Relative Infamy
When I read the article by Stephen Sharpe [Endangered Places, September 2015], I saw the name of a relative in the “Lost” segment. Ben “Tall Texan” Kilpatrick’s great-grandfather and my great-great-great-grandfather were one and the same, so I guess that makes us cousins.
I first became aware of this infamous cousin when I read Bill O’Reilly’s Legends and Lies (Henry Holt and Co., 2015). Ben is mentioned in the book and is even pictured in the famous “Fort Worth Five” photograph (he is seated in the middle between Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid). The photo, incidentally, became the beginning of the downfall of the whole gang—kind of an early mug shot.
Seeing Ben’s name in the article was yet another verification that my family tree has a few termites in it!
Vivian Barrington | Jasper
Jasper-Newton EC
Dobie Is Mr. Texas
The article by Lonn Taylor on J. Frank Dobie tells it like it is [J. Frank Dobie Rides Again, October 2015]. I disdain naive, politically correct or pandering articles.
Barbara Duvall-Wesolek | Houston
After my discharge from the Air Force, I attended Sul Ross State University in my hometown of Alpine. One of my history professors was Dudley Dobie, first cousin of J. Frank Dobie, and another professor, Clifford Casey, was a friend of both Dobies and taught history of the Spanish Southwest.
Casey lectured entirely from memory, and I took every course he taught. A couple of times, I had the honor to meet J. Frank Dobie. I shared a couple of tales I had heard all my life about old-timers, a couple of whom were still alive at the time. I went with one of the old-timers’ granddaughters when I was in high school and got even more old stories.
Garry Henderson | Comanche
Comanche EC
Helping in Haiti
I was glad to see that co-op people have gone to Haiti to help with its infrastructure [The Power of Your Cooperative, October 2015]. Since September 2013, I have been going to Haiti on a regular basis and am involved in teaching the residents to build earthquake- and hurricane-resistant homes.
Herb Nordmeyer | Castroville
Medina EC
Tick, Tick, Ticked Off
I could not believe what I read in Daylight Saving Time Law Intercepted [Currents, November 2015]. These people need to sort out their priorities. When did the NFL schedule become the criteria to determine whether a law should pass or not? It makes no sense to keep a law that nobody wants and serves no purpose. I don’t even want to hear the reasoning behind the failure to pass the no-text, no-talk law.
Sandra N. Lorenz | Plantersville
Mid-South Synergy