Gouger, Vernie Alston

Chair of the Library Wing Committee, of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library.

Lucy Vernor “Vernie” Alston was born in Gonzales County, Texas, in 1875 and spent most of her youth on a Wilson County farm. She married Gratz Brown Gouger (1871-1933) in 1893 and lived in the town of Stockdale, Texas, assisting her husband in his business ventures and raising their three children.

The Gougers moved to San Antonio in 1910 and Mrs. Gouger remained there after her husband’s death. Active in civic affairs, she was one of two women to serve on the first city planning commission. She was also a member of many organizations, including the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT). In 1947 she was asked to chair the Library Wing Committee, which successfully oversaw the construction of the DRT Library on the grounds of the Alamo. Mrs. Gouger continued to work on behalf of the library until her death in 1951 December.

A resident of Wilson County and San Antonio, Texas, Vernie Alston Gouger was active in civic affairs and organizations.

As chairman of the Library Wing Committee of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, she led the effort to construct a library on the grounds of the Alamo.