TRINITY VALLEY CHEMURGIC INSTITUTE. The Trinity Valley Chemurgic Institute, at Romayor, was established in 1940. It was sponsored by the Forward Trinity Valley Association as part of a program of boosting the Trinity River valley. Founders included "Commodore" B. F. Hatfield and Melvin F. Handley. With the cooperation of North Texas State Teachers College (now the University of North Texas) and Sam Houston State Teachers College, the Trinity Valley Chemurgic Institute held classes for high school boys in the summer of 1940. Handley, a professor at Sam Houston State, conducted the school, and Dan Hudgins served as president. The institute promoted the study of the industrial potential of locally abundant natural resources, including Spanish moss, castor beans, and acorns. The outbreak of World War II cut short further operations. Although reorganization was contemplated in 1945, the school apparently never reopened.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Bradford Pickett Collection, Sam Houston Regional Library, Liberty, Texas. Jake Smith Collection, Sam Houston Regional Library, Liberty, Texas.
