National Wreaths Across America (WAA):
Saturday, December 19, The LOCHC partnered with Live Oak County Cemetery Associations, Veterans of War Post 6119, and American Legion Post 413 to remember Live Oak County Veterans in National Wreaths Across America. A virtual tour of Live Oak County's WAA 2020 Veteran's Memorial begins on LOCHC Events page. Last year full celebration and history of WAA in 2019 Archive. Refreshments were served at George West Cemetery by LOCHC. Memorial WAA Schedule included Oakville Historic Texas Cemetery,George West Historic Texas Cemetery, Gussettville Cemetery, and St. George Cemetery.
Memorial services of the highest standards honor men and women of Live Oak County who served in our American Armed Forces in this National Veterans' Memorial. Photo credit to Peggy Skorupa.
"Taps" back story at the closing of Oakville Historic Texas Cemetery Memorial. HoorahCapella lyrics for Taps at the end of George West Historic Texas Cemetery's Memorial services.
Honorable Jim Huff, County Judge for Live Oak County, Announces: Texas Historical Commission approves Live Oak County Recorded Texas Historic Landmark! Narrative at Live Oak County Courthouse Registered Texas Historic Landmark (1920-2020). Photo courtesy Richard Hudson.
Glynis Strause, President of George West Cemetery Association, announces: George West Cemetery honored with Historic Texas Cemetery Marker approval in conjunction with previous Texas Historic Cemetery Designation. Narrative at George West Historic Texas Cemetery. Photo courtesy Richard Hudson.
The first meeting of the 2021-2022 biennium is set for January 15, 2021 at 5:30 PM. Location TBA. Appointee applications for the new biennium were approved by County Judge, Jim Huff, and the Commissioners' Court at their last meeting on December 31, 2020. At that time the Court appointed Mary Margaret Campbell Chair for the 2021-2022 biennium. Campbell chose Richard Hudson to continue as Marker Chair for the new biennium. LOCHC will elect a slate of officers and committee chairs to serve 2021-2022 at the January 2021 meeting.
Ross Harris, Chair for the last two bienniums, and 2019-2020 LOCHC appointees enjoyed serving this last biennium and look forward to LOCHC moving forward in the coming years.
2021 Meetings: January 18, first Quarterly LOCHC meeting at 5:30 PM. Site TBA. Other dates and sites to be decided at the first meeting.
Photo courtesy Mary Margaret Dougherty Campbell.
Geronimo, historic international Longhorn icon, observed by tourists as they pass through George West, Texas. Since 1927, Geronimo has stood within a glass corral on the courthouse lawn of Live Oak County's county seat. Known to be George West's (traildriver and rancher who founded the town) favorite lead steer.
Geronimo's image was preserved by West's nephew, Albert West, soon after the steer saw his last days. Geronimo's mount traveled as far as Moscow representing Texas in America's 1976 Bicentennial Exposition. Geronimo has been immortalized in books and movies and continues to exemplify the Longhorn and Cowboy mystique today. Though cattlemen and cattlewomen of the West feared Longhorn extinction at the time Geronimo was preserved, Texas Longhorn herds now live in countries across the world.
The Live Oak County Historical Commission (LOCHC) exists to preserve the rich heritage and cultures of Live Oak County and its part in historic preservation not only at home, but in the state of Texas and our nation. The Commission develops local programs and cooperates with other community organizations to encourage understanding and appreciation of Live Oak County's historical significance. Appointees apply and are approved by the Live Oak County Commissioners' Court. Meetings are held quarterly on the third Monday unless announced otherwise above. The public is invited. Each meeting begins at 5:30 PM and ends sometime soon after 7:00 PM.
In 2010 with the appointment of a new Marker Chair, the LOCHC began efforts to revitalize the organization which had become inactive. By 2012, Judge Huff and the Commissioner's Court appointed ten new applicants. First efforts were directed toward honoring historical persons, buildings, and events that deserved Texas Historic Markers which tell their stories for perpetuity.
Since 2012, the organiztion matured and meets quarterly. Appointees have voting privileges and are required to attend at least 3 meeting each year. The revitalized LOCHC planted fifteen additional markers, one more delivered to George West First Baptist Church awaits an unveiling ceremony, the Chapa family at the foundry, and yet another two approved by the 2020 THC Staff await approval from THC Board, then foundry service. This will bring the total LOCHC Texas Historical Markers to 41. Two more are in process for 2021.
The narratives for all Texas Historical Markers approved by the THC Board since 2012 can be found on this website under Texas Historic Markers. Unfortunately, previous marker narrative histories had not been passed down. THC has now provided these histories to the webmaster, and this website is providing them as time allows since most of those are either written by hand or old typewriters which do not reproduce readable form.
Archeology, Cemetery, Education, Oral History, Publicity, and Website chairs have active committees and continue historical recognition in numerous county and state events. These include: appropriate relocation of Patrick Allen Randel (Narcotic Agent felled in 1974) monument, Wreaths Across Amerca, Historic Texas Cemetery Designation, reconstructing Geronimo Memorial Site, Chisholm Trail Celebration, Visit to J. Frank Dobie original ranch, and numerous others.
The THC requests each biennium appointment be finalized in the early months of a new biennium. If you are interested in working with us in the 2023-2024 biennium, please consider obtaining an application from Judge Jim Huff's office in the courthouse on Houston Street in George West, Texas when open application period is announced by the Court in late 2022.
Mary Margaret Dougherty Campbell: LOCHC Chair
Glynis Strause: Secretary, Oral History Chair
Leslie Walker: Treasurer
Richard "Hud" Hudson: Marker Chair, Publicity Chair
Jim Warren: Archaeology Chair (Emeritus)
Bernard Lemley: Cemetery Chair
Nancy Coquat: Education Chair
Charlotte Schroeder: Hospitality Chair
Janis Hudson: Webmaster (Associate)
Charles "Chuck" Campbell
Bernadette Cordona Gibson
Ross Harris
Drusanne Hunter
Bernard Lemley
Robin Dawson McKinney
Rodney Nance
Charles (Gipper) Nelson
Cindi Robinson
Peggy Skoruppa
Associate Appointees (Attendance and comments welcome but not required-no voting privilege)
Emeritus Appointees
Virginia Horton
Betty Lyne
Sue Nance
Jim Warren