A. H. Armor Family - Family Histories

     Alvin H. (Pete) Armor was born January 21, 1893, near Fredonia, in McCulloch County, the son of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Armor, pioneer ranchers. Pete died February 28, 1980, in Coleman, buried in Oplin Cemetery. In 1915, Pete and his brother, Roy, bought a section of land about four miles north of Coleman County - six miles east of Oplin in Callahan County. They spent three days driving their cattle from Fredonia to the ranch, camping the second night near Coleman.

     Fannye V. Armor was born August 28, 1899, Mulberry, Fannin County, and moved to Oplin in 1908 with her parents. Dr. and Mrs. A. D. Looney. They were married on September 21, 1917, at Tecumseh, and purchased their first housekeeping furniture from J. E. Stevens Company in Coleman, having it shipped to Lawn by train, then carrying it to Oplin by wagon. At Oplin they owned a drug store and a general mercantile store. In 1936 it was completely destroyed by fire, and Pete went to work in the oil fields. The Armors moved to Novice in 1940, and ran a cafe for three years. They served family style meals (all you could eat) for twenty-five cents, and a good T-Bone steak for thirty-five cents. As the Novice oil field was booming at this time, they served approximately fifty to seventy-five people at lunch each day, besides taking a large number of sack lunches to school each day. Also, any boy in uniform that came by was given a free cup of coffee. During this time, the cafe served as a center of social activity for Novice. In 1943, they sold the cafe; Pete went to work in the Coker oil field, retiring in 1962.

     Pete was a lifetime baseball fan, and cared a lot for young people. He always had a baseball team, and in 1947 he was instrumental in forming a semi-pro team in Novice - The Novice Oilers. He was also helpful in securing the Little League franchise in 1961 for he Novice Braves. Pete was a Master Mason for over fifty years, and was a member of the Atoka Masonic Lodge at Novice. He was also the Democratic Precinct Chairman at Novice tor many years. Fannye has been a longtime member of the Eastern Star, a past matron, and a member of Coleman Chapter #360 - O.E.S.

     They had one daughter, Laudys L., born October 6, 1923, in Oplin. Laudys graduated from Novice High School, Draughan's Business College in Abilene, and worked as a secretary for several years. She was Worthy Matron of Coleman Chapter #360 O.E.S. - May 1952 - May 1953. On January 25, 1951, Laudys married Harold E. Pittard at the Novice Methodist Church (see Edward Eugene Pittard). They had three children, Mark Armor, born May 19, 1952, Bruce Norris and Paul Morris, February 8, 1957. Mark was a 1970 graduate of Novice High School, where he was active in sports and F.F.A., being the District Star Greenhand in 1967. He received a B.A. degree from Texas Tech University. Bruce was a 1975 graduate of Novice High School, being active in sports and in F.F.A. Bruce was a member of the Coleman County Little League All Stars in 1969. He received a B.A. degree from Angelo State University. Paul was a 1975 graduate of Novice High School. He also was active in sports and F.F.A. Paul was second high individual in the Dairy Judging Contest at Houston Livestock Show his freshman year. He received a B. A. degree from Texas Tech University. A highly unusual thing for twin brothers, Paul and Bruce both had perfect attendance for the twelve years they attended the Novice schools.

     In 1979, Harold Pittard retired from Novice High School, where he had taught for thirty years. He taught vocational agriculture for sixteen years and then served as principal of Novice High School. In 1977, the Novice School Board, the students. and the ex-students honored him by officially naming the high school auditorium the Harold E. Pittard Auditorium.