HISTORY
The Kirbyville Housing Authority ("Pecan Grove") was founded August 24, 1964 by its original Board of Commissioners consisting of G.E. Simmons, Chairman; W.S. Gillespie, Vice-Chairman; Mrs. A. C. Singletary, Secretary; T.E. Sanders, Commissioner; and Sam Gallier, Commissioner, along with mayor G.T. "Truett" Sharbutt. Construction on the first development began in 1968 and was completed in 1969.
Commissioners who served during the construction of the first development were Mabyn McCargo, Olga Diasselliss, Harry Martin, Doyel Chandler, Jessie Ruth Lock, and G.T. Sharbutt, along with Mayor John A. Martindale. During completion of the second development, Commissioners included Ms. Burres Bean, Bert Causey, Janice Conn, Jack Pearson and Jo Helen Stringer.
The longest-serving Commissioners in KHA's history have been: Mary Beth Guy, 36 years (1982-present); Ed Janac, 21 years (1993-2014); Clyde Kirbow, 20 years (1998-present). Other Commissioners serving over 10 years but less than 15 years, were Olga Diasselliss, Doyel Chandler, Jessie Ruth Locke and Jeroline Booker.
Those who have served as Executive Directors of the agency are Mrs. Henry Herndon (14 years; 1966-1980); Eloise Jordan (16 years; 1981-1997) and Wesley Bell (21 years; 1997-present). Prior to Ms. Jordan’s retirement, Mr. Bell was hired to prepare for assuming leadership of the agency. From its inception in l964 and continuing through today, the agency has been extremely well-managed, receiving "High Performance" classification from HUD numerous times, along with HUD Physical Inspection scores of 99.1, 99.3, and 99.7 for its most recent three consecutive inspections.
Commissioners who served during the construction of the first development were Mabyn McCargo, Olga Diasselliss, Harry Martin, Doyel Chandler, Jessie Ruth Lock, and G.T. Sharbutt, along with Mayor John A. Martindale. During completion of the second development, Commissioners included Ms. Burres Bean, Bert Causey, Janice Conn, Jack Pearson and Jo Helen Stringer.
The longest-serving Commissioners in KHA's history have been: Mary Beth Guy, 36 years (1982-present); Ed Janac, 21 years (1993-2014); Clyde Kirbow, 20 years (1998-present). Other Commissioners serving over 10 years but less than 15 years, were Olga Diasselliss, Doyel Chandler, Jessie Ruth Locke and Jeroline Booker.
Those who have served as Executive Directors of the agency are Mrs. Henry Herndon (14 years; 1966-1980); Eloise Jordan (16 years; 1981-1997) and Wesley Bell (21 years; 1997-present). Prior to Ms. Jordan’s retirement, Mr. Bell was hired to prepare for assuming leadership of the agency. From its inception in l964 and continuing through today, the agency has been extremely well-managed, receiving "High Performance" classification from HUD numerous times, along with HUD Physical Inspection scores of 99.1, 99.3, and 99.7 for its most recent three consecutive inspections.
