Theodore R. Fehrenbach ’45

Ted Fehrenbach died Dec. 1, 2013.

Ted was long known as the official historian of his beloved Texas. Although born in Texas, Ted spent his formative years in California, graduating from Hollywood High School. His Princeton studies were interrupted by service in World War II. He returned to Princeton and earned a bachelor’s degree in modern languages in 1947.

Ted married Lillian Breetz and took up lifelong residence in San Antonio. He was recalled for the Korean War, which led to combat as a platoon leader, company commander, and battalion staff officer with the 2nd Infantry Division. He separated as a lieutenant colonel before returning to Texas, where he began an impressive career as historian/author. Ted wrote many articles and 18 books, including This Kind of War, Lone Star (the most widely read history of Texas), Fire and Blood, Comanches, and Greatness to Spare. As he noted in our 25th yearbook, some strokes of fortune can’t be reduced to 400 words. Unfortunately this memorial is limited to 200 words, but we hope to do Ted justice by detailing his impressive contributions to Texas history in future class columns. Jim Calvert is at work on that.

Ted and Lillian had no children. We express our sympathy to Lillian, who without question has unique positive memories from a long and happy marriage.