Rentfro Banton Creager (1877-1950)

Portrait from the National Magazine, 1922.

   The name of Rentfro Banton Creager stood prominent in Texas Republican party circles during the early years of the 20th century. An attorney and former U.S. Collector of Customs at Brownsville, Creager achieved his highest degree of political prominence in 1916 when he received the Republican nomination for Governor of Texas. Although unsuccessful at the polls, Creager later went on to represent Texas on the Republican National Committee for over twenty years. A delegate from Texas to every Republican National Convention from 1916-1944, Creager was touted as a potential nominee for U.S. Ambassador to Mexico in the administrations of Harding and Coolidge but declined the honor.

  A lifelong Texan, Rentfro Banton "R.B." Creager was the son of Francis Warwick (1835-1912) and Katherine (Rentfro) Creager (1850-1928), his birth occurring in Waco on March 11, 1877. At age seven he removed to Brownsville with his family, and as a resident of a city that was predominantly Mexican-American, attended public schools and learned to speak and write Spanish fluently. Following graduation, he continued his studies at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, and at the University of Texas, graduating from the latter in 1900 with his LLB. degree. 

   Creager returned to Brownsville in 1900 and established his law practice. He would cultivate a leading role at the Cameron County bar, being characterized by the National Magazine "as a lawyer he ranks amongst the ablest in Texas and represents many financial and development interests along the Mexican border." Creager married in February 1904 to Alice Terrell (1878-1958), to who he was wed until his death. The couple's near five-decade marriage produced four children, Katharyn Nina (1905-1999), Elizabeth (1908-1959), Frances (1915-1989), and Rentfro Banton (1920-2005).

  Rentfro Creager began his political ascent in 1909 with his appointment as U.S. Collector of Customs at Brownsville. Appointed by outgoing President Theodore Roosevelt, Creager was confirmed in March 1909 and served through the administration of President Taft, leaving office on June 30, 1913, when the post was abolished. 

   With his name firmly established in Texas Republican circles with his time in the customs office, Creager made headway in other areas of Cameron County life, including a long tenure as director of the First National Bank of Brownsville, "and had other extensive business interests, including real estate developments and bridges over the Rio Grande." In August 1916 Creager's name was put forward at the Texas state Republican convention as its candidate for Governor, and after clinching the nomination addressed his fellow delegates, remarking:

"I will say never in the history of Texas has such an opportunity been offered for a vigorous and effective campaign by the republicans. Never has the democratic party in state and nation been so vulnerable. Never has the democratic party so strikingly lived up to and exemplified the salient characteristics of the longeared animal which stands as its party emblem as during the last four years. The disclosures as to corruption mismanagement and utter ineffiency in state affairs made during the campaign preceeding the recent democratic primaries were sufficient to convince any honest and impartial citizen that there should be a radical change in out state government, and it is my belief, gentlemen of the convention, that there are scores of thousands of democrats in Texas that the interests of their state should come before the interests of any political party."

From the Mercedes Tribune, November 2, 1916.

  Through the late summer and fall of 1916 Creager hit the campaign trail and also had his campaign platform boomed throughout various Texas newspapers. In one such instance, the Bryan Daily Eagle published a lengthy list of where Creager stood on the pertinent topics of the day, including the following:

• Favored the retention of the Robertson Insurance Law.
• Favored the abolition of many useless state offices and a halt on "junketing trips" paid at the expense of the taxpayer. 
• Favored women's suffrage--"as a matter of justice".
• Amendment of the delinquent tax law.
• Favored the lowering of taxes and advocated placing "all public officers on strict salary basis."
• Was against candidates accepting campaign donations from corporations.
• Was against "the appointment of incompetents for political reasons."
• Was against the excessive collection of back tax penalties.

From the Amarillo Daily News, October 18, 1916.

  Opposing Creager in his bid for governor was incumbent Democrat James Edward Ferguson (1871-1944), who had first won election in 1914. Despite a campaign slogan touting "Honesty First, Party Politics Afterward" Creager was trounced in the general election, polling 49,118 votes to Ferguson's 296,667. While he may have won in a landslide, Ferguson was later impeached by the Texas legislature in August 1917,  extending from "misapplication of public funds", amongst other charges.

  While his gubernatorial aspirations were dashed, Creager wasn't through politically, and in the same year of his defeat, he served as part of the Texas delegation to the Republican National Convention in Chicago. All told, Creager would be a Texas delegate-at-large to the conventions of 1916, 1920, 1924, 1928, 1932, 1936, 1940, and 1944, and in 1921 was named chairman of the Texas State Republican committee. During the 1920 election year, Creager lobbied hard for the nomination for Ohio senator Warren Harding for president, and even invited Harding to Texas for a fishing trip prior to the Republican National Convention that year.

  Having developed a firm friendship with the presidential candidate, Creager and other Harding supporters continued to map his election strategy at the convention, and after journeying to Chicago Creager:

"Took over, leading the dickering for the Harding forces in rooms 404, 405, and 406 of the Blackstone Hotel in Chicago."

   Creager later took to the convention floor and delivered a rousing address seconding the nomination of Harding, who, after receiving the presidential nod, was a guest of the Creagers at their home in Brownsville. Following his win in November 1920, Harding returned the favor and invited Creager and his wife to the White House. In 1921 Creager's name was bolstered for U.S. Ambassador to Mexico and was offered the post by both presidents Harding and Coolidge, but ultimately declined the honor.

From the Indianapolis Times, June 11, 1928.

  Creager's stature in Texas Republican circles continued to rise in 1923 with his appointment to the Republican National Committee, where he represented Texas until 1944. He would boom the presidential candidacy of Herbert Hoover in 1928, and eight years later was one of five Republican "board of strategy" members that mapped the campaign of presidential nominee Alfred M. Landon of Kansas. 

  Well into the 1940s Creager continued to wield influence in his party, and in 1948 fought off a challenge from fellow Texas Republican George Hopkins, who believed Creager held too much sway in state Republican affairs. In the summer of 1950, Creager attended the Texas Republican state convention held in Galveston, and in early September began to suffer ill health. This necessitated a hospital stay in Brownsville, and on October 28, 1950, Creager died in hospital at age 73. He was survived by his wife and children and was interred at the Old City Cemetery in Brownsville. 

From the Gladewater Daily Mirror, October 29, 1950.