Volume 94 Number 42
ˇ ´ VESTNIK S P J S T Benevolence
H
H E R A L D
Humanity
H
Brotherhood
October 25, 2006
ISSN —07458800
This
Lodge 219 El Paso Charters
SPJST welcomes Lodge 219, El Paso to its family. The lodge was chartered September 30. Pictured above is President Arnie Rivera. Photos on page 14.
~ Inside ~ Lodge 29 “Kolache Queen” Page 8 Lodge 92 tarok tournament
Lodge 87, Temple Member Finds Roots in Czech Republic By Art Fowler
summer, I was invited to go to the Czech Republic with three other people who were traveling there for the first time to visit their relatives. I didn’t think I would have much opportunity to search for my ‘roots’. My information was very limited, and there would not be much time. What took place, however, was quite miraculous. And, thanks to the assistance and generosity of people I encountered there, my trip was an incredible success. I had always known that my grandfather, Frank Matush, was born in the village of Horni Lidec, Moravia, and had immigrated to Texas in 1905 when he was 14 years old. His father had died, and he did not get along well with his new step-father, a
Pictured are, front, left to right, Maria Matus and Josef (son). BACK: Mayor Matus, Josef (grandson), Art Fowler, and Josef Matus.
Mr. Kurtin. My greatuncle, John Kurtin, immigrated to Texas in 1921 to work for his half-brother. This was about all I knew of my family in Moravia yet I always yearned to know more. While in Germany in the early 1970s with the army I thought of visiting Czechoslovakia, but my visa
requests were denied. I thought my chances were lost. So when this new opportunity became available, I had to try. The people I would be traveling with were Darlene Brown, her cousin John Ventrca, and his wife Lorraine. We would be staying with Lorraine’s
cousin Zdenka and her husband, Dr. Svatoslav Jancik, in the village of Myslocovice. This is close to the city of Zlin and only 30 miles from Horni Lidec. I began my search stateside. I found an internet telephone directory of last names in the Zlin area and got numbers for several Matus and Kurtin families. I also found a website for the village of Francova Lhota whose mayor was Karel Matus. I don’t speak Czech fluently but I was able to communicate well enough to learn that no one I talked with was a relative. But I did make an appointment with Mayor Matus to look at his family tree. His village, Francova Lhota, was only five kilometers from Horni Lidec, and we agreed to Please see Czech Roots on page 28.
Page 12 District Seven YAD scenes Page 21
District Two Core Challenge scenes Page 25
Interest Rates .....................3 Family Fun Dates ...............3 Sales Agent Classes..........3 District Activities................3 100 Pennies Donations .....4 Staff Honored .....................5 Lodge Letters .....................6 Reunions...........................17 In Memoriam.....................18 Youth .................................19 Czech Culture...................26 Activities Calendar...........30
Heritage Day at the State Fair of Texas
SPJST members from across Texas gathered at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas on October 8 to celebrate Heritage Day. LEFT PHOTO: District Two Honorary Director Frank Klinkovsky hugs Orel the SPJST mascot. CENTER PHOTO: District Three Youth Counselor/Publication Committee Member Bessie Petr gets hugs from her grandsons, 1995 SPJST State King CJ Novak, left, and Larry Petr. They are all members of Lodge 84, Dallas. RIGHT PHOTO: 2006-2007 State Duke Zachary McManus performs “The Little Red Handkerchief” dance with Melinda McClellan.