One meaning of the word resistance is the refusal to comply or accept something that is adverse. While resilience refers to the ability to recover or overcome challenges faced. Resilience in the black community has often required making something out of nothing or nothing much, pushing against the norm or refusing to bow to barriers.
It is often said that necessity is the mother of invention. Thus, it is necessity that has given rise to the many businesses, inventions and creative endeavors launched by African Americans over centuries. African American men historically struggled due to limited opportunities, often taking lesser jobs with superior skills or failing to avail themselves of possibilities due to perceived and real limitations.
As a small 6-year-old boy in the Milam County community, Curtis Dudley Hoyle knew the meaning of hard work. He learned to chop and stack wood, often helping his mother, Cherry, and father Curly Hoyle to gather and deliver the wood for sale to businesses in and around the county.
An only child, Curtis primarily grew up in Milano, just outside of Rockdale. Sometimes, when things got really hard, the family lived with his grandmother, Florida Mae Williams, and grandfather Ronald.
The nucleus and foundation for resilience in the face of resistance is often the cords strengthened by the family unit, community, church and schools. This foundation for Curtis, consisted ironically of a large extended family with seven aunts and three uncles on each parents’ side.
Both parents and all of their siblings attended either the Aycock school during segregation or Rockdale High School after integration. Since the large family spanned several generations, Curtis, or Dudley as he was called growing up, forged close bonds with aunts and uncles similar in age. He learned early that success required hard work and focus.
The family often struggled financially and as he grew up, like many of the young men in Milam County, he took odd jobs, baled hay and picked melons in the summer, and hauled wood during the winter.
Many of the family were well-known in the community. Aunts, Tammy and Carol Williams, were standouts in athletics and cheerleading in the late 1970s and early 80s. Cousins Julia, Joel and Uneeda Page, the Wesley brothers and many more contributed to Rockdale’s athletic wins over the years.
Older relatives were also well known for their expertise in Aycock events. And Curtis, in his own right set records for Milano High before going on to Tarleton State College on a basketball scholarship.
Reflecting back, Curtis remembers how his Grandfather Hoyle would annually transport migrant workers and families further south to pick cotton and other commodities from September to May.
The Hoyles were not big on advanced education but instead were crafty business owners and talented entrepreneurs. Curtis says his father, Curly was a great mathematician and draftsman. He could calculate numbers with ease and often used his selftaught skills in business.
On the other hand, great-grandfather Will Page was a well-known cowboy and rodeo rider. This legacy and his skills as an astute people person contributed to Curtis’ determination to be successful, pursuing both education and entrepreneurship.
When asked how he viewed his life in the community, Curtis spoke of men in the church who helped to shape the kind of man he wanted to be in life, a person who was a good example for others who came behind.
He reflects most on the spiritual foundation instilled in him by his grandmother Florida, and the strength and perseverance he witnessed from his mother during hard times. His heart for the community and these things, he says, are what make him the man he is today.
After completing college, Curtis began a career as a scheduling analyst in the power plant industry. He also expanded the work he began as boy and established his Hoyle Chimney Cleaning Services. The company specializes in supplying fireplaces and equipment to homes all over Central Texas, performing annual fireplace maintenance and supplying firewood to businesses.
Because of his drive and determination to succeed, Curtis often finds himself living on mere hours of sleep between performing his critical duties at the power plant over 60 miles from home, running his business and serving as a caretaker for his mother. He is often called upon to assist other family and the community.
Nevertheless, he views his stamina as the legacy passed on to him by his ancestors, a duty to serve others, even while sometimes sacrificing himself.
When speaking about the plight of young black men, Curtis says that he wants most to instill work, pride and faith in younger generations. To motivate his own son, much like his own father, Curtis began taking him out to clean chimneys and stack wood when he turned six.
He recalls when Curtis Jr. went off to college. As he visited, he asked his son if he owned a belt because Curtis Jr. was letting his pants slide like boys today tend to do. Curtis pointed out that owning the belt did nothing unless it was used. He said that people would judge his appearance before they knew him so it was important to always be a leader, not a follower.
Subsequently he bought Curtis Jr. three suits (blue, gray and black). The suits were to wear for special events or job interviews. Eventually he proudly noted his guidance also helped positively influence the boy’s friends and teammates.
He cites his greatest accomplishments as exemplifying the benefits of hard work, being a strong and present father to his two children, Curtis Jr. and Cierra, and a loving “Pappoose” to his two grandsons. He is very proud that both children obtained college degrees, are successful in their professions and pursue advanced degrees.
Curtis Sr. has been an active contributor to the Milam County community. He served on the Cameron school board, participated in PTA and coached young men in an annual Man Up Conference sponsored through his church.
His wishes to continuously inspire young men to pursue their dreams while being upstanding, strong community influencers. After over 30 years in business, Curtis still finds that he would like to be able to pass on his skills to others. Apprentices are hard to come by and per Curtis, building fireplaces and serving people is an art. People’s lives are at stake and everything has to be done exactly right.
He still values that gift of a strong firm handshake and a personal conversation to gauge what people need.
As an African American male, Curtis Dudley Hoyle built his business out of an idea whose foundation was planted years ago in the heart of a small curly haired little boy, who gathered logs of wood for sale.
That idea became pieces of a dream, birthed into fruition, much like many of the African Americans who came before him.
Pieces of wood and square black boxes don’t look like much until restored and artistically arranged with fireplace inserts. And with that, cold empty spaces are transformed into warmth and beauty creating a legacy for years to come.
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