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Mr. Gist was born in Missouri and at an early age moved to Oklahoma where he attended school. He was graduated from Texhoma High School and then from the Panhandle A. & M. College at Goodwell, Oklahoma. After concluding his schooling he taught in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Montana, Idaho, and Texas. It was while teaching in Rose Lake, Idaho, that the hardware dealer met and married the former Miss Bertha DeGraff. In World War I Mr. Gist served with the American Expeditionary force in France. He saw action at St. Mihiel, Belleau Wood, and the Meuse-Argonne. In the latter battle, the young private fell victim to the dread Mustard gas. Mr. Gist recalls that the gas settled to the low places and soldiers caught in valleys without their gas masks in place found themselves with their lungs full of death. As an affect of the gas he breathed in France, Mr. Gist has had pneumonia five times. In 1923 he became a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry and has served altogether on active and inactive duty a total of 26 years and nine months. Uncle Sam called again in 1941 and the captain resumed active duty to serve as assistant to the chief of the Army Exchange Service of the Eight Service Command. In April, 1942, he was appointed Exchange Office for Camp Hulen and held that position until the end of the war. The duty of a camp exchange officer is to operate the money-making activities of the service. Mr. Gist recalls that in its best year, Camp Hulen did a $1,975,000 business. After his discharge as a Major at the conclusion of the war, Mr. Gist returned to Palacios and purchased the hardware store owned by Robert L. Price. He has been in business in the same location 11 years this month. Mr. Gist was retired as Lieutenant Colonel in 1952. He received his latest promotion in 1948. The hardware business has occupied his time since 1946 except for the 1954-55 school term when he taught school in Fredericksburg. Mr. Gist has had a variety of hobbies, the latest of which is crossword puzzles. He enters the puzzle contests in the Houston papers, sending in a number of entries proportional to the amount of the jackpot. One he sent in 60 solutions. He got all the answers right—but not all on the same puzzle. As any crossword fan knows, there are seemingly an infinite number of possible solutions. The Gists are the parents of one daughter, Lucille, who was graduated from Palacios High School, John Sealy Hospital school in Galveston, and attended the University of Texas. She is married to Dr. J. B. Gastring and they make their home in Yoakum.
Palacios Beacon, January 10, 1957 |
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An item of local interest is the sale this week of Price Cash Hardware to Mr. Landon E. Gist. Mr. Gist is not a newcomer to Palacios, but is perhaps better known to the residents as Major Gist, who was stationed at Camp Hulen and served as Exchange Officer for 3 1/2 years. More recently Major Gist was stationed at Camp Knight, Calif., until his discharge Dec. 6, 1945. Long before his discharge from the army Major Gist had settled on Palacios as his permanent home, and had made the plans for his purchase of the Price Hardware. The transaction has been completed and the store is open for business under the name of the Palacios Hardware. Robert L. Price, former owner of this store, has been a Palacios business man the past 30 years or more and was previously connected with the John T. Price Lumber Co. He took over the management upon the death of Mr. Price in 1922 and continued with that firm until it was purchased by the Barnett Lumber Company. He then bought the Traylor Hardware business which he has since conducted. His plans for the future have not been revealed, but we understand he will continue to make Palacios his home. Our people are pleased to have Mr. and Mrs. Gist as our citizens and extend them a most cordial welcome.
Palacios Beacon, January 10, 1946 |
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Verlin Murphy, formerly of Nashville, Michigan, is the new owner of the former Gist Hardware, corner Fifth and Commerce. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy and daughter, Juanita, a junior high student, are living at 110 South Bay Boulevard.
Palacios Beacon, August 22, 1957 |
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Requiem mass for Landon E. Gist was held at 9 a. m. Monday, January 29, in the Catholic Church in Blanco, Texas. Rosary was recited at 7 p. m. Sunday in the funeral home chapel in Johnson City. Stationed at Camp Hulen during World War II, after his discharge he purchased the hardware store at the corner of 5th and Commerce and operated that business for many years. For the past several years he has made his home in Blanco. He passed away Friday, January 26, after an extended illness. He is survived by his wife, Bertha Gist and two grandchildren.
Palacios Beacon, February 1, 1968 |
Landon Gist, Palacios hardware dealer, has served
his country with honor in two world wars and devoted 16 years to
teaching in five states.