Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Bill O'Neal Hall

"Lone Star Historian" is a blog about the travels and activities of the State Historian of Texas. 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.

On a Monday evening last July I received a phone call from Dr. Gregory Powell, President of Panola College in Carthage. After we exchanged greetings, Dr. Powell informed me that he was in the midst of a board meeting at the college and the call was official. He explained that the board had just voted unanimously to name our new apartment dorm "Bill O'Neal Hall," and he asked my permission to use my name on the building.


My permission! I was profoundly grateful, and tried to say so. But I also was flabbergasted, and it was difficult to express my heartfelt appreciation. I joined the Panola College faculty in 1970, when I was still in my 20s, and for someone who has enjoyed a lengthy association with an institution of higher learning, the greatest honor that can be bestowed is for a college building to bear your name. Later that evening, when I had settled down a little, I articulated my gratitude in a letter to each board member and to Dr. Powell. The next morning I mailed the letters and went to Dr.Powell's office to express my thanks in person.
Dr. Powell welcomes the crowd.
Panola County Junior College was founded in 1947. When I arrived on campus in 1970, I was one of only 25 faculty members, while the student body totaled just 675. There was only one residence hall, a single-story athletic dorm that accommodated 28 young men. But in the decades since my arrival at Panola, the student population has more than tripled. In recent years Panola has been one of the fastest-growing colleges in Texas, with a commensurate need for residence halls. Two large dormitories were built, but after Dr. Powell assumed the presidency in 2000, he located a residence hall model at Navarro College in Corsicana. These halls were compact, two-story apartment dorms built to house 32 residents apiece. During the past few years Dr. Powell and the board have erected three apartment dorms, utilizing the same set of blueprints. But with the continued student body expansion, it was decided to double the size of the next apartment dorm by placing the blueprints end-to-end, thereby accommodating as many as 64 students.

This handsome new building was completed in mid-summer, in plenty of time for the fall semester. Occupants are scheduled to move into all dormitories on Saturday, August 24, prior to the start of classes on Monday, August 26. A few days before move-in day, on Wednesday, August 21, an Open House was staged to show off the newest addition to our growing campus.

Wednesday was clear, and by ten o'clock a large crowd gathered outside the new building. Many members of the faculty and staff were present, along with board members. The Chamber of Commerce came in force, clad in their red blazers. Many of the citizens who came were former Panola students.
Dr. Powell had asked me to deliver brief remarks. He welcomed the crowd, then introduced me. I presented an outline history of residence halls on campus, beginning with a surplus army barracks purchased in 1948 by Panola County Junior College as an athletic dorm for the Pony football team. The price of the barracks was $107.50 - PCJC paid more than that to transport the building to Carthage. Twelve years later this spartan athletic dorm was replaced by a single-story masonry hall for scholarship athletes; amenities were limited by the presence of merely one electrical outlet in each two-man bedroom. Another 12 years passed before a dormitory finally opened for non-scholarship students.The two-story co-ed dorm had a wing for women and a wing for men, providing occasional nocturnal adventures. The later construction of a men's residence hall allowed the co-ed dorm to become an all-women's facility.
Bill with Panola colleagues, Leslie Glaze and Jessica Yates

During the 13 years of his presidency, Dr. Powell has established continuity and long-range planning. He found a dormitory model at Navarro College, a two-story apartment dorm which houses 32 students. Three of these halls have been built on our campus. But rapid student growth caused the recent construction of a hall that is twice as long and which can house 64 students. It is this handsome new facility which now bears my name.
Bill with Larry McNeill

Bill with former students, Amy Calhoun and Dr. Donna Porter
Dr. Powell and board member Bobby Phillips with Bill
Following my remarks there was a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Panola County Chamber of Commerce. Afterward members of the crowd toured the apartments and enjoyed refreshments provided by the college. I had a wonderful time visiting with everyone. I was delighted by the unexpected presence of Larry McNeill, an Austin attorney and former president of the Texas State Historical Association who was instrumental in creating the office of State Historian. While talking with Amy Denton Calhoun, a former Panola student and a current faculty member, I laughed when she told me that she was a resident of the co-ed dorm in the 1990s without realizing that it was built before she was born! In every way the morning was a grand and memorable occasion for me.
For the second  consecutive year Panola has been
named to the Honor Roll of the nation's top twelve Great Colleges To Work For.


Monday, August 12, 2013

Honorary Doctor of Letters

"Lone Star Historian" is a blog about the travels and activities of the State Historian of Texas. 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.


On May 20, 2013, I was surprised and pleased to receive a phone call from Dr. Dan R. Jones, President of Texas A&M University - Commerce. TAMUC is my alma mater, although there have been name changes. In 1964 I received a B.A. degree with majors in history and English from East Texas State College. One year later the college was elevated to university status, and in 1969 I was presented an M.A. degree from East Texas State University. Decades later Texas A&M University - Commerce employed one of my daughters, Dr. Shellie O'Neal, while two other daughters, Berri and Causby, completed their baccalaureate degrees at TAMUC. Berri was the athletic mascot, Lucy the Lion, and she stayed on to earn master's and doctoral degrees from TAMUC. Whatever the name, I have enjoyed long and rich connections with the institution. 

So I was delighted when President Jones invited me to deliver a commencement address for advanced degree recipients on Saturday, August 10. Then I was rendered virtually speechless when Dr. Jones informed me that the Board of Regents for the Texas A&M University System had unanimously approved his recommendation that TAMUC would award me an Honorary Doctor of Letters degree. Dr. Jones pointed out that in the 124-year history of the institution, only 31 individuals have been awarded honorary doctoral degrees. To be included in such a distinguished group, to be granted such a high honor by my alma mater, was - and is - profoundly moving. I would be further honored by a reception following the commencement activities. I was overwhelmed by the conversation with Dr. Jones, and by his follow-up letter.
Linda King, at left in white jacket, arranged for my
family to be seated just opposite the speaker's platform.


Linda King, the gracious and highly capable assistant to Dr. Jones, handled arrangements and answered my questions during the ensuing couple of months. Invitations were sent to my family and friends. The first person to express his intention to attend was Dr. Greg Powell, President of Panola College, which maintains an academic affiliation with me as State Historian of Texas. My sister, Judy Smith of Lampasas would attend, and my brother Mike and his lovely wife Jerilynn would come from Carrollton. My daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren number 14. It is increasingly difficult to get all four of their families together, even for holidays, so their united presence was a special treat of my special day.

On Friday, August 9, my wife Karon and I, along with her mother, Louise Ashby, drove to Commerce. After checking into our hotel, I went to the vast field house at TAMUC to attend commencement rehearsal. Meanwhile, my oldest daughter, Lynn Martinez, along with her husband and their two daughters, also came to the hotel. The Martinez family took the opportunity for a back-to-school holiday, and we greatly enjoyed the pleasure of their company. Lynn and  her oldest daughter Chloe accompanied me on a nostalgic hike around the campus.

Dr. Dan Jones presents Bill with honorary
Doctor of Letters degree.
My first official duty on Saturday was to attend the Doctoral Luncheon, held in the new Sam Rayburn Student Center. During an excellent meal, 31 doctoral students each expressed their gratitude to various professors, spouses, parents, fellow students, and, for more than half of the candidates, to God. They were an impressive collection of men and women. They would be joined in the University Field House by nearly 400 candidates for master's degrees.

Bill is hooded by Dr. Benevides.
Family and friends of the graduates turned out in large numbers, and the big field house was crowded nearly to capacity. Processional music was provided by a brass band, and I marched in behind Dr. Jones. Early in the ceremony Dr. Jones presented me with a most gracious introduction and awarded me a framed Doctor of Letters degree, honoris causa. I was hooded by Dr. Adolfo  Benevides, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs. It next was my privilege to deliver the commencement address. During my remarks I pointed out that the year I transferred to the campus, 1962, was the year that East Texas State College was authorized to award a Ph.D. in English. When I graduated in 1964 the school's first doctorate was awarded, a Ph.D. in English. I felt that I had come full circle.
Delivering the commencement address

Following the commencement exercise, a reception was held for me and my family at the new Alumni Center. Dr. Jones hosted the event, and I had the opportunity to thank him and Dr. Benevides and Linda King. There was an excellent buffet, and I enjoyed a social hour with my family and new friends. Bud Worley, a former student of mine at Panola College and a 1982 graduate of TAMUC, has just completed his first week at Panola as foundation officer and publicity director. Bud drove to Commerce so that he could make the day's event the subject of his first press release. He taught my daughters at Carthage High School, where he and my wife were schoolmates, so we had a mini-reunion. Late in the afternoon we all headed to our homes, and as I drove I reflected happily on one of the most profoundly meaningful days of my life.
Bud Worley with Bill
Bill speaking with Dr. Keith McFarland, retired
president of TAMUC. Dr. McFarland joined the history
faculty in 1969, while Bill was completing his M.A. Dr.
 Jones stands at right, and Dr. Benevides is seated at center.

Dr. Berri O'Neal, at right, introduces her father at the reception.

Closing remarks at the reception




Saturday, August 3, 2013

Timber Industry

"Lone Star Historian" is a blog about the travels and activities of the State Historian of Texas. 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. 

Recently my wife and I drove to the Texas Forestry Museum, the first of three related stops (four, counting lunch!) during a highly interesting day. The Texas Forestry Museum opened in Lufkin in 1976. Indoor and outdoor exhibits trace the history of one of the oldest and most important industries of East  Texas, where  lumbering enterprises have produced forest products for nearly two centuries. 


Outdoor exhibits feature a logging train with locomotive, tender, log loader, log car, and caboose, alongside a venerable depot building. Looming high above these excellent displays is a forest fire tower. Inside the museum are artifacts large and small, including a superb collection of early logging tools and equipment. There is a paper mill room, and enlarged photographs which depict life in sawmill towns.
 
Inside the Texas Forestry Museum
We were greeted by Museum Coordinator Laurie Vaughn, who courteously responded to our questions and introduced us to the new Museum Director, genial Rachel Collins. Director Collins is in her first week on the job, and her background as a teacher will be of help while legions of schoolchildren descend upon the Texas Forestry Museum. Laurie escorted us to the gift shop, where we found Christmas presents for our little grandson. 

Bill with Laurie Vaughn
We drove ten miles south of Lufkin to The History Center in Diboll. Diboll came into existence as a company town in 1894. The previous year T.L.L. Temple purchased 7,000 acres of timberland from J.C. Diboll, and in 1894 his Southern Pine Lumber Company began operating its first sawmill. A school was opened, houses built by the Southern Pine Lumber Company were provided for workers, and a large company store stocked everything from groceries to medicine. There was a company doctor, a post office, and a depot. By 1908 Temple controlled more than 209,000 acres of timberland. Temple's grandson, Arthur Temple, Jr., began managing the company as well as to the town, which was incorporated and elected its first mayor in 1962. 






Research room at The History Center
Diboll's T.L.L. Temple Memorial Library collected an extensive archive of local and area history, including newspapers, documents, photographs, and interviews. To house this growing collection, The History Collection was erected just south of the T.L.L. Temple Memorial Library. The 11,500-square-foot History Center boasts a large, well-appointed research library, with company records, manuscripts, 70,000 photos, and many other resources available to researchers. Nearby an exhibit hall portrays the history of Diboll and of the Southern Pine Lumber Company, as well as general aspects of the East Texas timber industry. Outside a statue of Arthur Temple, Jr., overlooks a 1920 Baldwin-built 68-ton steam locomotive, a tender, a log car, and a caboose. The log train is maintained in pristine condition. 
Logging train at The History Center

On the way home we drove to Stephen F. Austin State University and parked in front of the Arthur Temple, Jr., College of Forestry and Agriculture. Another log train is parked here, a train used by another prominent area lumberman, W.T. Carter. 

Logging train at SFASU
Within 30 miles - from Nacogdoches to Lufkin to Diboll - a trio of historical displays perpetuate the story of the East Texas timber industry. By the late 19th century, logging employed one-tenth of the East Texas labor force. The largest part of Texas's timber production came from three species of pine: loblolly, shortleaf, and longleaf pines. Hardwoods, such as several kinds of oak, also had commercial value for furniture-making, pilings, cross ties, and ridge timbers. Forests across East Texas were abundant, and hundreds of small "peckerwood" mills were set up, while larger mills and operators - such as T.L.L. Temple - began operating on a large scale, with logging trains a key to transportation. A trip to Lufkin-Diboll-Nacogdoches offers fascinating insights to the sawdust trail.

For more information: 
www.treetexas.com
www.thehistorycenteronline.com