Page 92 - Senior Link Magazine Spring 2018 - Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS

HORACE ANGLIN

Boot

Zippers,

Three

Weddings

and a Life

Well-Lived

by Karen Williams

Horace Gene Anglin was born May ended up farming in Hamilton County He set out to find someone to add
12, 1926, in Lubbock County to Maude for many years before moving to zippers to his boots instead of laces.
Lou Crosby Anglin and Henry Clay Lubbock due to Horace’s father’s He finally found a German cobbler,
Anglin. He was one of eight children severe asthma problems. On his Karl Liebeg, but the language barrier
raised on a farm located between New mother’s 51st birthday, April 3, 1941, just exacerbated his confusion as to
Deal and Shallowater. He had three his father was killed in a tragic farm why someone would want to cut up
older sisters, three older brothers, and accident on a tractor. a perfectly good pair of leather boots.
one younger brother. During WWII, his older brothers His daughter, Waltraud (Val), arrived
His parents had lived in Atlanta and were in the Army, leaving the and assisted, as she knew some English
moved to Holly Springs, Mississippi responsibility of running the family from her studies and work. Mr. Liebig
during the Civil War. They eventually farm to Horace. In order to keep up reluctantly agreed to add the zippers.
with the farm duties, he quit school, Soon, all of Horace’s buddies wanted
insisting that his younger brother zippers! Horace told them the location
continue his education. Upon the older was extremely difficult to find and
brothers’ return, Horace moved to the volunteered to take the boots for them.
Floydada area to help Faye (his sister) He developed a strong friendship
and husband Clyde with their farm. with Mr. Liebig and, of course, his
On October 1950, Horace was daughter. He finally convinced Val to
drafted into the Army and deployed to go on a date. German girls who dated
Germany, where he served two years American soldiers were looked down
in the 4th Infantry Division Military upon, so he hired a taxi, picked her up
Police. The guards were required to after dark in the alley, and returned her
wear Class A uniforms to patrol the home the same way so the neighbors
gates and headquarters and to conduct wouldn’t find out. Val’s parents became
jeep patrols. A time-consuming part very fond of Horace and knew the
of the morning routine was lacing relationship was becoming serious. On
the boots with perfection, an effort of New Year’s Day 1952, Horace proposed
20 minutes each morning to display to Val and announced that, by the next
a perfect, ladder-laced boot. The year, they would be in Texas.
following Spring, Horace thought of Horace was to return to the US on
a way to allow him a bit more sleep. August 25, 1952, so on August 21, the

92 Lubbock Senior Link