Donald E. Everett

Donald Edward Everett, born December 10, 1920 in Auburn, Alabama died July 6, 2004 in San Antonio. He received the B.A. degree from the University of Florida and served in the United States Army Air Corp. near London, 1942 to 1945. Thereafter, he received the M.A. and PhD. Degrees from Tulane University where he was a Ford Fellow. Joining the history department at Trinity University in 1953, he would serve as chairman for twelve years before he retired in 1991. A sustaining member of Phi Beta Kappa, his listings had included the Directory of American Scholars, the Directory of Contemporary Authors, Who’s Who in America and recognition as a Minnie Stevens Piper Professor in Texas and a Dr. Z. T. Scott Professor at Trinity.

A pioneer in the study of free persons of color in the ante-bellum South, upon coming to San Antonio, he turned to local social history. Author or editor of seven books, his articles appeared in the Handbook of Texas, the Southwestern Historical Quarterly, the Journal of Negro History, the Journal of Southern History and newspapers. His San Antonio: The Flavor of Its Past, 1845-1898, cited by the San Antonio Conservation Society, and a later volume, San Antonio Legacy, contained his favorite “some true, some not so true,” stories from the San Antonio Express, 1865-1930.

Chaplain Davis and Hood’s Texas Brigade (1962) for which he received a citation from the Texas Civil War Commission became a collector’s item and was reprinted by the Louisiana State University Press. Another citation, from the Texas State Historical Committee and the Texas Historical Foundation, recognized his “distinguished service” to historical preservation.

Focus on San Antonio history could also be found in a centennial record of Trinity University, a sesquicentennial history of the First Presbyterian Church in which he was an Elder, and a history of the Monte Vista Historical District.

Among the founders of the Monte Vista Historical Association, he served as past president. Other activities included past president of the local Torch Club and the San Antonio Historical Association.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Mary Lou Melancon Everett and his son, John Lauchlin Everett, both of San Antonio, daughter Mary Everett Potter and her husband Robert McLean Potter, and their daughters Page McLaurin and Christina McLean Potter, all of St. Petersburg, Florida.

Family members wish to express their appreciation to Dr. Lewis F. Russell, Jr. and Dr. Paul H. Smith, Jr. for their years of kindness and professional attention.

Dr. Everett’s remains will be interred in the Columbarium of the First Presbyterian Church, memorial service will be held at Margarite V. Parker Chapel, Trinity University. The Reverend Raymond H. Judd, Jr. will officiate.It all started when…