Newsletter of the Battleship Texas Foundation Fall 2014 In this issue... Anheuser-Busch Donation From the Director Curator Comments First TX Volunteers Battleship Scrap Metal OEP Update Dreadnought Update In Honor Of Membership Info Pg.1 Pg.2 Pg.3 Pg.4 Pg.5 Pg.6 Pg.7 Pg,8 WWII Poster... Battleship TEXAS Foundation
Advisory Directors Hon. James A. Baker, III 61st Secretary of State ADM. James L. Holloway, III USN (Ret.), Former CNO Ned S. Holmes Commissioner, Texas Transportation Commission Board of Trustees Anthony K. Gregory, Chairman Thomas J. Perich, Vice Chairman Donald H. Fischer, Treasurer Rey Gonzales, Jr., Secretary Charles A. Alcorn, Chairman Emeritus Jimmy Burke Penny H. Butler Alfred Davis, IV Sylvia R. Garcia Theodore S. Hirtz RADM. J. Weldon Koenig, USN (Ret.) Michael N. Pearson CAPT. Clifford H. Royal, USN (Ret.) Thomas C. Wright Bruce D. Bramlett Executive Director; bruce@battleshiptexas.org TPWD Ship Staff From The Director s Chair I often think how fortunate I am to have the opportunity to serve as The Executive Director of The Battleship Texas Foundation. This has been even more true this past year because of all that has happened. In March along with Texas Parks & Wildlife we hosted the final Battleship Texas crew reunion. While we gathered to honor the men who served so well on The Texas, truth be told, each of our staff and volunteers were honored to have the opportunity to spend a few minutes with these great men and their families. Maybe I am right or maybe I am wrong but I often think a ship without a crew is just a bunch of steel. A crew without a ship may just be a bunch of men looking for life preservers. Their stories are so interrelated with their ship that any attempt to separate them from each other leaves a major hole in the story. It is a reality that most of us that spend our days trying to preserve The Texas get many opportunities to walk her decks. I would not trade anything for that experience but we seldom have the chance to see the former crew members gather as a group. Forget the commercial, it was a priceless. Through their stories, their service, and their experiences the former crew members are able to bring all that history back to life again if only for a day. The Texas and her crew honored our nation with their service. They gave their best for all of us and ask nothing in return. We honor that service today through our efforts to restore and preserve The Might T. As we close out this year and prepare for the Texas next 100 years I would be remise if I did not thank all of you for your continued interest and support. So here s to you. Thanks for being an important part in The Texas past and in her future. Season s Greetings and Happy Holidays. Andy Smith, Page 2
COME ON TEXAS!! As you are aware, the Battleship TEXAS Foundation, along with Texas Parks & Wildlife, will be hosting the Come On Texas! gala on Wednesday, November 12, from 6 to 10pm at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. We are hoping for a good guest turn out and would like to ask you to send along your RSVP for this event. In addition, we would like to open up the invitation opportunity to any of your friends or business contacts that might enjoy seeing the Battleship TEXAS Exhibit at the museum. If you would like for us to extend an invitation to someone, please give us their contact information and we will take care of it. The tickets are free, but we do need people who are planning on attending submit an RSVP so we can have an accurate head count. Thank you so much for your support in helping us sustain the Battleship TEXAS for another 100 years! Page 3
Page 4 Contact the Foundation office at 713-827-9620 to make reservations.
To learn more about the America's Fighting Ships collection, go to http://www.americasfightingshipsknives.com/home.html. To learn more about Richardson Knives, go here: http://www.richardsonhandmadeknives.com/index.html. Richardson Knives is located at 1508 Atkinson Drive, Lufkin, TX. The phone number is (936) 634-1690 Page 5
Overnight Education Program Report By Jerry Irwin and Kandace Trujillo Page 6 Dreadnought Update By Neil Thomas
SUPPORTERS Hal & Nancy West Stephen K. Brewer Wm. G. Dwyer Robert B. Frazier Emil C. Caburao Mitzi Maceo John R. Meyer Daniel L. Milsop SMSgt Paul W. Stauss, USAF (Ret.) Theodore F. Hammer Anheuser-Busch Chevron Phillips Chemical Company Lyondell Chemical Company Taylor Marine Construction Texas Energy Control Products Woodforest National Bank USS Texas Veterans Assn FabEnCo Founding Father's Foundation IN HONOR/MEMORY OF All those who have served LCDR Mack R. Ball, Jr., USN Paul David Bohannon Lanny Woodruff Gordon W. Jones, Sr. James W. Brewer Edward Joseph Dempsey Dr. C. A. Dwyer, Jr. CDR Robert B. Frazier, USN Col. Leland L. Hildebrand, USAF George R. Milsop MSGT Charles W. Stanley, USA Frederick Roland "Huck" Smith, Jr. Charles Benson Johnston, USN Adrian E. Stockton Ruskin H. Meyer Page 7
One Riverway, Suite 2200 Houston, Texas 77056 Membership Application I am pleased to support the USS TEXAS with my membership in the Battleship TEXAS Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) non profit organization. Individual $35.00 Name Family $45.00 Supporting $150.00 Benefactor $500.00 Corporate $2,000.00 Address City State Zip Phone Fax USS TEXAS Veteran $10.00 Email Check here to receive your Dreadnought by email. Membership Benefits Individual. $35 Entry level membership entitles Member to receive a free subscription to the BTF quarterly e-mail newsletter The Dreadnought and a free subscription to TPWD s bi-weekly e-mail newsletter The Battle Report (if you provide your e-mail address). Family. $ 45 Everything above, plus invitations to San Jacinto Site activities and special events. Supporting $ 150 Everything above, plus one (1) Hard Hat Tour. Benefactor. $ 500 Everything above, plus two (2) Hard Hat Tours Corporate. $2,000 Everything above, plus publication of your firm s name in The Dreadnought and at special events held aboard the TEXAS. USS TEXAS Veterans. $10 Benefits the same as for Individual Member. Mail to: BATTLESHIP TEXAS FOUNDATION One Riverway Suite 2200 Houston, Texas 77056 Phone 713-827-9620