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(Continued from page 1) time was a postmaster. Mr. Cox taught school and in between terms he attended Sam Houston State College where he obtained his de gree. He was elected Van Zandt county school super indent. In World War I he taught mathematics at an Army camp in Milwaukee. Upon his discharge he re turned to Texas, and saw Gilmer the first time. He came here as manager of the Board of Trade, about 1917. That was the forerunner of the Chamber of Commerce. He left in about a year to go to Canton where he got into the newspaper business. Later he worked for the Kaufman newspaper, then became Chamber of Com merce manager in Athens. It was in 1925 that he got back to Gilmer, by buying the motion picture theater, the Crystal, from Mrs. Rosa Croley. But it was tough go ing in those days. His family stayed here to operate the show and he took another job, as manager of the Tyler chamber of commerce. In come from the Tyler job helped keep the theater go ing, his family recalls. While working in Tyler he was, with Carl Estes, instru mental in formation of the East Texas Chamber of Com merce. He gave Gilmer one of the best theaters in the area in the 1920's and when first sound films came, he install ed the Lee Deforrest film pickup equipment—the best available and superior to that in other theaters in the bigger towns in the area. While he was president of the Gilmer school board the present junior high school gymnasium was built. It was the high school campus at that time, and the gym has served not only for school but civic uses ever since. When Mr. Cox was presi dent of the Gilmer Chamber of Commerce, in 1950, he and a group of leading busi nessmen were instrumental in getting the State Highway Department to build what is now Highway 155 from Gil mer to tie into the route into Lone Star Steel Co. He fore saw that such a good high way was needed for Gilmer and Upshur County to bene fit economically from new jobs at the big plant. Mr. Cox is known for his generous gifts to his church, to the county library, and any worthwhile civic ven ture. He looks forward to meeting new challenges at an age when most are retired. This was exemplified when fire destroyed his beloved Crystal Theatre in the sum mer of 1965. Hardly hesi tating, he went right back into business, because, he said, the town needs a pic ture show, particularly for the young people. Mr. and Mrs. Cox reared three children, Cranfill, Jr., and Mrs. Mary Jo Shepperd, who reside in Gilmer, and Mrs. Virginia Ann Joyce of Fort Worth They have three grand children and two great grandsons.
Newspaper Details
Gilmer Mirror
Gilmer, Texas, US
Thu, May 26, 1966
Page 14
Full Page
Clipped by
Kimbrelyn A.
