Hide Article Text (OCR)
Robert Runyon — a man for all seasonsBy NORMAN ROZEFFValley Morning StarThe headline might well have read Robert Runyon, Renaissance Man. The latter refers to an individual who is interested in, and delves into, the many facets that life offers. The essential Renaissance man is Leonardo da Vinci. The renaissance, of course, is that period of Hu ropes rebirth or awakening from the Dark Ages and its subsequent interest in arts and sciences.Runyon was a man born to parents of modest resources and his education was likewise modest. This Catlettsburg, Ky„ native likely attended grammar school — and possibly high school — but nothing is documented about either.In 190i, at age 20, he married an Ohio girl, but in the seventh year of their marriage she died, leaving him a widower with one son.In 1909, Runyon and his son embarked for Brownsville. Once there, he managed a newsstand and curio shop in the railroad train depot. Within a year, his interest in photography rose to the point that he opened a photography studio. This was to be a major plus for him and for the subsequentphotographic documentation of people, activities and historical events in the Lower Rio Grande Valley and northern Mexico.On Independence Day 1913, Runyon married again, this time to Amelia Lenor Medrano, the attractive daughter of a prominent Matamoros family. The union produced three daughters and two sons.Runyon’s great familiarity with both sides of the border enabled him to visually chronicle the rapidly changing scene in 1910-1919. In photos reminiscent of Matthew Brady’s Civil War prints, Runyon was able to capture the turmoil and bloodshed of the Mexican Revolution in northeastern Mexico and its carryover in bandit/revolutionary incidents north of the border. These included scenes of Constitutionalist Gen. Lucio Blanco’s capture of Matamoros from Federalist forces, additional engagements elsewhere in Northern Mexico, the Norias Ranch raid, and the terrorist train derailment near Olmito.Upon the reactivation of Fort Brown, Runyon produced images of a wide range of military life. It is also his widespread curiosity and follow-up documentation of everydaylife in the nascent Valley towns that garner praise. Without his major body of work, a tremendous void would exist. The use of his photographs by out-ofarea newspapers and on postcards helped to enlighten people about this area and to promote land sales and tourism.His intellect was not only piqued by people and property, but by the unique, untram-meled botany of the area.He photographed many regional plants of interest and commenced the compilation of his private herbarium. He discovered heretofore undescribed plant species, several of which came to bear his name in their scientific descriptions. These included three types of cactus, a sand dune grass and a tree bearing orange-like fruit.He wrote several books on Texas and Valley flora, including one with KHen D. Schulz Quillan. He also participated in a number of botanical and science societies.In 1926, Runyon closed his photography studio and became a merchant, first in Matamoros with his brother-in-law, Jos£ Medrano, and, in addition, later opened a giftSmi RUNYON ★ C2
Newspaper Details
Valley Morning Star
Harlingen, Texas, US
Thu, Mar 24, 2005
Page 29
Full Page
Clipped by
Peggy C.
USA 29 Dec 2019
Other Publications Near Harlingen, Texas
Valley Morning Star
Harlingen Star
Harlingen Valley Sunday Star Monitor Herald
Harlingen Rio Grande Farmer
Harlingen Valley Weekly Star
