Ranier Brigham
“Texas Proud”

Ranier Brigham is “Texas Proud.” As you read his story, you will understand why.

It was the 1880’s. The location was northeastern Hunt County. The state was Texas. A community was born bearing the last name of a slave owner, Robert Neyland. Ranier Brigham’s great grandfather, John Brigham, bought his freedom from Neyland and “Neylandville” came into being.

Ranier’s great grandfather was known as “Big John.” “Big John” and others ended up forming a farmer’s co-op, which built a general store and a cotton gin which in turn helped the community purchase a wheat drill and a wheat-harvesting machine. It is believed that Neylandville was the home of the first black school in Texas.

Ranier’s father, Richard Brigham, was born in historic Texana, Texas. The old townsite of Texana which was once a thriving town in the 1800’s, is no more. It is now covered by Lake Texana.
Richard Brigham served in the Army and was in Europe during World War II. He became one of the first black master plumbers in Texas.

Ranier’s mother, Travis Brigham, was born in Bloomington. Richard Brigham used to take his son, Ranier, fishing all over the Texas Gulf Coast.

Ranier has been married to his wife, Vicky, for twenty-five years. They have two children and six grandchildren. They have been living in Seadrift since 1992.

Ranier is a 1975 Victoria High School graduate. He retired from Union Carbide in 2002 as a pipe-fitter. He has served as a Seadrift Councilman for eleven years. He is currently over Public Safety which is Seadrift’s Police Department and Volunteer Fire Department, and Streets and Drainage. For twenty years Ranier has been a full-time fishing guide. He, also, is a man of many talents: rigger, machinist, pipe draftsman, and industrial maintenance. Oh, and don’t forget. He is “Texas Proud!”