House, Boyce, 1896-1961

Boyce House was born in Piggott, Arkansas on November 29, 1896. He spent his early boyhood in Texas and grew up in Tennessee. He was a cub reporter for the Memphis Commercial Appeal. He returned to Texas in 1920. He became editor of Eastland County's daily newspaper. He wrote about "Old Rip", a horned frog which had been placed in the cornerstone of the Eastland County Courthouse. The horned frog was found alive in 1928 after 31 years when the Courthouse was torn down. He edited newspapers in Cisco, Olney and Brady and worked for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram for five years. He was technical advisor for the movie, Boomtown (1940). After returning from Hollywood he began writing humorous columns and books. He was a candidate for lieutenant governor in the Texas Democratic primaries in 1942 and 1946. He was married to Golda Fay Jamison on April 8, 1927 and they had no children. He died on December 30, 1961 in Fort Worth.

From the description of House, Boyce papers, 1937-1962. (Fort Worth Library). WorldCat record id: 191194399

Boyce B. House (1896-1961) traveled extensively starting at a young age. He was born to Noah E. and Margaret (O’Brien) House in Piggott, Arkansas, and finally settled with his mother in Memphis, Tennessee, following his father’s death. He continued to travel, visiting Texas alone and attending schools in multiple towns. He graduated with honors from Memphis Central High School, where he had also been a respected member of the debate team. Unable to afford college, House began working for two Memphis newspapers. However, due to poor health, House left his editing position at the Piggott Banner in 1920 and moved to Texas, where he continued to gain acclamation as a reporter.

Stories featuring “Old Rip,” a horned toad that apparently survived for thirty-years in the cornerstone of the Eastland County Courthouse, and the Santa Claus bank robbery in Cisco, California, earned House a national reputation for writing about curiosities to match his local reputation for hard work and integrity. He soon became an expert on Texas oil and the history of boomtowns, leading to the publication of several books and papers, as well as his role as technical advisor for the movie Boomtown (1940), starring Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, Claudette Colbert, and Heddy Lamar.

Following this experience, House returned to Texas and began writing humorous columns and books. His weekly column and radio show gained national coverage and warranted a celebrity status in Texas. This led him to get involved in politics, and despite losing the nomination as the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor of Texas, he remained a strong supporter of the Democratic Party.

House corresponded heavily throughout his life, conversing with William Jennings Bryan during his time as the editor of the Piggot Banner, and with hundreds of people in Wichita Falls and Burkburnett in order to learn everything possible about the Burkburnett oilfield while working on Boomtown.

Source:

Hewitt, Harry P. “House, Boyce B.” Handbook of Texas Online. Accessed July 21, 2010. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fho65.

From the guide to the House, Boyce, Papers 1943., 1944-1947, (Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin)

Boyce B. House (1896-1961) traveled extensively starting at a young age.

He was born to Noah E. and Margaret (O'Brien) House in Piggott, Arkansas, and finally settled with his mother in Memphis, Tennessee, following his father's death. He continued to travel, visiting Texas alone and attending schools in multiple towns. He graduated with honors from Memphis Central High School, where he had also been a respected member of the debate team. Unable to afford college, House began working for two Memphis newspapers. However, due to poor health, House left his editing position at the Piggott Banner in 1920 and moved to Texas, where he continued to gain acclamation as a reporter.

Stories featuring "Old Rip," a horned toad that apparently survived for thirty-years in the cornerstone of the Eastland County Courthouse, and the Santa Claus bank robbery in Cisco, California, earned House a national reputation for writing about curiosities to match his local reputation for hard work and integrity.

He soon became an expert on Texas oil and the history of boomtowns, leading to the publication of several books and papers, as well as his role as technical advisor for the movie Boomtown (1940), starring Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, Claudette Colbert, and Heddy Lamar.

Following this experience, House returned to Texas and began writing humorous columns and books.

His weekly column and radio show gained national coverage and warranted a celebrity status in Texas. This led him to get involved in politics, and despite losing the nomination as the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor of Texas, he remained a strong supporter of the Democratic Party.

House corresponded heavily throughout his life, conversing with William Jennings Bryan during his time as the editor of the Piggot Banner, and with hundreds of people in Wichita Falls and Burkburnett in order to learn everything possible about the Burkburnett oilfield while working on Boomtown.

Source:

Hewitt, Harry P. "House, Boyce B." Handbook of Texas Online. Accessed July 21, 2010.http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fho65.

From the description of House, Boyce, Papers, 1944-1947 (University of Texas Libraries). WorldCat record id: 749902207