Thomas Erwin Phipps, or “Erwin”, as he was known to his friends and loved ones, was born on October 24, 1895, in Stony Point, Tennessee to Reverend Joshua “Jot” Phipps and Ann “Ro” Tadlock Phipps. He had five siblings, Pella “Peggy” Phipps, born 1881, Helen Phipps, born 1883, Foster Phipps, born 1887, Edgar Phipps, born 1891, and Kent Phipps, born 1901. Before Erwin was born, his father spent four years in Turkey and Greece doing missionary work.

When Erwin was a small child, the family moved from Tennessee to Oklahoma (“Indian Territory”, at the time), and finally settled in Austin around 1908. Their family home was indeed located at 1300 San Jacinto, across from the capital building.

The Phipps family home, 1300 San Jacinto Ave, Austin, Tex.

Erwin graduated from the University of Texas with an M.A. in Chemistry in 1916, and briefly taught Chemistry at the University when he was drafted into Army service in 1917.

He trained at Camp Jackson, S.C., and really was preparing to ship out to a school of artillery in France when he, along with countless others in October 1918, contracted Spanish Flu. News of his death really did reach home before the major of his battery could correct the error. He made a full recovery.

Inscribed on the postcard addressed to his father from Camp Jackson: "Tuesday, 12/10/18. I was discharged from the service to-day and am taking advantage of a soldier's rate (2c) to come back to Texas, leaving tomorrow, 4pm. The rate was open only to the soldier's home town and for immediate use. I shall arrange to stop over at Muskogee for a few days, probably. T.E.P.

That train ride marks the beginning of Erwin and Eleanor’s story, as after his visit to his brother Foster in Muskogee, he also stopped in Norman to visit Helen. Their first meeting did indeed occur on his way home after the war, and the next time they would see each other, well, everything would be different.