Maverick

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it — and brother, this one's got a name worth knowing. Out here in Runnels County sits a place called Maverick, founded in the 1870s, and the town carries a name that got attached to a whole lot more than just this stretch of Texas rangeland. That name belongs to Samuel A.

Maverick, born in 1803, died in 1870, and somewhere in between — a man who left his mark on this state in ways the marker is careful to lay out one by one. He came to Texas in 1835, which means he arrived right when things were fixing to get loud. He fought in the Texas War for Independence — not on the sidelines, not in a supporting role, but in the fight itself.

Then the years rolled on, and by 1853 he had land in this very area, this important ranching country out in what would become Runnels County. He was planting roots in the soil before the town even had a name. And then 1861 came around, and the Secession Convention called on him again — this time they made him one of the commissioners to negotiate the surrender of United States troops in San Antonio.

That is a weighty thing to be tapped for, and the marker doesn't dress it up or explain it away — it just sets it down like a stone. Founded in the 1870s, named for a man who'd already lived a full chapter of Texas history before the town drew its first breath. Samuel A.

Maverick. The name stuck to the land, and from the looks of things, it intends to stay.

What the marker says

Founded in the 1870s. Named for Samuel A. Maverick (1803-1870), who came to Texas 1835. Fought in the Texas War for Independence. In Secession Convention, 1861, he was made one of the commissioners to negotiate surrender of United States troops in San Antonio. In 1853 he had land in this important ranching area.