Sam Houston Expert to Give 125th Anniversary Lecture
 When
James Haley finished his now highly-acclaimed biography of
General Sam Houston which was released in March 2002, he expressed
some reservation about appearing as a Houston expert in Houston's
hometown, among Houston fans who are exceptionally knowledgeable
about Texas's greatest hero.
He did appear, the reaction of Huntsville residents to his
work was much the same as that expressed throughout the state,
and Haley returns to help the university named in Sam Houston's
honor celebrate its 125th anniversary.
Haley will present a lecture enitiled, "Educating Sam:
Book Larnin' and Real Life," in the Killinger Auditorium
from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. April 20. He will also be available immediately
following the event for a book signing held in the Criminal
Justice Center Auditorium.
Haley will also give a "Gallery Talk" that evening
for the Sam Houston Memorial Museum, host to the opening show
of the Texas Council for the Humanities' exhibit "The
Signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence." A
reception is scheduled at 7 p.m. and he will speak at 8 p.m.
in the Katy and E. Don Walker, Sr., Education Center.
Reaction to Haley's General Sam Houston biography has been
enthusiastic.
"This is a biography in the grand style--splendidly
researched, written with spirit..." --Elliott West,
president of the Western History Association.
"Well told and often moving...a good read, solidly
evoking the prickly personality of the first and greatest
Texan." --Publishers Weekly.
"An ambitious and nuanced treatment of a major American
figure...deeply researched and fair-minded...There is nothing
dry or academic about the writing; the book has juice in its
veins." --Houston Chronicle.
"He's captured Sam Houston better than 'The Raven'
ever did."--Former Texas Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby.
When the plaudits were in, Haley had gathered eight awards,
including the Coral Horton Tullis Memorial Prize, awarded
by the Texas State historical Association for the best book
on Texas in that year, and the Spur Award from the Western
Writers of America.
A native of the Fort Worth area and now a resident of Austin,
Haley has written on a number of topics--Jumbo the circus
elephant, a Native American uprising, Apache history, Texas
history, and produced several works of fiction.
But it was "Sam Houston," the largest and most complete
biography ever written about that legendary American icon,
that brings him back to Huntsville.
Haley graduated summa cum laude from the University of Texas
at Arlington with a degree in political science. After graduate
study at the University of Texas in Austin Law School, he
resigned to concentrate on a literary career.
Haley's appearance is part of the President's Speaker Series.
It was created in January 2002 by James F. Gaertner, SHSU
president, to introduce Sam Houston State University students,
many of whom are first generation college students, to people
who are living successful and principled lives. It is supported
by a grant from long-time SHSU benefactor Lu Ellen Gibbs.
Previous speakers in the series have included Gene Stallings,
Debbie Fields, Dave Dravecky and David Robinson.
- END -
SHSU Media Contact: Frank
Krystyniak
March 29, 2004
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