Joseph V. Frnka, born in Industry, Texas, built a home here in 1906. A self-taught lawyer, Frnka was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1915. A business leader, he was active in the local Masonic Lodge and helped found the Columbus Lions club. In 1923-1927 he represented this area in the Texas House of Representatives. He practiced law locally and in 1945 was appointed assistant state attorney general. Following World War II he served as a prosecutor and judge with the U.S. military government in Germany. Frnka later served as chief title examiner of the Veterans Land Board in Austin.