THOMAS E. AND LAURA E. CRAWFORD
The following bio was taken from page 163 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
I, Thomas Edwin Crawford was born March 15, 1927 in Shelby County, Texas. My father, Tom William Crawford (1898-1969) was the grandson of an eighteen year old who moved from Tennessee to the Tennessee Community and never passed on his ancestral history. My mother was Bessie E. (Scott) Crawford (1899-1976) from Joaquin, whose ancestors had lived in that area for several generations. I had one sister, Bennie Alice (Crawford) Hutto, Joaquin, Texas; three brothers – Bernard C. Crawford, Brenham, Texas; Walter D. Crawford, Carthage, Texas; and Charles D. Crawford, Henderson, Texas. I married Laura E. (Gossett) Crawford, January 4, 1947. We have one daughter, Stella Kathryn (Crawford) Hall, born November 13, 1955. We also have one grandson, Trenton Royce Hall, born December 16, 1978, and are expecting another grandchild in April 1982.
I attended Joaquin High School, Class of 1944, and Stephen F. Austin State University, Class of 1974. It took me thirty years to graduate from College, but many things occurred during that period. I worked for the Texas Pipeline Company (Texaco) 1944-1945 and 1946-1950. In 1945 I was drafted into the US Army (WWII) and served overseas in Okinawa and Korea. I was discharged into the U. S. Army Reserve in 1946 as Technical Sergeant (now called Sergeant First Class). I was recalled to active duty during the Korean conflict in 1950 and promoted to Master Sergeant in 1951. I received a direct field commission as Second Lieutenant Artillery in 1952. My duty assignments until retirement as Lieutenant Colonel in April 1970 were Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Fort Chaffee, Arkansas; Fort Sill, Oklahoma; 3rd Infantry Division Korea; Fort Benning, Georgia; Panama Canal Zone; Fort Bliss, Texas; Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota; Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; Reserve Advisory Duty, Dallas, Texas; Vietnam; and Okinawa. My record of decorations, promotions, and service are recorded on DD214 on file at the Rusk County Courthouse.
Upon retirement we built a new home in Garland, Texas. I worked for the Alexander Hamilton Institute of New York until I started to college at Eastfield Junior College full time. In 1971 we moved to 1908 Longview Drive, Henderson, Texas, and I then attended Stephen F. Austin State University. The beautiful two-story home, built in the 1930’s was destroyed by fire in June 1972, and the present ranch style brick was completed in January 1973. I graduated from Stephen F. Austin University in 1974 with a Bachelor of Business Administration and History degrees. In 1974 I was employed by Henderson Clay Products as Personnel Manager and Safety Director.
The many civic organizations and the professional, religious and community activities in which I am active are: Trinity Baptist Church; Clinton Masonic Lodge, Waco Scottish Consistory; Sharon Temple Shrine; Rusk County Chamber of Commerce, Director-President 1981-1982; East Texas Treatment Center, Director-President; American Society of Safety Engineers; East Texas Personnel Association, Texas Association of Business, Director; United Fund, President-Director; East Texas Chamber of Commerce, Director; and Lions Club. My hobbies and recreation are quail and deer hunting, fishing, golfing, and leather craft.
I, Laura Emma (Gossett) Crawford, born July 22, 1926, was reared in Rusk County Roquemore Community, I graduated from Henderson schools and attended Kilgore Junior College.
My father, Henry Lee Gossett is deceased. He was the only child of Joseph Lafayette and Laura (Youngblood) Suggs, Gossett, deceased. Daddy was the youngest of his thirteen brothers and sisters since both of his parents had been married once before. Imagine the cousins – got’em by the dozens. I am proud of this lineage. When I am reminded that we are half kin, it gets a chuckle when I say, "O.K. I’ll take the good half."
Grandfather came to Rusk County from Griffin, Georgia. It is believed that there are still relatives living in that area. Grandfather died at the age of sixty-eight in 1913. Great-grandfather Gossett, southern gentleman and plantation owner, served in the Confederate Army. We children called Grandmother Gossett, Big-Mama. How she came by that title is a mystery to me. She was petite! The Gossett men are tall and in my family so are the women.
My family were farm folk. Mama preferred to work alongside Daddy in the fields. Big-Mama ran our home with a firm, but loving hand. She was noted for her many talents. I have inherited many of them.
Mama, Maude Lou (Roberts) Gossett, was a Rusk Countian from birth. She was one of four children. Her grandparents were Ferdian and Emma Julia (Chapman) Roberts. It is believed they came here from Tennessee or Georgia.
My brothers and sisters who are deceased are Johnny Gorden, Grace Bell, Willis Lee, and Willie Dee. My brother, Billy Bert Gossett, lives in Carthage, Texas. My sister, Ollie Mae (Gossett) Thacker, lives in Monroe, Louisiana.
My life has been an interesting one as wife, mother, and homemaker and military (Army) officer’s wife. I have lived in five different states and have traveled in all fifty states. I have lived and traveled in five foreign countries. We three Crawford’s have learned first hand to appreciate this magnificent country of ours.
In my retirement I have varied hobbies – reading, writing novels, oil painting, and golf. I am active in a number of civic organizations. I whole-heartedly enjoy being a grandmother. I always wondered why grandparents were such a pain in the neck. Do not ask about grandchildren! – they won’t shut up. Now I know.
Submitted by Tom and Laura Crawford