The Coward Family: History Revealed
It was 2020, and just a normal day at the Atascosa County Jail – well, as normal as it could be. A visitor, Nelda Rentz, walked into my office carrying a large binder with old papers sticking out. I knew this visit would be fun, but I had no clue what a wonderful ride this would be with its ups, downs, and disappointments, and ultimately its grand success.
Mrs. Rentz introduced herself as Deputy Sheriff Meister Coward’s daughter. I knew the history of Meister Coward. He was shot at the old county jail in 1952 by Frank Landrum after arresting a man from Charlotte and bringing him to the jail entry. Deputy Coward returned fire, and both men died from their injuries. That was the history I knew. That binder held by Mrs. Rentz contained a more elaborate story, the details nobody would have known unless you had spent your entire life digging for answers of your father’s death. Mrs. Rentz spoke, and I recognized that she deserved not only my attention, but also the attention of the county. She spoke with meaning and a desire for information.
Mrs. Rentz was 10 years old when her father died, and she spoke in meticulous detail of her recollections before his death. She had researched so much that her father was posthumously inducted into the South Texas Rodeo Hall of Fame.
During his rodeo days, Meister served as a movie extra in the 1927 silent film Rough Riders in San Antonio. He was more than a deputy sheriff who lost his life in the line of duty. He was a rancher, a rodeo man, a father, a husband, a brother, and a friend to many.
The only visual I had of Meister Coward was of a cowboy hat-wearing man with a big smile on his face from a photo hanging at the sheriff’s office. Mrs. Rentz pulled back the curtain and showed me a different side of her father. The family photos were unearthed, and the sorrow hit me like a punch in the gut. These photos showed the same smiling man holding his children and his wife. In the photos, he was dressed like he had been working or ranching. Although he looked hard-worked and sunburned, he was happy, and so was his family.
When our visit was over, empathy took over. I knew that something had to be done to allow Mrs. Rentz and her surviving siblings to use their lifetime of research to educate the public about their father. After applying for an Undertold Marker with the Texas Historical Commission, the request was denied. A marker exists at the old jail, and a new one was rejected. I felt terrible, and I was dreading the call to Mrs. Rentz to advise her. She was not upset, but I knew she was disappointed. I promised her I would do something to honor her father. After consultation with Commissioner Mark Gillespie and Judge Robert Hurley, we created a committee to develop a memorial for the entire Coward Family. A metal engraved bench was selected, and we were off to the races!
A Facebook post about the Coward Family turned up another family member. Shana Henry, someone I had known for a long time, admitted that Meister Coward was her grandfather. This was the perfect time to add her and Mrs. Rentz to the planning committee. Fast forward a few months with some setbacks, and we were ready for a Bench Dedication Ceremony on Dec. 29, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.
The Coward Family showed up with some 25 in attendance. The energy was high, and the family was thankful. This was a successful project, and Atascosa County finally has something to remember the Coward Family’s contributions.
The Cowards named on the Memorial Bench are Avant “Meister,” Henry Halff, and Erastus Athelone “Ras” Coward. These three men were only three of 12 boys born to John Russell and Mary Matilda (Pierce) Coward. Most of the Coward children are interred in Atascosa County Cemeteries, along with their mother, Mary Matilda. Like I mentioned during the dedication ceremony, “These Cowards…they’re a tough bunch, and we owe them a debt of gratitude.”