Alumnus Donates Texas Revolution Memorabilia

Alumnus Ron Mafrige, left, with SHSU president James F. Gaertner, recently donated these two framed memorabilia to the university. The one on the left is a photo of Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna with an original bearer bond, and the one on the right is a photo of Gen. Sam Houston with a signed pay voucher.

Sam Houston State University houses many artifacts from the famous general, first president of Texas and university namesake. Now, thanks to a donation by alumnus Ron Mafrige, the university owns two more.

Mafrige recently presented university president James F. Gaertner with two framed memorabilia with ties to the Texas revolution and worth a combined appraisal value of $8,000.

The first is a photo of Gen. Sam Houston with a signed voucher authorizing a payment to a courier for services rendered to the Republic of Texas. The courier was paid $13 for carrying dispatches from the American government in Washington to Houston, according to its certificate of authenticity.

The second is a picture of Mexican dictator Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna with an original bearer bond. The bond was issued in New York in 1866, 30 years after the battle of San Jacinto and 10 years before he died in Mexico City.

"Although his luck was good at San Jacinto in the sense that his life was spared by Sam Houston, later he was not so fortunate financially and had to sell these bonds to raise money," Mafrige said. "A lot of people are not aware that Santa Anna died penniless."

Mafrige found the pieces through an agent who has contacts with memorabilia shops across the country, finding such pieces for many different people.

“When the Sam Houston and Santa Anna came available, they called and asked if I had an interest, and I told them I did,” he said.

A self-admitted “history buff,” Mafrige has accumulated a collection of memorabilia from each of the United States presidents through his agent. Memorabilia such as a document signed by Abraham Lincoln or George Washington allows him to reach out and touch history, he said, which also influenced his decision to make the recent donation.

“History more or less comes alive with memorabilia, and I feel like you come in contact with history whenever you have something in a collection,” he said.

Mafrige said he chose to donate the framed souvenirs not only because of his long association with the university but because he was unaware of any pieces of this nature being housed anywhere on campus. In addition to the two, he said he will soon be donating another piece.

“I have a deep loyalty and love for Sam Houston,” he said.

Mafrige and his late wife have also donated numerous baseball memorabilia to the university, including autographed baseballs, bats, caps and pictures, which are housed in the Smith-Hutson Building. A decision has not been made as to where the most recent memorabilia will be placed.

"One way to make history come alive, whether connected to baseball or General Sam Houston, is through memorabilia such as that presented to us over the years by Ron Mafrige," said James F. Gaertner, SHSU president. "This recent gift of documents relating to General Houston and Santa Anna is just the latest example of Mr. Mafrige's thoughtfulness and generosity."

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SHSU Media Contact: Jennifer Gauntt
Feb. 20, 2004
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