WILLIAM MOZEL STRONG

 The following bio was taken from page 400 of the book entitled “Rusk County History” compiled and edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

Transcribed by Claudia Schuster

Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Rusk County TX Coordinator

William Mozel Strong (February 18, 1912) married Mamie Wylie (September 5, 1915) on December 23, 1935.  He was a farmer for a few years, but in 1943, the floods washed his crops away and he went to Orange, Texas as a painter.  The Strongs returned to Rusk County in 1945, still trying to farm since that was Mozel’s first calling.  He loved animals and farm life.  He began painting on the side and took a job with Ohio Oil Company, leaving Rusk County and moving to Haynesville, Louisiana.  He and Mamie lived there for eight years.  Mozel was accidentally killed in 1954 while working for Ohio Oil Company. 

Mamie returned to Henderson, Rusk County, Texas.  The Strongs had two daughters: Sue Jean, born July 18, 1939; and Carol Kay, born January 29, 1941.  Mamie moved to 114 Sunset and still lives there at this date.  She has worked as a sales and alteration person at several Henderson stores and is presently employed by Christian’s Men’s Wear.

 Sue received her bachelor’s degree from Stephen F. Austin State University.  On June 4, 1960, she married Joe H. Hughes, who is a pilot for Delta AirLines.  He also was born and reared in Rusk County.  They have two children: Joel William, born March 14, 1961; and Joni Kay, born June 22, 1962.  Joel attends Kilgore Junior College and Joni attends Texas A & M University.  Sue and Joe live in Conroe, and he flies out of Houston, Texas.

 Kay received her B.S. Degree at Stephen F. Austin State University and later received her M.S. Degree at East Texas State University at Commerce, Texas.  She married F.B. (Ben) Cadenhead, Jr. on June 11, 1966.  They taught at Frankston, Greenville, and Tyler, Texas.  They had two children: Bret James, born July 6, 1968: and Susan Lynn, born August 15, 1972.

 Kay died April 24, 1975.  Three years later Ben married Barbara McCracken.  He is now a counselor for the Texas State Rehabilitation Commission.  They live in Henderson on South Van Buren Street.

 Submitted by Mamie Strong