Mayor Becky Haas Shares 1907 Article About Henry Cason With February being Black History Month, I want to share a short article I found in the Oct. 21, 1907, Houston Post. The headline read “AGED RICHMOND NEGRO IS DEAD.  Uncle Henry Cason, 103 Years Old, Had Many White Friends.” Reading this in 2023, it is by far a very awkward death notice. I think that in a strange way, it was a compliment to this black gentleman. Even though it is only two sentences, they are very deep and powerful sentences if you stop and really think about them. For Mr. Cason’s death to be not only acknowledged in a 1907 general newspaper but stating that he had many white friends says much about the character of this very special person. I did the math and if he died in 1907 at the age of 103, he was born in 1804. WOW! I am sure that his life was not an easy one. Who was Henry Cason? I began to research his name and found nothing. It pulls at my heart to think a person had lived 103 years and his life was summed up in two sentences. I don’t like to be stumped and will continue to hunt for information about him. I will not forget the name Henry Cason and will keep you updated as to what I find.

I am looking forward to attending the 2023 Fort Bend County Day in Austin on Feb. 23rd. It will be a day to meet members of the state legislature and discuss matters directly affecting Fort Bend County. I will elbow in, with list in hand, to make sure that matters which directly affect Richmond are heard. A big thank you to the Central Fort Bend Chamber, Fort Bend Chamber, and the Fort Bend EDC for arranging this day for us.

Richmond, be sure to keep informed day to day about all this crazy weather we are having. One day we are hot and the next day we are cold. I call it Shake and Bake Weather! Take this as a reminder to sign up for (severe) weather alerts at www.informrichmond.com.