When Alvin Basil Avant was born on March 27, 1913, in Bokchito, Oklahoma, his father, Theodore, was 31 and his mother, Lydia, was 28.

Alvin worked on the Avant farm in Millet and played Harmonica on weekends at a bar in Gardendale, Texas, where he met Lizzie. He married Margaret Elizabeth "Lizzie" Marley on October 21, 1934, in La Salle, Texas. They had 5 children in 17 years.

He died on February 2, 1996, in Cotulla, Texas, at the age of 82, and was buried in La Salle, Texas.

Alvin continued to read the Christmas story to his grandchildren, great grands and great great grandchildren every Christmas up until his death. Alvin was also a licensed Methodist Minister but Lizzie told him she didn't think that was the kind of life she wanted to live.