Bill and Ollie Lowry, former Laredoans who live in New Braunfels, load up their trailer with bales of hay weekly to take to their ranch, the Willie, near Encinal. Because of the drought, feeding cattle is a must. The water supply comes from wells.

Paul Young, who portrayed George Washington in the recent celebration, and his wife Ellen, a former Martha Washington, enjoyed dinner with Javier Garza at a party for Paul prior to the big event.

By Elizabeth Sorrell
Drought? Ranchers in south Texas are depressed because of lack of water, no mammoth black clouds, no thunder, no rain! The rancher must carry in food for cattle and drill water wells to fill tanks. This is the problem of Ollie and Bill Lowry, who own The Willie Ranch, ten miles from Encinal.

Every Thursday Bill fills up his trailer with three bales of hay. These are not rectangular bales but great round pillows such as would accommodate a giant for his siesta.

Then Bill Lowry, former Laredoan, who lives in New Braunfels, heads south on 281 for a two and a half-hour drive. He returns the same day after having rolled the bales off the trailer, removing the wires, and spreading the hay for his Beefmaster cattle, which gather round quickly for the feast.

At times Ollie Lowry accompanies him. Their ranch house is comfortable with amenities. One has peace and quiet, only the cooing of doves by day and the howl of coyotes by night.

This couple began life in Laredo. Ollie, daughter of the late Ozema Gutierrez and Randall Nye, and Willie E. (Bill), the son of Dr. Willis E. Lowry, Jr., and Dr. Ruby South Lowry, attended Laredo schools. She went to Ursuline and then graduated from Martin High, where he also graduated. He finished at Texas A&M and she, from Incarnate Word College in San Antonio.

Bill Lowry volunteered in the Marines during World War II and served as an officer in the Pacific, in the Solomons, and Iwo Jima.

They were married after the war. Bill's first job was in the Crystal City area. There Ollie taught school. Students in that day were segregated: Anglos and Hispanics. She choose the third grade in the latter school. She was told, "Don't speak a word of Spanish in the classroom." She was puzzled. How then to teach?

"On the playground?" she asked. "Yes," that was permissible.

So solving her problem, she gathered her class 'round her under a spreading mesquite tree and then pronounced the words in Spanish, then in English, illustrating when possible with the object, such as the apple. "Manzana, apple" she taught them.

Her teaching career extended to Hanover, Illinois, where Bill worked for the government and later in New Braunfels, where they settled while he was employed at Randolph Air Force Base. Then she taught at the school of St. Peter and Paul Church, where she is a communicant.

The Lowrys have four children: a son, Albert, who is with the Laredo National Bank; Bill, Jr., of Kingsville, who is with the government Soil Conservation Corps (both inherited ranches from uncle Raymond Gutierrez.) The two daughters, both married, live in Houston. Linda Gerbode, mother of two, is an attorney, and Thomasine, also married, has two children.

The Lowry grandsons will enter the university, one to Rice, where his father is on the faculty.

Bill, Jr.'s son, Wade, will follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather by attending Texas A&M University at College Station.

The Lowrys are still interested in Laredo and come down often to social affairs. However, they feel now that New Braunfels is home after more than 20 years there.

Ollie serves on the Museum Board, which maintains a beautiful little museum where one learns that the town was settled by Germans in 1845. They came aboard ships from Germany, landed in Matagorda, and traveled cross-country in stage and wagon to this special spot on the sparkling Guadalupe River.

Vegetation, climate, and scenery provided a super setting for these people noted for strength, courage, and honesty. Each family was given a 640-acre land grant. They and their descendants found life in this hill country of central Texas a suitable place to raise a family and to prosper. Many large and colorful homes remain from the old days. Germans were fine woodworkers, so the gingerbread trim is enticing. Moreover many people from San Antonio have chosen the quiet and beauty of New Braunfels as the best place for retirement.

Daughters of the Republic of Texas meet

Prissy DaCamara Hancock, former Laredoan, now of Castroville, where her husband Robert is mayor, invited Julia Muller Ruhlman up to attend a meeting of the Daughters of Republic of Texas in Alamo Hall with a program centered on Early Texas: "Missions and Indians."

Luncheon was also included at the Menger Hotel.

Speakers included Jacinto Quirarte, professor emeritus at the University of Texas - San Antonio; Father Bob Wright; Dr. Dan Gelo, author of books on the Comanches; and Dr. Elizabeth Jones, author.

Notes from correspondents

From Veronica Castillon: "The weather for the parade was bright and beautiful. My daughter Cristel (one of the debs) and her escort tossed beads from a basket to the people lining San Bernardo.

"Linda Gutierrez, who made Cristel's gown, was inspired as usual. There was a collective gasp when Janice Gonzalez as Martha Washington made her grand entrance at the pageant. The dance floor at the Colonial Ball remained full until the final song was played. Chacha Cavazos, as president of the society, performed admirably. She always conferred with debs' moms when something came up. It is sad that our dear Billy Hall was not there to share the event.

"Annabelle Hall was my teacher at Lamar Junior High. She taught me how to make lemon meringue pie, chicken ala king, and turkey tetrazini. When I was at UT Austin, Billy offered us rides home on weekends.

"He would send his driver to the dorms to pick us up. I don't know how he put up with our chatter for four hours en route to Laredo."

David March Slaughter celebrated his birthday at his beautiful home overlooking the Río Grande.

Sheila and Chris Glassford were accompanied by Rosie and Edward Glassford to the Caballeros Cocktail party and the Martha Washington Society Pageant. The latter have gone to Australia for three weeks.

Kristina and Robert Handley celebrated son William's 14th birthday in New Orleans.

Peter Glassford, who is moving from Guadalajara to San Antonio, recently returned to Laredo from Los Angeles, where he marketed his superb furniture.

Christ Church Episcopal observed Ash Wednesday with a soup and salad supper before a study session on the Beatitudes.

Carmina Danini, once a journalism student at Martin High and now the obituary editor for the San Antonio Express News, called to talk of Billy Hall, who died just after returning home from Santa Rosa Hospital in San Antonio.

Olga Meyer, who is the epitome of fashion, graceful and comely, has had a bout in the hospital. May she recover rapidly.

Frances Harr was recuperating from a hip operation in a Ft. Worth Hospital but her mother was in a serious condition in the same hospital. The Harrs sold their beautiful home here.

From Consuelo Haynes Novoa, heard of the death and funeral of Bill Powell. Horrors! In late November he came to take me to the Laredo Country Club to a party he and Barbara were giving for a debutante, the attractive Stumberg girl of San Antonio.

The John McKeowns -- that is Jeanette and John -- sent chocolates. I will remember Jeanette as a little girl because she was always so perfectly dressed as she and her brother, Charley, walked to the picture show or to St. Peter's Church. Jeannette McKeown anticipated the celebration with pleasure as her granddaughter; Caroline Lauren Hinojosa, was being presented. Her costume was pale blue. Jeanette also reports that her niece Jeanette Harris and husband Claude of Austin just had twin daughters. Jennette is the daughter of the late Charles Moser.

Such sad news from Laredo included the death Mary Alyce Corrigan; vivacious, blue-eyed, and so well-cared for by her brother E.H.

Clifton Mann, an Episcopal minister, presided at the funeral of Elvela Mann with John Paul, son-in-law, reading scripture at the Baptist Church. Elvela's sons, attorneys Lawrence Mann and John Mann, and her three daughters, Elvela, Sisi, and Virginia, were surrounded by many friends at the Mann residence on Chihuahua afterwards. Among those from out of town, Lillian McAskill Rehemera of Virginia.

How nice it is to be recognized. Here at the Mexican restaurant in Helotes I ran into Steve Graham's son who went to Martin High and had had a career as a geologist.