The Town of Combes on the Move

A One-Traffic Light Town with a Heart

Feature Story by Bill Keltner

The town of Combes is on the move. That is the message from the city administration of this interesting, historic little town of some 3,000 just north of Harlingen. Its history traces back to the wild and woolly days just after the U.S. Civil War when it was the headquarters for the famed Dishman ranch. And, oh, yes, there indeed was a Mr. Combes, the town’s namesake. How it all came about makes a fascinating story.

Before we get to that, Mayor Marcos “Mark” Sanchez and a couple of city officials were kind enough to outline what’s happening in their town. “We are getting new businesses in town, we have a new City Hall complex, and lots of ambitious plans for the future,” the mayor proudly informed LA FERIA NEWS. “You could say that Combes is coming of age.”

“We are upgrading our streets and properties in the town,” he said. “We are aiming at being a pretty, little bedroom community for Harlingen and the mid-Valley. Sanchez listed the new Stripes Service Stop, the new Combes Truck Stop, the new Pescaderia Seafood Restaurant and E.J.’s Ice Cream, among others. And we have grants coming for even more expansion,” he added.

“We are and want to remain a safe, sane and clean country community,“ he said. “We still have farm acreage within our city limits,“ he pointed out. “That’s why you’ll find horses, chickens and cows scattered around town–that is what makes us a unique, bucolic, tucked-away community that attracts doctors, businessmen and professionals who want to get away from their daily stresses after a short drive.”

The mayor said that what makes Combes so attractive is that the town is located right on the newly-dedictated State Highway I69 East

and State Highway 107. “That puts us just a few minute’s drive to the Harlingen airport, the RAHC, and Valley Baptist Medical Center.
Mayor Sanchez next told us about the captivating history of the township of Combes, Texas, how it got to be where it is. It’s an excursion into the legendary old, wild West.

It was like this: James Henry Dishman was forced at the age of six to assume a man’s role after his father’s death in the U.S. Civil War in 1864. He grew up and developed a successful ranching operation from the undeveloped area now known as northern Cameron County. He ran his working ranch from a little settlement without a name.

Now, that is the interesting part as you’ll see.

Cameron county in those days was a lawless, rowdy wilderness. A man’s home was his castle as long as he could defend it. One confrontation with outlaws almost cost him his life. Cattleman Dishman was gravely wounded by a cattle rustler as he defended his property and herds. The nearest doctors were brothers Dr. Fred and Dr. Joe Combes of Brownsville. With their good care, he was able to recover in six months. The gravely wounded cattleman told the doctors that if he lived, he would name his ranch headquarters after them. He recovered and remembered his promise to his benefactors. So, now you know the story of how Combes got its name.

Mayor Sanchez entered politics in 2001 as a City Elderman, and became the town’s elected mayor in May 2013. He is joined by his wife Carolyn who works with her husband and his duties as city mayor. She is also his business partner in his full-time business where he is the Property Appraiser of PDA Property Damage Appraisers of Harlingen. “Got to work,” he said, “You see, my work as Mayor is a work of love, as all the positions on the Combes city administration are voluntary.” he added with a big grin.

One last item of interest: The Mayor’s wife, Carolyn Sanchez, is the sister of Olga Oberwetter, City secretary of La Feria. Lots to talk about in that family when they get together, I’ll bet.

As the Mayor says, “Combes is a town that is coming of Age.”