John Robinson Ralls

Duane's take

Here's how the marker on John Robinson Ralls tells it, and I'll do my best to honor every word of it. Born on a plantation in Monroe County, Georgia, John Robinson Ralls made his way to Texas in 1890. Now, a lot of men came to Texas and found their footing slowly, carefully, one careful step at a time.

Ralls was not that kind of man. By 1906, he had himself a flourishing general store. Flourishing.

That word is right there on the marker, and it matters, because what he did next is the part that makes you set down your coffee. He traded that flourishing general store for a ten-thousand-acre ranch. Not sold it.

Traded it. Whatever he saw coming out on those plains, he wanted land under his boots when it arrived. Then, in 1911, the Crosbyton-South Plains Railroad crossed his land, and right there at that crossing, John Robinson Ralls founded a town.

He donated the land for the townsite outright. He gave twelve acres for the first school. He built most of the business houses himself, including the first theater.

And the churches. Every church in town got lots from Ralls, plus a good share of the construction costs, straight out of his own pocket. A man who came to Texas from a Georgia plantation with nothing guaranteed, and ended up building the better part of a town from the ground up, school, stage, and steeple included.

The town bears his name to this day.

What the marker says

Born on a Monroe County, Georgia, plantation; came to Texas, 1890. In 1906, traded flourishing general store for 10,000-acre ranch. Founded Ralls, 1911, at point where Crosbyton-South Plains Railroad crossed land. Donated land for townsite and gave 12 acres for first school. Built most of business houses including first theater. Gave lots plus much of construction costs for all churches in town. Recorded, 1967.