“Texas history is a varied, tempestuous, and vast as the state itself. Texas yesterday is unbelievable, but no more incredible than Texas today. Today’s Texas is exhilarating, exasperating, violent, charming, horrible, delightful, alive.” The words penned by Edna Ferber in 1955 — the author of Giant — are no less true now, nearly 70 years later.
A group of Wimberleyites determined to expand the knowledge of their home state in the community began the Texas History Club a few years ago. Locals Larry Meeks and Texas State University professor Michael Nelson Miller assumed the lead in monthly meetings, providing guidance and focus to the material. Miller’s doctorate is in Mexican History, specifically Mexican culture in the twentieth century.
“There’s a lot of diversity and political opinion in Wimberley, so we keep a spotlight on the historical facts and how it affected the growth of the state,” shared Miller. “Though we serve as facilitators of content, we look for discussions and research from our community to build on the discussion and enhance our meetings.”
The impetus came from a small group gathering at Wimberley Cafe to talk about Texas history and its impact on the state and nation. The group organized a field trip to San Antonio in order to discuss how Spanish architecture and culture influenced the organization and structure of missions in Texas. The group’s growth continued until COVID-19 halted the opportunity to meet.
Numerous guests have participated or visited with the group over the years. Sixth generation Texan and actor Guich Koock attended a few meetings — as did Texas Ranger- turned-actor Joaquin Jackson, who resided in Wimberley for a time. Jackson shared anecdotes of his involvement with the State’s storied law enforcement entity in his book “One Ranger.”
Meetings have been held off-site at places as exotic as Hondo Crouch’s ranch outside of Blanco and south of Luckenbach — the town Koock and Crouch had purchased and where Crouch had been the self-proclaimed mayor — and as close and hospitable as Bill and M.F. Johnson’s home in Wimberley.
“We’ve met some amazing people,” shared Miller. “I think we’d all love to see it become institutionalized in our community. History certainly has an important role to play in our lives and what we pass on to our kids and grandkids.”
The Texas State Board of Education mandates Texas History to be taught by school districts in fourth and seventh grades. The board voted in 2022 to significantly increase instruction by expanding the material to kindergarten through second grade and adding grades sixth and eighth.
The Texas History Club of Wimberley meets for an hour every third Thursday of each month. January’s gathering will be at the Wimberley Village Library beginning at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 19. All are welcome.
