GOD & TEXAS: Brite Ranch

Edward (Eddie) McMinn Anderson descended from a royal 13th Century Scottish family. Formerly known as the Mengies or Menzies clan, they changed their name to McMinn in 1746. The McMinns were known to love education, hard work, tall tales, and the Good Book (Bible).

Born in Missouri in 1875, Eddie pursued studies in education, and became the school teacher at the McMinn Ranch, near Marfa, Texas. McMinn Ranch was owned by her favorite uncle and namesake, Robert Edward “Ed” McMinn.

The McMinn Ranch was a close neighbor to the Brite Ranch, owned by Lucas Charles Brite, Jr. Eddie married Lucas in 1896, and they had two children, Lester who died at age nine, and Hester who lived to be 94. The Brites created one of the most storied ranching families in Texas history.

Founded in 1885, the Brite Ranch grew to an estimated 320,000 acres and included a post office and store. Additionally, Brite Ranch raised a herd of over 3,000 registered Highland Hereford cattle, a breed that became bovine royalty in Texas.

By 1920, the Brite Ranch had shipped 1,000 bulls of their own breeding to ranches across the country every year for 14 years! They won the Cudahy Trophy for Grand Champion Carload of Feeder Cattle in 1922 and 1925. To this day, the Brite Ranch is remembered for defining the standard of cattle breeding in Texas.

Though they were successful in ranching, the Brites honored God for their blessings. They built a large tabernacle on the ranch for worship services and their annual Brite Camp Meeting. They also commissioned architect Leighton Green Knipe to design and build the 500 seat First Christian Church in Marfa.

Because they deemed Christian education vital, the Brites endowed $60,000 to the Brite College of the Bible at Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth. Today, over 109 years later, Brite College is known as Brite Divinity School with a growing student body from 30 different denominations.

When Lukas died in 1942, Eddie continued supporting the couple’s endeavors at Brite College and at the Mexican Christian Colony, a ministry outreach across the border. Eddie served out the remainder of Lukas’ term on the Board of Trustees, becoming the first woman to hold such a position. In 1942, Eddie was inducted into Delta Kappa Gamma, a national education society.

One of Eddie’s highest honors was to be given a life membership in the Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs in 1945. In 1948, TCU awarded her with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree for her influence upon the University. Eddie died on August 25, 1963, a life well lived.

Jesus said in Matthew 10:39 NLT, “If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for Me, you will find it.” There are two ways to live a life. Either hoard it for self, or spend it to pursue something greater. The Brites lived their lives to honor Christ and to benefit others. Well done!

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