Ambling along the backroads of Texas for 60 years, an unassuming, likable Houstonian named Leon Hale wrote about life off the beaten track. On a crisp January afternoon in 2020, this retired master of thousands of whimsical and wise daily 800-word newspaper columns smiled a tad self-consciously.
After all, during his lengthy career, Leon Hale had done a great deal more listening than talking.
Leon pulled up a chair next to his writer wife, Babette Fraser Hale, at the Winedale Historical Center west of Houston and gazed around the room. Notes made him nervous, he said, as he started to speak to an audience that gave him its full attention
Leon’s columns first appeared in The Houston Post in 1954. Following that newspaper’s demise, he wrote for The Houston Chronicle until his retirement in 2014. He is now closing in on his 99th birthday.
This is the newspaperman who immortalized an annual trek to the South Texas brush country. Every March for more than 20 years, he and Old Friend Morgan set out on a road trip seeking Primavera, which translates to spring in Spanish. He would faithfully send word back about where and when they’d spotted the approaching change in the seasons.
Leon is the same fellow, who, in his later years, shared the outcome of his annual driving test of maneuvering the entire 38-mile 610 loop, one of Houston’s busiest freeways.
Leon often reported the highlights of his visits to Madame Z, his Brazos-bottom fortuneteller friend. She still swept the hard-packed red clay and sand in her front yard with a broom. Then there was Leon’s description of the good times and good stories he enjoyed with Friend Mel, whom he affectionately labeled “a city boy.”
Perhaps Leon’s most beloved subject, though, was the talking mule that seemed to have more sense than many people did. Among Leon’s columns was a 1972 Houston Post article entitled “Wagon Grease and Experience Shaped Old Cowboy’s Hat.” He interviewed Jack McLaughlin, who was born in 1894 in a log cabin at Rutersville, Texas.
This maker of rawhide lariats and bois d’arc wood ox yokes told Leon (center in photo) about his years as a ranch hand and his Native American heritage. While seated on an old wagon in the picture, the elderly man also described his seven months in a World War I German prison camp. Listening to the conversation (at right) was A.V. Smith.
Leon is the author of 11 books; some are collections of his columns, two are novels and one is a memoir. (www.leonhale.com) A member of The Texas Institute of Letters, he has been recognized for excellence sustained throughout a career.
Babette credits much of her husband’s writing skill to his unique slant, his innate ability to see what others don’t. Peppering his popular columns with typical Texas lingo, Leon delivered humble, deceptively simple observations in a warm, witty style. His written voice connected deeply with readers, many of whom shared his rural roots.
Although the couple speaks tongue-in-cheek about their differences, it’s apparent their union of nearly 40 years is built on rock solid mutual respect. Their comments were laced with warmth and humor, even Leon’s frustrations associated with aging.
Leon claims to spend a lot of time “word chasing” now because they sometimes won’t come out willingly when he goes to speak. He leans a little on a walking cane. He adds that he lives in a world full of nameless people because it’s harder for him to put a face with a name these days. Babette smiles at his quips.
Babette has always thought her husband’s work is like music that begs to be heard. He admires her talent and their collaboration. He dedicated his book entitled Home Spun to her with the words, “To Babette, who saved me.”
An award-winning fiction author, writer and columnist, (www.babettefraserhale.com), Babette outlined some guidelines the two wordsmiths have established during their peaceful, pastoral existence at their old house at Winedale, Texas.
Tapping on keyboards 30 feet apart in the same room, the two writers treat one another as partners, not competitors. They read some of the same books to stimulate fun, thoughtful discussions. They agree it’s important to speak up, but not to be critical.
As a practical matter, they both pitch in to handle the more mundane parts of life. Babette is grateful that Leon willingly volunteers for more than a few household tasks.
He replies that it’s not a big deal. But it is to her.
At the conclusion of the presentation, K approached Leon to shake his hand. When he began asking her questions, she realized that at heart Leon still is a curious reporter.
“In the late 1970s, one of my journalism professors at Stephen F. Austin State University challenged us to pick a columnist and read their work faithfully, looking for ways to make our own writing better. I didn’t have to think twice; I picked Leon Hale.
“His gift was as evident to me even as a young writer more than four decades ago as it was in the Winedale lecture hall today,” K adds.
“When I read his columns, Leon made me feel as if I was riding shotgun beside him. It was evident from the questions from this audience that I wasn’t the only one,” K says. “I guess none of us realized just how crowded the front seat of Leon’s vehicle actually was!”
When an audience member said what a joy it had been to read Leon’s work over the years, a tide of applause erupted. When the same fan added that he missed Leon, the aged columnist smiled.
In a soft voice, Leon replied, “I miss you, too.”
***
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Every Houston Post column. Still have several in my files. His lively interview with Betty Jo Seifert for the 1973 Weimar Gedenke – 100 year inaugural event.
In 800 words per column, Leon could relate a story like no one else! His columns memorialized people like Betty Jo Seifert and the Weimar Gedenke.
Charlie and Rita Mazoch (Weimar) didn’t miss reading the Houston daily paper, ever, and they loved Leon’s articles. Thanks for this.
Your parents had so much in common with Leon! All were country kids raised during the Great Depression, survived the war (literally) and went on to make the most of their lives. What a legacy they, too, left!
What a treat! I haven’t read much of Leon Hale’s work, but I did attend the Winedale Program and was entertained and inspired by the author Leon Hale. I am envious of the talent of such writers and personalities as Leon and Elaine.
Thanks, Cindy! Since I have all of Leon’s books, perhaps you’d like to borrow one or two? By writing thousands of columns over his long career he earned a place in the heart of thousands of readers the Post and Chronicle. Amazing!
Leon Hale has been a favorite of mine for years! And now I read Babette’s columns. I recall being at a Writers and Poets Ball in Houston a number of years ago when Leon was one of the guest Writers being honored. That night he told the story of having to walk through town with their Cow, who was “in heat”, looking for the “Chamber of Commerce Bull” who was there for the residents who had a milk cow, but no local bull. Great story, as were all of Leon Hale’s stories!
Can’t you just picture Leon’s face at having to parade the family milk cow through town to meet the Chamber of Commerce Bull? He has such a keen sense of humor that even as a youngster, he probably could see the humor in the odd family assignment he was given to carry out!
My Dad was born 1924 in Houston and absolutely loved Leon Hale. He never missed a story in the Houston Chronicle and often would cut them out. When we moved to La Grange, it was a no-brainier as what to get him for birthday/Christmas presents…a Leon Hale book (which are still on his shelf in his room) Sadly my Dad passed away in August 2015 just short of his 91st birthday, I would have loved to have taken him to meet Leon and his lovely wife. Thanks for the memories, Elaine! Excellent article.
Too bad that Leon Hale never had the chance to interview your Dad. They would have had a great visit! They are both Depression-era kids who grew up in wartime to make positive contributions to our world.
Wonderful story. My history with Leon Hale goes back to childhood. My dad faithfully read his column in the Houston Post. Later, while studying journalism at Sam Houston State, Leon taught me column writing and feature writing. I remember when he brought his typed manuscript of Bonney’s Place to class for us to see. I still have my copy and reread it a couple of years ago. It was just as good the second time around. He is a true Texas treasure–as are you Elaine!
I bet your class was dazzled when they saw Leon Hale’s typed manuscript of Bonney’s Place. Hand typed right? No computer files? Leon mentioned at the Winedale event that Bonney’s Place was a composite of different joints of that kind he had visited over the years. I’m always impressed by Leon’s ability to describe a scene that makes the reader feel like we are there.
What an absolutely inspiring and heartwarming article about Leon Hale and his wife. I’ve been very familiar with his name ever since moving to the Houston area in 1977. However, I was not a devoted fan of his, having put so many other interests ahead of reading his articles.
You have inspired me to start reading his articles, and I’ve found a great website with his archived articles!!
Thank you for helping me broaden my scope of reading, especially from a TX perspective. Hopefully I’m sure to “get” the TX lingo! Many thanks for sharing your article.
So glad you going to read Leon Hale’s work. You won’t be disappointed! He has captured the essence of rural Texas with humor and insight. His work will be essential reading for Texans and those who appreciate Texans for generations to come.
Reading Leon Hale’s books or listening to him talk was always a treat. We often used his books as the starting point for exploring Texas. No one knew it better.
You’re so right, Linda. No one knows Texas better than Leon Hale.
I just saw this delightful piece you wrote about our “performance” last January. Thank you very much for the kind and comprehensive portrait. You may be interested to know that both of us have books coming out in March, 2021. Hale’s is titled SEE YOU ON DOWN THE ROAD. And mine, a short story collection, is A WALL OF BRIGHT DEAD FEATHERS. Both are being published by Winedale Publishing, which has brought out a number of books by Leon Hale, as well as other Texas writers.
I’m glad you enjoyed my post about the presentation that you and Leon made earlier this year. It seems like it was a long time ago with the events that began unfolding several weeks later! I can’t wait to read both SEE YOU ON DOWN THE ROAD and WALL OF BRIGHT DEAD FEATHERS. Perhaps closer to the new books’ publication date you’d allow me to interview you for my blog? Thanks for writing!
Would love to do that! Thanks!
Wonderful! Thank you, Babette. I am looking forward to it.
I was one of the lucky students who took Feature Writing I and Feature Writing II from Leon Hale when he taught at Sam Houston State University years ago. Partially because of his influence, I now write. I have 9 stories in the Chicken Soup for the Soul books, have written 10 years for Image magazine (that COVID-19 killed), and now write my own weekly column for The Bulletin. I called Leon Hale when I published my first story in Image. He didn’t remember me, but I will always remember him.I was 1 year old when his first columns were written.
Janice, thanks for your sincere testimonial to Leon’s influence not only on the lives of students like you. Leon truly is a living legend. I understand he has a special treat in store for his longtime readers coming up in 2021! That’s something to look forward to, indeed. Keep writing, Janice, and continue to make Leon proud.