By: Charles O’Neal
Y’all wanna hear a real Texas story? Here’s one for the books…
My grandmother – Azie Moore Hall – was the maid/cook/housekeeper for one of the richest families in south Texas. Her husband – Matt Hall – was their chauffeur and yard man .
That’s the setup …
So grandmother and I were watching tv one evening (this is probably in the early 70s) and a news story came on with something about LBJ.
I’m shocked ‘cause my dear, loving grandmother bursts out with “I can’t stand that cracker!” I’m like – Grandmother… he signed the Civil Rights Bill… he’s pretty cool.
She wasn’t having it.
Here’s why…
She told me that one evening years earlier she and Granddaddy were relaxing at home – the phone rings and it’s their boss calling – Mr (Lon C) Hill, the chairman of Central Power & Light – at that time the largest electric utility in south Texas.
Her story goes on: “Matt, get dressed (in your chauffeur uniform!)… I’ll drive as far as your house but I need you to drive me and my friend up to Austin (from Corpus Christi). “And have Azie fix us something to eat ‘cause we haven’t had dinner yet.”
Cool. Granddaddy gets in his tailored chauffeur uniform (with matching cap) and Grandmother gets busy in THEIR kitchen.
Mr Hill and his Texas legislator friend arrive, sit down at the red Formica and chrome kitchen table that I blew out birthday candles on and ate a sumptuous meal prepared by one of the best to ever do it in a kitchen.
When they were full, Mr Hill says, “Okay, Matt, let’s go!”
He and Lyndon Baines Johnson pile into the Cadillac and they’re off to Austin.
Grandmother was still burning ‘cause LBJ never said “Thank you” after eating her food at her table!
Civil Rights be damned – LBJ wasn’t even POLITE!
Charles O Neal is the Chairman of the U.S. Black Chamber of Commerce.
