Kerrville Mayors

This month, in a biennial event, Kerrville elected a new mayor (as well as two council seats.)  Since Kerrville was incorporated in 1889 only three men have held the office more than 4 years. As one reads the old newspaper stories one begins to wonder why anyone wants the job! Run as an outsider and as soon as elected you are accused of being part of the "Good Old Boys"! Recalls, threats of recalls, and more pepper the city history.

For many years members of city council selected the new mayor from within their own ranks. They generally served a year or two.  Then, on May 6, 1989, Kerrville citizens approved direct election of mayor.
Working backwards in time, this is the list of mayors since then:
Bill Blackburn, elected 2018
Bonnie White, 2016-2018
Jack Pratt, 2012-2016
David Wampler 2010-2012
Todd Bock 2008-2010
Gene Smith 2005-2008
Stephen Fine 2001-2005
Ben Low 1998-2001 (Threatened with recall. Did not happen.)
Charles Johnson 1994-1998 (Forced from office in recall election in 1998, along with two others.)
Joe Herring, Jr. 1992-1994
Leonard Holloway 1989-92
From Leonard Holloway to Bonnie White is 10 mayors and 30 years.  Three years each on average. Kerrville voters toss their mayors out on a regular basis.

Direct election of mayor approved May 6, 1989.

Here is the remaining list of mayors, again working back in time:
Edd Turner 1988-1989
Charles Johnson 1987-88
Jack Furman 1986-87
A. J. “Jack" Brough 1984-1986
Tom Pollard 1983-84
David Calk 1982-1983
H. Lee Jennings 1979-82
Manly E. Cooper Jr. 1976-77
Edward Schlieter 1974-75 and 1977-78
Mark Maxwell 1971-1973
Zelma Hardy 1973-74 and 1975-76 (First female mayor)
John Mosty 1969-71
Fuzzy Swayze 1968-69
Gordon Monroe 1967-68
Walter Cummings 1966-67
Glenn Petsch 1963-1966
Cedric R. Toler 1961-1963
Manly Cooper 1959-61
Hillmar A. Pressler 1958-59
Lloyd Luna 1956-58
Dr. G. L. Bullard 1950-1956 (6 years)
G. E. Lehmann 1949-1950
H. C. Holchak 1948-1949
E. M. Forman 1947-48
J. F. Stallings 1945-1946
Willis A. Fawcett 1940-44 (Read here about the unfortunate encounter with an angry constituent.)
J. F. Leisering 1936-1939
Richard Holdsworth, 1934-36
Arthur T. Adkins 1921-1933 (Longest serving with12 years. Died in office)
J. S. Wheless 1920-21
H. C. Geddie 1917-1919
George Morris 1916-1917
Henry Remschel 1909-1915 (6 years)
John H. Ward 1905-1908
J. E. Grinstead 1903-1904
J. D. Hutchinson 1901-1902
W. H. Rawson 1896-1900
W. G. Garrett 1895-96
E. Hawes 1894-1995
J. D. Hutchinson 1893
George R. Parsons 1892-93
Ed Smallwood 1891-1892
W. W. Burnett 1890–91
A. M. Gilmer 1890
Joseph Tivy 1889-90

Discovering Relatives in Unexpected Places

I have posted a slightly different version of this on a different blog I manage, but have put here as well because of the Kerr County connection.

Yesterday I met with a neighbor, a descendant of Charles Schreiner, to discuss a Texas historical marker application he is working on for a cemetery in Kerrville. While chatting, he pulled out this 1880 family photo from the Great Western Cattle Trail.

I was stunned when I read the back:

This picture is taken from on old Tin-Type photo “Schreiner and Lytle Herd” 1880.
Third man from left is Alex Crawford. 
Sixth man from left is Alex Maltsburger. [sic.  should be Maltsberger]
Seventh man from left is Will Hale.
Eighth man from left is Sebe Jones.
All these men drove “Trail Herds” for Captain Schreiner for several years. 
Original photo taken near Doan’s Store, Red River Crossing.

    Above notes drafted by Nell Schreiner Labatt

(Several of the men in the above photo also appear in this photo.)

The above Alexander Perry Maltsberger is a kinsman of mine, not real close (2nd cousin, 3x removed), but a relative nonetheless.
I'm not from around here, but occasionally I'll discover some relative who was. A while back I discovered a very distant relative, William H. Furr, who served on the Kerr County Commission in the 1940s.

The following item appeared in True West Magazine, June 1964  "Old Time Ranchmen of the Southwest":

With brand ALX, Alex Maltsberger,  was a pioneer cowboy who entered the Panhandle in 1880 as a traildriver for Schreiner, Light, and Lytle, who were some of the largest South Texas trail outfits.  In Lipscomb Co, he served as the first sheriff and worked  for the Box T.  Later he was a Cherokee Strip rancher on the John Chisholm Trail near the Cimarron.  Some of his friends were Sebe Jones, Alex Crawford, Charles Schreiner, Sam Cupp, John McQuipp and Charles Rynearson.  Sebe Jones and Alex shot it out with and captured horse thieves in South Texas.  Vigilantes took the prisoners and hung them in  a pecan tree on Turtle Creek as Sebe and Alex were on the way to Kerrville with the men.

I live in on a tributary of Turtle Creek, and like many of my neighbors have a pecan tree on our property.

Charles Schreiner is an important historical figure in the region with whom I previously had no known connection.  Because of my genealogical research I now know my relative worked for Schreiner as a young man and apparently had a close friendship. And I now have a photo of Alex.  It encourages me to keep researching. You never know where the path may lead.