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Ask and You Shall Receive
Grandpa Leon Josephus Coney and Granny Ida Augusta Hawkins Coney had
nine children, the first of whom died from pneumonia his first winter.
The four sons and four daughters that were born later grew into adults,
married, and had families of their own. Everything went along very well
until most of the children had grown children of their own who married,
and then the great-grandchildren began to arrive. It was then that
Grandpa began lamenting the fact that, although he had three
granddaughters named for him, he did not have even one grandson named
for him to carry on his given name. He promised to give a heifer calf to
any son of his who presented him with a namesake. The son was to keep
the heifer and any female calves she produced until the namesakes were
old enough to go to college. Grandpa figured that the increase in the
cows and their offspring would pay for the namesake's education.
Within two years, three of his sons claimed this prize. Edgar Lee had a
son he named L. J., Roy Leon (Buster) named his son Charles Leon, and
Lowell named his son Donald Josephus. Grandpa was delighted! He had
asked for them, and he had received them. The heifers were delivered as
promised.
But, you ask, what happened with the plans to use the money from the
sale of all of those heifers to send the boys to college?
Edgar lived on a farm near Pecan Gap,Texas. He raised the heifers, and
when L. J. started to East Texas State Teachers College (now Texas A&M
University-Commerce), he sold them to buy a 1948 Ford to drive back and
forth. L. J. earned a master's degree in physical education, with a
minor in social studies. He was a teacher and basketball coach in
Roxton, Texas, where his team went to state. In February 2005 the Roxton
gymnasium was named in his honor, and a bronze plaque was presented to
him which reads, "This Gymnasium is dedicated to L. J. Coney for
forty-seven years of unselfish service to the students and community of
Roxton, Texas. Mr. Coney served as Coach and Principal at Roxton I.S.D.
He served as Mayor, as well as being a successful businessman who
founded KBA, Inc. in Roxton. As the inventor of the 'Korney Board,' he
has forever changed the game of basketball. Success always looks easy to
those who weren't around when it was being earned. Presented by Roxton
Ex-Students and Associates, Dedicated February, 2005."
Roy Leon (Buster) died from an allergic reaction to sulfa drugs
prescribed by his doctor when Charles Leon was about eight years old.
His mother had to sell the heifers to live. She got a job in Dallas,
where she later married again. Charles joined the army and served in
Alaska for two years. After his enlistment time was completed, he
enrolled in East Texas State Teachers College under the G.I. Bill,
earning a master's degree in elementary administration. He taught sixth
grade in Corpus Christi for nine years, then moved to Bay City in 1967
as elementary principal, retiring in 1990. Charles has been a member of
the Lions Club since 1968, serving in various positions including
president and district governor.
Visiting relatives in Dallas when Don was in high school in Ladonia,
Lowell applied for a job at Ling-Temco-Vought. He got the job, and they
moved to Dallas. So those heifers were also sold. Don attended Adamson
High School and won a scholarship to Rice University, where he received
a law degree, then went on to earn a medical degree. He has been listed
in Big D Magazine, Texas Monthly, and America Today as one
of the outstanding OB/GYN doctors in the nation.
From his request for namesakes, Grandpa was rewarded with two teachers
and a doctor. Would Grandpa have been proud to claim these three
namesakes? I truly think so.
Lowell McCormack
Gainesville, Texas
Published:
November 14,
2005
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