Dwight Ayres

Birth: He was born in May 1911 in Minnesota.  

Family Information: In July 1934 he and Miss Rissa Eva Monk were married in Leesville at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. N.S. Monk. The bride was well known both in Leesville and Newllano.  

Description: In 1940 he was 5'11 1/2" tall, weighed 200 pounds with brown eyes, black hair and a dark complexion.  

Pre-Colony History: He'd been reared in south Texas -- in 1920 and 1930 he was living there with his parents and siblings.

He'd received a Bachelor of Science with a major in Social Science from the College of Arts and Industries in Kingsville, Texas.

He came to the colony in October 1932 to gather information for his college thesis on Sociology and Economics and thought there was no other place where he could find so much original material. During his stay, Mr. Ayres agreed to be part of the high school faculty.  

Home in Colony:  

Job in Colony: Just a week after his arrival in the colony he was made the principal of the colony schools and took on the three subjects of Ancient, Medieval and American History. Other instructors were: Harry Clay Weatherwax, Miss Josephine Glavincheff, Miss Elsa Gaylord, Mr. Danner and W.R. Gaylord.

In September 1933 he and Professor Lewis had been busy for several weeks lining up many different courses of study, trying to suit the needs of all the students.

In 1934 he was the instructor of Social Science at the colony school. 

Other Info:

In 1933 Prof. Ayres visited his family in Texas -- he started his journey by catching a ride with one of the colony trucks traveling to the unit at Premont, Texas. He returned in September and was busy getting things lined up for the opening day of school.

Post-Colony History: In July 1934 he was working with Cooley and Sons, lumber manufacturers, who were operating the colony saw mill at the time.

In 1940 he was living in Pitkin, Louisiana and employed by the Vernon Parish School Board.

He served in the US Army from 1942 through 1945.  

Death: He died in May 1996 in Willacy County, Texas.  

Sources: US Census: 1920, 1930; "Llano Colonist": October 8, 1932, October 15, 1932, May 13, 1933,, September 30, 1933, April 28, 1934, July 14, 1934; US SS Applications and Claims Index; Draft Registration Cards: WWII; US Dept. of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File; US SSDI; Texas Death Index