Dillard Alsobrooks Biography

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Submitted to: The Texas State Genealogical Society
As of the date of: Tuesday, March 11, 2008
By: TheAlsobrooks.Org [link no longer works]

Dillard L. Alsobrooks was born to the parents of Timothy & Claudia Wright - Alsobrooks on a Tuesday, February 3, 1920. Place of birth was near the town of Sulphur Springs, Texas in a community called East Caney in Hopkins County.

Mr. Alsobrooks was the tenth child of thirteen children birthed by his parents. He attended grammar and middle school in the predominately-black rural community of East Caney. The East Caney School did not offer high school level grade classes. In the year of 1936, Mr. Alsobrooks was permitted to further his academics studies at Center Point High School. Center Point High School was located in Center Point, Texas about nine miles southeast of Pittsburg, Texas in Camp County. In the school year of 1935-36 Center Point was highly respected as one of the best schools in the East Texas Region. Center Point’s physical plant included four buildings with ten classrooms, male & female dormitories, and a cafeteria all valued at $14,000. Center Point High School purposes were to graduate students with high school diplomas and prepare them for seeking bachelor degrees.

In the year of 1940, Dillard L. Alsobrooks was accepted to Prairie View College in Prairie View, Texas. Prairie View, Texas is located in Waller County, approximately 38 miles northwest of Houston, Texas. At the end of the spring term in 1942, Mr. Alsobrooks met Ms. Jennie Allen Burnett briefly before her return to Wichita Falls, Texas. He carried Ms. Burnett’s luggage down the street to the train station and loaded on the train. After conversing, Mr. Alsobrooks asked for a mailing address to send a letter. In the process of receiving her mailing address, he jumped off the train that caused an ankle sprain. After a few dozen are so letters, they decided to date during the following fall semester. Dillard received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering in spring of 1943. Prairie View College was established in 1876 as a land-grant college, making it one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the State of Texas. Prairie View College was officially renamed to Prairie View A&M University, a system member of the Texas A&M University System.

The World War II draft called Mr. Alsobrooks in to service with the United States Army in 1943. He reported to Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas for basic training. He was assigned to Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Aberdeen, Maryland were he arose to First Class Sergeant. During his three years in the military service, Mr. Alsobrooks did not leave the USA soil to fight in a combat battle.

The marriage of Mr. Dillard L. Alsobrooks to Ms. Jennie Allen Burnett took place in 1946 in Wichita Falls, Texas. To this marriage a child was born, Janis Denise Alsobrooks on July 15, 1947 in a hospital in Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas.

After successfully passing a civil service exam, Mr. Dillard L. Alsobrooks was in route to Maryland to receive a United States Postal Service position. After visiting his brother, Andrew Jackson Alsobrooks, in Gary, Indiana he decided to stay. Mean’s Construction Company hired Mr. Alsobrooks as a residential electrical contractor. His electrical work was in the housing development of Mean’s Manor at W. 21st Street & Harrison Bvld. in Gary Indiana. As the American Economy gained momentum and job opportunities became available, Mr. Alsobrooks pursued a different career placement.

In the summer of 1952, The United States Steel Corporation at One North Broadway Avenue hired Mr. Alsobrooks where he was a loyal employee for 27 years. He was a member and officer of the United Steel Workers Union, where he was a member and officer. Mr. Alsobrooks assisted in recruiting other Afro-American steel workers to become members and educated them on their privileges. He was given membership of the Good Fellows Lodge, a social club of the employees of United States Steel Corporation.

First Baptist Church of Gary Indiana is where Mr. Alsobrooks held his esteemed membership. He was a committee member of the Organ Fund and a dedicated Deacon of First Baptist Church. Mr. Alsobrooks also performed the electrical engineering during the building of First Baptist Church.

Mr. Alsobrooks was an advocate bridge single and double player in Northwest Indiana. He was President of The Nate Turner Bridge Club in Gary Indiana that travel abroad to play in tournaments. A many of his friends and colleagues developed their relationships with Mr. Alsobrooks in connection to bridge. A typical weekend included several rounds of couple’s bridge, with guest visiting and local friends entertaining.

On Sunday, November 11, 1979 at Methodist Hospital Mr. Dillard L. Alsobrooks was pronounced dead at the age of 59. Guy & Allen Funeral Home performed services at First Baptist Church of Gary, Indiana. The Tapp Funeral Home in Sulphur Springs held services and the burial of Mr. Alsobrooks. He was laid to rest in East Caney Cemetery in Hopkins County on November 19, 1979 with military honors.

The Alsobrooks.Org Family History information is hereby provided with the expressed written by disclaimer of TheAlsobrooks.Org for use by the Hopkins County TXGenWeb. All information is correct and protected with all rights and privileges for publication of use by the Hopkins County TXGenWeb. We submit The Alsobrooks.Org Family History as of Friday, March 28, 2008.