By SANDRA TUMBERLINSON
San Benito Historical Society
A monument recognizing the contributions of San Benito’s Black pioneers is being dedicated on Feb. 1 at 11 a.m. The dedication will take place at the Callandret Black History Museum, located at 305 Doherty St., San Benito. The event, organized by the San Benito Historical Society, is part of the National 2025 Black History Month Program and features San Benito-born guest speaker Theldon Branch III from Houston.
The public is invited to attend this event, which also celebrates the 30th anniversary of the San Benito Historical Society, a community group organized in 1995 by then San Benito Mayor Chuck Weekley. It is the only committee still active from his Vision 2000 Project.
Today, the El Jardin (The Garden) neighborhood of San Benito, where the Black History Museum is located, is inhabited predominantly by people of Mexican origin. It’s a triangular section of land bordered by the Union Pacific Railroad tracks on its west side, the Resaca on its south side, and Business Highway 77 on its east side.
In his book, “Barrio Trophy 1960,” Dr. H.R. Barrera describes the original region as a mesquite, cactus, and brush-filled area in the northeastern part of the outskirts of town.
People who bought lots in El Jardin had to contend with the natural resources of the day. When he interviewed Agapita Conde, she added that after clearing the land, “We would carry water from the Resaca to drink, wash, and bathe. We also fished and picked cactus….Times were very difficult.” This is where Joe and Fannie Callandret, French-speaking, Black Louisiana natives, chose to make their home in 1908.
Soon after the Callandrets arrived, Fannie’s relatives, the Sayons, began the long trek to the southernmost tip of Texas and established themselves as farmers and business owners. Other families arrived, and they all mingled with their Spanish-speaking neighbors. White, Hispanic, and Black businessmen added to the variety of the industry in San Benito.
Although some Blacks lived outside of this area, El Jardin was home to most, and it was where the school district built the first colored school in the Valley. For decades, Callandret descendants lived in the neighborhood along with the Lasley, Davis, and other Black families, but as time went by, they died and younger family members moved away. The over 500 Black residents who established themselves in San Benito were quickly becoming just a memory.
Workmen converting the old colored school into a Black history museum in 2020 were curious about the origin of the building. When told it had been a school for Black children, they were surprised to discover not only that children were separated by race, but that Black folks lived in San Benito. When lectures are presented about the Callandret Black History Museum, the majority of the audience is unaware that San Benito was home to the largest Black population in the Valley. The idea to create a monument commemorating the lives of more than 500 Black residents grew from encounters like these, which proved that the existence of the original Black pioneers was fading from the town’s memory.
An ancient tale about death, eloquently interpreted by David Eagleman, relates that, “There are three deaths: The first is when the body ceases to function. The second is when the body is consigned to the grave. The third is that moment, sometime in the future, when your name is spoken for the last time.”
With the creation of this monument, the names of the Black residents who lived here will be read by future generations, and their lives, contributions, and legacy will not be forgotten. The black granite monument shaped like the colored school building, stands on the grounds of the former school’s playground, on land donated by Fannie Callandret.
U.S. Census records from 1900-1950, as well as oral histories by Willie Earl Oliver Smith Jr., William Davis, Lonnie Davis, Linda Brock, Gabrielle Savoy Burrell, Catherine Cole Wagoner, and Joe Maeberry, were used to compile this list of Black pioneers who were either born, lived or attended school in San Benito.
In early autumn, 2024, Cameron County Pct. 3 Commissioner David A. Garza offered his assistance in completing the Historical Society’s goal to recognize, protect, and document the town’s unique history.
He quickly proposed to the Cameron County Commissioner’s Court that The American Rescue Plan Act be used for the completion of this monument to the Black Pioneers of San Benito. The San Benito Historical Society gratefully acknowledges support from Commissioner David A. Garza, the cooperation of the Cameron County Commission and Judge Eddie Trevino. Special Projects Director Victor G. Trevino and Fiscal Analyst Rosa M. Garza were instrumental in the awarding and completion of this project.
Keynote speaker Branch was raised in Houston, and is the youngest of five siblings. As an aspiring young professional, he became the youngest store manager hired by the U-totem food stores, the youngest to serve as President of the Houston Business and Professional Men’s Club, the youngest board member of the Houston Area Urban League, and Operation Breadbasket. Over the years, Branch has been a leader in the development of small and minority businesses in Houston. He is an alumnus of Leadership Houston Class II.
Branch is the managing partner of Branch/McGowen, LLC, a privately owned, Houston-based retail company that oversees and manages airport concessions for duty-free, news and gifts retail stores, food and beverage outlets, parking management, and advertising/media development.
He has owned and operated three national and one regional franchise restaurants comprising 30 locations and served as chairman of the National Minority Franchise Owners Alliance. Those brands include Wendy’s, Church’s Chicken, Whataburger, and Bud’s BBQ Company. Additionally, he is a partner with SSP America in the Hard Rock Café and four proprietary restaurants at Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. He was the first African American to become a Whataburger franchisee. Branch is widely recognized as an expert in franchise businesses.
He served as chairman of the Wendy’s International National Advertising and Marketing Development Co-Op and was also on the General Motors national advertising dealer council. Branch holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Huston-Tillotson University. He is a Certified Economic Development Finance Professional and a Graduate of the National Automobile Dealers Academy. He has completed continuing education programs at the University of Texas, University of Pennsylvania, and Harvard.
Additionally, he is an MBA Candidate at Southern Methodist University, and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc., and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity-Nu Boule.
He performed his military service with the U.S. Army Reserve working in both Finance and Intelligence for 20 years and is a Gulf War Veteran.
Branch founded the Branch Companies in 1991 and guided the company to its position as one of Houston’s largest minority-owned businesses, generating over $100 million in sales.
In 2000, Branch turned day-to-day operations over to Ester R. Branch, then he became President and CEO of the Branch Auto Group, which owned and operated six domestic and two foreign automobile dealership franchises in three states.
In 2011, Branch was appointed by Houston Mayor Annise Parker to serve as the chairman of the Rebuild Houston Oversight Committee, an $8 billion drainage (and street) program approved by voters in November 2010. Rebuild Houston will oversee the reconstruction of 80% of Houston’s infrastructure.
Mayor Parker and the Houston City Council again tapped Branch in 2013 to serve as a Commissioner at the Port of Houston Authority representing the City of Houston. The Port of Houston is ranked the number one port in the nation and home to the largest petrochemical complex in the U.S. (second largest in the world).
The Port of Houston’s economic impact on the U.S. economy is $500 billion, generating 2.1 million jobs nationally, and a $265 billion impact on the State of Texas, generating over one million jobs statewide. He also served as Chairman of the Audit, Small Business and Pension committees.
The Port of Houston Commission voted unanimously to appoint Branch to serve as a member of the Houston Airport System Development Corporation (HASDC) Board of Directors and the (HASDC) Finance Corporation Board. He served as Vice Chairman on both boards as well as Chairman of the Audit Committee and Compensation committee.
Branch is a 42-year member and trustee of Brentwood Baptist Church. His hobbies include hunting, movies, bicycling, and travel. He was a founding member of the Across the Track PAC and TexStars Foundation where he serves as chairman. He is a life member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., NAACP, 100 Club, Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, and the Texas National Guard Association, as well as numerous other charitable and community organizations.
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