THE TEXIAN The Official Publication of The Sons of the Republic of Texas

THE TEXIAN The Official Publication of The Sons of the Republic of Texas VOL 10 NUMBER 4 OCTOBER 2016 Bob Steakley, KSJ August 5th, was the first SRT observance of Texas Ranger Day, Texas Ranger Park in Fredericksburg. SRT District Representative Mike Young welcomed everyone; and President General Steakley, KSJ led TEXIAN NAVY DAY The 2016 Texian Navy Day was held on Saturday, September 17 on board the Battleship Texas. The weather was partly cloudy, warm with a soft breeze from the southeast. The event was sponsored by the Battleship Texas Foundation and was created by The Sons of the Republic of Texas (SRT). Ron Brown, KSJ, chairman of the Texian Navy Committee of SRT opened the ceremony and Bob Steakley, KSJ, President General of SRT, was the emcee. Lone Star volunteers manned Rolling Thunder to start the ceremony. Mr. Mike Wilson, president of the Lone Star chapter was the bugler. Mr. Tom Green, KSJ, Tom Houston, KSJ, John Thompson, SAR vice president and Carl Hill, president of the Alexander Hodge chapter of the SAR, were members of the Color Guard. The featured speaker was Mr. Andy Hall, a marine archaeologist, who gave an informative speech about Maritime History. Mr. David Whitaker, president of the Sam Houston chapter of the SRT, presented this year s Texas Navy Sailor of the Year award from the USS San Jacinto to Leading Petty Officer First Class Adam C. Jerasa and runner up GSM2 (SW) Sliver. Those in attendance included: Maurice Nassar, president of the SRT San Jacinto chapter and his parents; Mr. Fred Mead, President General of the Descendants of the Battle of San Jacinto; Steve Manis, president of the SRT Sidney Sherman chapter; Joe Davidson, KSJ, chaplain of the San Jacinto Chapter, Will Haddock, Texian Navy Committeeman; Randy Pollard, SRT Treasurer General; Jeff Corbin, Vice Commander of the Tom Toby Squadron of the Texas Navy; Sam Clark, KSJ, SRT Past President General; Dallam Masterson, member of SRT San Jacinto chapter and a descendant of Samuel Rhodes Fisher, and Arthur Evans SRT Stephen F. Austin chapter and PRESIDENT GENERAL S MESSAGE the pledges to the flags followed by the opening prayer by Mike Young. PG Steakley, KSJ stated, This is an important SRT observance of a new honor day approved at the 2016 Annual Meeting in Waco. We are here today to recognize the Texas Rangers who have, are and will protect the citizenry of Texas. The Rangers played a vital and an important role Texian Navy Day 2016...1, 3 President General s Message...1, 3 Janet s Korner...2 Texas Rangers and the SRT...4 New SRT Members...5 WHAT S INSIDE in the Republic and their mission has not changed. Director of the Texas Ranger Association gave a history of the Rangers and the present day association and the future for the facilities planned for the Headquarters and Museum site. He explained the Ring of Honor and the various plaques denoting Rangers who died in the line of duty cont. pg. 3 Chapter News...6,7 In Memoriam...6 USS Fort Worth Sailor of the Year Celebration...7 Calendar of Events...8 cont. pg. 3

Janet s Korner By: Janet Knox Administrative Assistant email: aa-srt@son-rep-texas.net 1717 Eighth Street Bay City, Texas 77414 (979) 245-6644 The next Quarterly Meeting is Dec. 2-3, 2016 Hampton Inn & Suites, 7006 Navarro, Victoria, TX 77904; (361) 573-9911; King or Double Queen, Room Rate $99.+ tax; Cutoff date November 11, 2016. Please give this Group code; SRT. Be thinking about submitting a nomination for the Educator of the Year Award to be presented at the Annual Meeting in 2017. Last year we had no nominations! The deadline is February 3, 2017. The criterian for the award is available from the National office or in your SRT Manuals. The website is under construction. We hope to have it up and running soon. Please be patient and if you need any information please call the National office or email Janet: aa-srt-@son-rep-texas.net. She will be glad to assist you. Nominations from the chapters for Honorary Membership and The Knights of the Order of San Jacinto are due November 4th, 2016. The Topic for the Texas History Essay Contest is: Stephen F. Austin, The Father of Texas. Brochures will be available at the National office, website, or email; aa-srt@son-rep-texas.net. The due date is January 31, 2017. Dues notices will be mailed soon, in October or early November. Remember you can also use PayPal to pay your dues. The National office does not take credit card payments over the phone.. Attention Chapter Presidents: I know everyone gets busy for the holidays, but remember your Chapter annual reports are dues the end of January 31. 2017. This will determine whether your chapter will receive a rebate check. Your report must include; new officers with mailing address, phone numbers and email addresses along with your activities during the year as well as a financial (bank) statement. Again, the dead line is January 31, 2017 I would like to thank you for the articles and pictures you are sending for your newsletter; they have been GREAT. I need YOUR help with articles and pictures. If your chapter has or will be celebrating any events PLEASE email me at: aa-srt@son-rep-texas.net. I will be submitting the January issue for publication; the deadline for submissions is December 8, 2016. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2016-2017 Left to Right front row: Randy Pollard, Treasurer General, Edward A. Heath, First Vice President General; Bob Steakley, KSJ, President General; William D. Power, Second Vice President; David Stone, Chaplain General. Left to Right back row: Robert Kendall, KSJ, PPG, Executive Committeeman; John W. Knox, Executive Committeeman, Kenneth W. Pfeiffer, Secretary General, L. Clay Fisher, Historian General and Janet Knox, Administrative Assistant. DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES 2016-2017 Left to Right front row; Bob Steakley, KSJ, Frontier District; George Nelson, Brazos Valley District; Arthur Evans, Gulf Coast District, and William D. Power, North East District. Left To Right back row: Jim Massingill, Heart of Texas District; Ronald W. Brown, KSJ, San Jacinto District and Tim Gibson, North Central District. (Not pictured: Michael Young, Post Oak District.) 2

cont. from pg. 1 TEXIAN NAVY DAY 2016 Gulf Coast District Representative. The Daughters of the Republic of Texas was represented by Dr. Betty Edwards, President General of the DRT. Christie Erickson from the Houston Rodeo Association speaker s bureau, Jack Christie, City of Houston Councilman, Bill Patterson, City of Deer Park Councilman, Andy Smith from TPWL and the Battleship Construction manager and representatives from the Yellow Rose of Texas were also in the audience. The memorial wreath was set in place by Bob Steakley, KSJ, Will Haddock, Fred Mead and Dr. Betty Edwards. Mr. Joe Davidson, KSJ, led the Invocation and Benediction and mentioned the recent passing of Mr. Curt Osborne, president of SRT San Jacinto chapter. After the event, people went to Galveston to attend the Commissioning of the new Texas Navy Admirals, including our own Bob Steakley, KSJ, and Bill Haddock, father of Will Haddock, past president of the San Jacinto chapter and Past President General of the San Jacinto Descendants. PRESIDENT GENERAL S MESSAGE cont. from pg. 1 from Republic days to present. Three volleys of rifle fire by the honor guard were followed with 3 volleys of canon fire. Mike Young invited PG Steakley, KSJ and 1st Lady Carol to each fire a canon in honor of the observance. It was great day for the first SRT Texas Ranger Day. The following day, Saturday, I attended a Ranger Cross Dedication for Texas Ranger Riley Green Hampton, relative of Sir Knight Joe Davidson at the Gatesville Cemetery. A history was presented by family members giving a very personal presence to the ceremony. Ranger Hampton was a long time resident of the county and some family members live in the same house and operate the ranch that was started by Riley over 140 years ago. In visiting with the newspaper reporter covering this event, I learned that his father operated a store in Odessa years ago. Sometimes Texas gets small in its great vastness. The last workshop was held after the Executive Committee meeting in Marshall. Feedback from those attending stated they would like a workshop at least once a year for incoming officers at the chapter level. Thank you, 2VP General Buddy Power for a great Friday evening. Several enjoyed a bar-b-que lunch at one of David s and Buddy s places. Meals were excellent and Clay Fisher was in his old stomping grounds. September 17th, Texian Navy Day was on Battleship Texas on a warm and humid morning. Color Guard commanded by Sir Knight Tom Green opened the ceremony accompanied by SRT Mike Wilson on bugle. Deer Park Orchestra played the National Anthem and Texas Our Texas after pledges to appropriate flags. Proclamations were presented from the cities of Houston and Deer Park. Several other lineage organizations, guests and personal were recognized, some of which were DRT, CRT, SRT, SAR, TPW and BTF. Andy Hall, the featured speaker provided insight to the importance of the Texian Navy and the results of the sea battles and how these encounters helped the struggle for freedom for the Republic of Texas. Lone Star Volunteers fired the closing volley and the orchestra played everyone off the deck. Total time of event was 42 minutes and with road detours and closures, everyone made the trip to Galveston on time for further Navy Day activities there. PG Steakley was commissioned as an admiral in Texas Navy Association. The following Sunday afternoon, I attended a DRT Grave Marking with 1st Lady Carol, for Texian Navy Captain Levi Harbey. A descendent from California was present and afterwards I gave him my card and extended an invitation to him to apply for SRT membership. He stated he would have never guessed that there was a pledge to the Texas Flag. The upcoming Executive Committee Meeting is in Victoria on December 2-3, 2016, and the Presidio La Bahia Award afterwards in Goliad. Make your reservations and plans to be a part of this SRT activity. Again ask someone, Do you have a Republic of Texas ancestor? See you somewhere in the Great State of TEXAS! President General Bob Steakley, KSJ 3

TEXAS RANGERS AND THE SRT The Former Texas Rangers Association s Memorial Cross Dedication Ceremony in association with The Sons of the Republic of Texas on August 6, 2016, honored Riley Green Hampton (1841 to 1928), a former Texas Ranger. RG Hampton was the Great Grandfather of Joe Riley Davidson, KSJ. This event was a great family, historical, educational, patriotic, genealogical, spiritual, cultural and aesthetic event in association with The Sons of the Republic of Texas. President General Sir Knight Bob Steakley, KSJ attended and fired a 3 canon salute after 3 volleys of 4 muskets were fired. SRT member Mike Young helped to organize the FTRA and The SRT program and about 70 from the community attended. RG Hampton was a Mounted Volunteer, a Texas Ranger in April 1860 by order of the Great General, Governor Sam Houston, to serve in the Company of and under the command of Captain Sul Ross to February 1861. He served again, March 1861 during the Civil War until 1864. RG Hampton died 88 years ago, at the great age of 88, in 1928. He was 19 to 23 as a Texas Ranger and was under the command of Capt. Sul Ross during the recovery of Cynthia Ann Parker in December 1860, by the Texas Rangers. Sir Knight Sam Houston IV, KSJ told Sir Knight Joe R. Davidson, KSJ, to remind everyone that the Texas Rangers were about survival. The program of biographical information was presented by 4 descendants, the Cross was unveiled by a 94 year old descendant, Martha Ann Yows, and several prayers were enhanced by RG Hampton s Great Great Granddaughter, Laura Davidson Fowell, leading everyone in Amazing Grace. GGG Grandchildren Emma, Colin and Grace Fowell with the help of their father, Jason L. Fowell helped present a red, white and blue wreath. Three of the 5 Texas Rangers who have received the Medal of Valor were present. One of the Texas Rangers present has 2 of the 5 Medals of Valor ever awarded by the Texas Rangers. The FTRA, The SRT and family reached into the highest levels and positively affect the hearts, minds and souls of generations past, present and future and prove that soaring into the highest levels they become Trumpets from which All Blessings Flow. Everyone with a Texas Ranger ancestor should join the FTRA to honor their Texas Ranger ancestor with a Memorial Cross Dedication Service by the FTRA and The SRT. Joe R. Davidson, KSJ Member FTRA and Chaplain and Former Chapter President San Jacinto Chapter, The Sons of the Republic of Texas 4

NEW SRT MEMBERS Richard Anthony Pena Eldon Gardner Smith Willie Steve Thompson Austin Sutherland Tyler Alexander Scott Tyler Wayne Clay Andrews 1 Michael Lee Bailey 1 Lawrence Edwin Armstrong 2 Robert Elton Gindratt 2 Richard Michael Morton 7 Samuel Thomas Hawke 8 Matthew James Hawke 8 Thomas Edward Milson 8 James Noah Wooten 8 Mateo Earl Clarke 12 Kenneth Lynn Gibson 12 Charles Robert Hoffman 12 Col (Ret) Arthur Noel Tulak 12 Ty Avery Woods 16 Bernard Hilburn Bowman 18 Christopher Aric Simmons 18 Austin Wade Rusk 26 Zane Tyler Rusk 26 John William (Lenzen, Jr) Schuetze 29 Timothy Joel Hicks 36 James Maxwell Clarke 40 Marcus William Clarke 40 Mark Stephen Boone 52 Johnnie Lee Holley Jr 52 Benjamin James Lafferty 53 Larry Bernard Hill 57 Jon Anthony Edens 58 James Douglas Jackson 58 John Dennis Johnson Jr. 58 Frederick Calvin Mead 58 Luis Chirino Pena General James Smith William C Grimes Samuel Crawford Aduston Rogers Samuel Crawford Aduston Rogers Robert Foodloe Smither Leroy Vonnoy Criswell James Jamerson David Shelton Gindratt John C. Burke Anna Mary Johnson Anna Mary Johnson Nathaniel L. Corbet James Walling Francisco de la Garza Martinez Stephen Prather James Tumlinson John Cannon Moore Montraville Woods Robert Singeton Hilburn James Tippett Thomas Jefferson Rusk Thomas Jefferson Rusk Eli Mitchell Mary Hughes Francisco de la Garza Martinez Francisco de la Garza Martinez Joseph L. McKay Joseph Storey, Jr Hugh Cox Richard (Granser) Gregory Jasper A. Seargeant James Alfred Head Benjamin Johnson Clement Clinton Dyer 5 Raleigh,NC Fredericksburg, VA Mountain Home, ID Severna Park, MD Severna, MD Houston, TX Houston, TX Dickinson, TX Texas City, TX Florissant, MO McKinney, TX McKinney, TX McKinney, TX Plano, TX Austin, TX McIntosh, FL Cedar Creek, TX Camp H.M.Smith, HI Port Lavaca, TX Dallas, TX Canton, OH Amarillo, TX Amarillo, TX Bandera, TX Wichita Falls, TX Boerne, TX Boerne, TX The Villages, FL Hawkins, TX Schulenberg, TX Lufkin, TX Conroe, TX Spring, TX Montgomery, TX Conroe, TX

ALAMO CHAPTER HISTORIC PROJECT Alamo Chapter President, Dick Weitzel and Sergeant-at-Arms, Al Davis completed the 180th anniversary chapter historic fundraising project at San Jacinto April 21, 2016. The project consisted of raising 400 Texas flags at seven historic sites on the 180th anniversary of each event. The events/sites included: Gonzales Come and Take It, October 2nd; Battle of Concepcion, October 28th; Battle of Bexar, December 11th; Washington-on-the-Brazos Independence Declaration, March 2nd; The Alamo, March 6th; Goliad Massacre, March 27th; and The Battle of San Jacinto, April 21st. More than twenty chapter members participated in the project with Pamphlet and Certificate of Authenticity design and printing as well as travel to and photographic documentation of the flag raising events. PINEY WOODS SRT CHAPTER PROGRAM REPORT Dr. James Newsome (L), Senior Lecturer from the History Department at UT-Tyler, and Dr. Sam Hopkins (R), Chapter President of the Piney Woods Chapter #52, Tyler The Piney Woods SRT Chapter 52 presented Dr. Newsome with a cannonball fired last year at Gonzales, October 2, 2015, on the 180th anniversary of the Battle of Gonzales. The gift was presented in appreciation for his presentation at the chapter s Come and Take It celebration on October 1, 2016, on the eve of the battle this year. The number 32 on the fired cannonball honors the Immortal 32 from Gonzales who responded to Travis call from the Alamo for reinforcements. Those brave men, along with Travis and his men gave their lives for the cause of Texas independence. In Memoriam Name Chapter Hometown Robert R. Goldsborough, Jr. 48 Kerrville, TX Lynn Scott James 56 Bay Town, TX Charles Martin Yates 12 Dripping Springs, TX 6

USS Fort Worth Sailor of the Year Celebration The USS Fort Worth Sailor of the Year Celebration Banquet was held in Fort Worth on Monday evening, October 3, 2016 with a gathered audience of about 150. The Fort Worth Chapter, Ephraim M. Daggett, of The Sons of the Republic of Texas was present as a sponsor. Representing the Chapter were Vaughn Oliver, KSJ, USS Fort Worth Committee representative; Jay Arrington, Daggett Chapter President; Dr. Chris Hull, Daggett Chapter Program Chairman; Russell Leavens, Daggett Chapter Vice President; Gerry Gieger, Daggett Chapter Membership Chairman; D. A. Sharpe, Daggett Chapter Webmaster; Mrs. D. A. Sharpe, and 16 year old Jack Westmoreland, grandson of the Sharpe s. One of the USS Fort Worth Captains, Commander Chris Brown, visited with the SRT representatives and addressed the audience in the program of honoring the Sailor of the Year winners from each of the three crews. The SRT awards given by Vaughn Oliver were an 8-inch tall, thick walnut wooden plaque in the shape of the State of Texas, with a bronze medallion affixed of the Republic of Texas, a Flash-Stick engraved with the USS Fort Worth symbol, and our famous SRT Coffee Mug. This whole evening was an occasion of public celebration and the expressing of praise and appreciation to our U.S. Navy military in action. 7

Dec. 2-3, 2016 March 2 March 6 March 27 April 21 August 5 September 17 October 2 November 3 Calendar of Events 2016 Quarterly Meetings Hampton Inn & Suites, 7006 Navarro, Victoria, TX 77904; ; (361) 573-9911; King or Double Queen, Room Rate $99.+ tax; Cutoff date November 11, 2016 Please give this Group code; SRT. 2016-2017 SRT Events Texas Independence Day Fall of the Alamo Goliad Massacre San Jacinto Day Texas Ranger Day Texian Navy Day on the Battleship Texas Battle of Gonzales Stephen F. Austin s Birthday (Father of Texas) SAM HOUSTON COLOR PRINT NOW AVAILABLE Order your unframed, 18 x 24 color print for $30, including shipping. This beautiful print is a reproduction of the `856 photograph by Fredrick of New York City when Houston was a member of the United States Senate. A Pre-printed 2 purple border gives the appearance of a real mat, thereby eliminating the need for expensive matting; the mat accentuates Senator Houston s purple velvet coat. Please call the national office. The matted area includes a printed nameplate: SAM HOUSTON 1793-1863 # of Prints @ $30.00 each $ Name (Insurance $1.10 per print) Address ANNUAL MEETING March 17-19, 2017 Y.O Ranch & Conference Center, 2033 Sidney Baker St. (Hwy 16), Kerrville, TX 78028 (830) 257-4440; King or 2 Queens; Room rate $104.+tax; Cutoff date is February 15, 2017. Please give the group code; The Sons of the Republic of Texas. 1717 Eighth Street Bay City, TX 77414 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Contact us at: SRT Office: www.srttexas.org Email: aa-srt@son-rep-texas.net 1717 Eighth Street, Bay City, TX 77414 Phone: (979) 245-6644 Fax: (979) 244-3819