Texas Statesman Allan Shivers

The plaque is a tribute; the record of 1956 is harder. At Mansfield a federal court ordered Black students admitted to the high school, the first such order in Texas. When white crowds of 300 to 400 blocked them, Governor Shivers called it an orderly protest, sent Texas Rangers to uphold segregation against the federal order, and let the school board transfer the Black students to Fort Worth. The Handbook says Orval Faubus's stand at Little Rock the next year may have drawn on it. Shivers spent his early childhood at Magnolia Hills near Woodville.

What the plaque says

Texas Statesman Allan Shivers One of Texas' strongest governors, a progressive, colorful, dynamic leader. Administration (1949-1957) -- longest in state's history -- was marked by winning fight for restoration of the tidelands to Texas. In state Senate, 1935, where he was youngest man ever seated up to that time, he was author of Texas old-age pension and unemployment compensation laws. In 1947-1949 he served as lieutenant governor. As governor he made reforms in state hospitals, prisons, schools for deaf and exceptional children; created agencies for higher education, historical preservation, water resources, studies of alcoholism. In his administration highway mileage doubled. He had a moderate tax policy and a balanced budget. He was chairman, national and southern governors conferences, and Interstate Oil Compact Commission; president of the Council of State Governments. Born Oct. 5, 1907, in Lufkin, of pioneer east Texas family. Son of Robert A. and Easter Creasy Shivers. Attended Woodville schools; graduate of Port Arthur High School; University of Texas, B. A., 1931, LL.B., 1933. Married Marialice Shary, 1937. Has four children. Served in Europe in Work War II. Is a Baptist and a Mason; lawyer, rancher, farmer, investor, civic leader.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Martin Dies, Jr. State Park — 13 mi
  A 705-acre state park on Steinhagen Reservoir at the meeting of the Neches and Angelina rivers, with about 14 miles of paddling trails through sloughs and more than 200 campsites.
• Big Thicket National Preserve — 22 mi
  Start at the Kountze visitor center, where rangers sort the preserve's scattered units for you, and learn why Congress made this 1974 string of pearls the country's first national preserve.

More markers nearby

• John Henry Kirby and Education in Woodville — steps away
• Lt. Col. Philip A. Work — steps away
• Tyler County — steps away
• Home of James Edward Wheat — 0.2 mi