Perry Hobart

Gene Perry Hobart passed away at John Knox Village in Weslaco, Texas, November 8, 2018, surrounded by loved ones. He will be greatly missed. He was born December 31, 1928, in Los Angeles, CA to Perry Nelson Hobart of Sheridan, WY and Evalene Baer Hess Hobart of Lancaster, PA. He was predeceased by his parents and his cherished granddaughter, Elizabeth Virginia Harbison. Growing up in Los Angeles, he liked to surf in the Pacific Ocean, ski at Big Bear, work on hot rods and play football. He was offered a football scholarship at Stanford University but turned it down to study architecture at the University of Oregon at Eugene, and later at the University of Texas at Austin. He relocated to San Antonio, Texas in the early 1950s, where he served in the U.S. Army at Fort Sam Houston and at Fort Bliss, El Paso, and then was honorably discharged as First Lieutenant. While in San Antonio, he worked on several commissions under the firm name Harris & Hobart, including the Arts Center of San Antonio with mid-century modern artist Cecil Casebier. In 1958, Gene relocated his practice to the Rio Grande Valley, opening an office adjacent to his home in Mercedes with his wife Dorothy Ellen Gittinger of San Antonio, and then later in Weslaco. At the time, Gene P. Hobart was one of the only urban planners certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), and he was instrumental in formulating zoning and comprehensive plans for a number of cities in South and Southwest Texas. As a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), he also designed numerous projects throughout the region, including civic buildings, educational and medical facilities, public parks, and multifamily housing projects. After retirement, Gene was active in numerous community projects throughout the Valley. He helped create the race-walking program for the Valley (as of November 2018 holding the Texas State record for the 70-75-age group). He was also active in establishing a Ford Mustang club and Ford Model-A club in the Valley; worked with the Weslaco Museum and Audubon Frontera Museum, and helped establish the Weslaco campus of South Texas College. He worked with the Hidalgo County Historical Commission to achieve historical marker designations from the Texas Historical Commission for notable Valley sites, and he worked with the Texas Department of Transportation to improve landscaping along U.S. 83/IH-2. Throughout his life, Gene was a pragmatic optimist who appreciated the opportunities provided to him in the Valley and the people he met. He held two strong beliefs - that the measure of a man is what makes him mad and to trust the goodness in people but consider the source. He also loved the sound that palm trees make rustling in the wind. Gene is survived by Dorothy G. Hobart, his loving wife, world travel companion, and business partner of over 64 years; their children Evon (Rick) Harbison of McAllen, TX; Dean Hobart of McAllen, TX; Jean "J." (Mary) Wilberding-Hobart of New York, NY; and Lynn Eubanks (Pat) DeVincenzo of Sarasota, FL; and by his son Glen A. Hobart of San Antonio from his first marriage to Betty Sue Otto of Los Angeles, CA. He will also be missed by his grandchildren Ross (Jennifer Voelkel) Harbison of College Station, TX; Rebecca Williams (Sean) Laissle of San Antonio, TX; Cameron (Ann Brittan McSpadden) Eubanks of Miami, FL; and Crystal Eubanks of Winston-Salem, NC; by his great-grandchildren Kellen and Fiona Eubanks; Taylor, Trinity, and Ryan Harbison; Alyssa and Cole Williams; and by his step-great-grandchildren Avery and Sydney Laissle. He will be interred at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX near his wife Dorothy's parents, Dorothy, Richard Joseph and Esther Lobberecht Gittinger of San Antonio, TX. In lieu of any flowers or gifts, please send donations and/or join the Frontera Audubon Society, 1101 S. Texas Blvd, Weslaco, TX, at www.fronteraaudubon.org , The Weslaco Museum, 500 S. Texas Blvd, Weslaco, TX at www.weslacomuseum.org, or South Texas College Mid-Valley Campus, 400 N. Border Ave, Weslaco, TX at www.southtexascollege.edu.