MPhotos

Bill, Joe & Buddy (Martin)

Family & Friends

These pages were initially created to transfer photos from traditional scrapbooks to the internet in order to both preserve and make the pictures and history available to family and friends. It has become more extensive than I intended. However, I see it as a way to save the details before they slip away. Martin T

Related links

Carol (Phyllis) & Martin (Buddy)

Alpine, Texas 1957 to 1963

Twin Peaks Drive-In, Alpine, Texas

1957 Alpine, Texas parade and Band Day at Jackson Field • view video

1958 Sul Ross Homecoming Parade and Jackson Field Band performances • view video

Margaret "Peg" in 1957 Sul Ross Brand year book. She received her Bach of Arts that year.

Martin's Grandparents in1957 at Kokernot Field in Alpine, Texas with George Crerar's brother John and his wife Anna

George Crerar's and his brother John

Margaret Crerar, Anna Crerar (George's sister) and George Crerar at Indian Lodge, Texas - note the Prices Dairy truck to right

Mary Crerar from Toronto, Canada. George Crerar’s baby sister. George brought her from Scotland when their father & mother died.

George Crerar, Martin, Peg, Peggy, Jerry Lee Armstrong 1958

Peg (Martin's Mom right) with family Volkswagen 1958

In the 1950's the Theophilus family followed the baseball games played by the Alpine Cowboys. These included local games at Kokernot Field, as well as the road trips. A couple of players who attended and taught at Sul Ross State College were Roy Lewis and Ray Van Cleef.

Ray Van Cleef & Roy Lewis

Horses along the Ft. Davis to Balmorphea highway 1958

Martin's sister Peggy and her husband Tom had acquired a dog named Pepper. However when they moved up North, they found they couldn't keep her. Martin paid for her to be shipped back to Alpine on the train. After he and Carol married, Martin's parents kept Pepper.

Dad, Martin, Peggy & Mom in Crerar's living room

Dad, Peggy, Mom, Martin, Grandma, Grandpa Late '50's

Martin's Cousin Jim Gibson

Martin (Buddy) 1958 Big Bend National Park

Sandy & Peggy Anne horses BBNP

1958 Big Bend National Park - Buddy, Bud & Elsie

Big Bend National Park 1958

Gardner's home designed by Peg Theophilus

Old post card collection • Part 2

Martin Ham license 1959 helped by John King who also built the custom transmitter.

Martin's Mom often took a group rock hunting on Martin's birthday

Bill, Joe & Buddy (Martin)

1959 - Peggy Anne driving parents new Ford Falcon (dealer tag in back window) Joe Burgess riding shotgun and Martin in back.

Joe Burgess - Martin's (Buddy's) room - models with Telstar hanging from the ceiling. Martin and Joe ran around together and often manned the Burgess' Curio Store. Many rubber band fights ensued there.

For Christmas, Martin and Joe's parents bought them Sears twin headlight Higgins bicycles. This may have been the beginnings of Martin's law enforcement, as Joe and he taped penlight flashlights to both handlebars and Martin had a bike siren that used the front tire as a driver. They were the Alpine Bicycle Police. The day Joe was moving to NM, he and Martin crashed while racing each other. The crash happened by Lockhart's Clinic, thus the bandage on Joe's arm (below with his dog Zip).

Joe moved to Reserve NM. Martin and Joe both had obtained Novice ham radio licenses and were able to communicate occasionally after Joe's move

Joe Burgess, Carol & Martin around 1966 during Joe's visit to Alpine from NM.

Jan Evans - "Kid's Day" May 16, 1960. Jan Evans (Bill Stovell's cousin) was one of Martin's first "girl" friends vs "girlfriend." She had a crush on Joe Burgess and after Joe moved to NM, Jan and Martin shared stories. They would hang out on the steps of her home talking about all issues. Martin's Mom once sent the police chief Jack Johnson to get Martin to go home. Martin (with the help of his Mom), threw a surprise party for Jan's birthday.

Jan Evans Geisha Girl at Alpine7th & 8th grade prom March 13, 1960 - Martin's Mom did decorations - 2013 photo of Jan Evans Britt

One of Martin's Mom's great prom sets Alpine7th & 8th grade prom March 13, 1960

Peggy with her Mom's cutouts 1958

Martin threw a surprise birthday party for Jan.

Lee Armstrong and Peggy 1958

Alpine High Band 1958

Martin (Buddy) 1958

Jan, Earlene, Peggy & ?

Martin's Dad Oliver Theophilus was stationed at the Marfa Army Air Field in 1943. Martin's Mom arrived February 14, 1943 and wrote the following summary about first impressions.

Go to more about Marfa Army Air Field - LINK • video

more about Marfa

click to view 4 pages

view higher resolution

Link to all Shoppers Guide Press issues 1946 to 1952

1939 Granada Theater Alpine, Texas (from Granada Theater web: "Construction started on the Granada Theatre in 1928 by the Johnson Company of Fort Stockton, Texas and was completed in 1929. The theater was utilized over the years for screening movies as well as being a place for community events such as the West Texas Jitterbug Championships in 1941 and The Stars Over Texas war bond drive in 1943. In June of that year over 2,500 gathered outside the Granada to catch a glimpse of Hollywood stars; Gene Autry, Chill Wills and Gayle Storm."

1944

1944 Twin Sisters, Alpine, Texas

1947 Peggy Anne with Mom & Pop Crerar

Peggy and Buddy's (Martin) grandparents moved from Cleveland, Ohio to be with family.

Theophilus/Crerar picnic with the Stephensons

picnic with the Stephensons Peg, Peggy Anne, Ollie, Margaret and George

Stephensons of Alpine Texas

Clyde Beaty Circus truck 1945 (Central School)

Clyde Beaty Circus - Alpine 1945

Peg & Peggy at the adobe Butterfield stagecoach ruins on the Alpine to Fort Davis highway in 1945

Peg diving and Peggy swimming at Mitre Peak 1945

Picnic at the Rock Pile 1945

Peggy & Dad (Ollie w/Sargent stripes) Mitre Peak

Peg, Peggy & Martin at Electra Wade's

Davidson's

Hwy 118 (Ft Davis Hwy) & Nations - 1 lane unpaved

Alpine, Texas Big Hill pre-paving 1947

Jimmy Choate Parker (2020)- This is an impromptu class photo of the 8th grade at Central Ward School in May of 1946. This photo was taken on the southwest side of the old Central Ward School. 1st through 5th grades were on the first floor and 6th through 8th grade (Jr. High) on the 2nd floor. I remember the names of just a few of my classmates and these are: (I don’t guarantee spellings)Jim Parker (me) on front row just left of center, kneeling (not in black pants); out front on right standing with leg crossed is Dale Davis , others in class Andy Joe Keane, C.Connel, Patsy Patterson, Davida Sublett, C. W. Cox, Sylvia Smith, Lee Cowell, C. Simpson, Bart Caldwell,_ Bradford....

Alpine High School bell in parade

!947 Alpine, Texas parade

Theophilus swing set 1948

Margaret & George Crerar & Aunt Ina at Clamity Creek south of Alpine

Float prepared for Alpine parade 1950

Alpine parade 1950

Peg Theophilus' art class (Bain Ward & ?)

Peggy riding in buggy at Cozy Courts

Cloudcroft, New Mexico Presbyterian Camp Peggy 1954

Alpine, Texas Presbyterian Sunday School class 1954

Buddy with fire truck in the Basin - Big Bend National Park

Theophilus' favorite cabin in the Big Bend National Park. It overlooked the "Window." Our family stayed there many times in the 1950's.

1955 Big Bend National Park Crerars and Theophilus'

Picnic with Newbills & Theophilus'

1954 Fort Davis Centennial Celebration (1854 - 1954)

The event, which was held on the weekend of October 9-10, tapped the historic resources of the Davis Mountains like no other celebration that old-timers could remember. - Fort Davis Administrative History

1954 Fort Davis Centennial Celebration (1854 - 1954)

Peg Theophilus' Marathon High School Industrial Arts scrapbook

Peg Theophilus Horse drawing example • Peg Theophilus

Peg's Marathon art students

1955 - 1958 Martin's Mom Peg Theophilus was teaching in Marathon

1956 Cathedral Mountain Lodge fire

Mid 1950's Alpine, Texas flash flood

Alpine flash flood Nations and Ft Davis Highway

Hunters home and Twin Sisters in background

Bill & Buddy Central School in background

1957 Birthday party Buddy, Joe & Bill

1957 Birthday party Donald, Ricky,??

Jackie Crawford, Buddy T (Martin), ?,Bennie Wright & Joe Burgess

Alpine flash flood with Baptist church in background

1957 Balmorphea Peg Theophilus

November 1957 float building? (Peggy Anne left, Anne Hegland, Foster Rich, Miriam, Camille?) Peg Theophilus was driving an Alpine float one year and was almost asphyxiated. She went off Holland Ave into a curb and luckily was pulled out safely.1950s Alpine, Texas parade (Peggy Anne in last photo)

Granada Theater pass

1957 AHS band Elvis

Roadside park near Sierra Blanca

Martin (Buddy) riding in Big Bend National Park 1958

Sandy & Peggy riding in BBNP 1958

1958 Big Bend National Park

Martin (Buddy) Bud (Ollie's brother) & Elsie

Alpine Texas Masons - Front row middle Sam Thomas, front right Jeff Graham, Jack Johnson middle second row, then Doug Dorris and George Crerar top right - not sure of others

1958 Alpine Junior High Band

Jan, Earlene, Peggy & ? - preparing for a play

1959 Alpine Junior High School Band

Photo of bus (left) may be during the AHS trip to Monterrey Mexico • AHS band Fall 1958 • unknown

Central School - Alpine Texas

A few class photos

May 14, 1959 Alpine Band Concert

Kids Day 1959 Central School

These photos are from Peg Theophilus' (Martin/Buddy's Mom) photo collection. Peg worked with students to create prom murals and displays.

Photos above are from both the 1959 7th/8th grade prom and the 1959 AHS prom - below are mostly from the 1960 AHS prom

Alpine High School Band preparing for 1960 UIL marching competition • (right) Alpine High School Band in parade - Leyland Schultz Director

Peg on Woodward Ranch 1961

Peggy Anne Alpine High School graduation 1961

Radio telescopes near McDonald Observatory and Fort Davis in 1962. Peg T, Martin & aunt Ina

Snow Marathon 1965 - Peg was teaching school in Marathon, TX

Margaret Crerar watching Alpine Community Band 1970's?

Early 1960's plane crash in dust storm between Alpine and the "Y"

For a short period, TransTexas Airline flew into the Marfa Army Air Field • go to More about MAAF

AHS Band returning from contest and at Sul Ross Band Day

AHS Band "Misfits" • AHS Band "Comedy Combo"

Big Bend Players Dinny and the Witches August 1963 • AHS Band Banquet and Dance• AHS Maskers "Locked Door play





Big Bend Players - "The Orphans Ordeal" or the" Road to Ruin" 1963 Alpine, Texas

Alpine High School Queen Coronation 1963

1964 7th and 8th grade dance invitation





1961 AHS Starlighters • AHS Twirlers - Bonnie, Palmer, Carol & Donna • Alpine High School • Alpine, Texas







Barbara Jean hair • Aurora and Frank announcement

1963 Rhythmaires

1964 Annual photos from Martin's archive

Bill & Martin during Alpine Creek flooding

Palmer Coats, Jan Evans, Rochelle Sohl & Dina Sue Turner at Alpine Country Club dance

David, Carol & Donna Lynn at Alpine Country Club dance

Martin's Mom Margaret "Peg" on rock hunting trip with the Sul Ross Geology Dept. - view video

Martin's Mom made copper plaques for various Alpine organization

Donna Lynn Mueller walking with Martin at 1959 Alpine Coronation

Alpine Country Club dance

Peggy Anne & Friends

Janet, Betsey, Peggy 1950s

Peggy Anne

1959 Theophilus' Shopper Guide Press, art store, print shop and eventually a Hallmark bookstore and magazine newspaper distribution building.

Martin (Buddy)

Crerars 1959 - view video

John King & Peggy 1959

Martin's Ham Shack 1960

John King looking in on Martin's Ham shack

Martin holding mic even though it's a code rig.

Later KN5YCJ became K5YCJ in 2017

Bill Stovell in Martin's Ham Shack

David Forchheimer who later became a well known Country DJ.

You can see the ham tower behind Martin & Pepper. The tower was installed on a concrete slab with hinged base so it could be lowered and updated. See ad below for parts.

1960 Weller Soldering iron still in use in 2022

1960 ham shack map and mic. Mic was in anticipation of pursuing my next license from Novice. Never did it until 2017.

Ham shack cat...don't touch my key!

KVLF radio recently sold (April 2015) and in their story, there's a photo (left) of the studio with Gene Hendryx from the ’60’s when I was there. The Magnecord that’s in my office is behind Gene Hendrix. I rode my bike out to the station and sat for hours nights and weekends by the turntable on the right with David Forchhiemer, Bob Beall and Phil Wayne Evensburger (below) who were the DJ’s. I was a “go-for” to copy tapes and retrieve news from the teletype. Never paid, just wanted to learn about the technology and enjoy the music and stories. Vic Torres KVLF

Grandma Crerar at the Santa Elena canyon in the Big Bend

Margaret Crerar and Aunt Isabel at the Santa Elena canyon in the Big Bend

Crerars and Ina at the Wishing Well at Indian Lodge

Carol, Donna Lynn, Nina and Martin at the Ft. Stockton swimming pool

Dennis williams and Harry Miles singing with the AHS stage band at the May 13, 1960 7th & 8th grade dance at the Central Grade School gym

1957 Elvis Certificate created for the AHS band winning sweepstakes

Terlingua 1959

Alpine High School band program, May 14, 1959

Martin began playing trumpet in the 5th grade and majored in Music at Sul Ross. Here in Alpine High uniform 1959. Peggy Anne in 1960 AHS band uniform

Martin's first date was with Linda Powers (seen left at the Alpine Country Club and right in photo with Martin in 1984). At 14, Martin didn't have his driver's license and was mortified when his Dad honked as he drove up to her house, as he always did when picking up Martin's other friends. Martin had his Dad drive around the block.

Alpine High Band in parade - Leland Schultz, Director

1961 AHS Senior Trip • view video

1960 AHS Band Banquet & Dance

1961 AHS Band Banquet plan

Peg Theophilus' scrapbook from 1960. During this period Martin's Mom participated in the building of sets for both Central Grade School and Alpine High School proms. The following photos show some of her work.

1958

1959

Chuck Stringfellow and Jan Briggs

Big Bend - Pat, Sandy Elsie, Peggy Anne - 1960

The Window at the Big Bend National Park - Peggy Anne, Sandy, Uncle Bud, Aunt Elsie & Peg - 1960

Margaret Crerar and her sisters in 1960

Ina - Thanksgiving at Peg & Ollie's home (Alpine, Texas) 1960

George, Ina, Helen & Margaret at Sawtooth Mountain

Margaret Crerar, Archie Singer (brother) & Ina Deyman (sister)

George Crerar & Archie Singer in Aunt Ina's son's boat Chuck's boat 1960, White Lake, Michigan

Margaret Crerar at White Lake Michigan 1960

George & Margaret Crerar heading back to Texas from Michigan in 1960

Ina & Margaret in front of 729 Ruddiman Dr, Michigan March 1960

Margaret Crerar at Niagara Falls in 1961

Margaret & George Crerar and Ina with their sister Christina's children (the William Brown family)

Radio telescopes near McDonald Observatory and Fort Davis in 1962. Peg T, Martin & aunt Ina

Peg on Woodward Ranch 1961

Peggy Anne Alpine High School graduation 1961

Alpine Texas Masons - George Crerar top right

Peg Theophilus painting for cover on one of her scrapbooks

1961 Peggy Anne Sul Ross choir

Peggy Anne & Blackie Christmas 1962

Ollie & Peggy Anne Christmas 1962

Ocotillo blooming in the Big Bend 1962

George and Margaret Crerar 1962

Martin "Buddy" Theophilus, Margaret & George Crerar, Peggy, Margaret "Peg" and Oliver "Ollie" Theophilus on a Sunday in 1962

Ham Fest with John King 1960

View wedding pdf

Peggy Anne & Tom Karvonen

Sue, Lee, Tim Eicholtz & Robert Graham at Peggy & Toms' wedding. The air Explorers were supposed to be guarding Peggy & Tom's car. However my Dad enticed the guards into the church with ice cream and the car was creamed.

Peggy & Tom married 23 June 1962

View wedding pdf

Martin's Grandmother Margaret (rt) with Her Sister Ina

Margaret and George Crerar. Martin's Grandparents 50th Wedding Anniversary, July 3, 1962

Juda & Carolyn Ann

AHS Play Ghost From Outer Space

AHS Play 1961

1962 Alpine High Senior Play

Martin played trumpet in Alpine High School band

AHS Bands

Cats in parents room

Theophilus/Crerar back yard

Martin's old toy machine gun and tricycle

Grandparents home and car

Train coming between Marfa & Alpine

Palmer Coats, George Cooley, Martin & Sue Bradford

Palmer Coats

For folks interested in the Big Bend and its history we highly recommend Carl Williams recently released book "More than a Badge"

In grade school Martin's friend Bill Stovell introduced Martin to Carl and Alice Williams. Carl was Alpine's new Texas Highway Patrolman. Alice and Carl had the boys over for breakfast often on Saturdays and Martin participated in Carl's Boy Scout pack and eventually was part of the Air Explorer Squadron formed by Carl. This also evolved into Martin's membership in the Brewster County Rescue Squad.

Bill & Martin (Buddy) Alpine flood

Carl williams became a Deputy Sheriff with El Paso County and subsequently was accepted to the Texas Department of Public Safety Academy. When Carl graduated from the DPS academy, he was assigned to Alpine. (late 1950's). Carl later ran and won the Brewster County Sheriff's office. In 1969 Carl became one of the first members of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Education and Standards and moved to Midland. Carl's Chief Brewster County Sheriff's deputy became a TxDPS narcotics officer.

This was the beginnings of Martin's interest in law enforcement and radio communications. An additional influence was Martin's dating Juda Moore whose Dad was an Alpine Policeman. Fred would allow Martin to ride with him on patrol. Picture left is Juda and Martin's friend Lee being married. Fred is on the left.

Carl was a very influential mentor. In addition to the Boy Scouts and the Brewster County rescue Squad, Martin and Carol became good friends with Alice and Carl as well as Barbara and George Jones. Barbara & George resided in mail floor of the Brewster County jail. Carol & Martin would join then and other officers to watch football games.

Brewster County Sheriff Carl Williams and DPS Officer Jean Pate

Carl, Alice, Martin & Chris in 2007

Carl Williams created a Boy Scouts Air Explorer Squadron in Alpine.

picture of Lee & Buddy in Air Explorer Squadron

Martin and Lee McCollum in the Air Explorers. The jeep that Lee's driving was our "emergency rescue vehicle." However , it would only go 45 mph, so people would be passing us out on the highway, even though our emergency lights were on and the siren was blaring.

All the Explorers got together on a cold Winters day to paint the rescue truck. We painted it in an abandoned service station and kept the windows closed. We also were drinking beer and smoking cigars, so with the paint, there were a bunch of sick kids.

Pics from Carl Williams - Brewster County rescue Squad. When Martin was in High School, he joined the Rescue Squad. Often he would join others in fighting area grass fires and assist in hunting for lost hunters in the Davis Mountains. Riding in the back of the truck above left Martin with a bruised rib.

Pics from Carl Williams - Brewster County rescue Squad

Pics from Carl Williams - Brewster County rescue Squad - Alice, Michael, Renee Bill Stovell & David Teplicek

Carl C. Williams to Ben English - Ben, in the for what its worth Department I made the river road trip many times with my Dad,a long time before they decided to pave it. As a highway patrolman I traveled the road many times officially and unofficially before it was paved and later after it was paved. I was the official escort on several of the trail rides that traveled the road before it was paved. Hard on patrol cars but much fun otherwise Lots of stories here to. Martin just brought one of them to share with all. Thanks again..

FM 170 “River Road” Dedication - from Carl Williams
On November 4th 1961 The “River Road” “Camino Del Rio” FM 170 was officially dedicated.
Attending Master of ceremonies Senator Dorsey Hardeman of San Angelo, Herbert L. Petry chairman of the Texas Highway Commission he clipped the red ribbon opening the road. Rex Ivy Brewster County Commissioner and Big Bend Park Development Committee serve a Bar B Q at LaJitas for the crowd. Name contest winners students Juan Nieto of Presidio, Carol Humphreys of Marfa. S S Capitanachi of Ojiniga, spoke , Glenn Garrett representing Gov Price Daniel. Garrett is the Executive Secretary of The Texas Good Neighbor Commission. The Marfa High School Band provided the entertainment for the ceremony.
FM 170 was originally designated as a 5.0-mile highway from US 67 in Presidio northwest to Ochoa. On December 16, 1948, the road was extended to the northwest an additional 13.9 miles to Adobes and to the southeast to a point 6.3 miles from Presidio. On July 15, 1949, the road was extended 11.7 miles to Redford. The road was extended on October 29, 1953 further to the northwest 13.9 miles to Pinto Canyon. Further construction to the northwest would then undergo a long hiatus.
On July 28, 1955, with construction focusing toward the southeast, the road was extended 5.2 miles beyond Redford. On October 31, 1958, the road was extended an additional 13.9 miles. On February 5, 1960, FM 170 received its final extension to the southeast to RM 2462 at the Brewster County line. The RM 2462 designation was then canceled with that road combined with FM 170 for a total extension of 38.0 miles to its present terminus at SH 118.

More comments by Carl in 2018 to Ben English

A little more on the River Road Dedication.
On November 1, 1961 beloved Marfa Coach L. B. Martin was killed in a plane crash when it hit the Boundary Commission flood gauge cable some 40 feet above the river near Alemeda Creek. All occupants in the plane were killed. Coach Martin was preparing to participate in the River Road Dedication. I was in Presidio setting up Escort and security for the Dedication and was the first officer on the scene of the crash.

This was kinda of a strange deal. Best I remember Presidio County Sheriff Ernest Barnett had requested Col Homer Garrison director of DPS to provide escort and security for the Rio Del Camino Dedication. If memory serves me, for some reason no DPS brass was able to attend, no Sgt’s, no Lt’s, no Capt’s and I was assigned to put the operation in place (Sgt for a day so to speak Ha) It seems that our instruction were to establish constant road patrol to assist motorist going to the dedication but no tickets or arrests unless absolutely necessary.

We had one Highway patrol unit working from Alpine to Lajitas, one from Marfa to Presidio, and one from Presidio to Lajitas, Highway Patrolman Baylus Wagnon of Marfa and I were rovers traveling with the dedication officials and escorting dignitary’s as needed. Unfortunately I can’t remember the other Highway Patrolmen's names.

As Martin Theophlius has noted I was also coordinating the Brewster County Rescue Squad activities, the Air Explores of Alpine activities and other volunteer citizens in providing rest stops and information to attendees.

Peg (Martin's Mom right) with family Volkswagen 1958 - Martin learned to drive in this car and a Volkswagen bus.

Martin received his Texas Driver's License on October 23, 1961

Unfortunately, Peggy Ann and John King had an accident between Alpine and Fort Stockton totalling the Beetle Bug. It and the family's Volkswagen Kombi were the first cars Martin learned to drive.

Theophilus' 1952 Plymouth - this car was used to deliver newspapers and magazines. On one occasion Martin (Buddy) and Lee McCullum were going out the Old Marathon highway. Normally you could tell where the dip was by watching the train signal beside the dip. On this occasion it was out. We flew in mid air for a few moments,Lee bit the cigar he was smoking in half and we landed on the far side high ended on a rock. Luckily we could rock the car back & forth and got traction.

A few years later it was parked in from of Martin's bedroom on Highway 118 across from Central school and a driver coming in from Fort Davis went to sleep and hit the 1952 Plymouth head-on, totaling his new Buick. The Plymouth looked unscathed, or so I thought until I ran across this photo (:-)!

Our family used a Volkswagen Kombi to distribute the Odessa American newspapers and magazines. It was the first vehicle Martin learned to drive prior to getting his driver's license in 1961. On Saturday nights we would drive from Alpine to Odessa, wait for the Sunday paper print run, then load up. We made bundled drops to Imperial, Fort Stockton, Balmorphea, Fort Davis, Alpine and Marathon.

George Cooley worked with Martin on Martin's Dad's newspaper distribution. Every day during the first part of the Summer of 1962 we drove from Alpine to Fort Stockton to pick up the Odessa American newspapers and distribute them to Monahans, Imperial, Balmorphea, Fort Davis, Marfa, Alpine and Marathon. The red 1961 Falcon was rolled by Martin in 1962 half way between Alpine and Ft. Stockton.

Sue Bradford and Martin's Red Ford Falcon 1962. Sue worked with Martin delivering newspapers from Fort Stockton to Balmorphea, Fort Davis, Marfa, Marathon and Alpine.

Unfortunately Martin rolled his Mom's 1962 Tan Ford Falcon while traveling too fast on wet pavement. Luckily no one was hurt. Sue and Martin were taken by Brewster County Sheriff Jim Skinner to the Big Bend Telephone office where Carl Williams was working temporarily while campaigning for the Sheriff's office. Martin asked Carl to call his parents and let them know what happened. Martin's driving was hard on his parents because in the first year of having a drivers license, he had 3 accidents with his parents cars.

Martin ran around with Sue Bradford and ended up with a crush on her. For her birthday in October 1962, Martin bought a Princess phone for Sue with the help of her cousin Phyllis Carol Avant. Carol became a supportive friend subsequently. Carol & Martin 1965 (above)

1963 Junior/Senior prom invitation

1963 Junior Senior Prom

Margaret & George Crerar between their home and the "middle house" in 1963

George Crerar 1963

Peggy Anne, Tom and Pepper

1963 Martin & Pepper in the Theophilus/Crerar back yard

1963 Martin & Pepper in the Theophilus/Crerar back yard - note Martin's ham radio tower in middle of yard, chicken house and Garners garage

Pepper and Puppy

Martin, Pepper and Ginger

1963 Rhythmaires

Aunt Isabel, Aunt Ina, Margaret & George Crerar, Helen, Peg, Ollie, Peggy Anne & Tom in MN August 1963

Martin's Dad was raised in New Castle, PA home of the Shenango Pottery factory. When the family traveled, Martin's Dad would always flip over the plates and see if they were Shenango. Most often, they were!

Carol

1965 Peg and Ollie Theophilus took the Chihuahua al Pacífico (Chihuahua-Pacific Railway) trip • video

In 1964, the Alpine High School senior class trip was taken on the Chihuahua-Pacific Railway. The trip began in Presidio/Ojinaga, passed through Chihuahua, Mexico, the Copper Canyon and on to Los Mochas and its port, Topolobampo. The next year my parents also took the trip. Included below is Don Burgess' book about the building of the railroad and Marfa's PBS FM station's interview with Don.

Marfa's KRTS Interview with Don Burgess 2013

1966 scenes • view video

Carol and Martin began dating in 1963. In 1966, while single and working as police dispatchers for the Brewster County Law Enforcement Communications Center, they jointly ordered and bought a custom 1966 Mustang. We'd watch the trains coming through Alpine (a time you could actually see the cars), but never saw it. Our dear friend Corky Thornton designed very classy new uniforms for the Sul Ross band. They were either a marching band uniform, or would convert into a concert tux. The scenes are around alpine, a band trip to Galveston, with a stay over at the Casa Recardo Hotel in Kingsland. The hotel had deteriorated and was in disrepair. Also scenes at Carol's grandparents in Pyote. Martin's parent enabled him to create a recording studio in their home using Peggy's old bedroom and part of Martin's bedroom. Small bands were recorded as were voice over sessions for the Alpine school's weekly KVLF radio shows and a film soundtrack effects for Peter Koch.





Alpine - El Paso - Sul Ross - Sully the SR Lobo mascot - snow - hiking "A" mountain with Lassie and Pepper - Flight over Alpine 1967 video





Carol, Martin Lassie & Pepper on "A " mountain



El Paso



Caring for and playing with Sul Ross' Lobo Sully and her first snow



Flying over Alpine



Alpine 1968 • video

Upon graduation from Sul Ross with Bachelor’s degrees, Carol had decided she wanted to pursue her Masters degree. She was also accepted a Graduate Assistant position teaching Freshman English at Sul Ross.

While I began taking some graduate level education courses, I decided to apply to become a band director in the Alpine area. In the Summer of 1968, I was accepted and signed a teaching contract with Fort Davis public schools. However one day shortly thereafter, while working at the dispatch, Sanford DeVoll (right) came by. Sanford was the area Parks and Wildlife officer. He told me that he was also on the Fort Davis school board. He was aware that I’d signed the teaching contract to be a band director. He told me during the recent Fort Davis school board meeting that the board voted to eliminate the music programs and my position was to become a Texas History teaching position. I verified this with the superintendent, and withdrew my contract after learning the dissolution of the music program was true.
So now I needed to decide what to do. In 1967, I was only making $100 per month at the dispatch center. Carol was cutting back her hours at dispatch, as she now would be paid as a graduate assistant in the Sul Ross English Department.

Sul Ross Police Chief Gwen “Bubba” Kring (right) offered me a law enforcement commission with Sul Ross State College. The job started September 1, 1968 at $260 per month. This was the newly created college law enforcement departments that were initiated nationwide.



Jack O'Donnell's DPS patrol car two photos above. White Sul Ross patrol car above has the Brewster Sheriff's Office logo prior to the creation of the campus security departments.

While I enjoyed working as a Sul Ross police officer, it had its down side. Carol was working on her master’s degree and teaching Freshman English. I was mostly working 10 pm to 6 am shift for Sul Ross and taking graduate education classes. So time was hectic.

During this time my Mom was teaching at Sul Ross, Carol was a Graduate Assistant teaching English and I was working for the Sul Ross Police Dept. I stopped a student for running a stop sign on campus and he said, "Gees, I just left your mother's class and am late for your wife's class. This is too many Theophili!"

In December 1968, I was offered a position with the Texas DPW which allowed me to work days and also double my salary. I worked for the State for 22 years, Severn years of which was in Child Protective Services. When Carol and I moved to Midland for her to begin teaching at Midland High School, I decided that I would like to return to law enforcement. With Carl Williams support, I applied and was interviewed at the Midland Police Department and submitted an application the the Texas DPS. Both declined due to my loss of a kidney at age four which made me high risk. This had kept me from playing football and categorized as 4F for the Selective Service.

However, beginning in 2017, I volunteered with the Bastrop Police and Sheriff's Departments. This really met my fulfilling my desire to serve in law enforcement. I now patrol most weekends for the Bastrop Sheriff's Department in a black & white.

1968/1969/1970 Alpine - Austin - Midland • video

When Carol and Martin were working for the Brewster County Communications Center and attending Sul Ross, they became close friends with most of the law enforcement personnel. Alpine's DPS Officer Carl Williams who later became the Brewster County Sheriff was the Best Man at Carol and Martin's wedding. They also bought Alice and Carl's home when the Williams moved to Midland. Barbara and George Jones were good friends and we always enjoyed watching Sunday afternoon football at the jail, which was also their home. George was Carl's Chief Deputy and later moved to Midland and worked for the Texas DPS Narcotics Division. DPS Officer Jack O'Donnell would often spend the greater part of Martin's dispatch night shift playing cards. He also gave Carol and Martin their first dog Baron. Baron is seen in some of the early clips playing with a Hoover vacuum box and Carol.

Alpine High Exchange Student Claude Guillemet came back for a visit in 1969. Donna and Larry Johnson, Carol and Martin and Claude went down to the Big Bend. Carol and Martin also visited Donna and Larry in San Antonio.

While Carol completed her Masters at Sul Ross, she worked as a Graduate Assistant teaching Freshman English at the college. There are clips of Carol's Sul Ross office. Martin went to work for the Sul Ross Police Dept. and then took a position with the Texas Department of Human Services (22 years). This movies shows scenes from Austin when Martin attended the TDHS orientation for 6 weeks. He stayed at a motel across from Mueller Airport. It is strange to see just how smoky plane take-off used to be.

There are movies of more Alpine parades on this clip and some shots of Jackson Field.











1968 Alpine, Bronte with Corky • video

Jack O'Donnell arranged to get Baron's sister for Corky. Unfortunately the dog was somewhat withdrawn, as it had spent its early days with its mom. Jack brought the dog to out apartment and we took her to Corky who had begun his teaching job in Bronte,Texas. As part of my State job, I visited families in Candelaria and enjoyed the drive from Marfa south to Ruidosa and Candelaria.



1969 Bullitt • video

We really liked Steve McQueen's movie Bullitt, released in 1968. Movies were not as readily available back then. So Carol and I took our Super8mm camera into the Granada theater in her purse and filmed the chase scene from Bullitt.

It didn't turn out very clear. However, there's more to the Bullitt story.

In 1969 I was working for the State of Texas covering Brewster, Jeff Davis and Presidio counties. My friend, DPS patrolman Jack O'Donnell, was now working out of Sanderson. Jack and I agreed to meet between Marathon and Sanderson and then have lunch. I'd just seen Steve McQueen's movie "Bullitt." When I drove up by Jack's DPS patrol car, I asked him if he'd seen "Bullitt." Jack turned white and said what bullet? I said "The movie with Steve McQueen?" Jack said I need to tell you a story.

Jack was a completive target shooter. In fact, Sul Ross didn't allow their officers to carry guns after a tragic shooting of a 16 year old in Alpine. However when I was a Sul Ross police officer, the school wanted the officers to be armed during registration because of all the cash. I didn't have a gun, so Jack loaned me his long barreled target pistol complete with leg tie.

So to set up the story, you have to understand that Jack's original TxDPS partner in Alpine had been Jean Pate. Jean was the officer who helped my family find good used DPS cars. Well, Jean was very particular about his cars. Jean and Jack received a brand new car shown here with the "new radar" technology. Jack was new and had just been assigned to Alpine.

Jean (left with Sheriff Carl Williams) actually rode with Jack the first few shifts as he wanted to be sure how the new patrol car was driven. Of, course Jack ended up driving when the car received its first stone ding.

One Saturday, Jack takes the new patrol car to Marathon and meets up with the Brewster County Sheriff's Deputy Arthur Caveness to do some target practice. Jack began practicing fast draws and his gun gets caught in the tie down that I mentioned earlier and the gun fired blowing a hole in the hood of the new patrol car.

Arthur said not to worry, I have a friend at the Webb Brothers Plymouth/Dodge body shop in Marfa. Arthur calls his friend, swears him to secrecy and the repairman says he can get it done by Sunday afternoon before Jean has the car on Monday. Problem solved (repairman probably thought there was a body out somewhere). So the car gets repaired and everything is okay.

So shortly thereafter, (knowing nothing of Jack's hood incident) I was working dispatch at the Alpine police station and Jean comes by and says he's taking the new DPS car to Marfa, as there is some paint imperfections on the hood he wants fixed. Also there's a loose bolt that rattles down the frame when the hood is raised.

Later in the day, the Plymouth dealership calls from Marfa and wants to talk to Jean. As Jack's luck would have it, I can't locate Jean, so I call Jack to have him talk to Webb Brothers. Jack asks me not mention it to Jean, but never says why. The bolt was of course the bullet from the misfire which stuck in a rib of the hood. Jack went and picked up the car and nothing more was ever heard about it until I mentioned "Bullet" to Jack in Sanderson a year or two later.

Carol and I moved to Midland. Jack took a position with the US Border Patrol eventually becoming a training officer in Marfa. We only saw each other a few times over the years. Carol and I were divorced, Jack had married and later I'd met and married Chris in 1985.

One day Chris and I were visiting in Alpine and saw Jack coming out of the First National Bank. I introduced Chris and Jack and said she's heard all the wonderful stories, so it's great that we meet. Jack says, I have to run, however come out to the US Border Patrol office later this afternoon and I'll share a new story.

So we go out. Jack says, I was sitting at this desk adjusting the sight on my gun. He unloaded the gun and was cleaning it when a phone call came in. While talking and distracted he unconsciously loads the gun. Jack hangs up the phone, looks down the barrel checking the sight and pulls the trigger, blowing a hole in the corner of his desk.

We all laughed 'til we were crying. This brief period working with all the Alpine areas law enforcement officers, was a period for which I will be forever grateful!" Martin

Alice and Carl Williams hosted a party at their home in Midland. Pictured is Jack O'Donnell (then a training officer in the US Border Patrol in Marfa), Jack's wife. Standing is George and Barbara Jones with George's TxDPS boss, and Carol and Martin.

Martin with Carol in Alpine studio 1966

Thanksgiving 1967

Peg Theophilus

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