Local DRT Co-Hosts Daughters of the Republic of Texas Convention in Addison

July 16, 2018 - The 127th annual convention of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas was held at the Dallas Addison Quorum Hotel in Addison earlier this summer.

The William Carroll Crawford Chapter, along with the other eleven chapters from District IV, co-hosted the event, called "The Piney Woods: a Pathway to Texas. District IV is comprised of chapters from Center, San Augustine, Hemphill, Nacogdoches, Lufkin, Tyler, Longview, Crockett, Jasper, Livingston, Palestine and Mabank. Different chapters furnished decorations, arranged for the entertainment or did the behind the scenes organization that makes any event go smoothly. Our chapter decorated the head table and the stage area each day and Gail Sholar, Barbara McClellan and Maggie Casto led a break-out session on "The Travelin" Trunk" as members from around the state were interested in how to put one together and take it out into the community.

For Thursday nights opening event Bill Smith and Tommie Ritter from the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame and the Tex Ritter Museum in Carthage entertained with the music (and costume) of "Tex Ritter: A Texas Music Legend." Bill O'Neal, the Texas State Historian, also from Carthage, gave the program at the Friday night Historical Dinner. He talked about Texas music and musicians from the days of the Republic to the present. The Texas music theme was continued at the Saturday luncheon with music by "A Texas Republic String Band" from San Augustine.

Attending from the William Carroll Crawford Chapter were Judy Lee, Gina Ferren, Maggie Casto, Fay Eddins, Billie Dawson, Barbara McClellan, Gail Sholar, Lavonne Wood, Vickie Martin and Merle Howard

The Chapter was honored to once again receive Six Star Chapter status, achieved by completing standards of Chapter growth, community outreach, civic participation, communication and to continue to publicly honor our Republic of Texas ancestors and history. This award underscores the DRT mission to "perpetuate the memory and spirit of the men and women who achieved and maintained the independence of Texas."

The 2018 Convention is now a memory but plans are being made to attend the 2019 event in Austin. God Bless Texas.