The last of Texarkana's pioneer car dealers died Saturday. John Edwin Haltom, 94, last surviving partner of Boehmer-Haltom automobile agency, will be remembered for his business acumen as well as his contributions to Texarkana's education community. Haltom's sons, Mickey Haltom and James "Jim" Haltom, looked back on their father's legacy through family albums on Sunday. The albums, compiled by their mother, the late Annie Mae Haltom, chronicle Haltom's life. The Haltoms also have a daughter, Rebecca Robertson of Tyler, Texas. Haltom grew up in the Pleasant Grove community and, following his marriage, joined First Baptist Church in Pleasant Grove, where he was a deacon. He worked for the Direct Coffee Mill for 10 years and opened Haltom's Grocery at the intersection of West Fourth and Whittaker streets when he was 26 years old. Haltom operated the business from 1932 to 1941. As World War II broke out, Haltom could not serve in the military because of his age. However, he did serve the country in another way. Haltom received a certificate from the War Manpower Commission to go to work and help build Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant for B.F. Goodrich Co. A news clipping captioned "Hitler Doesn't Like These Men" accompanies a photograph of Haltom in a training seminar. He simultaneously operated Hillside Dairy in the Eylau community. It was in the Eylau community that Haltom began his work with schools. He was elected to the Eylau School Board. Haltom went to work for Creekmore Motor Company at its 300 block of Pine St. location and eventually bought into the business in 1947 with T.L. Boehmer and Lois Brantley to establish Boehmer-Haltom Motor Co. The firm sold Dodge and Plymouth cars and trucks. In the mid-1950s, they moved the business to New Boston Road where Haltom worked until his 1962 retirement. Haltom worked for about eight years for the Review Appraisal Board for the Bowie County Taxing Authorities. When his family moved to Rose Hill, he was elected to the Texarkana Independent School District Board of Trustees in 1950. Haltom served on the school board until 1962. That same year, Haltom was also elected to the Texarkana College Board of Trustees, serving until 1966. Mickey Haltom recalled that while his father was on the board, Beverly and Spring Lake Park schools were built. Jim Haltom recalled his father's support of the construction of Grim Stadium. But the Haltom son say one of their father's greatest contributions was his efforts to help move Texarkana College from one building at 15th and Pine streets to a 90-acre campus. Haltom was also active with area athletics and helped bring football to Texarkana College. A sportsman himself, Mickey Haltom recalls that his father liked any sport that ended in "ball." Haltom was a leading bowler in the area. Besides bowling, his other passion was building hot rods, Jim Haltom said. Haltom was a devoted member of Rose Hill Baptist Church and was a Sunday school teacher there for more than 55 years. He was chairman of the board of directors at the church for 22 years, working with seven different pastors. By LISA BOSE McDERMOTT of the Gazette