JOHN RALPH KILLGORE
SURNAMES: KILLGORE, LeFEVRE, BAIN, WARROCK.
John Ralph Killgore, b 1903 in Coolidge, Texas, d February 4,1962 while visiting
in New York, City and buried in Woodland Cemetery at Rosebud, Falls County,
Texas - was a son of John S. and Martha (LeFevre) Killgore.
Mr. Killgore attended school at Coolidge, while working on his father's farm. He
entered Baylor University - earning a degree in Journalism in 1925 where he was
a close friend of Congressman W. R. Poage.
In 1924, Killgore was married to Vivian Bain, whom he met Baylor University; and
they moved to Kerens, Texas, where he worked at a bank and later as a paper
salesman.
On
May 1, 1929, the Killgores moved to Rosebud, Falls County, Texas, where he
purchased the Rosebud News - a newspaper formerly owned by the Warrock
family. His drive to get a rosebush in every yard was successful, and his slogan
became "Everything's rosy in Rosebud."
On June 1, 1939, John Ralph Killgore was appointed postmaster of Rosebud, and
was elected president of the Texas Chapter of the National Association of
Postmasters in 1950. He served as member and president of the Rosebud Chamber of
Commerce and Rosebud Lions Club.
Two children were born to John Ralph and Vivian (Bain) Killgore:
John Ralph Killgore, Jr., b December 21, 1929 at Scott and White Hospital,
Temple, Texas - was a graduate of Rosebud High School, and obtained a B.A.
degree in Journalism from Baylor University. While there, he was editor of
The Baylor Lariat, and photographer for The Baylor Round-Up. After
graduation, he worked for the Ochiltree County Herald in Perryton, Texas.
He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1949 to 1954, and in the Reserves from 1954
to 1958. John has served as Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3 of Falls County,
for twenty-four years, and has been the editor of the Rosebud News since
his father's death in 1962, along with his brother, Jack Killgore, who serves a
manager of the paper. John Ralph Killgore, Jr., has married twice, and has five
children.
Jack Killgore, b May 5,1936 in Temple, Texas, is a graduate of Rosebud High
School and obtained a B.A. degree from Baylor University in English and Spanish.
He did graduate work at The University of Texas. He owns the Rosebud Antique
Store, and is manager of the Rosebud News. Jack belongs to the American
Art Pottery Association, the Southwest Art Pottery Association, and the American
Cut Glass Association. He was named vice-chairman of the Falls County
Sesquicentennial Committee, and chairman of the Rosebud Sesquicentennial
Committee. He is a talented musician, and was the organist at the Episcopal
Church in Temple. In 1986, he was named "Citizen of the Year" by the Rosebud
Chamber of Commerce, of which he is a member.
Copyright Permission granted to Theresa Carhart for printing the biographies of
these Falls County Families to this Web page.
"Families of Falls County", Compiled and Edited by the Falls County Historical
Commission, page 268 column 2.
Member of Falls County Historical Commission.
