My father, Eugene Thomas Riza, was from Cleburne Texas. He married my mom after returning from WW-2 as a Navy vet who survived Pearl Harbor. They created me and my older brother Dana, then divorced shortly after, otherwise, I would be a Texan and the world I know would not exist.
My grandfather on my mothers side, James Lloyd King, was from Missouri and was a great inventor. He created several ore refinery plants in Nevada, started one of the first drive-ins in the country down in Arizona, had several patents, and was a gold miner.
I just came across this old obituary of my dads father and I was struck by his entrepreneurial spirit. Creativity is obviously in my blood…
CLEBURNE TIMES-REVIEW - January 4, 1968 - RETIRED MANUFACTURER DIES WEDNESDAY NIGHT
T.H. Riza, 77, of 1129 Alvarado Street, died Wednesday night at his home. He was a native of Somervell County and had been a resident of Cleburne for 60 years. He was a member of the Eastern Heights Baptist Church. Riza for many years operated a feed mill. He invented several machines used in the mixing and preparation of livestock feed. To manufacture one of these, a molasses mixing machine, he founded the Riza manufacturing Company, which was later purchased by his brother, Sam Riza and other members of the family and has expanded to an organization doing business internationally. In 1913 Riza was married to Miss Eugene Simpson. She outlives him. Other survivors are four sons; R.J. and Jack Riza of Cleburne, Gene of Dallas, and John Riza of Arlington. Four daughters; Mrs Alberta McKinney of Fort Worth, Mrs Irene Mitchell of Blum, Mrs Doris Moore of Arlington, and Mrs Marie Jones of Cleburne. Two brothers; Sam of Cleburne and Albert Riza of Gregg County. Thirty two grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren also survive. The funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Dillon-Emmert Chapel with Rev. George Willis officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery.
Here’s my mom and dad:
Here’s my grandfather Jack and grandmother Maude:
Here’s an old post about my grandmothers parents.