Robert M. Moore filed two (2) lawsuits and personally tried the final suit which took seventeen (17) days over a six (6) week period and culminated in winning an injunction against the City of Galveston and the Galveston Wharves Board from removing the present shrimp fleet from the Historic Pier 19 berth, April 1976.

Fritiofson v. Alexander, 772 F.2d 1225 (1985)
U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit

Bob Moore filed a "pro-bono" suit in 1978 because of Eva Fritiofson's commitment to save the area formerly owned by her grandfather, John Egert on Eckert's Bayou. This suit was against the United States Corps of Engineers, the developer of Pirate's Beach Subdivision on West Galveston Island, and other Federal agencies, to require the completion of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) prior to the development of the Laffite's Cove Subdivision on Eckert's Bayou on Galveston Island, because of the threatening damage to the flora and fauna of this unique wetlands area.

A Preliminary Injunction was obtained in 1978, and after years of research, Public Hearings, presentations of expert testimony, both sides finally submitted Motions for Summary Judgment. The Plaintiffs' finally won a Temporary Injunction in U.S. Federal District Court on March 2, 1984. (Click Here for Exhibit A: The Houston Post, Sunday March 11, 1984, "Environmental attorney triumphs over army of Goliaths.) That injunction was appealed, the legal principals sustained, and was then reversed only in part for technical clarification of the record in 1985 by the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. A new permit application was then submitted by the developer. Because of the substantial favorable changes which were made to the original plan, which included the expansion of the "Reserve Area" from 8 acres to 35 acres, the developer was forced to save the major portion of the largest known burial ground of the indigenous people on the Texas Coast, and the only remaining group of the three historic "oak motts" known since the early 1800's as "The Three Trees."

This Reserve Area is now historically designated as The Laffite's Cove Nature Preserve. The developer was also required to complete and publish an in-depth and detailed analysis of the archaeological finds in this Reserve Area, which had been summarily avoided before. This archeological data and the recovered artifacts point to this as the same area where Cabeza de Vaca lived with the indigenous people between 1527 and 1531. This island he named "Malhado." de Vaca's report to the King of Spain titled "La Relation," is highly recommended by Bob Moore to any persons interested in learning of the spiritual impact of Cabeza de Vaca's faith on people almost 500 years after his stay on West Galveston Island. (Click Here for Exhibit C: Opinion dated August 19, 1999 by Bob Moore - "De Vaca was the true first hero of Texas.")

There are several translations of "La Relation." The most easy to read and highly acclaimed version is Cyclone Covey's translation entitled "Adventures In the Unknown Interior of America," published by the "University of New Mexico Press," 1720 Lomas Boulevard, N.E., Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87131-1591, phone 1-800-249-7737. This publication's Epilogue by Professor William T. Pilkington gives the essence of the tremendous contribution made by this courageous Spaniard whose impact is of epic proportions on the lives of many people.

The more serious student of history will find this book fascinating. Also, recently released by Maya Vision International is their new film that will be shown in the coming year of 2101 on most PBS stations entitled "Conquistadors" (www.mayavisionint.com). A portion of the segment of the epic story of Cabeza de Vaca entitled Episode 4: "All the World is Human," was filmed at Bob Moore's home, featuring Dr. Sammy Ray of Texas A & M University who explains how Cabeza de Vaca and the indigenous people survived during the winter months on a diet of oysters and the "nuts" on the roots of the plant known as a "Cat-tail." These oysters shown in the film were collected along the shoreline by Bob's home, and local historian and professional biologist Kenny James was able to forage and collect the "Cat-tails" that made the script authentic and complete.

Bob Moore is also interviewed in this film at the Historic Site of "The Three Trees." This short segment on the site of the historic "Three Trees" is located on the ridge of the site actually visited by Cabeza de Vaca in 1527. This is now a part of the Lafitte's Cove Nature Preserve. This place was the first contact by any European in the whole continent of North America. The survival of Cabeza de Vaca and a few other Spaniards at this place could not have happened but for the compassion and intervention of the indigenous people (Karankawas). His survival and continued contact with the indigenous people of the Southwest effected a spiritual transformation in this "seeker of wealth" that is fully revealed in his later report to the King of Spain entitled "La Relation." That report accelerated the expedition of Coronado and others into the Southwest and over to California.

"Through the years, and up until 1987, neither myself nor others had any appreciation of the work that had been done by the archaeologists on this ridge. In 1987, I stumbled across a report of the Texas Historical Commission that made a singular reference to the possibility that evidence might be found on this site that would corroborate Cabeza de Vaca's first contact on the Texas Coast at this place.

My pursuit of learning all that I could find out about Cabeza de Vaca was, in large measure, God's way of bringing me back to my faith. I was profoundly struck, overwhelmed, and encouraged by the raw persistence that Cabeza de Vaca exemplified in his ordeal.

I picked up Cyclone Covey's translation of Cabeza de Vaca's report and read it over and over again, many times. The Epilogue of Professor Pilkington at the back of this book had a particularly powerful impact on me, as it explained a similar transformation which was then taking place in my life, out of my own personal struggles and suffering.

That was the beginning of the renaissance of my return to the Faith. As I began to really understand Christ's message "to embrace the pain" of life, I began the enclosed documentation of the references in Cabeza de Vaca's journal, where he has made it absolutely clear that, the source of his power was his Faith in Christ. I now have faith that through prayer, if it is truly God's will, and not my own, some day this land will be preserved and, among other facilities, have a Chapel erected in honor of Cabeza de Vaca." (Click Here for Exhibit E: "The Source of Cabeza de Vaca's Survival - Quotes from "Adventures in the Unknown Interior of America" published by the University of New Mexico Press, 1720 Lomas Boulevard, N.E., Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87131-1591, phone 1-800-249-7737.)