Distinguished Texas historian to speak at Galveston College on ‘Texas and Texans During World War II’

Galveston College will present “Texas and Texans During World War II,” a lecture featuring distinguished Texas historian Bill O’Neal on Wednesday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m. in the Abe and Annie Seibel Foundation Wing at Galveston College, 4015 Avenue Q, Galveston, Texas.

The lecture is the first in the college’s 2019-20 lecture series. It is free and open to the public.

A longtime professor at Panola College in Carthage, Texas, O’Neal recently concluded six years of service as State Historian of Texas, traveling tens of thousands of miles across the Lone Star State as an ambassador for Texas history. He is a past president and fellow of both the East Texas Historical Association and the West Texas Historical Association.

“We are very excited to have such an outstanding speaker as Bill O’Neal present at our lecture series this year,” said Dr. Laimutis Bytautas, chair of the Faculty Professional Development Committee at Galveston College. “The theme for this year is ‘Discovery: The Forefront of Knowledge.’ We hope that anyone attending this lecture will discover something new about Texas history.”

Committee co-chair Michael Berberich agreed. “Like documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, Bill O’Neal is that kind of scholar who readily connects with broad popular audiences. His years of teaching, his more than 40 books and his many honors have done community colleges proud.”

“Texas made a remarkable contribution to the American war effort during World War II,” said O’Neal in describing his presentation. “Almost 830,000 Texans, including 12,000 women, donned uniforms, and more than 23,000 Texas fighting men died for their country. America’s most decorated soldier, Lt. Audie Murphy, and most decorated sailor, submarine commander Sam Dealey, both were Texans.

“Texas A&M, an all-male military college, placed over 20,000 men in the armed forces, of which 14,000 were officers – more than any other school in the nation. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, the supreme commander of Allied forces in Europe, was born in Denison in northeast Texas. Adm. Chester Nimitz, commander in chief of the Pacific Fleet, was born and raised in the Texas Hill Country. With more than 80 military bases of every type, Texas was the largest training field in the nation. Texas oil fueled the Allied war effort, while Texas shipyards and defense plants provided a flood of war machines and munitions.”

O’Neal’s father was a veteran of World War II. Through his college students, he has collected several hundred interviews from WW II veterans, and two of his books have been about Texans in the Second World War.

In addition to more than 40 books, O’Neal has written over 300 articles and book reviews. His most recent writing award, the A.C. Greene Literary Award, was presented at the 2015 West Texas Book Festival in Abilene. In 2012, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Wild West Historical Association, and in 2007 he was named True West Magazine’s Best Living Non-Fiction Writer.

O’Neal has appeared on TV documentaries on TBS, The History Channel, CMT, The Learning Channel, A&E and the American Heroes Channel.

During a long career on the faculty at Panola College at Carthage, Texas, his most prestigious teaching award was a Piper Professorship, presented in 2000. In 2013 Panola’s new dormitory was named “Bill O’Neal Hall,” and in that same year he received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Texas A&M University-Commerce.

O’Neal’s four daughters all have entered the field of education, and he is the proud grandfather of seven grandchildren.

Involvement Fair

Promote your department, organization at the Fall 2019 Involvement Fair

Looking for a way to promote your department, program, organization or service? Here’s your opportunity!

The Galveston College Office of Student Activities and Student Government Association will host a campus and community Involvement Fair on Tuesday, Sept. 10, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Mary Moody Northen Center Atrium.

Organizations, departments and programs that are interested in participating in the Involvement Fair can contact Cynthia Parra at [email protected] with the following information by noon on Friday, Sept. 6:

  • Club, organization or department name
  • Representative name (person that will be stationed at table)
  • Representative cell phone number
  • Representative office number
  • Representative email address

Tables and chairs will be provided. Participants are encouraged to have sign-in sheets to capture contact information and to provide their own tablecloths and marketing materials. Giveaways and promotional items are highly recommended.

The Office of Student Activities and SGA will provide food and beverages.

Involvement Fair Itinerary

10-11 a.m.  – Set up

11 a.m.-1 p.m. – Involvement Fair

1-2 p.m. – Tear down/clean up

Hamshire-Fannet Dual-Credit Students

Hamshire-Fannett dual-credit students visit Galveston College

Dual-credit students from Hamshire-Fannett High School visited the Galveston College campus Friday, Aug. 23, to meet with faculty and staff and to tour the college.

The day began with a pep rally hosted by Educational Services, Admissions, Student Activities and Public Affairs. The students received goodie bags, did the Whitecaps Wave and took group photos in Seibel Wing and at the beacon.

Students met with Joseph Bernard, director of educational services, and faculty members Elizabeth Tapp, Shelly Downes, Dr. Regina Durante, Janene Davison and Dr. Larry Blomstedt for general information sessions and programs on “Turnitin and Plagiarism” and “Professional Communication.”

Dr. LaToya Mills, Priscilla Culver and Diego Turrubiartes provided tours of the campus. Sandi Smith and Trish Szymanski provided media support.

Food For Thought at Galveston College

Galveston College announces fall 2019 Food for Thought market dates

Galveston College has announced fall 2019 distribution dates for the Food for Thought mobile farmers market on the college’s main campus at Avenue Q 1/2 and 39th Street and at the Charlie Thomas Family Applied Technology Center, 7626 Broadway Street. Volunteers are needed to assist with set up, check in, distribution and clean up.

Market dates are as follows:

Galveston College Main Campus 

  • Wednesday, Sept. 18
  • Wednesday, Oct. 23
  • Wednesday, Nov. 20
  • Wednesday, Dec. 4

Galveston College Charlie Thomas Family Applied Technology Center 

  • Thursday, Sept. 26
  • Thursday, Oct. 10
  • Thursday, Nov. 7
  • Thursday, Dec. 12

Market hours are 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Food for Thought is a partnership between Galveston College, the Galveston County Food Bank and the Houston Food Bank through its Food for Change food scholarship initiative.

The Food for Thought market gives students access to fresh produce, meats and other groceries on the Galveston College campus, enabling them to save money for other necessities and to maintain their focus on school.

“The food scholarship assists with lowering grocery expenses throughout the semester and allows students to stay fueled and healthy while pursuing their educational goals,” said Cynthia Parra, student activities coordinator and Food for Thought market coordinator at Galveston College.

Currently enrolled students can obtain client ID cards in the Galveston College Counseling and Advising Center on the first floor of Moody Hall on the main campus or the office at the Applied Technology Center and enroll online by visiting the Food for Change page on the Houston Food Bank website.

Students also can locate unrestricted Food for Change markets by using the Houston Food Bank Mobile App. Food for Change markets are labeled to help clients identify all markets available to all Food for Change recipients.

For more information and to volunteer to assist with the program, contact Cynthia Parra in the Office of Student Activities at [email protected] or (409) 944-1234.

Spring 2019 De-Stress Week is underway

Final exams are May 9-15 at Galveston College. The Office of Student Activities, in conjunction with the Student Government Association, has planned a variety of activities to help students, faculty and staff decompress before finals. 

 

Schedule of Events

 

Ice Cream Social

Wednesday, May 1

11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Cheney Student Center

Come enjoy a sweet treat!

 

15-Minute Chair Massages

Thursday, May 2

11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Mary Moody Northen Center Atrium

Relax your muscles. Soothe your stress. Treat yourself to a free chair massage with Therapeutic HealthWorks!

 

$3 Movie Night: “Avengers: Endgame”

Friday, May 3

Arrive by 3:30 p.m.

Movie Starts at 4 p.m.

Premiere Cinemas, Galveston

The Avengers take a final stand against Thanos in Marvel Studios’ conclusion to 22 films, “Avengers: Endgame.” Pick up a $3 ticket in Student Activities in the Cheney Student Center to see the movie that has smashed every imaginable box-office record!

 

Snacks with Friends

Monday, May 6

2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Mary Moody Northen Center Atrium

Come enjoy free snacks, board games, music and more!

 

Lawn Games

Tuesday, May 7

11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Abe and Annie Seibel Wing Lawn

De-stress with a little friendly competition! Horseshoes, badminton, beanbag toss, soccer and football!

  

For more information, contact Cynthia Parra in Student Activities at [email protected].

Spring Fling

Galveston College will celebrate Spring Fling 2019 on Wednesday, April 3, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the Seibel Wing Lawn on the Galveston College main campus, 4015 Avenue Q.

There will be free popcorn, hotdogs, hamburgers, drinks and chips, as well as a variety of booths, games and DIY crafts.

In the event of rain, Spring Fling will take place in the Hermes Fitness Center Gym and under the Hermes carport.

honor Andre Deroeun

Galveston Kiwanis Club to honor Andre Deroeun at Whitecaps season opener

Galveston Kiwanis Club to honor Andre Deroeun at Whitecaps season opener

The Galveston College Whitecaps baseball team will take on the Temple College Leopards in its season opener Friday, Jan. 25, at 3 p.m. at Bernard Davis Field, 83rd Street  and Frank Giusti Drive, Galveston, Texas.

At 2:45 p.m. prior to the game, the Galveston Kiwanis Club will make a presentation in honor of Andre DeRouen, a member of the Whitecaps baseball team from League City, Texas, who drowned last year while rescuing his brother from a neighborhood pond.

Houston Astros announcer Bob Ford will emcee the event. Admission is free.

For more information on Galveston College Athletics and the complete Whitecaps baseball schedule, please visit the official website.

Galveston College Community Chorale sets holiday concert

” December Magic” is the theme of the Galveston College Community Chorale’s annual holiday concert on Sunday, Dec. 16, beginning at 7 p.m. at Moody Methodist Church, 2803 53rd St., Galveston, Texas.

Under the direction of Michael Gilbert, with accompaniment by Ron Wyatt, the choir will perform a variety of traditional carols, including “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” accompanied by a brass choir.

Other holiday treasures include “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” “Away in a Manger,” “We Need a Little Christmas” and a special arrangement of “Jingle Bells.” There are other selections, as well as a soloist from the chorale.

The free concert is open to the public.

Galveston College Theatre to present ‘No-Hole Holiday’

This holiday season, the Galveston College Theatre department will present the musical-comedy, “The No Hole Holiday,” with book and lyrics by Stan Gill and music by Cindy Bright and Stan Gill.

An upwardly mobile elf, frustrated Halloween goblins, industrious hole-making gnomes, schmoozy politicians and Santa populate this charming and zany modern fairy tale.

It is still a month before the holidays and preparations are gearing up. “The Holiday World”, Santa says, “is a strange and unusual place.” Axel the Elf has been promoted to Santa’s personal staff, however, instead of something glamorous like tinsel or music, he is put in charge of buying holes.

Santa sends Axel to see Mr. Pistachio, the Commissioner of Stuff, to make the deal, but sends him with a warning. There are two goblins called the Grump Sisters, who are jealous that their holiday, Halloween, lasts only a day, while Santa’s festivities are celebrated for a month.

Mr. Pistachio takes Axel to meet Rowley and Jinx, the two gnomes who run the Hole Factory, so he may see how important his new job is. Axel begins to get the idea and his attitude changes about the importance of his new job, just in time for the Grumps to attempt to sabotage the Hole Factory and ruin everyone’s holiday.

Will the Grump Sisters succeed or will Santa, Axel, Rowley, Jinx and Mr. Pistachio save the holidays?

Company members include Eva Arita, Alyssa Gudz, Jade Killebrew, Daniel Maxey, Andrea Parson, Kristopher Prodoehl, Eric Scales, Destiny Shute, Wrath Sorrell and Fallon Smith.

Show dates and times are Thursday, Nov. 15, at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 16, at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 17, at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Doors open 30 minutes prior to curtain and admission is free. However, the GC Theatre department will be accepting donations of non-perishable food items for the Galveston County Food Bank. Performances are located in the Abe and Annie Seibel Wing on the Galveston College campus, 4015 Ave. Q, Galveston.

For additional information, please contact the Program Coordinator for the Performing Arts, Liz Lacy, at (409) 944-1398 or [email protected].

Beacon at Galveston College

Galveston College to celebrate Veterans Day and 100th anniversary of lighting of the Galveston Jetty Lighthouse beacon

On Veterans Day, Nov. 12, Galveston College and Galveston Island will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the lighting of the lamp at the Galveston Jetty Lighthouse at what was at the time the busiest port on the Gulf Coast and second busiest port in the country.

On Nov. 12, 1918, one day after the Armistice of Nov. 11, 1918, and after 14 years of on-and-off construction, the lamp was lit for the first time at the Galveston (South) Jetty Lighthouse with George W. Bardwell serving as the first head keeper.

A violent storm ravaged the lighthouse on May 2, 2000, and the iron pilings, weakened by years of rust, gave way, causing the lighthouse to fall into the water.

In 2001, the Galveston Community College District Board of Regents met in a retreat and adopted the vision statement: “A Beacon of Light Guiding Lifelong Learning.”

Regent John L. Sullivan convinced the board that the college needed a symbol at the entrance of the college at 39th and Avenue Q. Regent Sullivan knew that the actual South Jetty Lighthouse cupola was rusting away in Sonny Broome’s welding yard, having been placed there after being salvaged by George P. Mitchell’s company.

In 2003, the U.S. Coast Guard granted a loan of the cupola to Galveston College, and John and Cindy Sullivan provided a donation of over $20,000 to have Sonny Broome restore it.

Architects were hired to design an area known as Beacon Square that would feature a replica of the South Jetty Lighthouse that used to stand on Galveston Island’s east end.

In November 2006, a public ceremony that included the U. S. Coast Guard color guard dedicated Beacon Square and the lighthouse replica, complete with the restored lighthouse cupola. Subsequent improvements allowed a fundraising engraved brick project to surround the lighthouse with nine oak trees available with naming rights.

The Beacon Square lighthouse now stands as a beautiful focal point at 39th Street and Avenue Q and a landmark for the Galveston College campus.

The college will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the lighting of the beacon on Veterans Day, Nov. 12, with a community celebration and glow party titled “Light Up the Night.” The event will include a veterans’ resource fair, glow party fun and children’s crafts and games, music, food and talks on the history of the lighthouse and beacon.

All events are free and open to the public. A complete schedule follows:

Schedule of Events

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Veterans Community Resource Fair, Mary Moody Northen Center Atrium

2 p.m. – 100th Anniversary of the Lighting of the Beacon and Veterans Day Celebration, Abe and Annie Seibel Wing Lawn

  • Veterans Day Wreath Ceremony hosted by Student Veterans Association
  • History of Galveston Jetty Lighthouse featuring Kevin Kinney, Archivist, Galveston and Texas History Center, Rosenberg Library
  • A Beacon of Light Guiding Lifelong Learning: Galveston College Beacon Square featuring Joe Huff, Director of Public Affairs (Retired), Galveston College
  • A display featuring historical information on the Galveston Jetty Lighthouse, Seibel Wing Lobby

3-5 p.m. – Kids’ Zone – Abe and Annie Seibel Wing Lawn

  • Games
  • Bounce Houses
  • Glow-in-the-Dark Crafts with the Artis Crafting Club and Spark Poetry and Writing Club

5-7 p.m. – Light Up the Night Glow Party – Abe and Annie Seibel Wing Lawn

  • Music by DJ Roland Martinez
  • Refreshments
  • Glow Fun

In the event of inclement weather, outdoor events will be moved into the Hermes Fitness Center Gym.

For more information, contact Carol Langston in the Galveston College Public Affairs office at [email protected].