Kissin’ Kuzzins

(1) Lamar University history professor Jeff Forret will discuss his book published by Cambridge University Press entitled Williams’ Gang A Notorious Slave Trader and His Cargo of Black Convicts about 7:15 p.m. on Monday, May 3, 2021 for the Deep East Texas Archeological Society at the Iris and Anne Howard Civic Center on 213 East Court Street in Newton, Texas. At 6:30 p.m. guests and members of the Society will enjoy desserts and refreshments which will be followed by a short business meeting. The public is invited to attend. For more information, contact Terri Woods at (409) 379-2109 or terri.woods@tx.co.newton.us Ruth Dusan at (409) 379-5946 or jrdusan@windstream.net or Dickie Dixon at (936) 671-1419 or dixonhershel51@gmail.com

(2) On Monday May 17, 2021 Edwin and Leslie Koenck from the Leesville area will discuss her grandfather’s experience in Belgium after his plane was shot down by the Germans. He was rescued and hidden by the Belgian resistance, along with four others on the plane; five were captured by the Nazis. The meeting begins at 4 p.m., and they will speak, after the business meeting which will last about 30 minutes. For more information about this meeting of the Angelina County Genealogical Society, contact Rev. Cindy Doran at (936) 852-4123 or keltysumc@hotmail. com or Dickie Dixon at (936) 671-1419 or dixonhershel51@gmail.com

(3) ACGS has great programs lined up for the rest of the year: From May to November 2021 ACGS has some knock-out programs lined up with Edwin and Leslie Koenck kicking it off on May 17th discussing her grandfather’s experience during World War II in Belgium. On June 16th, Ron Barlow will discuss his group who have rallied around FM1 near Rosevine, Texas, and one of our own, Joy Pinner, will discuss her historical passion on Monday, July 19, 2021, the community of Allentown, where she lives. (“Lord willing, and the creek don’t rise,” we will hear from her next year on Redland, where she attended school.)

On August 16, 2021 Penny Clark, Archivist for Special Collections at the Lamar University Library will discuss her new book coming out in July from Arcadia Press called The Civil Air Patrol in Beaumont. She will speak and sell and sign copies of her book at the 4 p.m. meeting of the Angelina County Genealogical Society at the Fellowship Hall of Keltys United Methodist Church on 1867 Old Mill Road in Lufkin, Texas. To honor the centennial anniversary of Brookshire Brothers on September 21, 2021, I will discuss “The Centennial History of Brookshire Brothers,” at 4 p.m. on Monday, September 20, 2021. I am excited about the prospect of our October program, hoping a polio survivor Darryl Stanley, from Warren, and also a poster child in Beaumont will discuss his experience as a young boy about having contracted the disease. Titter Hogan, from Newton, will discuss her late husband’s experience as a Pearl Harbor survivor; I hope we can show the CD the Newton County Historical Commission made of him before he died. Also, a lady who lives in Nacogdoches, who was living in Oahu at the time may be able to come.

In December, presumably, we will celebrate the year and Christmas with our Christmas party and auction. We hope all of you will come and bring your friends, too! Dickie Dixon President, Angelina County Genealogical Society

To submit an item to this column email it to dixonhershel51@gmail.com by phone to (936) 671-1419 or by mail to Kissin’ Kuzzins P. O. Box 151001 Lufkin Texas 75915-1001. For a book review mail a complimentary copy to the just listed address.