Aged Rangers Rob Time of Fifty Years

Austin American
Wednesday, October 19, 1921
Page 1, Column 7

The wheels of time turned back a half-century in Austin Tuesday, when 22 survivors of Terry's Texas Rangers, famous independent regiment of Confederates, once the flower of Texas youth, now faded, bent and grayed with the weight of years, gathered here for their fiftieth annual reunion, to mingle again, for the last time for many, with their buddies of the Sixties, to live over again with them the joys, the sorrows, the loves, the horrors and disasters of the days of the Civil War.

Death Takes Toll of Many Warriors.

Death having claimed its toll among the aged survivors of the regiment since the last reunion, there were only the score and two on hand. Those who answered roll call at the initial meeting at the Driskill Hotel at 10 o'clock were:

George T. McGehee of San Marcos,
T. M. Rector of Manor,
William Owens of Elgin,
T. A. Hill of Weimer,
John W. Hill of Smithville,
John Washington of Ganado,
D. C. Coombs of San Antonio,
W. C. Smith of Karnes City,
T. J. Taylor of Smithville,
W. F. Holcomb of Luling,
George R. Allen of Fort Worth,
W. W. Wells of Kerrville,
W. N. Norton of Burnett,
John Farmer of Houston,
Sam Maverick of San Antonio,
Dan Davis of Shiner,
and the following from Austin:
B. C. Giles,
A. J. Kyle,
J. F. Tyler,
Ws. S. Wallace,
M. D. L. Hargrove and
A. D. McArthur.

Brightening the Sunset of Vauable Years.

It was one never-ending round of pleasure for the Rangers from the time they landed here until a late hour Tuesday night, and still more is in store for them today. The festivities were begun with a session beginning a 10 o'clock Tuesday morning, a luncheon was served immediately after this meeting, receptions were given during the afternoon and the climax of the strenuous day was reached in a reception at the Driskill in the evening.

The initial meeting was called to order at the Driskill Hotel at 10 o'clock Tuesday morning by George T. McGehee of San Marcos, first vice-president of the organization. Following the roll call a short business session was held and T. C. Rector of Manor moved that all of the ladies present be elect honorary members. The following were made honorary members of the Rangers:

Mrs. T. H. McGregor,
Mrs. Paul H. Goldmann,
Mrs. Gordon Wilcox,
Mrs. M. Jones,
Mrs. T. M. Bowman,
Mrs. Roger Roberdeau,
Mrs. Tom Davis,
Mrs. W. T. Wroe,
Mr. Joe Rowe,
Mrs. A. E. Ellison, and
Miss Ada Blackburn, all off Austin,
Mrs. W. H. Penland of Waco,
Mrs. Belle Gillum of Elgin,
Mrs. George T. GcGehee of San Marcos,
Miss Itasca Hill of Weimer and
Mrs. Shirley Gregg of Manor.

Major Roberdeau Tenders Reception.

The afternoon program was made up of receptions and general get-together and good time. A reception was tendered the vets beginning at 3:30 at the home of Major and Mrs. R. C. Roberdeau. Refreshments were served and brief entertainment furnished. Immediately after the reception at the Roberdeau home the Ranger vets were whisked away to another reception at the Confederate Women's Home. The women at the home were hosts assisting Mrs. S. J. Thomas, superintendent of the home, and showed the Rangers the time of their lives.

The crowning event of the day was the entertainment given by the Daughters of the Confederacy at the Driskill Hotel beginning at 7 o'clock in the evening. The program consisted of speeches and excellent musical numbers and the vets enjoyed the affair, for not an aged head drooped during the entertainment.

The program consisted of a song by Miss Gladys Gruber, greetings from the Ablert Sidney Johnson Chapter by Mrs. S. B. Haygood, a violin solo by Mrs. Eldred Kinnon, an address by Judge Nelson Phillips, a vocal solo by Mr. Th. H. McGregor, a recitation by little Miss Myra Nolan and an address by Hon. _______ A. Smith, state comptroller.

Short Session of Business Due Today.

A short business session will be held a the Driskill Hotel beginning at 9 o'clock Wednesday morning, when all business of the reunion will be wound up. At 2:30 o'clock in the afternoon the Rangers are requested to meet at the Terry's Texas Rangers Monument of the capitol grounds, where they will have group pictures made of the 22 surviving members.
Following the taking of the pictures the Rangers will be taken for a spin over Austin and the surrounding country.

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Note that Ranger John W. Moore of Georgetown, Texasappears in photos from the reunion but is not mentioned in the newspaper article.

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Article provided by William Wolf.

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