Posts About Memory Lane

Few people have left such a lasting legacy at the THC as Anice Barber Read. Appointed to the THC in 1969 by Gov. John Connally, she served as a commissioner for seven years before accepting a staff position. She founded our Texas Main Street Program in 1981, then founded both the Texas Downtown Association and Preservation Texas in 1985. In 1996, Gov. George W. Bush proclaimed our Christianson...

Preservation Profiles | Memory Lane

Claire Williams was employed by the THC from 1974–1982 in the historical marker program. She later spent 17 years as a volunteer and staff person with Habitat for Humanity in Georgia and Virginia. Married to Steve Martindale, Claire now works at her “retirement job” as office manager for two clinical psychologists.

During her tenure, she wrote this compelling presentation about the...

Preservation Profiles | Memory Lane

As a two-term commissioner from 1995–2007, Jane Cook Barnhill was also Vice Chair of the THC. She currently serves on the Texas State History Museum Foundation board, the University of Texas College of Education Advisory Council, the Friends of the Texas Historical Commission, and the Nau Center for Texas Cultural Heritage board. She is past president of the Friends of the Texas...

Preservation Profiles | Memory Lane

John Nau became a member of the Texas Historical Commission in 1993, and served as chairman from 1995–2009. He is president and CEO of Silver Eagle Distributors, the largest distributor of Anheuser-Busch products in the U.S., as well as founder and president of The Nau Foundation. Nau’s interest in history and historic preservation is strong. He has served as a board member for...

Preservation Profiles | Memory Lane

As a THC historian from 2007–11, Rachel Leibowitz assisted the public in the research and writing of nominations to the National Register of Historic Places, as well as reviewed federal and state projects in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and the Texas Antiquities Code. She has since returned to her home state of Illinois, where she is the Deputy...

Preservation Profiles | Memory Lane

Cindy Laguna Dally was hired in May 1984 as an administrative assistant for the THC’s Texas Main Street Program, directed by Anice Read. In January 1985, she became the executive assistant to former THC Executive Director Curtis Tunnell. She left the agency in July 1995. 

My position enabled me to receive the best education ever because I had the privilege to work with extremely...

Preservation Profiles | Memory Lane

Chay Runnels was the first coordinator of the Texas Forest Trail Region, a position she held from 2000–05. She remains active with the organization as a current member and past president of its board of directors. She is now an assistant professor in the Hospitality Administration at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches.

"One of my favorite memories as the Texas...

Preservation Profiles | Memory Lane

Lisa Perini was the first coordinator of the Texas Forts Trail Region, which at the time was a THC pilot project to expand the Texas Travel Trails of the 1960s into a region-focused, statewide heritage tourism initiative. She was regional coordinator for the pilot project, from 1998–2000, when she left to join husband Tom Perini (now a THC Commissioner) in the family business—Perini Ranch...

Preservation Profiles | Memory Lane

Cassie Bennett interned and volunteered a few times at our Sam Rayburn House Museum State Historic Site (SRHM). After graduating from Bonham High School in 2006, she volunteered 12 hours a week during the summer. She returned the following summer as an intern and earned course credit at Stephen F. Austin State University. Over winter break in 2008–09, she returned again as a volunteer...

Preservation Profiles | Memory Lane

Kendall Milton worked as a Collections Intern at our Sam Rayburn House Museum State Historic Site in Bonham during June and July 2006. She is currently an administrative coordinator and office manager at a custom framing and art display services shop in Houston that works with private collectors, galleries, and museums to archivally frame and display artwork and artifacts.

"One...

Preservation Profiles | Memory Lane