Vestnik 2016 01 06 memories

ˇ ´ VESTNIK

Volume 104 Number 1

S P J S T Benevolence

H E R A L D

★ Humanity ISSN —07458800

★ Brotherhood

January 6, 2016

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Treasured Memories of SPJST

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ˇ ´ VESTNIK SPJST HERALD

SPJST HOME OFFICE PO Box 100 • Temple, Texas 76503 800-727-7578 • 254-773-1575 Fax: 254-774-7447 www.spjst.org VĚSTNÍK EDITOR/ DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATION MELANIE ZAVODNY, FIC Office: 254-773-1575 • Mobile: 254-534-0807 VĚSTNÍK Fax: 254-773-8087

email: m e l a n i e z @ v v m . c o m

SUPREME LODGE PRESIDENT BRIAN VANICEK, FIC Office: 254-773-1575 Mobile: 254-534-2902 • Home: 254-985-0007 email: vanicek@spjst.com VICE PRESIDENT CLIFTON COUFAL Office: 254-773-1575 Mobile: 254-931-5231 email: cliftonc@spjst.com

SECRETARY-TREASURER LEONARD D. MIKESKA, FIC Office: 254-773-1575 Mobile: 254-721-4739 • Home: 254-778-3720 email: leonardm@spjst.com

DISTRICT ONE DIRECTOR/CHAIRMAN DONNIE VICTORICK, FIC, CFFM P.O. Box 85, Snook, Texas 77878-0085 Home: 979-272-3265 • Mobile: 979-224-3125 email: dv.aggie@verizon.net DISTRICT TWO DIRECTOR JESSE POSPISIL 4710 FM 1331, Taylor, Texas 76574-2164 Home: 512-365-1110 • Mobile: 512-826-7371 email: jlpospisil@yahoo.com

DISTRICT THREE DIRECTOR JOHN ENGELKE 6475 Gholson Road • Waco, Texas 76705-5330 254-799-4247 email: john.engelke@hotmail.com DISTRICT FOUR DIRECTOR BILLY ROLLWITZ, FIC, CFFM P.O. Box 195, Rowena, Texas 76875-0195 Home: 325-442-3141 • Mobile: 325-277-5362 Office: 325-442-3038 • email: brollwitz@verizon.net

DISTRICT FIVE DIRECTOR LARRY W. PFLUGHAUPT, FIC 1243 Clovis Rd, Houston, Texas 77008-6232 Home: (713) 864-2163 • email: lpflugh@aol.com DISTRICT SIX DIRECTOR KAREN KASPAR, FIC, CFFM 8550 N. State Highway 71 El Campo, Texas 77437-9819 Home: 979-543-2532 • Mobile: 979-332-1616 email: k-kaspar@hotmail.com

DISTRICT SEVEN DIRECTOR BOB J. BAYER, FIC 1100 Hospital Blvd, Floresville, Texas 78114-2912 Home: 830-393-9073 email: blackbayer39@hotmail.com FRATERNAL FIELD MANAGERS DISTRICTS ONE/TWO/THREE Philip (Phil) McBee, FICF, CFFM Mobile: 325-647-1949 • Fax: 325-784-7448 email: philipmcbee@aol.com DISTRICTS FOUR/SEVEN Bobby Davis, FICF, CFFM Mobile: 325-450-3748 • Fax: 325-657-2003 email: bgdsr2428@aol.com DISTRICTS FIVE/SIX Delisle Doherty Mobile: 254-239-9616 • Mobile: 832-232-2049 email: delisled@spjst.com

FINANCIAL SECRETARY ROY VAJDAK 254-773-1575 email: royv@spjst.com

STATE FRATERNAL ACTIVITIES COORDINATOR FRANK HORAK Office: 254-773-1575 • Mobile: 254-534-0681 email: frankh@spjst.com STATE YOUTH DIRECTOR LYNETTE TALASEK Office: 254-773-1575 • Mobile: 254-931-0639 email: lynettet@spjst.com

DISTRICT YOUTH COUNSELORS District One - Sharon Russell, 1292 CR 441, Dime Box, Texas 77853 • 979-884-0807 - sharonrussell28@yahoo.com District Two - Patsy Koslovsky, 764 S. St. Joseph Road, Burlington, Texas 76519-3108 - 254-985-2396 patsyk2011@yahoo.com District Three - Kay Weeks, 4203 Treehaven Ct, Arlington, Texas 76016 • 817-896-5277 - kgweeks@att.net District Four - Pam Lehmann, PO Box 637, Tahoka, Texas 79373-0637 - 806-561-5105 - plehmann@poka.com District Five - Barbara Linney-Gonzales - 6043 Pineway Blvd., Houston, Texas 77023-6510 - 713-649-6138 - district5dyc@aol.com District Six - Lisa Bubela, 1405 Divide Street, El Campo, Texas 77437 - 979-543-7120 lisa_bubela@yahoo.com District Seven - Theresa Haag, 1334 Rivercrest Drive New Braunfels, Texas 78130 - 830-625-8262 theresa.haag686@gmail.com

BY-LAW COMMITTEE District One - Richard Ford, 2392 CR 424, Dime Box, Texas 77853 - 979-884-1451 - dimebox5@aol.com District Two - Ronnie Rieger, 350 Rieger Road, Coupland, Texas 78615 - 512-365-2000 - 512-848-2416/cell - RonnieR1056@yahoo.com District Three - Kay Lynn Kovar, 3303 West Lake Bardwell Drive, Ennis, Texas 75119 - 972-875-6827 District Four - Beverly J. Teplicek, 817 FM 381, Rowena, Texas 76875 - 325-442-4841 - bjtep@verizon.net District Five - Mildred Holeman, 4001 North Shepherd, Suite 112, Houston, Texas 77018 - 713-683-0018 - mmholeman@yahoo.com District Six - Joe Siptak, 2312 Norvell, Bay City, Texas 77414 - 979-244-4415; 979-479-0056 cell District Seven - Oscar Korus, 2565 Bruce Road, Poteet, Texas 78065 - 830-391-4169 - oscarkorus@gmail.com

FINANCE COMMITTEE District One - Thomas Cannon, P.O. Box 372, Caldwell, Texas 77836 - 979-567-4264 - jtcannon60@hotmail.com District Two - Edwin Pechal, 10660 State Highway 53, Temple, Texas 76501 - 254-985-2282 Edwin_Pechal@yahoo.com District Three - Michael Galler, 526 Karen, Waco, Texas 76706 - 254-662-4934 - mgaller@brazoselectric.com District Four - Herman D. Weise, 6006 FM Highway 765, San Angelo, Texas 76905 - 325-651-8550 - hdweise@zipnet.us District Five - Marceil Malak, 7444 Meiners Road, Ledbetter, Texas 78946-5118 - 979-249-5940 malaktax@gmail.com District Six - Glenn Kaminsky, 902 River Oaks Court, East Bernard, Texas 77435 - 979-335-4461 - gkamink@live.com District Seven - Roy Haag, 1334 Rivercrest Drive, New Braunfels, Texas 78130-3438 - 830-625-8262 39roha@gmail.com INSURANCE COMMITTEE District One - Susan Skrabanek, 2657 FM 166, Caldwell, Texas 77836 - 979-272-3440 District Two - Dolores Skrabanek, 13107 State Highway 53, Temple, Texas 76501 - 254-985-2344 District Three District Four - Leonard Jansa, 6617 Plainview Drive, San Angelo, Texas 76905 - 325-234-8117 District Five - Helen Hegwood, 6702 Lindy Ann Lane, Houston, Texas 77008 - 713-864-0489 District Six - Charles Bucek, P.O. Box 147, East Bernard, Texas 77435 - 979-335-4118 District Seven - Wendy Pruski, 3895 CR 430, Pleasanton, Texas 78064 - 210-535-4916

PUBLICATION COMMITTEE District One - Floyd Kostelka, 1914 CR 403, Dime Box, Texas 77853 - 979-540-8531 District Two - Tammy Cannon, 141 Meadow Park Drive, Georgetown, Texas 78626 - 512-948-5339 - tcannon4715@yahoo.com District Three - Bessie Petr, 5406 Morningside, Dallas, Texas 75206 - 214-826-3557 District Four - Sharon Hohmann, 222 Crestwood Drive, San Angelo, Texas 76903 - 325-651-5884 District Five - Lorenda Baldwin, 219 CR 47, Angleton, Texas 77515 - 979-922-1279 District Six - Helen Kelner, 911 Avenue K, Rosenberg, Texas 77471 - 281-342-2624 District Seven - Jarolyn Popp, 447 Shady Hollow, New Braunfels, Texas 78132 - 830-964-5135 HUMAN RESOURCES DEBBIE KLINKOVSKY 254-773-1575 • email: debbiek@spjst.com

Editor’s Note

By Melanie Zavodny

Treasure of SPJST Memories

Besides attending lodge meet-

ings, dances, socials, and other events at Flag Hall (Lodge 24, Cyclone) and Star Hall (Lodge 47, Seaton), my earliest memory of SPJST is my parents teaching me how to pronounce SPJST in Czech. My dad was a sales representative, and I remember how proud I was when I recited “Slovanská Podporující Jednota Státu Texas” to District Two Sales Representative Lad Zatopek when he stopped by to visit one day. And, it was a great day when my mom and fellow lodge members encouraged shy, five-year-old little me to step up on that great big stage at Flag Hall in front of what seemed like hundreds of people at the lodge meeting to recite those same Czech words!

The pages of this special Věstník feature SPJST memories and stories that many members have graciously shared over the past year or so. These are historical recollections. My thanks to these members for composing their thoughts and submitting the articles and photos. What treasured memories these are.

I love to visit with our members and listen to their very special SPJST memories and stories - some from 50 or more years ago . . . some from last week. All of us are walking, breathing, living history books of SPJST. We are writing SPJST’s story - and what a special story it is. Today’s moments are tomorrow’s memories.

Each day - each moment - is an important milestone in our lives which does not come back to us even if we want it to. So enjoy this day and make sure you treasure all these memories for the future where a simple recall will make you smile wholeheartedly.

Please continue to write down your SPJST stories and memories and send them to the Věstník. We will run them as space permits.

Thank you once again, dear members, for sharing your stories and for your treasured membership in SPJST. For it is you - the members - that are the genuine treasures of SPJST. [SPJST\

Inside This Věstník

Treasured Memories from our Members...................................Pages 3 to 17 An SPJST Family Tradition . . . Times Three..........................Pages 18 to 20 SPJST Home Office Staff Share Treasured Memories............Pages 21 to 23 Treasured Memories - SPJST LAM and Otto Hanus..............Pages 24 to 31

SPJST Mission Statement Insuring and enriching lives.

SPJST Vision Statement

Our vision is to provide a wholesome family environment; to encourage cherished Czech traditions; and to provide high quality, competitive life insurance for our members.

VĚSTNÍK, (USPS 658480) is published weekly except the third week of October and the fourth week of December by VĚSTNÍK, P.O. Box 100, Temple, TX 76503-0100. Subscription rates are $25 per year for non-members. Members’fees are paid as part of the insurance fee collected by SPJST, 520 North Main, Temple, TX 76501. Second-class postage paid at Temple, TX and additional mailing offices. The exchange of opinions, ideas and information is a vital aspect of our fraternal Society and enables us to make more informed decisions. The views expressed by writers in the Věstník do not necessarily represent the views of the Editor or SPJST management. Please sign all correspondence intended for publication. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to VĚSTNÍK c/o Financial Secretary Roy Vajdak, P.O. Box 100, Temple, TX 76503-0100.

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Treasured Memories of SPJST

Tarok game leads to SPJST membership

By Hilda (Belcik) Demel Lodge 67, Schulenburg

After my husband retired in 1982, he liked to play Taroks. I didn’t know how to play and decided I had to learn because I didn’t want to stay home while he went to play. We didn’t belong to SPJST and to play taroks and dominoes in the state tournaments, you had to be a member. We took out annuities on October 17, 1990. We made just about every tournament and won a lot of trophies and prizes. We also met a lot of very nice people.

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Staying in touch through the Věstník

By Frances Carol (Dusek) McGill Lodge 80, Holland

“SPJST Memories” remind me when my family and I would read the Věstník in Czech. Knowing that as members we would have life insurance was good.

Reading about members and activities would help you stay in touch. I like all the activities from all the lodges and the recipes . . . contests are fun, too. Also you can get lessons in Czech, read Czech, and learn about the immigrants who came from Czechoslovakia. Going to SPJST picnics . . . dances . . . all the good Czech food and kolaches are great fun and memories our family had.

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Youth Program an outlet to pursue talents and learn to be successful

By Deborah Spanel Lodge 20, Granger

Both my daughters were in the SPJST Youth Program, and as their mother, I can tell you how much this meant to both them and me!

First of all, both my husband and I were transplants to the small town of Granger, Texas. We arrived in the early 1980s when new people were very rare in Granger. Norma Cavanaugh and Rubie Loessin were some of the few people to reach out to us, and they both told me about the great youth program that SPJST had. Since I am Czech and adored my maternal Czech grandparents, joining a friendly Czech organization seemed like a good idea to me.

My grandparents had never been members of SPJST . . . maybe because there was not a lodge in Ganado where they lived, or maybe because they already were members of Catholic Czech organizations. But even though these Czech Catholic organizations also existed in Granger, they only approached me many years later.

Emilie Tischler was the youth leader at Granger, and she wisely invited us to attend a Youth Achievement Day (YAD) program so we could see what the youth program had to offer. I was so impressed with the youth and their talents. These children could sew, cross-stitch, sing, dance, paint, assemble kits, do scientific experiments, and give speeches. And, the best thing was that they could submit these talents to be judged so they could see how they measured up to other youth their ages. I especially liked how this fostered healthy competition and hard work - since I believe both are needed to succeed in this world.

I was completely sold, and even though I did not have these kinds of talents myself, I took out insurance policies for both myself and my children. Thus, both of my children became youth club members from the time they were little and remained active members until they graduated from high school.

They participated in every YAD, and therefore learned how to do many different kinds of crafts and

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also learned how to perform before an audience.

Many times they won first place in one or more categories and thus were eligible for state completion.

My oldest daughter Laura won first place at state for her skit, “Possum Come a Knockin’” and two SPJST scholarships among many other state awards. Once she graduated, she went on to attend Texas A&M University and graduated with honors with a bachelor of science degree in geography.

My daughter Cara won District Two Queen, runner-up to State Queen, first place in science, third place in special category, second place in state individual talent with her original “GoGo Dance,” and an SPJST scholarship. She also attended Texas A&M University from where she graduated with honors in molecular and cell biology.

Laura is now a mom to four of my six beautiful grandchildren and is a geographical information specialist, and Cara graduated from University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas with a master’s degree in molecular and cellular biology and is mother to two of my beautiful grandchildren.

Both of my girls give SPJST credit for developing skills that they might never have developed had not their mom been approached by SPJST members Norma Cavanaugh and Rubie Loessin. I sincerely thank these two women for introducing us to the SPJST Youth Program which gave my children an outlet to pursue different types of talents, and in the process, to learn what it takes to compete and be a success in this world.

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Treasured Memories of SPJST

Christmas parties at Lodge 66, Waco

By Ronald Dwayne Neumann Lodge 66, Waco

I have been a member of SPJST Lodge 66, Waco at Linden Hall in Elm Mott, Texas, since I was less than a year old back around 1968. My grandfather was a lifelong member as well of SPJST Lodge 66 in Elm Mott.

I always will remember attending the annual Christmas parties with my family that were held in the first part of December. At one of the Christmas parties when I was about three years old, I went up to the stage where the band was going to play and took the microphone down. I was going to entertain the audience members myself while the band was

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not playing and the other children were playing on the dance floor. My mother, grandfather, and grandmother were so embarrassed that my uncle had to come get me off the stage.

Every year, my family and I attended the annual Christmas party at Lodge 66’s Linden Hall until they stopped having the party a few years back. My family always enjoyed visiting with old friends some we would only see once a year at the party.

What a shame a lodge as large as SPJST Lodge 66 stopped having the annual tradition of their party every December for its dedicated members. Even Linden Hall, the home of SPJST Lodge 66, has been sold, and they have no permanent meeting place any longer.

I have a lot of good memories from all of those parties.

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Member Finds Old Lodge 24, Cyclone Photo

By Jerry Wayne Macek • Lodge 229, Abilene

I found a picture in the belongings of my dad Joe G. Macek from years back.

He has been deceased many years now.

This - as I remember back - was the old location of Flag Hall, SPJST Lodge 24, Cyclone, when it was in its old location across and down the street. Dad had the picture because Joseph S. Macek - his daddy and my grandfather - are in the picture right under the flag, second one to the right in the picture under the flag. My cousin Marilyn Herring could probably tell more about the

SPJST life insurance . . . a life saver

By Betty Lovelace Lodge 24, Cyclone

My memories of SPJST include Dot Chervenka.

She was a close friend for many years and allowed me to buy an insurance policy through the SPJST lodge. It was a great investment! SPJST has always been helpful through the years and was a lifesaver when Joe became terminally ill. SPJST wrote me a check the very day I requested it for his care. Thanks, SPJST, for your integrity!

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Met future husband in 1942

By the late Celestine (Veselka) Darilek Lodge 88, Houston

I met Rudy Darilek at SPJST in 1942, and we were married six months later on November 26, 1942. We spent our Saturday nights dancing at Lodge 88, Houston with friends and family.

Rudy and I were delegates and enjoyed the SPJST Conventions.

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SPJST . . . a place to go picture. Her mother Emily Georgia (Macek) May was my aunt.

My mom is LaRita E. (Macek) Cartwright. I am a new member now at Lodge 229, Abilene.

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By Martin and Shirley (Payne) Narendorf Lodge 88, Houston

Many years ago, my eight children had a place to go. I like very much the way Czechs take care of children. Shirley and I enjoyed Lodge 88, Houston very much - by going there to eat and for many

VĚSTNÍK polka dances. Before we got married, we had fun dancing upstairs at Robbie Street. You had to wear a tie, or you did not get in. I am German and grew up in Freyburg. At the age of 18 in 1943, I had to go to World War II. I hated very much what Hitler and the Russians did to the Czechs. I enjoy Czechs because they are very good people. Shirley and I were married on January 16, 1949. We will soon be married 67 years. I am 91, and she is 86.

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Mother buys SPJST insurance before son leaves to service

By Charles J. Zotyka, Sr. Lodge 28, East Bernard

In 1945, I graduated from high school. Uncle Sam sent me an invitation to be one of his occupation troops in Germany. So before I went, Mom

Treasured Memories of SPJST

went upstairs in the SPJST building to buy an insurance policy for me. She couldn’t afford much so she only bought $1,000 which cost 25 cents, which she could afford.

We attended many meetings at the hall upstairs prior to 1945 and danced many circles around the old square hall. We (kids) liked the Sokol rings that hung from the ceiling and that was a “no-no” for us, but we did it anyway and never fell or broke anything. So after the Sydlers bought the building, it was off-limits. They finally took the SPJST circle,

Hlahol Drama Club at Lodge 88, Houston and Remembering Dan and the Boys

In the late 1950s, being a member of Lodge 88, Houston, I joined the lodge’s Dramatic Club.

I think was called Hlahol Drama Club. I performed in one specific three-act Czech play I believe was entitled Dva Kovari v Mestej “Two Blacksmiths in Town”. Our director and his wife asked me to sing solo on the same song as the title of the play. Well, not familiar with the melody, we worked Dan Pavlas on it one verse at a time. After a few hours, I got it down perfectly.

They both were very satisfied.

On the day of the play, the SPJST hall at 20th and Studewood was packed. Of course, being only 30, this Czech boy was a bit nervous. I had a lot of other parts so as the play progressed, I loosened up a lot. My song was performed in Act 3 so I was relaxed and feeling great. I did a superb job on the solo song. I remember a hug round of applause and a big smile from my director. I had to do an encore singing a duet with the director’s wife, who was very talented and excellent as well as they were both natives from Czechoslovakia. Oh, what a day!

I also want to mention I remember singing and having fun with Tim and Naomi Kostom, Helen Hegwood, Rudy Sefcik, the Sulas from Fayetteville, Birdie Hilsher, and tons of others too numerous to name.

Now you ask me what does SPJST mean to me?

Well, there are not enough adjectives to describe this organization but here are a few: Number one is friendship, loyalty, faithfulness, and of course, the Czech atmosphere that I was raised on . . . Za plat pan buh.

A few years later, I formed a band with my three sons - Greg, David, and Darrell (all of SPJST Lodge 88, Houston), a neighbor boy named

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By Dan Pavlas • Lodge 81, Needville Mike Gest, and Mark Hoffman.

We called the band Dan and The Boys.

We were kept pretty busy playing a variety of music and appearing at SPJST hall on 15th and Beall in Houston; Lodge 81, Needville; Lodge 142, Houston; Knights of Columbus halls; Dan Pavlas, his three sons and other musicians had a polka band in the 1970s VFWs; American and 1980s known as Dan and the Boys.

Legion halls; Hotel America; Warwick Hotel; Shanghai Red; and nu- at the request of former KFRD DJ Ben Oldag, and the birth of his oldest daughter Patricia after a New Year’s merous other locations.

The band utilized 18 instruments and had a Eve gig at the American Legion Hall in Needville.

Dan’s love for polka music is credited to his father great sound.

Julius (Lodge 29, Taylor), who for contract purposes Editor’s Note: Dan shared an editorial from the adopted the stage name Adolf as it was more German November 3, 2011, Fort Bend Herald titled “Dan the than Julius.

His band was called Adolf and the Gold Chain BoBoys back in action” by Elizabeth Morales. The column hemians, and they had a radio contract sponsored by shares Dan’s story.

General Mills.

“It all started several years ago when Dan left his In 1935, General Mills paid for a bus, uniforms for sons, David and Greg, at his parent’s house for their summer vacation. David was 10 at the time, and Greg the band, and other items as part of the recording deal.

Julius worked as song arranger and trumpet player was 11. for the band, and when that contract expired, he beWhen Dan and his wife Gloria (Lodge 81, Needville) returned to pick up their boys, the kids could- came manager and accordion player of Adolf and The n’t wait to play the two-part harmony song their Boys.

The bands are referenced in a book and CD labeled, grandfather had written just for them.

“Jimmy Brosch Remembers 20 Legendary Texas Czech David played alto sax and Greg played coronet, a Polka Bands.” ( Jimmy, who was a member of SPJST sister instrument of the trumpet, and so Dan and The Lodge 88, Houston, passed away on March 4, 2013.)

Boys began.

Julius can trace back his passion to his father, Felix They began playing weddings, company parties, and Pavlas, who migrated to Schulenburg from Brno, anniversaries at places such as Bill Mraz Ballroom in Czechoslovakia and brought his music with him.

Houston, SPJST, Knights of Columbus halls, Warwick Felix passed down his original song sheets, written Hotel, Shanghai Red, Hotel America, and other venwith a feathered pen, to his son Julius then to grandson ues throughout Texas.

The band consisted of Dan Pavlas on accordion, Dan. Dan proudly keeps those song sheets safely tucked Mike Gest on trumpet, Greg Pavlas on trumpet, Darrell Pavlas on drums, and David Pavlas on tenor and away in a chest. alto sax and clarinet.

Dan recalled many favorite memories, including [SPJST\ playing for Rosenberg’s first Czech festival in the 1960s

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Treasured Memories of SPJST

and it is now a dead, old, brick building. I have many happy memories.

I still have the certificate, and I also have my 50year pin.

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Bands, stage shows, cookbooks

By Ruby (Orsak) Bulanek Lodge 88, Houston

My SPJST memories include: 1. The J.R. Baca Band 2. Stage shows put on by my cousins Frank and Frances Olexa and others 3. Other Czech bands 4. My three SPJST cookbooks!

Here is a poem . . . something that I had wanted to do for quite some time. This is a hobby of mine.

I am as proud and happy as I can be being able to claim to be a lifetime member of Lodge 88, Houston.

I remember the many good times that we had there throughout the many years, with good food, fun, and laughter, but not any sadness or tears.

I especially enjoyed the Czech music played by the great J.R. Baca Band; His was the best dancing music ever played all the land.

Times would be that we would be treated to stage shows acted by the members a true Hollywood-style.

This was a treat that was put on once in a while.

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I am proud of my three cookbooks that were put out by SPJST with the recipes contributed by members such as you and me.

Now, I wait for the weekly newspaper the Věstník - to come, the interesting news put out by SPJST . . . the great organization that stands for brotherhood, benevolence, and humanity.

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Good people . . .

Czech ancestry

By Evelyn O. (Blaha) Beckner Lodge 88, Houston

My memories of SPJST include all of the wonderful dances - Bill Mraz, etc. I enjoyed the monthly dinners. SPJST is good people of Czech ancestry.

I joined the SPJST lodge when I was 19 years old.

I was born on November 2, 1921, in Burleson County in Snook, Texas.

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First Dance Shared at SPJST Hall

By Brian Vanicek • Lodge 24, Cyclone It was December 31, 1981. I sage for her from a plastic beer was a junior at the University of cup! She accepted the “flower” Texas at Austin, and I was home and my invitation to dance. Our to celebrate the New Year. first dance!

Home was the Ratibor commuThree years later — on Jannity approximately eight miles uary 4, 1984, Joan and I had our east of Temple. One of my best first date. Three years and some friends, Alan Tyroch, was also months later — on August 8, home from Texas A&M Uni1987 — Joan and I were marversity. Neither of us had steadried. We celebrated our wedies so we decided to go to the ding reception with a barbecue dance that night at SPJST dinner (Cyclone Corral) and Lodge 80, Holland. Leather dance (Leroy Matocha) at and Lace was playing that night.

SPJST Lodge 24, Cyclone, Flag They always drew a good crowd.

Hall. Thirty-four years have That night was no exception. I passed since that first dance. I’m danced a few times early that still a bad dancer. Eventually, I evening. With who, I can’t rewill get around to fixing that. In member. Later that night, I the meantime, Joan and I recaught a glimpse of another old Brian and Joan Vanicek at their main happily married — and friend’s little sister. Her name wedding reception held at SPJST along with our children, was Joan, and she was a senior Lodge 24, Cyclone Flag Hall.

Stephanie and Samuel — are at Rogers High School. In spite much richer for the hundreds of of my seniority, I was in appreciative awe of Joan wonderful memories we have shared and enjoyed Green! Knowing that I was a bad dancer, I wanted with our dear SPJST family. to do something that would impress her. My hur[SPJST\ ried solution was to construct a makeshift cor-

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Treasured Memories of SPJST

“Worth more dead than alive!”

By Elizabeth M. (Orlando) Robson Lodge 999, Home Office

Swimming; Vrazels’ dance at Lodge 88, Houston

By Lynette Sykora Lodge 88, Houston

My husband Wilbur and I bought policies from My earliest SPJST memories are of good times SPJST years ago. They were for Wilbur, Elizabeth at the Lodge 88, Houston swimming pool. I re(me), and a few of our seven children. Each month, member taking swimming lessons with Lin Lesak Wilbur would tease me and say, “Our payments are pretty high. I’m worth way more dead than alive.”

Of course, I would get upset. Wilbur died September 10, 2005. When Helen Hegwood brought the check, I couldn’t even look at it because I was so upset. Thank God we did buy it. It has helped me so much. I don’t know what I would have done without

By Matylda J. Pekar Klepac it.

Lodge 177, Academy I now have 20-plus grandchildren - more on the way. Thanks and God bless you.

“Danced my little feet off . . . ”

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Remembering the 1976 Convention

By Cathy (Smart) Hensley Lodge 79, Corpus Christi

My fondest SPJST memory is attending the 1976 Convention in Waco, Texas. I went with my grandparents Frank and Carrie Veselka. My grandpa Frank Veselka was District Seven Director, and my grandma Carrie Veselka was a delegate from Lodge 79, Corpus Christi. Also in attendance was my great aunt Betty Jurica, delegate from Lodge 117, Robstown. Carrie and Betty were daughters of Charles Holasek.

Since I was only 17, it was an exciting time for me. I remember my great-great uncle Joe Holasek, former mayor of West treating all of us to dinner at IHOP. I have always adored my grandparents who are both gone. Thank you for letting me share one of my many memories of them.

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Lodge 177, Academy member Matylda J. Klepac is pictured dancing with a young lady named Kim at Lodge 177.

My memories of SPJST are very memorable to me because my husband Charles played in a band called the Swingmasters and a lot of other bands which included Rhythm Masters. The halls which he played in were Seaton, Academy, Taylor, Holland, and Granger. I danced my little feet off with the good music and wonderful friends on good dance floors. I also enjoyed the picnics at all the halls. I also play bingo at the SPJST Lodge 177, Academy hall. What memories!

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as my instructor. There were also many days that I would meet my friends at the pool to swim and hang out.

My all-time favorite SPJST memory would have to be attending a Vrazels’ dance at Lodge 88, many years ago. It was there that I met a nice Czech boy named Dale Sykora, who became my husband about two years later. We celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary this past January!

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Dancing under the mirror ball at Lodge 88, Houston

By Betty J. (Warnke) Smith Lodge 88, Houston

My SPJST memories . . . an evening out! . . . for enjoyment to relax . . . enjoying friends . . . for an evening of bingo at Lodge 88, Houston . . . and to get to know new people, see people from church, enjoying an evening out for a few hours.

Dancing at the SPJST hall was so enjoyable. My husband Sonny Smith and I danced and danced and danced. We had mixed drinks and friends and family with us. This was very memorable to me. Dancing under the crystal chandelier. Now he’s in heaven with the good Lord. Wow - 10 years now. I really miss him and dancing at the SPJST hall. Nobody else has caught my eye.

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Treasured Memories of SPJST

“My greatest memory . . . attending summer camp at Camp Val Verde”

By Melinda Skubal Dunk Lodge 1, Fayetteville

I have been an SPJST member my entire life. I have many great memories of being a member. My greatest memory is being able to attend summer camp at Camp Val Verde in McGregor.

VĚSTNÍK

The food at this camp was very good! I remember that we sat at assigned tables and that each meal had assigned servers. If you were a server, you were responsible for setting the table and bringing the food to the table. You also had to go and get more food if a platter was empty. You also had to clean off the table.

Our cabins were okay. I remember that we had to bring our own bedding and toiletries. I think there were bunk beds, too.

There were many activities at Camp Val Verde.

My favorite was going to the arts/crafts hut. We

Museum visit . . . SPJST memories

By Faye Zavodny Hudson • Lodge 24, Cyclone Being a member of an SPJST youth club when exhibits. Sharing his knowledge and witnessing his I was a youth always brings great memories to genuine interest in the Museum certainly added mind. Participating in Youth Achievement Days an informative insight to our tour. Since he knew my mother underand writing letters to stood the Czech lanthe Věstník as the guage, he spoke to club’s reporter were her in Czech, which among my fondest really delighted my memories.

Then mother. It was a when my son was old pleasure to meet up enough to become a with Mr. Klinkovsky member of the youth because he was such club and involved an integral part of the with SPJST, he, too, youth program when collected a treasure of I was a youth, and I memories. It was a never forgot his pasjoy to see him serve sion and love for his club as an officer; SPJST. This Muattend camp; earn seum visit will always awards with entries in talent, craft, roy- Lodge 24, Cyclone member Faye Zavodny Hudson is stand out as one of alty, and the tee-shirt pictured with the late Czech Heritage Museum Cura- the best memories I design contest; and tor Frank Klinkovsky at the Museum in Temple in have of SPJST and of a truly devoted indiexperience fraternal- 2013. vidual who offered ism.

But a memory from 2013 for which I am grate- his time and knowledge with my mother, sister, ful was making a visit to the SPJST Czech Her- and me. How special this experience remains esitage Museum in Temple with my mother and pecially after the passing in 2014 of this remarktwin sister. While we were immersing ourselves in able man who gave so much of his life to the the awesome exhibits of the Museum, Brother SPJST organization.

Frank Klinkovsky, Sr. welcomed our presence and [SPJST\ offered interesting highlights of the museum

made some really neat crafts. The one I remember the most is a hot pad that we made with ceramic tiles and plaster. I still have it! Another one we made was a recipe card holder - wooden dowel with a clothespin glued to it. I think we got to decorate the base with colored rice or something.

I loved the swimming pool. Before you could go to the deep end or jump off the diving board, you had to swim across the pool . . . this was challenging for some. Of course, we had to “bathe” in sunscreen before we got in and when we had to get out, we had to have alcohol drops put in our ears. Many campers loved pool time!

The “hottest” activity was probably horseback riding. We had to wear pants (blue jeans) and closed toe shoes. When we arrived at the stable, we were all given instructions. We got on our horses and walked around the arena in a circle until they thought we were capable of going out on the trails. These horses were the most beautiful, well-mannered horses around! Of course, every once in a while, one may try and act up - but not often. Off we went . . . riding near the edges of cliffs - this did scare me! I guess my favorite (and scary to me) was riding our horse through the river (maybe it was a creek). The way we had to get to this river was to ride down this steep incline - so we had to lean back on the horse since we were going down. Since it was so hot, the horses would try to lay down and cool off with us on them! Our instructors would tell us, “Tighten up on the reigns!” This would prevent the horse from lying down . . . at least we hoped! We rode through the woods - single file - and made it safely back to the stable.

We also went to the river to paddle canoes. This took teamwork! If your canoe turned over, the team had to all go in the upside down canoe, count, and “throw” the canoe over “right-side up.”

My least favorite activity at camp was archery. I am not sure why I did not like this one. We took mini lessons on this and would practice shooting at targets.

The snack shack was a favorite of everyone. We had to bring our own spending money and buy snacks.

The flag-raising ceremony around the flagpole was a very memorable one. The ring around the flagpole was outlined with rocks. We stood behind these rocks in a perfect circle.

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Treasured Memories of SPJST

There was an infirmary for any campers that were injured or not feeling well.

There was one night that had a designated theme.

You could bring clothes and dress for the theme.

This party was held in the dining hall.

Volunteer leaders and parents would transport us to and from camp. When I was younger, the ride from Rockdale seemed far, but I guess it really was not that far.

I remember our youth club meetings. Zephyr Marek was our youth leader. She did a great job. She kept us organized and busy. We would attend Youth Achievement Days. We entered our crafts and enjoyed watching the pageants . . . waiting to see who our new king and queen were going to be. Our youth also attended the skating parties that were held in Temple.

My father, the late Lambert Skubal, Sr., sold SPJST insurance as a second job. Lad Zatopek, who was his director, visited our home often. He also sold RVOS insurance.

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Generations of members

By Evan Barta Lodge 202, Jourdanton

My parents Anton and Rosie Cernoch Barta bought my policy with SPJST in the 1940s when I was a teenager. We lived on a ranch in LaSalle County and came to Jourdanton, Texas, for monthly lodge meetings . . . friendly gatherings with food and dominoes. I married Mary Ann Schrank from Pleasanton, Texas, in 1955. I signed her up with an SPJST policy. In 1956, we found a house, and we went to SPJST for a home loan. Life was good. We had two children and bought policies for them.

The years went by, and they blessed us with five grandchildren, and we also bought SPJST policies for them. Those five grandchildren helped our lodge to get a youth club started after many years without

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one. Those grandchildren had a great time growing up in SPJST, and we enjoyed watching them.

We still live in that home we bought with SPJST’s help in 1956 to 1958 . . . good years and a lot of SPJST friends and activities.

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Dances and Sokol

By Georgia (Kasper) Lee • Lodge 88, Houston

Saturday nights at Chandelier Ballroom in Houston

By Georgia Kasper Lee Lodge 88, Houston

My husband Harvey Lee and I went to Lodge 88, Houston every Saturday night and for other festivities. We always had a wonderful time. All of our SPJST Lodge 88 friends would dance every Saturday night in the beautiful Chandelier Ballroom with all of our great friends. We always had at least three or four tables on Saturday night. When the dance was over, we usually would eat breakfast when Mrs. Vala had the kitchen at that time. We would sit and eat then head for home. Oh, what great, wonderful times we had there. I wish they were all back.

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My SPJST memories include all the dances and Sokol functions. We came to Houston in 1926, and my dad John Kasper was a Sokol. He helped organize Sokol in Houston - the old Studewood building was a start. I have lots of pictures of the festivals and Sokol get-togethers of the very early days - Uncle Joe Kasper was director of plays at

the old building on Robbie and North Main Streets. All the good old days at my cousin Bill Mraz’s Dance Hall on West 34th; the Sokol day and dances; and Lodge 88 dances and programs: we never missed any of them.

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Treasured Memories of SPJST

Very fond memories

By Lisa Klander Lodge 196, Houston-West

I have very fond memories of attending meetings at the Prickly Pear in Conroe with my grandparents when I would stay with them. I always looked forward to it. My grandma sold insurance in Conroe for SPJST. I miss her and my grandpa so much.

Every time me or my family see anything with the SPJST logo, we are reminded of them. For Christmas a few years ago, I bought my cousin the cookbook, and he was so happy. He said he had no idea you even had them anymore. I love the newspapers and articles! Keep up the great work!

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May Fetes at Lodge 29, Taylor

By Albina (Srnensky) Kerlin Lodge 29, Taylor

My dad helped build the Taylor SPJST Hall.

Then I remember him working there at dances and other occasions. He would take my sister and me to dances, when my mother didn’t care to go. He kept a watchful eye on us.

I also remember the fruit harvest dances and the May Fetes with the Maypole dances which were great. My two sisters were in the first May Fete.

My dad made sure the 10 of us were insured when we were babies and when we reached the age of 16.

Those were the beautiful times.

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1936 . . . FDR, State Fair, and Lodge 25, Ennis

By Joe Klecka Lodge 84, Dallas

I remember standing in the small, dirt road coming from Texas 34/Bristol Road onto the front of SPJST Lodge 25, Ennis. The road had a small curve just as it met the front (portico). Mr. Frank Kubin’s polka band was leading a procession to the hall.

Someone asked me to move; the parade was being filmed with a movie camera. The band was dressed in kroj jackets.

Many years passed, and I remember seeing in the Věstník, a still picture of everyone standing on the porch steps. I am hugging the left post. My father (who played tuba) was near the right post with the

VĚSTNÍK Kubin band scattered in the picture, top right.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt had come through Ennis about that time - the train stopped for a few minutes. He came to the back of the last car and ad-

dressed the crowd. I was standing behind all those gathered near the train. Being eight years of age, I couldn’t see him, but I remember that time vividly.

FDR went on to speak at the State Fair of Texas for

Birth of the 7-Step at SPJST

By Quentin, Barbara, Johnnie, and Mary Hoffman Rose, Jo Ann, Henry, Cora, Joyce, Marjorie, David, and Thomas Darilek Submitted on behalf of the family by Rose Darilek Rohlfing • Lodge 184, Moulton

Lodge 184, Moulton member Rose Darilek Rohlfing shares this special memory about polka dancing at SPJST Lodge 88, Houston. Included with the memory “is a photo of our parents,” she writes. “We love to title it ‘Youth and Pleasure’ after the wonderful polka that doesn’t have any words and doesn’t need any. It fits them perfectly and was a favorite of theirs. We think the photo was taken in the summer of 1943.”

As children growing up in the 1950s, we were taught to dance the German folk song, “Eins Zwei Drei,” more commonly known as the 7-Step, in the traditional side-to-side manner before breaking into the polka, and we did so at the old SPJST Lodge 88 on Studewood in the Houston Heights for many years.

But now let me digress to the history of the family: The Veselka family of Fayetteville had eight children, and amongst them two sisters—Earline and Celestine. As children, Earline and Celestine developed an early love of polka music as they watched the Baca Band practice in their own backyard. Earline married Quentin Hoffman from Brownwood in 1946. Celestine married Rudy Darilek, a lad from Moulton in 1942. The four were best friends all their lives and took their own children (four Hoffmans and eight Darileks) to every dance, feast, anniversary, and wedding all over Texas at every opportunity, thereby teaching their children to dance and carry on the tradition and culture of the Czechs. We 12 cousins have remained close our entire lives.

While at a dance at the new Chandelier Ballroom of SPJST Lodge 88 in the early 1970s, Quentin Hoffman, who was dancing with niece Marjorie (daughter of Rudy and Celestine) said to his nephew David (son of Rudy and Celestine) who was dancing with his girlfriend Nan, “Let’s meet under the chandelier on the slide instead of sliding side-to-side,” and they did. On the next slide to the center, Quentin spontaneously shouted “HEY!” They laughed hysterically, the other

family members present that evening joined in, and we Darileks and Hoffmans have been laughing since! The Dujka Brothers and Red Ravens can attest to this as this performance is repeated at every Moulton Jamboree, wedding, anniversary, graduation, reunion, or any other gathering where polkas are played, especially the 7-Step, and the Darileks and Hoffmans are present.

Indeed, I was watching the Big Joe Polka Show on cable television out here in California in the early 1990s, when Big Joe exclaimed, “Watch how they do the German 7-Step in Texas!” And there was a visual of the meeting in the center and shouting “HEY,” and I broke into tears on the realization that my own family had started this Texas dancing tradition!

Quentin Hoffman passed away in the mid1970s, and Earline Hoffman passed away in December 2014 at age 95, closely followed by her sister Celestine who died at age 93 in February 2015. Rudy Darilek currently resides in Houston at age 93. Marjorie Darilek Nowak and David and Nan Darilek all reside in Houston as well.

We, the children of Rudy and Celestine Darilek and Quentin and Earline Hoffman, all members of SPJST, can think of no better way to honor our parents than to have it be known that their love of polka dancing, the Czech culture, and SPJST started a dancing tradition that will continue for generations as the 7-Step is joyfully danced across the state of Texas and the world.

HEY! [SPJST\

VĚSTNÍK the Texas Centennial - 1936. I did have the paper publishing his visit.

There are many of my friends that I recognize in the picture. from the Alamo, David Crocket, and Ennis High, SPJST, Sokol, KJT, and St. John’s.

Met at an SPJST dance

By Ruth (Olis) Hollas Lodge 177, Academy

Andrew and I met at a dance when we were teenagers at the old wooden SPJST hall in Seaton.

We celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary in 2005 at the present hall in Seaton. In June 2015, we were married 60 years. I became a member around the age of seven.

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Thankful for SPJST annuities

By Earl and Mary (Machacek) Soudelier Lodge 47, Seaton

We are very thankful for our SPJST annuities.

They allow Mary and I not to worry about where the money will come from to pay our bills. Marissa makes sure that we receive our checks “on time” each month. The members who are retired, living on social security and small retirement checks know how important it is not to worry about finances. To all young members . . . start saving as early as you can.

A great way to do it is monthly contributions to an SPJST annuity.

We have fond memories of SPJST functions and seeing and meeting new friends.

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Generations of active membership

By Dorothy A. (Lucas) Fabrygel Lodge 88, Houston

I will always remember the polka dances on Saturday nights at Lodge 88, Houston. When the Vrazel’s Band played, everyone was on the dance floor and had a great time.

I had a lot of friends back then and still do. We live in New Braunfels now, but always come to the big dinner and dance in June and December. Our children and grandchildren are members and very active in Lodge 88, Houston. Our children and grandchildren were in the youth club. Our granddaughter Denae and grandson Ryan represented

Treasured Memories of SPJST

Lodge 88 as District Five King and Queen. Denae also represented the entire state when she was crowned 2014-2015 SPJST State Queen.

We have done a lot for the lodge, and the lodge has made us better people. My daughter Doris Bronikowski serves on the board. She is also kitchen manager. Her family will continue their activities in Lodge 88, Houston.

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Grandson hunts Easter eggs in pool location

By Susan (Smith) Cernosek Lodge 88, Houston

As a young child, I remember going swimming every day during the summer at SPJST Lodge 88, Houston. We enjoyed a very large pool and learned to dive, and we were allowed to bring a friend.

Today, the pool is gone, but we have Easter egg hunts that my six-year-old grandson, who is also a member, enjoys on the property where the pool was.

Bingo has also become very popular here with the younger crowd. My daughter who is 34, and my son who is 31 come regularly with their friends. My husband, my mom, and I go every month and celebrate our birthdays here. Bingo is fun.

A Visit to the Věstník Publisher . . . Perhaps?

My dad was Urbanovsky Studio in West for 50plus years. Being that, it allowed him the free reign to involve himself in almost any event that happened in West. He always told me that it was interesting, but I knew he was nosey! Dad passed away in January 2012. For many months after his passing, we cleared out the Studio. We happened

By Don Urbanovsky • Lodge 6, Cottonwood onto these photos in a box of assorted everything, and usually if we did not recognize anybody, the photos got destroyed. I saw the newspaper held by some of the girls and could make out the heading Věstník. Then I realized that is Nick Morris in the back row making me think that this might have been a field trip to West to see where the Věstník

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[SPJST\

was printed. In another of the photos, I see Joe Holasek (left photo - in hat), publisher of the West News and mayor of West. Good times, huh?

So I challenge you to research this and let me know what or whom this photo involves. I suspect it was late 1960s or early 1970s as the date.

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Treasured Memories of SPJST

Summer camp memories

Teenage years

Six Flags trip bonds members

By Marilyn (Earl) Sikora Lodge 88, Houston

By Christian Moore Lodge 29, Taylor

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By Kelsey Moore Lodge 29, Taylor

My favorite SPJST memories are going to camp for the first time, everyone helping me do stuff, and everyone being a good friend helping me get over my fear of heights. Everyone was really nice and was a close friend to me till the last day.

As a teenager, I enjoyed being a part of the youth club at Lodge 88, Houston going on picnics and swimming parties at Hot Wells (Hempstead Highway). We also performed in a play, “The Season of Happiness.” My friend Annette Rezek and I looked forward to the Sunday night dances at Lodge 88, where I also met my husband. Those were happy, carefree days in the early 1950s.

My favorite SPJST memory was when we went to Six Flags. Going to Six Flags was my favorite because I got to bond with my fellow district members not only at Six Flags, but on the bus ride to Six Flags. I think we should do another trip to Six Flags so we can bond with our surrounding lodges more.

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SPJST Lodge 66, Waco Choral Group Submitted by Thomas Jurecka • Lodge 35, Elk

While cleaning up, I ran across this record album. I thought you might be interested in having it so do with it what you wish. It belonged to Frances Morris from Lodge 35, Elk, who was my aunt. ******* American and Czech Favorites As sung by the Choral Group, SPJST Linden Lodge No. 66, Waco, Texas Nick A. Morris, Director Album back cover: Folk singing seems to be very much in vogue throughout America these days. When a group of people get together who like to sing, something’s bound to happen. The Choral Group of SPJST Lodge No. 66, Waco, Texas, met for the first time with their director Nick A. Morris in September 1963.

It was decided to sing in both Czech and English for a broader appeal. Since the group has been together, they have made numerous public appearances throughout the state and are much in demand. It is the hope of the Choral Group that you enjoy the selections in this album as much as they have enjoyed doing them for you.

Director Nick A. Morris, also Editor of the official SPJST weekly organ, has been associated with the field of music, especially singing since his youth, both as a group participant, soloist, and choral director. He has directed various church choirs, and at the present time also directs St. Cecelia’s Choir in the Assumption Church, West. This group has had the

privilege of performing a special Memorial Mass, augmented by a string section from the Waco Symphony Orchestra, under Mr. Morris’ direction. Some of the singers perform in both choirs.

Mrs. Estelle Motis of West has been church organist for some 40 years at the Assumption Church in West and has many years of experience in working with singing groups and choirs. At the time of this recording, Mrs. Motis was ill, and Mr. Bruce Thomas filled in for her. Mrs. Motis has been accompanist for the Lodge 66 Choral Group since its beginning.

Mr. Bruce Thomas, music scholarship student at Baylor University, Waco, was accompanist for the recording of this album. Bruce is a native of Billings, Montana. He captured the coveted Young Artist Award in 1962, presented by the Billings Symphony Orchestra. He has been playing the piano for over 11 years, and the group was fortunate to secure his services as temporary replacement for Mrs. Motis.

Four very talented young students of West High School accompanied the choral group on the two finale selections in this album. T.J. Plsek and Charles Nemec have won statewide recognition as solo finalists with trumpet and trombone.

They have also traveled with the group on special occasions.

The Lodge 66 Choral Group is indebted to Mr. and Mrs. Johnie Vanicek of Temple for the use of their studio organ in the recording of “Beyond The Sunset.”

—June 1965 Photography: Cliff Shelley Studios, Waco Record: Research Craft Corp., Los Angeles Tape: Goodson McKee, Waco Jacket and Notes: Nick A. Morris Printing: Hall Printing Co., Waco Engraving: Alco Engraving Co. Waco [SPJST\

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Treasured Memories of SPJST

Youth memories

By Members of Lodge 29, Taylor Youth Club

My favorite SPJST memory is tubing at camp.

—Brandon Girod My favorite memories are Six Flags and Corpus Christi.

—Cody and Colten Voigt My favorite SPJST memory was when we had the lock-in because we had so much fun!

—Amanda Kaderka The Six Flags trip was fun.

—Aaron Kaderka My favorite memory is the zipline at camp.

—Collin Whatley Some of my favorite memories are dancing, high ropes, and the lake (boats/inner tubing).

—Kaitlyn Whatley

Camping . . . generation to generation

By Tammy Martinez Lodge 47, Seaton

My most favorite SPJST memory is going to Camp Val Verde in McGregor as a youth club member. One of my favorite activities at camp was horseback riding. I remember this one time when this other camper was on a horse in front of me while riding on a trail and he did not have his saddle tied down too good. While riding, he kept sliding to the right and would have to keep straightening up himself and the saddle. Then all of a sudden, he and his saddle just slid off onto the ground. The trail rider

Věstník Reading

Submitted by Vonda Smesny Lodge 91, San Jacinto

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that was in the back had told me to keep riding and to just go around the boy while they fixed the saddle and put him back on top of the horse.

I also remember when we had May Fetes in District Two. They were so much fun dressing up and dancing around the Maypole. I loved being May Fete Queen and passing the crown on to my best friend, April.

Another memory is when my oldest son Seth went to camp for the first time and how much fun he had. When we went to the pond to go blobbing, he wanted to blob me, but the lifeguard would not let him, and so the lifeguard jumped on the end of the blob and made me fly high. My son thought that was the greatest. I can’t wait to make more great memories at SPJST Education and Nature Center at Cooper Farm camp like I did at Camp Val Verde.

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Zipline, rock climbing camp favorites

By Hailey Girod Lodge 29, Taylor

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Zipline fear at camp leads to friendships

When I went to camp, my favorite part was the high ropes. I loved the zipline and rock climbing.

When I was there, I was watching people on the big swing, but I did not want to do it. I had a blast at camp!

By Kara Kaderka Lodge 29, Taylor

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My favorite SPJST memory is when we were at camp at Cooper Farm at the zipline with all my friends standing there beside me helping me do the zipline I was scared of heights, but they helped me get passed that fear.

[SPJST\ Four-year-old Malba Stasney Smesny of Lodge 91, San Jacinto is pictured reading the Věstník in 1945.

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Treasured Memories of SPJST

District meeting full of talents, arts, crafts

By the late James C. Kocurek Lodge 40, El Campo-Hillje

I had a very good time in SPJST when we hosted the district meeting at Hillje Hall. The youth showed their talents dancing and performing other talents they had, such as doing cartwheels and play skits. I also enjoyed the arts and crafts the youth made. I had a lot of fun playing horseshoes at the district meeting. It’s a day I will remember always.

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Snipe hunting at Bastrop State Park

By Susan Skrabanek Lodge 17, New Tabor

Where do I begin? My memories go back to the days of snipe hunting at Bastrop State Park and being one of Ms. Cornelius’ “bluebirds.”

I remember crossing the railroad tracks to get to the lodge that was hosting a party at the 1976 convention in Waco and leaving my hotel key in the door all night (you can take the girl out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the girl).

Most of my memories are with the many wonderful youth that I had the honor of working with over the last 35 years, from teaching beseda for the first time, seeing my niece and so many others from District One becoming State Royalty, to being a part of Cooper Farm, playing taroks and 42, and meeting all the wonderful folks at the conventions.

My biggest and proudest memory is being able to represent SPJST at the 2010 National Fraternal Congress of America and being honored as National Fraternalist of the Year.

ing high school. I remember the barbecue meals and domino tournaments that my parents attended and the trophies they won. The beach trips are wonderful memories. I am thankful my children and grandchildren are involved, and I look forward to seeing what they accomplish within the SPJST organization. It is truly a family experience for us.

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By Linda Pospisil Lodge 29, Taylor

SPJST means a second family to me. My parents Jerry and Frances Tallas loved the organization, and now I am following in their footsteps. The most important memory of the SPJST organization is the many friends I have made all around the state. I have even met some relatives I didn’t know! I remember being in May Fetes and attending dances at several lodges around the Taylor area every weekend dur-

By Sandra Hoggard Lodge 202, Jourdanton

My memories of SPJST span almost 50 years from learning to dance at Lodge 161, LaParita hall to watching my son be crowned State King in 2013!

My earliest memories are of my parents taking us to the dance every weekend and throwing a blanket down in the corner for us to collapse upon when we wore ourselves out. My grandmother Tillie Valchar

Performing in SPJST halls

By the late Jim Bezdek • Lodge 92, Fort Worth As a young man, I have many, many pleasant memories of performing on the accordion with especially my two bands at SPJST halls across the state. I remember how nice the various hall managers treated us during our visits.

The attached materials describe the largest crowd ever to attend a dance at the SPJST hall Lone Star Hall - SPJST Lodge 54, West in West, Texas, celebrating the end of World War II. Note: This SPJST hall was sold to Sokol in 2011 and destroyed by the explosion in West in April 2013.

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A second family

Almost 50 years of SPJST

Probably the largest crowd ever to assemble at the SPJST hall attended the VFW dance on Wednesday night of this week. Every inch of available parking space was taken and the hall could not accommodate the large number seeking admittance. It is estimated that well over a thousand advance tickets were sold to the dance in addition to more than 300 issued at the hall Wednesday night.

—From “The West News,” late 1940s

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Koch collected money at the door while my grandfather Pete Valchar worked in the concession stand.

I watched the concessions closely because I knew I could always talk my grandfather into a dance when the concessions weren’t too busy.

I remember going to lodge meetings over the years as it was a family affair. I don’t remember, but I have been told that my mom, Bettie House, stood next to me as I perched on a stool to sing my ABC’s at the district meeting held at Lodge 107, Floresville when I was 18 months old. Our lodge didn’t have a youth club, but I did compete in District Youth Achievement Day one year playing “Rustic Dance” on the piano. That song is still one that I can play from memory to this day.

SPJST was important during my college years as well. I received a $500 scholarship each of my four years of college. The funds received helped me attend Texas A&M University without borrowing money. After college, I lived in Houston, Fort Worth, and Carthage and didn’t want to transfer my membership to another lodge out of loyalty to my grandfather, so I took a break from SPJST. However, I still received the Věstník to keep up on what was going on.

When I moved back to San Antonio in 2005, my kids and I jumped into SPJST becoming active members of the youth and adult lodge (now Lodge 202, Jourdanton). In 2008, I was honored to represent the local lodge in the Fraternalist of the Year competition. I was stunned when I was selected as the State Fraternalist of the Year - so much so, that for the first time in my life, I was speechless. Later that year, I was surprised to learn that I had been named the National Fraternalist of the Year. Věstník Editor/Director of Communication Melanie Zavodny interviewed my family and took family photos to create an incredible tribute that I will cherish the rest of my life.

My children have participated at local, district, and state events, and I have enjoyed helping all of the children as an assistant youth leader. We continue to build memories participating in activities, camps, YAD, and other competitions. All three of my children have gained valuable leadership skills and embraced a sense of community, as members and LITs (Leaders-In-Training). My oldest son, Lane, was a recipient of the District Merit Scholar-

Treasured Memories of SPJST

ship and the Leadership Grant which help him pursue a graphic design/photography degree at a prestigious out-of-state private art school. Sammy, my middle son, was crowned State King in 2013, and my daughter Amanda and I enjoyed going to his appearances across the state.

The friends we have made and the memories we have shared are sure to last a lifetime, but we aren’t done yet. There is more to come for us all!

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Competing for Miss SPJST

By Michelle Linney Wockenfuss Lodge 88, Houston

When I sat down to think of what my most memorable SPJST memory was, I had a really hard time. There are so many memories that I have from SPJST. The one that sticks out the most, however, is the 1992 Convention in Victoria, Texas. It was at

“I couldn’t sing . . . but I joined the Czech choir anyway. ”

By Elizabeth Janak (Jurek) • Lodge 4, Hallettsville

When I first joined SPJST, it was at Lodge 88, Houston. I was 19 years old. My cousin, Stephie Kovalcik, was a member so we decided to become active members. Stephie could speak Czech so she was in some of the Czech plays that were produced at the lodge at that time.

I couldn’t sing - I had a terrible voice, but I joined the Czech choir anyway.

We performed at the very first Sts.Cyril and Methodius Slavic Fest which was started by Bishop John M o r k o v s k y.

There is a picture in the SPJST Archives.

This is a memory that has stayed with me Photo of the SPJST Lodge 88, Houston Choral Club that is displayed in the along with the SPJST Archives. Front: E. Vornsand, E. Sebek, L. Kadlecek, F. Dvorak, E. Kel- many dances I 53 ley, N. Kostom, T. Kostom, R. Kostom, H. Hegwood, F. Olexa, H. Allison, F. Vala. attended Second row: L Chudej, A. Lesak, A. Kilnar, M. Tilich, D. Kadlecek, E. Zemke, R. years ago.

Sicner, E. O’Connor, L. Slovacek, H. Valcik. Third row: E. Kadlecek, W. Vornsand, J. Zemke, F. Tilich, F. Sebek, G. Zalesky, A. Spencer, C. Sicner, F. Dvorak, [SPJST\ R. Lesak. Back: B. Kocich, W. Neskorik, G. Barcak, F. Kadlecek, A. Bristik.

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Treasured Memories of SPJST

that convention that I was competing for the title of Miss SPJST. That was a very exciting time since I was representing Lodge 88, Houston and District Five. I was proud to represent us. This is when I met my now lifelong friend of over 22 years - Melanie Zavodny. Melanie was also competing for the title of Miss SPJST, and she was chosen first runner-up.

We don’t get to see each other much, but we are able to keep in touch via phone, email, and Facebook.

Technology is a great tool, and without it, we wouldn’t be able to be as close as we are. I thank SPJST and the youth program for all of the opportunities that I have had the benefit of since becoming a member of SPJST. I hope that the program will continue for future years and flourish for future generations.

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“Thankful to have been introduced to such an amazing organization”

By Amber Bartek Lodge 47, Seaton

My greatest SPJST memory is actually not something I participated in, but rather the time I was first introduced to SPJST. I took my kids to the Kids Expo at the Bell County Expo Center, and there we met Patsy Koslovsky at the SPJST booth. She shared with me the benefits of what “SP” had to provide and showed me the amazing things for the kids to be involved in. I am thankful to have been introduced to such an amazing organization.

[SPJST\

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Bringing back memories . . .

By Lorenda Baldwin Lodge 139, Danbury

My dad Tommie Lostak was very active in SPJST. We attended many functions at Lodge 88 hall in Houston on the corner of North Main, Robbie, and Studewood at that time in the 1950s. It was like one big family. Everybody knew everyone. As a teen, I remember the Kadleceks, Sefciks, Hilshers, and two SPJST friends from Dallas. One, Jo Ann Caruth, was a member of our lodge in Danbury and the other, James Janousek, was a member of Lodge 84, Dallas.

My mom and dad worked very hard to host SPJST District Five functions at the Lone Pine, my great uncle Joe Skrabanek’s place in Danbury. I always looked forward to those functions knowing I would get to see and visit with my SPJST friends. I often think about them and wonder where they may be this day and time. Those wonderful memories will always be with me.

I was a sales agent for 15 years and held an office in our local lodge 25 years. I am now serving my 24th year as Publication Committee representative for District Five and the 25th year as District Five Treasurer. My dad held all the positions prior to me.

He said it was time to retire. SPJST has been a big part of our lives.

My late husband Dave and I enjoyed dancing in our retirement years - especially at Lodge 88, Houston.

Bringing back memories . . .

[SPJST\

Parents built lodge

By Georgia Krustchinsky Lodge 142, Houston

Out of 10 children born to Anna (Sebek) and Alois Vaja, I am the only survivor at the age of almost 88 years old. Our family created numerous childhood memories at the Stefanik Lodge 142 in Cottage Grove, Houston. My momma and daddy

helped to build that lodge with their own capable hands over 100 years ago after immigrating from Prague in 1906 to Galveston. Our entire family is so proud of the legacy they helped to create and that so many have been able to enjoy in SPJST. The memories are too numerous. It’s difficult to name just one, but I remember with great fondness hopping into our 1938 Ford and heading off to the lodge after picking up our two cousins, Rosie and Elsie Sebek. All of us kids piled into the family car (seatbelts did not exist then), and as soon as we arrived, we ran inside for our Sokol (gymnastics) lessons under the direction of John Kaspar.

Out of our family, both my mom and dad held the office of president for SPJST Lodge 142, and my sisters Amelia Sturm and Ann Ward, both held teaching positions, including youth theater. My father also taught Czech language classes. It’s a pleasure to read about present-day involvement, and I thank SPJST on behalf of all my nine siblings that have passed on before me: Elizabeth, Louis, Amelia Sturm, Ann Ward, Jerry, Mary Chupik, Charlie, Albert, and Vera Hartman.

The Sokol movement (from the Slavic word for falcon) is a youth sport movement and gymnastics organization first founded in Prague in the Czech region of Austria-Hungary in 1862 by Miroslav Tyrš and Jindřich Fügner. Primarily a fitness training center, the Sokol, also through lectures, discussions, and group outings provided what Tyrš viewed as physical, moral, and intellectual training for the nation. This training extended to members of all classes, and eventually to women.

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Treasured Memories of SPJST

Moe Bandy and La Parita Hall

By Bettie House Lodge 202, Jourdanton

SPJST Lodge 161, La Parita purchased the old vacant school building in the small community of La Parita. My dad Pete Valchar was lodge president and hall custodian. The hall was used for meetings, celebrations, a county polling place, and dances. Dad scheduled the dances, met the beverage trucks, and our family and lodge members cleaned the facility before and after the events. Located in the beautiful countryside just five miles south of Jourdanton, Saturday night dances brought people of all ages from across the county and for miles around to congregate and kick-up-their-heels. Even the county sheriff would come out to enjoy a Big Red soda and the good music. Of course, we took our young children because it was a clean, safe place to go. Our son Richard ran around, and daughter Sandra House Hoggard slept in a carseat under a table. There was a blanket on the floor in the corner for the kids to collapse on as they wore themselves out. In later years, Sandra learned to dance with the county sheriff and anyone else she could persuade to dance with her.

Everyone could always count on good music.

Country and western star Moe Bandy and the Mavericks got their start at La Parita Hall in the mid-

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1960s. During recent trips to Branson, Missouri, my husband Lloyd and I visited with Moe Bandy after his shows to reminisce about the good times at the SPJST La Parita Hall.

taken in front of the hall and hung in the lodge the last time I was there.

(The hall was sold in the mid-1970s, and in 2000, Lodge 161 merged with Lodge 202, Jourdanton.)

SP camp

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Dances on Floyd Street . . .

By Jodie Kurc Bawcom Lodge 84, Dallas

My earliest memories are from Floyd Street lodge dances where my parents went. My sister and I went as did other members’ children. After having a hot kielbasa, which was supplied by Rudolph’s Meat Market and folded over on rye bread with juices running down my arm, we (the children) were put to bed in a back room off to the right of the dance floor.

There were several cot-like beds in the room. My mother would check in on us every so often as there was no adult watching over us. As we lay on our cots, the music from the hall would put us to sleep. When it was time to go home, my parents would awaken us and carry or walk us to our car. My sister and I would lay side by side on the back seat.

My family and I are pictured in the 1946 photo

[SPJST\

By Hunter Bartek Lodge 47, Seaton

My favorite SPJST memory was going to SP camp because you get to see new people. Also, you get to do some really cool activities. But mostly you get to bond with new people from other youth lodges — not just ours.

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District Two time

By Dannikka Bartek Lodge 47, Seaton

My best memory with SPJST is going to Corpus, doing the sand castle challenges, and getting to spend time with District Two. [SPJST\

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Treasured Memories of SPJST

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Treasured Memories

An SPJST Family Tradition . . . Times Three Lodge 183, Arlington members Kay and Tom Weeks surrounded by their children Katie, Tommy, and Gena.

S

PJST is one big family, and in the Weeks’ household, that is no exaggeration. Kay and Tom Weeks and their children – triplets Gena, Katie and Tommy – are members of Lodge 183, Arlington. SPJST has brought the Weeks’ family closer together, while also helping them grow as individuals.

The family’s membership in SPJST goes back several generations. In the early 1900s, Kay Weeks’ great-grandfather Rudolph Vicha was a member of Lodge 35, Elk and was actively involved in SPJST. The tradition continued with Kay’s grandparents. Her parents Eugene and Dorothy (Pechacek) Gerlich were active members at Lodge 66, Waco. They purchased life insurance certificates to carry on the SPJST family tradition for daughters Donna and Kay shortly after each of the girls were born. And, as soon as they were old enough, the girls joined the youth club at Lodge 66. Donna was crowned the first State Duchess in 1963 with State Queen Frances Miller. The girls continued their involvement in SPJST throughout their youth years.

Both girls graduated from Baylor University. In 1988, Donna married

The late SPJST Sales Representative Darlene Engelke of Lodge 66, Waco holds Tommy, Katie, and Gena after they became members of SPJST.

Tim Culliton. Their children are Natalie, Nicholas, and Kimberly. Donna passed away at the age of 49 in 2003.

Kay married Tom Weeks in 1988, and the triplets were born in 1994.

The Gerlichs lived in Waco while Kay and Donna both lived in Arlington. The girls traveled to Waco to visit with their parents every week or so.

“Since my parents were members of Lodge 66 and religiously attended their monthly meetings, I would meet up with them there,” Kay recalls. She says that she started bringing the

triplets and, later, their cousins. “Since they all already had SPJST insurance policies, I got them involved in the youth club at Lodge 66.”

For several years, the triplets, the cousins, and Kay traveled from Arlington to Waco for the youth club meetings, visits to the Moody Rest

Home with the youth club, and monthly socials. Summer camp, Kay says, always seems to be their most memorable experience. She says that it was at camp each year that District Three Youth Counselor Bessie Petr and Assistants Lynda Novak and Diana Engelke would persuade her to

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start the youth club in Arlington.

Lodge 183, Arlington was active in SPJST, but the lodge did not have a youth club. “After a lot of thought and prayer,” Kay says, “I decided to organize Lodge 183, Arlington Youth Club in 2002.”

“When we moved to the Arlington lodge, we became even more active in our youth club because we didn’t have to drive an hour and a half to Waco every month,” Gena says.

Gena, Katie, and Tommy attended every youth club meeting and summer camp. They all participated in Youth Achievement Day with five crafts each and usually a few talents. They also attended Leaders-In-Training camp for four years. “I think all of us combined, we served every officer position there was at least four times!” Katie shares.

Cousin Nick Culliton was crowned 2005-2006 SPJST State King, and the family supported him throughout his year-long reign. A few years later, Gena, Katie, and Tommy competed in royalty. The girls were both crowned District Three Queen, and Tommy served as District Three King.

In 2011, Kay was elected Assistant District Three Youth Counselor with DYC Bessie Petr and her assistant Lynda Novak. In 2014, the members elected Kay to serve as District Three Youth Counselor. She replaced Bessie Petr who had served the youth program for 62 years and became District Youth Counselor Emeritus. “What an act to follow,” Kay says.

Tom also continues his involvement in SPJST. “He married into a 100 percent SPJST family,” Kay says. “He continues to be involved and supportive of the program in every aspect.”

Treasured Memories of SPJST

Gena is entering her last semester at the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor pursuing an undergraduate degree in interdisciplinary studies, which is basically elementary education, she says, but with a certification in EC-12, special education, and ESL. “I plan on becoming a fifth grade math teacher, but who knows where God will lead me!”

For the past three years, Gena has been employed as an assistant in the Fraternal Department at the SPJST Home Office. “It’s like I haven’t left the youth club because I was still a part of camp, YAD, and even more activities!” she says. “It was so much fun to see a different side of SPJST and develop new friendships at the Home Office and with DYCs, youth leaders, and all of the youth.”

Katie finished at Tarrant County College and transferred to the University of Texas at Arlington. She is pursuing a career in business management and one day hopes to own her own franchises and businesses. She also enjoys helping her mother with SPJST duties and responsibilities in District Three.

Tommy plans to graduate from college, attend dental school, and eventually land a successful career.

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SPJST has made a difference in their lives. Kay says that the kids she grew up with in the SPJST Youth Program continue to be lifelong friends. “I still call John Engelke, ‘John-John’ which is what we called him growing up in the youth program,” Kay laughs. Brother Engelke now serves as District Three Director.

The Weeks’ family lists camp, the LIT program, YAD, scholarship pro“A Family You Should gram, community service, teamwork, Always Keep Close” and competition as some of the best “SPJST isn’t just a phase, it’s a fam- SPJST Youth Program experiences. “I ily that you should always keep close,” am so happy and proud that we got Tommy says. “There’s always going to our children involved in SPJST,” Tom be opportunities in the future to help our group expand and make this or- says. “The youth mission provides a ganization a better place . . . plus, it’s well-rounded educational, patriotic, also amazing to watch how everyone and social program. How can you go grows over the years and how every- wrong with that combination?” thing changes.”

The triplets all aspire to continue A ‘Tried and True’ Program the SPJST tradition in their future “The SPJST Youth Program is a families. “I want my kids to be in- ‘tried and true’ program where our volved in SPJST and do everything I family is concerned . . . since the early did when I was in the youth club so it’s 1900s,” Kay and Tom concur. “We important for me to continue to stay continue to be involved in SPJST and involved,” Katie states.

“When I grow older, I want my the youth program for those kids comkids to be involved in SPJST because ing through the program. We see what it was such a wonderful experience for a great program it has been for our me,” Gena says. “SPJST is a lifelong own kids — the very best venue for us, organization that has so many benefits and we want to be sure that more kids and so many great people . . . Who benefit in the same way.” would want to leave that?”

And, Kay’s advice for today’s SPJST Tommy also plans to include his parents and those thinking about joinfamily in SPJST. “I definitely plan to ing SPJST: “Push, push, push — no have my future children become members, as SPJST is a wonderful ex- matter how busy you think you are beperience with many opportunities and cause they will thank you - thank you memories to grow up with . . . just like - thank you in the long run!” my sisters and I did!”

The family members agree that [SPJST\

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Treasured Memories of SPJST

The Věstník visited with Gena, Katie, and Tommy and asked them several questions about their family, SPJST, and their involvement with the organization.

What was it like growing up in the Weeks’ household?

GENA: Being a triplet, I always had a buddy by my side. We all did things together, and even dressed similar . . . Thanks, Mom! My parents were, and still are very supportive of all three of us, but I’m obviously the favorite! ;-) Our household was complete chaos - with three dogs, three kids, two parents, and a ton of activities, such as soccer and band! We were very active, and we pretty much went non-stop! My grandparents were always there to support us. We would stay over at their house when my parents were busy, and it was just so nice to have grandparents that lived close to us.

KATIE: Growing up as a triplet was a lot of fun. Being first born and being the cutest, I was always the boss.

It was nice having Gena and Tommy around all the time because it was like spending 24/7 with your best friends.

Our parents were always supportive in everything we did, sports, band, etc. I guess it was kind of nice to have the same interests as each other to make things easier on our parents. Our grandparents have lived close to us for most of our lives so it was helpful

VĚSTNÍK whenever we needed to be “babysat” or just whenever Grandma wanted to spoil us.

ally enjoyed doing YAD talents with Tommy and Gena because they always made it very fun!

TOMMY: Being a triplet in the Weeks’ household was . . . crazy! Being the only boy, I was always outnumbered by my sisters, so I hardly ever won any fights. However, it’s a great feeling never having to really be alone and always having siblings, parents, and grandparents to be with you and love you!

TOMMY: Some of my best experiences were at camp, spending time with all my friends, and having water balloon wars and scaring the little kids on the haunted hayride. I also loved going to District and State YAD, seeing all my buddies from the other districts, and winning money competing in all the different craft competitions.

What are some of your best experiences as an SPJST member?

How has SPJST made a difference in your life through the years?

GENA: Some of my best experiences were going to camp at Val Verde and having these huge water balloon fights with the boys! Also, those hay rides were so scary and so fun at the same time! Another good memory I have is when me, Katie, and Tommy all played our instruments together as a group talent at Youth Achievement Day (YAD), then we made State! It was so nerve-racking, but lots of fun.

KATIE: Some of the best of my experiences as a member would have to be going to camp at Val Verde and enjoying it with my older cousins, Kim and Nick. As a younger member, I always looked up to them because they were my role models. I also enjoyed being stuck in the same cabin as Gena every single year, but I wouldn’t want to be stuck with anyone else. I also re-

GENA: I have met so many great people, both kids and adults, which have continued to stay in touch even after I graduated high school. But working at the Home Office has been such a great blessing because I got to work with people and stay involved with SPJST. I saw adults who have seen me grow up through the years, and I also get to see people who once were kids, and are now growing up and becoming Leaders-In-Training (LITs) and even graduating! It’s such a crazy thing to witness.

KATIE: Throughout my years as an active youth club member, I have made so many friends and met so many incredible people. I don’t think I would know about my heritage if it wasn’t for SPJST.

TOMMY: SPJST has made a difference in my life by helping me connect with my Czech heritage and learn to become a leader through LIT events.

What is your advice to youth who are currently active in the SPJST Youth Program?

GENA: My advice is to keep on keepin’ on! Stay active and do as much as you can, because you will make so many lasting friendships and develop bonds with your youth leader and members of the adult lodge. You will also become a better leader, have better social skills, and make friends with people from all over the state of Texas, and not many people have that opportunity!

KATIE: My advice is to stay active and do as much as you can because you will make so many lasting friendships, and you will learn a lot about yourself. You will also become a better leader, have better social skills that you won’t learn from being in school. I also think it’s cool to have friends all over the state of Texas because not many people get to have an opportunity like this.

TOMMY: I would advise the youth to stay active in their lodge and invite as many friends as they can so our SPJST family can grow!

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Treasured Memories of SPJST

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Treasured Memories from SPJST Home Office Staff

Members - No. 1

By Lisa M. Kirby Executive Assistant to the Financial Secretary Lodge 24, Cyclone

I enjoy working for SPJST because of the fraternalism. Members are our No. 1 priority, and I love being able to have that personal interaction with them on a daily basis. I love that we have an awesome youth program as well. It gives our youth the confidence to be the best they can be, and they are our future.

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Family-organized, kid-friendly

By Dorothy Stuchly Accounting Assistant Lodge 47, Seaton

What I like about SPJST is that our Society is family organized. There are so many activities for the kids where they can have good, clean fun.

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Good insurance

By Doris Tyroch Certificate Issue Technician Lodge 47, Seaton

SPJST is an organization helping people in need. We have good insurance. For the youth, we have different programs where they can learn and have fun with other youth.

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Extended family

By Linda Hill Administrative Specialist Lodge 80, Holland

SPJST is very special because we are like a large extended family.

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60 years and counting

By Dorothy Tomasek Claims Specialist Lodge 47, Seaton

I’ve been here over 60 years. I began work in Fayetteville, travelling back and forth. I had several bosses - Chupik, Urbanovsky, Mikeska, Anglin then Mikeska again. Everything was in Czech.

I talked Irma (Klinkovsky) into doing a Czech letter for Mr. Morris because she was better at it than me.

She was such a good worker. You could barely see her fingers move - she could type real fast.

Mr. Morris was a character - he used to announce grocery specials over the intercom. We got such a kick out of that. I just love it here!

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Close friends

By Lori Slack Insurance/Beneficiary Technician Lodge 47, Seaton

Helping those in need

By Cynthia Hutka Insurance Operations Manager Lodge 47, Seaton

SPJST is special because it is all about helping others and that is one of the many reasons I enjoy working here. I also like working here because SPJST has a family environment I enjoy working with all the employees here.

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Family atmosphere

By Debbie Klinkovsky Human Resource Administrator Lodge 47, Seaton

I love the cherished traditions and the family atmosphere.

My special memories of SPJST are those of when I worked here with Frank. I loved Monday morning visits from him and miss him everyday. SPJST lost a man that truly represented what the traditions and heritage here at SPJST are all about. Whether you called him Frankie, Mr. K., Colonel Klink, or Popo, you were blessed to have known him.

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Reaching out to others

By Sharla Pechal Accounting Assistant Lodge 47, Seaton

I enjoy working for SPJST because of the close friends I have made throughout the years! I’ve also enjoyed being able to have the opportunity to work for both the Financial Secretary’s and the Vice President’s departments. It has given me the experience to better help our members.

SPJST is a great place to work. It’s fraternal; it’s family; and it’s a great organization! You feel like you are right at home. People here are kind, loving, and caring; they make you smile! You honestly feel like you are a part of a big family that has your back and will help you out anytime you need assistance.

I love that the SPJST does so much for the communities. They really reach out and help people in so many different ways. I have never belonged to an organization that does any of this or makes you feel right at home!

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Treasured Memories of SPJST

New day, new adventure

By Gena Weeks Past Fraternal Assistant Lodge 183, Arlington

I enjoyed working at SPJST because we are all like a family. We spend so much time together and are all very supportive of each other. I loved coming into the office each day because it’s like a new adventure; I am always doing something!

Because SPJST is a fraternal organization, I feel like we have an upper hand at forming relationships with each other. I am so thankful for my SPJST family!

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Caring for each other

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SPJST - since 1897

By Jennifer Wright Data Entry Clerk

SPJST is my family, and everyone here makes me feel like that is truth.

SPJST is a wonderful place to work. The people make it wonderful because they really care about each other and they show it every day, not just at Christmas.

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Work as a team

By Margaret Campbell Claims Specialist Lodge 24, Cyclone

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our officers and directors for their leadership. I appreciate all they do for SPJST. One of the things I like most about working in the Secretary-Treasurer's Department is that we work as a team and can depend on each other.

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By Marissa Salinas Annuity/IRA Specialist Lodge 246, Morgan’s Point

I enjoy working here because of the close friendships I have made with our members and staff.

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So Powerful Just So True SPJST has been here since 1897, and who wouldn’t want to be a part that. Czech is in my blood . . .

Enough said!

By Billye Westlake Accounting Assistant/ Customer Service Representative Lodge 87, Temple

Close friendships formed

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Blessed with SPJST family

By Terry Malina Data Entry Clerk

The SPJST Staff is more of an extended family that cares and supports you wholeheartedly both professionally and personally. This statement was confirmed when I lost my mother to lung cancer last summer. During the last few months of her life, I received so many hugs, love, and prayers from each and every one of them. They truly held my hand. God has blessed me with their friendship, and I am truly fortunate to be a part of SPJST. [SPJST\

Getting to know sales agents, members

By Donica Zabcik New Business/Marketing and Research Technician Lodge 47, Seaton

Camaraderie

By Ann Paruzinski Mortgage Loan Processor Lodge 246, Morgan’s Point

What makes SPJST special . . .

SPJST is a great place to work! The camaraderie of our office staff, our great bosses, and our wonderful members (or as I like to call us all “my peeps”). I enjoy visiting with our members, whom I consider my friends, and trying to help in any way I can.

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Working for members, lodges

By Carol Wolf Mortgage Loan Specialist Lodge 80, Holland

I enjoy working at SPJST because of the friendships I have developed and the willingness among the staff to work together for our members and lodges. It has become a part of my extended family.

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A community of members

By Clifton Coufal Supreme Lodge Vice President Lodge 47, Seaton

I love the bond that I have made with my coworkers. If I need a hand, there is someone there to offer to help. I really have enjoyed working with and getting to know the agents in the field as well as our members. They are all great people!

SPJST is special because we care about our members. As a fraternal organization, our first priority is to take care of our members and to make sure every member feels they are part of the SPJST community.

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Visit, talk with members

By Frank Horak State Fraternal Activities Coordinator Lodge 80, Holland

The reason why I love working at SPJST is definitely the members! In my position, I have the opportunity to travel and visit with the members during meetings and district functions.

I always enjoy the times when we sit down to visit and talk about things we have in common such as SPJST, community activities, or our families.

One of my favorite memories is attending the Youth Leaders Workshops with the many great youth leaders!

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Emphasis on customer service

By Sandra Dubcak Executive Assistant to the President Lodge 47, Seaton

I have worked for the SPJST Home Office for nearly 19 years, and it has truly been a blessing. First and foremost, the SPJST leadership has always placed a strong emphasis on customer service. In this day and age with so many “self-service” businesses, it is a privilege and honor to work for a company that puts each individual member first. There is no question that whatever we do, we are all here to serve.

This expectation and attitude creates an environment of service – to our members – and to each other – and not just a job to come to day after day.

And finally, it is so nice to work in a caring and supportive community of my fellow staff and officers.

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I love my job!

By Susan Shofner Customer Service Specialist Lodge 246, Morgan’s Point

I love my job as a Customer Service Specialist and taking care of our members and sales agents. I enjoy the laughs and good times with my co-workers, members, and everyone. I am blessed to work in this organization.

[SPJST\

Members: like a second family

By Tammy Martinez Fraternal Services Specialist Lodge 47, Seaton

What makes SPJST special are the members. It is so nice to have members of an organization that feel like they are your second family.

Thank you, SPJST Family!

[SPJST\

Making history within SPJST

Treasured Memories of SPJST

23

office to say, “good morning,” we had all laid on the floor. He walked in and asked, “What is going on?”

We all told him that we were all just trying to “think.” He laughed so hard.

I have truly had some good times here at the Home Office. I love everyone here.

[SPJST\

SPJST Journey

By Katherine Morris Communication Specialist Lodge 47, Seaton

I have traveled the state of Texas with my family to oneafter-another SPJST function, meeting, and Czech event since I can

By Jerry Pechal remember. There was not a Saturday or a Sunday, Communication Assistant that I and my brothers didn’t hear, “Load up, it’s Lodge 47, Seaton time to go.” And there we were, my parents SPJST Vestnik Editor/SPJST President Nick A. I love working at SPJST beand Dorothy (Liška) Morris with two, then three, cause it is a place where people get then four, then five children in tow . . . on the road along and have fun all together. I have always wanted to work here to carry on the Pechal again.

I was involved in SPJST’s Youth Program and name in SPJST since my grandmother Dorothy Pechal was the Library, Archives, and Museum Cu- attended camp at Val Verde in McGregor. Carator for 16 years. My favorite memory that I have noeing was a favorite. We paddled our own caof SPJST will always be working in the Věstník De- noes, and listened to the canoe guides describe partment. I have learned so much and have been a plants, trees, birds, bugs, as we listened to nature, yes, the sounds of nature. Horseback riding was part of making history within SPJST. also great fun and wearing jeans and closed-toe shoes was a must.

[SPJST\ The meals - headed up by Cornelia - were really good. At any given time during the day, music would be turned on in the dining hall. With windows open, it was a call to all to come do “The Popcorn” dance - an early version of the line dance. Hikes, wiener roasts, games, music, swimming, lots of singing, lots of stories, and no air conditioning - summer camp was just good fun!

By Ruth Hanusch I ran for District Two Queen twice, and both Fraternal Department times I came up without a title. I lost out to Assistant Lodge 20, Granger girls, and friends each time Lodge 47, Seaton Kelli Cavanaugh and Debbie Marburger. With Norma Cavanaugh as their ‘coach’, I knew it was I have so many memories of going to be tough. working with SPJST. When I The entire ‘running for queen’ experience started in 1972, Mr. Joe B. Hejny taught me poise, competition, winning/losing, and talked to me regarding working for that I’d rather be part of the audience . . . unlike the SPJST Society. He explained that we were all family, and he considered everyone a part of my four brothers, who all enjoy performing and this family. I was really impressed. And ever since, entertaining on a stage . . . anywhere.

It has been an absolutely wonderful experience I have really felt that our SPJST Society is a big family of mine. I truly love working with all the “family” growing up in SPJST. And since 1998, I have had that I have developed. Each and everyone in the the extreme honor to work in the Vestnik Office; past and now in my present employment are so good indeed, my journey with SPJST continues. I am blessed. to work with.

God bless SPJST and you, its wonderful memI also remember at one time, Mr. Joe B. had told us girls that the best way to really think about some- bership. thing you are working with was best in a reclined [SPJST\ position. So one morning, just as he came into our

Blessed with good times, memories

24

Treasured Memories of SPJST

VĚSTNÍK

Treasured Memories

SPJST Library, Archives and Museum and Otto Hanus

Editor’s Note: Special thanks to the family of SPJST Library, Archives and Museum’s first Curator Otto Hanus for submitting these narratives, photos, and historical articles. passed down to each of the new curators in the future, and the Supreme Lodge would always remember him.

Therefore, you can see why after reading the article in the Věstník, I became upset. Before he was a curator, Otto sold SPJST Insurance; served different leadership roles at the local lodge; was a delegate to numerous SPJST Conventions; and known throughout the state as a man any SPJST member could count on. I guess you could say SPJST was a great part of Otto’s life. I am enclosing a copy of a picture of Otto that was taken for a convention program stating he was the curator of the SPJST Museum. The original picture hangs on my bedroom wall. He was a big influence on my life and many others.

[SPJST\

Otto Hanus

October 6, 1900 - February 2, 1987

Otto Hanus: A man any SPJST member could count on

By Daughter Matilda Jean Spence Crover Lodge 66, Waco

Dear Editor, Recently, I received a Věstník that had an article on the retirement of the current SPJST Museum Curator. I set it aside until I could find time to read all of it. I was so shocked when my grandfather’s name was not mentioned in the article.

My grandfather Otto Hanus was asked by the president of SPJST, Nick Morris, to be the curator for the SPJST Museum which would be housed in the Supreme Lodge building in Temple, Texas. My grandfather

agreed to do so. The museum became my grandfather’s baby. He spent hours going through all that had been donated and categorized each individual piece. Otto even contacted folks he knew to send more pieces of the Czech history. I remember taking a tour of the museum when my own son was about 18 months old - that was back in 1974.

Otto was working one day at the museum with a saw and cut off three fingers of his left hand. President Nick Morris and several of the officers went to see Otto at the hospital. They told him that they had appreciated all of the work he had done at the museum.

However, because of safety reasons, they felt that it was best that he did not return to the museum. They all stood there and told him that his name would forever be remembered.

My mother Rosemary Spence stood there beside his bed. She felt that her dad Otto Hanus’ name would be

Granddad Otto had a ‘gift of gab’

By Granddaughter Zephyr (Spence) Marek Lodge 48, Beyersville

I had the great honor of being one of Otto Hanus’ granddaughters, and I would like to tell you about this selftaught man. He could speak six languages, which he could both read and write two of the six. He could also play several musical instruments, and he never meet a stranger. All of these things helped him with his passion which was his Czech heritage and preserving it for generations to come.

He started back in 1950 writing letters to the Věstník in favor of setting up a Czech museum. “In late 1950, there was a meeting held in the conference room at the new headquarters of SPJST located at Second and Central in Temple, Texas. The meeting ended with no positive action taken, but those in attendance were in agreement that a museum or a similar facility ought to be established in Texas. In addition

Brother Otto Hanus, Brother Charlie Holasek, and Sister Bessie Valcik agreed that they would act as ‘collectors’ of the articles for the museum.” 1 In the latter part of 1968, Otto Hanus transported approximately 1,500 library books from West, Texas, for which Brother Nick Morris had solicited donations since the fall of 1963 and collected them from all over Texas and other states of the union.

“In a letter date November 19, 1969, Otto Hanus offered his services to administer the library, archives, and museum areas at the Supreme Lodge, and in a January meeting of 1970, the decision was made to employ Brother Hanus effective March 1, 1970.” 1 “Brother Hanus went to work rebinding some of the books that were in bad condition and started accumulating items for the museum. All of this was done in a room on the fifth floor of the Supreme Lodge headquarters at Second and Central in Temple, then expanded into two other rooms on the same floor.” 1 Every time we would visit, Granddad would proudly show off what he had gathered from all over the state.

“By the time of the dedication of the new building in January 1971, we already had enough items for display in the museum and enough material and books in the library and archives.

Brother Hanus in the intervening period, had worked very hard and diligently traveling to all parts of the state collecting books, artifacts, and items for the museum.” 1 Granddad Otto, had a ‘gift of gab’ and this is how a lot of items got to the museum. “He would go out and put a sales pitch on them which was based on ethnic pride. He would say, ‘Hey, you’re Czech and if you die, who’s going to see it.’”

He told Reporter Kelso from the Austin Onward, “Do you know what the oldest occupation in the world is?

Begging.” If you have money to buy anything in a museum, that’s one thing. But when you have to beg for everything, that’s a horse of a different color.” 2

VĚSTNÍK Here’s a quote from President Nick Morris published in the June 9, 1976, Věstník: “A lot of credit goes to Brother Otto Hanus for his excellent work in displaying the museum items, books (cataloguing and rebinding) and arranging the items in the Archives.

Brother Otto does not know what a clock is, and SPJST could not have a more devoted worker. He, on the other hand, extends credit to all others who donated items for the three areas, and to the cooperation and understanding of the Supreme Lodge.”

One of his pride and joys was a log cabin. It was his first introduction to building. His inspiration came from a foot-high model of the first log cabin built in 1854 near Nelsonville by Josef Lidumil Lesikar. Young visitors would try to imagine how the cabin looked, so he decided to show them. He worked on it from November to December 1983 at the age of 83. How many 83-year-olds do you know who would attempt anything like that.

“The cabin was scaled down slightly from its original size of 10-feet by 14feet to fit in the museum. Logs were donated by Joe Edd Micka and Chester Shmoldas of Crockett. Willie Kohutek and Gene McBride helped Hanus to haul the logs back to Temple. Pine shingles, each cut by hand, form the roof.” 3 Granddad also built a well which stands next to the cabin.

The cabin and well that he built still stands in the basement of the SPJST Home Office.

Granddad Hanus was honored by many for his job as curator of the museum. He was even invited and attended the 50 years of the Czech Foreign Institute and Matica Slovenská. I had the honor of being with him at the 26th SPJST Convention in San Antonio in June 1980 which honored him with a portrait of himself to be hung at the entrance to the museum.

This was a great honor for the modest man’s labor of love for his Czech heritage.

He began to work his passion on March 1, 1970, and worked until he cut three fingers off on a project for the museum. Granddad passed away a few days later (February 2, 1987, at the age of 86) knowing he could not go back to work. It was a sad day for us all, but I know the good Lord called him home to let him continue to work on his passion.

Treasured Memories of SPJST

First SPJST Curator Otto Hanus stands beside a photo of himself that was unveiled in his honor at the 26th SPJST Convention in San Antonio in June 1980.

The modest man’s labor of love for his Czech heritage has made the museum a place for all people to see the lifestyle of yesteryear.

—Rogers Affiliated Press

As the funeral procession began, it was a great reminder of the amount of people whose lives he truly touched.

There were miles and miles of cars who followed him to his final resting place at Pavelka SPJST Cemetery near Elk, Texas, on a hill with a beautiful view.

After his death, I would go to sales representative classes at the SPJST Home Office, and I would always walk to the basement where the museum was and stand in front of his picture. I felt him close to me as if he wanted to show me some new displays.

He has been gone 28 years, but I am reminded all the time by some of his sayings, like “If you don’t learn something new each day you lose that day” or “You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar.” This is how he lived his life working hard and learning things that he could pass on to others and never meeting someone he couldn’t get along with. Even though he didn’t go to church, I know he’s in heaven working in the garden or on some other project.

Yes! I am a very proud granddaughter. He loved his family very much, but he also loved working at the library, archives, and museum to keep our Czech heritage alive for generations to come. To Otto, it was fun, not work.

1

Morris, Nick A. “How the SPJST Library, Archives, and Museum Came To Be.” Věstník. June 9, 1978.

2 Tour with Kelso. Austin Onward.

July 10, 1984.

3 Temple Daily Telegram. January 23, 1983.

[SPJST\

Otto Hanus: kind, generous man with a love of family, friends and heritage

By Great-Granddaughter Cindy Kovar Lodge 48, Beyersville

Otto Hanus was my great-grandfather; he was a kind, generous man with a love of family, friends, and heritage.

He was working as the curator for the SPJST museum until the time of his death at 86 years old. He built by hand the log cabin that was a fixture of the museum when it was housed at the SPJST Home Office. Majority of the items that are showcased in the museum are there because of his connections and friendships within the Czech community. He was honest and hardworking; he made many of the displays and painstakingly typed by hand the details of the donated items in Czech and English. Even in the 1980s, he would go to work early every morning, come home for lunch and a quick nap, and return to work in the afternoons. He worked at the museum until a few days before his death, and was only off from work because he sawed off several fingers while working on a project at the museum. He was always at the State Youth Achievement Day held in Temple at the time. He was well known and well liked. He was humble, and I can remember as a child I would tell him I loved him, and he would laugh and say, “That he wasn’t worth a nickels worth of peanuts.” He always wanted to share, and he took great joy and pride bringing visitors through the museum.

He would point out different items

25

and explain their uses or play a cord on the accordion at the delight of the visitors. I can remember him coming to his daughter (my grandmother) Rosemary Spence’s house, and his car was filled with mannequin parts. What a sight it was as a child to see arms, legs, and heads all intermingled and brimming to the top of his small car! I later found out that some store had donated a bunch of old mannequins and that he had plans to use them at the museum. He pieced them together and fixed the broken parts to display the uniforms and other garments that had been donated to the museum.

He sang in the choir with SPJST. He and my great-grandmother Matilda Hanus would go dance polkas and waltzes at the SPJST halls until she had a stroke and was no longer able to dance. He also loved dancing the beseda with her, and they had the traditional outfits that they would wear. He also had a green thumb and enjoyed growing flowers and vegetables with everyone.

He loved language and spoke six different languages, and he wanted his great-grandchildren to learn the language. He made me a book when I was young of all the clippings from the Věstník of learning to speak Czech. He was always excited when we remembered some Czech words.

At one time, if you were in SPJST, you knew Otto Hanus. But as the years have passed and times have changed, there are fewer and fewer of those of us who know and loved him.

In 1997, I won the Newman’s Own Recipe contest, and I donated my entire $55,000 cash prize to the 100 Pennies Scholarship Fund in Otto Hanus’ name. I wanted to give in his honor because he had given to so many in his lifetime. I hope when the students that win the scholarship from SPJST will know what a great man he was and maybe they will be inspired to give back to their community of their time and talent.

As a child, I saw the giving of time and talent by Otto and other family members and what a positive influence one person can have for many others.

Now as a mother of two teen girls, I try to instill this love of giving to them and we volunteer at many events in as community.

I thank you for letting me share some memories of my great-grandfather.

[SPJST\

26

Treasured Memories of SPJST

How the SPJST Library, Archives and Museum Came To Be

By Nick Morris Supreme Lodge President Veštník June 9, 1976

(Sources of Information: old Věstník issues, interviews with Brothers Edward L. Marek and Otto Hanuš, Brother Hanuš’ file and notes, previous Convention Proceedings, and the writer’s personal notes and file. The purpose of this article is to have a complete and lasting record of how this part of the SPJST Supreme Lodge Hqs. Bldg. came into existence and how it has progressed.)

The idea of a Czech museum representing all the Czech people in Texas had been discussed for approximately 30 years, off and on; in various circles and organizations of the Czech people in Texas. However, despite several meetings and expressed support of the project, nothing concrete was ever started in the direction of actually establishing a museum or Czech library.

In the early and mid-1950s a number of people had written letters in the Věstník in favor of setting up a Czech museum, among them the late Brother Charlie Holášek of Corpus Christi, Otto Hanuš, at that time of San Antonio, Sister Bessie Valčik of Dallas, Jaroslav Kleprlík of San Antonio, the late Věstník Editor Frank Moučka of Ennis and West, Milos Podlipný of Rosenberg, and a number of other supporters of the idea. (It’s hazardous naming people for fear someone will be omitted, but research is a very exacting art).

Records show that the matter was discussed at some length in the SPJST District Seven Spring Meeting in 1954. Then, a sort of official gathering of the supporters of the idea was held in late 1954 in the new Supreme Lodge offices in Temple after they had been moved from Fayetteville. Among those present at that meeting were Brother Charlie Holášek, Sis. Bessie Valčik, Bros. Otto Hanuš, Edward L. Marek, August Kacíř, Raymond Urbanovský, J.F. Chupík, Charlie Navrátil, L.O. Hošek, Miloš Podlipný, and Jaroslav Kleprlík. The meeting was held in the conference room in the new headquarters at 2nd and Central in Temple. The discussion centered

VĚSTNÍK around getting a building to house the museum and the possible cost of it. The meeting ended with no positive action taken, but those in attendance were in agreement that a museum or a similar facility ought to be established in Texas.

In addition, Bros. Hanuš and Holášek and Sis. Valčik agreed that they would act as “collectors” of articles for the museum. There were no funds available and none of the represented organizations had set aside any money for this purpose. Other organizations represented were the KJT and KJZT. The first meeting I had the opportunity of attending on this subject took place in the First National Bank Building in Temple in the late 1950s. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the feasibility of establishing a Czech museum somewhere in Texas. Present were representatives and leaders from several Czech fraternal organizations in Texas, plus some other interested people who had previously expressed support of the program, Sister Bessie Valčik and Bro. Jaroslav Kleprlík were in charge of the meeting, and I remember that Bros. Edward L. Marek, and Jerry Valchař of the RVOS were also present. No definite course of action was undertaken. One thing that everyone present did agree on was the fact that they wanted a museum full of Czech artifacts somewhere in Texas.

The construction of a new building for this purpose was discussed, as well as the rental of a building. I sat and listened. I could sense that the reason for inaction was because the people present represented various organizations, and although they were in agreement on WHAT they wanted, they could not act with full authority from their parent organizations, which, in turn, had not appropriated any funds for such a project. Again, little headway was made and I became convinced that if this project were to ever become a reality, one organization was going to have to bring it about.

The idea lay dormant for a few years, with someone occasionally resurrecting the idea at some meeting or gathering.

The next meeting about this and related matters took place in Granger in the former KJZT Home Office sometime in the late winter or early spring of 1963. I was asked to attend this meeting as a representative of the SPJST, since as editor I had also written several articles in favor of such a project.

The meeting was again attended by leaders of several Czech organizations, plus members of the clergy. I recall that

the late Bro. August Kacíř was present, along with then Našinec editor Josef Maresh and son Timothy. It soon became apparent that the idea of a museum had lost its momentum and that the main thrust of the meeting was the proposition of establishing a library of Czech Books. Discussion appeared to end in limbo with nothing concrete established or decided, although all seemed in agreement that a Czech library should be established to preserve the rich storehouse of Czech materials.

I recall that after about an hour’s discussion (the meeting was presided over

by Mr. Roman Bartosh, Taylor attorney), that I was about the last one to be called upon for comments and that I got up and announced that I thought the project and proposal was a good idea and that since the project had been discussed for so long and little accomplished that I was going to start, on my own, the nucleus of a Czech library in West.

In the fall of 1963, as editor of the SPJST Věstník, I started writing about and soliciting donations to a “Czech Library in Texas.” The first donation of books came in about the middle of September 1963 and was donated by West attorney, Bro. George Kacíř. I continued to list the donations of books in a series of 20 listings (now a matter of record) in the Věstník until the issue dated August 10, 1966. Books continued to come in from all parts of the United States, but I no longer had the time nor the space to list them.

Since there was very little space available in the rear of the printshop of the Cechoslovak Publishing Company (which had been so generously accorded to the project by Publisher Bro. Joe Holásek), I received permission from the owners of a former and abandoned ice house located behind the printshop which had been closed and unoccupied for some time. It had some shelving in it and most of the windows were knocked out, but it did have a padlock on the door and protected the contents fairly well from the rain. The entire interior of the building was covered with a thick layer of dust. Many Saturdays and off hours were spent vacuuming and cleaning the inside of the old ice house.

This old ice house was the first home of what is now the Czech SPJST Library. About a year later, West National Bank (now West Bank & Trust) purchased the building and property on which the old ice house was located, razed the ice house, and built an annex

to the bank building on the property.

The books had to be moved elsewhere.

After that, Bro. Joe Holášek very kindly consented to allocating part of the back room of his publishing house to the storage of the Czech books, but there was no shelving. I had previously received a $10 donation from Mr. Fred Burda from the State of Washington towards organizing and financing this library. $9 of the $10 were used to hire Mr. Albin Macik, a local carpenter in West, to construct shelving for about 2,000 books. He did so and part of that shelving still stands in that room to this day and is used by the Cechoslovak Publishing Company.

In the XXth Convention in Dallas in June 1968, the Operations and Analysis Committee had recommended the construction of a new Home Office building and further recommended that “any recommendations the committee would have and floor plans should have the approval of the SL officers before becoming a part of the finalized plan. We believe the convention should approve a special archives room that would be ample for display and not be so small that it would become a junk room” (page 38, Proceedings of the XXth Convention).

In the afternoon session the next day of that convention in June 1968, Bro. Calvin Chervenka of then Lodge No. 69, New Colony, proposed a resolution in which, among other things, he called for the members to support “ . . . a provision for a new Home Office building which will include facilities for a museum, library and archives” (p. 53, XXth Convention Proceedings). The resolution was seconded by Bro. John Kutni, voted on and passed.

In attending a Supreme Lodge meeting the latter part of 1968 after the convention, I requested and got permission from the Supreme Lodge to have Bro. Otto Hanuš transport the approximately 1,500 library books in West to a room on the fifth floor in the SPJ ST building at 2nd and Central in Temple. The books reposed there until Bro. Hanuš became curator and librarian later. The volumes had been accumulated in West from donors all over Texas and other states of the Union.

In a letter dated December 18, 1969 to members of the Supreme Lodge, after I had been in office almost a year, I called attention to the fact that Director Ernest J. Hanka had made a motion in our special meeting of April 22, 1969 that “ ...the entire body authorize the Supreme Lodge officers to deter-

VĚSTNÍK mine plans for the contents of our archives, museum, and library in the new building. Motion carried”. In that same letter I set forth basic plans and ground rules and suggestions as to what might be included in that area, which were approved.

In a letter dated November 19th, 1969, Bro. Otto Hanuš offered his services to administer the library, archives and museum areas in our Supreme Lodge, and in the January meeting of 1970, the decision was made to employ Bro. Hanuš effective March 1, 1970. He began his work then, as he still does, on a part-time basis. Bro. Hanuš went to work rebinding some of the books that were in bad condition and started accumulating items for the museum. All of this was done in a room on the 5th floor of the Supreme Lodge Hqs. building at 2nd and Central in Temple, then expanded into two other rooms on the same floor, and by the time we were ready to move into our present new facilities in January 1971, we were already overflowing with books and museum artifacts. By the time of the dedication of the new building in January 1971, we already had enough items for display in the museum and enough material and books in the library and archives. Bro. Hanuš, in the intervening period, had worked very hard and diligently traveling to all parts of the state collecting books, artifacts, and items for the museum.

Today, the library contains over 11,000 volumes, about 90 percent of these in the Czech language, on various subjects and matters of interest.

There are a number of technical-medical volumes and books on agriculture, the latter largely donated by US Congressman Bob Poage. There are many periodicals in the Czech language from Czechoslovakia. Between 8,000 and 9,000 persons have toured the area since it opened; this does not include many who did not register. According to the sign-in books, visitors have been from 32 states in the Union and eight foreign countries, namely, Czechoslovakia, Canada, Guatemala, Holland, Iran, Japan, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia.

Countless groups have visited, such as Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, Brownies, church groups, museum groups, school groups of all ages, Czech student groups from various universities, local citizens, and many other interested persons. We are members of the TAM — Texas Association of Museums. The museum is listed as a place to visit in

Bell County Magazine which is distributed to all motels and hotels and businesses in Bell County. There is no admission.

Finally, it must be stated that donations to the library and museum have come in from just about every state in the Union and countries abroad, including Czechoslovakia. Many individuals, in and outside the SPJST, have contributed. Items donated to the Archives Room have come in from various individuals and a number of lodges. If a composite history of the SPJST is ever written, the writer will have to spend a great deal of time in the Archives Room.

A lot of credit goes to Bro. Otto Hanuš for his excellent work in displaying the museum items, books (cataloguing and re-binding), and arranging the items in the Archives.

Brother Otto does not know what a clock is, and the SPJST could not have a more devoted worker. He, on the other hand, extends credit to all others who donated items for the three areas, and to the cooperation and understanding of the Supreme Lodge.

The “LAM” area stands as a monument to the Czech people in this State and elsewhere and to the hardworking forefathers and pioneers who sacrificed so much to bring our Society, this State, and this Nation to where it is today.

You owe it to yourselves to come see what is displayed here.

[SPJST\

Age 70, Acts 20, Goes Like 60 . . .

Treasured Memories of SPJST

From Temple Daily Telegram January 31, 1971 Special Supplement “SPJST Dedicates New Home”

Otto Hanus at 70 years of age has the energy of a man of 20.

If you visit the new SPJST home offices here, you’ll see this unprepossessing little man bustling around the new museum arranging this, rearranging that, with tireless enthusiasm.

Everything has to be “just right.”

Hanus is curator of the SPJST museum in the new building.

He also is to remain custodian of the 4,000-volume library and the SPJST Archives – all housed in the new headquarters building.

Hanus spent countless hours getting set for the grand opening of the headquarters of SPJST. “It’s fun,” he says with a wide grin. “There’s nothing else like this place.”

Hanus came here recently from Waco where for several years he worked as a hardware salesman.

Now he’s got a semi-retirement slot with SPJST, and he’s proud, to say the least.

If anybody in Texas is throughly familiar with SPJST history, it’s Hanus.

He can recite dates, places, and per-

sonages with easy facility. He can tell you in a sentence the history behind a strand of barbed wire in his museum, or that story behind artifacts gathered from Czech communities from Galveston to Dallas.

He will show visitors a yellowed copy of the Dallas News dated February 9, 1899. He will point to headlines that proclaim, “Peace Is To Prevail . . .

Americans in absolute control in the Philippines.”

He will also display a 1903 copy of the Obzor, the Czech newspaper then published at Hallettsville, Texas. He also has on hand copies of the SPJST Věstník - the Czech word for “herald.”

One of the major items of interest Hanus quickly points out is a large map, set aside in a special historical cubicle. This map shows graphically the many Czech communities and their northward spread through Texas. It was this map, Hanus explained, that was a big attention-grabber at the historical Texas Centennial, held in Dallas in 1936.

The map illustrates the growth of the Texas Czech population from the initial colonies established as early as 1852 in and around Austin. Hanus credited Frank Olexa, Jr., Frank Olexa, Sr., and Frank Dvorak as original builders of the map project.

“They worked hard for nine months on this,” Hanus remarked with obvious admiration.

Following the grand opening festivities Sunday, the public is invited to view exhibits in the museum and archives area.

And you might find Hanus fidgeting with a new arrangement of artifacts or thumbing through the Czech historical volumes in the library.

He has helped create a center of Czech culture and study which serve Texas researchers and historians well in the years to come.

[SPJST\

SPJST Home Office Staff, 1981 to 1986. Front, left to right, Magdalen Jez, Linda Johnson, Ann Paruzinski, Doris Tyroch, Kathy Fritz. Second row: Scott Zetak, Dorothy Tomasek, Thelma Bartosh, Lanita Anglin, Debbie Dohnalik, Sarah Wilson. Back: Gene McBride, Silas H. Smith, Dorothy Stuchly, Irma Klinkovsky, Norma Andel, Ruth Hanusch, Jann Thomas, and Otto Hanus.

27

28

Treasured Memories of SPJST

Gadget Mixed Dice and Music

Otto Hanus studies a fascinating artifact called “The Magic Gambler.”

The intricate device was used in pioneer Texas saloons where men bet on dice “dropped” by a miniature “man” in a glass cage.

From Temple Daily Telegram January 31, 1971 Special Supplement “SPJST Dedicates New Home”

There probably is nothing else like it anywhere.

And to duplicate the workmanship would be extremely difficult.

As Otto Hanus says, “I doubt whether any others ever were built.”

Who made it?

Hanus can say only: “Some tinkerer.”

He was talking about a “gambling machine” on display in the new SPJST museum.

Hanus referred to the ingenious contraption as a “gambling machine” because as far as he knew nobody knows what else to call it.

This antique is a small handcrafted statue of a Chinese sage enclosed in a glass cubicle. After somebody winds up a motor, the artifact serves as a music box only secondarily.

The little man, constructed with the greatest intricacy, lifts a cover from atop a pair of dice, which rotate upon each winding.

As Hanus explains, “You see back in the old saloon days, they (tavern visitors) wound it up to see who would pay for the drinks. It was just like shooting a dice game; you win, or you lose, depending on how you call the shots.”

“This is several generations old,” he added.

The “gambling machine” was donated to the SPJST museum by Temple hardware man Robert Stavinoha, who inherited it from his grandfather.

Stavinoha said of his family treasure: “It’s something money couldn’t buy. That’s why we gave it to the SPJST. The thing stayed in my grandfather’s attic and was forgotten for a number of years.

“My aunt had it before she died, and she only knew that it came from a saloon at Swiss Alp, Texas.”

He said the device was brought to Temple about 1907. It remained in the Stavinoha Hardware Store here until its recent donation to the SPJST. “My aunt said the thing was old when she was a little girl, so we know it is very old.” Stavinoha continued.

He said his grandfather, George

Stavinoha, at one time operated a saloon in Swiss Alp, near La Grange.

“This was in his saloon. The gears in the motor are hand-hewn.”

He said he had no idea where the collector’s item came from originally.

Stavinoha concluded, “I felt that the device belongs to all of the heirs of Grandpa Stavinoha, and not just to me. That’s why I felt SPJST should have it.”

[SPJST\

Temple Czech Museum Known

by Few

By Michael Parker Staff Writer Temple Daily Telegram September 1, 1974

Several blocks from downtown Temple is a monument to the pioneer days of Texas and to the pioneer culture of immigrant farmers, craftsmen, and businessmen and their families from what today is known as Czechoslovakia.

The museum is not widely publicized and few people are aware of this three-year-old collection of artifacts and memorabilia.

It is the Czech Museum, housed in the SPJST Supreme Lodge Building, 520 N. Main St. The museum is a dream come true for Otto Hanus, 73, its curator. Hanus first tried to persuade the state council of the SPJST to open a Czech museum 20 years ago.

A former hardware merchant, Hanus said he was disappointed when

the council told him it was not interested. But in 1970, he said, when plans were under way for the new supreme lodge building, the council decided it was interested in starting a Czech museum.

“I helped them collect a lot of books and things, and when they saw I was so interested in the museum, they asked me to become its curator. Then I began soliciting donations of articles, and the donations have been coming in faster and faster. We’ve had to refuse some because we already have some items,” Hanus said.

The museum actually consists of three parts – a library containing 12,000 volumes, an exhibit hall, and the archives.

“We started four years ago with about 1,000 books which had been kept in a warehouse in West, where the Czech newspaper Věstník was published,” Hanus said. “We got them to Temple, and it took three full loads in a station wagon to get them to the new building.

“We even have a complete set of the works of Zane Grey in Czech,” he said.

Hanus receives Czech books and periodicals in vast numbers and catalogues and stores them until they are ready to be put in the library.

Next door to the library is the Vshaped exhibit hall, which contains a wide range of artifacts, many 200 or more years old. It includes two small side rooms for exhibits of pioneer household items and medical instruments.

Household exhibits include an early refrigerator with a set of shelves with cloth sheets for sides. Water from a pail on the top was kept flowing down through the sheets while air was blown in from the outside of the sheets to keep the food cold. A basin was placed

VĚSTNÍK at the bottom to catch the water.

The household exhibit also has two pioneer stoves, and numerous old milk bottles of varying sizes, an old water pail, a water dipper carved from a coconut, and cabinet containing porcelain plates were wedding gifts to Czech families, but one was the product of a longtime Czech tradition – that of a local merchant giving place settings to favorite customers as Christmas gifts. This plate dated back to 1895.

The collection of medical instruments came from Dr. John J. Shiller, who began his medical practice in 1903 in Praha, Texas. Praha is the Anglicized equivalent of Prague, the capital of Czechoslovakia. Shiller was 96 years of age on May 27, 1973, and was paid his full life insurance benefits by the SPJST in a special ceremony. In turn, he gave the museum his surgical tools - six shelves of medical books and two saddlebags of medical equipment from his early practice during the horse and buggy days. Two diathermy machines are in the collection, one 35 years old and one 60.

One of the items in the collection is a square wooden box. A small card tells the visitor that this box is a portable telephone which Shiller used when his buggy became stuck in the mud. The telephone has a long wire which the doctor would toss over any telephone wire. He would call the nearest source of help to get him back on his way.

The main part of the exhibit hall contains everything from colorful blankets more than 200 years old to a 1765 vintage Czech Bible to a homemade basket woven from corn shucks.

On one wall as the visitor enters the museum is a 40-foot mural by Temple artist Forrest Gist depicting the Czech heritage in Texas and the evolution of SPJST in the state.

The museum even contains a small section on music, with a huge organ which originally was bought in 1909 at a department store for $28.45, Hanus said. The section also contains phonographs of 1906 vintage, an old accordion, a drum, and a tuba. On the wall are photographs depicting 80 years of Baca music.

Other exhibitions include a 60year-old sewing machine, numerous farm implements from the early part of this century, an early electric washing machine, a typewriter made in 1915, and what Hanus calls a “gambling machine.”

VĚSTNÍK “The washing machine was in perfect running condition until one day when I plugged it in to demonstrate it for some visitors, and it spewed out several parts at me. After that I disconnected it,” Hanus said.

The “gambling machine” consists of a Chinese sage inside a glass capsule.

When the motor is wound up, that sage shakes a pair of dice inside a container, then opens the container for the observer to see.

“It goes back to the old saloon days,” said Hanus. “It is just like shooting dice. You win or lose, depending on how you call the shots. It was used to determine who would pay for the drinks.”

Another exhibit in the museum is a large three-dimensional map of Texas showing the spread of Czech communities through Texas. Hanus said the map was one of the popular exhibits at the Texas Centennial in 1936 in Dallas.

But for all the memories, the museum also has a section dedicated to a tragic memory – that of the infamous Nazi devastation of Lidice, Czechoslovakia, in 1942. The Lidice section of the museum contains photographs of the town and its people – then and now. They tell the story of Hitler’s troops murdering all its men and many of its women and taking survivors off to concentration camps. Bulldozers moved in and destroyed the empty town. The name of Lidice has been kept alive, however, and other towns have been named after it. To commemorate the people who suffered in Lidice, the SPJST commissioned Forrest Gist, painter of the 40-foot mural, to sculpt a “Lidice Cross.” The rugged cross was made of aluminum, and carries across its top strands of barbed wire symbolizing not only the devastation of Lidice but the centuries of oppression Czech peoples have endured, Hanus said.

The archives section of the museum is less diverse than the exhibit hall. The archives contain old documents and newspapers about SPJST and the Czech people. Some of the papers and documents are written in Czech.

Hanus said he officially works from 8 a.m. to noon, but he also comes to the lodge whenever anyone need him for anything. He likes to take visitors through the museum and show them all the exhibits, and although the building is open for only eight hours a day – 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. he also is happy to give tours by special

Treasured Memories of SPJST

29

appointment at just about anytime, he said. Hanus said he wishes more people knew about the museum, particularly young people’s groups, school classes, and the like.

“This museum was made for them,” he said. “They can see it pretty nearly anytime they want to and don’t have to pay a cent if they know it’s here.”

Hanus, a Waco resident most of his life, said he never had been a collector of anything before he became curator of the Czech museum. It was only after 55 years in the hardware business and two in retirement that he took his present job.

“It’s the best job I’ve ever had,” Hanus said.

[SPJST\

Cabin Shows Pioneer Life

By Kay Mayfield Temple Daily Telegram January 23, 1983

A chapter of pioneer life is re-created with the SPJST Museum’s latest addition – a log cabin modeled after the first Czech home built in Texas.

Otto Hanus, pictured in 1984, spent two months building a replica of the first Czech cabin in Texas at the SPJST Museum.

Museum curator Otto Hanus built the cabin in the museum, located in the basement of the SPJST Supreme Lodge, 520 N. Main St. “It took a lot of work - a lot of Band-Aids, too,” Hanus says of the cabin-building in November and December.

The structure is a replica of the home built in 1854 near Nelsonville by Josef Lidumil Lesikar. The home still stands, enlarged with the addition of new wings and recognized with a state historical marker.

Hanus’ inspiration for the project was a foot-high scale model of the cabin elsewhere in the museum. Visitors, especially youngsters, enjoyed seeing the model and trying to imagine how the cabin looked, so Hanus decided to show them.

The curator says the project was his introduction to building.

“That’s my first attempt. You show me how many 83-yearold people would at-

tempt anything like this,” he says.

The cabin is scaled down slightly from its original 10-by-14-foot size to fit in the museum. Logs were donated

by Joe Edd Micka and Chester Shmoldas of Crockett. Willie Kohutek and Gene McBride helped Hanus to haul the logs back to Temple. Pine shingles, each cut by hand, form the roof. A well stands next to the cabin.

Artist Rudy Calooy, Jr. of Killeen created a mural on the walls surrounding the cabin, depicting bluebonnets, deer, birds, armadillos, and other animals. Inside the cabin are a chair, a rough table, spinning wheel, old books and pictures, tools, and several items such as glasses, pipes, and whistles that belonged to Lesikar.

The cabin is one of several exhibits arranged as realistic settings from the past. They also feature a blacksmith shop filled with the tools of the trade; a doctor’s office with old-style medical equipment; and a kitchen stocked with items seldom seen in modern homes.

The museum also displays a wide variety of items from Czech and early Texas life, such as clocks, equipment from a shoe shop, firearms, pipes, military uniforms, Czech costumes, elaborate needlework, Bibles, tools, farm equipment, and many more objects, in addition to an extensive Czech library.

The museum is open, free of charge, from 8 a.m. until noon and from 1 until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

[SPJST\

30

Treasured Memories of SPJST

Curator Succumbs

Veštník February 11, 1987

We shall remember! Yes, we will and, definitely, shall and must remember a dedicated, devoted, honest, hardworking, loved family individual as well as sincere fraternalist, Brother Otto Hanus, the curator of our SPJST Library, Archives, Museum, who was laid to eternal rest today, Thursday, February 5, 1987, at the SPJST Pavelka Cemetery in Elk (McLennan County), Texas.

Otto Hanus, 86, of Temple died Monday, February 2, 1987. Services were held at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, February 5 at Wilkirson Hatch Funeral Chapel with interment in Elk. Brother Hanus was a member and Czech reporter of SPJST Lodge 66, Waco; member of Lodge 47, Seaton Choral Club; member of Texas Association of Museums; member of RVOS Lodge 109; and was also an instrumental member during the 1960 and 1980 SPJST Conventions held in Waco.

Survivors include his widow, Matilda Hanus of Waco (residing in a rest home); three daughters, Florine Clay of San Antonio, Rosemary Smith of Waco, and Lucille Drury of Corpus Christi; one son, Dan Hanus of Waco; two sisters, Elsie Geibel of Sinton and Mary Sugarek of Skidmore; two brothers, Alton Hanus of Waco and Paul Hanus of George West; 13 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and a large number of friends.

The family has designated SPJST Scholarship Fund, PO Box 100, Temple, Texas 76503 for memorials.

[SPJST\

SPJST Museum documents Czech history

Original article published July 6, 1997 Special commemorative issue celebrating SPJST’s 100th Anniversary published by Temple Daily Telegram

“Museums are the unique keepers of the past. They act as safeguards for the cultural resources of our human heritage. From the chaos and conflict of today’s world, the museum will hold the collections that tell us today and tomorrow who we were and where we come from.”

This quote is part of one of several decoupages adorning a wall at the SPJST Museum.

And certainly the SPJST Museum, located in the basement of the SPJST Home Office at 520 North Main Street, preserves the culture, the memories, and the proud history of the Czech people.

When visitors enter the museum, they are instantly taken back in time where memories both good and bad exist. The struggles and triumphs of early Czech settlers are evident throughout the years of history in the museum.

Dorothy Pechal, curator of the museum, takes visitors on tours of the museum, describing each item, showing the beautifully handmade dolls, the puppets, and fine wooden objects whittled by a pharmacist.

One can almost see a happy young bride-to-be, walking down the aisle to meet her groom as Mrs. Pechal points at the intricate detailing on bridal dresses made many years ago.

She passes by a photo and immediately points out its history. On July 25, 1943, a Liberation Bomber was christened “SPJST of Texas” because the organization had purchased $250,000 in war bonds.

Guided tours are given during regular museum hours, or by special arrangement. The museum is open each weekday from 8 a.m. until noon and from 1 until 5 p.m.

The Czech history is noted among the exhibits. The Czechs came to Texas in the years 1850 to 1915 bringing with them a love of home, family, and religion.

VĚSTNÍK According to the museum’s brochure, a major goal is to preserve the Czech cultural heritage by teaching Czech history and traditions. It also stands as a memorial to the pioneer forefathers and mothers who settled Texas.

Later in the tour, Mrs. Pechal passes by a glass case containing puppets 117 years old. They were made in 1875, and brought to America in 1923.

Pointing to the Hastrman Water Sprite, a puppet, she said children were told that if they looked in the well the Sprite would get them and pull them in. She said this was to keep children away from the wells so they wouldn’t fall in.

Many of the Czechs came from Austro-Hungary because of economic, religious, and political oppression, and to escape service in Franz Josef ’s army.

The Czechs had been under German rule for 300 years so most of them spoke German.

A map that was made and displayed at the Texas Centennial in 1936 is proudly displayed. The map has the various Czech communities marked, and red dots representing Protestant churches, and crosses representing Catholic churches.

Most of the Czechs (Moravians) came into Texas through ports of Galveston or Indianola. Since most were farmers, they settled on good farming land.

A picture of Marines raising the flag on Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima on February 23,1945, is displayed on the wall. One of the men was Czech, Mrs. Pechal said.

A case in a corner contains articles used by Dr. William A. Chernosky while he served in the U.S. Army during World War I in 1918. He later practiced at King’s Daughters Hospital, she said.

Seventy-thousand pens and pencils that were collected by Joseph Koliha, a former treasurer for the SPJST Supreme Lodge, for many years were displayed as well.

And pictures tell a sadder part of history—the story of Lidice. During World War I, Nazi’s swore to wipe Lidice off the face of the earth because Reinhart Heydrich, a Nazi official, was killed in Praha.

While searching for Heydrich’s killers, Nazi’s discovered a raincoat with two letters addressed to Lidice.

They traveled there, and shot all 172 men and boys of the village. The women and children were sent to con-

centration camps.

Money was sent from around the world to erect a cross on the common grave of the men.

On the wall beside the pictorial account of the destruction is the quote, “May God grant that this never happen anywhere.”

Music is also a part of the Czech heritage. An old organ that was handdelivered by Sears & Roebuck costing $28.45 at the time of delivery, stands in a corner.

Mrs. Pechal points out the largest Dulcimer, a musical instrument with metal strings, struck with two small hammers or plucked with a quill, ever made. It was made in 1895 by Ignac Krenek for the original Baca Band of Fayetteville.

She said the colorful costumes displayed on mannequins are decorated to represent different regions in Czechoslovakia, and took two to three years each to decorate.

A Magic Gambler used to determine who would pay for the beer in the 1880s, and one that is still in good operating condition offers an interesting view of early Czechs to museum visitors.

The museum, which has been open since 1971, also has some beautiful dolls with one set of costumed dolls donated by the Czech embassy in Washington, D.C. Mrs. Pechal said one of the favorite items of grandparents of previous years was a stereoscope, an instrument with two eye-pieces that gives a three-dimensional effect to photographs viewed through them.

A log cabin replica of the first Czech home built in Texas by Josef Lidumel Lesikar near Nelsonville in 1854 is proudly displayed at the museum. The logs for the replica were donated by Joe Edd Micka of Crockett and hauled to Temple by past District Two Director Willie Kohutek. The cabin was built by Otto Hanus, former curator of the museum.

Those searching for their own history can discover a lot. The library contains some 23,000 volumes, 18,000 of which were written in the Czech language, and the rest in English.

Many people go to the library just to do genealogy research, Mrs. Pechal said.

Passing by the museum’s kitchen replica with its baby cradle and wood burning stove evokes memories of mornings in grandmother’s kitchen.

Quilts displayed in the museum

VĚSTNÍK

Treasured Memories of SPJST

were crafted with great care, with fine, intricate detailing. The Friendship Quilt hanging at the museum has 528 names on it, and was crafted by the Christian Sisters of Ocker Brethren Church. Each square was made by a different sister in 1928. Mrs. Pechal proudly shows the names of her grandparents on the quilt.

A pioneer doctor’s office displays some of the tools of the early medical trade, and the museum is also full of tools that early Czech pioneers relied on.

The museum also has a display of gardening and farming tools used by early farmers.

Last year, the museum attracted more than 3,000 visitors, and Mrs. Pechal said she expects that number to be surpassed this year.

Those interested in finding out more about the museum or arranging a guided tour should contact Mrs. Pechal at the museum.

[SPJST\ Editor’s Note: Today, the Czech Heritage Museum and Genealogy Center is located at 119 West French (corner of Third Street and French Avenue in Temple, Texas 76501). The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Museum Administrator is Susan Chandler, and the museum’s phone number is 254-899-2935.

The Czech Heritage Museum and Genealogy Center is dedicated to fostering educational, cultural and genealogical opportunities, specifically as it pertains to people of Czech heritage. It accomplishes this by providing genealogical material; sponsoring educational programs; and collecting, researching, preserving, and exhibiting artifacts and manuscripts to implement these programs.

The museum operated under SPJST’s umbrella until 2000. During the 2000 SPJST Convention, delegates voted to make the museum a separate non-profit entity. To jumpstart the museum in 2000, retiring District Five Director Louis Hanus of Houston and his wife, Oleta, surprised everyone by presenting a $100,000 check, in memory of his parents. Their gift gave the fledgling group the seed money to buy the Mason building (a 8,400 square-foot shopping center built by Herbert B. Mason, M.D. in 1931 and located on the corner of North Third Street and West French Avenue in downtown Temple) in 2003. Later, Mr. and Mrs. Hanus, since deceased, be-

queathed an additional $200,000. The renovated and refurbished museum building was named in their honor.

Adding impetus to the drive was a separate $200,000 matching foundation grant. Over the following two years, a total of $650,000 poured in. Other grants, such as from the E. Rhodes and Leona Carpenter Foundation, helped. In the closing months of 2007, when it seemed the fund drive would fall short of its goal, the Texas Czech Genealogical Society (TCGS) garnered more than $19,000 by early December by appealing to persons who shared a common heritage and deep appreciation for their Texas immigrant roots. Inventories and databases of the massive collection were compiled by then museum executive director Sandi Wicker with the help of two other employees. Volunteers from TCGS also helped catalogue and database the family history collection.

Formerly called the SPJST Library, Archives and Museum, it was renamed the Czech Heritage Museum and Genealogy Center. On February 12, 2010, a ribbon was cut to officially open the Czech Heritage Museum at 119 West French.

SPJST Library, Archives and Museum curators after Otto Hanus were Thelma Bartosh Groppel and Dorothy Pechal. Past museum administrators of the Czech Heritage Museum and Genealogy Center have been Sandi Wicker and Becky Vajdak.

[SPJST\

SPJST receives $50,000 donation: One of “our own” wins grand prize in recipe contest October 23, 1996 Věstník

Cindy Marek Kovar, a member of Lodge 174, Rockdale, is the grand prize winner in the Sixth Annual Newman’s Own and Good Housekeeping Recipe Contest. Paul Newman, founder and president of Newman’s Own, Inc. selected Cindy’s recipe for “Butch’s Wild West TexMex Salad” at the judging event held on October 10, 1996, in New York City at Rockefeller Center’s renowned RAINBOW.

31

Paul Newman congratulates Cindy Kovar, winner of the grand prize in the Sixth Annual Newman’s Own and Good Housekeeping Recipe Contest in 1996.

Mr. Newman awarded $50,000 to Ms. Kovar to benefit the SPJST 100 Pennies Scholarship Drive in memory of her great-grandfather Otto Hanus.

RAINBOW’s Executive Chef Waldy Malouf prepared the six finalists’ recipes that were selected from a field of more than 8,000 entries. For the second straight year, Newman made a split decision and declared a tie between Cindy’s dish and a shrimp and sausage creole by Sgt. Mark Maki of Los Osos, California. Both grand prize winners received $50,000 to benefit their chosen charities. Cindy designated her $50,000 donation as the SPJST’s 100 Pennies Scholarship Drive.

Cindy’s winning recipe for “Butch’s Wild West Tex-Mex Salad” showcases the flavors of the Southwest. To add big flavor — Texas style — to her colorful salad, she mixes chipotle peppers in with Newman’s Own Salad Dressing.

“I still can’t believe it,” says Cindy, an interior designer attending Texas A&M University and pursuing a second degree in sociology. “I’ve never entered a cooking contest before,” she says. A first for Cindy, perhaps, but not for her family. Cindy’s dad is past Lodge 174 President Daniel Marek, lead cooker on the award-winning Texas Czech Bar-B-Que cooking team.

“Dad gets a lot of recognition for his cooking. He’s really good at it. But we take a real different approach to food preparation. He generally makes everything in one pot. Most of what I learned was from watching my mother in the kitchen.” Cindy’s mother is Zephyr Marek, who serves as treasurer and a sales representative for Lodge 174.

Cindy was thrilled to share the winning moment with her mother.

Their four-night, five-day trip to New York City included a lot of sightseeing and three Broadway shows. “It was a once in a lifetime experience,” Cindy beams. Her husband, Michael, who benefits nightly from her cooking skills agrees wholeheartedly.

Cindy’s great-grandfather was the late Otto Hanus, a longtime SPJST booster and past curator of the SPJST Library and Museum. His love for the SPJST and its potential for good lives on in Cindy. “I’ve been involved in SPJST my whole life. When I was young, I participated in all of the youth activities — from Youth Achievement Days to summer camps. As I got older, I stuck with it as a camp counselor and youth leader. And two years ago I received an SPJST scholarship,” she says.

“All of that adds up. I feel close to the Society and I want to do what I can to help other young members along with their education and socialization processes.”

“We’re absolutely thrilled — and gratified — to share in Cindy’s great accomplishment,” says Supreme Lodge President Howard Leshikar.

“The fact that this honor comes on the eve of our Society’s 100th Anniversary year makes it that much nicer.

“This will be a gift that ‘keeps on giving’,” he says. “A lot of our young people will benefit as a result of Cindy’s talent — and generosity.”

As a result of her winning, Cindy serves as a member of the Advisory Board for next year’s recipe contest. In this capacity, she will help to promote the contest throughout the state, encouraging and challenging others, including other SPJST members, to participate in the 1997 contest. Watch the Věstník for details in 1997. The annual Newman’s Own and Good Housekeeping Recipe Contest is made possible through the generosity of Newman’s Own founder Paul Newman. He gives away all profits, after taxes, from the sale of his award-winning food line, to educational and charitable organizations. Through 1996, that amount is expected to reach $80 million.

[SPJST\

raternalism and fraternal life insurance are founded upon the principle that every individual is his “brother’s keeper” and that each of us has a responsibility to help each other. This spirit of “doing good for each other” was first expressed in the societies of ancient Greece which provided financial aid to their members in time of sickness and death. These early societies also recognized the social need of human beings for companionship and provided a way for people to meet at friendly gatherings.

SPJST — Slavonic Benevolent Order of the State of Texas — was founded in this spirit by Czech pioneers in La Grange, Texas, in 1897 as Slovanska Podporující Jednota Státu Texas. It was founded in the Czech language because its founders knew that language best. The first base of operations was in Fayetteville. Today, with its Home Office located in Temple, the Society continues to celebrate the importance of the Czech heritage and culture and instill a sense of patriotism into the hearts of its members. The SPJST’s mottoes are Benevolence, Humanity and Brotherhood.

Throughout its existence, SPJST has met its financial obligations to its members and kept pace with the life insurance industry. For 118 years, SPJST lodges and members have worked hard to establish the Society’s reputation as an active fraternal organization.

Local lodges sponsor a wide range of family-oriented activities including community service projects, recreational events, dances, picnics, choral, and dance groups. SPJST’s youth program provides boys and girls with a wealth of year-round opportunities including summer camp — to achieve personal growth, fun, and scholarships. In recent years, the SPJST’s multi-faceted fraternal program has led to the formation of the non-profit Czech Heritage Museum in Temple and the non-profit and conservation-oriented SPJST Education and Nature Center at Cooper Farm in Fayette County. SPJST also established three non-profit homes for the aged in Taylor, Needville and El Campo. A weekly newspaper, Vestnik, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2012, keeps members informed.

In 2016, there are more than 42,000 SPJST members in 100 lodges throughout Texas. They are taking the best that SPJST has to offer — a tradition of helping people to care for their families — and are extending these values to their communities. SPJST's fraternal venue encompasses a broad range of adult- and youth-oriented activities and opportunities for community service. Numerous SPJST projects and members have been recognized for excellence statewide by the Fraternal Alliance of Texas and nationwide by the American Fraternal Alliance.