West Texas Book Festival

"Lone Star Historian 2" is a blog about the travels and activities of the State Historian of Texas during his second year. Bill O'Neal was appointed to a two-year term by Gov. Rick Perry on August 22, 2012, at an impressive ceremony in the State Capitol. Bill is headquartered at Panola College (www.panola.edu) in Carthage, where he has taught since 1970. For more than 20 years Bill conducted the state's first Traveling Texas History class, a three-hour credit course which featured a 2,100-mile itinerary. In 2000 he was awarded a Piper Professorship, and in 2012 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Wild West Historical Association. Bill has published over 40 books, almost half about Texas history subjects, and in 2007 he was named Best Living Non-Fiction Writer by True West Magazine. In 2013 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree by his alma mater, Texas A&M University - Commerce. 

Friday morning Cookbook Workshop

The West Texas Book Festival was launched in Abilene in 2001. The founder and chairman of the Festival is Glenn Dromgoole, author of nearly 30 books, former editor of the Abilene Reporter-News, syndicated columnist of “Texas Reads,” and a member of the Texas A&M Journalism Hall of Honor. Glenn and his lovely wife Carol own the Texas Star Trading Company – The National Store of Texas. The popular downtown book store also features a tempting array of Texana gifts.

Friday lunch crowd

The West Texas Book Festival is strongly supported by the Abilene Public Library and by the Friends of the Library organization. The Festival is a week-long event –Monday through Saturday – held each September. Additionally, each spring Glenn Dromgoole and the Abilene Public Library conduct a Texas Author Series. A few years ago Glenn invited me to the Texas Author Series, and I provided a lunch program at the Library on what then was my most recent book, The Johnson-Sims Feud: Romeo and Juliet, West Texas Style. This book was published in 2010 by the University of North Texas Press as Number 9 in their A.C. Greene Series. Greene was a legendary West Texas writer, and for the West Texas Book Festival, the author of the year would be presented the A.C. Greene Award. Indeed, the 2001 Award was presented by Greene himself, to another legendary West Texas author, John Graves. Later recipients included such superb authors as Elmer Kelton, Sandra Brown, John Erickson, Mike Cox, Don Graham, and Stephen Harrigan.

Friday lunch program

A few months ago I was contacted by Glenn Dromgoole with the astounding news that I had been selected as the 2015 recipient of the A.C. Greene Award. I personally knew some of the previous recipients, and of course I was familiar with the work of all of them. I felt that I was not in their league, but of course I was elated and proud to become a member of the A.C. Greene Award company. In addition to my response at the Awards Luncheon, I was asked to be part of two other programs.

With Bill and Gayla Neal

The week before the Festival, I had a delightful phone interview with Janet Van Vleet, a reporter for the Abilene Reporter-News. She wrote an excellent article that was featured, along with a color photo, in the Sunday Reporter-News, which came out the day before the 2015 Festival began. Each day an inexpensive lunch was provided at the library, and one or more authors offered programs about their most recent books. On Thursday evening a “Texas Cookbook Gala” was held at the Abilene Country Club. On Friday morning a workshop, “Write Your Own Cookbook,” was provided at the library.

For the Friday lunch session I presented a program on my most recent book, Texas Gunslingers, while Roger Moore gave a PowerPoint on his new book of Texas history cartoons, Texas Our Texas. On Friday evening Karon and I were part of a small dinner party hosted by Glenn and Carol Dromgoole at the excellent Cypress Street Restaurant downtown.

The Texas Star Trading Post

On Saturday the Festival moved to the Abilene Civic Center. Beginning at nine o’clock, “Conversations” were held with seven Texas authors. Their entertaining interviews were held on a stage in front of a large and responsive audience. My “Conversation” was the final interview, which was expertly conducted by Jay Moore, an Abilene author and history teacher. During our half hour Jay touched a lot of bases with me, but I was pleased that he gave good coverage to the office of State Historian.

Friday night author dinner with: (L to R) Barbara Brannon,
Mary Sprecht, Penny Klostermann, Glenn and Carol
Dromgoole, Karon, and Kay Ellington.

Following the interviews we gathered in the vast ballroom for the annual Boots and Books Luncheon. We enjoyed a delicious barbeque meal, and the event featured a lively performance by the exciting Cowboy Band of Hardin Simmons University. The crowd exceeded 300, and I was enormously impressed by the powerful support extended by the Abilene community to the West Texas Book Festival. Glenn Dromgoole introduced featured authors Penny Klostermann, Jay Moore, Mary Helen Specht, Barbara Brannon and Kay Ellington, who each offered remarks. I was announced as the 2015 recipient of the A.C. Greene Award by City Librarian Lori Grumet, who provided an introduction which I greatly appreciated. In my response I tried to express my deep gratitude for the A.C. Greene Award, which was represented by a handsome painting created by H.C. Zachry, a noted Abilene artist and an accomplished businessman. Following a book signing, Karon and I headed for home, talking non-stop about the courtesies that were extended to us during one of the most exciting events of my tenure as State Historian.

For more information:
www.abilenetx.com/apl
https://texasstartrading.com

Saturday Conversation with Jay Moore

Hardin Simmons Cowboy Band

Introduction by Lori Grumet.

Note the stage decorations for the Boots & Books Luncheon

With Glenn Dromgoole and the H.C. Zachry painting

Hillsboro

"Lone Star Historian 2" is a blog about the travels and activities of the State Historian of Texas during his second year. Bill O'Neal was appointed to a two-year term by Gov. Rick Perry on August 22, 2012, at an impressive ceremony in the State Capitol. Bill is headquartered at Panola College (www.panola.edu) in Carthage, where he has taught since 1970. For more than 20 years Bill conducted the state's first Traveling Texas History class, a three-hour credit course which featured a 2,100-mile itinerary. In 2000 he was awarded a Piper Professorship, and in 2012 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Wild West Historical Association. Bill has published over 40 books, almost half about Texas history subjects, and in 2007 he was named Best Living Non-Fiction Writer by True West Magazine. In 2013 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree by his alma mater, Texas A&M University - Commerce. 

Hillsboro is a picturesque and historic town that is well worth a visit by history buffs. My wife Karon and I pass through Hillsboro from time to time, and I can never resist at least driving by certain favorite sites.

Old County Jail, 1893

The splendid Hill County Court House opened in 1890 and it remains one of the finest examples of “Texas Court House Gothic” from the Victorian Era. There was a devastating electrical fire in 1993, and the interior damage was severe. But donations poured in from across Texas and from other states, as well as from abroad. Willie Nelson, whose home town of Abbott is only a few miles to the south, staged two fund-raising concerts. Today the restored structure looms magnificently above the Hillsboro square.

Old Rock Saloon, 1878

Just north of the square stands the Hill County Cell Block Museum. Housed in the two-story county jail built in 1893, the museum displays county history exhibits and Willie Nelson memorabilia. On the south side of the square stands a structure built in 1878 as the Old Rock Saloon. Nearby is the brick T.B. Bond Pharmacy, erected in 1881 and proclaimed as “Texas’ Oldest Pharmacy.” Indeed, throughout the downtown business district stand vintage commercial buildings.

Oldest pharmacy in Texas, 1881

The Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center is headquartered in the handsome restored MKT “Katy” passenger depot. Originally placed between two sets of railroad tracks, the depot was designed with two front facades and, therefore, no back door. Inside I was greeted by Rachal Cox, Chamber Executive Assistant, and by Cleo Young Davis, a volunteer docent whose family roots trace back to the pre-Civil War beginnings of Hill County. I was escorted through the interior of the depot, which included meeting rooms and historical photos and artifacts. Rachal and Cleo were most helpful and cooperative, and they provided me with a rich collection of brochures.

Rachal Cox (left) and Cleo Young

Col. Harold B. Simpson, a professor of history at Hill College on the eastern edge of town, began a museum on campus in 1963. Colonel Simpson was a military historian who wrote the most complete biography of Audie Murphy. He sponsored an annual Civil War symposium and donated his impressive historical collections to the museum. The original Hill College Library has been converted to the Texas Heritage Museum, which I twice have utilized for book projects. The museum’s mission statement reads, “The Texas Heritage Museum’s mission is to explore Texas and Texans during wartime and how those experiences affect us today.”

For more information:

www.hillsborochamber.org

mainstreet@hillsborotx.org

museum@hillcollege.edu 

Cowboy Symposium

"Lone Star Historian 2" is a blog about the travels and activities of the State Historian of Texas during his second year. Bill O'Neal was appointed to a two-year term by Gov. Rick Perry on August 22, 2012, at an impressive ceremony in the State Capitol. Bill is headquartered at Panola College (www.panola.edu) in Carthage, where he has taught since 1970. For more than 20 years Bill conducted the state's first Traveling Texas History class, a three-hour credit course which featured a 2,100-mile itinerary. In 2000 he was awarded a Piper Professorship, and in 2012 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Wild West Historical Association. Bill has published over 40 books, almost half about Texas history subjects, and in 2007 he was named Best Living Non-Fiction Writer by True West Magazine. In 2013 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree by his alma mater, Texas A&M University - Commerce. 

Since the 1990s I’ve had the pleasure, in various years, of presenting programs at the National Cowboy Symposium and Celebration, held each September in Lubbock. Each Symposium features the National Championship Chuck Wagon Cook Off. On Sunday mornings, following a Chuck Wagon breakfast, Cowboy Chuck services are conducted.

Cowboy entertainment was available indoors and outdoors.

Monica Hightower, Executive Director of the Symposium, has invited me to provide a program each year that I’ve been State Historian. For 2015, Monica asked me to present programs on both Friday and Saturday, the two days which feature presentations. During the past two years, Monica has asked me to provide programs on blood feuds which involved ranchers or cowboys, and these presentations on range violence have proved popular. This year, therefore, I developed a program on cattle range violence: “Gunfighting Cowtowns of Texas.” Tascosa, known as the “Cow Capital of the Panhandle,” also could have been branded the “Gunfighter Capital of the Panhandle,” with 10 fatal shootouts during the 1880s. Fort Worth, known universally as “Cowtown,” had its share of gunplay, including the classic shootout between former city marshal “Longhair Jim” Courtwright and gambler/gunman Luke Short. Fort Worth’s red light district, known as “Hell’s Half Acre,” was a site of frequent conflict, and the West’s premier assassin, Killin’ Jim Miller, headquartered in Cowtown. Trail town Lampasas was the location of numerous saloon shootings during the 1870s, as well as the Horrell-Higgins Feud of 1877. Pecos, which proudly claims to be the home of the world’s first rodeo, saw street fights featuring Killer Mller, and the Orient Saloon – now a museum – hosted a shootout which produced two fatalities. The most noted gunfights in San Antonio – staging area for countless cattle drives – both involved Ben Thompson of Austin. Waco, adjacent to the Chisholm Trail, saw enough gunplay to earn the nickname, “Six Shooter Junction.” There were many “Six Shooter Junction” in Texas cattle country.

With Alvin Davis, Founding Father of the
Lubbock Cowboy Symposium

Audience for my first two presentations

This presentation took up most of the allotted hour, but many members of the audience lingered to visit or buy books. I had agreed to participate on a “Western Authors Panel” during the next hour, and people interacted in this topic began to enter the room. Dusty Richards, an accomplished author who recently served as President of the Western Writers of America, was scheduled to head this panel. It turned out that Dusty and I were the only members of the panel, and at the last moment I was informed that he was ill and unable to come to Lubbock. So I announced that I would be the only panelist, but that I had presented at many writers conferences in the past and I hoped that I could provide material that would be of interest. Most of those who had attended the “Gunfighting Cowtowns”: program decided to stay, and we had a large crowd. I related my experiences and techniques as a writer. We shared Q and A, along with a lot of laughter, and the “panel” turned out to be a success.

There was a great variety of exhibitors.

The horse training session was held at an indoor arena.

One of those who attended both sessions was Alvin Davis, Founding Father and longtime Executive Director of Lubbock’s cowboy Symposium. Alvin, now 88, first invited me to the Symposium in the 1990s, and I was delighted to see him. Indeed, he provided an impromptu introduction for me at the “Gunfighting Cowtowns” program.

The screen behind me was lowered for my PowerPoint
illustration of the XIT Ranch.

Alvin again was present on Saturday morning, when I presented a program on “The XIT – Largest Ranch of the old West.” The three-million-acre XIT was organized by the Capital Syndicate, which agreed to build a magnificent new State Capitol (completed in 1888) in exchange for vast acreage I the Texas Panhandle. When I suggested this topic to Monica Hightower, I was surprised to learn that the story of the XIT had never been told at the Cowboy Symposium. A large crowd assembled to hear this epic tale of the ranching frontier. Two decades ago, while putting together a book, Historic Ranches of the Old West (published by Eakin Press in 1997), I visited each of the XIT’s eighth division headquarters sites, the XIT Museum in Dalhart, and the XIT finishing range in Montana. It was a privilege to describe the vast XIT ranching operation to the Cowboy Symposium audience. And it was a privilege as State Historian of Texas to play an active role in Lubbock’s 27^th Annual National Cowboy Symposium and Celebration.

For more information: http://www.cowboy.org/

Alvin Davis and I are with Jane Pattie, an author/
photographer who will be inducted into the
National Cowgirl Hall of Fame in November.

Part of the audience at my XIT program

DRT Tyler

"Lone Star Historian 2" is a blog about the travels and activities of the State Historian of Texas during his second year. Bill O'Neal was appointed to a two-year term by Gov. Rick Perry on August 22, 2012, at an impressive ceremony in the State Capitol. Bill is headquartered at Panola College (www.panola.edu) in Carthage, where he has taught since 1970. For more than 20 years Bill conducted the state's first Traveling Texas History class, a three-hour credit course which featured a 2,100-mile itinerary. In 2000 he was awarded a Piper Professorship, and in 2012 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Wild West Historical Association. Bill has published over 40 books, almost half about Texas history subjects, and in 2007 he was named Best Living Non-Fiction Writer by True West Magazine. In 2013 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree by his alma mater, Texas A&M University - Commerce. 

Two of several Lone Star flags - as well as a vintage auto -
may be seen at Dorothy Newberry's house.

On Thursday morning, September 3, I had the pleasure of meeting with the Tyler chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. I was invited by chapter member Mary Frances Payne Murphy, who has deep family roots in the settlement of early Texas. Mary Frances grew up in Carthage, where her father was president of the First State Bank and Trust Company and a community leader. Her husband is Foster Murphy, a World War II veteran and an accomplished businessman. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy are the parents of three sons and long have maintained a keen interest in the community affairs of Carthage and Panola College.

We pledged allegiance to the U.S. and Texas flags.

Indeed, years ago Mr. and Mrs. Murphy created the Murphy-Payne Foundation to provide a history lecture series for Panola College. The Foundation was generously funded, and when I would encounter Foster Murphy from time to time, he urged me to let him know if there were any history projects that needed additional support. In 2012, when I informed Dr. Gregory Powell, President of Panola College, of  my pending appointment as State Historian of Texas, he immediately offered to establish my office on campus. And when I told Dr. Powell that the position of State Historian carried no state funding, he promptly contacted Mr. and Mrs. Murphy.  Without hesitation they graciously agreed to provide travel support from the Murphy-Payne Lecture Foundation. The college assigned an account to me, and for three years my travels and appearances as Texas State Historian have been funded by the Foundation. I am indebted to this generous, history-minded couple who have made possible the far-ranging schedule I have maintained as State Historian.

The September meeting of the Charles G. Davenport Chapter of the DRT was held at the Tyler residence of a member, Mrs. Dorothy Newberry. I drove onto the designated street and started to look for house numbers – and when I spotted a yard full of Lone Star flags, I knew that I had found the meeting place. Just as I parked, Mary Frances Murphy drove up, and we walked to the front door together. The meeting was scheduled for ten o’clock, but we had arrived early – and so had everyone else! 

With Chapter President Mollie Jacobs (left) and
First Vice-President Johnnie McWilliams

The DRT ladies were enjoying refreshments, and they were most cordial as I met and conversed with everyone. Following an invocation and pledges to the United States and Lone Star flags, I was introduced as Texas State Historian. As is my custom with DRT chapters and other history organizations of Texas, I took a moment to describe the office of State Historian and how it came into existence. I pointed out that the office is unfunded by the state, but that Mary Frances and Foster Murphy have provided me with support through their foundation. I knew that Mary Frances was too modest to have mentioned the Murphy-Payne Foundation, much less the travel assistance that she and her husband have provided. I wanted the DRT ladies to know that travel funding for the State Historian is provided by one of their chapter members, and they responded with spontaneous applause. 

My program was about Margaret Houston, the Southern belle from Alabama who became the third wife of Texas icon Sam Houston. Margaret was First Lady of the Lone Star Republic, First Lady of the State of Texas, and mother of eight children. After the program I answered questions about Margaret and about Sam’s first two wives. Afterward the business meeting was opened, but Mary Frances and I slipped out to drive to the Murphy home, which is just across the road from Hollytree Country Club.

My delightful lunch companions: Mary Frances,
Ryan, and Foster Murphy

The Murphys graciously hosted me for lunch in the Hollytree dining room, and we were joined by their granddaughter Ryan, who lives and works in Tyler. Foster asked if I had any new books in progress, and I told him that Sam Houston, A Study in Leadership is scheduled for release this spring. Mary Frances related that her great-grandparents had a farm about 10 miles west of Huntsville, and that Sam Houston occasionally visited. When he spent the night, he slept with Mary’s grandfather, who was only nine or ten. I announced that my book will be dedicated to the Murphys, with gratitude for their generous support of my efforts as State Historian.

Bookend Propgrams

"Lone Star Historian 2" is a blog about the travels and activities of the State Historian of Texas during his second year. Bill O'Neal was appointed to a two-year term by Gov. Rick Perry on August 22, 2012, at an impressive ceremony in the State Capitol. Bill is headquartered at Panola College (www.panola.edu) in Carthage, where he has taught since 1970. For more than 20 years Bill conducted the state's first Traveling Texas History class, a three-hour credit course which featured a 2,100-mile itinerary. In 2000 he was awarded a Piper Professorship, and in 2012 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Wild West Historical Association. Bill has published over 40 books, almost half about Texas history subjects, and in 2007 he was named Best Living Non-Fiction Writer by True West Magazine. In 2013 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree by his alma mater, Texas A&M University - Commerce. 

Heritage House

During July my wife and I took an eight-day trip, traveling more than 1,100 miles while I functioned as State Historian. We had stops in Hillsboro and Abilene before attending the annual meeting of the Caprock Cultural Association. I had been invited to provide a program on Texas Gunslingers, the subject of my most recent book. The invitation came from Rosa Latimer, owner of Ruby Lane Book Store in Post, where I’ve had the pleasure of participating in program/signings for certain of my books. Rosa told me that at this event the program for the Caprock Cultural Association usually is presented by an artist or musician. But this year the ladies wanted me to bring my guns and gun rigs and offer a program that their patient husbands would enjoy.

Garza County Museum

The Tuesday evening event was held at the two-story Heritage House which is next door the Garza County Museum. The museum is housed in the 26-room hospital built by C.W. Post in 1911 for the town he founded. The Heritage House is located in the nurses’ dormitory erected by Post. There was an excellent refreshment table, and we had time to visit with old friends such as Linda Puckett, director of the Garza County Museum, and County Judge Lee Norman, a strong supporter of community activities. During my presentation about gunfighting in Texas I emphasized the state’s last blood feud, the Johnson-Sims Feud, which involved a number of local and area participants. The audience enjoyed the program and there was a brisk signing afterward.

Karon and I spent the next four days in Amarillo, site of the 2015 Roundup of the Wild West History Association. There were more than 200 participants and we took a memorable field trip to the remote site of the 1864 and 1874 battles of Adobe Walls. I was privileged to present two programs and to participate in an Adobe Walls panel, and the 2015 WWHA Roundup provided me with material for two blogs in July.

On Sunday immediately after the Roundup, Karon and I drove to Van Alstyne for a visit with my youngest daughter Causby and her family. Causby was of invaluable assistance to me a few years ago when I put together a book on Van Alstyne for Arcadia Publications, which specializes in community books with as many as 200 photos. Causby and I both were aided by Tracy Luscombe, director of the Van Alstyne Public Library, and Tracy staged a well-attended progam/signing to introduce the book to the community.

At Greensville's public library

Library PR

Tracy now is the director of the W. Walworth Harrison Public Library in Greenville, and by coincidence she invited me to speak on the popular Texas Gunslingers topic on Monday evening. Karon and I spent Sunday night with Causby and her husband and our two granddaughters, before leaving after lunch on Monday for Greenville. At the library we were greeted by Danny Puckett, Adult Services Librarian, and we had plenty of time to set up before the six o’clock program. It was pleasure to see Tracy, and her advertising attracted a nice crowd. The program ended early in the evening, and we were less than three hours away from home. After eight days on the road we were ready to drive home. As we drove toward Carthage I thought about the curiosity of beginning and ending more than a week of State Historian appearances with the same program.

With Danny Puckett

With Tracy Luscombe

The Leonard Historic Museum

I should add that prior to arriving in Greenville we experienced an interesting historical adventure in Leonard. When we left Van Alstyne we had most of the afternoon to make the one-hour drive to Greenville. Therefore, when we arrived in Leonard I drove around the big town square to the First Methodist Church, a picturesque Victorian building which I had previously toured. Then we went back to the square and stopped at the Leonard Pharmacy, which advertised an old-fashioned soda fountain. As we enjoyed our ice cream treats, I wandered around looking at the collection of historic photos of the town. When I remarked that I wished the community museum on the square was open, our friendly hostess insisted in calling Rex McCreary, who often drove into town to show the museum. By the time I finished my float and walked across the street Rex had arrived. I handed him a State Historian card, and he eagerly explained the holdings. Housed in two adjacent old commercial buildings, the museum offers an excellent collection of  photographs and artifacts about Leonard. Meanwhile, Karon stayed in the drug store to phone a former student, Kelly Alexander Blackerby. Although Kelly was out of town, her husband Scott soon met Karon at the Leonard Pharmacy, where they were joined by Scott's brother, Mark Blackerby. Both are Leonard community leaders, and they crossed the street to the museum to meet me. I was treated with warm hospitality by everyone, and I told them that I would describe the historical attractions of Leonard in my blog. There is much to experience about this historic little cotton-farming town, and the visit can be topped off by a stop at a delightful old soda fountain.

With museum curator Rex McCreary

An interior view

Leonard's Dodson-Manton College, 1890-1914