Author to visit TVCC Athens campus

bookcover[1]By Jennifer Hannigan/TVCC Public Information

The Read Through the Valley Book Club is winding down the school year by hosting the author of the book the group has been studying since August.

Each year, the book club – made of Trinity Valley Community College students and employees – studies a featured novel. This school year, the selection was Jim Dent’s “Twelve Mighty Orphans.”

On April 24, Dent will be visiting the college’s Athens campus. He will be speaking in the college’s auditorium from 1-3 p.m. His speech will be open to the public and there is no charge for admission.

“We are hoping he will talk in part about his writing of the book, although he may speak in part about other things as well,” said TVCC Fine Arts Director Kelly Driskell. “He has gotten to meet some of the people he wrote about over the years, and we hope to be able to hear those parts of his story.”

According to the book’s website, “Twelve Mighty Orphans” tells the Depression-era true story of an intrepid team of orphans from the Masonic Home in Fort Worth.

The orphan football team beat all odds by succeeding at the game as well as in life. Those players, in spite of being outweighed by at least thirty pounds per man, quickly earned a reputation as a winning team. They began with nothing — not even a ball — yet in a few years were playing for the state championship at the highest level of Texas football.

Released in September 2007, the book has been through 20 printings overall (16 printings in hardback) with more than 250,000 books sold.

Dent will start his day at TVCC with a closed luncheon in the college’s cafeteria. There, he will be meeting those speakers who have given presentations surrounding the book’s theme during the school year. Over the past few months, a variety of TVCC faculty members have presented on subjects such as the psychology of sports, physics and football, the history of football gear and other topics related to the book.

“We want him to be able to see all the study we have done and to let our past presenters get to know him a little,” said Driskell.
Then Dent will be going to the college’s auditorium, where he will be speaking to the public. Copies of the book will be available to purchase at the event.

“It should be very interesting hearing his story of how he researched the book and has met some of the people about whom he wrote,” said Driskell. “Even if you are not familiar with the book it will be fun to hear him talk about it and about that time period.”
Following Dent’s visit, the college will host an art show and reception from 3-4:30 p.m. on the first floor of the administration building.

“We will have artwork that is focused on different elements of the book. It could be football, it could be the Great Depression, or it could be something else related to that time,” said Driskell. “There will probably be works focused on different themes as well.”
This is the third year for the book club, but the first time the college has hosted the author of the featured selection.

“The committee had some good luck. He happens to be a Texan, so it is easier to get people to come when it is not so far to travel,” said Driskell. “Also, the book is set in Fort Worth, so it has a local feel. And he had the availability when we could have him come, so it all worked out well.”

Kim Williams charged with murder in Kaufman County shootings

Eric Williams
Eric Williams
Kim Williams
Kim Williams

(UPDATE 1:51 P.M. Correction about arrest affidavit.)

In a press conference that last a little more than one minute this afternoon, Kaufman County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Lt. Justin Lewis verified that Kim Williams, 46, was arrested today and charged in connection with the murders of Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland, his wife Cynthia, and Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse.

Lewis did not answer any questions and said no more details would be released today to give officials a chance to brief the victims’ families. Another press conference will be held tomorrow at 1:30 p.m., Lewis said.

Kim Williams is the wife of former Justice of the Peace Eric Williams, who was arrested over the weekend for terroristic threat in connection with the murders.

Kim Williams is being held in Kaufman County jail with bond set at $10 million.

An arrest affidavit released at the time of today’s press conference identifies Kim Williams as the suspected shooter in all three murders.

According to the arrest affidavit released at the time of the press conference, “Kim Williams described in detail her role along with that of her husband, Eric Williams, whom she reported to have shot to death Mark Hasse on January 31, 2013 and Michael and Cynthia McClelland on March 30, 2013. During the interview, the defendant gave details of both offenses which had not made public.”

As of this writing, the charges against Eric Williams have not been changed.

Obituary: Margaret Anne Wilson Dean

Margaret Anne Wilson Dean of Gun Barrel City was born on April 20, 1936 to the home of Dr. Felix B. Wilson and Mae E. Garrett Wilson in Tappahannock, Va. She passed away on April 15, 2013.

Margaret was a member of Nomini Baptist Church since 1954. She was an integral part of establishing Woodland Academy in Montross, Va. She worked diligently to raise funds to build a brick wall around cemetery at Nomini Baptist Church. She was a hard worker and was devoted to her family.

She is preceded in death by her parents; brother Felix Wilson; and son George Dean Jr.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughter Catherine Dean of Mabank; son Garrett Dean of Charlotte, N.C., and James Dean of Montross, Va.; granddaughter Kelly Dean of Glen Allen, Va.; and grandson George Dean, Jr. of Montross, Va.; and numerous other family and friends.

A memorial service will be held at a later date in Virginia.

Obituary: Madeline ‘Susie’ Dunklin

Madeline 'Susie' Dunklin
Madeline ‘Susie’ Dunklin

Services for Madeline “Susie” Dunklin, 99, Frankston are scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday, April 18, 2013 in Carroll-Lehr Funeral Chapel with Rev. George Folmar officiating.

Burial will follow in Myrtle Springs Cemetery in LaRue.

Mrs. Dunklin died April 15, 2013 in Athens.

She was born July 28, 1913 in Henderson County to the late David Franklin and Pearl Rivers Masters Walker. Mrs. Dunklin had been a resident of Frankston 70 years and was a member of First United Methodist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband William Lloyd Dunklin in 1990; son Larry Dunklin; daughter Barbara Holt; grandson, Stephen Lookabaugh; five brothers and four sisters.

Survivors include her sons James Dunklin, Conroe, John F. Dunklin, Cross Roads; daughters Doris Belcher, Martha Clark and husband Bill, Judy Lookabaugh and husband Kenneth, all of Athens; daughter-in-law Sherry Dunklin, Frankston; brother-in-law Kenneth Dunklin and wife Lillian, Frankston; 15 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, 14 great-great-grandchildren.

Great-grandsons will serve as pallbearers.

Grandsons will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Visitation for family and friends will be 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

If desired, memorials may be made to Carroll-Springs United Methodist Church Building Fund, 5885 CR 4604, Athens, Texas 75752.

You may leave a message of condolence or light a memorial candle for the family at www.carroll-lehr.com.

Obituary: Margaret Braddy

Memorial services for Magaret Braddy, 80, of Athens are scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday, April 18, 2013 at the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home Chapel with a private family burial at the Houston National Cemetery in Houston.

She passed away Tuesday, April 16, 2013 in Tyler.

Margaret Lucille Braddy was born Feb. 22, 1933 in San Antonio the daughter of George Tillman Cleveland and Althea Moon Cleveland. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Athens and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She enjoyed floral design, crafts and working with stained glass. She loved playing cards. “Granny” was a loving mother, grandmother, sister and will be greatly missed by all those who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband Horace L. Braddy Sr.; and one son, Lyle Braddy.

She is survived by three daughters, Elizabeth Voss and husband Gene of Seven Points, Bonnie Oberg and husband John of Athens, Melissa Moon of Dallas; one son, Horace L. Braddy Jr. of Acton, Texas; one brother, George Cleveland of San Antonio; nine grandchildren, Rebecca Wilder, Crystal Kiser, Shea Braddy, Trey Braddy, Ethan Braddy, Debbie Thacker, Randy Thacker, Jeanette Voss, Sandra Voss; 14 great-grandchildren, Xavier, Curley, Gavin, Aubrey, Robert, Summer, Christian, Crissy, Richard, Gea, John, Elizabeth, Chelsea, Shalee; and three great-great-grandchildren, Brendan, Joey and Aries.