On July 17 members of the Hays County Historical Commission turned out in force to receive a 2011 Distinguished Service Award from the Texas Historical Commission, presented by the Hays County Commissioners Court. Front row, left to right, County Judge Bert Cobb, M.D., Historical Commission Chairwoman Kate Johnson, Linda Coker, Ofelia Vasquez-Philo, Precinct 1 Commissioner Debbie Gonzales Ingalsbe, Marie Bassett, Luanne Cullen and Richard Kidd; middle row, left to right, Commissioner Precinct 3 Will Conley, Shelley Henry, Celeste Zygmont, Bonnie Eissler, Mary Giberson and Robert Frizzell; back row, left to right, Precinct 4 Commissioner Ray Whisenant, Marianne Moore, Dorothy Gumbert and Precinct 2 Commissioner Mark Jones. (Courtesy photo)
SUBMITTED REPORT
The Hays County Commissioners Court Tuesday presented a Distinguished Service Award on behalf of the Texas Historical Commission to the Hays County Historical Commission for its work and dedication in 2011. The award goes to honor local commissions that have gone above and beyond to preserve, protect and promote the history of their county.
Three of the many achievements of the Historical Commission in 2011 include:
• The opening of the Courthouse Museum and Theater, which houses a number of historical displays about people, places and events in Hays County and includes a small theater for screenings of documentaries and oral histories: The museum continually adds new displays and is open the first and third Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and every Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The museum, along with the Commission office, is located at the County Courthouse, 111 E. San Antonio Street, San Marcos.
• Producing the “Hays County in World War II” documentary, featuring interviews with a number of Hays County WWII veterans and civilians who worked at the Army Air Base in San Marcos. The premiere was held at the old Army Air Corps hangar at the San Marcos Airport on the anniversary of D-Day to a standing-room-only crowd of more than 200 people. The film and the veterans attending received a standing ovation.
• Notification in March that Preservation Texas had placed the old “moveable” wooden jail on its Texas’ Most Endangered Places list. The announcement came at the Texas Preservation Summit on the steps of the Capitol in Austin. The Commission had prepared and submitted the application to have the jail placed on the list.
The Commission is continuing its work on a new documentary about the Kuykendall Ranch, as well as ensuring the restoration and protection of county cemeteries, making applications for historical markers and collaborating with other local museums and organizations for the monthly celebration of local history and culture, 1st Saturday Heritage San Marcos.
