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JOHNNY STUCCO
Texas Escapes
Architectural Editor |
Johnny
Stucco was born in a night watchman's trailer on the Hemisphere construction
site in San Antonio.
His mother died in childbirth - her last words being: "Got any coffee?"
Johnny was given a short length of re-bar for a teething ring and
a miniature hard-hat and a union card for his 3rd birthday.
Johnny's father worked for a building contractor who specialized in
school construction. He didn't attend schools - he helped build them.
It's said that he learned to read from blueprints and even today our
memos to him have to be written on dark blue paper with white ink.
His father read him to sleep with chapters from the only two books
in their camper - a Depression-era government pamphlet called Stucco:
The Modern Miracle and A Boy's First Book of Ratios and Formulas
for Decorative and Cast Plaster Details. |
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Johnny
Stucco and Uncle "Vito Terazzo" |
Johnny's
size made him a valuable asset on construction sites. He was the right
size to tuck asbestos insulation into all the hard-to-reach places.
After years of inhaling asbestos fibers, cement and construction site
dust - Johnny was told to seek work in a dust free, sterile atmosphere.
He applied for the vacant position of architectural editor here at
TE and when asked for his resume he said; "What's a resume?" Having
passed our test, he was immediately hired.
Johnny now explains architectural terms to us and writes The Dead
Architects Society and other articles relating to the buildings
of Texas. He doesn't eat the bountiful homemade meals that the
rest of the staff enjoys. Johnny prefers the food he grew up on -
the wholesome fare of catering trucks.
Of course Stucco is merely a nickname. Johnny's father and uncles
used to be in the flooring business under the real family name - The
Terazzo Brothers.
Johnny and Jay Walker share an office
in the basement of One Texas Escapes Plaza. They can be reached through
the editor's email at editor@texasescapes.com.
© John
Troesser
June 2001 |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
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