Euline Williams Brock

1932 - 2018

Euline Williams Brock

Euline Williams Brock died peacefully of complications from congestive heart failure at her home in Denton, Texas on 1 July, 2018. She was 86 years old. Following her wishes, her body has been donated to the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

Euline was born Frances Euline Williams on 2 June, 1932, in rural Van Zandt County in the vicinity of Van, Texas, in a 2-room unpainted sharecropper's cabin during the depths of the Great Depression. From these unpromising beginnings she rose to become a mother, educator, civil-rights activist, civic leader, and 6-year Mayor of Denton.

During Euline's childhood, her family moved repeatedly, 16 times in 15 years, always in the vicinity of Van, as her father sought jobs. Most of their homes had no plumbing, with water hand-drawn from wells and an outdoor privy. However, the family always stayed within the Van school district, allowing her and her older sister Betty and younger sister Ivey a foothold of stability. Because of oil money in Van Zandt County, the public education was outstanding, and the library had a wide range of books that Euline devoured.

Euline was a prodigious learner, graduating from high school at age 16. She attended Tyler Junior College for two years then entered the liberal arts program at the University of Texas in Austin, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in 1952 and a Master's degree in English literature in 1954. She then took a position lecturing in English at the University of North Texas (then North Texas State College), where she met Horace. Drawn to one another by their intelligence, interest in social justice, and love of music, they married in 1955. After Alan was born in 1956 (followed by Mary Ann in 1960 and Charles in 1962), she set aside her career for a time to focus on being a homemaker, all the while engaging in the struggle for racial equality. She was a charter member of Trinity Presbyterian Church, and, with other women in the church, reached out to members of Denton's African-American community to jointly found the Denton Christian Women's Interracial Fellowship. Engaging with each other as equals in a time of deep social mistrust, the women of the Fellowship formed life-long bonds and came to know one another as individuals, rather than as "others". The meetings alternated between black and white homes, where the women discussed family, faith, education, and politics. These meetings led to voter registration drives and efforts to pressure the city to pave Southeast Denton streets and to encourage businesses to cease discriminatory practices. Euline was particularly proud of this Fellowship and the role it played in integrating Denton.

In 1967 the Brock family moved to Istanbul, Turkey, for two years where Horace worked with the USAID program to develop new business curricula at Istanbul University. This experience was life-altering for the family, and Euline developed an appreciation for different cultures and for the deep currents of world history by living in a location where East and West collided over the centuries. She and Horace developed friendships, bolstered by several return trips to Turkey over the decades, which remain to this day. Their home was decorated with Turkish rugs and other beautiful mementos of their travels (which included journeying to the Soviet Union in the height of the Cold War as part of a Turkish tour group!).

After returning from Istanbul and moving to a new home, Euline returned to UNT to work toward her Ph.D. in history. Her dissertation focused on the role played by African-American politicians in the deep South during the post-Civil War Reconstruction years. She then became a Professor of History at Tarrant County College, and taught as an Adjunct Professor at Texas Women's University. Her engagement in Denton's civic life continued, and in 1985 she was named to the city's Planning and Zoning Commission. She followed this appointment by successfully running for City Council in 1992, serving in that capacity until 2000. In that year she campaigned for the mayorship, winning handily and serving two terms until 2006. She was a consummate politician. Her mantra was, "Focus on the long-term goal, and figure out what you have to do to achieve it." She was willing to compromise and work with people of all political perspectives as long as she made progress toward her objectives.

During her tenure as Mayor, the City made several notable investments, including the North Branch Library, a new central fire station, increased support for the arts, revitalization of the downtown area, a new airport control tower, and a new water treatment plant. Euline was especially proud of her successful long-term efforts to form the Denton County Transportation Authority, to purchase the right-of-way for a commuter rail system, and ultimately to get the A-train running. In recognition of her efforts, in 2014 the transit terminal at the rail terminus was named the Euline Brock Downtown Denton Transit Center.

Euline's service extended to other civic organizations. She was president of the Denton Rotary Club and served on its Board of Directors, as well as on those of the Greater Denton Arts Council, HOPE, Inc., the Denton Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Denton Humanitarian Association, and the UNT Foundation. She was on a UNT presidential search committee and the Dean's search committee for the College of Music. She actively worked on the Urban Forest Board of the Keep Denton Beautiful campaign. She and Horace were philanthropists as well, helping establish the Denton African American Scholarship and the Brock Endowment for Strings and the Euline and Horace Brock Music Merit Scholarships at UNT. Their contributions to the music program at UNT are acknowledged by the Horace and Euline Brock Lobby at the Murchison Performing Arts Center.

Among the many awards Euline received over the years were being named a Distinguished Alumna of UNT, the Green Glory and Wings of Eagles Awards of the UNT Alumni Association, with Horace the Otis Fowler Award of the Denton Chamber of Commerce, a Texas Municipal League special award, the William J. Pitstick Award from the North Texas Council of Governments, the Community Volunteer of the Year award of the Keep Denton Beautiful campaign, the Citizenship Award of the Denton County NAACP, with Horace the President's Award from that organization, the Citizen Award of the Denton Chamber of Commerce, and, with Horace a Community Arts Recognition Award.

Euline is survived by her husband, Horace R. Brock of Denton, children Alan H. Brock of Boston, Massachusetts, Mary Ann Flemmer (late husband David Flemmer) of Meadow Vista, California, and Charles A. Brock and his wife Mary of Boulder, Colorado, grandchildren David Brock and Darin Brock, both of Boulder, and sister Ivey Mossell of San Angelo, Texas.

Euline's contributions to Denton are immeasurable. But she is remembered by her family most as a caring and giving spouse, sister, and mother. She will be missed by all.

A memorial service will be held later this summer. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Denton African American Scholarship Foundation or the Brock Strings Endowment at the University of North Texas.