Maynard A. Glasscock, former Trustee of the Anahuac ISD School Board in the 1930's & early 1940's



 

                                                                          

 

            Maynard and Vera Martin Glasscock, Sr. 1967           Maynard, Sr., and children, Maynard, Jr., Marian, Ray & Jack taken in 1972.



Maynard Arthur Glasscock, Sr. was born in Milburn, McCulloch Co, TX on May 1, 1896, of Jessie Reagan Smith and William Oscar Glasscock. Jessie was from Parker County, TX in the North central part of the state. William Oscar Glasscock was a Confederate Veteran from Alabama, a former teamster who after moving to McCulloch Co, TX became a farmer, as were his parents and their parents. At the age of 91 Maynard died 30 May 1987 in a hospital in Deer Park, TX. His later years were difficult starting in 1980 when he had heart failure. From that moment on it was a slow decline as he became weaker and then slowly became blind. Because of his exemplary life it was not fair that such an active person should so slowly just fade away. Maynard is buried in the Anahuac, TX cemetery with his wife Vera, age 68, who died in 1969 from breast cancer, and their son Dalton, who died from a ruptured appendix in 1942 at the age of 20.

Maynard was well respected in his church, in politics, and in his community. He loved music, sang in a quartet for years, and was in a church choir all of his active life. His honesty, sincerity and devotion to God were admired by all who knew him. He loved to talk and visit with friends, relatives and strangers. He was knowledgeable in most any subject you would care to discuss.

He was a very stubborn man and would never admit being wrong. Because he was usually correct it was not too bad of a trait. He was very loyal to his country, his family, his friends and his community.

His work history, as I remember it, was as a manager of several lumber yards (my Uncle Reagan Glasscock, got him his first lumber yard which was in Ingleside, Texas) starting in about 1929. I do not know what he did before that. In 1931 the family moved to Caterina, Texas where again he managed a lumber yard (this was a very respected position in those days). In about 1935 we moved to Anahuac, Texas and again he managed a lumber yard. One of his customers was Glenn McCarthy the well known wild-catter. Around 1939 Maynard opened a paint and appliance store in Anahuac. He sold Kuhn's Paint, Norge appliances, and Zenith Radios. Our home in Anahuac had a wood burning stove for heat (only one stove for the whole house and I do not believe there was any insulation in this house), BUT we had an electric range (which was unique in those depression years). To provide us milk, we usually had a cow in the back yard. Mom would boil the clothes in a cast iron pot in the back yard, make cottage cheese in hanging sugar sacks on the clothes line, and we would churn butter in a one gallon glass churn. After Dad opened the appliance store we got a wringer washer. We attended the First Baptist Church every Wednesday and Sunday where Dad was Sunday School Superintendent. Once a quarter we would visit the Methodist Church. In those days it was okay to play dominoes but not to play cards. We did play Monopoly a lot. Dad was the head of the house, what ever he said was law. Mom was a good natured person and real easy on her children. She would complain about Dad doing this or that (like talking too much) but her complaining was never vicious. In 1941/2 Dad went to work at Dow Chemical in Freeport and in October 1942 we moved to Houston. Dad was working for the Lumnus Company and then got a job with Eastern States Petroleum as a materials manager. In 1949 he opened a washateria in Jacinto City Texas and ran it until he retired in about 1968.

Of all the many Sunday School teachers I have ever had he was the best. The only other teacher that could even hold a candle to him was our pastor at Grace Memorial Baptist Church in Houston. Maynard studied his bible. He studied the lessons to be taught. He looked for new ideas, and he always had good illustrations to help explain a point.

When the W.O. Glasscock family, my grandfather, moved from Milburn to Alvin, TX, in approximately 1900, the youngest children, Maynard, Louise, and Luke, were too young to help drive the livestock so they, Jessie Reagan, my grandmother, and Granny (W.O.'s mother Melvina) took the train. I wish that I had discussed this event with Dad (Maynard) because I am sure it was a very interesting tale.

In those days everyone rode a horse and could shoot a gun. Dad was no exception. His saddle gun, a 30 30, is still in good working order and is owned by Art Records, a grandson.

After completing school Maynard came to Houston, TX where he met Vera Martin. While they were dating, in 1918, he was stationed in Galveston, TX. Mom (Vera) would visit Dad by riding the trolley from the Heights to downtown Houston (near Texas & Main Sts) where she would catch the Interurban Train for Galveston. The route of the train was southeast from downtown along a path that today is the Gulf Freeway, I-45. When we moved to Houston from Anahuac in 1942 Mom chose a house that was 2 blocks from the old Interurban Track. During World War II the rails were removed for the war effort. When Billie Joyce and I started dating we would walk down the old Interurban Track, which was the shortest route between our houses. The old Interurban Train has nostalgic memories, for me, because of Mom & Dad using this facility while dating and Billie & I using this same path 46 years later while we were dating.

Maynard Arthur Glasscock's U.S. Army Enlistment Record - Grade, Private - Enlisted or Inducted March 29, 1918 at Houston, TX - Serving in First enlistment period at discharge - Prior service, none - Marksman, none - Horseman, none - Battles etc., none - Vocation, Blacksmith - Single - Character, "Excellent" - Signature of Commanding CO, Charles D. Coo?, Capt. Date of Honorable discharge December 24, 1918 - When enlisted was 21 years 10 months - Blue eyes - Brown Hair - Fair Complexion and 5 feet 11 & 1/4 inches in height, at Camp Logan, TX - Was a private in Company C and B? U.S. Guards, USA.

From Maynard's account: 90th Div. (at first). Drafted Camp Travis, San Antonio, D.I., detached, then Orthopedic Detachment 2 months, then base hospital, Ft Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX with phlebitis, caused by ruptured appendix (2-3 months), then Galveston, TX guarding the shore and docks, camped at Maynard Park on the beach.

There are many articles from Catarina, TX and the surrounding area newspapers that mention Dad. Most of the articles are from the Asherton, Dimmit County, TX paper, and other unidentified newspapers. Here are just a few: April 7, 1933 CATARINA NEWS "M. A. Glasscock was transacting business in Asherton Wednesday afternoon" and in the same issue, "In the school election M. A. Glasscock was re-elected ...", and "The regular meeting of the Wintergarden Chamber of Commerce was held at the La Pryor Thursday, October 12th, 1933, with the following local chambers represented: Caterina, Glasscock ...". Also on November 3, 1933, "The regular fifth Sunday Community meeting of Dimmit County was held at Brundage ... After the dinner the regular program was carried out with several impromptu numbers that added a great deal to the entertainment. Perhaps one of the most interesting numbers on the program were the songs presented by the Caterina Glee Club, composed of R. F. Riley, Freed Murrs, E. E. Seitz, and M. A. Glasscock with Mrs. Seitz at the piano ... A business meeting was held ... Mr. Kannenberg with a few well chosen remarks nominated M. A. Glasscock to serve for another year. He was unanimously elected ...". On July 20, 1934 CATERINA NEWS "M. A. Glasscock ... attended the Chamber of Commerce meeting in Big Wells Thursday ...", from the Laredo Newspaper "A meeting of the Dimmit County Sunday Schools was held in the school auditorium ... M. A. Glasscock, president ... the male quartet sang a number of Negro spirituals. Attorney General James V. Allred was present (he was also campaigning for and won the race for Governor of the State of Texas, Dad had personally invited him to attend) ...". May 4, 1934 "CATERINA NEWS by Mrs. Carrie Renfro, the Caterina Quartet of which we are very proud, broadcast over KMAC radio from the City Auditorium in San Antonio on Friday ..." and there were many many other articles (perhaps 200) with Dad's name being mentioned and the many other offices that he held, in Ingleside, Catarina, and Anahuac, such as Caterina School Board member, Anahuac School Board member, and at each school Dad was responsible for bringing R. F. Riley in as School Superintendent.

Perhaps the most interesting article came from the Ingleside Review Newspaper, Ingleside, TX December 12, 1929, and reads as follows:

"RESIGNS AS MANAGER OF ORANGE LUMBER CO.
M. A. Glasscock, one of Ingleside's leading citizens, has resigned as Manager of the Orange Lumber Company. His loyalty to Ingleside and his desire to continue living here prompted him to resign rather than be transferred to Mathis as manager of the company yard there ...

Although Mr. Glasscock has been here less than a year, he has shown himself to be a public spirited citizen of the highest type. He has been instrumental in securing several worthwhile improvements in our town. It was largely through his efforts that caliche was placed in front of the post office. He was responsible for getting the old Blaschke homestead moved to make way for business. He was one of the charter members of the American Legion Post here, and is now vice-commander and chairman of the building committee, and has worked hard to put over a building program. Mr. Glasscock is also a member of the Methodist church building committee, and teaches a boy's Sunday School class. He has been prominently identified with the local Lion's Club, being vice-president at this time, and it was on his motion and largely through his efforts that we are to have street lights in Ingleside. He was responsible more than anyone else for the organization of the Ingleside Band, and is president of the organization. Those who have come in contact with him in a business way have learned to admire his keen mind and his honesty in all of his business dealings.

The Review takes pleasure in commending him for his work among us and are glad that he decided to stay in Ingleside, and joins with his many friends in wishing him well."
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September 14, 1948, Maynard Sr. was a delegate from Harris County to the Texas State Democratic Convention held in the Will Rogers Auditorium in Ft. Worth, TX. His position was for states rights and this group of delegates were called Dixie Crats. Harris County also sent another delegation that were loyal to the old line. This is the convention where Lyndon Johnson defeated former Governor Coke Stevenson for the Democratic Nominee to run for the U. S. Senate. The Duval County box 13 election count was involved in Johnson's election.

Because the Dixie Crats were in the minority they were kicked out of this convention. When Strom Thurman announced he would run for U. S. President against Harry Truman and Thomas Dewey as a third party candidate, Dad jumped on his band wagon and worked hard for Thurman's election. Years later (1964?) Dad was one of the main backers for Alabama Governor George Wallace when he ran for U. S. President. Mom worked in his campaign office and she and Dad were on the stage when Governor Wallace came to Houston and spoke at the old High School Stadium (the largest stadium in Houston).

What a wonderful man, husband and father. He is sorely missed.

 

Submitted by their son Jack Glasscock - [email protected]