CHANDLER, JESSE VAN BUREN (1892-1968). Jesse Van Buren Chandler, poet, was born on November 9, 1892, in Belton, Texas, the son of W. E. and Sarah (Dickey) Chandler. He married Helen Marie Airhart on July 24, 1915, and they had two sons. Chandler graduated from the University of Texas Dental School and practiced dentistry in Kingsville. He also was known as a writer of articles, short stories, and, under the name Van Chandler, poetry. He published two books of poetry, Night Alone (1947) and Petals Fall (1959), and his poems appeared in magazines and newspapers. He was editor of the fiftieth-anniversary issues of the El Campo Citizen and the Kingsville Record. He served as a member of the executive staff of the Southwest Writers Conference. He was appointed to the honorary position of Poet Laureate of Texas^qv for the term 1959-61. He was also a district governor of Rotary International and an organizer of the Nueces Valley District Dental Society. Chandler died on January 9, 1968.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Margaret Royalty Edwards, Poets Laureate of Texas (San Antonio: Naylor, 1956; rev. ed., 1966). Kleberg County Historical Commission, Kleberg County, Texas (Austin: Hart Graphics, 1979).

Margaret Royalty Edwards