Sabine Parish has always been a great place to live and when you live in this area you meet and come to know many fine folks. And many of these folks are special to each and every one of us. On February 15, 2019 our parish lost one of the most talented and unique people you would ever meet. It is nearing one year ago that he passed away and I have been thinking of my old friend and compatriot, Robert Lewis “Tex” McKnight.
Tex moved his family to Florien over 30 years ago and settled in. Tex was extremely proud of his Southern Heritage and of his Confederate ancestor, his grandfather, who was a Lieutenant in the Texas Cavalry C.S.A. and who was captured and endured the horrors of the Yankee prison camp at Camp Chase, Ohio and survived to come home. Tex honored his ancestor by becoming a Life Member of the Son’s of Confederate Veterans. Tex was one of the most talented people you would ever meet who could design and then construct almost anything or he could paint the most beautiful Native American designs on many things. After coming to the Florien area, Tex and Carolyn worked very hard with Mayor John Manasco and the Florien Free State Committee and from this hard work evolved the Florien Free State Festival. Tex would set up his tepee and would be dressed in buckskin’s that he had hand made and would give black powder demonstrations with his muzzle loader rifles and pistols. Many of you may remember that Tex ran the last shoe and leather shop located on San Antonio Avenue in Many La. He could repair shoes, boots, and any type of leather products. And you could sit and talk with Tex about so many things that pertained to history, historical events, firearms, and so much more. I loved his stories and yes I learned also from Tex.
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