Moments in Time is a collection of recovered newspaper briefs and other publications, compiled by local historian, Steve Hathcock, offering a look back at the history of the Rio Grande Valley.
Steve Hathcock is a local historian and a regular columnist for the Port Isabel South Padre Press. He has spent many years collecting and sharing the history of the Rio Grande Valley, as well as treasure hunting and formerly owning an Island-based bookstore.
Flying Jeeps Invade South Padre Island
Jonathon Conrow, who owns a 32-mile, 30,000-acre tract on South Padre Island, watches as W. W. Atkins of Edinburgh, Texas, wins “broad jump” with leap of 23 feet. The shouting voices were the same and the wild and woolly rodeo atmosphere was there—but it was horsepower instead of horses as rough-riding Texans gathered on South Padre Island for the “Jeep Jamboree.” The motor vehicle rodeo was held on the sub-tropical island on the Gulf of Mexico to determine which jeep owner-driver was the most versatile and who had the sturdiest machine.
Some 2000 spectators watched and whooped as the jeeps were put through a series of spectacular events—a slalom race through the surf, vehicular broad-jumps, and the roughest five-mile obstacle course in automotive history, with sand dunes 22 feet high with a 75 per cent grade and much rugged terrain.
These United Press photos provide a few glimpses into the rip-snortin’ show. South Padre Island, being developed as a future resort area to give competition to Southern California and Florida, was the perfect setting for this unique exhibition. Tomorrow the island would belong to the tourists—but on this day it was “the last frontier” for these daredevil jeep cowboys and their four-wheeled mustangs.
(The Pittsburgh Press · Sun, Nov 25, 1956 · (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
Port Isabel Gets Highest Tide of Year
PORT ISABEL—Bud Franke, the tide-master at the Port Isabel tide station on South Padre Island, says he expected the critical time on the lower Gulf Coast to be between 10 o’clock tonight and 2 a.m. tomorrow.
He said the high tide tonight is due at 11.59.
In the latest advisory form the New Orleans Weather Bureau, they said tropical storm Ella will strike the Texas coast north of Corpus Christi.
Franke said if Ella strikes simultaneously with the high tide, the water wall will be that much higher and more dangerous.
Franke said if Ella strikes simultaneously with the high tide, it could wash away a ramp from the tide station. No one has evacuated South Padre Island except some anxious tourists. He said the El Padre Motel has boarded up its windows as a precautionary measure.
Franke said tides ranged from 2-point-7 feet to 3-point-2 at 9:15 this morning — the last reading. But he said that water was higher on the beach than it has been all year — including during the peak of tropical storm Alma which blew out south of Padre island.
In Port Isabel, a shrimp official said 250 shrimpers are in dock and that no boats are out. Up the Gulf at Port Aransas and Rockport, evacuation operations are starting. More than 400 shrimp boats have docked in that area.
(The Monitor (McAllen Texas) Fri, Sep 05, 1958)
Reminiscence Of The King Of Padre Island
Chairman Pat Dunn was telling some funny stories yesterday morning while waiting for the delegates to the representative convention to arrive. Among other things Pat told about the time he and another gentleman were the only two voters on Padre Island. Padre was a precinct by it self and as such had to be represented. It was a puzzle to Mr. Dunn and his companion how to manage it, but they finally compromised on taking turns about. The two would agree between themselves how to vote, and thus they kept up the organization without conflict and in perfect harmony. In the later days, since Mr. Dunn has been anointed King of Padre, there is none to dispute the reign of the Irish monarch who has additional honors conferred upon him by being selected chairman of the Nueces county democratic executive committee, which position he occupies with great honor and credit and becoming dignity.—Corpus Christi Herald.
Real Estate Transfers
Padre Island Development Co., to King Robey of Boulder, Col., lot 18, block 48. Consideration, $50. The same to Carrie M. Robey of Boulder, Colo., lot 18, block 57. Consideration $50. The same to Edward Fielding of Chicago, lot 16, block 45. Consideration $50.
(Brownsville Daily Herald (Brownsville, Tex.) August 25, 1908)