John Hanks Munson

     John Hanks Munson was born on 6 February 1916 at Bailey's Prairie, Brazoria County, Texas.^1,2 He was the son of George Poindexter Munson Sr. and Louise Underwood. He married Billie Marshall on 27 May 1939.³ He died on 3 January 1986 at his home, Sugarland, Fort Bend County, Texas, at age 69.^2,4 He was buried in Munson Cemetery, Bailey's Prairie, Brazoria County, Texas.⁵
     
     John Hanks, the fifth child of George and Louise, was the only one of the children born in the family home at Bailey's Prairie. He grew up in Brazoria County, and appears there in the household of his parents as a three year old in the 1920 census , and a fourteen year old in the 1930 census.^6,7 He graduated from West Columbia High School and studied civil engineering at Texas A&M College (now Texas A&M University). He worked as a civil engineer for the Jefferson Lake Sulphur Company, the City of Freeport, and Dow Chemical Company in Freeport. The family lived in Freeport for many years before moving to Sugarland in the early 1960s.

     Johnnie was a man of many interests and talents. He designed, constructed, and landscaped a beautiful pond in the backyard of each of his three homes that the writer remembers. He was an avid sailor and provided many good times aboard his sailboat for family and friends. However, his real love was photography, and he took many of the photographs seen here. His skill was such that he was often hired to photograph weddings and other events. The accompanying photograph is of Johnnie in his darkroom holding one of his cameras. In the background are photos he took, developed and printed of various family members including one of the writer.