By Irene Van WinkleWest Kerr Current
Under fair skies, onTuesday, Feb. 12, a buildingof great
historic signficance toKerr County disappeared offits foundation
and slowlyrolled out of sight. Fortunately, it was not
destroyed, just relocated on alarge truck, and repurposed.Five
years after HEB
bought the property where itsat, Vincent Harris of A-OK
House Mover loaded theentire Sanchez Barber Shop at220 Main St.
and carefullytransported it to 1504 StadiumDr., home of La Vina de
JesuCristo del Sagrado Corazonvineyard.Longtime owner Louie
Sanchez was excited.“Its new life will be as
Kerrville Winery, and manythanks to HEB for their gen-erosity,”
he said. “It is a won-
EDITOR’SNOTE — This isthe 481st of aseries of articles
marking KerrCounty’s 2006
sesquicentennial.
By Irene Van WinkleWest Kerr Current
Certain rare individu-als leave a legacythat both family
andcommunity admire. Such aman was Robert Harvey“Bob” Spiller
(1867-1943):“... In times of stress he
exhibited a quiet greatnessfew people knew, and yet hisnobility
was a part of the com-munity. ... When he was sher-iff, he never
carried a gun.”A studio photo shows Bob
Spiller wearing a short-
brimmed Stetson, but behindthe firm jaw and clear eyeswere his
deeds and values. His
legacy began in the tiny pio-neer town of Voca, Texas,took root
in Menard, and then
spread into Junction (pop. justunder 2,500). It resounds
indescendants such as Robert“Rob Roy” Spiller, presidentof Junction
National Bank, theson of Robert Roy Spiller andNancy Ethel
Mears.“One of the largest sheep
and goat operators and tradersin the Hill Country, is the
wellknown and well liked BobSpiller. He set the bar so highwe can’t
even reach it, or evensee it,” Rob Roy added.Spiller family
histories
include a 1964 compilation byWayne Spiller, starting withBob’s
father, J. MeredithSpiller (1825-1899) ofLouisiana in what
becameLivingston Parish. As a boyon the plantation, Meredithwas
“possessed of a dream”: “He was a quiet man,
uncommunicative, but rest-
less, ambitious, driven. Hewas small of stature, 5’7” inhis
youth, light complected,sandy haired and gray-eyed.Among his
earliest memorieswas of studying by the light ofan open fireplace,
pronebefore it, in company with oneof the young slave boys of
hisfather’s household.” After Jeremiah, his father,
died, his mother, Elizabeth,remarried in 1837. Meredith“looked
westward towardTexas and considered its rich,virgin soil. But the
dreamer inhim considered the vast min-eral wealth he believed to
liebeneath that soil.”Records show his interest
in minerals around Texas,including Mason and SanSaba. However,
in May 1846,the day before his 21st birth-day as the war with
Mexico
loomed, he signed up as a pri-vate in Co. D, 5th
Regiment,Louisiana Volunteers underCommander Capt. William
B.Robertson. Soon, he was on asteamer headed to Port Isabelbut it
was cut short. In August,his unit was mustered out ofservice and
Meredith foundhimself a civilian in NewOrleans. For his service,
hegot 120 acres in land grants. Back home, in October, he
married Martha Ann Courtney(1831-1891), and within ayear, they
headed west. Theirfirst child, Jacob, was born inJefferson County,
Texas, in1848. Their migrations sawthem moving every two years—
through Sabine and Traviscounties. By 1854, they werein Milam
County, where they
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Sesquicentennial family: SpillerStory below
Spiller descendants benefited from ancestors’ travails
See Spiller, Page 6
Much of the Spiller family ancestry starts in Louisianawith
Meredith and Martha Ann, who came to Texassearching for minerals in
dangerous times. Their for-tunes changed often, but they left a
wealth of descen-dants.
Lady Warriors,Warriors win
Sports, Page 11
School board, council seats uncontestedIngram city and
school
board elections slated for May4 likely will be canceledbecause
there are no contestedseats.Filing for two seats on the
Ingram school board areincumbent Adam Nichols, 38,a technical
manager, andChandler McClintock, 35, anequipment operator.Current
school board mem-
ber Tammy Brown did not file
for re-election.In the city election, all three
incumbents filed for re-elec-tion: Claud Jordan Jr., 47,who is
in construction; JohnSt. Clair, 59, manager ofHunt-Ingram Gas, and
ShirleyTrees, 64, retired.Last Friday, Feb. 15, was
the deadline to file for a placeon the ballot, and Tuesday,Feb.
19, was the deadline forwrite-in candidates to file.
Ingram boardadvances pavingat elementaryBy Clint SchroederWest
Kerr Current
The Ingram school boardadvanced a paving project atIngram
Elementary SchoolMonday, and recognizedChris Moralez for beingnamed
the Texas HighSchool Tennis Coach of theYear.For the Ingram
Elementary
paving project, the boardapproved the CompetitiveSealed Proposal
method ofdelivery of construction serv-ices.The project will fix
drive-
way and drainage problems atIngram elementary School,and is
expected to cost morethan $400,000.Superintendent Dr. Robert
Templeton said theCompetitive Sealed Proposalmethod will still
allow the dis-trict to be the contractor forthe project and allow
somenegotiations with the contrac-tor after the proposal
isaccepted.After a motion was
approved, Templeton said“This is the first step to fixingyour
potholes.”The board recognized
Tennis Coach Chris Moralezfor being named the the 2017-2018
Texas Coach of the Yearby the National Federation ofHigh School
CoachesAssociation.“This is a pretty prestigious
award,” said IISD AthleticDirector Duane Kroeker. “Weare proud
of him and thankfulto have him.”Moralez said the student
players should be congratulat-ed.“The kids are amazing and
special and they deserve thecredit,” he said.The board approved
a
motion to engage ABIP, PC ofSan Antonio as auditors forthe 2019
fiscal year.Templeton noted their long-
time auditor, Patrick Klein ofFredericksburg, went out
ofbusiness, and ABIP performedthe 2018 audit.
By Irene Van WinkleWest Kerr Current
A local artist just came fullcircle with his work, and hasearned
new recognition inIngram.The Texas Arts and Crafts
Fair, returning for its secondyear at the Hill Country
ArtsFoundation, just announcedthe winner of this year’sposter
contest, artist and for-mer Ingram resident MikeMartin.His entry
shows a self-por-
trait of Vincent Van Gogh in ahumorous twist — he is wear-ing a
cowboy hat, a band-aidon his ear and a nametag.Martin, who now
lives in
Comfort, explained his inspi-ration:“I was out riding my
bike
and stopped at the ComfortLibrary, went in and found anold
Vincent Van Gogh bookthat I used to check out. WhenI heard about
the poster con-test, my thought was, ‘What ifVan Gogh was in Texas?
Hewould probably do a self-por-trait.’ And if you’re at an out-
door painting event, they giveyou those name tags.’”Martin comes
by his
artistry through his genes andthrough extensive training.His
father, Warren, startedpainting in the late ’50s, andMartin said he
would sit and
watch him paint.“I loved it,” Martin said.The family moved
from
south Texas to the HillCountry in about 1964 to beclose to his
grandparents, Jimand Leila Martin, of Ingram.“We were within a
mile,”
he said. “I’d walk up to mygrandmother’s house on GoatCreek
Cutoff. She was apainter, and took classes fromIke Koenig. She also
taughtart at the Dietert Claim.”
Arts fair poster winner selected
Mike Martin of Comfort shows a selection of his recent
paintings, including the win-ning poster art (of Vincent Van Gogh
in a cowboy hat) to promote the Texas Artsand Crafts Festival in
September. Martin began studying art as a young boy inIngram.
Winning artistMike Martin hadstart in Ingram
Photo by Irene Van Winkle
After a successful move of the historic Sanchez BarberShop last
week from its long-time location on Main St.near HEB, it now
resides at the vineyard cultivated byowner Louie Sanchez, shown
here.
Courtesy photo
Kerrville landmark barber shop moved
See Artist, Page 14See Ingram ISD, Page 3
See Move, Page 12
Martin said that when hewas about 10 years old, Leilawould take
him along to herclasses with Koenig andMartin would paint, too.
“Ike would critique mywork and help me out,”Martin said.
By then, the HCAF wasopen and Martin got to takeclasses there
through histeens.
“In the summers, my dadtook me out there for a classevery
morning, and everysummer for another 10 years,”Martin said. “I took
lessonsfrom artists like ClayMcGaughy, Buck Schiwetz,and Herb
Mears. And when Iwasn’t in summer class, I tooklessons from Merrill
Doyle,who lived back by the FirstBaptist Church in Kerrville. Ihad
a lot of good trainingthrough high school.”
Martin said his father, whowas also a great artist, was oneof
his most avid supporters.
“I loved art more than myschool work,” Martin added.
Martin also said, slightlychuckling, that he took pleinair
painting, and he added,“Back then, we just called itpainting
outdoors.”
Through the years, he alsostudied at the McNay ArtInstitute in
San Antonio, aswell as the Coppini.
He still also fondly recallshis youth, fishing with his
oldfriends like the Stehlings.
When it came time forhigher education, Martinattended Texas
TechUniversity in Lubbock on anart scholarship.
“And that’s where thingschanged,” Martin said.
He met his wife, SusanFaltin Haufler, a career schoolteacher
from Comfort, andthey were married inLubbock.
“Ever since, she has beenmy greatest supporter,” headded.
Meanwhile, he realized hecouldn’t make enough moneyas a
commercial artist inLubbock so he applied for ajob at the police
academy.Then he and Susan moved toBurnet and began a long
stintdoing what he loved.
“It was a pretty good deal,”Martin said. “I had worked abank
robbery so I did a sketch
on an envelope and we caughtthe robber based on mysketch.”
Before long, the policedepartment sent down a full-time New York
police expertwho gave them a four-weekcourse in composite
andforensic art. Martin washooked.
Sometimes a little luck paidoff.
“I was working one nightand I found a guy in the localpark,” he
said. “But he would-n’t look at me, so I looked athim, and was
checking onhim. After the shift, I was offfor the weekend. It just
hap-pened there was a homicidethat weekend. When I gotback, I
remembered I had seenthat guy who was new intown, and so I sketched
him.They found out who it was,the murderer, and it was theyguy I
had met.”
Although he had a lot ofcases that aggravated him, hesaid he
only remembered twoof his cases that never gotsolved.
Martin spent the next 33years and 10 months pursuinghis craft,
when a life-changeoccurred.
“That was until I had a heartattack,” he said. “I had toretire.
That was about fiveyears ago.”
Martin and his wife decid-ed to return to Susan’s home-town of
Comfort, and nowlive in one of the Faltin fami-ly’s old historic
homes built in1895.
“It was her grandmother’shouse, that she got when hermother,
Mabel, died,” Martinsaid. “It is very photogenic.”
Coming across some of hisold watercolors, Martin sartedpainting
the old Comfortbuildings.
“People would buy thepaintings, they were very pop-ular,” Martin
said.
“Then I heard about theatelier in HCAF, and knew themaster
artist, Holly White-Gehrt, who has improved mywork greatly,” Martin
said.“I’ll probably still keep takingit for a while longer and
thenkeep developing somethingelse, like historical stuff, Ireally
like it.”
“When I left my job inBurnet, I thought I would real-ly miss it
a lot,” Martin said.“But now I have found anoth-er career
again.”
By Irene Van WinkleWest Kerr Current
When it comes to a multi-tude of Texas history, long-time
teacher, singer, writerand re-enactor Clifton Fifer,Jr. of
Kerrville has few equalsand has been awarded manytimes.
This past Monday, mem-bers of the Kerr CountyHistorical
Commission weretreated to another of his mem-orable presentations,
this oneon the subject of Texas flags.
Interspersing his narrativewith applicable songs ren-dered
boldly a cappella, Fiferran through about a dozen sto-
ries of the many flags thathave flown over Texas, andsome that
never did.
“Texas is so big and proud,because of what we do,” hesaid. “And
I don’t think thereare any better people than thepeople of Texas.
When therehas been a struggle, Texanshave always been able tocome
together.”
Fifer noted that there wereabout 100 or so flags associat-ed
with Texas and its evolutioninto a state, including severalblue
flags with white stars,other versions resembling theLone Star flag,
as well as earlyon, the French, Mexican andSpanish flags, and the
“Come
and Take It” flag symbolizingthe dispute with the Mexicansover a
cannon.
The KCHC, which meetson the third Monday of everymonth at the
old UnionChurch, has had a full plate ofactivities and many
commit-tees making progress in vari-ous areas.
In January, KCHCChairperson Julie Leonardhad appeared before the
KerrCounty Commissioners Courtand announced the acceptanceof a new
crop of members,most of whom attended: Kenand Jeannie Berger,
DonnaBrewton, Austin Dickson,Terry Farley, Barbara
Johnston, Dr. Seabrook Jones,Charlie McIlvain and
RobertPuig.
Plans continue for theupcoming History SummerCamp, Leonard said,
addingthat the Union Church wassuggested as a possible site forthe
event. Members seemed toagree it was a fitting location.
In other activities, Leonardsaid, she, Brenda Williamsand Dr.
Bill Rector were pres-ent at the installation of fournew signs on
historicalKerrville downtown build-ings.
Leonard also praised thework of Bunny Bond, whohas been
attending numerous
city and county meetings late-ly, keeping notes on develop-ments
or proceedings thatmight be of interest to theKCHC.
The next meeting of KCHCwill be on March 18, featuringauthor and
Alamo historianBill Groneman.
Page 14 West Kerr Current Thursday, February 21, 2019
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Historian, poet, teacher and musician Clifton Fifer, Jr.
presents a history of manyflags that have flown over Texas during
the Kerr County Historical Commissionmeeting last Monday.
The newest members of the Kerr County Historical Commission were
recentlyintroduced at Kerr County Commissioners Court. Shown here,
from left, are AustinDickson, Ken Berger, Chairperson Julie
Leonard, Donna Brewton, Jeannie Berger,Robert Puig, Charlie
McIlvain and Barbara Goss Johnston. Not pictured are TerryFarley
and Dr. Seabrook Jones.
Historical commission learns about Texas flags
Artist Continued from Page 1
912 Jefferson Street
The Theatre District
Kerrville, TX 78028
