Thursday, March 24, 2016

LUC Lecture Series

"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.


Radio station KMHT in Marshall.

Dr. Van Patterson, Director of the Longview University Center, invited me as State Historian to deliver a public address at the 2016 Lecture Series of his institution. I told him about the planned March 1 release of my latest book, Sam Houston: A Study in Leadership. Van embraced the idea of a book signing and program at the Longview University Center, and we scheduled the event for Thursday evening, March 17.
Mark McLain in his KPXI studio in Henderson.

Van and I were colleagues at Panola College for several years, before he was appointed Director of the LUC. Van is energetic and industrious, and he is highly skilled at generating publicity. Colorful flyers were widely distributed, there were newspaper articles, and two half-hour radio interviews were scheduled. Two days before the LUC event, I drove to Marshall for a morning program at KMHT-Radio. I was interviewed by James Duncan, an alum of Sam Houston State University, who added a great deal to the session.

The next morning I was in Henderson at the studios of KPXI-Radio. Mark McLain interviewed me for “The Road Show” from 8:30 to 9 AM. Mark is a native of Houston, and on days off he often had lunch at the San Jacinto Battlefield. He was enthusiastic about my book about Sam Houston, and we enjoyed a lively conversation over the air about Houston.

The next afternoon Karon and I drove to the Longview University Center. We were greeted by Van and members of his staff, who helped us carry in books and program props. By the time we had set up a book table and the props, early arrivers were beginning to find seats. I spoke with almost everyone, expressing my gratitude for their presence. There were citizens who regularly have attended these events, and a number of friends. A large group of early admission students from Kilgore College had come, and it was a pleasure to visit with these young men and women. I’ve taught such students at Panola College for more than three decades, and I was delighted to visit with them.

With Dr. Van Patterson and Mark McLain.


By 6:30 the crowd numbered over 100. Van introduced me, sand I spoke for nearly an hour about one of the most iconic figures in Texas history. The entire presentation was videotaped. (See link below.) The audience was warm and responsive, and the students busily took notes to satisfy an assignment that would benefit their history grades. Afterward there was more visiting and a lot of book signing. For the State Historian it was a wonderful evening at the Longview University Center.


To view program, click on this link:   https://youtu.be/gsFpnf4c13o 

For more information: 
https://www.uttyler.edu/luc/ 
Showing the San Jacinto battle flag.






Monday, March 14, 2016

Premier Week #2

"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.
 
At Navarro College
Several months ago I addressed the Cross Timbers Library Association during its annual conference on the campus of Texas A&M University at Commerce. Immediately afterward I met Dr. Tim Kevil, Dean of Libraries at Navarro College. I graduated from Navarro in 1962, and for a number of years my daughter, Dr. Shellie O’Neal, has directed Navarro’s drama department. Indeed, Shellie’s closest friend on the faculty is Beverly Kevil, Tim’s wife. During my conversation with Tim he spoke of current budget restrictions, especially regarding the Navarro library. I offered to provide his library an address as State Historian, as an alum, and as a native of Corsicana. There would be no charge, not even travel expenses.
With Dr. Tim Kevil
After gaining approval from his administration, Tim called with an invitation for me to provide a program about Sam Houston at a signing event hosted by the library. Tim informed me that there had never been an event of this kind at Navarro, and for a date we agreed upon Tuesday evening, March 8, 2016.
With Dr. Shellie O'Neal
On that date I arrived at Navarro at mid-afternoon, setting up my book table and arranging my program props. I had time to take Shellie to an early dinner before changing to a suit and returning to campus. The audience was impressive: deans and other administrators, key faculty members, board members, and a large number of interested citizens, including Navarro County Judge H.M.  Davenport (whose wife, Carole, a college staff member, assisted me in setting up during the afternoon). The audience was quite receptive to my program about Sam Houston, and while refreshments were being served, I had the pleasure of inscribing a large number of books on the campus where I had enrolled as freshman 46 years earlier. Tim Kevil was highly satisfied with the event – I was ecstatic!

With the History Club of East Texas
Two evenings later, on Thursday, March 10, Karon drove with me to Longview for the monthly meeting of the History Club of East Texas. A few members are active or retired professional historians, but the great majority of the club membership is compiled of men and women with a strong interest in history. Meetings are held in a dining room at Jason’s Deli. I’m a member and I provide at least one program per year, and it’s always enjoyable to eat and socialize with fellow history buffs. Over 50 club members crowded into the dining room, and as always they provided an ideal audience for a history speaker.
With author and syndicated columnist Van Craddock

With Marine veteran and Kilgore College history teacher
David Stroud, a founder of the History Club

At the Newcomers Club meeting
The next morning, following two programs in three days on Sam Houston, I drove to Tyler to offer a feminine variation. I had been invited by Betty McFarland to present a lunch program to the Newcomers Club of Tyler. Since 1950 this organization has offered friendship and fellowship to new female residents of the Tyler area, although many ladies maintain their membership for years. Currently there are 222 members, and attendance on March 11 exceeded 100. The meeting was held in the spacious fellowship facilities of Tyler’s First Christian Church. The ladies spend the first couple of hours of each meeting playing table games and enjoying refreshments. At the end of the morning a catered lunch is served, followed by a business session which features prizes for winners of the various table games.

At FBC Mount Enterprise Fellowship Hall
A program concludes the meeting. My presentation on Margaret Houston has been popular with many women’s groups, but these groups – mostly DRT chapters – by definition have an interest in history. The Tyler Newcomers Club is a large and successful social organization, and many members are newcomers not just to Tyler but to Texas. Nevertheless, the women in the audience appeared to find immediate interest in the compelling and dramatic story of the lovely Southern belle who charmed and, to a considerable degree, tamed Sam Houston. The love story of Sam and Margaret has broad appeal.

Introduced by Rev. Joe Orr
I was in another church the next night at an all-male meeting. On Saturday evening, March 12, the First Baptist Church of Mount Enterprise conducted its annual banquet for men and boys. The event originated as a hunter’s feast, featuring meat killed and cooked by FBC hunters, along with traditional side dishes and desserts. Rev. Joe Orr asked me to provide a suitable program, and I turned to a presentation I put together a couple of years earlier for a Cowboy Church service. There were strong elements of cattle ranching and cowboys – certainly Texas icons – along with religion and church music on the cattle frontier, as well as in other rural settings of early Texas. I utilized a number of cow country props, and I concluded with the story of L.R. Millican, a young cowboy who found religion at a camp meeting and who became known as the “Cowboy Preacher,” spreading the gospel and founding churches throughout West Texas.

At FBC Mount Enterprise I enjoyed fellowship and delicious food, and I hope the audience enjoyed my story. I had been recommended to Joe Orr by former students and friends, and it was a great pleasure to renew my acquaintance with them.

Monday, March 7, 2016

Premiere Week

"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. 



It was an honor to introduce my new book – Sam Houston, a Study in Leadership (Fort Worth: Eakin Press) – at a trio of events, each on dates important to Texas independence. On Tuesday, March 1, I discussed Sam Houston 180 years to the day that 59 Texas patriots met at Washington-on-the-Brazos to open an independence convention. Houston was one of the 59 delegates, and that night a committee wrote a declaration of independence from Mexico. At noon on March 1, I greeted a large crowd that gathered at the Panola College Library. Librarians Cristie Ferguson and Sherri Baker planned and publicized the event, and Sherri created a superb Houston art gallery from more than 70 images I collected for the book. Panola College provided lunch for those who attended the “Lunch Box Lecture” about Sam Houston. I was introduced by Cristie Ferguson, and after my program there was a lively book signing.

Set-up for the Panola College Library program.
During my program I explained how the book was conceived. Shortly after my appointment as State Historian in 2012, I was invited by Joan Marshall, Director of the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, to deliver a public lecture on “Leadership Qualities of Sam Houston.” The program was so well received that I began to present versions of it to various other groups. Response was enthusiastic and I began to develop a book with focus on the leadership gifts and accomplishments of this Texas icon. Billy Huckaby of Fort Worth, head of Eakin Press and the Wild Horse Media Group, agreed to publish Sam Houston, A Study in Leadership. Through great effort and admirable expertise, the publisher released the book in time for the introductory events of March 1,2, and 6.
Introduction by Head Librarian Cristie Ferguson



Introduction in Dallas by Dr. Berri O'Neal.
A couple of hours after the Panola College lecture and signing, my wife Karon and I were driving toward Dallas, site of the next day’s event. Our daughter, Dr. Berri O’Neal-Gormley, is Executive Director of Extended Education for Teas A&M University at Commerce. As Executive Director, Berri is headquartered at the downtown Dallas campus of TAMUC, a site that she directed for several years. She has decided to initiate a “Mini-Lecture Series” on the several Extended Education sites of TAMUC. Berri asked me, as State Historian of Texas, to initiate the Mini-Lecture Series at the Dallas campus. We decided to coordinate the event with the introduction of my book on Sam Houston, offering a public lecture and signing on March 2, Texas Independence Day, which also is Houston’s birthday. TAMUC provided excellent publicity, which included an interview over KETR, the university radio station.

Berri and her staff outdid themselves with Texas decorations, including flags and posters from my  collection. A Texas barbecue lunch was catered by Dickey’s. People began to arrive by 11:30, and many of them took tours of this sparkling new TAMUC facility. My brother took a day off from his business in Carrollton, and many other former students and friends of mine added to the crowd. Because it was a lunch hour event I shortened and changed the presentation, especially since the occasion took place on Texas Independence Day. And I was privileged to sign numerous books before and after the program.
With my "little brother" Mike.

Karon was with me at all three events during the week.

Introduction by Dr. George Larson.
Part of the crowd at the Bosque Museum.
Four books were purchased by R.G. Joy, a banker and an avid Texas patriot. Mr. Joy traveled from Waco for the Dallas event, even after he had arranged for me to provide a public lecture and book signing at the Bosque Museum in Clifton just four days later, on Sunday, March 6. At the Bosque Museum Karon and I were met by museum director George Larson. It was my fourth appearance through the years at the Bosque Museum or, just eight miles away, at the superb Victorian Bosque County Courthouse in Meridian. I had met many friends with a fervent interest in Texas history, and the museum auditorium was filled by two o’clock. After a gracious introduction by George Larson, I reminded everyone that not only were we gathered on March 6, Alamo Day, but that the Alamo fell on a Sunday morning 180 years ago.

I presented the 45-minute program on Sam Houston that I delivered six days earlier, at Panola College. There was a strong interest, followed by a 15-minute Q and A session. The questions continued during the book signings, and there were extended farewells to Mr. and Mrs. R.G. Joy and many others – including three Corsicana High School mates of mine. David Megarity and Mike Erwin have attended each of my Bosque County appearances, along with David’s wife Sue. Sue and I started first grade in the same classroom at Robert E. Lee Elementary in Corsicana, and we both attended First Baptist Church. We’ve been friends since 1948, while David and Mike and I were CHS Tiger teammates. Their presence meant a great deal to me.
Bosque book signing.


Karon and I began our 210-mile drive home about four o’clock (Karon had Monday morning math classes at Panola College). We had been together during the three events that introduced the Sam Houston book, and we began talking about the upcoming week, which holds four State Historian events in five days. But my second term as State Historian expires on October 22, just over seven months away, and I am enjoying and savoring every event, every appearance shared with fellow Texas history enthusiasts.