Bobby Joe Fisher
Bobby Joe Fisher, born in Breckenridge, Texas at home on Dec. 14, 1935. He grew up mostly on South Flores St. in San Antonio, Texas. Mother Nova Leigh Kelly and father Aubrey Griffin Fisher. Bobby had six siblings Johnmarie, Christine, Charlie, Barbara, Aubrey, and Roger. Bobby was one of the middle children. His daddy Aubrey owned his own wrecking yard in San Antonio called H and C Auto Parts. Bobby worked for his dad part time at H and C, and at age sixteen quit school to work full time. Bobby married Janet Currie that same year in Seguin, Texas, in 1951. They later had three children, Bobby Jr., Charlene, and Ronda. His new family went to California to look for work, but returned to Texas and lived on Cobble Street in San Antonio. Bobby's wife Janet died that same year from Hepatitis. Bobby's dad bought thirty acres in Poteet, Texas in 1965 and moved a home out there. Bobby met Cathleen Redus Hayes she had three children also Randy, Vicky, and Kevin. Bobby and Cathy married in August 1971 in Seguin, Texas and his father died December 1971. In 1985 Bobby and Cathy moved to Medina Lake and built a home. In 1990 he bought several acres from his mother in Poteet and moved behind her to help out. His mother died that same year. Bobby and Cathy still live on the land in Poteet, Texas. My family and I live in the home Aubrey and Nova bought together.
What changes have you seen in your life, that differ from when you were a little boy?
I lived poorly.
Nehi sodas
were a nickel. My dad
owned a used auto parts store, He spent his money on his self, but we never went hungry or anything like that. You would consider us poor but the
ration books
came in handy and so did commodities.
It has changed quite a bit since I was real young, quite a bit...
Do you remember the Sears and Roebuck Catalog?
Ya, daddy use to say I been paying on that damn thing for twenty years and hadn't got it paid off yet, that Sears bill.
Growing up on the south side how has it changed?
We lived off of St.Marys St. and Flores, it has changed quite a bit, it is mostly run down now. My dad had his own used auto parts store off of St.Marys and we had all sorts of people come in. We rigged up a old couch that some of the springs were showing, and were able to shock all kinds of buddies. One time I shocked this boy he had the hardest time getting off that couch just a bouncing, it was so funny. When he finally made it off the couch he looked at me and said I'd whup you if I thought I could. Ha Ha Ha. And we were always going fishing and pulling jokes on one another we mostly went to the Medina River. One time we were using a old telephone to shock the catfish, and here came a bunch of snakes rising to the top of the water. Another time we were using that old telephone to shock us some fish, and my buddy jumped in the river together all those catfish and I started a cranking. It was the funniest sight I ever saw.
How were times when the Vietnam war was going on?
Pretty good! All of my time I worked in Auto Parts Stores I quit school in the seventh or eighth grade and then I finally owned my own auto store. It was pretty good, we could sell a used tire back then for thirty dollars.
Why did you quit school?
I just didn't want to go. I could not get my mind on school, it seemed like I had a mental problem. I must be one of those fellows that can't learn shit. HA! HA! I couldn't grasp it. I did make bad grades I think I could have, but oh shit, no body else had a education. Well I thought, Hell, I didn't need one either. I knew lots of people that had lots of money and they didn't have a education at all.
Growing up do you remember the signs saying blacks and whites ...?
They had to sit in the rear of the bus, and I don't think they could drink out of the same water fountain. They did not go to school with us at all. No! No! schools were segregated.
Did you have blacks where you grew up?
No! They lived over on the east side. I don't guess any coloreds lived in the south side I guess. We had colored people, our customers, come in, really good people would come in a bit. Like I say ones we had they was in there around the 70's, good customers, real friendly people, we done a lot of business with them, seem like they would come over there when they needed a part....
How was the south side of San Antonio?
Back in the early part the Mexicans would come down riding their bikes down there on South Flores Street, boy, they would be hookin'em in the evening. They was afraid of being whupped....
How has Poteet changed?
This place hasn't changed, I think there is less now then it use to be. On the main street there use to be a grocery store and several things. Now there all closed, But the people here are not motivated to work just a laid back bunch thats how they have always been. It is like Mexico they seem to settle on getting their well fair thats it. Thats the way I look at it. They don't want to expand Poteet and get good businesses in then they might have to work. The only thing we have is Super S and the Dollar store... It has changed quite a bit.
The mothers treasure chest Nehi soda.http://www.motherstreasurechest.com/listings/44.html. The mothers treasure chest provides several different antique bottles you can purchase. This web site gave me information about the Nehi sodas being only 9 oz. compared to are 20 oz. sodas to day.
National Weather Service Southern Region Headquarters. Medina River. http://www.srh.noaa.gov/wgrfc/july02/smmt2.htm. National Weather service site provides weekly information on the Medina River conditions.
Quan Engineering ration books .http://www.quanonline.com/military/military_reference/american/war_ration.html. the Quan Engineering site was able to provide me with photos, and information on what the war ration books were used for. People were able to purchase food items along with clothes on the ration book that were given to your family for help.
Espinoza, Bernice 2000-2001 Web page was found on small town histories of Poteet. student of Robert R. Hines, Department of History Lana Roderique, webmaster Poteet.http://www.accd.edu/pac/history/rhines/studentprojects/2000/poteet/poteet,tx2.htm This site will give you a map of were Poteet is located, and a better understanding of Poteet.
Fisher, Lewis F. Saving The Precarious Preservation of a Heritage San Antonio. Lubbock: Texas Tech University Press. 1996. The book I selected talked about the beginning of San Antonio in 1879. This book helped Bobby remember different thing that has happened in San Antonio. It mostly brought up memories of when it was segregated.