Fort Worth Characters 2

by Richard F. Selcer

Overview

Fort Worth Characters 2 is a sequel to Fort Worth Characters (UNT Press, 2009) by Richard F. Selcer, the preeminent historian of Fort Worth. The first book was a baker’s dozen of some curious, quirky, and forgotten people from Fort Worth’s past. This book continues the theme of human-interest stories of twenty-five more characters pulled from Fort Worth history. There are Blacks and whites, men and women, criminals and crime-fighters, showgirls and preachers, musicians and football stars. Some, like Frank James, were already famous when they came to Fort Worth. Others, like “Stutterin’ Sam” Dowell, were “discovered” here before going on to fame and fortune on the national stage. How about a character who might have been the inspiration for detective Nancy Drew? Or a female reporter who was the first American to score an interview with the president of Mexico? How about a husband-wife pair who might have been the first African American “power couple”? Or an abortion doctor convicted at trial in Fort Worth in 1913? These and more are covered in the pages of Fort Worth Characters 2.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781574419764
Publisher:	University of North Texas Press
Publication date:	03/17/2025
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	7 MB

About the Author

RICHARD F. SELCER is a native Fort Worther who holds a PhD from TCU and has authored several UNT Press titles, including Fort Worth Stories; Fort Worth Characters; A History of Fort Worth in Black & White: 165 Years of African-American Life; and (with Kevin Foster) Volumes 1 and 2 of Written in Blood: The History of Fort Worth’s Fallen Lawmen.

Editorial Reviews

Selcer has perfected the short profile format for Fort Worth history. His judgments of his subjects are based on solid research. He is very good at finding the humanity, in all of its ups and downs, in each subject. He is a meticulous researcher who pays enormous attention to detail.”—Quentin McGown, author of Remembering Fort Worth and Historic Photos of Fort Worth
 
“Richard Selcer is a known quantity, and Fort Worth Characters 2 fits easily into his body of work, especially since it is an expansion of an earlier publication. Selcer probably has cornered and dominated the market on Fort Worth personalities.”—Harold Rich, author of Fort Worth: Outpost, Cowtown, Boomtown and Fort Worth between the World Wars

“This sparkling book brings to vivid life infamous Fort Worth characters like married Mayor Williams S. Pendleton, who had an affair with a 19—year—old girl, and some who should be famous, like Sammie Howard, undercover cop. Historian Richard Selcer’s stories about Fort Worth’s first Chinese entrepreneurs, the African American power couple Manet Harrison and James Fowler, and little—known Black hero Jesse Williams of the Spring Palace Fire are especially good. Selcer again showcases his writing and research par excellence skills.”—Richard J. Gonzales, author of Raza Rising
 

"Selcer . . . has established himself as the official chronicler of Fort Worth history—and a fantastic storyteller to boot."—Fort Worth Magazine

"A fun, informative, and engaging read from cover to cover."—Midwest Book Review

"The book is well written and easy to read . . . It is simply about twenty—five largely forgotten characters throughout Fort Worth's history. And if the reader understands that going in, I think they will find the book to be superb."—Wild West History Association Journal

"Selcer also explores familiar characters, including lawyer Will McLaury, brother of those McLaury boys killed at the OK Corral street fight in 1881. Fort Worth Characters 2 is a fascinating book about a forgotten time and a city hardly reminiscent of its former rowdy self."—True West

“Using sources such as newspapers, court records, music, and photographs to build these brief but insightful portraits of 31 people, Selcer gives readers a glimpse of the rich and colorful nature of Fort Worth’s past. . . . Readers curious about Fort Worth’s past or even just looking for intriguing historical stories will find this a fun but enlightening read; so will urban historians looking for inspiration and lightly trodden research paths.”—Southwestern Historical Quarterly

From the Publisher