Robert A. Eckels Audio-Visual Collection M024 (1985 - 2007)
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Harris County Archives Houston, Texas Finding Aid ROBERT A. ECKELS AUDIO-VISUAL COLLECTION M024 (1985 - 2007) Acquisition: Robert A. Eckels Accession Numbers: 2004.027, 2006.007, 2008.002 Citation: [Identification of Item], Robert A. Eckels Audio-Visual Collection, Harris County Archives, Houston, Texas. Creator History: Born March 14, 1957, in Houston, Texas, to Robert Young and Carolyn Bickley Eckels, Robert Allen Eckels came of age in a political environment. His father, Bob, served on the Houston Independent School District Board and later was elected as a Republican to Commissioner of Precinct 3 in Harris County. After graduating from the University of Houston, Eckels ran for election to the newly created District 133 in the Texas House of Representatives. He served six terms with distinction on the Environmental Affairs, County Affairs, Government Organization, State Affairs, and House Calendars committees. While serving in the legislature, he also attended law school at the South Texas School of Law and graduated with his Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1993. In 1994 Eckels defeated Democrat Vince Ryan in the race for Harris County Judge, replacing retiring Jon Lindsay. While in office he instituted organizational changes to the county government. He demonstrated his interest in the youth of Harris County with the establishment of the Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program, the funding of after school programs with the Harris County Department of Education and the Texas Workforce Commission, and opening the Children’s Assessment Center. The role of the Houston Sports Authority in the replacement of the Astrodome with NRG Stadium and building Minute Maid Park and the Toyota Center were important issues during his tenure as county judge. Eckels’s interest in Emergency Management culminated with all emergency agencies housed under one roof at Transtar. He also founded the Harris County Citizens Corps which trained volunteers to assist in disaster situations. In August 2005 when Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, Judge Eckels led the county in turning the Harris County Astrodome and Reliant Center into the largest shelter operation in United States Page 1 of 19 ROBERT A. ECKELS AUDIO VISUAL COLLECTIONS – MC024 history as over 250,000 Louisiana residents fled to the Houston area. He received numerous awards and accolades for his Katrina work. Four months after his reelection in November 2006, Eckels resigned to join the private sector and pursue his interest in High Speed Rail. He is married to Jet Winkely and they have one daughter, Kirby Rae. Collection Summary: Photoprints, photonegatives, digital images, and videos provide visual documentation of the political career of Robert A. Eckels 1985 to 2007. Of interest is his time in the Texas Legislature, political campaigns, Hurricane Katrina response, and documentation of Harris County government. Archivist’s Note: All records donated to the Harris County Archives by County Judge Robert Eckels have not been processed. Please contact the archives for access to additional records. Page 2 of 19 ROBERT A. ECKELS AUDIO VISUAL COLLECTIONS – MC024 Inventory Series: Photoprints and Photonegatives Size: 2.5 cubic feet Range of Dates: 1985-2006 Restrictions on Access: None Restrictions on Use: None Processed by: Susan Use and Sarah Canby Jackson, 2020 Scope and Contents Note: Photoprints and photonegatives document the professional and personal career of Robert A. Eckels 1985 – 2006 through political, family, and travel events. Of interest are professional photographs documenting Eckels’ tenure in the Texas State Legislature. Folder Title Date Location Politics – Legislature, Headshots, Campaign 1985 – 1986, nd 0049-P-01 Politics – Legislature, High School of Performing 1985 – 1991 0049-P-02 Arts, Austin, Travis County Politics – Legislature 1990 – 1992, nd 0049-P-03 Politics – Legislature 1991, nd 0049-P-04 Politics – Legislature – politicians nd 0049-P-05 Politics – Campaigning 1998 – 2001 0049-P-06 Politics – Fundraiser I 1994 0049-P-07 Politics – Fundraiser II 1994 0049-P-08 Politics – Headquarters Warming 1994, 09/07 0049-P-09 Politics – Candidate for County Judge 1994 0049-P-10 Politics – Election Night I 1994, 11/08 0049-P-11 Politics – Election Night II 1994, 11/08 0049-P-12 Politics – Swearing In 1995 0049-P-13 Politics – [Inaugural Party] 1995 0049-P-14 Politics – Party Politics Events Nd 0049-P-15 Politics – Tommy Thomas, Sheriff, Swearing In 1995, 03 0049-P-16 Page 3 of 19 ROBERT A. ECKELS AUDIO VISUAL COLLECTIONS – MC024 Folder Title Date Location Politics – Bill Bailey Roast 2006 0050-P-01 Politics – Christmas Cards 2001, nd 0050-P-02 County – State of the County 2000 – 2006 0050-P-03 County – Commissioners Court 1995 – 2004 0050-P-04 County – Staff 2000 – 2004 0050-P-05 Speeches / Events – Bootcamp Graduation, 1985 0050-P-06 Christmas Sing, Harris County Citizens Corps, Bill Jackson, unknown park, Harris County Sheriff, Unknown Swearing In Speeches / Events – Texas GOP, Harris County GOP 2000, nd 0050-P-07 Speeches / Events – Gound breakings, Tollway, 1994, 11/06 – 1998, nd 0050-P-08 Unknown, USS Nimitz Speeches / Events – Bob Eckels Award, Transtar / 1998 - 1999 0050-P-09 Metro, I-69 Alliance, Special Olympics Torch Run Speeches / Events – March of Dimes, E-Slate, Read 2000 0050-P-10 Across America Speeches / Events – Terrorist Task Force, UT Health 2001 0050-P-11 Sciences, Telemundo – CHIPS, Telemundo – Colonial Foundation, Suits for Santa, Kate Bell Elementary Speeches / Events – Barbara Bush Library Opening, 2003 – 2004 0050-P-12 Baylor CM, March of Dimes, China Airlines, Israel Independence, TCEQ Press Event Speeches / Events – Port of Houston, UHCL 2005 – 2006 0050-P-13 Speeches / Events – Today’s Vision for Literacy nd 0050-P-14 Alumni Awards, Jaycees, Society of American Military Engineers, HCC Robert A Eckels Scholarship winners Speeches / Events – Unknown nd 0050-P-15 Disasters – Flooding [Jim Fonteno, Steve Radack, 1998 0050-P-16 Art Storey, Flood Control] Disasters – Katrina – Astrodome 2005, 08 – 09 0050-P-17 Disasters – Katrina – Laura Bush visiting 2005 0050-P-18 Page 4 of 19 ROBERT A. ECKELS AUDIO VISUAL COLLECTIONS – MC024 Folder Title Date Location Disasters – Mobile Command Center 2002, post 0050-P-19 Headshots – Political 1997 – 2005 0050-P-17 Politicians – Rick Perry 2000 – 2003 0050-P-18 People – Henry Hyde, Karl Rove, Tom DeLay, Jerry 1999 – 2002, nd 0050-P-19 Eversole, Joe Steinbaker, unidentified People – Law Enforcement 2001, nd 0050-P-20 People – Friends and Family 1988, nd 0051-P-01 Personal – Headshots [Engagement] 1994, ca 0051-P-02 Political – Headshots 1994 – 1995 0051-P-03 Political – Headshots 2004 - 2005 0051-P-04 Political – Headshots 1997 – 2005 0051-P-05 People – Political, Miscellaneous 1985 – 2000 0051-P-07 People – Law Enforcement 2001, nd 0051-P-08 Flags – American / Texas 2000 0051-P-09 Contact Sheets 2004 – 2006, nd 0051-P-10 Travel – China nd 0051-P-11 Travel – China nd 0051-P-12 Travel – China nd 0051-P-13 Travel – State Visit – Russia, Saudi Arabia nd 0053-P-01 Travels – Hunting [Russia} 2001, nd 0053-P-02 Travels – Japan nd 0053-P-03 Travels – Japan nd 0053-P-04 Travels – Middle East nd 0053-P-05 Travels – Middle East, Paris nd 0053-P-06 Travels – Leisure 1997, nd 0053-P-07 Negatives – Eckels, Politics, Family Leisure, Flags nd 0053-P-08 Negatives – Travel, Japan, Party Politics nd 0053-P-09 Page 5 of 19 ROBERT A. ECKELS AUDIO VISUAL COLLECTIONS – MC024 Folder Title Date Location Negatives – signs, Harris County 1910 Courthouse nd 0053-P-10 Negatives – Miscellaneous 1982 – 2001, nd 0053-P-11 Negatives – Boy Scouts nd 0053-P-12 Negatives – travel, disaster nd 0053-P-13 Slides – Headshots, Capitol – Austin nd 0053-P-14 Legislative Photos (Matted 8 x 10 color prints) 1983 – 1993 0052-P-00 Group appreciation for work on SB80. Gov. nd 0052-P-01 William Clements, Robert A. Eckels Group book presentation including Gov. nd 0052-P-02 William Clements, Robert A. Eckels. House Committee on County Affairs, signed 1987 0052-P-03 by members House Committee on County Affairs, Robert nd 0052-P-04 A. Eckels, signed by Gary Thompson, committee chair. Robert A. Eckels, Dick Gebhardt nd 0052-P-05 Robert A. Eckels, Eddie Dela Jay on floor of 1991, 05 0052-P-06 Texas house. Robert A. Eckels, Eddie Dela Jay, signed 1991, 05 0052-P-07 Group, Robert A. Eckels, appreciation signed nd 0052-P-08 by committee chair Ray Keller Group, Gov. William Clements, Robert A. nd 0052-P-09 Eckels Group, Gov. William Clements, Gib Lewis, nd 0052-P-10 Robert A. Eckels, signed by group members Group, bill signing. William Clements, nd 0052-P-11 Robert A. Eckels Fishing Trip, signed. Robert A. Eckels, Frank nd 0052-P-12 _____, Gib Lewis, Barry ____, Paul H____ Page 6 of 19 ROBERT A. ECKELS AUDIO VISUAL COLLECTIONS – MC024 Folder Title Date Location Gib Lewis, Robert A. Eckels, signed. 1989 0052-P-13 Group. Robert A. Eckels, unknown, Gib nd 0052-P-14 Lewis, unknown Gib Lewis, Robert A. Eckels, signed nd 0052-P-15 County Affairs Committee. Gib Lewis, 1989 0052-P-16 Robert A. Eckels, chair, signed. 72nd Leg. Group - ENVAC. Robert A. Eckels, Robert nd 0052-P-17 Saunders, signed. Staff Photo. Robert A. Eckels legislative nd 0052-P-18 office Group. Robert A. Eckels, Mike Toomey, nd 0052-P-19 signed Group. Hunting Trip. Robert A. Eckels nd 0052-P-20 Group. Robert A. Eckels, Gene Green, john nd 0052-P-21 Gavin, signed Ballpark at Union Station signing. Drayton 1998, 06/17 0052-P-22 McLane, Unknown. Robert A. Eckels, Gerald Ford nd 0052-P-23 Series: Photograph Albums Size: 21 volumes Range of Dates: 1994-2006 Restrictions on Access: None Restrictions on Use: None Processed by: Susan Use 2020 Scope and Contents Note: Twenty-one photograph albums chronicle political events, official trips, and leisure activities of Robert A.