Kingsville Texas

We had been to Kingsville before, and saw the legendary King Ranch which in the 1800’s was at one time the largest privately-owned ranch in the world. My mom had dated a descendent of Richard King, but something better came along. What we didn’t know when we visited Kingsville last was that there was a business associate of Captain Richard King, and his name was Captain Mifflin Kennedy. Both had come to Texas from the East Coast, essentially penniless and destitute. They both became steamboat captains on the Rio Grande River, and amassed enough money to begin their ranching empires.

At its peak, the King Ranch claimed over 15 million acres of grass lands. Mifflin on the other hand managed his ranch holdings to over 400,000 acres. However, his innovations in managing his ranch were innovative for the time. He actually fenced his earlier held Laureles Ranch, requiring over 36 miles of fencing. He didn’t end up fencing in his ultimate La Parra Ranch, but continued to exercise innovative ranch and livestock techniques.

Sadly, the Kennedy lineage was doomed. The eldest son of Mifflin and Petra Vela de Vidal Kennedy purchased the Kennedy Ranch from his other siblings. John Gregory Kennedy had two children, John Gregory Jr. and Sarita. Both had become sterile in their youth due to illnesses – chicken pox and influenza. So, when Sarita died in 1961, there were no Kennedy heirs in line to continue the legacy. The ranch lands are held to generate funds for various Texas charities.

We visited the Kingsville campus of Texas A&M University. Enrollment at Texas A&M Kingsville is over 9,000 full time students. On the campus we discovered a museum that we really enjoyed.

The John E Conner Museum is on the campus. John E Conner was the first Dean of the Kingsville campus of Texas A&M. The museum is some natural history, some local artifacts, and some local artists works. But the exhibit we enjoyed most was about Kingsville born Richard E Cavazos. Cavazos was the first Hispanic brigadier general in the US armed forces. Being awarded Distinguished Service Crosses twice, once in Korea and once in Vietnam, he completed his Army career as four star general and the head of US Army Forces Command.

Talk to you soon!