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World War II Army Air ForceAlthough the actual settlement of this family in Dickens County as on March 31, 1946, their roots in the area are much deeper than that. R.A. Conner, better known as Bob, spent the summer of 1930 between college terms working as a farmhand on the Spur Experiment Station. His father, Dr. A.B. Corner, was State Director of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station at College Station, Texas, and as such he was in constant contact with the Spur Sub-station. He and the late R.E. Dickson, superintendent of the Spur Sub-station, wrote the original draft of the national law which founded the Soil Conservation Service, so that Spur can boast of being the birthplace of the SCS.
Genevieve Conner was born in Seymour, Texas, on September 1, 1912, in the same bed in which her mother was born. Her grandfather was Dr. Burnett, a surgeon who was much in demand in West Texas; in fact, he operated at Dickens, Texas, on at least one patient. Genevieve´s mother lived in Spur for several years before her death. Bob´s parents spent several summers in Spur and were well acquainted in this area.
Bob was born in Chillicothe, Texas, on November 22, 1911, and lived most of his boyhood on the campus of the A & M College of Texas, later to become A & M University. He attended both the A & M College and the University of Texas and began his career as a lawyer in Dallas, Texas, where he practiced for 7 years before World War II. Following 39 months in the Army Air Force, he returned to civilian life and moved to Spur in 1946 and formed a law partnership with the late L.D. Ratliff. In 1949, Alfred W. Walker joined the firm. L.D. Ratliff became District Judge in 1957, and Alfred W. Walker moved to Austin in 1968. Bob recently completed his 50th year as a lawyer.
The Conners have two children; one is Dr. Jett B. Conner who teaches Government and Political Science at Metro State College in Denver, Colorado. He is married to Rosemary Conner, a teacher. He has one child, Blake Conner, who is 16 years of age. The other child is Mary Jane Conner Keast, who is married to David G. Keast, a wheat farmer and rancher; they live in Dalhart, Texas, and have two children, Emily Katherine Keast, who is 7 years of age, and Julia Marie Keast, who is 4 years of age.
Genevieve has always been interested in children; she operated a kindergarten for about two years before the public schools took this area over. She was active as a Den Mother for Cub Scouts and as a leader for Girl Scouts; she took a great interest in the Methodist Youth Fellowship and spent several years on their various activities. She was very interested in garden club work, and together with Bob´s mother, they organized the Spur Garden Club. Bob was a member of the Spur Rotary Club for 25 years and served as President of that organization for one year. He was also active as a member of the Dickens County Fat Stock Show Committee. He is still engaged in the practice of law at Spur and serves as a Director of the Spur Security Bank. Bob and Genevieve are better known to their grandchildren as G-Bobby; they send postcards to their grandchildren as they engage in their favorite pastime of travelling about the world.
Source: "Dickens County, Its Land and People", Dickens County Historical Commission, ©1986
R.A. Conner, Civil Law, was born in Marlin, Texas. He married Genevive Burnett of Seymour, on July 22, 1938. They have two children. He has been a member for eight years, served as a director vice-president and president, he earned his first money picking burr clover seed at 15 cents per pound. He spent it on candy since bubble gum had not been invented. His first job was practicing law and economy, mostly economy. This occupation "seemed to be better than working for a living." The only other occupation was 38 months of Army life in World War II. From other people he has learned mostly "The fact of Christianity". For relaxation he watches television and his greatest accomplishment is "passing the buck." He graduated from A&M Consolidated high school, Texas A&M and the University of Texas.Rotary Club Biography
Graveside services for Genevieve Julia Conner, 77, were at 2 p.m. Monday at Spur Memorial Cemetery with a memorial service following at the First United Methodist Church.Rev. John Dorn, church pastor, officiated.
Mrs. Conner died December 2, 1989 following a lengthy illness.She was born September 1, 1912 in Seymour. She had been a resident of Dickens County since 1946, coming here from Dallas where she was a qualified laboratory technician for several years.
She also operated a kindergarten in Spur for a time and was organizer and charter member of the Spur Garden Club. She also served as a Den Mother for the Cub Scouts.
She married R.A. Conner on July 22, 1938 in Dallas. Dhe was a homemaker and a member of the Methodist Church.
Survivors include her husband, R.A. Conner, Spur; one son, Jett Conner, Conifer, Colorado; one daughter, Mary Jane Keast of Dalhart and three grandchildren.
Campbell Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
©The Texas Spur, December 1989
From the scrapbooks of Thelma Kimmel Scott, transcribed by Linda Hughes
Services Thursday at 2 p.m. For Spur Attorney, R.A. (Bob) ConnerFuneral services for long time Spur attorney at law, R.A. (Bob) Conner will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in the First United Methodist Church. Eric Swenson, a former law partner of Mr. Conner, and now president of Spur Security Bank, will officiate. Rev. Kenney Kirk, church pastor, will assist.
Mr. Conner died at a Dalhart Care Center early Tuesday morning.
He is survived by a daughter, Mary Jane Keast, Dalhart and a son, Jett Conner of Conifer, Colorado and three grandchildren.
Burial will be in Spur Memorial Cemetery under direction of Campbell Funeral Home.
Arrangements were completed late Tuesday. Additional information will be published next week.
©Lubbock Avalanche Journal, May 4, 1993
From the scrapbook of Thelma Kimmel Scott, transcribed by Linda Hughes
Services for Robert Arthur (Bob) Conner, 81, were held at 2 p.m. May 6, 1993, in the First United Methodist Church. Eric Swenson, a former law partner of Mr. Conner's, officiated. He a assisted by church pastor, Rev. Kenney Kirk.Burial was in Spur Memorial Cemetery with Campbell Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Conner died at the Coon Memorial Nursing Home in Dalhart on May 5 following a lengthy illness.
He was born in Chillicothe and moved to Spur from Dallas on March 31, 1946 where he opened a law practice. He married Genevieve Julia Burnett on July 22, 1938. She preceded him in death on December 2, 1989.
He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the Army Air Force.
Mr. Conner practiced law in Dickens County for 47 years, only recently retiring and selling his practice her to Tom Brian and Michael Ward. He served as Dickens County Attorney on two different occasions, 1946-1949 and again from 1968-1977. He served as the first Adult Probation Officer for the 110th Judicial District for ten years, after being appointed to the position by District Judge, L.D. Ratliff.
He was past president of the Spur Rotary Club, a former member of the Spur Lions Club and a member of the First United Methodist Church for over 40 years where he held several church offices. His law firm has represented Cap Rock Telephone Co. since its inception in 1953 and also had a longtime association with Dickens Electric where he served a master of ceremonies for many years during he cooperative's annual meeting.
Survivors include on son, Jett Conner, Conifer, Colorado and one daughter, Mrs. Mary Jane Keast, Dalhart; four grandchildren.
Pallbearers included Robert Pierce, Joe Harrison, Lynn Buzbee, Alfred Walker, Thurmond Moore, JR., J.B. Morrison, Jim Whitefield.
Honorary Pallbearers included Wilburn Ball, Guy Karr, Ransom Galloway, Dr. Bob Alexander, Alton Chapman, Bailey Reece and W.H. (Snooks) Williams.
©The Texas Spur, May 13, 1993
From the records of Lillian Grace Nay, Spur Museum, transcribed by Becky Hodges, August 2004
© Dickens County Historical Commission 1997-2022
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