Kerrville Day at HemisFair '68 -- lots of photos of Tivy Students

Texas governor John Connally, Nancy Flenniken and Jimmy LeMeilleur.
Click on any image to enlarge.

Among the photographs in my collection are a number of newspaper images taken at HemisFair ’68, and I often wondered the identities of those in the photos. Recently, I was given a clue which solved the mystery.

Kids by tower, Taylor, King, Reynier

For those who may not know, the ‘official’ 1968 World's Fair was known as HemisFair '68, and took place in San Antonio, Texas. It ran from April 6 to October 6, 1968. San Antonio entrepreneur and community leader, Jerome K. Harris Sr., conceived and named the fair HemisFair with the intent of bringing together the diverse cultures that make up San Antonio and enhancing the city's image as a center of culture and history. 

The fair's theme was "The Confluence of Civilizations in the Americas,” a tribute to the many countries that colonized the region. The timing of the fair in 1968 was to celebrate the 250th anniversary of San Antonio's founding in 1718. The fair had more than thirty nations and fifteen corporations setting up pavilions.

Tivy Band boys Hayes, Kneese, Smith

Many of us who were in Kerrville in 1968 remember attending HemisFair. (I was six years old when it opened.) You might recognize one of the structures built for the fair: the 750 foot tall Tower of the Americas, which features a rotating restaurant at the top of its column. It was designed by San Antonio architect O’Neil Ford.

Recently, I was given a copy of the April 23, 1968 issue of the Kerrville Daily Times, which is a collage of many photos taken during ‘Kerrville Day’ at HemisFair. I was thankful for this copy of the newspaper, since it included captions for the photographs – and the identities of those in the images.

John Connally was governor of Texas in 1968, and is pictured with two Tivy students, Nancy Flenniken and Jimmy LeMeilleur. The students are giving the governor a lapel tag reading “You’re always welcome in Kerrville.”

Pollard, Smith, Stayton, Beadles,
Stiefel, Noble, Taylor, Valier

The trio of students in front of the Tower of the Americas (which was completed only a few weeks before ‘Kerrville Day’) are Wanda Taylor, Bill King, and Maryellen Reynier.

The woman loaded down with band instruments is Grace Smith. Jan Pollard is on the left, and the other students are Janice Stayton, Sharon Beadles, Mary Stiefel, Larry Noble, Wanda Taylor, and Darla Valier. The group is studying a map in front of the monorail track.

The three band members with sore feet are Charles Hayes, Dennis Kneese, and Roy Smith.

The four folk singers are from ‘Schreiner Institute,’ which is now Schreiner University. They are Jim Ritchey, Penney Von Essen, Lenelle Caulkins, and Dave Bright.

Poverty Playboys

‘Kerrville Day’ at HemisFair ended with a late-night performance by the Poverty Playboys, a Kerrville bluegrass band. I wish this photo had been published, because there is no caption, and I only recognize two members of the band: the 2nd man, playing a guitar, is Dr. Luther Ross, who directed the Kerrville State Hospital; the 3rd, playing a banjo, is Robert (Bob) Barton, who later served as district judge here for many years. In 1968, there were two other members of
the group: Clyde Jones and Ken McCormick, though I’m not sure they’re in this particular photograph.

Update: the four players in the Poverty Playboy photo are Clyde Jones, Luther Ross, Bob Barton, and Ed Gooding.

It’s my hope these photos will bring back some memories – and if you recognize someone in the photos – please share this story with them.

Overview of water and boat features
 from Tower of the Americas

Kids singing, Ritchey, Von Essen,
Caulkins, Bright

Overview of HemisFair
 from Tower of the Americas.

Until next week, all the best.

Joe Herring Jr. is a Kerrville native who collects Kerrville and Kerr County historical items. If you have something to share with him, it would make him very happy. This column originally appeared in the Kerrville Daily Times July 1, 2023.

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