Meeting Minutes

Permian Historical Society
Spring Meeting
8 May 2010

The Spring meeting of the Permian Historical Society was held at the Petroleum Museum in Midland.  Forty-seven meal tickets were taken up.

Registration began at 9:00 a.m. Members and guests enjoyed eating breakfast goodies, visiting, and perusing the books on display until the meeting began at 10:00.

First Vice President Betty Cash welcomed the attendees and introduced the day’s speakers:  Barbara Barton, who told the story of Ben Ficklin; Mary Ann Kay and Jimmy Cahill, who spoke about the pioneer women and the outlaws of Sutton County; Will Hoover, who related the history of the Hoover Ranch started by his great-great-grandparents Henry “Buck” and Laura McNutt Hoover;  Chris Elliott, who gave the history of and displayed five of the flags that have flown over Ft. Lancaster; and Delmon Hodges, who presented his amusing recollections of his years as a West Texas land man.

Members voted for their favorite presentation and broke for lunch, which the Bakers of Stanton once again catered with a delicious meal.

At the afternoon business session, Ross McSwain moved that the October 2009 minutes be approved as printed.  Sherry Phillips seconded the motion, which passed.

Hub Parker was awarded the October 2009 Best Presentation Award for his reminiscences of ranch life when he was a young man and recitation of some of his cowboy poems.

Ross McSwain moved that the proposed slate of officers for 2010-2012 be accepted by proclamation.  Betty Damron seconded the motion, which passed.  The officers are:  President – Peggy Kelton; 1st Vice President – Betty Cash; 2nd Vice President – Betty Hargus; Treasurer – Sherry Phillips; Secretary – Sue Ann Damron; and Financial Chair – J. Tillapaugh.

It was announced that the 2010 Fall Meeting will be held on October 9, 2010 at the Community Center in downtown Grandfalls, which is south of Monahans.

Vice President Cash reminded everyone that their registration packets include membership cards that can be completed and returned with their 2010 dues to Treasurer Sherry Phillips.

After the tickets were drawn for the door prizes, which included the beautiful flower arrangements on the tables, attendees were thanked for coming and the meeting was adjourned.

Peggy Kelton, President            Sun Ann Damron, Secretary

Permian Historical Society
Fall Meeting
10 October 2009

The fall Meeting of the Permian Historical Society was held in the Officers’ Quarters at Historic Fort Stockton.  Fifty people attended.

Registration began at 9:00 a.m. Coffee, juice, muffins and doughnuts were available for breakfast.  Members picked up their 2009 Annuals and perused the books for sale.

J. Tillapaugh read a tribute, written by immediate Past PHS president Ross McSwain, in memory of distinguished PHS member Elmer Kelton, who passed away on August 22nd.

Program VP Betty Cash welcomed members and guests and introduced the speakers:  J. Travis Roberts, who recounted the routes of the Comanche on their raids into Mexico; Hub Parker, who told of ranch life when he was a young man and who read some of his “cowboy” poems; Gene Riggs, who described the character of his grandmother Annie Riggs and what she did to run her hotel; and Betty Hargus, who invited everyone to attend Ft. Stockton’s sesquicentennial.

A catered lunch of lasagna, salad, green beans, bread, tea, and peach cobbler was served.

At the business session, the minutes of the April 2009 meeting were approved as printed.

Treasurer Sherry Phillips urged everyone to pay their 2010 dues today.

President Kelton announced that Genny Townsend, Richard Cummins, and Roger Goertz had agreed to remain on the Board for another term.  There being no other nominations from the floor to replace Patsy White, Eual Huffman moved that the Board’s nominee Beth Hoover be accepted.  Betty Cash seconded the motion, which passed.

John Carpenter’s invitation to hold the 2010 fall meeting in Grand Falls was accepted.

Everyone was reminded to sign the registration sheet and turn in their name tag before leaving.

President Kelton announced that Jim Collett, with the assistance of J. Tillapaugh, will be the editor of the 2010 PHS Annual and that a new slate of officers will be voted on at the spring meeting.

The spring meeting will be held on May 8, 2010 at the Petroleum Museum in Midland.

The ballots for today’s Best Presentation were collected by chair Donna Bell.

The winner of the spring meeting’s Best Presentation Award was won by Peggy Elliot and Mariana Nemir for their program about Women’s Air Force Service Pilots and Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas.

After the door prizes were given out, President Kelton thanked all for coming and the meeting was adjourned.

Peggy Kelton, President         Sue Ann Damron, Secretary

18 October 2008

The fall meeting of the Permian Historical Society was held 18 October 2008 at the Crockett Room in Ozona, Texas. WWII was the theme for the event, which was attended by fifty-one people.

Registration began at 9:30 a.m. Coffee, juice, fruit and pastries were available for breakfast. Books by the day’s presenters and others were on display for attendees to peruse and purchase.

Betty Cash, Program VP, welcomed everyone and introduced the meeting’s speakers, whose presentations were well-received. The programs included:

• History of Ozona and the Davy Crockett Statue by Patsy White
• Gibbs Field and the Winfield Hangar – World War II in Fort Stockton by Betty Hargus
• “Who Was James W. Scott?” Solving a Mystery in the Sheffield Cemetery by Don Jackson
• The Awful Truth, A Young Man’s WWII Letters from the Philippines by Suzanne O’Bryan
• The Gun That Never Was by Russell Smith.

Ballots for Best Presentation were filled out and collected – the winner to be announced at the spring meeting.

Following a delicious casserole meal catered by Chatterbox, the business meeting was called to order by President Peggy Kelton.

President Kelton thanked the kitchen crew for a job well done. She expressed her hope that everyone will be in Midland on April 25th for the spring meeting.

J. Tillapaugh announced that the winner of the Best Presentation award for the April 2007 meeting was Dr. Robert Trentham, who gave a PowerPoint presentation titled The Wink Sink.

The motion to accept the minutes of the April 2007 as printed was seconded by Doug Damron and passed.

Investments Chair J. Tillapaugh reported that as of September 30, our finances were not too bad. As could be seen in the specifics of his printed report, we are cash strong, our income flow is good, and our expenses and income are well matched. We can only hope that things get back on track sooner rather than later.

Jim Collett, Membership VP, asked that attendees fill out the membership card that was in their registration packets and pay their dues for 2009.

President Kelton announced that two directors’ terms have expired. Charlena Chandler of Terrell County has agreed to serve a second term and the Board has proposed Shelly Shackelford of Winkler County to serve. Since there were no nominations from the floor, Betty Cash moved that Charlena and Shelly be accepted by acclamation. Evelyn Stroder seconded the motion, which passed.

President Kelton announced that PHS was open to an invitation as to where to hold the fall 2009 meeting. Betty Hargus of Pecos County extended an invitation to PHS to hold the meeting in Ft. Stockton, which will be celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2009. The date will be announced at the April 2009 meeting.

George Grounds, age 84, won the prize for oldest in attendance and Cade Allen, age 23, won for the youngest. Door prizes were won by Duane Cash, Pat Owsley, and Jenny Waters.

Evelyn Stroder asked for a round of applause to show our appreciation for Julia Cauble Smith, retiring annual and newsletter editor, for the tremendous effort she put into catching us up on our annual production and for her hard work in general for the society. The response was loud and long.

Ozonan Mark White thanked all for making the long drive to Ozona to attend the meeting and expressed his hope that all would have a safe trip home.

President Kelton asked the members to be sure to pick up their annuals and reminded people who are not members that they may buy one for $25.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

Peggy Kelton, President

Sue Ann Damron, Secretary