Gus Stephens Blankinship

Facts provided by Louise Blankinship

Gus Stephens Blankinship was born September 4, 1888, at Attoyac, Nacogdoches County, a son of Rev. E. D. Blankinship, pioneer Baptist minister, and Elizabeth Stephens Blankinship, daughter of one of the first country merchants of East Texas.

He moved to Omen, Smith county, in 1899, and attended A. W. Orr's Summer Hill Select School for three years. In 1902, he moved to Troup, and after graduating from Troup High School in 1904, attended Jacksonville Baptist College. Following graduation there, he taught school for two years and became a registered pharmacist while working in a drug store in Troup.

In September, 1913, he started work for First National Bank, Troup, coming to the First National Bank, Jacksonville, on January 1, 1918. He was elected president of First National Bank in 1922, and held that position until his death in 1960.

He married Miss Louise Bolton on November 21, 1921, and they had one daughter, Betty, now Mrs. Ray Ward of Dallas. Their children are Catharine and James Stephens Ward.

Edgar A. Guest said, "The great soul by its influence lifts a town." He must have had Gus Blankinship and Jacksonville in mind. Gus Blankinship served as secretary of the road district committee for several years and was largely responsible for early road improvement in the Jacksonville area. He helped organize and was the first president of the Jacksonville Rotary Club, and also aided in organization of Nan Travis Memorial Hospital, serving as chairman of the board for 32 years.

He also assisted in organization of Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and served two years as president. He served as a member of the East Texas Tender Board, secretary of the Cherokee County Selective Service Board, chairman of the Cherokee County Savings Bond Committee, district chairman of USO campaign, worked with the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts and also served as an officer of the East Texas Chamber of Commerce.

He helped to organize and became a director of the Jacksonville Building & Loan Association, and also was a member of the advisory committee of the RFC, Houston.

Outside banking and civic activities, Gus Blankinship was best known for his work with the Goodfellows Bible Class. Begun as a non-denominational class meeting in a downtown theatre on Sunday mornings to attract men who were not attending Sunday School, the class became one of East Texas' outstanding men's classes. Later, Mr. Blankinship induced the class to move to Central Baptist Church, since he felt Sunday School should be held in a church. He taught the class until failing health prevented.

Throughout Texas the names of Jacksonville and Gus S. Blankinship were virtually synonmous for many years. He was indeed "Mr. Jacksonville" during his lifetime.

Gus S. Blankinship