By PETE BANDA
Special to the NEWS
One of the oldest families in San Benito’s history held a reunion last week with descendants from across the United States returning to the century-old family farm.
The family of Denver Hance, a Valley pioneer who moved to the area after World War I, came together for a celebration of their patriarch’s birthday on Sept. 6.
Denver Hance first came to the Valley in 1919 after his brother, who was stationed at Fort Brown during World War I, fell in love with the fertile Valley soil. Relocating from Mineola, Texas, Hance quickly rented land from a local farmer while learning the trade. In a few short years, Hance was able to build his own farm on Zilock Road and raised his family in the Resaca City.
Hance eventually became a leading figure in the community, serving on the local school board and working out of the Harlingen office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. His seven children graduated from San Benito High School, and he celebrated 60 years of marriage at the family farm before his death in 1976.
More than a full 100 years after first making the San Benito area his home, the Hance family returned to their homestead for a historic picture with the road sign bearing the Hance name which was first unveiled on Sept. 6, 2001.
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