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Charles J. Rike
Memorial Library |
| Photo by Jim Foy |
There are many things about Audie Murphy at the Charles J. Rike Library in
Farmersville, Texas. Above are several stands containing photographs,
newspaper clippings, drawings, and hard to find information. The photograph
above shows several display stands which contain numerous pieces of
memorabilia and newspaper clippings about Audie. If you would like to visit
the library, it is located at:
Location:
203 Orange Street
Farmersville, Texas 75442
Phone: (972) 782-6681
Librarian: Pansy Hundley
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Hours of Operation:
Tuesday: 8:30 A.M. - 6:00 P.M.
Wednesday: 8:30 A.M. - 4:30 P.M.
Thursday: 8:30 A.M. - 6:00 P.M.
Friday: 8:30 A.M. - 4:30 P.M.
Saturday: 9:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.
Sundays, Mondays, Holidays: Closed
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| Model of Bronze Statue |
| Photo by
Jim Foy |
To the right is a model of the bronze statue which now stands in front of Audie
Murphy Veterans Memorial Hospital located in San Antonio, Texas.
(See Exhibits, Memorabilia, and Places To Visit
for information on the hospital and the statue). The model was made prior
to casting the statue and it now stands inside the library at
Farmersville.
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| Audie B. Evans, Jr. Clock |
| Photo by Jim Foy |
On the left is a beautiful hand made clock donated to the libary. The following newspaper
story describes the clock, its creator, and its significance:
From the Farmersville Times, April 17, 1997
AUDIE MURPHY CLOCK AT LIBRARY -- This clock, mounted on a piece of beautiful
wood with an autographed picture of Audie Murphy on one side and a list of
the World War II medals he won on the other, has been presented to the Charles
J. Rike Memorial Library in Farmersville by Audie B. Evans Jr. of Houston.
The face of the clock is the Great Seal of the United States. Across the top,
above the clock face is written, "In Memory of Maj. Audie L. Murphy, June 20,
1924-May 28, 1971." Across the bottom is, "America's Most Decorated Combat
Soldier of WWII." (See below for related information).
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| Audie B. Evans, Sr. |
| Photo Provided by Audie B. Evans, Jr. |
The clock is significant because Audie Murphy was named after the
father of the clock's creater, Mr. Audie B. Evans Sr, who worked on the
road near Audie's birthplace and helped Mrs. Murphy in various ways
including picking up groceries for her when he was in town. She asked him
if she could name her baby after him when he was born, according to the
Farmersville Librarian, Ms. Pansy Hundley.
It should also be noted that in a book written by Colonel H. Simpson which
is no longer in print (AUDIE MURPHY, AMERICAN SOLDIER, Dallas: Alcor
Publishing, 1982), Mrs. Murphy also had some neighbors named Mr. and Mrs.
Audie Lee West. Mrs. Audie Lee West attended to Mrs. Murphy during the
birth of her son. Colonel Simpson speculated in his manuscript
notes that Audie was named after both Mr. Audie B. Evans, Sr. and Mr. Audie Lee West.
Unfortunately, Colonel Simpson in an oversight forgot to include the
information on Audie B. Evans, Sr. when he wrote and published the final
version of his book.
Further support to this view and other thoughts have been offered by both
Audie Murphy's sister, Nadene, and his oldest son, Terry, who agree that
both Audie Evans, Sr. and Audie West figured prominently in Mrs. Murphy's
life at the time of Audie Murphy's birth. The name "Audie" was not uncommon
to northeast Texas back during the time Audie was born. Because the name
probably appealed to Mrs. Murphy evidenced through it's regional popularity
and because two men befriended her when she was in need of help, Mrs.
Murphy probably decided to name her child after both of these kind-hearted
gentlemen. Unfortunately, until now, the Audie B. Evan, Sr. role in Audie
Murphy's life was temporarilly lost and relatively unknown.
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