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“This is a quilt that was made for us. For Joanne and myself. This just depicts the different parts of our life,” Sonny says, gesturing toward a quilt laid atop the neat bed, with different memorabilia in each square. We leave the front room, following him through his home as he bashfully tells us about his life, and shows us the array of achievements that line his walls and stretch throughout a few rooms of the house. “An example of what has been done, or said, or whatever about me,” Sonny says as he waves his arm toward of wall of plaques at his home in Huntsville, Texas. The photographer and I giggle at his funny and disengaged humility. You can tell he has had to talk about himself a handful of times before, and he is not one to enjoy talking about himself. Although he could have declined our offer and saved himself the trouble of dragging out all of his prize belt buckles, he accepted to be interviewed and was as sweet and gracious as they come.

A pioneer of rodeo in Texas, L.N. “Sonny” Sikes is also a Sam Houston State rodeo legend. At 18 years old, he was the first person to compete in a collegiate rodeo for Sam Houston State. While there, he won the first national title, wowing onlookers while making a glorious first impression for the Sam Houston State University Rodeo Team. He went on to compete in roping and steer wrestling throughout his college years, setting the precedent for many successful years afterward. The rodeo program started off strong and has stayed that way, defending their reputable success. Years later, Sonny would be inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame. When asked if he had any idea his career would turn into what it did, Sonny shrugs and responds, “I was just doin’ what I love to do.” He started roping when he was only 2 or 3 years old, taught by his father, L.N. Sikes, Sr., a gifted cowboy and founder of The Paint Horse Association.

Sikes graduated with his B.S. in Agriculture in 1955, going on to obtain his M.A. of Education in Agriculture in 1957. After college, Sonny did some post-grad work at Texas A&M and taught some in Mexia, at the high school he had himself graduated from years before. He returned to SHSU, dedicating 38 years of service to the Department of Agricultural Sciences as a faculty member and rodeo team coach. He was named a Distinguished SHSU Alumni after retiring, one of his life’s proudest achievements.

Sonny Sikes comes from a family of cowboys, having been taught by his father during his childhood years and later going on to learn and practice alongside his father, brother, son, nephew, and son-in-law. Sonny’s brother went on to join the Cutting Horse Hall of Fame and further expand the Sikes’ rodeo legacy. Sonny’s wife Joanne was a huge part of his life and his best friend before she passed in December of 2017. “She was a great little lady. I had her for 65 years; we were married 62 years,” he says fondly of his late wife, voice thick with emotion. Joanne started faculty programs on campus and served on the board of the Methodist church. He credits much of his success and involvement in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) to his wife’s innate ability to keep the show on the road, as she managed the behind-the-scenes in their home office while Sonny served as commissioner of the NIRA. Sonny became involved with them in 1951 while he was a senior in high school, just two years after the association started in ’49. Having won his last saddle when he was 75 years old, Sonny still regularly attends rodeos. The Sikes family’s rodeo legacy is perhaps one of the most distinguished and recognizable in the rodeo world of East Texas. We learn more about this rodeo dynasty in our interview with him.

What rodeo events did you compete in?

Roping and bulldoggin’…steer wrestlin’…whatever you wanna call it. I started roping when I was 2 or 3 years old.

You still go to rodeos every now and then?

Oh, yeah. I’ll take y’all to the barn in a minute; the last saddle I won I was 75 years old (to which we responded, “No wayyyyy!”). The first one I was 18. I went to the first high school rodeo in Halletsville, Texas in 1947—they have them all over the country now. I’ll show you a picture. I got a picture of me roping at the prison rodeo in 1944. You can do the math.

He points to some artwork given to him by a former student, saying its one of his favorites. He then gestures toward a large frame with multiple photos.

This’ll kind of give you an idea of how this started. That’s my mother and daddy….

He continues pointing to different photos in the frame…

My brother…my daddy…that was taken in Boston Garden. My son…my nephew…there’s his daddy, my brother-in-law.

He moves his finger slowly across the glass, above photos of both vintage and recent rodeo scenes in which his family members are shown. Sonny speaks admirably about his parents and family, especially his father, L.N. Sikes, who had a very strong and positive impact on Sonny’s life. His father was a professional horse trainer and a close friend of “the horse whisperer.”

He had a gift that not many people had. He was a great, great horseman. Here’s a deal over here that I was proud of.

We lean in closer to the plaque, reading that the board of regents of the university system signed a resolution on November 20, 1996 to create “Sonny Sikes Day.”

Sonny tells us he used to win a new buckle almost every weekend in rodeos, earning the nickname “Buckles” by acquaintances on campus. Our photographer asks with a laugh, “You probably have a box of belt buckles don’t you?”

Yeah, I do. I got a box of ‘em back there.

This buckle right here [pointing to the one he’s wearing], I won this 65 years ago; I wear it every day. It was the first national title in the NIRA.

We sit down at his kitchen table as he delicately opens an old photo album, different colored faded edges of photos peeking from the sides. He begins sharing the stories and moments behind the photos, offering snippets of the rich history of his rodeo involvement over the years.

Sonny delves into a cabinet and pulls out multiple boxes holding big, shiny belt buckles. He hands us a velvet interior box holding a buckle and says it is his favorite that he’s won over the years. The metallic letters read “1956 National Champion Team,” decorated with gold flowers and rubies, a truly beautiful piece of craftsmanship.

After about 5 minutes, Sonny had pulled out nearly 50 belt buckles from different cabinets and drawers. He told us some of the memories behind winning some of them, and commented that traveling was the hardest part of being a rodeo cowboy before saying, “I’ll stop there.” Some of the buckles we saw read: Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame, Cowboys for Christ, 1988 Team Roping Champion, Rodeo Club Coach, Sam Houston State University Rodeo Team, and many, many more.

From here we move to Sonny’s garage, where he shows us a wall full of tack that he braided himself in his free time. He sells the homemade halters and tack when he attends senior pro rodeos, saying, “It buys a little horse feed.” He shows us some different pieces and explains how a cowboy snap is different from a mechanical snap before taking us over to see his barn.

We walk past three horses grazing, two of which are Sonny’s (one is his nephew’s mare that he is “feeding and boarding” for him, like a sweet grandpa would). Sonny opens up a door leading to his tack room and we follow him in to see saddles, bridles, halters, and every cowboy necessity lining the walls.

He beams talking about his grandkids and tells us about an upcoming Sikes family reunion at his home in Huntsville, where he’s expecting 75-100 of his descendants. “There will be so many people they’ll have to wear nametags,” he says with a slight laugh, almost unable to believe that his patriarchy grew into what it is today. Sonny currently drinks coffee every Monday morning with other SHSU retired Ag faculty. The most rewarding part of his life as a teacher and coach at SHSU was watching his students grow up for the 4-5 years that he had them. Sonny Sikes has created a legacy in the hearts of Sam Houston State University, the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association, and rodeo lovers all over Texas.

Our favorite Sonny Sikes quotes from our interview:

“I like to compete. I like to win.”

“Braggers… I don’t like them. If you can do somethin’, don’t tell me about it, show me.”

“Joanne ran it… I just signed the checks.”

“I can train three horses while you train one kid.”

“A horse will remember the good and the bad.”

“I have lived a great life. No one is luckier than I am.”

The post Do You Know? Sonny Sikes appeared first on Postcards Magazine.

Do You Know? Rissie Owens

Ilexus Williams — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 19:30:32 +0000

Photos by Libby Rogers

Although Rissie Owens “retired” in 2015 after almost three decades of work in the fields of criminal justice and education, she remains an active force. Her diverse professional roles took her across the state of Texas, while providing her with numerous opportunities to serve—opportunities that continue even after retirement. She teaches part-time at Sam Houston State University, serves on the Huntsville Independent School District Board of Trustees, and she and her husband, Ed Owens, continue to be active in the community.

People know you from the Huntsville community and your work for the State of Texas, but where did you grow up?

I grew up in Bryan, Texas, attending Bryan High. I was active, being on student council, class council, Future Teachers, and band. I also attended an alternative school, which was how we could take what it is today called “dual credit,” so I took courses on Texas A&M’s campus as well as at Bryan High School.

You attended SHSU, graduating with a degree in criminal justice. What brought you to SHSU?

I am from a family of educators, and I graduated from high school thinking I would major in education. A cousin of mine graduated with me at Bryan High, and we came to Huntsville to visit SHSU, a visit that resulted in a funny story. I was never good with directions, and we got lost, so we stopped and asked these guys who were doing yardwork. I asked, “How do we get to Sam Houston State University?” One of the guys approached the car, and that prompted a man in a gray uniform to approach us rapidly, yelling at the guy in white to move away from the car. I said, “Joyce, I think we may have done something wrong.” As you may have guessed, we had asked inmates for directions. The correctional officer set us straight, then provided us with directions to campus. Once I got to SHSU, I heard a lot about the CJ program, and after learning more, I switched majors. I thought my mother, who had taught school for 30 years, would be upset, but she wasn’t.

What was your most memorable moment at SHSU?

I have many fond memories from SHSU. I met my husband Ed here. I joined a sorority, Delta Sigma Theta. It was a home away from home for me. I had a sense of a larger family on campus, and I made many friends for life. I think that is what is most memorable: the family feel.

Tell us about your early professional career.

My first job was in Brazos County, as a court coordinator. I wanted to work in probation, but I did not have case management experience. So, I applied and was hired to work as a caseworker with MHMR in Brazos County.

This was the beginning of what Rissie refers to as her “tour of Texas,” a tour that included moving 17 times with her husband Ed, who was originally hired by TDCJ as a correctional officer and worked his way up to Deputy Executive Director. These moves also provided Rissie with diverse professional opportunities.

The caseworker position provided me with case management experience, and it also offered me the skills needed for my next position as mental health coordinator with TDCJ. I then moved to being grievance coordinator in Inmate Grievances, and then to my final position with TDCJ in classification. In 1990, we moved to Galveston, and I worked as a social worker with UTMB. The next year, I accepted a position with the Galveston County Adult Probation Department. During my tenure there, I was a fortunate to supervise a felony caseload, and I also earned my MA degree (at the University of Houston-Clear Lake). In 1993, I moved to Amarillo to serve as a drug prevention specialist in the Amarillo School District. I returned to Huntsville in 1995 and worked as a psychologist in the Huntsville Independent School District. Then, in 1997, I was appointed by then Governor Bush to the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole. I served on the board for 18 years, the first six years as a board member and the last 12 years as the chair. I retired in 2015, and I now serve as an adjunct professor in the College of Criminal Justice at SHSU, as a trainer for New Parole Board Chairs offered by the National Institute of Corrections (NIC), and I also do criminal justice consulting.

As you mentioned, you spent 18 years on the Board of Pardons and Paroles. For the public who may not know much about this entity, can you describe their mission?

The Board’s role is to review offenders eligible for parole in Texas and determine if they should be released. If the offender is released, the Board imposes conditions. For example, if the inmate had problems with substance abuse, then the Board could impose a condition for them to get substance abuse treatment. If the inmate is released and violates parole, then the Board reviews the case again, this time to see if additional conditions can be imposed that might help them become successful citizens. The Board also makes clemency recommendations to the Governor.

What are some factors that might influence the Board to vote for parole?

The Board looks at the seriousness of the offense that was committed, the criminal history of the offender, whether they have previously been paroled, the offender’s behavior while in prison, the offender’s age and length of time since the offense, and also letters that are written in favor (or in opposition to) the release. But each case is individual, and each Board member sees things a bit differently.

What is the difference between serving as a Board member appointed by the Governor and serving as the Chair?

The Chair and the Board members are appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate for six-year terms. The Chair is the administrative head of the agency, which includes approximately 600 employees. The Chair reports to the Governor and is the liaison between the legislature and the agency. Board members are the policy-making body for the agency. There are seven board offices in the state, and the Commissioners and staff in each office report to the Board member. The offices are located in Amarillo, Angleton, Austin, Gatesville, Huntsville, Palestine, and San Antonio.

What are you most proud of during your tenure on the Board?

The Board was grateful to Senator Whitmire and Representative Madden for passing legislation that provided additional funding for treatment programs. This increased the number of inmates who could go to treatment programs and then be released upon successful completion of the program. We saw increased parole approval rates—while also seeing reduced revocation and recidivism rates. The right offenders were being released. In 2009, the Legislature placed approximately 400 institutional parole officers under the Board’s umbrella, and this allowed us to improve the flow of information to voters during the parole review process. And in 2013, we received funds from the legislature to build new offices and hire other state employees in the Palestine and Huntsville areas.

You have mentioned your husband Ed. Tell us more about your family.

Ed is still very active in the community. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, and he is the president of the motorcycle club, “The Street Lords.” They provide toys to families during Christmas, turkeys during Thanksgiving, and school supplies to families that need them. We are members of Family Faith Church. My mother-in-law, Hattye Owens, is a retired teacher. She taught at HISD for 30 years. She and I are both members of Delta Sigma Theta, and our sorority provides Thanksgiving dinner for the elderly and to the Good Shepherd Mission; we do a Toys 4 Tots drive during Christmas; and we host a College Bound seminar.

My son Trey graduated from Huntsville High School in 2005, earned his bachelor of science at SHSU, and earned his MA from the University of St. Thomas. He is the Senior Legislative Aide to Senator John Whitmire.

You also now teach at SHSU. What do you find rewarding about teaching?

I teach two classes in the College of Criminal Justice: Special Offenders with Special Needs, and Legal Aspects of Corrections. My classes typically consist of juniors and seniors, and I do a lot of hands-on activities, because I want them to understand what it is like in the real world. I do a lecture on a topic, then we might have a session where I split them up and they do a PSI, a pre-sentence investigation. They play different roles, such as the offender, the judge, and the probation officer. It helps them learn about the different roles and positions within the criminal justice system. I also invite guest speakers to come to the classroom. These are people I consider to be experts, and it provides students with a different, and I think, valuable perspective. It’s rewarding when students learn, when they understand new things, and when they are able to put new things into practice because of that learning.

You have “retired,” but in addition to teaching at SHSU, you are also on the HISD Board of Trustees. What motivated your involvement there?

I am on the school board because I want to help kids! I am the only HISD Trustee presently serving that did not graduate from Huntsville High School, but “I got here as soon as I could,” and I have lived in this community for more than 20 years. I am very grateful for the staff and teachers in the district that have been here with us through our struggles and have worked and continue to work with our new superintendent, Dr. Shepherd, to improve the district. We want to give every student the best education possible. We owe it to the students to provide a good foundation that will enable them to proceed to the next level.

What advice would you give to students today?

Do your best. My mom was a teacher, and she told me to do my best. I tried to do my best, and often, it was me trying for her. People should set goals, pursue those goals, do their best, and avoid negative thoughts and negative people.

The post Do You Know? Rissie Owens appeared first on Postcards Magazine.

Texas Talent: Elizabeth Crook

Mike Yawn — Tue, 29 May 2018 14:30:03 +0000

Submitted Photos

Elizabeth Crook has lived in Washington, DC and even Australia, but she is “rooted in Texas,” having lived in San Marcos, Nacogdoches, and now Austin. She’s written five novels, all of which are set in Texas or the west, and she won the 2015 Jesse Jones Award for Fiction from the Texas Institute of Letters. But her writing ability has helped her transcend regional labels—indeed, The New York Times praised her “marvelous dexterity with language;” Kirkus describes her writing as “confident and lyrical”; and Robert Duvall called her latest work, The Which Way Tree, a “beautiful novel with wonderful characters.”

Photo by Kenny Braun

Discuss your upbringing, which spanned from Texas to Australia.

My parents were living in Nacogdoches when I was born, but I was actually born in Houston. At the time, my father was a minister of a Catholic Church in Nacogdoches, but he resigned to run for Congress on a civil-rights platform. Of course, he lost. That same year, he took a job at the San Marcos Academy, and I was one-year old when we moved there. President Johnson then appointed my dad to a couple of positions in his administration, which prompted us to move to Virginia and then Australia, where my father served as Ambassador. When Nixon won the 1968 election, Johnson’s political appointees were out of a job, so we came back to San Marcos, where I finished elementary, junior high, and high school. For college, I went to Baylor for two years, then transferred to Rice, where I graduated.

Was there a culture shock going from Texas to the Virginia/DC area, then to Australia?

I did fine from San Marcos to Virginia, but Australia was a big stretch for me. In the latter case, we went from having a regular life to living in the embassy residence with a lot of staff. I felt the weight of needing to be on good behavior all the time, of representing not only our family well, but also our country! We were kids, but we were aware of that responsibility. I remember having to be in photographs quite often, and wanting to get away from people. But while these things were at times unpleasant for a young child, they were good experiences. I believe it helped me grow up, and I think all challenging experiences that aren’t destructive are probably good for us. I look back on it as a whole different culture. I went to the Cambridge Church of England Girls Grammar School, and each morning we pledged allegiance to the Queen. It was disorienting.

Did you meet President Lyndon Johnson?

I did meet him, on several occasions. I remember being tongue-tied. He walked into the room, and the center of gravity shifted. He was sure of himself, and I was aware of that even as a child, when I wasn’t sure of myself. I was in awe of him. And Mrs. Johnson was so kind. I got close to her later in her life, and she attended some of my book events and bought my books. When her eyesight began to fail, she would get the books on audio and listen to those. She was a very warm person.

Speaking of first ladies, your first book break came, in part, because of Jackie Kennedy Onassis. How did that happen?

After I got out of Rice, I began writing what became The Raven’s Bride. But I didn’t know what I was doing, so it took a lot of drafts. It was accepted by Texas Monthly Press, and I was going to publish my first novel! Unfortunately, they were sold before it came out, so I was without a publisher again. Thankfully, Bill Moyers had read it, and he offered to send it to Jackie Onassis, and she called me and said she said she liked it and that Doubleday would like to buy it! She was lovely to me. She was a good editor; she read everything herself; looked over things thoroughly; she marked things up, and made the appropriate changes. She worked with me on my second book, Promised Lands, too. In fact, if I remember correctly, she passed away on the day it was published.

There’s a literary connection there. Your novel The Raven’s Bride was about Sam Houston, and there’s a chapter on him in President Kennedy’s book, Profiles in Courage. Do you think she made that connection?

I think Sam Houston is a figure she knew and respected, at least in part based on Kennedy’s work in that book. And that may have contributed to her positive feeling about the characters. But I don’t know how much, if any, that it played a role.

What attracted you to Sam Houston and Eliza Allen as subjects for your very first novel?

I told my dad I wanted to write about a woman who had been overlooked in history, and he had just finished reading The Raven by Marquis James. My dad said Houston had married an “enigmatic woman;” from there, it was just compulsive research on my part. Who was she? Why did she leave? It was easy to get information on Sam Houston, but there isn’t much out there on Eliza, and when you are writing about them, you feel the presence that they are sort of looking over your shoulder as you write. It requires you to presume you can know things, and I don’t know that I would try that again, but I think I came pretty close to the truth in the novel.

The central mystery of their marriage is why it dissolved after so brief a time. What do you think the truth of it was?

I think she did not love him. I think it was kind of an arranged situation she was pressured into. She was in love with someone else. Sam Houston began to realize this more and more from her coldness to him, and he was heartbroken. He was genuinely devastated, emotionally and politically.

He later married Margaret. Do you think she changed him?

I think it’s hard to intrinsically change someone, but I think she might have reformed his behavior. He changed the way he lived because of Margaret, but I honestly don’t think he changed who he was.

Where did you go to research the novel?

I went to Tennessee, where they would have lived when they were married, and I did a lot of on-the-ground research. I found her relatives’ gravestones, the site of their home. I also came to Huntsville, and I visited the wonderful Sam Houston Memorial Museum. Today, you can find a lot of information on the internet, but that wasn’t true back then. Before the internet, it was like a treasure hunt to go out and look for the information you needed, and readers knew what went into that, and I think they appreciated that you took the time to get it correct. It was their introduction to that world. Today, much of the information can be found on the internet, and I think readers are less appreciative of that kind of description. It has changed what is valued in historical fiction.

How do you combine real life and imagination to produce characters?

I think readers often wonder where characters come from. They are often a compilation of people I know, but it would be boring to write about myself. There’s the adage of “write what you know,” and I do that for the setting and the history. I write about places and times that I know well, but I don’t need to be someone to create that character. I want imagination to be part of it.

Your current novel, The Which Way Tree, has a lot of humor in it. At times, it reminded me of the southern humor of Mark Twain.

Thank you for saying that. I wasn’t thinking of Twain when I wrote this, and it’s been a very long time since I have read him. But I tried to capture a voice that was true to the period of the mid-to-late 19th century, and I did that by reading a lot of first-hand accounts from that time. I did try to incorporate humor; I laughed when I wrote it! I’m not sure if it’s my family sense of humor or a Texas sense of humor, but I wanted others to think of it as funny.

Speaking of Texas, you are often described as a Texas or a Western writer. What does that mean to you?

Previously, I tended to rebel against that description, because I think it makes you a regional writer. But I now appreciate it, and I feel it gives me a sense of place. I’m most comfortable in this terrain—I tend to be pretty rooted in Texas. I like it here. I know the place. I wouldn’t want to write about a place that I hadn’t been and spent significant time in, because I wouldn’t have a true sense of it. Texas just keeps popping up in my mind when I think about what to write next.

I read that one of your inspirations was country music.

I love country music. I grew up in San Marcos, home of the Chilympiad. In high school, we would go to Gruene Hall, listen to live music and dance. I don’t have a chance to listen to as much live music as I used to, but I still listen on the radio. I love Jerry Jeff Walker and Willie Nelson. Those are really my two favorites, when I just want to sit and listen.

It’s hard to get more Texas than Jerry Jeff Walker, Willie Nelson, and Gruene Hall.

Texas is home for me. I grew up here. I think it’s familiarity—it’s knowing the people here, and really liking Texans.

The post Texas Talent: Elizabeth Crook appeared first on Postcards Magazine.

Business Focus: Farris Insurance

Claudia Kirkwood — Thu, 27 Apr 2017 12:35:12 +0000

Photos by Libby Rogers

There are many activities one can perform while seated in a saddle: racing, roping, and cutting, to name just a few. Ask Mike Farris of Farris Insurance what one can do while seated on a well-worn and beloved saddle, and he will say, “Study the insurance business,” which is exactly what he was doing when representatives from Germania arrived to interview him 21 years ago. This time, though, the saddle happened to be perched on a stand in the corner of his office instead of thrown over the back of a horse! Having been around horses all his life, this is where he felt the most comfortable.

Prior to this time, Mike trained horses for a living, but in 1994 he realized that a better income was needed. He obtained a job with the local Farm Bureau; this is where he got his license and started his book of business. Eventually, he decided to go out on his own. In 1996, with a $3000 loan from his parents Jimmy and Carolyn Farris, a 10X10 office space in the Trin Elm building in Madisonville, (loaned to him by Mr. and Mrs. John Hardy), and an empty file cabinet, he started his “ride down the insurance trail.” You would have found him on many occasions dressed in his customary hat, jeans, and boots, in his office saddle, learning all he could about this newly chosen career. As he said, “Failing was not an option!”

In October 1996, he was appointed with Germania Insurance and has sold for them since. The relationship has fit well with his self-proclaimed “redneck” image. Germania is tailored toward the average American family living in rural areas. It is a Texas company, with 13 districts throughout the state. Madisonville is in the Central Texas district.

Mike eventually moved his business to a new location within the city, and Farris Insurance was now in a bigger building, with three additional employees, and file cabinets brimming with folders representing the many loyal clients with whom Mike had built solid relationships over the years. Eventually, he stepped out of the daily leadership role and bestowed that responsibility upon his very capable daughter Reygan, who excelled in this role quickly, having been involved with the family business throughout her high school and college years. Graduating from Texas A&M in 2010 with a BA in Communications, Reygan brought her technology expertise to the business, keeping Farris Insurance up-to-date with the latest business trends. As Mike proudly boasts, “She’s my tech!”

Left to Right: Reygan, Mike, Cindy, Clara, and Bo

Reygan has broadened the scope of Farris Insurance by growing their book of business for three of their other carriers, Progressive, Foremost, and Gainsco, and finding coverage for commercial risks through Germania General Agency and Texas All Risk as well. This allows them to offer services to a greater variety of people.

Out of all the companies they are appointed with, Germania, in business since 1896, offers the most comprehensive home coverage for those who qualify, and has the best customer and claims service. It offers an “open perils” policy which covers all risks, except those that are specifically excluded. It is the largest farm mutual insurance company in Texas and offers most types of insurance coverage, including commercial policies through its newly formed general agency. The only insurance not offered is health coverage.

Auto insurance is offered by all four carriers. Germania can consistently offer the most competitive rates on auto due to their stricter underwriting guidelines. For clients who do not meet Germania’s criteria, Progressive is a suitable alternative because of their ability to accept higher risk drivers.

Reygan was appointed by Germania during her time as a college student and has sold for them for almost 10 years now. She cares about her customers. “Whenever we can help someone who is struggling to understand their policy, or take care of them in a claims situation, or find a way to save them $1000 a year, it gives us great personal satisfaction to know that we made a difference.”

Farris Insurance has a high customer retention rate, a fact they are proud of. “We found good clients who have been loyal,” Mike states. “When I began the business, I hand-picked good clientele and have worked hard to gain their trust and confidence.” Reygan points to the fact that they have earned Germania’s Property and Casualty Texas Star award for the last 2 years. “This award signifies that we have the best performance rate in our district. Not that we are the largest agency, but that we grew and retained customers while also maintaining a low claims rate,” she states.

Located next door to their current office is the first stand alone building that housed Mike’s agency. Business growth soon required larger quarters.

Farris Insurance serves Madisonville, Huntsville, and surrounding areas. They do business statewide, but prefer to keep it more locally based so that they can offer personal service and a quick response when needed. They also work hard to maintain good relationships with other agencies in town. “There is good comradery among local agents. When someone calls for a quote to compare with their current coverage, if it is the same or close to what they currently have, we encourage them to stay where they are. We appreciate loyal customers, too,” states Reygan. “Our goal is not to take customers away from other businesses, but to provide the best coverage available and serve their needs as quickly as possible.”

Reygan laughed when she discovered just how closely her business practices mirrored her father’s. “When I first began, I would drive by homes and write down the addresses of those that looked to be a good fit for us, then would go to the tax rolls to find the owners’ names and send letters. I found out that my dad did the same thing when he started!” Growth has taken place mostly through word of mouth, along with treating their customers with care. “We start with grandpa and grandma, then their kids, grandkids, and first cousins, and on and on it goes,” muses Mike. “If you keep them happy, your file cabinet stays full. Otherwise, it can empty fast! We like to keep ours full of satisfied customers!”

Mike is king at socializing, and now that he is not office-bound each day, he stays busy visiting around town, or working at the family ranch where they raise cattle, show cutting horses, and produce pecans that are sold to area wholesalers. And while he is busy at the ranch, Reygan Farris Richardson, Cindy Starns, and Clara Kelly are hard at work to meet the insurance needs of their neighbors and friends. It is not unusual for someone to walk in and ask, “Is this the office that has the guy in the cowboy hat?” And once they look around and spot the saddle in the corner of the room, they know they have arrived at the place where good rates meet service and integrity with good old country charm!

Farris Insurance is located at 602 S. Madison Street in Madisonville. They encourage you to call them at (936) 348-2302, visit their website at www.farris-insurance.com, or come by for a friendly visit. You may be met at the door by their office “mascot,” a cute little cowboy named Bo! He will get you to the right person to meet your needs!

The post Business Focus: Farris Insurance appeared first on Postcards Magazine.

Texas Treasures: Greenberg Smoked Turkeys

Postcards Magazine — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 19:38:57 +0000

Sam Greenberg, President

Photos by Karen Altom

As I was growing up, nothing signaled the coming of the holidays more than the arrival of a simple, white rectangular box shipped from Tyler, Texas, emblazoned with a red turkey and the words “The Holiday Aristocrat” on its side. This box released a smoky smell of goodness that made your mouth water in anticipation. Always for Thanksgiving, and sometimes for Christmas as well, the Stevens house was guaranteed to have a Greenberg Smoked Turkey gracing the table.

Because I was unable to remember a holiday season when that box did not arrive, I asked my mom Betty how long we had been getting these delectable birds and who introduced us. She said that we started getting them as gifts from both Mr. Tommy Shine and Mr. William Forrest when she and Daddy moved back to Madison County. During our conversation, we realized that this year is a milestone and will mark the 50th year our family has enjoyed the offerings of the Greenberg Smoked Turkey Company.

When I called to set up an interview, I was told I’d need to speak to Sam. My assumption was that Sam was probably the marketing or PR director…not so. Sam is Mr. Greenberg, one of the nicest, most congenial men I’ve had the opportunity to meet, and also President of Greenberg Smoked Turkey, Inc. After a few minutes of chatting on the phone like old friends, we set an appointment for me to visit him in Tyler.

The building that houses Greenberg Smoked Turkey is a non-descript green cinderblock plant with a small round sign near the road bearing the distinctive red turkey. Entering the plant, you are immediately overtaken by the distinctive hickory smoke smell that is the hallmark of Greenberg. Sam Greenberg, just as comfortable and friendly in person as he was on the phone, invites me on a tour of the plant.

Our first stop (after the obligatory hair net) is the thawing and trimming room for all the turkeys that will be processed tomorrow. According to Sam, “We basically buy turkeys just like you would in the grocery store, just in much larger quantities.” In this room, the birds are thawed overnight in cold running water. Once thawed, they start the magic. Here, a long line of employees tends to the birds by hand, just like Sam’s grandfather did originally. One employee trims the wings from the birds. When I asked why, Sam tells me that they will shrivel up in the smoking process, and there’s no need for customers to pay for weight they can’t eat. He said, “We trim the stuff the customers don’t want. You don’t want the fat, excess skin, and stuff like that.” On down the line, another group of employees is cutting the slits in the bird where Greenberg’s famous secret peppery spices go. “That’s the magic, and these ladies are applying it,” says Sam. Once complete, this group of turkeys will be ready to go to the smokehouse.

Greenberg starts smoking turkeys at the end of September, with orders usually rolling in by the 10th of November. According to Sam, the true season starts when the annual Greenberg letters go out, which is historically the day after Columbus Day. Our next stop – the smokehouses.

The Greenberg plant has 20 smokehouses, some dating back to the late 40s and early 50s. “We’re not really sure when my dad rebuilt the plant. This was all a dairy barn originally – that’s how he started. It was just a by-product of his father doing it, so my dad started doing it for friends and family and other people. We aren’t sure of the exact date, but on Christmas Eve either 1949 or 1950, there was a fire that wiped it out. Dad rebuilt 10 brick smokehouses with a fire below and with pipes on the ceiling. They hang the turkeys on meat hooks on the pipes, roll the fires in, and that’s how they do it. Each turkey is smoked about 18 hours.” At this point, Sam opens the door behind the smokehouses and a billow of smoke rolls out to greet us. (I am acutely aware that I will carry the Greenberg hickory smoke smell with me the remainder of the day.) “Here are some of the fires,” says Sam, “There are three fires in each house below us. Each house has a screen floor where you can walk out to hang the turkeys or take them down, and the fires are underneath that.” Each turkey is cooked with only the heat and the smoke from these hickory fires.

Once the turkeys leave the smokehouse, they are hung on racks and taken for the chill down process. The chilled turkeys are then taken down, placed in a bag, weighed, and boxed – about 2,500 per day. According to Sam, there are about 2,500 turkeys in each step of the process every day. The chilling room where these are hanging remind me of the first Greenberg Turkey I remember seeing as it came out of the box. I told Sam that I truly thought it was burned. He laughs and tells me I’m not the first person to think so. “Some people who get them for the first time are surprised by the dark color. There was one lady from Dallas who called me and said, ‘Mr. Greenberg, it’s all burned up! I can’t serve this!’ I told her, ‘You try it, and if you’re not happy with it, call me back and let me know.’ About 30 minutes later, she called back and told me we needed to send her another one. They had eaten the first one all up!”

The boxed turkeys are sorted according to size, and what doesn’t sell out the front door is frozen and then held until shipping. According to Sam, as they get closer to Thanksgiving and Christmas, they’ll have 2,000 to 3,000 go out the front door daily, in addition to up to as many as twenty six thousand being shipped per day.

At this point, we pass the only equipment for the plant – a machine that makes the boxes the turkeys are shipped in. In today’s technological age, it’s hard to believe that a company that sells 200,000 turkeys in just a few months isn’t automated. However, it takes only a few minutes of talking to Sam Greenberg to realize that they are committed to doing things the way they’ve always been done. We stop by the mail room where the annual October mailing is being prepared, and I’m introduced to Sam’s nephew, who oversees the mail house aspect of the family business.

Sam’s grandfather originally began smoking the turkeys for family and friends out of his dairy barn, but it was his father Zelick who officially started the business. “Seventy-seven years ago, my father got a call from a man in Dallas who wanted six turkeys. Dad smoked them for him, put them on a train to Dallas and that’s when he said he got into the mail order business.” Today, Greenberg employs 14 people full-time, with that number swelling to around 200 during the holiday season. “I have the greatest people working for me. I can’t answer every phone call or write every order. The people boxing and bagging our turkeys do it like they are going to put them on their tables. Our guideline is, ‘If we wouldn’t put it on our table, it doesn’t go in a box.’ I don’t have a bunch of automated equipment. I have people looking at those turkeys to make sure they’re right. In fact, each turkey goes through about 20 people before it gets to our customer. I never forget how unique this business is – we do in 3 months what everyone else does in 12. I’m a stickler on details and not changing. I want the box you remember coming into your house to be the same ones your kids remember, too. Whether it’s the box, the bag, or the taste – I don’t want a thing to change. I don’t want to be the new Coke® and have everybody go, ‘What did he do?’ One of my nightmares would be for someone to say, ‘He changed it.’ I don’t want that to be me.”

Greenberg Smoked Turkeys are shipped to all 50 states and are loved by senators, congressmen, governors, sports stars, and celebrities. In fact, Oprah Winfrey listed Greenberg Turkeys as one of her favorite things. The year Greenberg was featured on her show, they got 22,000 new customers in two weeks. Most of Greenberg’s customers are regular families, just like yours and mine. I shared with Sam that I had asked my own children what they thought of when I said Greenberg Smoked Turkey. Son Marshall said, “It’s not Thanksgiving without it.” Daughter Abby answered, “Aunt Rebecca.” According to Abby, Rebecca started carving our family turkey a few years ago to keep my three brothers out of it, so more of it would make it to the dinner table. (We girls don’t sneak as many bites as they do!) Sam laughed and said that’s what he wants people to think of when they think of Greenberg—family. Said Sam, “I honestly feel like we have the best product in the world, and I guarantee I’ll make you happy.”

From the Stevens and Altom families to yours, thank you to Sam and the Greenberg family for making us very happy for 50 years. You are a true Texas treasure.

Contact Information:
(903) 595-0725
gobblegobble.com

The post Texas Treasures: Greenberg Smoked Turkeys appeared first on Postcards Magazine.

Community Builders: Huntsville Public Library

Ruth Fields — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 16:45:40 +0000

Back row (left to right): Ashley Newsome, Anne Sparks, Kristin Sion, Mary Kokot, Riyn Williams
Front row (Left to Right): Rachel McPhail, Toni Herrington

Photos by Kelly Sue Photography

Not Your Grandmother’s Library

Forget being told “Shhhhh!” by frumpy librarians. Don’t worry about being reprimanded to check the card catalog before asking for assistance. And discard the notion that libraries have nothing but books. Huntsville Public Library, now in its sprawling 20,000 square foot facility, boasts a helpful, well-educated staff and a dazzling array of services, including computer classes, one-on-one literacy tutoring, genealogy classes, borrowable DVDs, movie nights for children, and even tai chi lessons.

“I think there are people who think the library is just books,” says Anne Sparks, assistant city librarian, who holds two master’s degrees, including a Master’s in Library and Information Science from the University of Texas at Austin. “Public libraries, especially, have to reinvent themselves because there is so much online. Everything is ‘google this’ and ‘google that.’ Libraries have to go outside the box and show that we are still relevant.”

For example, in this never-ending quest for relevancy and self-improvement, Mary Kokot, who oversees the library’s adult services, has created a popular brown bag lunch series. Each month, the library invites a professor from Sam Houston State University to lecture during a long lunch hour. Other adult programs include classes designed to help immigrants pass the naturalized citizenship exam, and workshops for those who are seeking financial aid for higher education through FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).

Many residents who are interested in genealogy have found that the Huntsville Public Library can provide incalculable help. A weekly genealogy class has an enrollment of about 30 amateur genealogists, but Johnnie Jo Sowell Dickenson, a volunteer who heads the library’s genealogy program, says she wishes more people knew about what the library offers. “We are a vital part of this library, and people don’t know it,” she says. “We are a hidden treasure.”

Although Johnnie Jo acknowledges that much genealogical research can be done online, she cautions against total reliance on the internet. “What you find on the internet, you prove for yourself, because there’s a lot of false information on the internet,” she says. Furthermore, internet findings can be incomplete. Instead of posting actual copies of documents, such as wills, genealogical web sites often post abbreviated transcriptions that include only what was important to the original researcher. These items may not be the most relevant facts to others.

Johnnie Jo is not the only volunteer at the library. A cadre of faithful library volunteers performs a variety of helpful services, including free one-on-one literacy tutoring for those who struggle with basic reading skills, including those who are learning to speak English. “We rely on volunteers from the community to be our tutors,” Mary says, “We just ask that they give two hours a week.” The library also offers group literacy classes, including classes in English as a second language.

Ashley Newsome, the library’s technology coordinator, oversees the library’s vast computer network. She ensures that the library’s computer system is functioning properly, while also offering free computer classes to library cardholders. Classes meet on Tuesdays and Fridays from 10 until 11 a.m., and evening classes will be added in January. One class is taught per session, rotating through instruction in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint; there is also a beginner class for those who are just venturing into the realm of computer technology. In addition, Ashley provides one-on-one help to patrons who utilize the library’s computer lab. Common questions are “How do I print this?” (it varies, depending on what is being printed) and “Is it safe to order something from this website?” (yes, if there is a green lock icon immediately to the left of the web address).

Other members of the library staff entertain questions as well. Common questions include those about genealogy, literature, and favorite authors. In addition, library staff members are often asked for help with finding jobs and for assistance with school projects. If librarians aren’t able to answer a question, Anne says, they promise to find someone who can. “Every day somebody needs something new and different,” she says. “It’s always a challenge, and it’s very rewarding to be able to provide that—and that’s the most fantastic thing about being a librarian.”

A 21^st Century Library

The Huntsville Public Library has proudly evolved with technology, and the staff now embraces its use. Gone are the days when overdue books silently racked up late fines. The library kindly e-mails reminders to cardholders who have books that will be due the next day, and books may be renewed online. Library cardholders can receive e-mail newsletters about upcoming library events, or can follow the library via its website (myhuntsvillelibrary.com), Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The library even has instructional videos on YouTube, and live chat may be available on the library’s website in the future.

Although the Huntsville Public Library boasts thousands of printed books, it also offers audio books and OverDrive, a service that provides e-books that can be downloaded to e-book readers. “You don’t have to come to the library,” says Linda Dodson, city librarian. “You just have to have a library card.” Linda, who holds a master’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin in Library and Information Science, has worked at the Huntsville Public Library for 14 years. She helped ease the library through the upheaval of its expansion from 7,000 to 20,000 square feet in 2012. “I’ll bet we moved each book five or six times before it was over,” she says.

Another technological adaptation allows cardholders to use a smart phone app if they don’t have their traditional library cards handy. In addition, patrons can now use PayPal to pay for purchases, such as the cost of copying documents. PayPal can also be used to pay for books in the library’s ongoing used book sale, which raises money to purchase books, audio books, DVDs and other library equipment. “Linda is always looking for ways to improve and ways to help the customer,” Anne says.

In addition, the library subscribes to many shared databases, including one that offers Pronunciator, which has effectively helped people learn over 80 languages. It is available to library cardholders at no cost. “Sign up the first time at the library, and then you can use it anywhere,” Anne says.

The Vital Children’s Section

Many patrons first learn about the Huntsville Public Library’s extensive services when they visit with their children. “If you get the parents in, you have not only gained children for life, but you have gained parents as well,” Anne says. In this endeavor, the library relies on Rachel McPhail, children’s coordinator, who holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Texas A&M University and plans to pursue a master’s degree in library science in the future.

“She’s nothing short of a phenomenon. She’s brilliant. She thinks so far outside the box to get children in for programming,” Anne says. “It goes beyond story time to make the books come alive for the kids. If you do things that interest them, they will become lifelong readers. I don’t think reading should be boring. They should find it a fun part of daily life.”

“I’ve always liked books,” Rachel says. “If there was a job where you could read for a living, I would probably have it.” Ideas for innovative children’s programs come to Rachel simply by listening to children and paying attention to current events. “If you do the same thing every year,” she says, “it’s boring.”

Among the programs in the children’s department are the annual Teddy Bear Tea and Jedi Academy, a class where children (and adults) can make objects utilizing a 3D printer, and the Cinderella Ball, which will be held on November 4. Participants can dress as their favorite prince or princess, have their photos made in a pumpkin carriage or while wearing a tiara, all while listening to music from a live orchestra. (The Cinderella Ball is limited to 120 participants. Online registration is available at myhuntsvillelibrary.com.)

Another popular program, Read with the Dogs, is held on the third Monday of every month. To facilitate this program, the library partners with Huntsville Pets Helping People, which provides canine listeners for struggling readers. Children read to dogs in private cubicles, where they can practice reading orally without ridicule. “Dogs are non-judgmental,” Anne says.

The second Friday of every month is the children’s department’s Family Movie Night, which includes complimentary popcorn and drinks. This activity is free, and there is no need to sign up in advance. Ice Age 5 will be featured on November 11, with Finding Dory on December 9 and Secret Life of Pets on January 13.

For many, the best part about the Huntsville Public Library is that its services are all free. Even the library card itself—unless it is a replacement for a lost card, which costs $1—is available at no cost. “I would love,” Anne says, “to see every single person in Huntsville have a library card.”

myhuntsvillelibrary.com

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