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Museum Notes

Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum press releases and the director's newspaper column "Museum Notes" are regularly posted at this site.

"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 Days 2007

Audie Leon Murphy, the most decorated U.S. combat soldier of World War II, is the catalyst of a two-day event held annually in Greenville, Texas. Each year, the Audie Murphy/ American Cotton Museum in conjunction with the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign War and other local Service organizations, hosts this event to recognize not only Audie Murphy, a native son of Hunt County, but all veterans that have served their country.

Audie Murphy Days 2007, June 15 & 16, will bring together fans from far and wide some coming from England, Sweden, and Australia. Many know of Audie’s military career while others know Audie as a movie star. There will be Audie Murphy memorabilia displays, and memorabilia vendors.



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
P.O. Box 347
Greenville, Texas 75403
(903) 454-1990 or (903) 450-4502
 

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

 

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