SHSU Update for Week of February 25

• Sam's 208th to be Celebrated
• Music Week has Four Concerts
• Nolan Elected to Tourism Post
• Surplus Property Auction is Saturday
• Bearkat Games on KSHU

Sam's 208th to be Celebrated

March 2 marks General Sam's 208th birthday. It is also Texas Independence Day, Flag Day and Walker County Pioneer Day. Activities begin with coffee and refreshments in the Gibbs-Powell Home Museum, 1228 11th Street, from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.

Thomas R. Phillips, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, will be the speaker for the 11 a.m. wreath-laying at the Sam Houston grave in Oakwood Cemetery, at Spur 94 and 11th Street.

Chief Justice Phillips received the Texas Chamber of Commerce Award of Excellence in Government in 1992, the Outstanding Texas Leader Award from the John Ben Sheppard Public Leadership Forum in 1989, and the Houston Outstanding Young Lawyer Award from the Houston Young Lawyers Association in 1986.

He was awarded honorary degrees from Texas Tech University in 1997 and St. Edward's University in 1998 and was named a Distinguished Alumnus of Baylor University in 1998. In 1999 the National Center for State Courts honored him with its Distinguished Service Award.

This year's luncheon is scheduled for the Homestead restaurant at 1215 19th Street (across from the Woodland Home) beginning at 12:30 p.m. The luncheon cost is $12.50 and reservations should be made by Monday (Feb. 26). Call 936.295.4287 or 936.293.8423.

Events move to the 67-foot "A Tribute to Courage" Sam Houston statue (world's tallest statue of an American hero) at 2 p.m. for a "Toast to Texas" and birthday cake, and back to the Oakwood Cemetery at 3 p.m. A historical marker will be dedicated there on the site where the Steamboat House once stood.

General Sam Houston returned to Huntsville in 1861 after he was removed as Texas governor for refusing to take an oath of allegiance to the Confederacy. He died in the Steamboat House in 1863. It was moved to its present location in the Sam Houston Memorial Museum Complex in 1936.

Sam Houston's Victorian Ball is scheduled for 7 p.m. to midnight in the atrium of the Walker Education Center, 1402 19th Street.

The event promises dancing to such Victorian favorites as the Grand March, the Virginia Reel and the Gay Gordon. Music will be provided by the Young Family Band and the Texas Pioneers.

"Period costume is welcomed but any festive attire will suffice," said Patrick Nolan, Sam Houston Memorial Museum director. "Come join us for this special occasion and have lots of fun. All proceeds will benefit the renovation of the museum exhibits."

Tickets for the ball are $50 per couple in advance, $60 on the night of the event, and $40 for "Friends of the Museum." Call 936.294.1832 for reservations.

Music Week Has Four Concerts

The concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. Monday (Feb. 26) in the Recital Hall with an appearance by pianist Sohyoung Park, performing works by Mozart, Debussy, Beethoven and Schumann.

Park has performed solo and chamber recitals in Europe, the United States and Korea. She has also appeared as a soloist with the Rice (University) Chamber Orchestra and the Ruse Phil Harmonic Orchestra in Bulgaria.

She has participated in numerous international competitions, winning the Rice University concerto competition in 1996.

A jazz concert featuring the 20-member Jazz Lab Band and the 21-member Jazz Ensemble, both under the direction of Rod Cannon, director of jazz studies, is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday (Feb. 27) in Killinger Auditorium.

The Jazz Lab Band program includes pieces by David Caffey, Jeff Jarvis and Mike Carubia.

The Jazz Ensemble opens with Ernesto Lecuona's "Malaguena" and closes with Richard Rogers' "Lover," with intermittent pieces by Steve Spiegl, Roger Myers, Pat Williams and Dizzy Gillespie.

Cellist Peter Kempter, assisted by Andrew Wilson (violin), Julianne Best (voice) and Clive Swansbourne (piano) and the SHSU Violoncello Ensemble, will present a concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday (March 1) in the Recital Hall.

Kempter will be joined by Wilson for Johan Halvorsen's "Passacaglia and Sarabande con variazioni," by Best for three love songs by Royal Brantley, and by the seven member ensemble for Gabriel Faure's "Libera Me."

The evening will conclude with Beethoven's "Sonata No. 3 in A for Piano and Cello, op. 69," with Kempter and Swansbourne.

Carol Smith will conduct the SHSU Symphony in a concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday (March 3) in Killinger Auditorium. The program includes Alexander Borodin's "Symphony No. 2 in B Minor" and Beethoven's "Concerto No. 4 for Piano and Orchestra in G Major, op. 58," with Swansbourne as soloist.

For ticket or other information, call the SHSU School of Music at 936.294.1360.

Nolan Elected to Tourism Post

"It is an honor to have been chosen to serve on the Texas Forest Trail Region board," said Nolan. "The program has the potential to have a very positive economic impact on all the communities within the region, and I am glad to do my part to make it a success."

The board is a decision-making entity that facilitates the program strategies of the Texas Forest Trail Region. The group was chosen through a nomination process of community leaders in the region.

The Texas Forest Trail encompasses 35 counties in East Texas including Anderson, Angelina, Bowie, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Franklin, Gregg, Hardin, Harrison, Henderson, Houston, Jasper, Jefferson, Marion, Montgomery, Morris, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Panola, Polk, Red River, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Smith, Titus, Trinity, Tyler, Upshur, Walker and Wood.

The regional initiatives are designed to positively impact the local economy by stimulating visitor activity to cultural and historical attractions. In the Texas Forts Trail Region, the first region to be designated, visitation at monitored sites increased by nearly 19 percent in the first year.

The board has recently hired Chay Rees to be regional coordinator. Rees, with assistance from the Texas Historical Commission, will be responsible for the successful development of the Texas Heritage Trails Program in the region.

Surplus Property Auction is Saturday

The auction will be held at the property warehouse, located in the Sam South Complex at 2424 Sam Houston Ave. Items will be available for inspection beginning at 7:30 a.m. with the auction to begin at 8:30. Kevin McMillian will serve as auctioneer.

Some of the other items to be offered include chairs, kitchen equipment, restaurant booths, office furniture, tables, typewriters, air conditioners, televisions, ping pong tables, overhead projectors, a washer and dryer, drapes, air conditioner sleeves, beauty salon equipment, file cabinets, copiers, stackable chairs, doors, room dividers and fax machines.

Payment will be by cash or checks, with proper identification. Items must be removed by 2 p.m. on the day of the sale or during the following week.

For more information call Wayne Frosch, property coordinator, at 936.294.1903.

Bearkat Games on KSHU

Six more home softball games are on the KSHU programming schedule: Feb. 25 (1 p.m.), 27 (3 p.m.) and 28 (1 p.m.), March 21 (4 p.m.) and 31 (1 p.m.) and April 17 and 24 (1 p.m.).

Bearkat baseball games slated for coverage are March 6 (2 p.m.), March 27, 28 and April 1 (1 p.m.), April 3 (3 p.m.), April 7 (noon), April 8 (1 p.m.), April 10 and 25 (3 p.m.), April 28 (noon) and April 29 (1 p.m.).

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SHSU Media Contacts: Frank Krystyniak, Julia May
Feb. 25, 2001
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