Club Au Courant preserves history

Club Au Courant met on Apr. 19 at the Country Place Village. Clemmie Richards, Janis Slayter, and Mary Jane Clapp were hostesses. President Dorothy Camp presided, calling the meeting to order and asking for reports from club officers and committee chairmen.

Secretary Mickey hughes read minutes of tthe Mar. 15 and Feb. 15 meetings. Treasurer Yvonne Kennedy reported on club finances. Project chairman Peggy Campbell reported a collection of $32 for Helping Hands. Janis Slayter reporting for the social committee reminded members of the May 17 social at Rosewood Bed and Breakfast in Hallsville. Marion Dovel reporting for the nominating committee announced the 06-07 officers who will be installed at that luncheon. They are: president, Pat Sers; co-1st vice presidents, Mickey Hughey and Ima Roberts; 2nd vice president, Deana Covin; secretary, Marion Dovel; treasurer Yvonne Kennedy; parliamentarian, Opal Stewart; historian, Janis Slayter; reporter, Dorothy Camp.

Opal Stewart introduced Terry Stembridge to give the program. Terry could be named Kilgore's unofficial historian and those of us who live in and love Kilgore should be very grateful to him for collecting and preserving pictures, letters and other memorabilia that chronicle our past.

Terry says that his interest in and quest for information about Kilgore began with a single question who built the country club golf course? When no one could tell him, he began reading old newspapers and questioning anyone who might know. This opened up a whole new interest and he began collecting anything about Kilgore's past. So much has been lost and many who could give first hand information have died, but with the help of the Kilgore Historical Society, Terry hopes to preserve as much as possible.

Among the items Terry shared was a letter from Caroline Ross about small-town banking, a 1954 newspaper article about Club AuCourant, and a letter from Don Skinner relating 1947 theater memories. Kilgore has such a unique history and an equally unique cast of characters peopled it. They wanted everything that was good for their small town and they has the spirit and determination to get those things done. We do not want to forget them.

Those present were Charlotte Austin, Ellen Watson, Mary Jane Clapp, Vivian Patton, Yvonne Kennedy, Mickey Hughey, Marcella Harkrider, Dorothy Camp, Kay McKinley, Janis Slaytor, Ima Roberts, Pat Sers, Marion Dovel, Opal Stewart.