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Two mesquite industry giants have passed

On February, 20, 2012, Bobbie Hensarling, passed away. Most of you remember her as the friendly lady who ran the store at South Texas Fine Woods in Uvalde and created beautiful stained glass. Approximately a month after her passing, on March 21, 2012, her husband of 68.5 years, Bill Hensarling, passed away.

After his time in the Army Air Corps during WW II, Bill and Bobbie settled in Uvalde and he had a long career in the title business and the insurance business. The Hensarling family formed South Texas Fine Woods and they were pioneers in the use of mesquite in flooring, furniture, and crafts. Bobbie ran the store, Bill operated a machine shop that kept the lumber mill andwoodworking equipment running, and their son Robert worked with wood. When a need was seen for an association of mesquite sawyers and crafters, Bill and his son Robert were two of the three founding members of the Texas Mesquite Association.

Bill was a staunch businessman. Robert produced a uniquely Texan rocking chair with burled mesquite that had taken years of collecting large burl pieces. Robert had no intention of selling the masterpiece. When Bill pushed him to place a price on it, Robert decided on what he considered was an outlandish price, but within a few weeks, a customer who just had to have that chairanteed up and took the chair home. Robert was somewhat chagrinned but Bill just beamed with pride.

Bill was an innovator. When Robert got a job building large furniture and did not have enough dry mesquite, Bill encouraged Robert to build a vacuum kiln, and then stepped in and designed and built many of the components that made that vacuum kiln work.

Bobbie and Bill were the first two members of the TMA and for many years, seldom missed an event. With the passing of Bobbie and Bill, an era has passed, and we have lost two of the “Greatest Generation”. We are honored that we were lucky enough to have known and worked with them.

Al Carr and Herb Nordmeyer

The Texas Mesquite Association was established in 1992 by forty lumbermill operators, fine crafters and furniture makers who had an interest in Texas' own exotic hardwood, the pesky mesquite. The Association is recognized as a tax exempt, non-profit organization for education. Membership has grown to over 300 active members and publishes a newsletter devoted entirely to mesquite. If you'd like to join, please see our Membership page for an application and more information.

Upcoming Events

Texas Mesquite Arts Festival - Fredericksburg
October 12-14, 2012 (Brochure)(Application)(Booth Assignments)
Pictures from past shows available here

Spring Seminar - Pleasanton
March 2013 (Brochure)(Application)

Texas Mesquite Arts Festival - San Angelo
April 2013(Brochure)(Application)
Photographs from the 2011 Festival available here

Purpose & Goals:

  • Share knowledge, skills and resources with fellow wood enthusiasts of all experience levels
  • Foster woodworking skills of the next generation of wood workers
  • Help members solve their unique mesquite problems
  • Act as a reservoir of information for working with mesquite and other native Texas woods
  • Provide funds for transportation for high school students to attend the Fredericksburg and San Angelo shows
  • Enjoy fellowship and good times while doing all of the above



Member of the Fredericksburg
Chamber of Commerce