|
The
Coleman County Historical Commission by LaJuan Sneed
(From A
History of Coleman County and Its People,
1985
In 1953 the Texas State Historical
Survey Committee was created by the Texas
Legislature as a state agency for the purpose
of providing leadership and coordinating
services in the field of historical
preservation and in 1973 was re-designated as
the Texas Historical Commission. The
Texas Commission furnishes leadership and
services to the County Historical Commissions,
which are made up of at least seven residents
of the county for the purpose of initiating
programs for the preservation of the
historical heritage of the county and are
appointed by the Commissioners Court.
The county commissions' purposes are to carry
out a continuing survey of the county to
determine the existence of historical
buildings and other historical sites, private
collections of historical memorabilia, and
other historical features of the county; to
erect historical markers, monuments, and
medallions; to purchase objects and
collections of objects of any kind which are
historically significant to the county; and to
prepare, publish, and disseminate, by sale or
otherwise, a history of the county.
The Coleman County Historical Survey Committee was organized by County Judge Frank Lewis and had its first meeting on February 16, 1963 in his office. He appointed Doris Miller as chairman, James Padgitt, vice-chairman, and Ben Cox, secretary. The first members were Mrs. J. A. B. Miller, Milton Autry, J. A. Gafford, Dr. M. D. Mann, W. C. Gay, LeRoy Stockard, Jim Robin, W. A. Powell, and Mrs. C. D. Bruce. At the first meeting there was much discussion and research done on Camp Colorado. Lists of other historical places were compiled. During her first two years, Doris created a lot of interest and did a lot of work for the Texas Historical Foundation (a private sister organization of the Texas State Historical Survey Committee which financed the activities of the Survey Committee). On January 16, 1965, Mrs. Maurine Burroughs was appointed chairman of the Committee and Ben Cox remained as secretary. Work continued as much history was discussed, medallions were sought for appropriate places and tours to historical places were held. At the March 17, 1966 meeting, Ben Cox resigned as secretary and LaJuan Sneed was appointed as secretary-treasurer and has remained so until the present time (1985). In January 1969, Mrs. C. D. Bruce was appointed chairman. The work of preservation continued under her with her intense interest in the history of the county - she especially wanted to gather material to establish an archive for the county. In January 1974, Hurschell Dunn was appointed chairman. As the county committee continued to work, there were changes in the state program and the name was changed to the Coleman County Historical Commission. Mrs. Bruce was again appointed chairman in February 1975 and served until January 1977 when Doris Miller was again appointed chairman. In the meantime, the new County Judge, Pete Skelton, continued the appointments and interest in the commission. On January 29, 1981, Ralph Terry was appointed chairman and the work continued with the focal point being the writing of a history book of the county and its people. This has been a tedious, challenging project, but Ralph has devoted much time and energy to it as you may well see. Other long time members over the years include: Glynn Mitchell, Jake Miller, Phil Burroughs, Arnold Allcorn, Mrs. John Hunter, Mrs. C. A. Crump, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Jameson, Dale Herring, Mrs. Maynard Gaines, Mrs. Bobby McMinn, Mrs. Paul Golson, Onnie Edens, Bob Griffis, R. G. Hollingsworth, Frank Alexander, L. H. Griffith and Walter Gann. Current members include Glynn Mitchell, Mrs. C. D. Bruce, Mrs. Robert See, Doris Miller, Maurine Burroughs, Mrs. John Hunter, Ann Watson, Nan Markland, Steve Autry, Sarah Gardner, Anita Tomlinson, Judia Gaines, Doris Williams and Vena Bob Gates. |
| Coleman County General History Index |