Lunch Break Special - Please
Note: There will be no LBS in January
Tuesday, February 2
Noon at the Museum
Speaker: Claude G. “Ben” Bennett
The Museum is proud to present Retired Air Force Chief
Master Sergeant Claude G. “Ben” Bennett who will talk about
the most expensive air crash in military history, that of the U-2 Blackbird
in 1980. Recently de-classified, this information comes from first-hand
knowledge as Bennett’s department, the Airborne Special Systems,
controlled the aircraft from the ground.
Bennett’s careers, both military and civilian,
have been involved with aviation. He spent 23 years in the Air Force
and his duties included being Superintendent of Airborne Special Systems
and an airborne crew member of Special Operations/Intelligence/ Communications.
Following his retirement in 1984, he was a Senior Systems Engineer with
Lockheed in California until 1989 after which he came to E-Systems/Raytheon
in Greenville where he served in several engineering capacities until
retiring as Director of Ground and Airborne Test and Field Engineering
in 2000. Following his retirement from his second career, Bennett served
as a consultant at L-3 Commun-ications (E-Systems/Raytheon) until last
year; now he is a self-employed consultant.
Bennett holds a master’s degree in Organizational
Management, bachelor’s degrees in science, math and Far East/
Middle East philosophy, and associate degrees in science and biology.
If you would like to order a sandwich, please call
the Museum at 903-450-4502 by 10:00 on February 2. As always, you are
welcome to bring your own lunch.
Sponsors for February’s LBS are John Hanners and
Jack Gray.
Movie Night
Saturday, February 27
6 p.m. at the Museum
Free!
Ride Clear of Diablo starring Audie
Murphy
When his father and brother are killed by a murderous
gang of cattle rustlers, railroad surveyor Clay O'Mara (Murphy) heads
for the territories in search of vengeance. Along the way, he forges
an uneasy alliance with outlaw Whitey Kincaid (Dan Duryea), who seems
mainly interested in watching the inexperienced O'Mara battle the hardened
desperados. Proving hard to kill, the plucky O'Mara chases the gang
towards a bloody shootout.
Released in March 1954 by Universal International,
Ride Clear of Diablo was Audie’s 13th
film and 11th starring role. Universal had quickly determined that Audie
was best suited to play in westerns, and Ride Clear of Diablo is a definitive
Audie Murphy shoot-em-up. Directed by Jesse Hibbs, who also piloted
Audie’s To Hell and Back, Ride Clear of Diablo
moves quickly in its tight 81 minute running time.
Come cheer for our our hero in his 10th of 34 westerns,
Ride Clear of Diablo.
Admission is free. Popcorn and soft drinks will be served.
Military
Gun Show
Saturday, February 20, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday, February 21, 10 am.-4 p.m.
at The Landmark on Lee Street, 2920 Lee Street in Greenville
Adults $5
Seniors $3
Students $1
Admission includes admission to the Museum
The Museum will host our 2nd Annual Military Gun Show.
Vendors will exhibit guns, knives, swords and other small weapons used
from the Civil War through modern wars. Books, clothing, gun parts,
reloading supplies and equipment, paintings, prints, and photos relating
to military history will also be on display.
Vendor spaces are available at $35 each. Contact the
Museum at 903-450-4502 for vendor information.
Funding for this event is provided in part by City of
Greenville hotel/motel occupancy tax revenues.
Current Exhibits
Signatures of the Stars
on display through April
This new temporary exhibit is guaranteed to bring back
feelings of nostalgia. The collection is displayed courtesy of Larry
Winters and features more than 20 framed pictures and autographs of
TV show casts, from the 1950s-1980s.
Larry has been an avid collector for more than 25 years.
He has a variety of collections: movie posters, including all those
from Audie’s films; children’s series books; records; and
more than 2700 vintage films. (Larry provides the movies that we show
on Movie Night.)
Some of Larry’s autographs were acquired by sending
a 3 x 5 card to the person and requesting their signature. He has an
alleged autograph of Frank Sinatra’s that he is "99% sure
is not real. Sinatra was constantly travelling and I doubt he had time
to sign a bunch of autographs when he was home. He probably had his
secretary sign this.”
He also has a book with thousands of copies of autographs
from nearly every famous person --from A-Z. "Autographs change
over the years. For instance, when Ringo Starr of the Beatles first
started signing autographs, he signed 'Ringo Starr.' Now he just signs
'Ringo' with a star after it."
Come by the Museum and stroll down memory lane as you
view this unique display of autographs and pictures from television
history.
