Tribute to Austin's Beloved Local Historian and Allandale Neighbor: Ed Van De Vort 1938-2007

submitted by C Yang

Ed Van De Vort’s passion for Austin was greater than his 6+ foot frame, and evident whether he was giving a tour of Austin dressed in his classic black hat, bolo tie, denim shirt, belt buckle and boots, as Sam Houston during the Austin History Center Association’s annual Angelina Eberly luncheon, or as Colonel Jesse Lincoln Driskill for special events at the hotel of the same name.

Jan Triplett considered Van De Vorther mentor and knew him well through her mother, Jane Dinsmoor, who was his business partner and moved to Austin with him in 1977 from Evansville, Illinois.

Van De Vort's extensive knowledge of Austin led him to start working on a book on its history. We can only surmise his love for our city started in 1983 when he worked first as a volunteer and then as a staff member for the Austin History Center. Later, he gained and shared this knowledge at the Austin Convention &Visitors Bureau where he gave walking tours. Van De Vort was also the resident historian for “Downtown,” a locally produced television show on KLRU. Van De Vort had a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in theater.

As quoted in the Austin American-Statesman, “He’ll be remembered for his extensive knowledge and ‘for his almost personal affection for Austin; not only for its past, but its future,’ said his former supervisor Betty Baker.” The article also quoted Sharmyn Lilly, executive director of the association which Van De Vort had served on the board and as its president, who said, “He loved Austin so much . . . Not just the historical part, but he loved the city that Austin was becoming and was very interested in preserving the historical aspect ofAustin . . . He embraced change and the evolution of the City.”

Comments

[Jan Triplett]

I want to thank Cathy for putting in this article. Ed and my mother moved from Evanston, Illinois, where they had been teachers and run the oldest theatre for children by children. It was called the Children's Theatre of Evanston, Theatre 65 (after the school district). They were new residents of Allandale in 1981 and went through the flood barely escaping with their lives and their dogs. Despite that they stayed, they supported the area and made important contributions to it because they loved it.

I hope that Allandale residents will also remember Ed's wonderful articles that he provided for the newsletter for many years. From him we learned about Austin's "Pig War" and other truly Texas-size tales. He made Austin history and its people live again for young and old. He taught us to appreciate what we have and learn from our past to create a better future.

He believed in maintaining the heritage of our area and was very supportive of our efforts to keep the Wal-Mart supercenter out. He believed in progress but he believed more in neighbors having rights. He and my mother (who died in 1999) loved living in Allandale as I do.

Again, thank you to Joe Reynolds and other neighbors who have been so helpful and thoughtful during this time and for this tribute to him. He would have been very pleased that people that he cared about also cared about him.

I hope we can keep his legacy alive and foster the work he did. For those who would like to do something in his memory, my brother and I ask that donations be made in his name to the Dinsmoor/Van De Vort fund for the Austin History Center.

Respectfully and with great gratitude,
Jan Triplett