    
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
©2015 Theophilus
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Work History Part 2
All photos by Martin Theophilus
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Beginning Dec 1968, Martin worked for DPW as a Food Stamp Social Worker, interviewing and certifying eligible families for assistance. His territory included Brewster, Jeff Davis and Presidio Counties.
With the DPW, Martin first officed in the right hand side of this gas station in downtown Alpine. Interestingly 3 counties were paying the office lease. One day Martin's supervisor (Mr. Simmons) called and said part of the rent hadn't been paid and we were going to be locked out of our offices the next day.  With the help of a couple of friends, the entire office was moved back to Martin's old bedroom in his parents home (it had a street entrance). Clients continued to be interviewed at that location, until the funding was worked out. Eventually Martin and Rosario De La O who worked with Martin were let go, due to the lack of County funding. However, Martin was told by Jerry Richardson, an El Paso TxDPW Supervisor, that if Martin would be patient, Richardson was preparing to fire a social worker in the Marfa office and Martin might have that position.
Due to the County funding problem, Martin found a temporary job with the Texas Department of Transportation in Alpine. There he interpolated survey data on the road bed between Alpine and Ft. Davis. This was while Carol was completing her Masters at Sul Ross.
As promised, Jerry Richardson contacted Martin and said the Marfa job was open. Jerry became Martin's supervisor. Interesting, he would come to Marfa and conduct a review of Martin's work for a short time and then go to Alpine where he's go rock hunting with Martin's Mom.
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 When Martin rejoined Texas DPW, he was assigned to Marfa and worked out of an office  behind the JP courtroom in the Presidio County Courthouse. His co-workers were Lupe Hernandez (pic right) whose family lived along the Big Bend River Road. Her family would alternately host folks passing by that include the US Cavalry, Poncho Villa and the Mexican army. View movie from that area taken in 1969.
Martin's other co-worker was Georgia Kahl whose husband was Fritz Kahl, a pilot (first stationed at the Marfa Army Air Base during WW II, who was instrumental in bringing the glider events to the area. More about Marfa, Texas
The Child Welfare Worker for the Big Bend area was Teda Neil
Working out of the Presidio County Courthouse (only a couple of blocks from where he was born) Martin's office was just off the JP's courtroom.
DHS Surplus Food warehouse, Mare, Texas
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Martin was sent to Austin for the month of August, 1969 for orientation.
Training records
Carol was able to stay in Austin for part of the time while till working on her Masters degree. Martin found the Austin music scene to be where he wanted to be. However it took 10 long years to get there while working for the State.
August 1969 was an interesting month around the world with riots in Ireland, Woodstock, Tate-LaBianca murders, Hurricane Camille, Beatles recording a video for "Long & Winding Road" and, 120,000 attend Texas International Pop Festival in Lewisville, Texas.
While working for the Texas Department of Public Welfare (beginning December, 1969), Martin always continued to pursue the recording business through Highland Sound Company and eventually Phantom Productions. Inc. He was also allowed to keep his law enforcement radios in Ector County which really provide support for the Child Protective Services work.
Martin initially applied to the Midland Police Dept. when he & Carol moved to Midland Odessa. He also applied to the Odessa PD. However Martin's loss of a kidney at age 5 made him a high risk for law enforcement, so he continues working for the Texas DHS
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1970's Midland Odessa
click to view full scrapbook
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The Ector County Child Protective Services were initially housed in the Ector County Courthouse (above). Later the group was moved to the old Ector County Health Department building across from the Odessa Police Dept (below).
sign to park on calls
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Bill McCoy was the County Attorney and Phillip Godwin was his assistant. McCoy later became District Judge retiring in 2014. Phillip became the newly created Juvenile Judge around 1973 and went back to private practice 10 years later.
Phillip Godwin campaign brochure
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In late 1970, Martin was able to join the County Child Welfare staff as a State social worker. This was a unique opportunity, as it involved child abuse & neglect investigation, working with families and the Juvenile Court.
Case 1 • Case 2 • Case 3 • Case 4 • Case 5
01/12/71 Martin to Dallas to pick up runaway Orlando O'Con
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When Martin started working for Ector County Children's Services, Juanita Carlton (left above)who had been with Ector County helped introduce him to the officials in Ector County and trained on the social work processes. Her husband, an Odessa banker, thought Juanita was saying Martin"at the office" when he heard her saying Martin's last name (Theophilus).
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Ector County MHMR provided evaluations of the children served by Ector County Children's Services. John Fenner and Joe Glass worked closely with ECCS. Interestingly John Fenner and Martin crossed paths again when Martin was shooting a video for TCDS about persons leaving institutions. John was providing services to one of the clients.
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Martin was promoted to Financial Supervisor (Beverly moved to the DHS Financial offices as well).
However Martin missed the CPS work and requested he be allowed to take over as the head of the Ector County Child Welfare unit. He served in that position for 5 years.
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01/13/72 Martin to Pyote, Texas Children's Home home
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Martin's ECCS staff meeting with Jane, Billie, Bruce and Fran
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Odessa & Ector County Resources used by Ector County Children's Services
P 1 • P2 • P3 • P4 |
 07/26/74 Martin attended a Child Abuse workshop in Dallas and stayed with Juanita Carlton, with whom he'd worked with when he first joined ECCS. Juanita and Ann Kimbrell were the two Ector County Child Welfare workers when the State of Texas took over all the county CPS offices. There was some resentment in the process and Martin's joining the group mended the relationship. Martin and Juanita and her husband at the time became friends. Her husband was a bank manager in Odessa and facilitated an auto loan and house financing for Martin. While staying with Juanita, she allowed Martin to sit in on one of her group therapy sessions.
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Martin attended a Child Welfare conference in Denver (where he also got to attend a Joan Baez concert).
092974 Martin to Denver - Battered Child Conference. While driving around Denver looking for Coliseum, Martin saw Joan Baez and Caesar Chavez chained to front door of auditorium. Attended Joan Baez concert
Martin attended the Joan Baez' concert in Denver on 09/29/74
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10/08/74 Martin presented at Andrews County Child Welfare committee for Ann Kimbal and Martha Mansell.
Martha after filing CPS papers at the Andrews County Courthouse
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Click to read more of the report |
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Click to read more of the report
ECCS Resource File |
Sylvia (Ramirez) Foladare and Bruce Carter at the Ector County Children Services offices on Andrews Highway in Odessa.
05/25/72 Martin to Dallas Legal Conf
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While working for the State of Texas full time, Martin continued recording on location around the state for Austin Custom records and recording local bands in the Odessa/Midland area.
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While recording this band in Odessa, Martin was able to set up outside the club in the band's remote truck. The isolation was ideal and some Phantom added their first on-location recording van
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ECCS Foster Care Banquet (Foster Case Blank certificate)
(Jane Conner, Supv - Dr. William Furst - ECCS Board Member & Martin Theophilus, ECCS Supv
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05/08/74 Becky Knight, RN (left), Odessa Medical Center helped coordinate the Parents Anonymous Workshop
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On 01/23/74 Fran & Martin meet with the Mexican Consulate in El Paso regarding the Garcia children family. The kids had been abused by a Grandmother in Mexico and the family came to the US. The family came to the attention of Ector County Children's Services due to neglect. The Mexican Government wanted the children returned to Mexico and we fought the request in court to prevent their going back into an abusive situation in Mexico.
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Message from Sylvia to Martin from ECCS Board Chair Jay Poyner
 
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Sylvia (Ramirez) Foladare and Michelle
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humm... leisure suits
Martin's Texas Department of Human Services Staffing chart as Chief of Services, Staff Development Division - click for larger version
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04/19/75 Martin and Martha attended a Kansas City Child Abuse workshop at the Menninger foundation(above).
They also visited the nearby Mormon museum.
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Martin conducting ECCS Child Welfare Board meeting
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Some ECCS staff at the DHS Andrews Highway, Odessa offices
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10/30/77 Matrtin in Austin for one week orientation forDHS stavelopement Training Director
10/30/77 Midland DHS trainers Louie Thorp & Carol Turner at Austin DHS Staff Development Training
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Ken Burks and his family at DHS reception at the Zilker Clubhouse. Ken was a trainer for TDHS and later headed the MHMR Training Division
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10/30/77 DHS Staff Dev Training - Art Hopkins & Bill Pace |
Martin's Odessa office 1977. The orange high back office chair was provided by the County, however caused great consternation to the State Property Manager, as it was not standard issue. (:-)
 
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Midland DHS Training Staff 1977 • Back row: Martin, Louie, Jane, _, Johnny, Carol and Glenn
Martin's Midland DHS office. Interestingly, Don Abernathy with the State Office Training staff saw Martin's Child Protective Services scrapbook and encouraged Martin to apply for the Austin job that resulted in his moving to Austin.
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Phantom Productions on location van in Houston for Austin Custom records album production. The music production continued while Martin worked full time at the State as well.
Phantom Productions on location van outside Houston church (below).
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Midland DHS trainers Louie Thorp & Carol Turner at Austin conference
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Martin was promoted to Training Director in Midland in early 1978 , transferred in that position to El Paso in mid- 1978.
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Johnny Adams in his Midland office
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Ken Burks and his family at DHS reception at the Zilker Clubhouse. Ken was a trainer for TDHS and later headed the MHMR Training
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Martin was able to take Brandy to the TxDHS retreat in Ruidosa, NM. Ken & George by the van. A stay Irish setter wondered up and we found a home for it while there.
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TxDHS El Paso regional Personnel/Staff development retreat at cabin belonging to Hazel Baylor
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Gary Frederick (left) TxDHS El Paso region Director of Personnel & Staff Development
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Martin in Phantom's recording van with Carol Wilson and DHS News report on Martin's recording
Martin attended Texas DHS social worker orientation in 1968 in Austin. Having spent a month in Austin, he felt it was the place to develop his recording business. After receiving a promotion to training specialist in Midland, he was offered a training position in El Paso. Martin was in El Paso only a short few months before being hired as a trainer in Austin.
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The CowPokes
(last concert), Viscount Club, El Paso, Texas. Click
here to listen.
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Martin's DHS office El Paso - 1978 |
Phantom's El Paso on location recording and mix down equipment
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Chris <1984 • Martin <1984 • >1984
Alpine • Marfa, Texas
© 2015
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