The Colonel Devereaux Acker Family

Information from Charlotte Acker Gregg

Colonel Devereaux Acker met his wife, Esta Norine McCreary, when he attended Southwestern University. She has been his constant companion and "Babe" (his special nickname for her) since they were married in June, 1925. Norine came from Gatesville where her father, Sam McCreary, and her brother, Irvin McCreary, were active in banking circles. Norine modestly admits that she does know the "banking business" as her family discussed the problems of banking all during her childhood. Her husband has been banking since 1930 and her daughter, Charlotte, married a banker and his father, E. R. Gregg, Sr., was a banker. Her nephew, H. K. Allen, also is a banker in Temple.

Colonel Devereaux Acker was named for Colonel Devereaux Jarratt, the man who introduced the tomato industry to Jacksonville and Cherokee County. Colonel was born in 1904 at Providence Community, about six miles south of Jacksonville. His college education included two years at Alexander Collegiate Institute, now Lon Morris College; after graduating, he went to Southwestern University, where he graduated.

Colonel started his banking career in 1930 at the Texas State Bank, now the Texas Bank and Trust Co., when there were only three employees: J. R. Dunn, president, C. D. Acker, cashier, and Mrs. Kate Davidson, assistant cashier. Later, Colonel became vice-president, president and now is chief executive officer and chairman of the board since 1961. It is interesting to note that resources of the Bank in 1930 were $333,463.55 with deposits of $236,620.33. These comparative figures as of Dec. 31, 1971, are resources, $21,706,286.67 and deposits of $20,152,759.27. The million-dollar mark was reached in 1936, which was an important milestone for the bank and the Acker family.

Colonel has served and continues to serve in many areas that have contributed to the growth of Jacksonville. He is President of the Jacksonville Centennial Corporation for which this book is being published. He serves as trustee and vice-chairman of the Board of Nan Travis Memorial Hospital. He was trustee, now member of the board, has served as chairman and treasurer of the First Methodist Church. Currently, he is serving his 35th year as treasurer of the Jacksonville Masonic Lodge 108 and is a 32nd Degree Mason and Shriner. He was president of the Chamber of Commerce for the years 1961 and 1962; past chairman of the Board and member of Trustees of the Jacksonville Independent School District; past member of the Advisory Committee to the State Board of Education.

Colonel Acker also is past president of the Kiwanis Club. He was the first president of the Jacksonville Rodeo Association; and one of the founders and member of the board of the Jacksonville Industrial Foundation. He is a past Board of Directors member of the Texas United Fund. In banking service, he has been on the State Finance Commission under three governors and he was treasurer of the Texas Bankers Association.

Colonel's hobbies are mostly his wife, children and grandchildren, but he does take time for some golfing and fishing. His older daughter, Charlotte Ann, is married to Eldridge Robert (Bob) Gregg, Jr. Bob's father, in addition to banking interests, has the Gregg Insurance Agency in Rusk, the oldest continuous business in Cherokee County (1869-1972), 103 years. Bob serves as president of the Texas Bank and Trust Co. Charlotte's and Bob's children are Eldridge Robert (Rob) Gregg, III, 18 years, and Devereaux Acker Gregg (Dev), 14 years, who attend Jacksonville schools.

The younger daughter, Betty Jane, is married to Floyd Wesley Addington, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Addington of Dallas. The Addingtons live in Jasper where Floyd is a member of the firm of attorneys, Addington and McGraw. Their children are Amy Acker Addington, 9, and Don McCreary Addington, 5.

Colonel D. Acker at age 20.

Colonel D. Acker posed with toy at age one.

Esta Norine McCreary Acker at age 18.

Charlotte and Betty pose with daddy on first day the new East Side Elementary School opened in September, 1939. Betty attended first grade and Charlotte the third.