Charles D. Bruce was born near Goldthwaite, September 12, 1900.  His family moved to Kimble County in 1908, where his father, C. P. Bruce, bought the 700 Springs Ranch.  Leona Banister was born in Santa Anna, July 11, 1899, (see John R. Banister).  The two were married April 22, 1923, in Junction, and moved to Santa Anna in September, 1933.  Being ranch people, they bought over a thousand sheep and goats and leased the Shield Ranch west of town.   Their children were:

     (1) Margaret (1924) attended Incarnate Word and the University of the Americas in Mexico City and took her degree from Texas Tech and her M.A. from the University of Houston.  She is a teacher in the Houston schools.  Her husband, Tom Robin, (see Thomas Robin) of Santa Anna, is an Engineering graduate of Texas Tech and an executive with Houston Lighting and Power;

     (2) Evelyn (1929) attended John Tarleton College, took a B. A. from Sul Ross University and an M.A. from St. Mary's in San Antonio.  She is librarian at Uvalde Junior College and her husband, Jack Kingsbery of Santa Anna, ranches and has a factory at Crystal City (see Kingsbery Family).  Their children are Ann Womack of Phoenix, Bob of San Antonio, Kay Bell of Bellville and Bruce of Crystal City;

     (3) Barbara (1932) attended John Tarleton and Howard Payne University.  She is editor of the Santa Anna News and business manager of the Brown County Gazette.  Her husband, Tom Kingsbery, ranches near Santa Anna (see Kingsbery Family).  Their children are Sue Porter of Round Rock, whose husband, John, is a consultant with IBM at Austin, and Carol, an attorney with the Texas Railroad Commission in Austin.

     Bruce became a breeder of Beefmaster cattle, Angora goats and American Quarter horses, all registered.  His seven private Quarterhorse sales were at Goldthwaite, Waco, Fort Worth and Shreveport, the last in 1966.  He is a charter member of the Coleman Rodeo Association, and belongs to other farm and ranch organizations.

     Leona Bruce was active in the Parent-Teachers Association, Library Board, Red Cross, United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Texas Federation of Women's Clubs.  She has been president of the Self Culture Club, the Edwards Plateau and West Texas Historical Associations and for six years was chairman of the Coleman County Historical Commission.  She has published seven books of Central Texas history.  The Bruces are Baptists.