Robert Read Meadows -- Rancher, Builder and Pilot

 

Robert Read Meadows was born on February 15, 1945 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was the third of four sons born to Henry Edward Meadows and Read Thomas Meadows.  Henry worked for Exxon and Humble Oil Company and was a native of Comanche, Texas.  Read was a native of Midland, Texas and although her maiden name was Thomas, she was not a descendant of our James Thomas.  Henry, however,  was a descendant of Stanley Thomas. 

Robert’s siblings were Henry Edward Meadows, Jr., born in1939 and married Michele Jan “Mickey” Jowers; Thomas Oliver Meadows, born in 1942 and married Shirley Ann Niehaus; and John Buford Meadows, born in 1947 and married Vicki Louise Reeves.

Soon after Robert’s birth, his family moved from New Orleans to Midland, Texas where Robert attended the local schools. He graduated from Midland High School in 1963.  He then enrolled at the University of Texas in Austin.  After three and a half years at the university, Robert left the school and joined the United States Marine Corps.

Robert completed his basic Marine training at Camp Pendleton, California.  In November 1967, he was sent to Vietnam where he was a member of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment of the 1st Marine Division.  He served for thirteen months in Vietnam and when he returned to the states, he was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant. 

After his military service, Robert returned to the University of Texas where he graduated with a BBA in marketing in 1969. He then traveled to Europe and returned to the states and enrolled at Louisiana State University where he received his MBA in 1972.

In December 1973, Robert married Jan Ellen Hultberg at the St. Matthew the Apostle Church in Louisiana.  Jan was born on March 22, 1952,  the daughter of James Eldon Hultberg and Marion Simmons Hultberg.  James was native of Burlington, Iowa and Marion was a native of New Orleans, Louisiana.

After their marriage, Robert and Jan moved to Austin where Robert was employed by the Gulf Oil Company.  After several years they moved to Elgin, Texas where he was employed by the RDF Instruments Company and he later became the membership director of the Texas Medical Association.  They purchased a ranch property on the outskirts of Elgin which not only served as their home, but was also made available for scouting, church and family activities. Robert was a pilot and he had his own landing strip on his ranch.  He was very interested in history, especially the Civil War period.  He was very proud of his heritage and was a member of the Sons of the Confederate Veterans and loved to host reenactments of Civil War battles on his ranch.

Robert and Jan were the parents of two children, Erin Read Meadows, born in 1977 and Joshua Stewart Meadows, born in 1979 and married Angela Foster.

Robert died on October 19, 1998 at the age of 53 in Midland, Texas.  He was cremated and his ashes were buried beneath a tombstone on his family ranch outside of Elgin, Texas.

 Robert memorial tombstone on his ranch

 Robert

LINEAGE: (Robert Read Meadows was the son of Henry Edward and Read Thomas Meadows.  Henry was the second child of Claude William and Susan Martin Moore Meadows.  Susan was the seventh child of Thomas Oscar and Sarah Adelie Thomas Moore.  Sarah was the third child of Stanley and Sarah Thompson Rothrock Thomas.  Stanley was the seventh child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)