Emmett Shelton (1905-2000) was a life-long Austin Democrat BUT in 1952 Emmett became an 'Eisenhower Democrat'.
          In the 1952, Central Texas had become so liberal that Dems would not allow the conservative Gov. Shivers to be the Travis County delegate in the State Democratic Convention.
          Emmett was active in the Texas Democratic Party and Gov. Alan Shivers asked for Emmett's help. Emmett became Chair of the County Democratic Convention, and the Dems walked out. Emmett finalized the list of delegates to the upcoming National Dem. Convention in Chicago. Gov. Shivers offered Emmett a delegate spot but Emmett declined telling Gov. Shivers he planned to support Eisenhower.
         Next Episode - In Ep2, Emmett takes us to the backrooms in the Texas Democratic Convention and Governors Conference. It was the Texas Swing to the Right for Gen. Eisenhower.
        

#texashistory
#austinhistory
#texasdemocrats
#eisenhower
#alanshivers

Music: "Vote'm Out" by Willie Nelson

For maps and other info check out our Facebook page: Our Westlake

Stories told by Emmett Shelton / compiled and submitted by Cynthia Shelton.

For maps and other info check out our Facebook page: Our Westlake

Stories told by Emmett Shelton / compiled and submitted by Cynthia Shelton.

Emmett Shelton (1905-2000) Tells an interesting tale of how Capt. Frank Hamer of the Texas Rangers addressed a bootlegger operating outside their Capitol window.

For maps and other info check out our Facebook page: Our Westlake

Stories told by Emmett Shelton / compiled and submitted by Cynthia Shelton.

             Emmett Shelton Sr. (1905-2000) shares first-hand stories involving Capt. Frank Hamer, Texas Ranger.          
             Frank's brother, Capt. D.E. Hamer, was made head of the Texas Rangers when Ma Ferguson became Governor. Austin had a popular Skillball game.  Emmett had to call on Capt. D.E Hamer to protect the games from extortion from a San Antonio gang.  These were exciting times for Texas and Austinites, and the Texas Rangers kept a lid on a boiling pot. 
           Emmett had many opportunities to visit with Capt. Frank Hamer. Frank's claim to fame was the killing of the notorious Bonnie and Clyde. In a friendly moment, Emmett asked Frank if he was ever afraid. His answer is telling.
         

#texasrangers
#austinhistory
#frankhamer

For maps and other info check out our Facebook page: Our Westlake

Stories told by Emmett Shelton / compiled and submitted by Cynthia Shelton.

Emmett Shelton (1905-2000) tells a tale about Texas Ranger, Capt. Frank Hamer, and how he became the Head Texas Ranger. It started at the Tx Border and continued with a racial uprising near Sherman that resulted in a lynching and burned courthouse..

For maps and other info check out our Facebook page: Our Westlake

Stories told by Emmett Shelton / compiled and submitted by Cynthia Shelton.

Emmett Shelton (1905-2000) shares an interesting law case from 1931. Texas Ranger, Capt. Frank Hamer, officed in the Capitol and uncovered a scheme by Austin's Gammell Bookstore to steal and sell Texas Session Acts. Emmett defended the Gammell Boys in court. They were guilty but, in a last-minute twist, they got off.

For maps and other info check out our Facebook page: Our Westlake

Stories told by Emmett Shelton / compiled and submitted by Cynthia Shelton.

       Emmett Shelton Sr. (1905-2000) shares first-hand stories of cases he represented involving Capt. Frank Hamer, Texas Ranger.  Frank's claim to fame was the killing of the notorious Bonnie and Clyde.
       In the 1930s, Capt. Frank Hamer officed in the Capitol during Prohibition. He arrested an Austin bootlegger within block of the Capitol. Emmett represented the bootlegger. 
        The next tale is a case where Capt. Hamer took a lunchtime stroll down Congress Ave and unknowingly uncovered a scheme between the Sec. of State and Gammell's Book Store. One of the Gammell brothers Harry confessed but when asked to identify Harry, he pointed out the other bother John. This twist during the trial in identifying ended in the judge dismissing the case. 
         
Frank's brother, Capt. D.E. Hamer, was made head of the Texas Rangers when Ma Ferguson became Governor. Austin had a popular Skillball game and Capt. D.E Hamer protected the games from extortion from a San Antonio gang. 
           Emmett had many opportunities to visit with Capt. Frank Hamer. Frank's claim to fame was the killing of the notorious Bonnie and Clyde. In a friendly moment, Emmett asked Frank if he was ever afraid. His answer is telling.

These were exciting times for Texas and Austinites, and the Texas Rangers kept a lid on a boiling pot. 

#texasrangers
#austinhistory
#frankhamer

For maps and other info check out our Facebook page: Our Westlake

Stories told by Emmett Shelton / compiled and submitted by Cynthia Shelton.

Emmett Shelton, Sr. (1905-2000) tells how he worked in the late 1940s to have a bridge built between Austin and Westlake Hills. This would make Westlake accessible to the city. Petitions, BondIssues. Emmett's effort was successful and in 1949 the bridge opened but went nameless until 1989. On On Emmett's 85th birthday -- the City of Austin gave him the great honor of lifetime achievement by naming the bridge the "Emmett Shelton Bridge". We had a grand party!

For maps and other info check out our Facebook page: Our Westlake

Stories told by Emmett Shelton / compiled and submitted by Cynthia Shelton.

Emmett Shelton Sr. (1905-2000) tells us the story of securing the land for the Dam site in 1938.

Emmett and brother Polk ran a tough primary against Lyndon B. Johnson in LBJs first Congressional race. After LBJ was elected in 1938, he made a visit to Emmett and Polk's office.

LBJ told Emmett that the new Works Progress Administration (WPA) was planning to rehabilitate all the dams on the Colorado River, including the Austin Dam which had been broken for 28 years. If someone would want to get rich.

Emmett talked to a local banker and showed him the 200 acre tract.of land on the western shore where the dam would be built. He offered him part of the acreage for the $3000 price. He didn't want the inaccessible land -- But brother Polk had a collection of diamonds, and he would take them in trade for the financing. 

Emmett re-sold the property to the City within 6 months of LBJ's election.  The WPA and the new Lower Colorado River Authority and the WPA built a series of dams on the river. Finally, in 1940, after 30 years without a dam or a lake, the Tom Miller Dam was operating.  Austin was protected from floods and the constant level lake was filling and low cost electricity lit Austin streets.,

Emmett tells of another deal he worked out for the James tract. That tract would be the future site of the bridge in 1948 -- it opened up West Lake Hills to the City of Austin.

#Austinhistory

#Emmettshelton

#westlakehills

For maps and other info check out our Facebook page: Our Westlake

Stories told by Emmett Shelton / compiled and submitted by Cynthia Shelton.

         Emmett Shelton Sr. (1905-2000) Original developer of Westlake Hills, tells of a tip Emmett got from LBJ in1938 regarding the upcoming rehabilitation of the dams on the Colorado River. The Austin Dam had been broken for almost 30 years.

        LBJ advised Emmett of the WPA and plans to renovate the damns all up and down the Colorado River for flood control. Obviously, it would also make the currently flood-proned land, usable and valuable.  

Emmett tells of his purchase of almost 3,000 acres of the Roy Ranch property.         

The future of Westlake Hills was set.

Note: Emmett had a long-standing relationship with LBJ. He was a few years ahead of LBJ at Southwest Texas State in the '20s. And in 1935, Emmett's older brother, Polk, had challenged LBJ in the primary for US Congress. Emmett was Polk's campaign manager.
    

Music: Daddys Dream by Polk Shelton, Emmett's son

#austinhistory

#westlakehills

For maps and other info check out our Facebook page: Our Westlake

Stories told by Emmett Shelton / compiled and submitted by Cynthia Shelton.

Emmett Shelton Sr.'s son Polk Shelton shares a medley of his original tunes for the Austin radio station around 2000. Emmett Shelton Sr. raised Polk in Westlake. Polk followed his father's footsteps into criminal law in Austin. However, his real love was writing songs and playing music with his friends - especially at Austin's historic Saxon Pub.
Sending Love from the Shelton Family!

• 1) Do You Really Want a Christmas Tree this Year
• 2) Daddy's Dreams Are in the Hills
• 3) Old Truck
• 4) Blood Brothers
• 5) Ordinary Things

 #polkshelton

Music Written and Performed by Polk Shelton

For maps and other info check out our Facebook page: Our Westlake

Stories told by Emmett Shelton / compiled and submitted by Cynthia Shelton.