GEORGE LOUIS CROCKET, author of Two Centuries in East Texas, was the "Grand Old Man of East Texas" — known and honored as a churchman, scholar, historian, humanitarian, and craftsman.

The twinkling eyed Irishman was born in a two room house in San Augustine, June 3, 1861, the youngest of five children of George Fulton Crocket and Elmira Louisa Sharp Crocket; he died January 3, 1936, in Memorial Hospital, Nacogdoches, Texas of a heart ailment.

After completing his education in the public schools of San Augustine and at the University of the South, Sewanee, Tenn., Mr. Crocket served as pastor of the Episcopal Church in San Augustine for forty-two years and as part time pastor of Nacogdoches for twenty-four years. He did missionary work also in Lufkin, Corrigan, Garrison, New Birmingham, and Center.

In 1929 Mr. Crocket became Professor Emeritus of History at Stephen F. Austin State Teachers College in Nacogdoches, where he collected and organized data relating to the history of East Texas. He knew more about the history of this area than any other man and wrote of it in a scholarly, well-organized manner. His facts were checked and double checked to assure to his material complete authenticity.

Mr. Crocket was a civic-minded citizen, taking a vital part in the work of the Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club, the East Texas Historical Society, the Nacogdoches Historical Society/. He was founder of the first Boy Scouts of America troop in San Augustine.

Wood carving done by him is exquisite and has become a real treasure in the churches he pastored.

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