George Fred Rhodes

RHODES, GEORGE FRED (1925 ~ 2007). The following is an obituary for George Fred Rhodes, George Fred "Dusty" Rhodes, former member of the Board of Regents at Texas State Technical Institute. The obituary ran in the February 22 edition of the Austin American Statesman.

"George Fred 'Dusty' Rhodes of Port Lavaca passed away on February 20, 2007. He was born August 2, 1925 in San Antonio, Texas to George Ervin May Rhodes and Clara Stutzenbecker. He grew up on a farm in the Six Mile community with his grandparents, Fritz and Frances Stutzenbecker and his aunts. He was proud of his Czech heritage and was fluent in Czech.

He graduated from Port Lavaca High School in 1942. He attended North Texas Agricultural College in Arlington (now the University of Texas at Arlington) for one year before joining the United States Army Air Corps. He was stationed at various air bases in the United States and achieved the rank of Sergeant before being honorably discharged in 1946. Following World War II he took advantage of the GI Bill and attended Texas A&I College in Kingsville Texas (now Texas A&M-Kingsville). He received his degree in 1950. He then attended law school at the University of Houston. For his final year of law school he transferred to the South Texas School of Law in Houston and received his law degree in 1954.

He moved to Victoria and practiced law with his long time friend, Emmett Cole. He moved to Port Lavaca in 1957 and established his law practice there. He was a founding partner in the firm of Rhodes, Garner and Roberts. In addition to the practice of law, he also formed Shoreline Abstract Company, Calco Construction Company and Calco Cable Company.

From 1972 to 1979 he served on the Board of Regents of Texas A&I University System. He later became Chairman of the Board and was named Outstanding Alumni in 1979. He was the Vice Chairman and Member of the Texas Coastal and Marine Council, 1976 - 1985, Chairman and Member of the Board of Regents of the Texas State Technical College System 1985 - 1992. He was former Chairman of the Calhoun County Historical Commission, former Chairman of the Calhoun County Salvation Army and involved in a number of other charitable and community organizations.

He published a weekly column in the Port Lavaca Wave entitled 'Historically Speaking' for a number of years. He was a dedicated member of Rotary Club and a past president. He served as Calhoun County Democratic Party Chairman, was a member of the Texas Democratic State Executive Committee and was active in Democratic party politics.

In November 1951, he married Marion Kathleen Athey, who predeceased him in 1993. He is survived by their three children and a grandchild: Fred Rhodes, Jr. and daughter Elizabeth of Houston, Kathleen Rhodes Coates of Fredericksburg, Texas and Lisa Rhodes of Philadelphia., Pennsylvania. He is survived by his wife Nancy Blakeman Rhodes of Port Lavaca and his cousin Sammye Claire Diebel of Port Lavaca.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Richardson-Colonial Funeral Home of Port Lavaca. Visitation will be from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 22nd at Richardson-Colonial Funeral Home. Services will be held at the Richardson-Colonial Funeral Home Chapel on Friday, February 23rd at 10:00 a.m. Interment will be at 4:00 p.m. at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin.

Donations may be made to the SPJST Memorial Scholarship Fund, the Hospice of South Texas or to the charity of your choice. Elise L. Hairell, Funeral Director, Richardson-Colonial Funeral Home #1772, 123 Newlin Street, Port Lavaca, Texas 77979."

Further information is available through the Texas State Cemetery research department.