The
first time I met Eliza Bishop of Crockett
was in 1966 when I accepted a job as the East
Texas bureau chief for the Houston Chronicle.
Eliza was a local correspondent
for the Chronicle and we enjoyed a long-time friendship.
When she passed
away in December, East Texas lost
one of the most competent and aggressive historians. Her enthusiasm for history
rubbed off on me, and she encouraged me to write books about East
Texas.
For years she was the face of historical research in Houston
County and was tireless in her efforts to document the area’s deep roots. “All
of Houston County is saddened by the death of Miss Eliza Bishop,” said Houston
County Judge Lonnie Hunt.
“We lost a true Texas treasure. In the past
89 years no other person has done more than Eliza Bishop to preserve and promote
the history of her native Houston County.”
Of the 261 official Texas historical
markers inside the county, Hunt said Bishop was responsible for most. She also
authored several books, including “The History of Houston County, Texas.”
Some
of the first early Texas settlers came to Houston County and settled around present
day Augusta in 1821. Shirley Cutler, of Augusta, who has worked and researched
to get historical markers for the Augusta Cemetery and the Augusta Union Church,
worked closely with Bishop over the years to document the community’s early history.
“She was a real valuable source of information,” Cutler said of Bishop.
“She did more for the historical part of the county than anybody; she just lived
history.”
“She was proud of her county and she wanted the people to uphold
its history,” Cutler said.
Along
with her work on the county’s historical commission, Bishop also worked for the
Houston Post; served as president of the Texas Press Women and was the organizing
president and charter member of the David Crockett Chapter of the Daughters of
the Republic of Texas.
She also served as a news commentator for a time
at Palestine’s KNET radio station.
“Hers was a life devoted to others,”
Hunt noted. “Through her many contributions and accomplishments, she herself became
a great historical figure in her own time.”
But Eliza shunned recognition
for herself.
When Doris and I started a “Best of East Texas” award for
the East Texas Historical Association, Eliza was one of the early recipients.
But she declined to attend the ceremony in Nacogdoches, and sent a friend to accept
the award for her.
Her excuse was that she was busy working on the inscription
for a new historical marker for Houston County.
That was just like Eliza.
Bob
Bowman's East Texas
January 3, 2010 Column
A weekly column syndicated in 109 East Texas newspapers
Copyright
Bob Bowman |
