THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
By Dr. R. Lee Rode
As the years have passed, the Texas
Historical Foundation has served Texans
in many positive ways. It all started in the
early 1960s when preservation-minded
people including Shirley Caldwell and the
late Lee Lawrence saw the need for an
organization that would focus on saving
the rich heritage of this state so that it
could be enjoyed by future generations.
Since that time the Texas Historical
Foundation has contributed greatly to Texas
research and preservation through its activities,
grants program, and HERITAGE
magazine.
Moving from those early days of the
organization to the present, we all owe
immediate past president John B. Meadows
of Austin a show of gratitude for taking
the reins from yesterday's leaders and successfully
guiding our path during the last
four years. His service and dedication has made the rest of the
members of the Board of Directors work harder to reach the
organization's goals. Fortunately for all of us, John will remain on
the Board to offer his guidance as chairman of the group and as a
member of several important committees.
My selection as president by the Board of Directors of the
Foundation is a great honor. I will do my best to serve the entire
membership, but please keep in mind that the Board is here to serve
you and your area of the state in its historical preservation endeavors.
Please feel free to contact me through the Foundation office if
you have any questions, ideas, or special suggestions to help the
organization.
Working together is the key to achieving our collective preservation
goals. I ask for your assistance as we attempt to widen our
membership base. If you know someone interested in historical
preservation, please tell them of the good work of the Texas
Historical Foundation. Membership dues help support historical
preservation projects across the state, and
each issue of HERITAGE magazine includes
a section that reports on recent
grant projects in detail.
Speaking of the Foundation's grant program,
I would like to take this opportunity
t o report that we have nearly achieved our
goal of raising $20,000 that will be graciously
matched by Charles and Sarah
Meadows Seay of Dallas. We are currently
only $3,000 short of our goal, so if you've
been waiting to send in your gift, now is
definitely the time. Read more about the
Seay Grant on page 22; contributors to the
fund are listed on page 30).
Another ambitious fundraising project
has been scheduled for next year. Look for
more information regarding the THF Auction
that is being planned for September of
1997. John Meadows and Board member
Mike Collins have agreed to chair the Auction Committee, and
preliminary details are available on page 31.
Skipping now from history and the past to technology and the
future, I know you will enjoy this issue of HERITAGE, which
focuses on using computers and other cutting-edge technology in
historical preservation efforts. As you browse through the magazine,
you will find articles on the Historical Commission's new
Atlas computer resource project, the National Center for Preservation
Training and Technology, and an amazing underwater archaeology
project exploring a 1686 Texas shipwreck. All of this is
fascinating information that should provide valuable insight as we
move into the 21st century.
In closing, let me say thank you to the membership for allowing
me to serve you the next two years. I also want you to know that it
is a pleasure to work with the THF Board of Directors who dedicate
so much of their time each year to help preserve Texas history.
God Bless Texas.
4 HERITAGE -FALL 1996
