"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 almost 40 books, half about Texas history subjects, and in 2007 he was named Best Living Non-Fiction Writer by True West Magazine.
On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, April 12-14, I was one of
the presenters at the 22nd annual retreat of the Texas Mountain
Trail Writers. The 2013 retreat was held in Fort Davis, “Where Wild Things
Write.” I was initially contacted by the president of the organization, Reba
Cross Seals. A retired teacher, Reba is an avid writer, and she is highly
organized. Other members also are former teachers who played important roles in
setting up the event. Reba’s key assistants were the two “Retreat Jefes” and
the seven members of the “Retreat Posse.” For weeks before the event, I was
frequently contacted by Reba or one of her capable assistants. Everyone was
enthusiastic and helpful, and every detail was carefully planned.
I arrived at Fort Davis early enough to spend a couple of
hours at the fort, which I first visited as a college student in 1963. A decade
later I began bringing students from Panola College to the Davis Mountains and Big
Bend as part of my Traveling Texas History Course, and the East Texans always
enjoyed the old fort and two nights of camping in this magnificent country.
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| Officers' Row |
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| Post Hospital |
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| 1910 Courthouse |
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| 1904 Presbyterian Church |
Our retreat headquarters was the Mountain Tails Lodge,
located just east of Fort Davis on a hill overlooking the town. I was surprised
and elated to learn that the owner is Scott Turner, a friend from the Wild West
History Association. Scott and his lovely wife Jenny have operated the lodge
for less than a year, along with a river rafting service along the Rio Grande
through the towering canyons of Big Bend. Scott and Jenny were gracious
hosts, providing excellent meals and
looking constantly to our needs.
Checking in on Friday afternoon, I soon drove through the
mountains to Alpine, where an opening reception was held at the Front Street
Book Store. It was a delightful evening, with delicious refreshments and warm
company. More than 40 men and women attended the retreat. Many were from Alpine
or Fort Davis, but some came in from other parts of the state, and others came
from Colorado, New Mexico, and California. There were fiction writers, poets,
and non-fiction writers.
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| Bookstore reception |
At mid-morning on Saturday, Juan Perez was the opening
speaker, and he would conduct another session during the afternoon. Tall and
handsome and charming, Juan is a military veteran and a history teacher. He
writes poetry, often with a horror twist, and two years ago he was voted Poet
Laureate of the San Antonio Poets’ Association. Nina Amir, a non-fiction writer
and editor from San Jose, California, also presented a session on Saturday, and
another on Sunday morning. On Saturday morning I spoke about “An Author’s 3
R’s: Reading’, `Riting, and Research,” emphasizing nuts and bolts of writing
techniques. On Saturday evening I was the after-dinner speaker: “An Author’s
Journey Through Texas History.” Audience members were responsive to all of the
sessions, and I enjoyed numerous lively conversations with attendees seeking
tips on how to write and how to publish those writings. I had the pleasure of
autographing a number of books, and of making many new friends.
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| Reba Cross Seals opening the first session |
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