On Sunday, November 13, I drove to Marble Falls in the Hill
Country and to the nearby Horseshoe Bay Resort. From November 13 through
November 16, Horseshoe Bay hosted the annual conference of TACRAO, the Texas
Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. TACRAO boasts a
statewide membership of 1,300 men and women from the higher education
institutions of Texas. Almost 700 members attended the 2016 Annual Conference
because the organization was formed in 1916, and the Horseshoe Bay meeting was
a celebration of TACRAO’s centennial. There were delightful social activities
interspersed throughout scores of professional meetings and presentations.
 |
| With TACRAO President, Darla Inglish of Midwestern State University, at Horseshoe Bay Resort |
 |
| Horseshoe Bay Resort, site of the Texas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers 2016 Annual Conference |
I was honored by an invitation to provide an appropriate
program, “A History of Education in Texas,” with focus upon colleges and
universities. I previously had participated in TACRAO Annual Conferences in
Dallas (2012) and El Paso (2013), but it was a special privilege to present historical
background at TACRAO’s Centennial.
I was introduced by my daughter, Dr. Berri O’Neal, a Past
President of the organization and a popular presenter. Indeed, Berri provided
three presentations at Horseshoe Bay. I slipped into the back of a packed
presentation room to watch her lively PowerPoint program on “EmPOWERing Women
TOgetHER.” More than 80 ladies (and a few men as well) took notes and photos
and phone recordings as I proudly watched her command an audience of upwardly
mobile career women.
 |
| With daughter, Berri O'Neal, who is a TACRAO Past President |
For my introduction, Berri placed a PowerPoint slide
onscreen with my family gathered in the Governor’s Reception Room at the State
Capitol with Gov. Rick Perry, who had just sworn me in as State Historian in
2012. The audience broke into applause as they recognized Governor Perry and
Berri and me, and the roomful of educators thereafter were highly responsive to
my remarks. When I began talking about the origin of sports in Texas I used old
leather football helmets and other athletic artifacts. Several audience members
afterward wanted photos while they wore the helmets or held up old jerseys and
antique hip pads.
 |
| With Melissa Gallien of Lamar University, a fellow Texas history buff and former VP of TACRAO |
My TACRAO program was late on Monday morning, and I soon
departed Horseshoe Bay for a 210-mile drive to Dallas. I stayed at a downtown
hotel in Big D, because I was scheduled to arrive at Old Red Museum at eight o’clock
the next morning. The Texas State Historical Association, Old Red Museum and
the Region 10 Education Service Center combined to sponsor one of the Exploring
Texas Workshops which are periodically opened to Texas History teachers at
locations around the state. I have
provided keynote or luncheon programs at these TSHA workshops throughout my
four years as State Historian. We held a workshop at Old Red a couple of years
ago, and the former Dallas County Courthouse is a superb location for a history
conference. The magnificent Victorian structure, built of red sandstone in
1892, now serves as a county history museum and conference site (and
picturesque wedding location).
 |
| Old Red Museum, site of the TSHA Conference |
Charles Nugent, Adult Program Manager for the TSHA, arranges
site locations and speakers. This conference, scheduled for Monday and Tuesday,
November 14-15, covered the period 1836 to 1900. Charles lined up more than 30
speakers, including Dr. Stephen Hardin, Dr. Carolina Castillo Crimm, and
award-winning author Dr. Andrew Torget. I was asked to provide a program on Sam
Houston from 8:30 – 10:00 on Tuesday morning. I was delighted to have enough
time to discuss the iconic Houston in detail to a roomful of Texas history
teachers. Afterward, it was gratifying when several teachers came to me with
their notes and asked for specific information they had missed. Two great
audiences in two days at two excellent conferences – a truly rewarding
assignment for a State Historian.
 |
| With Charles Nugent, Adult Program Manager for TSHA |
 |
| With Dr. Andrew Torget |
