South Liberty County Quarterly

SOUTH LIBERTY COUNTY

QUARTERLY Volume 2 Issue 2

Cover photo by Zoe Norcross Phottography

Sports & Travel Edition Summer 2016

It’s all in the Slacks

Lee College Senior Travel Program

This all-star family of athletes lives and breathes sports both on the field and at home

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South Liberty County Quarterly

Summer 2016

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Bonita Davis Glennda Hardin Jerry Michalsky Jacob Stewart Machelle Whittlesey Carol Skewes, Editor & Publisher

INDEX

Letter from the

Editor CAROL SKEWES Editor & Publisher

The Streak ................................................... Page 4 Restoring Mt. Reah...................................... Page 8 All in the Slacks ........................................ Page 12 Sonja Bruzauskas sings............................. Page 15 Dr. Dugat has seen in all .......................... Page 16 We are Polish ............................................ Page 20 Adventure is out there .............................. Page 24 Turner Plumbing turns 30 ........................ Page 28 Why Sports?............................................... Page 30 G.R.A.C.E. Initiative feeding seniors ........ Page 37 Snell is a winner on & off the court ......... Page 40

S

ummertime is near and excitement is in the air.

We picked the theme of “Sports & Travel” for the third edition of South Liberty County Quarterly to highlight success and opportunities available.

Sports Editor Jerry Michalsky has written stories on the Dayton Broncos, Liberty and Hardin coaches.

Bonita Davis is back with a feature story on the restoration of Mt. Reah Missionary Baptist Church.

“We are Polish” is the very special testimony of Machelle Whittlesey on how her parents immigrated to the United States and discovered their American dreams.

Additional stories feature Lee College, Dr. Henry L. Dugat, Sr. and his music ministry, as well as local businesses and a brand new meals-on-wheels program.

Read all about it.

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The cover photo was taken by Photographer Zoe Norcross at a Dayton Bronco Football game last season.

We hope you enjoy is published in the United States by The Vindicator, 1939 Trinity St., Liberty, Texas 77575.

P. O. Box 9189, Liberty, Texas 77575, or call 936-336-3611.

Copyright 2016. All rights reserved.

Summer 2016

SOUTH LIBERTY COUNTY QUARTERLY, Sports & Travel edition TELL US WHAT YOU THINK. publisher@libertycountyquarterly.com

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South Liberty County Quarterly

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“The Streak”

BY JERRY MICHALSKY, Sports Editor jerrymichalsky@aol.com

My first year of covering Dayton Broncos football in 1995 I saw a 2-8 team that went through two head coaches and a program that needed a major facelift.

In that season, Dayton would also end up being two homecoming games for other teams to pound on. The following year the Bronco program would change forever. Enter new head coach Jerry Stewart and his staff and the rest as you can say is history. Twenty-years later and Dayton has not missed a playoff appearance since then with Stewart guiding the program to 15 of those and Jowell Hancock the last five years. “Coach Stewart brought a winning attitude in and would not take anything else, but winning,” said new head coach Jeff Nations.

Not a stranger to the system, Nations coached with Stewart for all those winning years. “That first year we knocked off Little Cypress-Mauriceville and I think that is when the kids started buying into the system,” added Nations. The Broncos would knock off Jasper 23-7 on the last week of the season to start the first of many playoff runs.

The following year Dayton would once again make the playoffs before exiting with a 7-4 campaign. In 1998, the Broncos would really put their name on the map by going 12-0 and making it to the Regional’s and an exciting match-up with the La Marque Cougars in the Astrodome.

Both teams entered the game undefeated and nearly 30,000 fans saw an exciting finish that would see La Marque score in the fourth quarter to get the 20-14 win.

That was a game that proved that Dayton really belonged with the top teams in state as they came back from a 14-0 deficit to score two touchdowns in the third quarter to tie the game. The Cougars would play for the state title just a few weeks later.

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Photos by Zoe Norcross Photography

In 2002, the Broncos would start off 12-0 again before falling in the State Quarterfinals to Conroe Oak Ridge 7-3.

Five years later in 2007, Dayton would make their furthest run in school history by getting to the State Semifinals before falling to Lake Travis on a Friday night at Kyle Field in College Station. The Cavaliers would win the state title the following week.

A year later was the most special one for the Bronco football program by making it to State Championship Game and facing Sulphur Springs at the Alamodome.

In the highest scoring game in Texas State History, it was Sulphur Springs winning a shoot-out 69-49.

For a program that just 13-years ago was someone’s homecoming game, however, Dayton had reached the Summer 2016

South Liberty County Quarterly

top of the mountain and everyone in Texas knew who the Broncos were.

Dayton did not let up either as just a year later it was the Broncos making it to the State Semi-finals and a date with Brenham at a jam packed Rhodes Stadium in Katy.

The Cubs would knock off Dayton 30-24 in a backand-forth contest. The following two years would see the Broncos make it to the third round of the playoffs before falling.

In 2013, Dayton would fall to Brenham 31-30 and the next year Angleton 32-31 in the second round. This past year it was PN-G holding off the Broncos 42-41 at Stallworth Stadium.

An amazing run for a program that has expanded over three decades.

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“I have learned a lot from Coach Stewart and the turnaround in this program is owed mostly to him,” said Nations.

“He laid a foundation down here and we just want to carry on the winning ways here at Dayton.” Broncos head baseball coach Bobby Little who also coaches football has had the best of both worlds, as Little also played football at Dayton and for Stewart.

“Playing football here is a special thing,” said Little who graduated in 2001.

“There is a great pride in this community on the streak and this is special place to play and coach. We ask a lot of the players and when you play here you better be prepared to come and work, but in the end the rewards and memories can never be taken away from you.”

The march to the 21st straight playoff birth will start for the Broncos August 26, 2016 against Channelview.

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20 STRAIGHT YEARS TO THE PLAYOFFS 1996 knocked off Jasper at the rock to start the first of 20-straight playoff appearances.

1998 played in front of 30,000 screaming fans at the Houston Astrodome against La Marque in a battle of 12-0 teams 2007 State Semi-finalist 2008 State Finalist. Set combined state scoring record with title game against Sulphur Springs 2009 State Semi-finalist

South Liberty County Quarterly

Summer 2016

Restoring Mt. Reah

BY BONITA DAVIS Contributing Writer

F These photos were taken of Simmons Cemetery before (on October 18, 2014) meeting with Mike Patton and Jeff Lee, supervisors at the Liberty-Chambers Counties CSCD (Community Supervision and Corrections Department) to discuss cleanup and maintaining of the cemetery and after (April 8, 2015) the cleanup of the cemetery by the probationers at CSCD. They have done a fantastic job of keeping the cemetery grounds cut.

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or all who love to ferret out historic sites, a short twentyminute trip North from Liberty, Texas on State Highway 146 could prove delightful. Milton Davis and his wife, Doris, are diligently about the business of restoring a piece of local history that has ties to residents in several surrounding Liberty County communities and beyond.

In 2000, the couple retired and settled in Romayor, Texas, on a 25-acre tract of land that had been owned by Milton’s great uncle, Mitchell Davis.

Mitchell Davis was the grandson of Frank Davis, Sr., a former slave from Florida who attended Mt. Reah Missionary Baptist Church (established 1877).

Some of Frank Davis Sr.’s children and descendants attended Mt. Reah and are buried in its three surrounding cemeteries: Simmons, Beefhead and Nixon Smith. Burials are still

South Liberty County Quarterly

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taking place in Nixon Smith Cemetery, but Beefhead is totally grown over. The restoration project for Mt. Reah includes cleaning up Simmons Cemetery.

Milton and Doris Davis wanted to place a monument n the grave of Mitchell Davis.

They began to search and found graves in disrepair. Their quest led them to the doorsteps of the Mt. Reah Baptist Church. While there is damage from Hurricane Ike, the building is structurally sound.

The Church is nestled on half a circle of a road entitled CR 2116 in Clark, Texas.

Included in the Church property is the church edifice, three cemeteries: Beef Head, Nixon Smith, and Simmons, and located across the road: Green Valley Lodge No. 80 of the County of Liberty. There was once a schoolhouse on the same grounds as the Lodge.

James L. Davis of Hardin, Texas, great grandson of Frank Davis, Sr., recalls attending the school at age eight, in the year 1936, along with his older siblings and cousins, one

Summer 2016

of whom is Mrs. Paralee Simmons Gilliam, who at 95 is the oldest surviving member of Mt. Reah.

Houstonian Katie Jefferson, who lived with her great uncle Johnny Garner and was raised in the Church, had this to say, “This is the Church where I got my start. We went in a wagon to and from church. I’ve been many places in my life, but I don’t forget where my start came from. I thank God for my past, present, and future.”

The Davis duo has begun to chisel away at the future of Mt. Reah, and to date they have had three fundraisers. They have established a GoFundMe.com account.

Once the estimated $85,000 is raised and the church restored, Mt. Reah will be available to family and community for homecomings, weddings, a food pantry and other events.

CR 2116 is a spiritual place. Even on a bright, sunny day, one can almost see those pressed white shirts of the men going to

South Liberty County Quarterly

Doris and Milton Davis Contributed photos

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To support MT. Reah missionary church Visit: https://www.gofundme.com/k3xd78md

Mt. Reah Missionary Baptist church

church service. Nearly audible, is the foot-tapping, soul-stirring, ole time religion music.

Wafting through the air are the aromas of fried chicken, mustard greens and cornbread that say they are just about ready to be served.

It’s easy to imagine the “childhood fun” that Liberty resident Connie Gilliam Mallet speaks about.

We are your long term, awardwinning, skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility.

Walter Eagleton, a Denton-based professional photographer had these words to say while running his boutique travel business in France, “I have so very many fond memories of growing up in Mt. Reah, starting in 1963, when I was eight. I was there every Sunday for Sunday school and then church with my parents. I sang in the choir and eventually became the pianist.

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One of my most vivid memories is that every First Sunday, we always had a huge potluck lunch after church in the Masonic Hall across the lane.

That was always a great time of fellowship and great food!

I look forward celebrating the restoration and am so proud to have been a part of the church’s history.”

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South Liberty County Quarterly

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A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO LIBERTY History holds such funny stories.

The tale was passed down to James L. Davis that Mr. Charlie Simmons (1847-1945) could make the trip from Clark, Texas, to Liberty and back in the same day.

He went straight to town, purchased the sugar, coffee and a few other items, which he did not grow on his farm.

It took his cousin, Darby Davis (1848-1939) around a week to make the same trip.

It seems the schoolteacher, Darby, was given to talking. He would take his time and visit the Zack Booth Bottom, the communities of Lakeland (near the current Olive Bethel Church on FM 1011), and finish off the trip at the Love Place (close to present day Knight’s Forest). Two men took two totally different approaches to the 28.7-mile journey.

Summer 2016

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Photos by Jerry Michalsky

All in the Slacks

BY JERRY MICHALSKY

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I

Sports Editor jerrymichalsky@aol.com

n the new day of age where gaming, reality TV, and Netflix have taken over, there is one family that thrives on one thing and one thing only, SPORTS! Let me introduce you to the Slack family, and if you are from this area then you know who I am talking about and after having dinner with the four of them and

seeing for my own eyes just how popular they really are.

We will start with father, Joe, who coaches football, basketball, track, and softball with wife Karen at Liberty high school. Early in the morning before most of us are even up you can bet that Joe is doing some field maintenance for the Panther sports programs.

Before his stop in Liberty, Pappa Slack coached at Aldine Davis for a year and served as the head football South Liberty County Quarterly

coach/athletic director at Hull-Daisetta where he guided the Bobcats to a playoff appearance every year he served as the head coach.

Then we move to mom, Karen Slack, or who I call Coach Slack.

She serves as the head volleyball- and softball-coach and all Karen has done since she has taken over is turn the Lady Panthers into playoff machines in both sports.

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Coming into a game, Liberty already has a great advantage before the contest starts with Karen serving as the head coach.

Thus, the success and deep runs that Liberty has made in volleyball and softball the last few years.

Now onto the kids and we will start with senior star, Kaitlyn Slack.

Dominating in both softball and volleyball since she was a freshman, Slack has won about every award there is to win and is heading to The University of Texas on a softball scholarship. “That was the only visit I took,” said Kaitlyn. “I knew that is where I wanted to be.”

She is the type of athlete who we call in the sports world “a game changer”.

The Lady Horns are very lucky to get her. “She has been a shoe-in on the line-up card for me the last four years so it’s going to be a big void to fill,” said Karen.

The final piece of the puzzle is the youngest Slack in J.J. Just a freshman at Liberty, J.J. started at quarterback the last few games for the Panthers and also started in the playoff game against La Marque.

He also plays outfield for the baseball team where he started on the varsity this past year. So, how does this translate during the school day and walking the halls of Liberty high school.

“Believe it or not we really don’t see each other that much during the day,” said Karen. So are the Slacks the type of family that sits around the dinner table at night.

“Not us at all,” said Joe. “When we are at home it is all about sports. Me and J.J will sit down and look at game film and break down the defenses.”

For Karen and Kaitlyn, it is much of the same also.

“It’s what we do and we wouldn’t have it any other way,” said Karen.

When I asked Kaitlyn if she enjoys playing for me her mom, she did not hesitate to say yes.

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When we are at home it is all about sports. Me and J.J will sit down and look at game film and break down the defenses.

— Joe ‘Pappa’ Slack

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“When I was a freshman, it was a little challenging,” said Kaitlyn with a chuckle, “but I am going to miss playing for her.”

Let’s get a little perspective of a weekend for the Slacks. On the weekend of May 6 and 7 it was Joe and Karen along with Kaitlyn playing a second round playoff series with Giddings at Magnolia high school.

Some 100 miles away was son J.J. playing in a playoff series of his own for the Panthers against Bridge City at the same time.

That is what you call a sports family in my opinion. “Like Karen said it’s what we do and we enjoy the 14

heck out of it,” said Joe. “Liberty is a great place to coach, we are lucky to have some really great kids here and the support the community gives is amazing,” said Joe. One thing for sure is that Joe and Karen are great people to work for and the Panthers are lucky to have them.

Kaitlyn has been a pleasure to watch over the last four years and has been named our Athlete of the Week more times than I can remember.

J.J. is well on his way to doing great things as well for Liberty and I look forward to covering him the next three years.

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Sonja Bruzauskas sings It all started with Rotary

BY CAROL SKEWES Publisher publisher@thevindicator.com

Pianist Valencia Arceneaux and Opera Singer Sonja Bruzauskas Summer 2016

Sonja Bruzauskas was born in Germany, and now sings Opera professionally in the United States. Her journey all began with a Rotary Scholarship.

Upon graduating with her undergraduate degree in 1995, a friend of her father’s, who was a Rotarian in Germany, suggested she apply for a Rotary Scholarship. She was one of four students chosen out of a pool of 20 and her life has never been the same since.

She immediately began studying for her Master Degree in Music in New York City at the Manhatten School of Music on the Rotary Scholarship.

After earning her degree, she travelled back to Germany for a while, singing Opera all over Europe. She returned to the United States, and has an agent. She sings with the Santa Fe Opera.

She is also an adjunct professor in the Glascock School of Continuing Studies at Rice University in Houston. She just finished lecture series at Rice on the social and medical benefits of singing in a group.

(Rotarians like to sing too.)

Sonja is currently working summers in California on an interdisciplinary collaborative program at CalArts (California Institute of the Arts).

Sonja’s full name is Sonja Bruzauskas Hayman. She is married to her husband, Houston Hayman and they have two children, Emilia Hamnan, 10, and Clara Hayman, 14.

Sonya knows her music. She recently visited the Rotary Club of Liberty, guest of fellow musicians, Jim and Sandra Sterling. She sang for the club and told her story, accompanied by pianist extraordinaire Valencia Arceneaux.

The first performance was September Song. Then she sang a piece from The Three Penny Opera, a collaborative work of Kurt Weill (a Jewish composer) and Berthold Brecht (a German composer) written in 1926.

She explained that the two composers were introducing a new art form, Epic Theatre, to teach with political plays that included music. The art form may have taken off even more, but was halted by World War II. The two composers split in 1930, when Weill fled Nazi Germany for safety. Brecht stayed in Berlin to teach.

Sonja finished her performance for the Liberty Rotarians with a happy tune, the Bilbao Song. Bilbao is a town in Spain.

She concluded with updates on her latest project. She is establishing a 501(c)(3) called pARTner Schools to bring virtual choir music into public schools that have cut art programs. Choirs in schools that have music programs connect with students in schools that don’t by singing together through Skype and Smartboards.

To hear Sonja sing Opera fewer than 10 feet away in the Rotary meeting was an unbelievable experience. To learn of the good works she is doing to promote the arts was even better.

Bravo, Sonja Bruzzauskas!

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Dugat Family Archives, Sam Houston Regional Library & Archives Center in Liberty, Texas.

DR. DUGAT HAS SEEN IT ALL

BY CAROL SKEWES, PUBLISHER, publisher@thevindicator.com

Dr. Henry L. Dugat, Sr. is many things in South Liberty County. He is an inspiration ‌ a living example of doing right things, teaching children well, loving your spouse and living life to the fullest.

He smiles. He enjoys people. He gives. He plays his music. He prays. He keeps going. He has played for occasions from weddings to funerals. He has seen it all.

Henry was born June 5, 1940 in Dayton. He married his childhood friend, high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Bennie, May 21, 1960.

They have five grown children; Cynthia Mosley (and husband Rev. Amos Mosley), Daphne Dickerson, Christopher Dugat (and wife Angelic Dugat), Alonzo Emmanuel Dugat (and wife Betty Dugat) and Henry Lloyd Dugat, Jr. (and wife Gladys Dugat); 21 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.

Henry graduated from Liberty Training School in 1958 and began studies at Texas Southern University.

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His honors have included; Minister of Music Day January 2, 1998 proclaimed by Dayton Mayor Guy L. Harris; Henry Lloyd Dugat, Sr. Day Feb. 3, 1998 proclaimed by U. S. Senator Phil Gramm; Recognition honors Feb. 9, 1998 by U. S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and State Senator Michael Galloway, District 4; Lt. Governor Bob Bullock.

The Most Rev. Joseph A. Galante, S.V.D., D.D, who at that time was the Bishop of the Diocese of Beaumont, praised his continued ministry.

Liberty Mayor Paul J. Henry proclaimed Jan. 4, 1998 “Henry L. Dugat, Sr. Day� for his outstanding dedication to the people of Liberty.

Liberty County Judge Lloyd Kirkham followed suit and proclaimed Henry L. Dugat, Sr. Day. He was congratulated by then President Bill Clinton and Texas Governor George W. Bush.

The Dugats were honored on the floor of the Texas House of Representatives by Representative Alma Allen (Dist. 131) and State Rep. John Otto (Dist. 18), upon their 53rd wedding anniversary (2013) with House Resolution 2153.

Summer 2016

Henry and Bennie Dugat

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WE’LL GIVE YOU A REASON TO SMILE!

Henry’s church affiliations are many: Los Angeles Bible Institution of The National Baptist Convention of America; Minister of Music ~ Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Dayton, Texas; Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, Dayton; Trinity Valley Baptist Church of Liberty, Texas; St. John Baptist Church, Liberty; St. Miles Baptist Church of Ames, Texas; First Six Street Baptist Church of Port Arthur; Jerusalem Baptist Church of Galveston; Blue Ridge Baptist Church of Houston; Holy Rosary Catholic Church of Galveston; Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Raywood, Texas; Immaculate Conception Catholic Church of Liberty; Knights of Peter Claver Council 83 of Raywood; Adam Semien Assembly #8 Fourth Degree, Knights of Peter Claver, Beaumont; Knights of Columbus Council, Liberty; Trinity Valley District Association of Texas; Southern District Baptist Association of Texas; Synod Delegate Immaculate Conception, Liberty; Liberty County Historical Commission of Liberty County; Chaplain Committee Henley Unit, Dayton; Dr. Henry L. Dugat, Sr. and Bennie Dugat, 2016

PSALM 150

Dr. Seaberg and Dr. Onemany

Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in the firmament of His power, praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to His excellent greatness. Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; praise Him, with the psaltery and harp.

Praise Him with the timbrel and dance: praise Him with stringed Dugat Family instruments and organs. Praise Him upon the loud cymbals: praise Him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.

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South Liberty County Quarterly

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National Baptist Convention of America, Organist; Shiloh District Association of Texas; Lone Star District Association of Texas; Trinity Valley Singing Convention; and Lily of the Valley Baptist Church.

Dr. Dugat’s vocation included Administrative Assistant at Wells Mortuary, Liberty; Founder Sickle Cell Foundation of Galveston; Project Director at Prairie View A&M University at Liberty; Project Director at Lamar University of Liberty.

He has chaired the Liberty County MLK Celebration Committee for 19 years.

Henry’s first assignment was June 4, 1953 at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church of Dayton, Texas, under the leadership of Pastor J. W. Brent.

Lifetime Pleasant Hill church member Lois Pruitt who was the honoree at the 2016 MLK Celebration recalled that when Henry was hired at Pleasant Hill to play music, he knew only two songs.

Well, Henry can play just about anything he chooses now, and he does.

When he sits at the piano keyboard, he goes some-

Dr. Henry L. Dugat, Sr. where. He shuts his eyes and his fingers dance on the keys. He has complete command his music.

He is a joy to watch.

Dr. Dugat is now officially retired from his music ministry, but still plays.

I have asked him what is on his bucket list, now that he and Bennie have a little more time and his answer remains constant; “I will do my Father’s work all my days.�

From left District 131 State Rep. Alma Allen, Dr. Henry L. Dugat, Sr., Bennie Dugat and District 18 State Rep. John Otto on the floor of the Texas House of Representatives

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We are Polish.

We love America.

BY MACHELLE WHITTLESEY

When we came to America, our name was changed from Holuj to Holuy.

My Polish given name when I entered the United States was Michalena. translated by someone as being Helena.

It wasn’t until age 14, that I found out that the German translation was Machelle.

In school, I went by Helena Holuy.

Contributing Writer

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When I became a U.S. citizen, I had it changed to Machelle Helena Holuy.

South Liberty County Quarterly

Summer 2016

Photos by Kim Marlow

I

am writing this in honor of my parents. My mother passed in June 2015 at age 98, my father Joseph and Veronica Holuy were my parents. My family, which consisted of Mom, Dad and sister Barbara, came to the United States as DP’s, which meant displaced people in February of 1952.

We entered the United States at New Orleans, Louisiana, not New York.

It has always been my dream to see the Statue of Liberty. We are

Polish.

We were transported to the U.S. on an old Army transport. We were headed for

Summer 2016

Kansas originally, but ended up in Gilman, Ill. DP’s had to have a sponsor in order to come to America.

My father was to work for a farmer in Kansas, but it took too much time to get us cleared to come the U.S., that the farmer already had someone, so we were sponsored by the Catholic Church in Gilman, Ill., and Dad went to work for a farmer.

It took three days by train for us to arrive in Kankakee, Illinois, where we were picked up by my dad’s future employer.

While waiting, an American heard Mom and Dad speaking Polish and stopped to speak to them.

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I will never forget he gave my sister and I and ice cream cup and a shiny quarter.

None of us spoke English. We only spoke Polish and German.

Mom taught herself to speak English by watching.

After working for the farmer for six months, Dad was hired by Dr. Karl Myer from Chicago as a gardener for his large dairy farm called Kam Lake, Mom was then hired as a housekeeper and nanny for Dr. Myer’s grandchildren (children of his son Bob Myers).

I, and my sister, attended Gilman schools. I graduated Gilman High School in 1962.

I always said I would be a citizen when I became 18 and was naturalized in 1963.

I married Harlen Miller in 1963. We were later were blessed by God to be able to adopt three children: Jeffrey Allen Miller, Victor Troy Miller and Loreese Julenne Lanier.

We divorced. I am now married to Ken Whittlesey. We have been married 12 years.

I have been a member of the VFW Post 5621 of Liberty for these 12 years.

I have been doing Buddy Poppy displays for the Post for many years and have really been proud and honored to do so.

My dad and mom were taken from a church during the war (WWII) for forced labor for the Nazis.

Dad fought in both the first and second world wars. He was a prisoner of war in Siberia. Mom and Dad had 18

brothers and sisters, but all were lost in the war as far as we know.

My mother’s sister was gassed in Auschwitz.

Dad decided that my sister and I would be better off in America. Dad was a sergeant in the Polish Army at the time.

All our belongings were packed in three of Dad’s GI lockers.

Our first night in Gilman, Ill., it was so cold that all four of us slept in the same bed with all our clothes on.

Dad worked for Dr. Myer until he retired. He passed in 1970 of lung cancer. Mom worked in an asbestos glove factory for many years and then as a cook at a local restaurant.

When Mom and Dad applied for us to come to American, it took about 1-1/2 years before we were cleared to come across from Germany. Dad was 52. Mom was 35. I was almost nine and my sister, Barb, was five.

I have many memories of our trip on the boat, which took two weeks. I was seasick the whole time.

We were separated from Dad, slept in bunks below sea level and had life jackets for pillows. I saw my first movie (sepia-toned) on the ship and we also buried a lady at sea.

I am so grateful that Mom left everything they loved and owned, so my sister and I would have a better life. I am so proud to be an American.

One of the trunks used to bring belongings from Poland and Germany

Our life in Germany was good, but hard.

We had many good memories, living in a small village in Bavaria.

We had one large room, which was our home, sharing a house and a big kitchen with four other families.

It resembled small, free compound with a barn, the house and a washhouse.

We went to the woods for entertainment and picked blueberries.

We had to go to the butcher shop for meat and sauerkraut and the bakery for yeast and bread.

Mom and Dad worked for all we had.

Nothing was given to them.

Dad had been in the Polish Army 17 years.

We saw very little of him.

We also lost my brother at age seven months from canned milk poisoning. He had been passed for five days before my mother was able to see him.

My youngest son is named after my brother.

Mom was featured in the Kankakee Daily News in 1988, a story of her life. I know very little about my parents’ younger life, as they would not talk about it.

Mom’s parents were dead by the time she was three, and she was raised by whomever, perhaps her brothers or sisters.

22

South Liberty County Quarterly

Summer 2016

Lee College Baytown, Texas

The N Nation Nationally ally Rec Recognized College Serving Your Community.

4th in the U.S. for high-paid alumni.

Starting salaries for students graduating from Lee’s petrochemical based programs average around $100K annually. And these are careers. Not jobs.

PayScale

1st in Texas & 6th in U.S. for enrollment growth in like-sized colleges.

Enrollment continues to grow as both students and industry recognize the strength of Lee’s programs.

Community College Weekly Ranked 14th in U.S. for Best Community College Value “The best colleges. The lowest costs. The highest returns.” That’s how Value Colleges came to rank Lee College 14th on their list of Top 50 Best Value Community Colleges of 2016.

Value Colleges

Nationally recognized for excellence in Student Success.

When students stay in school they are more successful in life.

American Association of Community Colleges

Lee College: State and National Leader There are over 1,100 community colleges in the United States. Lee College consistently lands at the top of that list when ranked by our accomplishments. We are a recognized leader for providing our students with exceptional academic and technical programs and successful initiatives that expand access to education and improve student success.

This unprecedented level of recognition garnered from national and state organizations, policy watchers, higher education agencies and consumer watchdog groups is the result of Lee College’s commitment first and foremost to our students, the communities we serve, and our business and industry partners.

We’re local, and nationally recognized for the work we’re doing. Lee College is having a big impact on the region we serve. We thought you might want to know about it.

Your Local & Nationally Recognized College.

Where students, success and industry align.

Adventure is out there!

24

South Liberty County Quarterly

Summer 2016

Lee College Senior Adult and Travel Program

ANGELS ABOVE US

WHAT WE DO

BY JACOB STEWART Contributing Writer The Pixar Movie ‘UP’ may have coined the phrase, but the saying has never been more true.

Since the beginning of time, mankind has wondered at the possibilities of the unknown. The explorers of old hoisted their sails and were carried wherever the wind swept them. For some this was the promise of vast cities of gold, for others it was the promise of a new start and religious freedom.

For Lynne Foley, Senior Adult and Travel Program Manager at Lee College, it was the adventure and the thrill of meeting new people.

“I’m a people person. I’ve always wanted other people to also have a good time and I want them to experience the world. I have been very fortunate to work with Lee College through travel vendors who have given us the opportunity to see the world,” she said.

Lynne has overseen the program since 1988.

There have been good times and bad. On September 11, 2001, the Senior Adult and Travel Program was in the middle of a “Document Party”, the final meeting a month before the trip was supposed to leave for Canada.

The meeting was just like any other until midway through one of the other faculty members rolled a T.V. into the room and turned it to the local news station.

The broadcast was airing right as the second plane hit the World Trade Center. The meeting ended and the members of the group returned home saddened by the news of the attacks. The month passed as all over the United States airport security was increased. Lynne contacted the travel vendor to decide if the trip was to continue as scheduled.

The travel company gave her the go ahead and, as planned, the group traveled to Canada. Lynne said this is one of her favorite memories because, when the plane landed, the Americans were met at the airport gate with bags of goodies and pins with the maple leaf and the Summer 2016

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South Liberty County Quarterly

angelsaboveus.com

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American flag crossed signifying the support of the Canadian people.

The Lee College Senior Adult and Travel Program has been to numerous exotic environments ranging from the green fields of Ireland, the snow capped peaks of the Canadian Rockies, the great cities of Vienna, Prague, and Paris, and the frigid giant that is Russia.

Lynne is especially excited about the trip to Cuba this summer, a first for many.

During the interview this writer asked where Lynne thought the program would be in the next five years.

She responded, “This program will continue to expand. There are so many baby boomers retiring… so many people have bucket lists.”

There are currently 35 people that will be traveling to Cuba with Mrs. Foley. The average age is 45-80.

There are many ways for people to get involved in the program. In addition to traveling with Lee College, a person could also join the Red Hat Society, a group that has volunteered for many events including the Special

26

Olympics.

There are also many events that can be enjoyed, such as hosting dinners for the physically challenged as well as senior night tailgates for the volleyball and basketball teams.

Lynne wanted to close by saying, “Group touring is a way for senior adults to experience with enthusiasm the adventure of travel. We do the planning and execution of details and you can be comfortably and safely escorted with new and old friends to destinations of interest and fun.”

Please be looking for the June 29 inaugural Red Hat Society Tea, from 10 a.m. - noon, to be held at the new Lee College Education Center, South Liberty County, located at 1715 Hwy. 146 Bypass in Liberty, Texas.

Keep your eyes open for the announcement of 2017 tours from Lee College in early October.

For information, call the Lee College Workforce and Community Development Center at 281-425-6311 or visit www.lee.edu.

South Liberty County Quarterly

Summer 2016

Turner Plumbing turns 30 28

South Liberty County Quarterly

Summer 2016

BY CAROL SKEWES Publisher publisher@thevindicator.com

s a young man in the 1970s, Dave Turner recognized that the trades were making more money than college graduates. He worked with his father, a commercial industrial insulator for a while, but decided to try plumbing, working with his cousin in 1974.

He joined the Marines for six years, gained the rank of sergeant and left the Corp to work as a heavy equipment mechanic.

A

With a wife and small child, Dave quickly learned he needed to earn more money.

Dave Turner created Turner plumbing in 1987, in Dayton, and never looked back.

Dave hit a bump in his career when an earlier rodeo injury seriously affected his health, preventing him from working a steady job.

He had been a bareback rider was hit in the head by a horse. He developed a cyst in his mouth and had it checked out. He spent about a year travelling back and forth to M. D. Anderson.

The cyst turned out benign and Dave went back down the road with one plumbing truck. His health improved and so did his business.

Dave says, “Over the years, I have employed most of the plumbers in Liberty County. It has been a rollercoaster with the economy up and down. The trade has changed dramatically and will continue to with all the new materials. … We do residential and light commercial

Summer 2016

Joe Scheffler and Dave Turner

(motels, hotels, two-story buildings).”

Turner Plumbing has three plumbers: including Richard Cyr, Joey Scheffler and himself. Joey specializes in tankless water heaters and under slab tunnel repair. His family has been in the plumbing business for 20 years.

“I hope we are here another 30 years.”

“A lot of people think that after you are in business for 30 years, that you don’t need any more work, and that is not the truth. We need every customer we can get and we thank every customer that we do have. We are still here.”

“We’ve got some good stable customers.”

Turner Plumbing services Smith Point, Crystal Beach, northern Liberty County, southern Liberty County, Chambers County and Winnie. We cover about a 75-mile range.

Dave is very actively involved in the community. He is a member of VFW Post 5621, Masonic Lodge No.

48 (20 years), Hardin Methodist Church, and a supporter of TVE for many years. Dave commented, “I do believe in building within the community.”

“As a Marine, I have always strived to do the best job I can. My motto, like the Marine Corp motto, is Always Faithful ~ Semper Fidelis. Turner Plumbing is as close as a phone call.

We warranty our work. The biggest thing about living in a small town is that you will see your customers around town. In a small community we are not only your plumber, we are also your friend. Call us.”

Turner Plumbing has recently opened an office at 321 San Jacinto in Liberty to be more centrally located. They are open 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Turner Plumbing can be reached at 936-336-8214 (office), 936-346-7485 (cell) or by email: TurnerPlumbing 87@gmail.com.

Turner Plumbing stands behind their work. Phones are answered 24 hours a day.

South Liberty County Quarterly

Richard Cryer

29

Why SPORTS?

30

South Liberty County Quarterly

Summer 2016

BY JERRY MICHALSKY Sports Editor

T

wenty-two years ago a good friend of mine, Carl Theiss, got me into covering high school sports.

It has been one of the best decisions of my life.

I started off my writing career with the Baytown Sun, Houston Chronicle, Dallas Morning News, and other papers as a stringer.

I started stringing for The Vindicator about 13-years ago and now enter my seventh year as Sports Editor.

The first sporting event I ever covered was a Dayton Bronco football game and now I enter my 22nd season of covering the Broncos.

Summer 2016

South Liberty County Quarterly

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South Liberty County Quarterly

Summer 2016

High school sports in Texas has really gotten bigger and it is not just football. We have seen other sports take off with softball, soccer, track and field, and volleyball just to name a few. Of course my favorite is high school football.

I have been to more than 50 cities/towns to cover games in Texas and just finished covering my 650th high school football game this past season.

Jerry Michalsky interviews Tuff Hederman

Summer 2016

Jaxon, Jerry and Hunter Michalsky

South Liberty County Quarterly

Jerry Michalsky

33

I still get excited when I pull up to the stadium or go out of town to a new place to see their excitement in rooting on the home team.

Perhaps my love for football is because at the age of 46 I still play.

I am in my 11thyear of semi-pro football and at this point I have 660-career points. For my semipro career I am 103 of 148 on field goals, 345 for 358 on PAT kicks and have scored one touchdown with a punting average of 41.7.

Some of my accomplishments are being selected to eight allstar games, two MVP’s, TUFA record 55-yard field goal, and never missing a PAT or field goal in an All-star game.

Perhaps my finest moment came in the 2008 classic by kicking field goals of 50, 47, and 45 yards in taking home the game MVP. In the summer of 2011 was when I drilled my career long of 55-yards.

In 2007, I kicked a game winning 32-yard field goal with :12 seconds left to give Team Texas a 20-17 win over Louisiana.

I am very passionate about the game and I take it very seriously.

So that is the relationship I have with football and other sports as I also played basketball and baseball growing up. I just love sports and that is the reason I continue to do what I do.

Now though it is for the kids and the smiles I get to see when I go to an event.

34

Jerry Michalsky’s championship rings

South Liberty County Quarterly

Summer 2016

BY THE NUMBERS JERRY MICHALSKY 22 consecutive years of Dayton Bronco Football Covered over 650 high school football games 660 career points in semi-pro football career Championship team members

Kicked a 52-yard field goal — the longest kick of anyone of 40+ years in Texas Professional Football

Getting to work in a community where we have great coaches and parents also makes my job that more enjoyable. I am really lucky to have some of the great coaches to work with and if it wasn’t for them, I would only be able to do so much.

Sometimes in life we do not always get to do the things which we enjoy, but as long as I have high school sports in my life and get to work with these kids, I will always have a smile of my face.

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A perfect 9 for 9 on field goals and 21 for 21 on PAT kicks in eight All-star Games.

Career 55-yard field goal and four game winners 8th in the All-Time Semi-Pro Football scoring list

DAYTON, TEXAS The Place For You The City of Dayton is uniquely situated in the Gulf transportation network area to provide the most expedient access to the nation’s highway, air and rail systems. With direct access to US 90 and Highway 146, as well as two Class I rail carriers, the BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad, Dayton can provide unmatched access to Houston, the Gulf, the nation and the globe.

Dayton LOCAL INDUSTRIES • Gulf Inland Logistics Park • Insteel Industries – AMICO KLEMP • Global Tubing – PJF Fabrication • R&K Fabrication – Hammer & Steel • D.A.R.F. Fabrication • Fabrication & Construction Services • Sam’s Distribution Center

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South Liberty County Quarterly

35

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936-336-3611 thevindicator.com South Liberty County Quarterly

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Summer 2016

G.R.A.C.E. Initiative feeding seniors

BY GLENNDA HARDIN Contributing Writer A while back a friend who regularly calls her elderly friends to check on them reported this bit of a conversation. ation. “Could Could you bring me a sandwich? I sure am hungry.”

This woman lives in a complex full of other people. She sees them every day. It doesn’t seem possible that she should be in this kind of a fix. She wasn’t hungry because shee didn’t feel like cooking. She wasn’t hungry ngry because she hadn’t been to the store. re.

She was hungry because she had d no food, and no money to buy any. This is the plight of more and more of our seniors.

It is to address this need that G.R.A.C.E. Initiative of South Liberty County (Meals on Wheels) was formed. The letters are an acronym for Greater Respect for the Aging through Community Effort. There is a group of people who has been working on this for almost two years. The effort really kicked into gear in January of 2015.

That sounds like a long time ago (and it does to us, too), but it is a complicated process with lots of paperwork and red-tape and, of course, urse, fundraising.

We’ve had support from the Liberty rty County Commissioners’ Court, from a couple ple of churches, and from a number of individuals. ls. We have a great board who is working hard to gett this thing moving. We cannot stress enough, however, that the most important part of G.R.A.C.E. is Community Effort. This program, badly needed as it is, will not be successful without the full support of this community.

The elderly needy are all around us. We tend to think of needy seniors as folks who live in substandard housing, or who have no families to care for them or any number of other stereotypes.

But some of them are people who live in nice houses, but have outlived their money. Some of them are people who have family members who live far away and Summer 2016

don’t know their relatives are needy because, “Oh, I don’t want to be a bother.” Some of them are folks bother. folk who, if they were healthy, could care for themselves just ju fine, but because they aren’t healthy, they can’t can’t. There are many reasons for hunger among our ou older citizens.

Because those of us who began this project and have been most involved have never done this before—we’re just citineve zens, not social workers or restaurant zen managers any of the people you m might think of who would naturally be involved in something like this—our plan is to start small. We want to make our mistakes on a small scale, not a large one. Though our name suggests that we will serve all of south Liberty County, and we will eventually, we are beginning in the City of Liberty. Our clients will be those 60 years or older, and for the home-delivered meals they must be people who cannot leave their homes unassisted. When we begin the congregate meals, the b only requirement is 60 or older. on At this moment, besides the always present need for funds, our greatest needs and clients. We need volunare volunteers volunt teers to help us u get information on our clients, to deliver meals, to assist in the office, to build and maintain a website, and to do any of a number of other things that any paying business has to do. Volunteers will submit to a background check, and will need references, but the only other absolute requirement is a giving heart.

To help with the funding end, we’ve had an anonymous donor come forward with a challenge that began on May 16. He will match, dollar for dollar, all donations from then to June 15, up to and including $5000—that’s an easy $10,000! If you haven’t heard about this and you’d like to help double the money, the time is now! We’ll even accept donations that come in late, as long as they are postmarked no later than June 15.

South Liberty County Quarterly

37

From left Janice Petrey, Nina Mize, Glennda Hardin, Maxine Domain, Cecelia Longoria, Kenneth Herron, Frank Jordan, Mike Allison and Pam Milentz Photo and logo design by Carol Skewes

So, in sum, how can you help? Volunteer. Help us find those folks who need this program. Donate. Tell your friends and neighbors. Everybody in this community can do something. And if we don’t work together to accom-

plish this, many of our citizens who have given of themselves to this community will suffer.

G.R.A.C.E. Initiative is a 501(c)(3) so all donations are tax deductible.

BY THE NUMBERS Cost to taxpayers of Texas for each nursing home resident supported by Medicaid: $35,000/year Cost of delivering a meal to each of our clients: $1,140/year

CONTACT INFORMATION G.R.A.C.E. Initiative of South Liberty County PO Box 5047 Liberty, TX 77575 936-641-2846

Home-delivered meals help keep seniors out of nursing homes.

info@graceliberty.org

Cost of one day in the hospital: more than $1140

Donations may be made at FLNB

Avg. stay in the hospital for a senior citizen: 5.6 days 75% of hospital readmissions can be tied in some way to poor nutrition.

38

South Liberty County Quarterly

Summer 2016

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Thank You For Your Service 1939 Trinity • Liberty

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www.postoakbank.com Summer 2016

South Liberty County Quarterly

39

Photos by Jerry Michalsky

Snell is a winner on and off the court

BY JERRY MICHALSKY Sports Editor jerrymichalsky@aol.com

H

er winning percentage alone speaks for itself! But there is so much more you get when you play for Hardin head volleyball coach Regina Snell.

40

South Liberty County Quarterly

Summer 2016

In her 17th season at Hardin, all Snell has done is compile a very impressive record of 424 wins to just 98 losses. That is a winning percentage of over 83%.

This past year, Sell was awarded with the SE Texas Coaches of the Year Award in Volleyball at a ceremony in Beaumont this past January.

But that’s not the complete package of Snell. She also serves as an icon for the Lady Hornets program and is admired and respected by many in the community. Plus you will not meet a better person to work with or for your kids to play for. “She is like a second mom to me,” Summer 2016

said Hardin senior Kennedy Rives. “Playing for and getting to be around Coach Snell has been one of the best experiences of my life. She treats everyone fairly and is one of a kind. I remember coming in as a freshman and I was a little intimidated of her. But she took me in and made me feel very comfortable.”

This past year Rives and her teammates won another district championship and made it to the Regional Quarterfinals against East Bernard. It was the 13th district championship for Snell and her 15th playoff appearance.

South Liberty County Quarterly

Under Snell the Lady Hornets have also made it to the Area Championship nine times, with nine Regional Quarterfinal Appearances, four Regional Semi-Final Appearances, and two trips to the Regional Finals. “We have just tried to maintain consistency here at Hardin,” said Snell.

“We start working with them early on so when they get to the high school level they now what to expect from us.” Her coaching formula is not one that screams at you, but instead takes a calmer approach and works with the kids to show them what they are doing wrong 41

and then to get them to do it the right way,” said former Hardin player Laurel Arthur.

Arthur played for Snell from 20042007 and is now the head coach at West Hardin. “She has inspired me to be a coach,” said Arthur. Coach Snell not only has passion in sports but also in helping young people

out. She has given and taught me skills that I will use for the rest of my life.”

Twice under Snell the Lady Hornets were just a game away for making it to the state tournament.

“Of course as a coach you always set a goal of winning a state championship,” said Snell. “But I, and my

husband Randy, like what is going on here at Hardin. We get to work with some very special kids here and that is an extra bonus.” One way or another you can always count on the Hardin volleyball team playing in the playoffs and Snell getting her 500th win in the very near future.

BY THE NUMBERS 17 years Head volleyball at Hardin Play-offs 15 times District Champs 13 times Bi-District 14 times Area 11 times

42

Regional Quartfinals 9 times Regional Semi-final 4 times Regional finals 2 times District Coach of Year 12 SETX Coach Of Year.

Wins 424-98

South Liberty County Quarterly

Summer 2016

Atascocita • A/C & HTG Mechanical Contractors

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Summer 2016

South Liberty County Quarterly

Office 936-336-8214 Mobile 936-346-7485

Williamson LP Gas Family owned and operated since 1953

Chuck Williamson Sales PO Box 1000 Dayton, TX 77535 (3337 FM 1960) 936-258-2802 Office Phone 936-258-2233 Alternate Phone or Fax email-williasonlpgas@gmail.com

43

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1353 NORTH TRAVIS. LIBERTY, TX 77575 • 936-336-7316 LIBERTY COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT NO. 1

44

South Liberty County Quarterly

Summer 2016