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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
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