Oil, poets & pro athletes: The story of Rising Star

RISING STAR, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – At first glance, Rising Star may look like just another small West Texas town. But during the oil boom, it caused such a stir that an entirely new town was created, and just as quickly vanished. Its history runs deeper than most passersby realize.

Rising Star Roots

The community began in 1876 when six families moved west from Gregg County to settle in the area.

Population

• 1,204 in 1980
• 859 in 1990
• 835 in 2000

From Copperas Creek to Rising Star

When the first post office opened, the settlement was known as Copperas Creek. D.D. McConnell of Eastland suggested the area must be a “star country” for producing crops when other areas were barren. Since “Star” was already taken by a town in Mills County, settlers debated all night over a name. On their way home, they spotted the morning star and chose the name Rising Star.

Growth

In 1889, the town had five businesses and three doctors. By 1909, there was a bank, hotel, school, five churches, two newspapers, dry goods and drug stores.

Oil Boom & Trouble

Oil was first discovered in 1909, but it wasn’t until 1920 — after the Eastland County oil boom — that a strike brought attention to the town. That same year, officials passed strict regulations for oil field workers, leading developers to bypass Rising Star and set up camp five miles west. By 1921, the boom was over, and the new camp town disappeared.

Notable Figures

Several well-known Texans have ties to Rising Star:

• Lexie Dean Robertson – The first native-born Texan to serve as Poet Laureate of Texas (1939–1941). She was president of the Texas Institute of Letters, vice president of the Poetry Society of Texas, and a winner of every prize they offered.
• Joe Madison Kilgore – U.S. Representative for Texas’ 15th congressional district (1955–1965). Born in Brown County, he attended school in Rising Star before moving to Mission, Texas.
• Eugene Morris “Gene” Alford – A football standout who played quarterback/halfback in Brownwood, later joining the Portsmouth Spartans (which became the Detroit Lions) and the St. Louis Gunners from 1931 to 1934.
• Richard Brooks Holder – A professional baseball player who spent 17 seasons in the minor leagues.

From crops to crude oil, poets to pro athletes, Rising Star has a history as rich as the land beneath it.