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Hinds Family Thomas
'Tom" Mahoney Hinds was born October 18, 1893 in Texarkana, Texas, son
of William K. Hinds and Bridget Della Fox. Tom married Eva
Hardeman July 3, 1922 in Grayson County, Texas. Eva was born July
18, 1902 in Rusk County, Texas, daughter of Samuel Hunter Hardeman and
Mary Julia Beck.
They lived at 506 East Main Street in Denison, Texas with Tom's parents for several years until purchasing their own home which would remain in the family until 1995. The home was located on 423 East Hull Street and was purchased from T.E. and Bessie Steen in June 1927 for $1,999. Their only child, Florence, was born July 3, 1923 and was a toddler when they moved to their new home.  423 East Hull Street LIGHTNING BOLT DAMAGES HOME IN FREAKISH VISITATION Stories of dismay caused by unexpected leaky roofs, lightning scares, and numerous other evidences of discomfiture caused by the recent downpour in Denison have been heard in Denison as the aftermath of the 6-1/2 inch rain and electrical storm which visited Denison early this week. One instance which stopped barely short of disaster occurred at the Tom M. Hinds home, 423 East Hull Street. Tuesday morning at 2 o'clock when a thunderbolt struck the house, trailed a path of fire not more than 10 inches over the heads of Mrs. Hinds and her little daughter, Florence, in their bedroom, and continuing into the attic, doubtless by electrical wiring, splintered the heavy rafters and scorched the wood in many places. The lights, telephone and radio were put out of commission, and the radio aerial was ground to bits, it is stated. Mrs. Hinds and daughter state that a ball of fire shot in a rear window, apparently, and passed over their heads about 10 inches. Mr. Hinds, sleeping in an adjoining room, did not see it but he felt the vibration as did neighbors who say their house was swayed by the bolt. The roof of the home was so completely undermined that extensive repair work was necessitated. Why the scorched wood did not burst into fire is another freak of elemental occurrence. Florence was Valedictorian of her high school class at St. Xavier Academy. She received a scholarship for music, earning an associate degree in education. Florence and Harry Sullivan were married on December 15, 1943 in Grayson County; Harry was stationed at Perrin Air Force Base, Denison, Texas.  Florence & Harry Sullivan December 15, 1943 Florence and Harry made their home in Cincinnati, Ohio for 10 years; when his employment changed, they relocated to Whittier, California. Tom and Eva completed renovations on their home on Hull Street, turning it into a duplex. Throughout the 1940s they rented out the east side of the home to various young married couples stationed at Perrin Air Force Base. The east side of the home was also rented out to several nurses, who were employes of the Madonna Hospital on the same block. Tom Hinds died in 1952 and was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Denison, Texas. Eva maintained the residence on Hull Street and continued to make improvements to the house with the help of her daughter and son-in-law, Florence and Harry. Eva Hardeman Hinds was aunt to Vera McClure Baker. Vera was mother of Lt. General Royal Newman "King" Baker, born in Corsicana, Texas, November 27, 1918. Royal Baker was a United States Air Force Flying Ace in the Korean War. Lt. General Baker came to visit his aunt Eva and family on East Hull Street in Denison while in Grayson County for an event at Perrin Air Force Base on May 17, 1953.  Jan Heath, Harry Sullivan, Jr., Col. Royal N. Baker, Eva Hinds May 1953 Friday, May 8, 1953 AIR HERO TO SPEAK AT PERRIN Colonel Royal N. Baker, top jet ace of the Korean conflict with 12 MIG "kills", is to be the featured speaker at the Perrin Armes Forces Day observance May 17. Since returning to the U.S. Col. Baker has been assigned to the flight test center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base where he is project officer for a new all-weather jet in the experimental stage. He was invited to participate in the Perrin ceremonies by the joint Sherman-Denison Armed Forces Day committee. COL. ROYAL BAKER TO BE SPEAKER AT AIR FORCE DAY ACTIVITIES By M.O. Padilla Colonel Royal N. Baker, the world's leading jet ace, will be the principal speaker at the Armed Forces Day observance to be held at Perrin Air Force Base, May 17. Announcement of the air hero's acceptance was made by Col. Richard A. Barrett, Armed Forces Day project officer. Baker was invited to participate in the Perrin ceremonies by the Denison-Sherman Armes Forces Day Committee. PROJECT OFFICER FOR NEW JET Col. Baker is presently on a 30 day leave at his home in McKinney. He is assigned to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, where he is to take up duties as a project officer for a new Air Force all-weather jet interceptor in the experimental stage. Col. Baker, credited with 12 MIG-15's and one LA-9 propellor-driven aircraft, was recently honored with a "Baker Day" celebration in McKinney. Personnel and jets from Perrin played a major role in the ceremonies. Plans for the Armed Forces Day observance at Perrin include a Wing Review, a fly-over of Sabre-jets and T-33's, continuous movies, and static displays. PERRIN MEN TO SPEAK Besides displays in store windows of military equipment, both Sherman and Denison Chambers of Commerce have arranged for a series speeches before organized groups by Perrin speakers during the week, 12-17. The open-house will climax the week's observance. GROUP HAD 390 VICTORIES The slight, dark-haired jet ace was commanding officer of the 4th Fighter-Interceptor Group in Korea. At the time Col. Baker was in command the group had to its credit 390 air victories. The Florida jet ace, Capt. Manuel Fernandez, is running Col. Baker a close second with 11 MIG "kills" to his credit. Fernandez is also in the 4th. When interviewed at his McKinney home recently, Col. Baker said that he had just completed his third tour of combat duty. His first tour was in Europe in 1942 flying 160 missions in British-made Spitfires with the 31st Fighter Group. In 1944 he returned to European air action flying 112 missions in P-47's with the 48th Fighter-Bomber Group. He completed 126 history-making missions in Korea before being returned to the United States. When queried on what he thought of the relative merits of the F-86 Sabrejet and the Russian-built MIG-15, Colonel Baker said, "The MIG-15 is a very good aircraft... fast rate of climb and extremely maneuverable...the Communists have a fine jet there. However, I feel that our F-86 is better in air combat comparison." "I WANT TO SHOOT HIM DOWN" He was asked what he felt when looking for battle with a MIG. Col. Baker said, "The main thing you feel when you get into 'MIG ALLEY', as they call the 50-mile square area right up against the Yalu, is 'Am I going to see the MIG?' and then when you do see him, 'I don't want him to get away...I want to shoot him down', and that's just about how one feels." Col. Baker said that on flights near the Yalu River it was possible to see troop concentrations on the side forbidden to UN airmen. He said, "One can see them concentrated on the 'other' side, in fact, we've seem parallel to the Yalu, maybe 3 of 4 miles to one side... of course, we couldn't go after them... the rules of the war are that we stay in North Korea, and we stay in North Korea." "It was really frustrating to be on a MIG...to be shooting at him...watching the smoke pour out of him and know if you could follow the Red a little further along you could get a "kill" out of it. When you come back and your gun camera shows the MIG smoking and your witness days he saw you hit him all you can do then is give the pilot a 'damaaged' or a "probable." If we could follow the MIGs across the Yalu we'd have a lot more kills." "The Communist pilots range all the way from very, very weak ones to some who are extremely good. One runs into some really sharp Red jet pilots, however, I believe American pilots are better because of their training." AMERICA'S LEADING ACE OF KOREA DIES AT 57 McKinney, Texas (AP) - They called the place "MIG Alley". But, apparently no one bothered to tell Royal Baker. Baker was a young fighter pilot from Texas and MIG Alley was a tough no-man's land where North Korean pilots blow-torched their way across the Yahu River with impunity. Baker acted like he owned it. American soldiers and Marines stomped their frost-bitten feet and fought a hard, dirty war on the ground while Baker, upstairs, conducted his own grim game. He returned here, his home town, 23 years ago this month as America's leading ace of the Korean War. Baker had shot down a dozen MIGs. Thousands across Texas turned out to greet him. Bands played, crowds cheered. U.S. House Speaker Sam Rayburn introduced him to a throng of 4,000 persons. President Eisenhower praised him for 20 minutes. Sen. Lyndon Johnson posed with him for photographers. About 100 persons showed up for Baker's funeral Tuesday. They included 7 generals and 8 other officers. Baker, 57, was an Air Force lieutenant general when he retired last August. His friends called him the picture of health. He neither drank nor smoked. His weight - 150 pounds - never varied much. Baker and his wife had played two sets of tennis then decided to jog around the court. He trotted 10 yards and fell, dead of a heart attack.  Eva Hinds in front of her home, 423 East Hull Street According to the 1957 Denison City Directory she was working as a nurse, most likely at Madonna Hospital within walking distance of her home. She eventually moved to California to live with her daughter and son-in-law until her death on October 29, 1989. She was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Denison alongside her husband, Tom. Florence Sullivan became heir to the home on Hull Street and after many improvements, sold the home in October 1995. She died January 9, 2014 and was buried next to her husband, Harry, who died October 11, 1979 in Whittier, Los Angeles County, California at Rose Hills Memorial Park.  Biography Index Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |
