fran & Martin Big Bend

The right photo was taken after Fran had a fall on her cycle. She road back 45 minutes to Bruce's truck and we later learned that she'd broken her collar bone.

Fran, Bruce & Martin near Candelaria, Texas by the Rio Grande.

Fran, Bruce and Martin also rode cycles in the hills in Big Springs. Unfortunately Fran took and another fall landing on a large cactus. Bruce removed the cactus spines from her bottom.

 

Fran leaving for Hawaii for her doctorate

Fran worked for Ector county Children's Services from October 1, 1972 until July 15, 1974. Martin's recommendation letter for Fran. Fran and Martin have remained lifelong friends. She was one of three authors who published a study on Imaginary companions while at UT.

Fran photo & boat from Hawaii

05/08/74 Becky Knight was a nurse at the Odessa Hospital who helped Martin organize the Odessa Parents Anonymous charter in the Permian Basin. 

05/09/74 Martin presented Parents Anonymous information to the Odessa Junior Service League with nurse Becky Knight. They also presented a workshop that included the PA expert "Jolly K"on June 11, 1974

Additional PA meetings were presented by Martin with Becky: 05/16/09 Beta Sigma - Caroryn Bennevidez home (later Homero Rodriguez's wife SA RA); KMID TV; ECCSO Luncheon.

Click to read more of the report

Abuse and Neglect by County P1 • P2

Child Abuse Symposium UT Permian Basin

Dad & Mom 1974

Hot Air Balloon from Martin's back yard in Odessa 1974

Shilo and Twister at Martin's home on Brentwood in Odessa

Shilo

Martin and Cheryl began dating

(Beginning on 09/19/73 Martin dated Cheryl off and on and also she enrolled at Tx Tech. Richard also started attending Texas Tech. Carol & I suggested that Cheryl and Richard car pool, but after a couple of trips they decided not to.)

Shilo & Twister

06/13/74 Cheryl said she didn't want to see Becky's car at my house and asked I get rid of my 2 Siberian Husky's Shilo & Twister.

 

Shilo

 

Twister

 

 

Martin's ECCS supervisor's office in the Ector County Courthouse in 1974.

06/22/74 Carol & Martin travelled together to 1974 10th AHS reunion

Martin's '74 Dodge Charger

07/26/74 Martin attended a Child Abuse workshop in Dallas and stayed with Juanita Carlton, with whom he'd worked with when he first joined ECCS. Juanita and Ann Kimbrell were the two Ector County Child Welfare workers when the State of Texas took over all the county CPS offices. There was some resentment in the process and Martin's joining the group mended the relationship. Martin and Juanita and her husband at the time became friends. Her husband was a bank manager in Odessa and facilitated an auto loan and house financing for Martin. While staying with Juanita, she allowed Martin to sit in on one of her group therapy sessions.

09/14/74 Cheryl and Martin discussed marriage & became engaged

09/17/74 Message from Sylvia to Martin from ECCS Board Chair Jay Poyner

Martin attended a Child Welfare conference in Denver (where he also got to attend a Joan Baez concert). 

092974 Martin to Denver - Battered Child Conference. While driving around Denver looking for Coliseum, Martin saw Joan Baez and Caesar Chavez chained to front door of auditorium. Attended Joan Baez concert

Martin attended the Joan Baez' concert in Denver on 09/29/74

 

10/02/74 Martin picked up 3 hitchhikers at Independence pass. They travelled together for a few days, going through NM looking for one of the girl's Dads. Martin ended up back in Lubbock where Cheryl was going to school.

10/08/74 Martin presented at Andrews County Child Welfare committee for Ann Kimbal and Martha Mansell.

Martha after filing CPS papers at the Andrews County Courthouse

Mom,Dad, Ken, Karl, Peggy, George, Grandma Crerar

10/12/74 Alpine Dad, Mom, Martin

10/16/74 Martin drove to San Angelo for regional DHS meeting. Martin had supper with Sylvia & Pat - Sylvia said she's getting divorced.

Odessa & Ector County Resources used by Ector County Children's Services P 1 • P2 • P3 • P4

11/08/74 Martin and Cheryl at the Lubbock Prairie Dog Town

11/28/74 - 11/30/74 Cheryl & Martin spent Thanksgiving in El Paso

Martin spent time with Martha Mansell - 12/06/74 to 12/13/74

On 12/14/74 Martin drove to Lubbock and broke his engagement with Cheryl.  Events after the Denver, hitchhiker experience, the Lubbock trip with parents, Thanksgiving and time with Martha, made Martin decide he wasn't ready to marry again. This was the pits for Cheryl as she was in Tx Tech final exams.

12/21/74 Martha headed to her parent's home in the Woodlands north of Houston. When she arrived her parents said she could invite Martin to join them. So at the last minute, Martin spent Christmas holidays with Martha’s family at their home in the Woodlands.

 

Martha's Mom and Martin 1974 Christmas holidays

Some of the Ector County Children's Services staff around 1975

data

01/01/75 Martin helped Martha move to a house across from Andrews Lake.

Andrews Lake across from Martha's home

Jackie & Bruce 1975

Dad, Mom, Martin January 5, 1975 Martin spent a '74 follow-up

Christmas with his family in Alpine.

Martin with Brandy and Sunshine (Martha's Setter)

Martha with Brandy and Sunshine

Martin's Charger in Andrews at Marthas

Martha with Bandy and her brother Sunshine

Brandy and Sunshine & Sunshine with Foster Parent sticker

re-engaged July 1975

07/16/75 Counselor Leon Balcomb - As we were preparing to enter Cheryl said she did not want to tell counselor she was pregnant, so we didn't. Martin took 8 hrs sick leave next day.

07/25/75 Cheryl's sister Cindy's wedding to Mike in Fort Worth. Martin wasn’t invited to attend

08/13/75 At marriage counseling with Rev Mike Miller - Cheryl said she had not been pregnant.

08/20/75 Rev Miller counseling session with Cheryl and Martin

 

08/22/75 Cheryl's wedding shower

Cheryl and Martin married August 30, 1975

Sylvia, Pat, Bruce, Carol & Martin at Ector County Children's Services on Andrews highway

ECCS in Andrews highway Odessa Texas DHS State offices

Christmas 1975 Odessa with Cheryl, her friends & the Carters

12/06/75 Martin went to Sylvia's garage sale

University of Texas Permian Basin review of Ector County Children's Services - Spring/ Summer 1975

Click to read more of the report

Martin & Brandy in Brentwood back yard

Martin & Brandy in Brentwood back yard in snow

Brandy packed to go to Alpine in back of Mazda pickup

Christmas in Alpine - Family at Bien Venido