Etc Magazine Winter 2023

COVER STORY

Danville Church

pours work into God's plan with ministries

75 YEAR LEGACY

Skeeter Boats manufactures boats from its Kilgore headquarters

Winter 2023

Etcetera

Kilgore’s people, places — and the rest

C.B. DANSBY SCHOOL honored longtime principal’s legacy

e weren't planning this issue of Etcetera around any particular theme, but now that I'm looking at the entire issue, I think we have one: Legacy.

A legacy of excellence is what C.B. Dansby left for many of his Black students in Kilgore ISD at the time of his death in 1955 and what we look at in this issue's Hour Glass. The longtime principal's impact was remembered the next year when KISD renamed his school in his honor. When we reported in 2019 about a historical marker unveiling, former students talked about the legacy of the school and how important it was to remember. De’Lores Arline said the project was vitally important for former students and community members who see the landmark as a way to preserve their history.

“We wanted many of the older people to be able to experience it," Arline said. "We lost a lot of them along the way but we did want them to experience it because it probably means more to them than anyone.”

Legacy is also what Freeman Pierce and the Danville First Baptist Church are working towards, in that they want to use

WGod's will for their lives to transform the lives of others.

Reporter Sadiq King looks at how Pierce has been leading the church in redeveloping the Kilgore area with new buildings, a children's camp and a community pavilion.

"[Our new projects] will be accomplished in God’s time, in God’s will, and in God’s way," said Pierce. "There’s no doubt in our minds that it won’t become a reality. It will become a reality, and I’m 71 years old. I hope it becomes a reality in my lifetime. I don’t know that. I just know that God gave it to us to use, and we’re going to use it."

Reporter Lucas Strough looks at the legacy of the historic Crim Theater in downtown and how the city and others have started the restoration process. He also takes a look at Skeeter Boats, which has a rich 75-year legacy, 50 years of which has been in Kilgore so far. And with the announcement of a major expansion project with the Kilgore Economic Development Corporation, Skeeter should hopefully be sticking around for many more years.

As we go into 2023, Etcetera wants your input. Who's making a difference in the community and deserving of recognition? What's a cool thing you don't think many people know about? We're always looking for story ideas, and this year I would encourage you to let us know your suggestions and thoughts. Feel free to reach out via email with potential ideas at any time. We'll gladly take them!

MEREDITH SHAMBURGER, Editor

Meredith Shamburger • mshamburger@kilgorenewsherald.com

(903)

Pastor Freeman Pierce of Danville First Baptist Church speaks about the church's history and its plans for the future

PHOTO BY MICHAEL CAVAZOS

MINISTRY Danville

BY SADIQ KING | scooper@marshallnewsmessenger.com

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL CAVAZOS

Church pouring work into God’s plan through their ministries

First Baptist Church of Danville's mission is to reach those who no one else will.

Pastor Freeman Pierce of the First Baptist Church of Danville has been leading the church in redeveloping the Kilgore area with new buildings, a children's camp and a community pavilion. The church is looking to expand to make room for parking, education programs and second-chance programs.

"[Our new projects] will be accomplished in God’s time, in God’s will, and in God’s way," said Pierce. "There’s no doubt in our minds that it won’t become a reality. It will become a reality, and I’m 71 years old. I hope it becomes a reality in my lifetime. I don’t know that. I just know that God gave it to us to use, and we’re going to use it."

Pierce grew up in Jackson, Mississippi and attended Florence High School, where he met his wife. Faye Pierce, the church pianist in Danville, has been married to Pierce for 52 years. Tony Pierce, Clayton Pierce and Stacie Gattis are the couple's three children.

Pierce had been a pastor for over four years before coming to Danville. During this time, he brought some people into the church who his church did not want to serve. Pierce would quickly leave that church with the members he had brought in. He was then approached by a group of people who knew he had left that church and asked if he would consider coming to look at some property to start his own church. This group would meet on that property on the first Sunday of 2004 and decided they wanted Pierce as their pastor.

Because many motorcycle riders attend the church in Danville, a chapter of "Bikers for Christ" was formed. These individuals desired to ride motorcycles with a Christian group. The church's allure stems from its work with reformed criminals, recovering addicts and other marginalized groups.

"There was a boy named Philip Posey who came to the church," the pastor recalled. "He killed his wife. He had read an article about the church, and he came out here and wanted to join the church, but he wasn’t saved and didn’t know what that meant. I led him to Christ and baptized him here in the swimming pool because we didn’t have a baptistery. When he

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I just know that God gave it to us to use, and we’re going to use it...

- PASTOR FREEMAN PIERCE

went to prison, we began a prison ministry."

The prison ministry is for people who have visited the church and for people who the church has been informed about.

"We write them, mentor them and sponsor them."

The church works in tandem with the city. "They’ve got the best police chief that I’ve ever worked with," said Pierce. The church has been dedicated to holding Narcotics Anonymous meetings and recovery meetings through the East Texas Unshackled by Grace Ministry.

The church plans to convert its old worship facility into a recovery center and a fellowship hall. The educational space will then be converted into a recreational building where kids can meet, take classes and play air hockey or pool. The church currently lacks the necessary offices. They are working hard to build the new $1.5 million building without incurring debt. They plan to do it in stages. They have currently spent $65,000 on the land.

The children's campsite at Rocking W Christian Camp is in the early stages of renovation, but it is ready for use by any church that finds its current condition suitable. The old school building, which

currently houses the church, will be converted into a memorial pavilion. The church has blueprints and consultants for the new church building but is not yet ready to begin construction.

"I was sitting in my office and this Choctaw Indian came in and he said I want to give you 30 acres," recalled Pierce. "He said I want you to consider using it, although I’m not going to tell you how to use it, for kids who can’t afford to go to camp."

Pierce got together with his congregation at that point, and they decided to hold a nondenominational Christian children's camp. All churches are encouraged to use the campsite. If the visiting church prefers, the First Baptist Church of Danville offers to lead the program. The campsite is totally free

The church's efforts to build a community pavilion are an attempt to save the old school building where the church was founded and currently resides.

"We want a place for people to come and have a family reunion or a wedding," said Pierce. The pavilion will include a community park that the city will be able to use. "Now it won’t be a state-ofthe-art center, but it will be a place you can have gatherings."

1. Bobbye Hearell was an important role in the early days of Danville First Baptist Church. 2. Pastor Freeman Pierce of Danville First Baptist Church speaks about the church's history and its plans for the future 3. The Danville First Baptist Church building as it is today. 4. The second building to the church.

1. The building was originally erected in 1938 as Danville School. 2. and 3. Plans for the new church are shown. Danville FBC is constructing the buildings without incurring debt in the coming years.

75 YEAR LEGACY

Skeeter Boats manufactures boats from its Kilgore headquarters

BY LUCAS STROUGH | lstrough@kilgorenewsherald.com

PHOTOS BY LES HASSELL and CONTRIBUTED

Skeeter Boats CEO Jeff Stone

Skeeter Boats has been in business for three-quarters of a century, and for 50 of those years the company has called Kilgore home. The 240,000 square-foot boat manufacturing plant has become a familiar sight to locals.

While celebrating this historic milestone, the company recently announced a major development – with backing from the City of Kilgore and other stakeholders, the Kilgore Economic Development Corporation is entering into a purchase/sale agreement and economic development performance agreement to support the 75-year-old bass boat manufacturer’s purchase of the former Halliburton site on FM 349.

“What this project does for us is it gives us additional acreage: about 11 acres, which is greatly needed. We are bulging at the seams,” said Jeff Stone, Skeeter Senior Vice President.

“We’ve been here since the early 70s. We just celebrated 50 years of building boats in Kilgore. For the last several years, we’ve just run out of space. The City of Kilgore and Kilgore Economic Development Corp. came to us and said ‘We have this building.’

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They know what our business levels are, so we sat down with them and worked out a deal that we feel is very positive for the community and for the city as far as the tax base and economic impact, and also positive for Skeeter with the ability to grow.”

Holmes Thurmond built the first Skeeter boat in 1948 in Shreveport, and the company based its operations in Marshall and Longview before settling in Kilgore in the early 1970s.

Since then, the company – which serves 150 dealers nationwide and also ships to Canada and Japan – has made the City of Stars its international base of operations.

There is a long list of reasons Skeeter and Kilgore have been a good match for so long, Stone said.

“There’s a lot of things,” he noted.

“The city is so pro-business and welcoming. Just look at the other businesses that have chosen to locate here in the last two to three years. It’s a very friendly business environment.”

He also pointed out the friendly and neighborly local living environment, with good values and cost of living. This environment leads to a good employment base with high quality employees.

The location also allows Skeeter to work where many of their customers live.

“For our product, we build fishing boats and in East Texas, there’s a lot of lakes around here. There’s a lot of checkmarks on the list as to why we’ve been in Kilgore for 50 years and those are just a few of them,” Stone said.

The multi-phase project planned for the former Halliburton site will allow the company to make even greater strides in meeting customer demand for their products.

“There are several buildings on that 11-acre tract. The most important building is the 30,000 square-foot building that we will be utilizing to move some of our manufacturing of some of the smaller parts that go on our boats. Those processes will move from the current boat factory, which will give us additional capacity of about three boats a day. Currently, 12 boats a day is our max capacity. Once this project is completed, that will take us to about 15 boats a day,” he added.

Skeeter has been a major local employer since the 1970s, and this project will allow them to create even more local jobs.

“The transfer of the processes for the boat factory to this new facility will create about 15 jobs. It takes about 125 hours to build one of our boats. You’re looking at about 15 or so employees per boat. Once we have that capacity and once we fill that capacity, there will be other jobs that would come along once we increase production.”

1. Billy Davis checks for leaks after lowering a boat into a test tank. 2. Elizabeth Zarate Heredia finishes some of the final details to make a boat ready for delivery. 3. Dillon Wright performs a quality control check.

Plans coming together for Crim Theater restoration

BY LUCAS STROUGH | lstrough@kilgorenewsherald.com

PHOTOS BY LES HASSELL and CONTRIBUTED

Years of dreams, plans and ideas are finally coming together at the start of 2023 for the restoration of Kilgore’s historic Crim Theater.

In January, the Kilgore Area Chamber of Commerce’s E4 Leadership class donated a $66,000 check to Mayor Ronnie Spradlin to jumpstart renovations at the nearly century-old structure, first built in 1938.

However, the restoration process at the venue has been years in the making.

In 1969, the Crim Theater closed its location on Kilgore Street and reopened across the street in the Texan Theater after replacing the Texan's facade, according to Kilgore Historical Preservation Foundation. The original 1938 structure was used as a warehouse for a time and then sat disused until the 1990s.

A major comeback for the downtown area picked up steam in that decade, as the Kilgore Historical Preservation Foundation

completed initial renovations at the Texan. Eventually, KHPF obtained a lease agreement for both theaters from the city. Later, the foundation received a planning grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1988 for the theaters.

According to the foundation, an Association of Historic American Theaters architect completed a planning study of both Kilgore theaters and their roofs were replaced by 1990.

In 1993, the city designated portions of its hotel occupancy tax revenue toward restoring the theaters, and a restoration plan for the Texan was developed by 2000.

Repairs to the Texan began in 2002, with exterior renovations completed two years later, according to KHPF. In 2008, the lease for both the Crim and the Texan reverted back to the city, which continued the repair process.

Major interior renovations at the Texan began in 2017, allowing it to once again open for use, and the upgrades continue to this day.

Similar plans were on the books for the Crim, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed work for a couple of years.

“In late summer (2022), we had a couple of meetings about this,” City Manager Josh Selleck told council members at a recent council meeting.

“One of the things that we noted immediately was that everyone on the committee had a similar ‘best case scenario’ outcome in mind but we were all skeptical about what was actually possible. Is the facility structurally capable of being remodeled, renovated, restored? Could these plans fit inside of it? Is there enough space in adjacent properties, etc.?”

In December, the city approved spending $25,000 to hire Mark Thacker AIA for structural analysis and a feasibility/conceptual design for a 600 to 700 person fixed-seating cultural arts facility at the Crim. This followed other renovation work on the facade of the building earlier in 2022, including repairs to the marquee and awning.

With the donation from the E4 Leadership Class, interior renovation and repair work can finally begin and the Crim is well on its way to being restored to its former glory, similar to the Texan, but with a unique look and purpose.

Garden longer with less muscle strain and fatigue

BY MELINDA MYERS | Special to Etcetera

Keep gardening longer with less muscle strain and fatigue with these pain-free gardening techniques. You’ll not only keep your garden looking its best but also make it a more enjoyable experience.

Keep tools handy to reduce the number of trips from the garden back to your garage or shed. A garden tool bag or bucket with a wrap-around tool organizer works well for small hand tools. Purchase a mobile garden tool caddy or convert a discarded wheeled golf bag, shopping cart or wheeled trash bin into a tool caddy for long-handled tools. These make it easier to keep them handy as you move from garden to garden.

Store small tools right in the garden. Install an old mailbox in your garden filled with your favorite small hand tools and gloves. Then add a little paint or cover it with a mailbox planter or vine to make it an attractive and functional part of your landscape.

Keep tools clean and sharp. Regular maintenance will extend their life and improve their efficiency. It can also help reduce the risk of spreading disease.

Invest in ergonomic tools when replacement or new tools are needed. They have larger and softer handles for easier, less stressful gripping. Many are designed for the proper positioning of your body to reduce joint stress and fatigue. Longer handles extend your reach and help you retain good posture. Consider purchasing ratchet-type pruners designed to give you more cutting power with less effort.

Use wagons, carts or old snow saucer-type sleds for moving heavy items to the garden. You’ll need to make fewer trips, reduce muscle strain and save energy when moving mulch, potted plants and other items.

Divide heavy loads into smaller increments. You may need to make more trips, but it will be easier on your back and knees.

When shoveling, be sure to stand upright and take small scoops. Remember to pivot your body rather than twisting when emptying the load. Switch sides and take frequent breaks to reduce the risk of muscle strain and fatigue.

Protect your knees with kneelers or wrap-around kneepads. No matter your age or physical ability, you will benefit now and in the future by protecting your joints when gardening. These gardening accessories also reduce the pain and pressure on your joints. Kneelers with built-in handles make moving up and down easier, allowing you to garden longer.

Include a pair of safety glasses in your tool caddy. It is too easy to end up with a stick in the eye when pruning and working around trees and shrubs.

Take time to warm up before digging in. Gentle backbends and lunges are great ways to engage your muscles. Adjust your gardening activities to the weather. If it’s cold, try waiting for the weather to warm. If you are stiff in the morning, try gardening a bit later in the day.

Garden for shorter periods and try to take breaks every 15 to 20 minutes. Consider adding a few benches to the landscape to encourage you to sit, relax and enjoy your handiwork.

Wear gloves to protect your hands from cuts and bruises. Gloves also keep your hands warm and provide support as you dig, pluck and prune. Find a good-looking comfortable pair that you are likely to wear.

Protect your eyes and skin from sun damage. Wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. You’ll avoid sunburns and protect your skin from long-term damage. Keep yourself hydrated by drinking plenty of water as you garden.

Including these strategies in your gardening efforts can make gardening even more beneficial and enjoyable.

Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including the recently released Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV and radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and her website is www.MelindaMyers.com.

BY MEREDITH SHAMBURGER | mshamburger@kilgorenewsherald.com

C.B. Dansby School legacyhonored longtime principal’s

Abrief story in the June 8, 1955 paper announced the funeral for C.B. Dansby.

“Services for C.B. Dansby, 57, principal of the Kilgore Negro Schools since 1932, will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday from the Negro school gymnasium. A native of Kilgore, Dansby died June 1, shortly after suffering a heart attack while participating in the commencement program of the high school graduation.”

A year later, the Kilgore ISD school board had voted to rename the school Dansby once led in his honor, the June 3, 1956 paper reported: “KILGORE’S public school board has changed the name of the Colored School to the C.B. Dansby School, in honor of the late principal who headed the school for many years… This was an appropriate and well-deserved tribute to Professor Dansby.”

Kilgore residents voted in 1906 to create the Kilgore Independent School District, which included segregated schools for Black students, and in 1935 the district built a brick school for its Black students. According to a historical marker at the site, “The original building included seven classrooms, a principal's office, book room and 400- seat auditorium. A year later the school expanded with four additional classrooms and indoor plumbing. In 1939, growth

continued with a science and agriculture building, followed by a cafeteria in 1944 and a band hall in 1954.”

Dansby had been principal for nearly 25 years, and under his tenure the school expanded from six grades to 12, consolidating rural schools in the area.

Kilgore ISD desegregated in 1970, and Dansby High School served as housing for specialty classes for two years before it was closed. The building then became a multi-service community building and was demolished in 2013.

“Although no longer standing, the Kilgore colored and C. B. Dansby high schools provided a quality education to students all while teaching and providing love, care and respect,” the historical marker reads.

De'Lores Arline (left), chairwoman of the Dansby School memorial marker project, and Gem Meacham, secretary of the Gregg County Historical Commission, embrace after telling a crowd of Dansby alumni, Kilgore city officials and community members about the process of securing an official Texas historical marker at a 2019 unveiling ceremony.

The News Herald detailed the history of the school and C.B. Dansby’s legacy in a 2019 article “Marker helps preserve legacy of C.B. Dansby High School”:

History was made at C.B. Dansby High School in Kilgore and on Saturday that history was memorialized.

Alumni, former teachers, Kilgore city council members and old friends gathered where the school once stood at 630 Bates St. on May 25 to share memories, sing and view the unveiling of an Official Texas Historical Marker commemorating the school’s history.

The marker describes how the school served African-American students during segregation and continued to serve local children after schools were integrated in 1970.

Rev. Ray Geter and Lucenia Taylor, both C.B. Dansby graduates of the class of 1970, opened the gathering with an invocation and welcome message before Johnny King, chairman of the Gregg County Historical Commission, thanked those in attendance for witnessing the historic moment.

“On behalf of the commission, we just want to say thank you and we’re glad we’re a part of this,” King said.

“It was a long process and this is going to be the culmination of that process.”

GCHC was a major force behind the acquisition of the marker and chairwoman Gem Meacham told the audience about the work involved.

“My passion with the commission are these markers because, as you know, the Dansby building is not here anymore but we have what we call a site marker to commemorate and memorialize the fact that it was here. We will pass and generations behind us will

know that this was a special place to this neighborhood and to this generation,” Meacham said.

C.B. Dansby High, formerly called Kilgore Colored School, was named after its former principal, who led the school for nearly 25 years. His tenure ended when he died during a graduation ceremony in 1955.

While principal, Dansby expanded the school from six grades to 12 and oversaw the construction of additional classrooms and the installation of indoor plumbing at the school.

The school was constructed in 1935 by Kilgore ISD for the education of African-American students. It was renamed C.B. Dansby High School in 1956, the year after Dansby died.

Odis Turner served as principal until August 8, 1970, when Kilgore schools were desegregated.

The school stayed open for two more years, used for KISD specialty classes. Eventually, investors purchased the property, turning it into a multi-service community facility. The city of Kilgore later took ownership of the property and decided to demolish the buildings in 2013.

De’Lores Arline, leader of the memorial project, read the audience a message from Dr. Phyllis Dansby Fisher, daughter of C.B. Dansby, who was unable to attend the ceremony.

“My father, C.B. Dansby, was always aware of the need of documents to preserve our oral traditions. Surely he is smiling today looking down fondly on the efforts that have been made to preserve the school area. We appreciate all that have worked so

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Left, Rev. Ray Geter, along with other members of the Dansby High School class of 1970, lead a crowd of other alumni and Kilgore community members in a worship hymn before a state historical marker at the site where the school once stood at 630 Bates St. is unveiled in 2019.

hard to make this a reality.”

After a song led by members of the class of 1970, the assembly gathered around the memorial marker, draped in red cloth, at the edge of the field where the Dansby School once stood.

As the covering was pulled away, the crowd, dozens strong, cheered and embraced one another.

After gathering for photos with the marker, the crowd joined their voices to sing the Dansby High School Song. Afterwards, some remarked they hadn’t sung the tune since 1970, yet still remembered the words.

Meacham had one word to sum up the atmosphere of the unveiling.

“Joyful,” she said, looking at the former classmates laughing and reminiscing.

Seeing the alumni happy and knowing a permanent marker was in place made the long effort worth it, she said.

“It’s a lengthy process,” she added, describing the commission’s work filing an application for historical recognition from the state, which took two years.

The process was even lengthier for Arline, who championed the effort years ago when it was just an idea.

“It’s hard to put a number on that because we talked about it for a long time,” she said.

“We actually submitted the marker in 2015 and we received the ‘OK’ in 2016 and we received the marker in 2017. By the time they

made (the foundation for the marker), it was 2018.”

The memorial marker was funded by Dansby alumni, she said, and Kilgore Mayor Ronnie Spradlin helped fund it as well.

Arline said the project was vitally important for former students and community members who see the landmark as a way to preserve their history.

“We wanted many of the older people to be able to experience it. We lost a lot of them along the way but we did want them to experience it because it probably means more to them than anyone.”

Another bench with a picture of the school etched into it may be placed in the future. The historical marker is important to preserve the story of Dansby High because not many records were made while the facility was open.

“There only were two annuals printed at the school, in ‘66 and ‘55,” she said. Scanned images from those yearbooks, as well as pictures of students and faculty, are available for viewing at a blog set up to preserve documents from the school. They can be viewed at www.KCHS-CBDHS-EES.blogspot.com.

After years of effort, Arline said the memorial ceremony was a momentous occasion for her and others who want to keep the memory of Dansby High alive.

“If I were not so tired, I would dance,” she said, laughing.

“I am elated. I am just so glad to see this happen.”

Adoption

can help you find a feline friend

Adopting a shelter or rescue cat is a great way to establish a lasting friendship with an animal in need of a forever home. If the adoption process seems daunting, however, there are a few considerations to make beforehand to ensure an easy experience.

Paula Plummer, a veterinary technician at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences’ Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital and certified Cat Friendly Veterinary Professional, says that the first step when considering adoption is to examine your work schedule and home life.

“Reflection of your home and work life may help you determine what age cat is best for you,” Plummer said. “Kittens are still learning about everything in life; they are curious and playful. Depending on the kitten’s history and age, they may require litter box training or transitioning from kitten milk to solid food.

“Adult cats can still be curious and playful, but to a lesser degree,” she said. “This is when they start becoming more set in their behaviors. Older cats or seniors are typically not playful and will normally start to experience age-related changes. This could require adjustments to a new environment that might take a little longer than with a younger cat.”

Between daily treatments and veterinary visits, medical needs also will affect the amount of time and attention a new cat will require. While at a shelter or rescue, asking about previous veterinary visits and health care records is important to ensure that the cat is up to date on its medical needs before bringing the new pet home.

Additionally, Plummer recommends asking about the cat’s

personality to determine if it will make a good fit for the family. This is especially important if there are children or pets in the household already.

“Gaining as much information about the behaviors, likes and dislikes, and routine is very helpful when bringing a new cat into a household,” Plummer said. “If pets or children are in the house, knowing how the new pet interacts with them will be important.

“If possible, have any existing pet and/or child meet the new cat before adoption to get an idea of how everyone interacts together,” she said. “Pet owners should seriously consider if any pets in the house might be unfriendly to the new cat to ensure that it will not be harmed.”

Once you’re sure that you want to bring home a new furry friend, timing for the adoption also should be a consideration in order to make the transition as smooth as possible.

“The addition of another pet into the house will cause a layer of stress to existing pets for a period until the family is a cohesive unit,” Plummer said. “If existing pets are ill or exhibiting behavioral problems, a new addition to the family can be postponed.”

Plummer also recommends waiting until the home has stabilized if any other big changes have been made recently, such as a move or other addition to the family.

Bringing home a new cat can make for a deeply rewarding experience for all involved. By being mindful of the considerations to make beforehand, you can ensure that the new pet will be a good fit for the household and, in doing so, have the opportunity to provide the love and care that an animal deserves.

SPECIAL TO ETCETERA