THE TEXIAN The Official Publication of The Sons of the Republic of Texas
VOL VII NUMBER 3 JULY 2014 201ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF MEDINA The public is invited to attend the 14th annual ceremony commemorating the 201st anniversary of the bloodiest battle in Texas history! The Battle of Medina occurred on August 18, 1813, between the Royal Spanish Army and the Republican Army of the North when between 800 and 1,300 Americans, Tejanos, Indians, and Spanish soldiers died in this all but forgotten battle which historians have named the Gutierrez-Magee Expedition. Since August 18th is on Monday this year, we will hold our normal commemorative ceremony beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 16, 2014 under the large oak trees on Old Applewhite Road. We will have a Color Guard representing the U.S.A., Spain, Texas and Mexico, plus descendants of the men who fought and died in this battle. Due to the heat, we will try to keep this ceremony as short as possible, and adjourn to the nice cool Church of Christ located at 1003 North Main Street in Pleasanton, Texas beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, August 16, 2014, courtesy of Norman Porter, Atascosa County Historical Committee Chairman, and his church. Our speakers this year, including Robert Thonhoff, teacher, Administrator, County Judge, and award winning author; Frank de la Teja, PhD. the former State Historian from Texas State University; and our feature speaker, Dr. Caroline Castillo Crimm, Ph.D., Sam Houston State University History Department. The Battle of Medina was between approximately 1,800 men in the Royal Spanish Army and approximately 1,400 men in the Republican Army of the North, which included Spaniards, Tejanos, Native Americans, and men from the USA. In fact we have identified 5 men who fought in the American Revolution who were involved in some way in the Gutierrez- cont. pg. 3
PRESIDENT GENERAL’S MESSAGE Our Texas, accompanied by the Deer Bryant, KSJ, Chairman of the SRT Park High School band. Texas Essay Contest and I presented Ron Stone Jr. was the emcee and did the awards to the two recipients who a great job. The main speaker was the were there at the ceremony. They were Texas State Historian, Dr. Bill O’Neal. first place winner Austin Ackerman He gave a unique twist to the battle and second place winner Hunter Corb; which was very interesting. Denton third place winner Margot Brose, who cont. pg. 3 Robert Kendall, KSJ WHAT’S INSIDE Battle of Medina ...... 1, 3 Since the last time I wrote you, I Texian Navy Day ...... 7 President General’s Message ....1, 3 have been to another wonderful San Chapter News ...... 8, 9 Janet’s Korner ...... 2 Jacinto Day with a great crowd and Hospitality Update ...... 3 In Memoriam ...... 9 nice weather. It started with the sing- September Registration ...... 4 New SRT Members ...... 10, 11 Lecture Series ...... 5, 6 Calendar of Events ...... 12 ing of our National Anthem and Texas EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE JANET’S Korner 2014 - 2015 By: Janet Knox Administrative Assistant email: [email protected] %IGHTH 3TREET s "AY #ITY 4EXAS (979) 245-6644 s 4HE NEXT 1UARTERLY -EETING IS 3EPT Stagecoach- Inn; P.O. Box 97- #1 Main Street, Salado, TX 76571; (254) 947-5111 or (800) 732-8994, cutoff date is August 13, 2014, Rates: Standard Upstairs $69. Standard downstairs $80., Jacuzzi $100. Poolside $120., all plus tax. s 9OU CAN VIEW h4HE 4EXIANv NEWSLETTER ON THE WEBSITE FOR FREE 9OU MAY ALSO PURCHASE h4HE 4EXIANv AND IT will be mailed to you for a fee of $20.00 this year. If you would like it to be mailed please send the fee to the National office. Left to right front row: David Stone, Chaplain General; Bob Steakley, First s 4HE EDITOR WELCOMES ALL SUBMISSION OF NEWS ARTICLES Vice President General; Robert Kendall, KSJ, President and photos for The Texian. Please submit electronic General, Edward A. Heath. Second Vice President Data using the following guidelines. 1. Submit text in General; and Janet Knox, Administrative Assistant. WORD document format; articles may be edited due to space limitations. 2. Submit photos as separate Left to right back row: attachments in .jpg,/eps, or .tif format. Caption for Kenneth W. Pfeiffer, Treasurer General; David Hanover, each photo or after the article’s text. Identify the KSJ, PPG, Executive Committeeman; Joe R. Davidson, placement of people (e.g. L to R, center, front row, KSJ, Executive Committeeman; William D. back row, etc.), with a corresponding key that matches Power, Secretary General; Randy Pollard, Historian the name of the file attachment (e.g.) file name Photo 1, General. Photo 2, etc.) Please limit the number of photos submitted per article. DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES s 4HOSE MEMBERS THAT HAVE NOT PAID THEIR DUES ARE 2014 - 2015 now considered delinquent and must pay a $50.00 reinstatement fee plus the $40.00 dues fee for the CURRENT YEAR 9OU CAN MAIL OR GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO PAY your dues with PayPal. s 0LEASE NOTE THAT ANY APPLICANTS FOR MEMBERSHIP IN the SRT must have 3 signatures of recommending SRT members. There has been a problem with the signatures from chapters, if the applications are not signed and I have to send the application to the chapter, it may take up to an additional month to receive them back at National Office. Please let us remember to fill out the application completely and save us all $$$ on postage. It is not necessary if the applicant lives out of state, but every applicant should affiliate with a chapter. This does not mean that they Left to right front row: will have to attend meetings. Application must be Arthur O. Evans, Gulf Coast District; Bob Steakley, typed and notarized and don’t forget the check. Frontier District; William D. (Buddy) Power, North East s ) WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE ARTICLES AND PICTURES District; and Ronald W. Brown, San Jacinto District. you are sending for your newsletter; they have been '2%!4 ) NEED 9/52 HELP WITH ARTICLES AND PICTURES Left to right back row: If your chapter has or will be celebrating any events Tom Gann, Piney Woods District; Tim Gibson, North PLEASE email me at: [email protected]. I will be Central District, John W. Knox Post Oak District, and submitting the October issue for publication; the John Meredith, Lone Star District Representative. (Not deadline for submissions is September 23, 2014 shown, Jim Massingill, Heart Of Texas District; and George Nelson, Brazos Valley District.) 2 cont. from pg. 1 201ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF MEDINA Magee Expedition, with only one Patriot of the American Revolution, Peter Sides having been proven to have fought in the American Revolution and also fought and died in the Battle of Medina. Direct descendants of Peter Sides are eligible for membership in the DAR, the SAR, the DRT and the SRT, and descendants directly related to any of the 3,200 men who fought in this battle are eligible for membership in the DRT and the SRT. Over the past 14 years the SAR, DAR, SRT, DRT, Mayflower Society, the Daughter of the War of 1812, and descendants of the men who fought here have dedi- cated markers to the men who fought and died in this battle, and these descendants will rededicate their markers at the Saturday morning ceremony under the large oak trees. Everyone interested in history is invited to attend.
Signs will be placed where you turn to the west off Highway 281 onto the Old Pleasanton Road about 15 miles south of San Antonio. Signs will also be placed where Bruce Road branches off Old Pleasanton Road to the west. Signs will also be where Old Applewhite Road where it branches off Bruce Road to the west, but for additional directions, contact Tom Green at [email protected] or 713-340-1965. cont. from pg. 1 PRESIDENT GENERAL’S MESSAGE lives in Wyoming, was unable to attend. Sam Houston IV recited the battle report of that day. On a sad note Sam also told everyone that this would be his last time to be at San Jacinto Day; he will be greatly missed. On May 30th, I was privileged to be at the meeting of the Fayette County Historical Association in LaGrange. The guest speaker was Tom Green, KSJ. His subject was the Battle of San Jacinto and the San Jacinto Monument. As usual Tom had many interesting facts about both. There was a lady in the audience this year, who told us that when she was a little girl, she was at the monument when it was being built. The quarterly meeting on June 7th, at Bastrop was well attended. I want to thank everyone who traveled to central Texas to participate. Two upcoming events we need to remember: First is the quarterly meeting at Salado on September 12 & 13; the second is Texian Navy Day on September 20th. I hope that everyone can attend one or both of these events. God Bless Texas.
HOSPITALITY UPDATE
For some years, there has been concern about the liability of SRT providing liquor at the Hospitality Room. The trans- portation of open bottles and the conflicts with hotel contracts is also a concern. Therefore, at the Bastrop quarterly meet- ing, with the agreement of the members in attendance, the Executive Committee decided that until further notice, for all h (OSPITALITY 2OOMSv MEMBERS WILL BRING THEIR OWN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES 4HE (OSPITALITY #OMMITTEE WILL CONTINUE TO provide the set-ups, beverages, and appetizers.
3 The Sons of the Republic of Texas September Quarterly Meeting
Stagecoach Inn, P.O. Box 97- #1 Main Street. Salado, TX 76571, 254-947-5111; 1-800-732-8994
Schedule of Events Friday, September 12, 2014
5:00 p.m. Hospitality Room – Rm. # 135- Ronald W. Brown, Chairman 7:00 p.m. Dinner- In the Garden Room of the Stagecoach Inn
Saturday, September 13, 2014
8:30 a.m. Executive Quarterly Meeting (all members are welcome but may not vote) ______I will attend the Executive Committee Meeting on Saturday
************************************************************************************************************************** September Reservations
You’re pre-registration for the Friday night dinner is REQUIRED. The charge for dinner will be $35.00 per person. Please choose from the following items and the number of each.
Entrees: #______Grilled Salmon, #______Fried Shrimp, #______Sugar Baked Ham, #______6oz.Filet Mignon
Appetizers: #______Shrimp cocktail, #______Fresh Fruit cocktail
Salads: #______Tomato Aspic, #______Fresh Fruit w/Poppy seed dressing, #______Green Salad w/Dressing
Desserts: #_____Vanilla Ice Cream w/Strawberries, #______Vanilla Ice Cream w/Sherry Chocolate Sauce
#_____Famous Stagecoach Kiss, #_____ Fudge Pecan Pie, #_____French Lemon Pie, #____ Sherbet
Please include your check with your registration. Thank You.
_____ I will attend the Hospitality Room. How many? ______@ $ 5.00______
_____ I will attend the dinner on Friday. How many? ______@ $35.00______
Attendees: ______
Please return this information by August 22, 2014 SRT Office: 1717 8th Street, Bay City, TX 77414; Phone 979.245.6644; Email: [email protected]
4 TEXAS HISTORY LECTURE SERIES CONTINUES AT LONE STAR COLLEGE-TOMBALL
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In the spring 2014, The Sons of the Republic supported and arranged for one of the best and most enjoyable Texas His- tory Learning experiences available to Seniors age 50 and up. Through the efforts of Denton Bryant, KSJ, Chairman of the Texas History Lecture Series, the following educators, speakers, entertainers and re-enactors participated. On February 19, 2014, Dr. Lisa Morales, Dean of Instruction at the college, presented a colorful PowerPoint show which highlighted the relations of Texas with the United States during the Civil War and the leadership of President Abraham Lincoln. Dr. Morales explored the role Texas played prior to and during the Civil War as well as considerations of the 16th President of the United States which related to the Lone Star State. The tensions surrounding the Civil War consumed the nation. The State of Texas was in the midst of finding its place as a new state in the Union and became a place of refuge for Confederate leaders. Not all Texans agreed with the separation of Texas from the Union and joining the Confederacy. Governor Sam Houston opposed secession from the United States but Texas joined the Confederacy and became a key supplier to the armed forces representing the Southern States. On February 26, 2014, K.R. Wood, a native Texas singer, songwriter, historian and musician educated the audience and entertained them with songs from the Fathers of Texas CD Series. It is a collection of songs and narration of Texas storied HISTORY WHICH IS CONSIDERED A LANDMARK IN 4EXAS MUSIC (IS LATEST #$ TITLED h$AVY #ROCKETTS &IDDLE 0LAYS /Nv WAS RE- corded live in the Alamo with the Davy Crockett Fiddle from the Witte Museum. This is an honor and privilege that only K.R. Wood has been given. K.R. Wood wears a coonskin cap and Indian jacket while he plays a guitar during this enter- taining, educational and enjoyable show. +2 7OOD BEGAN HIS ACTING CAREER AT THE AGE OF WITH A SPEAKING PART IN THE CLASSIC MOVIE h4HE ,AST 0ICTURE 3HOWv AND APPEARED IN h5RBAN #OWBOYv h4EXASVILLEv AND h(OTWIREDv /NE OF HIS LATEST #$S h4EXASVILLE -EMORIESv WAS A WELCOME ADDITION TO HIS SINGING PERFORMANCE AND HE HAD THE AUDI- ence singing along with him during the entire show. It was a wonderful combination of country and western, western swing, blues and traditional country. One of the most unexpected and unforgettable highlights was the addition of a recitation of the famous Travis Letter by Historian and Re-enactor Jack Edmondson. Combining the skills of both K.R. Wood and Jack Edmondson was one of the most enjoyable experiences by the audience. 4O FOLLOW +2 7OOD THE AFTERNOON OF &EBRUARY THE AUDIENCE ENJOYED A h6ISIT WITH 4HE $UKEv 4HEY MET THE
cont. pg. 6
Jack R. Edmondson, Honorary Member SRT, K.R. Wood, entertaining with his guitar as John Wayne known as the “Duke”. and wearing his coonskin cap.
5 cont. from pg. 5 TEXAS HISTORY LECTURE SERIES CONTINUES AT LONE STAR COLLEGE-TOMBALL MOVIE HERO *OHN 7AYNE ALSO KNOWN AS h4HE $UKEv AS PORTRAYED BY *ACK 2 %DMONDSON HISTORIAN AND AUTHOR OF h4HE !LAMO 3TORY FROM %ARLY (ISTORY TO #URRENT #ONmICTSv $RESSED AND TALKING LIKE *OHN 7AYNE -R %DMONDSON AMAZED the audience with his rendition of the life of John Wayne. Speakers like Jack Edmondson, Honorary Member of the SRT and K.R. Wood have made the Texas History Lecture Series the most popular and well attended program of the Academy for Lifelong Learning at Lone Star College –Tomball.
Denton Bryant, KSJ, K.R. Wood and Jack Edmondson after the Texas History Lecture Series.
SRT LOGO JACKETS
The Lone Star Chapter is selling light weight Jackets, with the SRT logo on the back, for $90. If a personal name is desired on the front of the jacket it can be added for $5 more. Jackets are avail- able in sizes small to 5XL, and are made to order. Shipping is extra. To order, or for more information contact Fred Mead at [email protected].
6
2014 Texian Navy Day
Honoring The Texian Navy
Saturday, September 20, 2014 11:00 AM
Battleship Texas USS TEXAS – BB-35
Battleship Texas State Historic Site 3523 Independence Parkway South La Porte, Texas 77571
Ceremony organized and hosted by: The Sons of the Republic of Texas
SRT sponsored by: The Battleship Texas Foundation With assistance from the staff of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
Contact: Ronald W. Brown / 713 621 5660 / [email protected] (www.srttexas.org for additional details)
7 COMBINED SRT & DRT PILGRIMAGE TO THE ALAMO
The Alamo Chapter Sons of the Republic of Texas members are joined by members of the Travis chapter in a combined participation in the Daughters of the Republic of Texas “Pilgrimage to the Alamo” on April 21, 2014.
SRT BOOK EXCHANGE & CIRCULATING LIBRARY
This program started in 2008 and has been underutilized for a few years. We would like to see the program reactivated. The reasons this program started are:
s A MEMBER HAS A 4EXAS HISTORY BOOK THAT HE NO LONGER NEEDS OR WANTS s RATHER THAN PLACING IT IN A GARAGE SALE OR OTHERWISE DISPOSING OF IT THE MEMBER BRINGS IT TO A 324 quarterly or annual meeting; s A FRONT PIECE IS PROVIDED BY 324 ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE BOOK HAS BEEN DONATED BY THE MEMBER s ANY MEMBER INTERESTED IN THE BOOK TAKES IT HOME TO READ AND RETURN AT THE NEXT QUARTERLY OR ANNUAL meeting, hopefully bringing some of his used Texas history books to donate to the library; s THE 324 #IRCULATING ,IBRARY CAN WORK AT THE CHAPTER LEVEL TOO FOR CHAPTERS MEETING ON A REGULAR BASIS a chapter president could request a small supply of the frontispiece labels from the SRT Headquarters and promote the program at chapter meetings, encouraging chapter members to bring their unwanted Texas history books to the next chapter meeting and put them into circulation within the SRT.
Each donated book becomes the property of The Sons of the Republic of Texas, and will be used in a circulating library, available during quarterly and annual meetings.
If you need a label for your book, please contact Janet at the office. Labels will be available at quarterly and annual meetings.
8 ALAMO CHAPTER WELCOME PHIL COLLINS
Members of the Alamo Chapter SRT welcomed singer Phil Collins to the Alamo as he announced the donation of his extensive collection of Texas Revolution artifacts to the people of the state of Texas. Ken Pfeiffer, Joe Weathersby, Tom Foster, Jimmy Peet, Edward Heath, Chris Lancaster, George Harcourt, John Meehan, Tommy Wood and Al Davis cheered the announcement of the donation along with the announcement of a long term project to house the collection and efforts by the General Land Office to enhance the Alamo experience. Ken Pfeiffer presented Mr. Collins an Alamo Chapter Presidential Medal to recognize his contribution to Texas history. Mr. Collins had been made an honorary member of the Alamo Chapter in 2008. George Harcourt presented gifts from the chapter to honor the occasion.
In Memoriam Name Chapter Hometown
Rubin Steele Frels 16 Victoria, TX James Donald Giuffré 38 Houston, TX J. Martin Green 28 Beaumont, TX James E. Raney 19 Nacogdoches, TX Robert H. Welder II 16 Victoria, TX William Geoffrey Wheeler 16 Victoria, TX ,T #OL -ICHAEL * 9NDO 53!& 2ET 3AN !NTONIO 48 Charles Michael Lusk, Jr. 1 Houston, TX John Edward Manton 53 Chewelah, WA Andy Jerome Zumwalt, Jr. 6 Alvin, TX
9 NEW SRT MEMBERS
Name Chapter Ancestor Hometown Lance Kenton Bailey James Herny Bailey McGregor, TX Chayson Rogers Comfort James Cope Waits Plano, TX Larry Lee Fuller Francis Walter Capps Grand Junction, CO James Rawls Williams Bailey Washington Anderson Colorado Springs, CO Michael Allen Lemen 1 William Washington Hawkins Houston, TX Paul Edward Powell 1 W.H. Stone Houston, TX Joseph Richard Day 6 Thomas Collins Lake Jackson, TX Jarrett Alston Oliver 7 John Willis Leander, TX *OHN *ARRETT h"UDDIEv /LIVER *OHN 7ILLIS 3AN 3ABA 48 Patrick Christopher Featherling 8 Richard West Allen, TX Jonathan Allen Freier 8 James Gotcher Flower Mound, TX Herbert James Bilhartz 12 Francois (Franz) Joseph Bilhartz Hutto, TX Gregory James Bilhartz 12 Francios (Franz) Joseph Bilhartz Round Rock, TX John David Harris 12 James M Rankin Austin, TX Kerry Martin Lacy 12 Stephen Prather Elgin, TX James Christopher Weiler 12 Eli Clemens (Clement) Cedar Park, TX Paul Wayne Wilson 12 Sara Jane Wilson Central, SC Milton Barry Hendler 14 Joseph Monroe Fitzgerald Uvalde, TX Mark Lawrence Nichols 16 Margaret Theresa Robertson Wright Fredericksburg, TX Peter Bolin Mahaffey, Jr. 17 Isaac Harrier Mahaffey Corpus Christi, TX
10 NEW SRT MEMBERS
Name Chapter Ancestor Hometown David Lewis Billingsley 18 Duncan St. Clair Keithville, LA John Westly Waldrop, Jr. 33 Ann Ranney Hemphill, TX 'ERALD 7ILBURN 3HANKS $AVID h$AVYv #ROCKETT &REDERICKSBURG 48 Michael Louis Bilhartz 37 Francois ( Franz) Joseph Bilhartz Herndon, VA Jeffrey Wade Dockery 40 Matthew Dockery Boerne, TX Ted Edwin Dockery 40 Matthew Dockery San Antonio, TX Kirk Wayne Dockery 40 Matthew Dockery Floresville, TX Gilberto S. Garcia, Sr. 40 Andres Garcia San Antonio, TX Henry James Ortega 40 Mateo Casillas Kerrville, TX Hector Rafael Pacheco 40 Jose Pacheco Floresville, TX James Allen Strain 40 Dr. George Tribble Allen Marquette, MI William Lee Bennett 47 Rev. John Wesley DeVilbiss Weatherford, TX Michael James Pryor 50 John L. Marshall New Braunfels, TX Louie Edward Adams 52 James Adams Murchison, TX *EROME +ENNETH &INDLEY )) 4HOMAS #RUTCHlELD ,OYD .EW 9ORK .9 Jonathan Kyle Findley 52 Thomas Crutchfield Loyd Houston, TX Lee Ernest Bernhoft 58 Bartlett M. Hall Oak Ridge North, TX George Donivan Conaway, Jr. 58 Cpt. John English Crockett, TX Caleb Stephen Masengale 58 Eleazer Louis Ripley Wheelock Trinity, TX
11 Calendar of Events 2014 Quarterly Meetings Sept. 12-13, 2014 Stagecoach Inn; P. O. Box 97, #1 Main Street, Salado, TX 76571; (254) 947-5111 or (800) 732-8994; August 13, 2014 cutoff date. Rate: Standard Upstairs $69, Standard Downstairs $80, Jacuzzi $100, Poolside $120, all plus tax Dec. 5-6, 2014 Hampton Inn & Suites, 7006 N. Navarro, Victoria, TX 77904; (361) 573-9911; November 18, 2014, cutoff date. Rate: $110+tax, 1 king or 2 queen size beds; free parking 2014 SRT Events March 2 Texas Independence Day March 6 Fall of the Alamo March 27 Goliad Massacre April 21 San Jacinto Day September 20 Texian Navy Day on the Battleship Texas October 2 Battle of Gonzales November 3 Stephen F. Austin’s Birthday (Father of Texas)
2015 Annual Meeting April 10-12, 2015 Sheraton Fort Worth Hotel and Spa, 1701 Commerce St., Fort Worth, TX, 76102, (817) 335-700, Rates: $119 + tax, cut off date March 24, 2015.
2014 QUARTERLY MEETING Sept. 12-13, 2014 Stagecoach Inn; P. O. Box 97, #1 Main Street, Salado, TX 76571; (254) 947-5111 or (800) 732-8994; August 13, 2014 cutoff date. Rate: Standard Upstairs $69, Standard Downstairs $80, Jacuzzi $100, Poolside $120, all plus tax
1717 Eighth Street Bay City, TX 77414 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Contact us at: SRT Office: www.srttexas.org Email: [email protected] 1717 Eighth Street, Bay City, TX 77414 Phone: (979) 245-6644 Fax: (979) 244-3819