J. B. Brooke, the oldest son of Joe R. and Eva Brooke, was born February 18, 1910, in Coleman County (see Joseph G. Brooke).  He attended school in the Union Hill Community through the eighth grade.  In order to further his schooling, J. B. had to drive to Coleman entering Coleman High School, the first year that the new school building was open on Neches Street in 1926.  J. B. played tackle on the Bluecat team under the coaching of Frank Stringer and a Mr. Dixon.  After graduating in 1929, he was out of school one year before entering Draughans Business College in Abilene.  He returned to the farm in the spring of 1931.  J. B. married Hazel Bassett (see Robert Crow Bassett) on November 8, 1931, even though the country was experiencing the Great Depression.  It was during these years that three children were born:

       (1) Peggy Joyce graduated from Coleman High School in 1951 and married Joe W. Stracener of Silver Valley.  They have three children: Vonda Jo, Glenn and Stacy.

         (la) Vonda Jo married Travis Thetford of San Angelo.  They have three children: Tammi, Shane and Jo Don.
         (Ib) Glenn married Terri Owens of San Angelo and they have one girl, Brooke Renae.

         (1c) Stacy resides in San Angelo.

       (2) Shirley Ann graduated from Coleman High School in 1953, married Carroll Clark of Houston, also a native of Coleman County.  They reside in Abilene. children are

         (2a) Jeannie Vaughn, who married Jeff Moss of Abilene, have one son, Chris and one daughter, Heather, now live in Longview; and

         (2b) Michael Lewis, married Lisa Richie of Houston, live in Huntsville, their children, Deborah and Pamala, reside in Houston.

     (3) James E. graduated from Abilene High School in 1956 and received his B. A. degree from Hardin-Simmons University in 1961.  While working in Austin, he married Margie Collier of Mercedes, has two boys, Brannon and Cory, and live in Beeville.

     J. B. and his wife now live in Abilene, but own part of the old Brooke place near Camp Colorado, where he still farms and ranches.  He is a retired employee of the Texas Railroad Commission and is an artist. J. B. has the distinction of being the person who came up with the name "Big Country," with which we are all familiar in this part of Texas.  The name was suggested in a contest of the Abilene Reporter-News in 1966.