Overview
American roads are all about destinations and destiny. Texas roads are all about grit and gravel.
The success of our national road system is undeniably linked to our destiny, our unique history, and our successes in the past and in the future. Today’s roads are a long way from the Model T days, when bold early contractors used mules and fresnos to build roads and bridges that literally helped people up out of the mud and across uncrossable rivers. Those primitive roads, developed back at the beginning of the twentieth century, link us to each other today. But that story didn’t happen over night.
Millions of motorists get into their vehicles every day to go to work, or school, or any of hundreds of other places. But most of us don’t think about the roads; we just jump in our cars and go. We don’t give much thought to the people and the hard work and grit it took—and continues to take—to build and maintain these essential arteries. We take them for granted. Connecting Texas will change that perspective.
The legacy of the colorful contractors whose careers intersected with the influential Association of General Contractors provides the basis for the book, which is rich in personal interviews and present-day and historic photographs. Connecting Texas not only clearly captures the effect that good roads have had on the Texas economy, but it also puts readers face-to-face with the inspirational and larger-than-life stories of the giants and the everyday people who gave Texas a road system that is the envy of the country.
Gary Scharrer spent 43 years as a journalist before landing at the Associated General Contractors of Texas. His work on Connecting Texas reflects his longstanding interest in highway transportation.
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