Museum visitors learn about influential Tejano

EDINBURG — It took people of all different backgrounds to help form what Texas is today.

On Sunday, visitors to the Museum of South Texas History learned how Jose Policarpio "Polly" Rodriguez, who helped protect and shape Texas as a land surveyor, Texas Ranger, justice of the peace and minister during the mid 1800s through early 1900s.

The latest of the museum’s speaker series coincides with Tejano History Month, which is in September.

Those who attended the lecture watched a video produced by TexasTejano.com, a San Antonio-based history research company that sets to raise awareness about Tejano pioneers’ contributions in Texas’ history. The company is founded by a descendant of Polly Rodriguez.

John Hawthorne, assistant director of the Arnulfo L. Oliveira Memorial Library at The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College, led the discussion and answered questions from the audience. Hawthorne said he became acquainted with Rudi Rodriguez, TexasTejano.com’s founder, years ago and helps the organization with spreading the word about the roles Tejanos played in the area’s past.

While many people hear about contributions from Anglo settlers, not as many hear about those of the area’s other inhabitants, he said.

"In reality it was a mix of different people," Hawthorne said. "The real story is better than the stereotype was."

Polly Rodriguez was born in what is now Zaragoza, Mexico and moved with his family to San Antonio when he was a boy. He became a gunsmith’s apprentice and later became a skilled marksman and hunter. He also helped lead the "Whiting/Smith Expedition" from San Antonio to El Paso. He also served with the 2nd Calvary as head guide and scout.

During the Civil War Polly Rodriguez served as a Texas Ranger. After the war, he was elected as a justice of the peace and a commissioner for Bandera County. In the 1870s, Polly Rodriguez converted from Catholicism to Methodism and became a Methodist preacher. He died in 1914 at the age of 85.

Museum patrons said they enjoyed the video and found Rodriguez’s life fascinating.

Edinburg residents Charles and Josie Ellard said they try to come to as many of the series as possible.

"I always enjoy Texas history," said Josie Ellard, whose grandparents moved to Texas from Mexico in the early 1900s. "It’s wonderful because (we’re) able to learn about how it was started."

On the Web, visit www.texastejano.com.