PERMIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Fall Meeting
20 October 2012

The Fall Meeting of the Permian Historical Society was held at the Community-Convention Center in Monahans. There were 24 registered members and guests.

Registration began at 9:00 a.m. Coffee, orange juice, a fruit tray, cinnamon rolls and peanut butter rolls were available for breakfast. Before the programs began at 10:00 a.m., attendees ate, visited, picked up their annuals from Editor Jim Collett, bought past annuals, purchased books from Glenn Williford, enjoyed the hooked rugs done for Texas’ sesquicentennial that show scenes from Ward County’s history and viewed the display of insignia of the squadrons that had trained at the Peyote base.

Investments Chair J. Tillapaugh welcomed everyone and introduced the day’s speakers. Glenn Williford, former Sheriff of Upton County and afterwards an educator and author, told of the events following the murders of former Texas Rangers Dave Allison and Horace Roberson by Tom Ross and Milt Good on April 1, 1923 in Seminole. After hearing the backgrounds of all four, it was hard to tell the good guys from the bad guys. The “bad” guy Milt Good, who was sentenced to a lengthy prison sentence, found a friend in Governor “Ma” Ferguson who pardoned him after serving only ten years of his sentence. J. Tillapaugh then told of a grad student of his that had researched the pardon of her grandfather by Governor Ferguson. The student’s great aunt still had proof in her possession that $2000 had been paid to the corrupt governor for the pardon. Joe Specht then presented a brief version of his annual article, The West Tenor Sax Stylings of Jimmy Seals of Rankin, Texas. Mr. Specht told of Seals’ boyhood in West Texas and highlighted the progress of Seals’ career by intermittently playing the music of this talented self-taught musician. The last speaker was Travis Sawyer, chair of the Ward County Historical Commission, who gave a power point program on the history of the Rattlesnake Bomber Base and the $12 million project underway to move its museum from Peyote to Monahans.

Scott Jordan, Executive Director of the Pecos Trail Region, was introduced.

All were invited to join Charles and Evelyn Stroder to celebrate their 60th Anniversary on November 17th at 10:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Crane.

Lane Bond collected the Best Presentation ballots.

Sue Ann Damron announced that Barbara Barton won the Best Presentation Award for her program One Feisty Schoolmarm at the 2012 Spring Meeting.

Damron then drew the tickets for the door prizes, which were won by Rubin Vasquez, Mark White, Joe Specht, Joy Fletcher, Jeanie Clampton, Beth Hoover and Evelyn Shroder.

After a great chicken-fried steak lunch, all were encouraged to visit the Million Barrel Museum and the Monahans State Park Visitor Center.
The meeting was adjourned.
__________________________________
Sue Ann Damron, Secretary

Gordon Hooper, waiting to speak on weather. April 2013

Photos from the Spring 2013 Meeting.  Photographs provided by Jim Collett and Lane Bond.

(Click image for full size.)

Peggy Kelton, introducing speakers on historic weather events.

Betty Cash, master of ceremonies

Betty Cash, master of ceremonies

Weatherman Darrell Ward

Darrell Ward and Gordon Hooper

Gordon Hooper

James Collett, presenter on McCamey’s founding

Dr. J. Tilapaugh, manages investments for the society

Peggy Kelton and Lane Bond pose in their costumes

Peggy Kelton and Lane Bond pose in their costumes

John Hodge of Big Lake donated a bag of mesquite roasted coffee beans as a door prize.

Spring Meeting
21 April 2012
The Spring Meeting of the Permian Historical Society was held at the Petroleum Museum in Midland. There were 48 registered members and guests.  Registration began at 9:00 a.m. Coffee, juice, doughnuts and fruit were available for breakfast. Attendees had time to eat, visit and peruse the books for sale before the programs began at 10:00 a.m.

President Kelton thanked everyone for coming before turning the meeting over to VP Betty Cash who introduced the day’s presenters. Kathy Shannon presented a pictorial power point program that enhanced her presentation From Dreams to Reality – The History and Future of the Petroleum Museum. Scheduled speaker Wiley Dabbs was unable to attend. Barbara Barton’s program One Feisty Schoolmarm told the life story of Nora Gentry Locklin who taught at various ranch schools and helped her husband in his endeavors throughout her 101 years.  Patrick Dearen shared a synopsis of his newest nonfiction book, Devil’s River, Treacherous Twin to the Pecos, 1535-1900 and the research that went into it. Scott Jordan, Executive Director of the Pecos Trail Region, had a continuously running slide show of places to interest tourists, as he told about the seven state parks, three National Natural Landmarks, six Main Street towns, two forts and numerous museums, historic courthouses, train depots, movie theatres, and jails in the region.

Ballots for Best Presentation were collected by Donna Bell before the meeting broke for a wonderful lunch provided by the Bakers of Stanton.  Door prizes given throughout the day were won by Sue Ann Damron, Roger Goertz, J Tillapaugh, Betty Cash, Evelyn Stroder, Patsy White and Marshall Huffman.

After lunch, President Kelton presided over the business session. The minutes of the October 2011 meeting were approved as printed.  The current officers, except for 2nd VP in charge of programs, were presented for another term. There were no volunteers for the vacant office and no nominations from the floor for any of the other offices.  The motion by the board of directors to give a free first year’s membership and annual to new members was accepted by Jim Sears and Roy Platner.

Special guest Marisue Potts, incoming President of the West Texas Historical Association, was introduced.

Lawmen John Damron and Peggy Kelton and Outlaws Lane Bond and Marisue Potts tied for Best Costume and each received a prize.  The Best Presentation Award for the October 2011 meeting was presented to Evans Turpin for his power point program about the discovery of a rock art shelter near Bakersfield that was designated Archaeological Site 41PC633.

County Historical Commission chairs Betty Damron of Crane County and Betty Cash of Pecos County reported on historical activities in their areas, as did Peggy Kelton and Donna Bell of Upton County and Marisue Potts of Motley County. Patsy White thanked the officers and board members for all the hard work they have done to keep our history alive.

President Kelton announced that the Fall Meeting will be held in Monahans on October 20.
Boxed meals of the leftover food were available for $10 each.

The meeting was adjourned.

________________________________ _____________________________
Peggy Kelton, President                                     Sue Ann Damron, Secretary

2013 Meetings

Spring

WHERE:  Petroleum Museum, Midland, Texas  (enter at west doors)

WHEN:   10:00 a.m.  –  April 27, 2013

DETAILS:

• 9:00 A.M. Registration—Coffee and breakfast treats; Visiting;Viewing of displays. Buy books to benefit PHS.
• 9:15 A.M. Board of directors meeting.
• 10:00 A.M. General Meeting
• Welcome: Peggy Kelton—President of Permian Historical Society
• Presentations scheduled include:
  • Darrell Ward of KOSA and Gordon Hooper of Crane – “The Big Drift” weather phenomenon
  • Emily Hernandez Barton of Crane
  • Don Jackson of Iraan – Jesse James in West Texas?

Nancy Rankin McKinley:  Nancy was a mover and a shaker.  She was 3 months shy of her 98th birth-
day.  She attended schools in Midland and graduated from Midland High in 1931.  Her entire life was
spent in recording and preserving history especially the history of Midland.  She married and raised a
family in Midland.  She was an active member of every historical organization around.  She was a fun
person to be around and easily recognized by her bright red or blue hat and large glasses on a tiny frame.
These folks are gone, but will be remembered for a long, long time.

Doug Damron was not only a good member of PHS, but a good friend of mine (PK.) Actually he was a
friend to everyone he met.  Friendly, full of fun, always agreeable to work or fun or mischief.  He and
wife Betty were outstanding citizens of Crane serving in many capacities. Betty is currently Chairman of
the Crane County Historical Commission and Doug was always there to support her in her activities.

Jim Stewart along with his wife Frances have become great members, never missing a meeting and al-
ways dressing up in the designated theme.  He was such a good sport and the two of them always friendly
and with a smile on their faces.  We will also be missing Jim and hope that Frances stays with PHS as she
is such a good member.

Rose Mary Rogers of Iraan. Rose Mary always dressed up for our meetings.  She did extensive research
on many projects for PHS, the Archeology Society, her Church, the Pecos County Historical Commission
and many other local activities.  She was the chauffeur and best friend to Snooks Collett, another active
member of PHS. She will be missed by many.

Elmer Kelton (1926-22 Aug 2009), the No. 1 Western writer of all time and a Fellow of PHS, was born at Horse Camp on Five Wells Ranch in Andrews County, Texas. He grew up on McElroy Ranch near Crane, where his father Buck Kelton was foreman for thirty-six years.  After graduating from Crane High School, he studied at The University of Texas at Austin two years before going into the Army at the end of World War II. Returning from military service in Europe, Kelton graduated from U. T. with a degree in journalism and became a writer for San Angelo Standard Times.

Over the years he wrote and edited for Sheep and Goat Raisers Magazine and Livestock Weekly. As he worked for the newspaper and magazines, he managed to write more than forty Western novels which made him a popular and honored author. Kelton received numerous awards including those from Texas Institute of Letters and the Western Literature Association. He was named a Fellow of Permian Historical Society in 2007.

PHS is saddened by the loss of this talented and humble friend who was always just one of us!

Vernon Albert Vasbinder was born 28 May 1926 in Del Rio, Texas, and graduated from Del Rio High School in 1943. Between 1943 and 1946, he served in the United State Navy during World War II. He graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Science in 1949 and took a Master of Science at Sul Ross State University in 1957. In thirty-nine years of teaching public school, Vernon taught every grade except the second and retired while on the faculty of Odessa High School.

He was an active community volunteer and a charter member of Permian Historical Society. Many counted him as a friend and are proud to have known him.