Russell Dargel
I just heard from my Grandmother that Russell Dargel died yesterday. If you have any knowledge of the history of South Texas boat making, then you know the crucial role Dargel Boats in Donna, Texas, played since the 1930’s.
Dargel Boats is the oldest same family owned boat maker in the United States, and has catered to the unique needs of boaters along the Gulf Coast for seventy years. Jack plates, scooters and other innovations owe at least part of their existence to Mr. Dargel as his boats and technology constantly evolved over the years to deliver a more successful shallow boat to demanding fishers of the Lower Laguna Madre.
Mr.Dargel was a close friend of my Grandfather, Reeves Russell, for many years and remained a friend of my Grandmother at John Knox Village in Weslaco, Texas, until his death.
It’s hard to know what to say about such a legend except that when I shook his hand, I felt every boat he had made in the meat of those huge hands, and yet I have a delicately scroll sawed clock he made sitting on my fly tying desk. Strong hands, an eye for the details, and the ability to not just do the heavy lifting but the fit and finish as well.
Thoughts go out to the family of Russell Dargel, and we respectfully say goodbye to another of the Greatest Generation.
Category: Life Observed
Mr. Dargel was one of the finest Christian men I had the privilege to know. Serving with him at FBC-Weslaco was indeed a blessing. And like many others, his gift of a hand-made wooden pen/pencil set, my wife’s Noah necklace with animals included will keep him alive in our hearts. I will miss him a lot also.
I am Russell Dargel’s daughter-in-law, Connie, and Corey Dargel’s mom. Thank you for your beautiful words. At his home as we sat grieving, we looked all around us and saw every wall has things that he made from animals to clocks. We began to laugh with joy, because he will never really be gone. Hundreds of people have something that he has made for them. We were blessed to have him so long, and we miss him so much as we look at his chair and don’t see him there.
Thank you Corey. Our Grandfathers were good friends.
I am Russell Dargel’s grandson, Corey. He was “Granddaddy” to me. I wanted to thank you for writing this touching tribute. We miss him very much.