Volume 95 Number 40
ˇ ´ VESTNIK S P J S T Benevolence
H
H E R A L D
Humanity
H
Brotherhood
October 10, 2007
ISSN —07458800
Blake Heap Drums at Lodge 29, Taylor
Lodge 29, Taylor Youth Club member Blake Heap joins the Czech Melody Masters for a session playing the drums during a Friday night dance at the Taylor SPJST Hall. Blake also sits in on sessions with other bands on Friday nights. Paul Schlesinger of the Texas Pioneers let Blake play the drums when the band played both of his greatgrandpa’s famous songs. Blake is the great-grandson of the late Jimmy Heap, who had “Wild Side of Life” and “Release Me” as his signature songs. —Submitted by Cristy Girod, Youth Leader
~ Inside ~ Lodge 8 collects books Page 10
SPJST Officially Welcomes Lodge 271, Laredo
SPJST Supreme Lodge Vice President Gene McBride presents a gavel to Lodge 271, Laredo President Sharon Macias at the lodge’s organizational meeting on September 29 in Laredo. More photos next week.
Celebrate Czech Heritage Month - October 1 to 31 The Vestnik will feature Czech fun activities throughout the month. Enter for your chance to win one of several Czech prizes. See page 4.
Lodge 81, Needville Member Jerry Kubala Achieves Grand Age of 96
Lodge 160 gives to program Page 14 State King’s Notebook Page 20
Lodge 196 member shares letter Page 28
Family Fun Dates ...............3 Interest Rates .....................3 100 Pennies List ................3 District News ......................5 Lodge Section ....................7 Reunions...........................17 Youth .................................19 Vestnik Project .................21 In Memoriam.....................22 Czech Culture...................24 Activities Calendar...........30
The SPJST congratulates
Brother Jerry Kubala, a member of Lodge 81, Needville, who celebrated his 96th birthday on September 11, 2007. Brother Kubala is now entitled to all SPJST member benefits with no further dues or assessments required. Jerry L. Kubala was born September 11, 1911, in the Austro-Hungarian Empire to parents Rozalie and Frank Kubala, both from the Austrian-Hungarian Empire. The couple was also blessed with children Lassie (Jackson), Alice (Sindel), and Walter, who are all deceased; and Ernest who resides in Rosenberg.
He married his wife Frances (Wasicek) in 1935 in Houston. At the time of Jerry and Frances’ 1935 marriage, the couple resided in Houston where Jerry was working for Houston Lighting and Power. Their daughter Jere Nell was born in Houston in 1940. When Jere Nell was six months old, Jerry went to work for Gravity Meter Exploration Co. which was headquartered in Houston. During the next 10 years, they traveled to many states surveying for oil. The family has always had many fond memories of sights seen, good friends made, and many good times enjoyed.
Upon retirement from Gravity Meter Exploration in 1949, the family moved to Rosenberg, built a home and immediately became “on site” landlords for the small house and garage apartment they had built during the 1930s and the duplex apartment in their new home. Many people still living in the Rosenberg area have such fond memories of Jerry and Frances as they became surrogate parents to many young renters. Along with maintaining three apartments, always with Frances’ help, Jerry became a fireman on the Port of Houston fireboat, The Captain Crotty, where he
Happy 96th birthday to Jerry L. Kubala of Lodge 81, Needville.
stayed until his retirement in 1976. During this time, he Please see Age 96 on page 8.