Larry Jene Fisher

Larry Jene Fisher was a musician, vaudeville performer, playwright, filmmaker, publicist, aviator, and a Big Thicket student and advocate. He served as secretary of the East Texas Big Thicket Association, gave presentations on the Thicket, guided visitors to the area, and lobbied Congress for the Thicket’s protection as a national park. He is especially remembered for his photographs of the fast-disappearing culture and customs of the area, including scenes from oil fields, deer camps, church picnics, dances, and prison rodeos, in addition to views of producing syrup, making staves, daubing chimneys, hacking railroad ties, and distilling turpentine. Many of his photos can be seen in the book, Big Thicket People: Larry Jene Fisher’s Photographs of the Last Southern Frontier.