"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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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!
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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.
