Colp, David E.

David E. Colp (1867-1936) was an automobile dealership owner, leader and secretary of the Texas Good Roads Association, and chairman of the Texas State Parks Board. He was born near Paris, Texas, and was a prominent resident of San Antonio, Texas, for many years. During Colp’s eight years as secretary of the Texas Good Roads Association, he was in charge of three large highway development projects: the Old Spanish Trail, the Meridian Highway and the Glacier to Gulf Highway.

Colp, who noticed the tourism revenue created by the national parks of the western United States, spent years of his life in efforts to improve Texas game reserves, state parks, roads, and highways. Governor Pat Neff passed a bill in 1923, which provided for the development of state parks and game reserves in Texas. Included in the bill was the formation of a five-member state parks board to serve without compensation, and he appointed Colp chairman of this board.

...