Agnes Valigura’s family invites everyone to help celebrate her 90th birthday with a party to be held Saturday, September 15 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. (come and go) at St. Joseph’s Parish Hall in Port O’Connor.
Agnes at Port O’Connor’s Centennial Celebration, September 19, 2009.
A True Native
Agnes was born on September 17, 1922 in the O’Connor Ranch House, an impressive two-story home which once stood in the block bounded by Second and Third and Jefferson, facing the highway. “I don’t know how we happened to be living there, Agnes said, “but we needed all that room.” Agnes was one of ten children born to a German father and a French mother. Her father and two of her brothers had come to Port O’Connor to run a fish house in 19 12 or earlier, and her mother and the younger children followed, so they were well established by the time Agnes came along.
The Munsch children attended Port O’Connor School when it was housed in a two-story, four-room wooden building, which later burned. It only went through the tenth grade, so Agnes graduated from Nazareth Academy in Victoria.
One of her brothers operated a filling station in Port O’Connor, and Agnes helped him after graduation, but not for long. In 1940 she married W.J. Valigura, who had come here to help his sister and brother-in-law, the late Zel and Buddy Edwards, with their fishing business. W.J. got a job in the petro-chemical industry. When World War II began, several of Agnes’s brothers went into military service, but W.J.’s work was considered essential to the war effort, so he was kept at home.
Agnes’ father, Michael Munsch, at the O’Connor Ranch House where Agnes was born in 1922.
Tragedy Strikes
The young couple moved to Galveston, and two children, Ann and Stuart, joined the family. On April 16, 1947, a massive chain-reaction explosion in a refinery at Texas City almost wiped the town off the map.
“I could hear the explosions, and I knew something terrible had happened, I knew that W.J. was in danger, but I couldn’t get any information.”
For twelve agonizing hours she waited for word of her husband before she learned that he was indeed one of the many fatalities.
Agnes and W.J.’s wedding. September 1, 1940 Attendants are Pat and Clara Hawes
Coming Home
Her brother loaded the young widow and her two small children onto a boat and brought them home and she has lived here since.
She was living in the family home in 1965 when Carla picked it up and floated it several hundred yards. Three of her brothers who had elected to ride out the storm were inside.
“We were lucky at that,” she said. “We didn’t lose everything like so many did. But it is a real shock to come back and find your house off in the pasture instead of where you left it.”
When the children were older, Agnes went to work at the post office as a clerk. When the job of Postmaster became open in 1980, she applied and was appointed to the position. She served the town in that capacity until she retired for health reasons on June 3, 1994.
Agnes has been a part of Port O’Connor’s Chamber of Commerce almost since its inception. She was elected secretary-treasurer in December of 1966, a position she filled for 16 years. In 1985, she was persuaded to resume her office with the Chamber, which she did, serving for another 13 years. In November 1998, she reluctantly declined her nomination due to declining health. She is still an active member, and is on the Board of Directors. She has also been a long-time member of Port O’Connor Community Service Club. In 2007, Agnes was recognized as “Citizen of the Year” at the Baptist Church’s annual Sweetheart Banquet.
A Message to the Community
“There is no place on earth I would rather live than Port O’Connor. I just wouldn’t want to leave here again, and I don’t intend to.”
Agnes says that her work with the Chamber was a lot of work – more than most people realize – and she had a lot of help the last few years.
“It has been a learning experience. I was able to keep up with what was going on, and it has been interesting to watch the town grow.”
This petite lady uses a wheel chair to get around now, but even though she is not as mobile, she is still keeping up with what is going on, and we have no doubt that she will find some other way to serve her fellow citizens as the town continues to grow.
-Reprinted (with minor additions) from a Jan. 22, 1999 Dolphin Talk article by Margaret Jennings
Agnes with her children, Ann and Stuart
Agnes and Clara participating in a Calhoun County Pageant.
Munsch Family, Christmas 1935 In front: Sister Clara (Hawes) at left, Agnes at right
Come, help us celebrate Agnes Valigura’s 90th Birthday!
September 15, 2012
St. Joseph’s Parish Hall
Port O’Connor, Texas
Stop in anytime between 1 and 5!
Agnes has lived a long and full life.
She’s been a mother, she’s been a wife.
A grandma and aunt and niece to some,
She’s loved by many, so all can come!
September 15th will be the day
We celebrate Agnes’ birthday.
We’ll gather at St. Joseph’s Parish Hall
Between 1 and 5, choose your time to call.
So happy to see you Agnes will be
That a gift will not be necessary!
Just come with some stories and memories
And help make a great start to her 90s!
Agnes Graduation
