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Museum Notes
Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum press releases

 

Summer Camp at the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum

This summer the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum is adding a new summer camp program called Camp Shenandoah for children. In recognition of Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday, this year’s overall theme will be the Civil War era. Each day’s activities will focus on a different aspect of life during the early 1860s.

For example, we will have Homefront day, Battlefield day, Abraham Lincoln day, Archeology day and the last day will be Parent’s day. All of the arts and crafts, games, songs and demonstrations will relate to the theme of the day. Some of the activities will include making butter, creating an Abe Lincoln hat, having a balloon battle, digging for artifacts, learning how to drill like a soldier, grind your own corn and create mosaics using the corn and other vegetables, find a way to navigate an obstacle course while “wounded” and go on your very own surveying treasure hunt.

The week long camp program for 4-6 year olds will be from 10:30-12:00 July 14-18th and will cost $30. The 7-10 year olds camp will be from 9:00-12:00 July 21-25th and will cost $40.

A maximum of twenty children will be accepted in each program so please call (903) 450-4502 to register your child.

This program is sponsored by The Spencer Company of Dallas, Texas. The museum is located at 600 IH-30 East in Greenville, TX.

 

Audie Days Kicks off June 26

June 5, 2009 - To honor and remember our nation’s military heroes, Audie Murphy Days will kick off Friday, June 26. The annual two day event, which is free and open to the public, is hosted by the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum in conjunction with local military service organizations to celebrate Audie Leon Murphy, the most decorated soldier of World War II, as well as military veterans and those currently serving our country.

Audie Murphy Days, June 26 and 27, centers on Audie Murphy, a native son of Hunt County, war hero, Hollywood film star and accomplished songwriter. This year’s events will consist of a variety of ceremonies, music, displays, speakers and demonstrations. Noted guests include Johnny Western, a country western singer and actor who wrote songs with Audie and performed with Johnny Cash for over 30 years, U.S. Congressman Ralph Hall, Fort Sill Honor Guard, Fort Sam Houston Sergeant Audie Murphy Club, Dr. Archie McDonald, and keynote speaker, Retired Master Sgt. Edwin Taylor.

Friday’s events will be held at the Civic Center at 5501 Hwy 69 South in Greenville beginning at 9:00 a.m. and will close the evening with Audie Bingo and a concert by Johnnie Western. The concert (dinner is included) is the only event that is not free. Tickets are now on sale and cost $10 for adults/$5 for children 5-12 yrs. old. Saturday’s events will begin at the Civic Center at 9:00 a.m. and will move to the Museum located at 600 I-30 East in Greenville, at 1:00 p.m. with a variety of civil war living history demonstrations and military vehicle displays. The evening will end with a showing of the movie, Bullet For a Badman, which stars Audie Murphy, and a candlelight ceremony at the statue of Audie Murphy and the Hunt County War Memorial. These are just some of the activities taking place.

Contact the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum at 903-450-4502 for additional information.

Funding for this event is provided in part by the City of Greenville Hotel/Motel Occupancy Tax Revenues and with a grant from Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Creating 'Hall of Heroes'
By BRAD KELLAR, Herald-Banner Staff

May 25, 2009 - It is impossible for Susan Lanning to hide her excitement over what is coming to her museum.

Lanning, the executive director of the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum in Greenville, is more than happy to give a tour of the upcoming “Hall of Heroes”, perhaps the single most ambitious project in the museum’s history. Lanning said the Hall, designed as a multi-media exhibit paying tribute to the men and women from Hunt County who served their country during war time, should be complete sometime early next year.

“We’re looking at, realistically, January or February of 2010,” Lanning said. “We just sent all of the exhibit cases out for bid.”

As it stands now, however, a walk through the Hall of Heroes is an exercise in using imagination. Blue tape lines the floor where the Hall will be located in the western end of the museum, marking where moveable walls will be set up. Chairs indicate where exhibit cases and other features will be set.

But it is obvious Lanning and the other people who work at and for the museum have some big dreams which are about to become reality.

The tour starts in the “Audie Murphy Hollywood Room”, a space which will be used to conduct the museum’s Lunch Break Specials and to host other events, such as the periodic movie nights. Dale and Kay Crumpton recently donated a 55-inch flat screen television for the centerpiece of the room, which will focus on Murphy’s acting legacy, as opposed to his historic military career.

Outside of the “Hollywood Room”, visitors to the museum will encounter exhibits dedicated to the Civil War. Lanning is wanting to illustrate any local ties to the conflict. “We’re trying to really pull in what the soldiers from Hunt County did,” Lanning said, noting that is the goal of all of the displays which will be featured in the Hall of Heroes.

Next, the visitor will feel as if they have literally walked into the trenches of World War I. “It is going to be so cool,” Lanning said.

The walk-through trench diorama will include a subsonic vibration machine, a shaker, which will simulate what the soldiers felt as cannons fired rounds above their heads. The shaker was contributed to the museum by Dr. Larry Kaler of Greenville. Along the trench walls, visitors will be able to peer into periscopes to view a photographic image of a World War I battlefield. “We are looking for a lot more donations,” Lanning said. “There is a lot of things we have, but there are gaps.”

The emphasis Lanning is striving for in the exhibits is portraying the daily life of a soldier in each of the wars. Turning the corner, the visitor will be in World War II. Lanning is trying to bring to life what the actual experience was like for the soldiers.

“We want to do some of the stories that really can’t be told in print very well,” Lanning said. One example will be an exhibit dedicated to a soldier’s backpack, illustrating everything which was stored inside.

Of course, much of the space will feature Murphy, the most decorated American soldier of World War II. Lanning said the exhibit will highlight Murphy’s early life, then chronicle the route he took and important locations he visited during the war, along with details of his later years.

Lanning is also wanting to dedicate exhibit space for the story of General Claire Chennault, who was born in Commerce and went on to found the famous “Flying Tigers” squadron, which fought Japan from China before the start of World War II. “We definitely are looking for more Flying Tigers artifacts,” Lanning said.

There will be several “hands on” exhibits for children throughout the museum, she said.

At the end of the World War II area, one wall of the museum will feature another life-size diorama, this one split into two sections. On one side will be a recreation of a battlefield in winter, perhaps representing the “Battle of the Bulge”, and will include a soldier writing a letter home. The other side of the diorama will be a scene taken from the home which would receive the letter, a kitchen complete with appliances and cabinets from the era.

There will be spaces devoted to the Korean and Vietnam Wars and Lanning said there will always be rotating exhibits featuring the lives of local veterans.

“The whole idea of this is telling their personal stories,” Lanning said. “There are a lot of people from this area who did some amazing things.”

[Our thanks to the Herald Banner for permission to reprint this story.]

New! Summer children’s program at the museum

May 15, 2009 – There’s a new option in town for kids’ summer fun. "Camp Shenandoah" is both fun and educational (but don’t tell the kids!)

The focus of the summer program is the Civil War era, in recognition of Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday this year. Shenandoah "Campers" will create crafts, play games, sing songs, and watch demonstrations centered around the 1860s in America. Each child in the program will receive an official Camp Shenandoah T-shirt.

There will be two camp sessions. Four to six year olds will meet 10:30 a.m. - noon, July 14-18. The seven to ten year olds' camp will meet 9 a.m. - noon, July 21-25. Each group is limited to 20 children. (A second 4-6 year old session will be added at 8:30 – 10 a.m. if the first session is filled.)

Registration for Camp Shenandoah is now open. Fees are $30 for 4-6 year olds and $40 for 7-10 year olds. (Family level members receive a discount.)

Call the museum at 903-450-4502 to register or for more information.

Camp Shenandoah is sponsored by Mary Spencer, daughter of Otha and Billie Spencer.

 

Easter After Dark

March 16, 2009 - For all you adults out there – do you remember when you used to have fun hunting eggs at Easter when you were kids?

Well, now is your chance to experience again the excitement of an Easter egg hunt, only this time at dusk and with the opportunity to receive some great prizes. Easter After Dark will start at 7:30p.m. on Friday, April 3rd at the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum. There are all sorts of prizes in store for everyone who participates!

Prizes will range from candy, automotive supplies, tools, restaurant gift cards and gift certificates all the way up to tickets to the Texas Motor Speedway Nascar race in November AND pit passes, Fossil watches, admission tickets to a number of museums in Dallas and Fort Worth and small and large cash prizes, including one egg with $75! These are just some of the prizes we are gathering to fill those 500 eggs for everyone to find!

There will be one change for this year’s event. As a nod to those of the older generation (65 and older), for the first ten minutes after the starting gun goes off they will hunt on one side of the field and the younger generation will hunt on the other side. Turn an evening of fun into a weekend getaway by spending the night after the event at a local hotel or bed and breakfast. Treat yourself as you explore all of the neat prizes you just won!

Tickets to the event cost $8 if purchased in advance or you are a member of the Museum and $10 the day of the event. There are a limited number of tickets so people are encouraged to buy them ahead of time. You must be at least 18 years old to participate. Rain out date will be April 4th. Contact the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum at (903) 450-4502 to purchase tickets or for additional information. The Museum is located at 600 I-30 East across from Mary of Puddin Hill in Greenville, Texas. Funding for this event is provided in part by the City of Greenville Hotel/Motel Occupancy Tax Revenues.

More Renovations for the Museum

February 27, 2009 - With the third and final part of the grant that allowed us to add the new wing last year, the Museum is in the process of completing the rest of the planned renovations.

To date, we have had a wall built across the old Gift Shop that gives us about a 12 x 15 work room. this room will be used to have committee meetings, put the newsletter together, store supplies, and do large scale projects. The remaining has been painted to match the new Gift Shop.

In addition, we have had gutters installed and a back piece added to the Tower to keep visitors dry when it rains. Plans include installation of outside lighting, more lighting for the new wing, window tinting, and landscaping in front of the building.

"Lonesome Dove" Actor speaks at Lunch Break Special

May 3, 2007 - Commerce actor Jerry Biggs illustrates how he was “hanged” in the television mini-series “Lonesome Dove,” during a program at the May Lunch Break Special at the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum. Biggs, who has had featured roles on stage as well as in television and movies and appeared in commercials, was one of the three outlaws who, along with Robert Urich, was ordered hanged by Robert Duvall’s character in the popular series.

Biggs, a Texas native who attended Texas A&M University-Commerce and has made the town his home, discussed his trade and experiences working with some of the top actors and writers in the industry including Duvall, Horton Foote, Robert Mitchum and Kathy Bates.

The Lunch Break Special is on the first Tuesday of each month. Museum members are admitted free. There is a $3 admission for guests. Lunch is available by ordering ahead of time.

Visiting Exhibit

April, 2007 - A visiting exhibit courtesy of Texas Women's University, The Women's Collection. The exhibit, Women Airforce Service Pilots of WWII will be at the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum beginning April 5-28, 2007. WASP served as part of the Army Air Force from September 1942 to December 1944, 1,074 graduated from the program and were assigned to operational duties, 38 died while in the WASP program. Exhibit open during regular museum operation days and hours.

A Free Workshop/Orientation for Prospective Volunteers: Anyone interested in learning how they can give volunteer hours to the Museum are invited to attend on April 25, 2007 from 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. at the Museum. No obligation. Everyone will receive training-Sample topics covered on April 25: Docent, Gift Shop, General Office Assistant, Oral History interviewer, Collections Assistant, etc.

AUDIE MURPHY STATUE STANDS VIGIL


WHO: .Hunt County War Memorial Committee
WHAT: Dedication of Hunt County War Memorial
WHEN: Saturday, November 13, 2004
WHERE: THE AUDIE MURPHY/ AMERICAN COTTON MUSEUM- 600 INTERSTATE 30, EXIT 94B
MORE INFO OR TO MAKE RESERVATIONS: CALL (903) 450-4502 CONTACT: ADRIEN WITKOFSKY

Click here for printable Audie Murphy statue picture

The ten foot bronze statue of Audie Murphy dedicated June 2002 stands vigil over the newly finished Hunt County War Memorial to be dedicated to the memory of 271 souls lost in combat during the wars of the 20th century. Audie Murphy, the most decorated soldier of WWII, stated, “ The true heroes, the real heroes, are the boys who fought and died, and never will come home”. At 11:00 a.m. on November 13, 2004 `Hunt County heroes will be honored with the dedication of the War Memorial. The Memorial made of gray and black granite bears the names of the 217 heroes from World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam. The Memorial honors all veteran who have faithfully served their country with their military service. The public and family members of the deceased being recognized are encouraged to attend in this event.
The Dedication ceremony will begin with men in era uniforms posting the Colors and the invocation given by Dr. Bill Benner, Retired Navy Chaplain. Mrs. Adrien Witkofsky will sing the Star Spangled Banner. Congressman Ralph Hall will be the dedication speaker. Dignitaries from Hunt County and Texas will attend. There will be a reception following the ceremony at the main Museum building.

Parking will be available on the Museum grounds with overflow parking at Family Fellowship Church parking lot on Division St. Transportation provided by The Connection will shuttle guest between the Memorial area and the church parking lot. A golf cart will furnish transportation from Museum parking to the Memorial area for those unable to walk the distance.

The Memorial is the result of an effort started during Greenville’s sesquicentennial when a ten foot bronze statue was commissioned of Audie Murphy, America’s most decorated soldier of World War II. Tasked by the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, the Sesquicentennial Committee consisting of Jack Finney, Leo Hackney and James Taggart commissioned local artist, Gordon Thomas to sculpt the ten-foot statue. The Statue was begun in April 2000 and dedicated in June 2002 at the Audie Murphy/ American Cotton Museum. The original concept was presented in two phases. Phase I was the Statue, sidewalk and landscaping around the statue. Phase II is the memorial wall and plaza area and nearby parking lot. This concept was brought to fruition by the Hunt County War Memorial Committee consisting of Chairman John Reynolds, Vice Chairman William Thomas, Secretary Adrien Witkofsky, Treasurer Joyce Delgado, Hunt County Judge Joe Bobbitt, Jack Finney, Robert Dial, Gordon Thomas, Logan Wilson, Charles Engle, Noble Gilstrap, Bufford Hammond, Robert Jordan, and Chris Kilmer. Special thanks and recognition to Hunt County Commissioners, Luckett Crane Services, Hallman Memorial, and Kilmer Associates for their contribution to this effort.

The completed Hunt County War Memorial is a fitting memorial to the 271 brave souls of Hunt County that gave their lives to protect and defend the United States in times of war during the 20th Century. Their names are engraved in granite as follows:


WORLD WAR I

Albert L. Adair
S. L. Addington
Benjamin F. Amos
Alvert A. Barrow
Johnnie L. Bickley
William G. Bishop
Marshall Boyd
J. L. Buckley
Joseph D. Carter
Joseph R. Cawthorn
Floyd Davenport
Eugene DeJernett
Jake Eiland
John Ferrell
Aubrey Gee
Henry H. Grimes
Coy Harwell
Floyd Jackson
Joseph Jernigan
James Jones
John E. Kirby
James M. Kize
William F. Lutts
Henry R. Mansfield
Henry W. Mayhall
Herbert McGuire
Connie O. Morgan
Otho Morgan
Frank Mulkey
Tracy B. Nabors
Cara Neighbors
Frank Pace
George C. Pace
Herman E. Patterson
Willie L. Ramsey
Isacc Reece
Thomas R. Ridley
Estel E. Simpson
Clifford R. Smith
Joe Stevens
James Stevenson
Stuart Thompson
John Tipps
Jeff M. Tucker
Cleo Turner
William C. Turner
Willie O. Turner
Louis O. Wall
William AH Weatherly
James R. Welch
John T. Welch
Delbert Wilburn
Bruce Williams
Frank E. Yost
Ira O. Young
James R. Young

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WORLD WAR II

Hersel Adams
Vincente Alanis
Sherman L. Allen
Truman L. Allen
Wilbur K. Alley
Harrell Atkinson
Guy P. Baird
Raymond L. Bates
William R. Belcher
Clarence A. Bench
Everett M. Bennett
Ocie E. Berry
Albert Birdsong
Viva A. Bishop
E.C. Blackwell
Raymond L. Bray
Basil Britt, Jr.
Eugene Brown
Virgil F. Burns
George A. Butler
Yandell C. Cambron
Leonard K. Carter
William F. Carter
Waldo Cecil
Geo. Chandler, Jr.
Loyd F. Cheek
John D. Clark
Weldon Clinton
Raymond H. Collins
Samuel W. creamer
James E. Creel
Harlan D. Crider
Ray H. Currin
Charley E. Dale
Marvin E. Dale
Wilborn H. Daniel
Davie E. Davis
Ira D. Davis
Jimmie L. Davis
A.R. Dawson
Charles Dean
Wm A. Denton
James C. Dial
Wm. J. Dicken, Jr.
Other E. Dickson
John H. Dixon
William C. Dobbs
Willie F. Donaldson
Raymond Dreadin
Garland J. Dunn
Bill Dyess
Gerald P. Elder
Marvin R. Farmer
Melvin L. Fernow
Paul A. Findley
Roy T. Fling
Herrell E. Ford
Tommy Garrett
J. W. Gaylor, Jr.
R.T. Gaylor
Charles J. Glasscock
Arvin G. Goode
James M. Gossett
Hollie Lee Green
J.D. Green
Billy Greenwade
William J. Griffis
Elery G. Gross
Dean E. Hallmark
Lane Hamilton
Robert W. Hammonds
James J. Handey, Jr.
Farrell B. Haney
Franchard Hargis
Vencen Harkey
Preston Harris
Dube W. Harrison, Jr.
Roy N. Harrison
Wylie S. Harrison
W. Harryman, Jr.
John M. Hendrix, Jr.
Jack Hickerson
Doyle H. Hill
Roy M. Hobgood
David H. Hockett
Robert M. Hodges
William G. Horn
James A. Horner
George R. Howell
Robert L. Howell
Lonnie D. Johnston
George M. Jones
Raymon H. Jones
Issac W. Jumper

David E. Kohl
Hollis W. Lambert
Lewis W. Latimer
Landrum W. Leech
Royce H. Lindsay
Oscar D. Long
Brannom Lowrie
John E. Lytle
Hulet Mack
Truett J. Majors
Billy Marshall
E.V. Marvin
Dick Mason
Walter P. Mason
Jesse D. Massey
J.W. McClendon
John E. McCrary
Sidney McKay
Thomas Y McKinney
Alfred A. McLain
C.R. McWhorter
Richard D. Miller
Odean R. Milman
Jackson T. Milton
Henry Mitchell
Arlon D. Moore
Fred K. Moore
William T. Moore
Durward D. Morrison
Gerald D. Mullins
Homer M. Neal
Raymond D. Neal
Ira A. Nelson
Otis T. Newland
Dale Nicholson
Loyd F. Nixon
Harrison V. Parker
Thomas H. Patterson
James C. Perry
Fred D. Pettigrew
C.L. Phillips, Jr
Jack A. Phipps
Clyde Pilgrim
Eugene H. Pollard
William H. Presley
Fredrick F. Price
Jack H. Price
Samuel M. Purcell
C.M. Quattlebaum
Harden A. Ratliff
William T. Raynes
Jas. W. Redmon
John D. Reed
D.R. Reynolds
Sam F. Riegger
Basil Roberts
Charlie Roberts
Marzie J. Robinson
Willie B. Roy
Edd O. Salmans
David L. Sansin
Newton L. Saunders
Vernon Sheltman
Charles R. Shelton
Charlie Shelton
Carlton A. Sheram, Jr.
Jesse C. Sibley
Jerome E. Slater, Jr.
Dorsey C. Smith
Jasper T. Smith
Jerald. D. Smith
R.P. Smith
Virgil A. Smith
Weldon A. Smith
Joseph G. Smithey
Boyd B. Stanford
Jessie F. Stephenson
Billy J. Sullivan
Verl D. Swindell
Arthur V. Taylor
W.A. Townsend, Jr.
Harvey R. Walker
James K. Walker
Ralph L Walker
Jess A. Wallace
Charles D. Warren
Henry Washington
Winfred E. Weems
Dennis E. White
Marvin L. White
J. Oscar Whitley
Billy E. Woodward
Chas. E. Woodward
Bill Wright
Thurman R. Yost



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KOREAN WAR

Oren C. Atchley
C. J. Austin
Leslie Brigham
Floyd T. Coker
Ocie W. Cooksie
Thomas E. Coppinger
Lawrence E. Cotton
Obert B. Flowers
George t. Grimes
Walter J. Scroggin
Morris E. Tanton
Cordus H. Thornton
Marvin E. Tomlinson
Samuel E. Watson

VIETNAM WAR

Carson T. Belew, Jr.
Charles A. Crump
Cecil J. Hodgson
Thomas K. King
Jerry Kirkland
Darrel G. Lewis
Joe Macias
James D. Mills
Jerry D. Pearce
Farrell J. Sullivan

 

The Audie Murphy/ American Cotton Museum is located at 600 I-30. The Museum may be reached by traveling East on I-30 from Dallas and exiting at Exit 94B and crossover the overpass and turn right on to Frontage road for ½ mile or if traveling west on I-30, Exit 95 (Division ST.) and stay on north Frontage road for ½ mile.
Call the Museum for more information at (903) 450-4502



 

 

 


 

The Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum 
600 Interstate 30 East
Location Map
P.O. Box 347
Greenville, Texas 75403
903-450-4502
Fax: 903-454-1990

 

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