My interest in genealogy started in 1964 when I was invited to join the Brit Bailey Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas being formed in Port Arthur, Texas.

 A faded newspaper clipping with ragged edges found in my Grandmother Jennie Milner’s Bible provided my only clue to my early Texas ancestors. What a “gold mine” of information that was!

This 12-inch one-column obituary about my Great Grandmother “Dr. Polly” Rigsby, printed in the The Jasper News-boy, Jasper Texas, included her dates of birth and death, places she lived, her maiden name as well as the name of her husband, and stated this couple moved to Texas in 1840 and “left a large family and a host of grandchildren.”

From that small beginning, my researched and documented application was accepted by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. (See Organizations). My first major writing project evolved after I researched my father’s family history and discovered that his ancestors migrated to Texas from Georgia, along with in-laws, the Fosters, and settled in Tyler County in East Texas.

However, it was not until 1975 that I began my research with devoted attention, which led to the publication in 1986, the year of Texas’ Sesquicentennial (150th year-anniversary), of my first book, Rigsby Relatives and Related Families, fully documented and referenced, about my father’s side of the family. This led to a lifelong interest in genealogy. My second book on my maternal side, the McNeill’s and Gilmore’s, was published in 1991. (See”Books.”)

My interest in genealogy heightened in 1975 after I attended a fascinating three-day course on “Migration Patterns,” taught in Houston, Texas, by leading nationally known speakers, each one considered the most qualified in the area (states) or subject matter on genealogical records.

Intense attention to subject matter presented in rapid succession introduced me to information which proved to be the instructions I most needed when locating elusive family data as I initially started on my hobby, genealogy.

The Clayton Library, Houston, in two buildings on Caroline Boulevard, holds the most marvelous genealogical collection in the south because they have the financial means to purchase all genealogical records offered in print or other media that pertain to the south.

My weekly 2-day trips from Beaumont to stay with my head buried in their printed materials or deciphering handwritten microfilm, engrossed in solving a difficult problem, led to euphoria when that ancestor’s maiden name popped into view, confirming other recorded data.

Visits to many courthouses, learning to find and use legal documents, sitting on high stools bent over heavy tomes until my back ached, proved productive in accumulating evidence of relationships, certified by the county clerk (or other titles). Only written evidence qualifies as acceptable documentation (in almost all cases) when presenting genealogical data.

Also in 1975, I joined the Southeast Texas Genealogical and Historical Society where I served in several capacities, including president. This led Lucy Stieffel, Librarian of Port Arthur Public Library, to request me to become her Advisor for Genealogical Acquisitions with an annual budget of $1500 for the first year in the library’s new facility.

To promote interest in research, I with the help of two friends, organized and offered two genealogy courses in that library, one taught by Naaman Woodland, History Professor, Lamar University, Beaumont, (attendance 30).

A second course taught three years later as a fund-raiser for the library, taught by Jackie Barnes and myself, generated $600 for the library’s genealogy fund.

During the late 1980’s, sponsored by the SETG&HS, I obtained highly qualified speakers from the registry of the National Genealogical Society (Suitland, Maryland) for several annual seminars which attracted attendees from about 90 miles in three directions. (Sabine Lake which flows into the Gulf of Mexico is in the fourth direction!)

Some of the lecturers were Dr. James Hansen, Madison Wisconsin; Jo White Linn, Salisbury, North Carolina; Mary Bondurant Warren, owner and publisher of “Family Puzzlers,” Atlanta/Athens, Georgia, and "Mitch" Mitchell, Raleigh North Carolina, and other qualified speakers in their fields.

While serving for several years as Librarian of the Southeast Texas Genealogical and Historical Society, headquartered in Beaumont, I managed to collect $3,000-$5,000 annually in donated materials for the genealogical collection at Tyrrell Historical Library, an historic building dedicated solely to genealogy and the history of art.

In 1988, Mayor Meyers (Beaumont) appointed me as one of five “core” committee members to meet with the Restoration Architect in a $1.25 million restoration project for the Tyrrell Historical Library, located downtown, about one block from the main city library. During that era, I also served as Regent of the DAR chapter in Beaumont.

Editing the 60-page SETG&HS quarterly journal for the first four years in the 1990's furthered my interest in writing.

In 1999, the Kirbyville Library was the recipient all of my accumulated books on genealogy plus of seven large notebooks stuffed with miscellaneous research notes, and a file of printed research forms. This facility placed a new bookcase in the corner of the computer room to house this material. I retired from research, having reached a plateau.

Presently, I reside in Georgetown, Texas, (suburb of Austin) near my daughter, son-in-law and my only granddaughter, recently joined by my son where I enjoy the climate of central Texas but still retain my ties to Southeast Texas.