TEXARKANA MAGAZINE
I n 1939, Texarkana was still fighting to recover from the Great Depression. While projects funded through the Works Progress Administration helped provide jobs and infrastructure, local leaders knew the region needed something far greater to secure long-term economic stability. In response, the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce assembled a group led by Robert Maxwell to pursue federal defense-related opportunities tied to America’s growing military preparations ahead of World War II. Their initial goal was modest: to attract a project that could create at least 100 jobs. What followed would far exceed anyone’s expectations, permanently reshape Texarkana, and establish one of the nation’s most important military industrial complexes. Texarkana’s effort gained momentum through the influence of Senator Morris Sheppard and Congressman Wright Patman, both powerful advocates for the region in Washington, DC. Chamber representatives traveled to the nation’s capital and met with military leaders, including Secretary of War Henry Stimson. For nearly two years, Texarkana leaders provided detailed studies regarding transportation, labor, utilities, geography, and natural resources while Army officials quietly evaluated potential sites across the region. Regional and federal leaders gathered at Red River Army Depot on December 3, 2025, to highlight the installation’s continued impact on military readiness and economic growth.
Then came the breakthrough. The federal government announced plans for a $45.5 million facility capable of producing 100,000 artillery shells per day in Bowie County, followed shortly thereafter by a neighboring munitions supply depot. Construction began at extraordinary speed. Originally called the Texarkana Ordnance Depot, the installation later became Red River Army Depot (RRAD). Over 22,000 construction workers flooded the area to build the depot and its supporting infrastructure. During World War II, the Depot became a critical logistics and maintenance hub supporting Allied operations around the globe, including the Normandy invasion. The installation expanded rapidly into tank repair, vehicle maintenance, storage, and troop training operations. Adjacent to the Depot, the Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant emerged as another major wartime operation, producing artillery shells, bombs, fuses, and other munitions that supported American military efforts throughout World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The military complex transformed Texarkana’s economy, population, infrastructure, and identity. Entire neighborhoods, businesses, and transportation systems grew around the installation.
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BUSINESS & POLITICS
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