WAYNE E. CAMP

The following bio was taken from page 142 of the book entitled "Rusk County History" compiled and edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

Transcribed by Shirley Koym

Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Rusk County TX Coordinator

Wayne Ezell Camp, born on September 4, 1925, in Blum, Texas, grew up in Galveston, Texas, where his family moved while he was a baby. He attended school at Stephen F. Austin Elementary School and Ball High School. In his senior year, he enlisted in the Navy shortly after Pearl Harbor and was called up to go into training that summer.

When he returned, his family was living in Texas City, Texas. He married Dolrece Elizabeth Hunter, born June 29, 1924, in Texas City, Texas. They were married at First Methodist Church in Texas City. She had grown up in Texas City and had attended Wolvin Elementary School, Lovenberg, Junior High in Galveston, then Central High School in Texas City until graduation in 1941. When Wayne returned in 1945 from service in the Navy, she was working at Republic Oil Refinery as an executive secretary. He went to work at the Tin Smelter, the only one of its kind in this hemisphere. They married on February 14, 1946, after becoming engaged at Thanksgiving the year before.

Wayne and his wife had two children, Nancy Dean Camp, born November 24, 1946 and Kerry Ann Camp, born February 11, 1948. Years later they had a third daughter, Mary Elizabeth Christina, born October 3, 1963. After Nancy and Kerry were in school, Wayne and Dolrece began an effort to obtain a college education. Both attended the University of Houston, and in 1961, Dolrece received a B. S. in elementary education and a permanent teaching certificate from the State of Texas. She taught school in Pasadena, Texas, Texas City, Texas, and Dickinson, Texas, as well as Atlanta, Georgia.

In 1950, because of close family ties with Rusk County through the Hunters, Wayne and Dolrece heard of some property belonging to elderly distant relatives in the Compton Community. They and the Hunters bought some of this land for future use. Soon a camping cabin became a favorite spot for vacations and for holiday weekends.

Being at "the farm" was such fun that in 1975, when Wayne needed to establish a central office for his firm, Camp-Helton Company, he built at "the farm." The company serves four states from this central office, which is adjacent to the family home the Camps built in Compton Community.

In 1979, the Camp’s oldest daughter, Nancy Hahn, became Sales Coordinator and Office Manager for the firm. She lives on one floor of the family home with her three daughters – Melinda Marie Hahn, Lorie Ann Hahn, and Regina Marie Hahn.

Submitted by Dolrece Camp