FREESTONE PAST/PRESENT J. R. (Sonny) SESSIONS SHERIFF 1965-2001 FREESTONE COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION The Historical Comm. is an organization strictly to preserve and present local history for present and future generations of area citizens. There has been so much lost already that can never be recovered. There are no membership dues or commitments to attend every meeting; the only thing required is participation to what extent you desire. The Comm. normally meets the first Tuesday evening of each month at 7:00pm during day light savings time and 7:30 pm on regular times and usually at the Freestone Co. Training Center on US84 between Fairfield and Teague. Occasionally this can vary due to special meetings or programs with advance notice. The entire programs are usually over in an hour with refreshments after. Every person and family has history that needs to be preserved or made available to the public. Over the years we have had many programs and speakers that aren’t available today. Fortunately many have been preserved on video, tapes or written accounts. Examples of the programs are shown, in the years 2006-2007-2008. A Navy Corpsman experiences in the Battle of Iwa Jima. Program on Hopson Burleson and Burleson Cemetery. Review l992 video of author Davis Carter on “Reconstruction” at Uel and Juliette Davis. Meeting held at new Freestone Co. Museum. Program on Woodland. Program on Jim Davis family. Program on Teague Railroad employee. Tape shown on West Point student on trip to China. Program on WWII War Submarine Service. Xmas party at Moody Bradley House. Korean War veteran program... History of Antioch Cemetery (Luna area). Dallas Co Deputy veteran on Kennedy assassination. Program by WWII Marine Fighter Pilot in Pacific. Program on Normandy Invasion. Old West Display and program. Program on Legal Executions. Program on WWII Air Force-England. Antique Tractor Collectors program. Program on Moody-Bradley House. Genealogy program. Program on old Dallas City Jail. Frank Steele-timely information. WW II Flying Tiger-China program. Cow Boy Poet program. Archeologist Program. Local History Authority Eric Wood, Program on early settler Robert Longbotham, Xmas dinner Butler Comm. Center and program on Abe Jones. Many of the above could not be repeated. Good programs are planned for 2009. January program on ladies recent tour of Russia and other February will be on WWII Military Bands. And March on family and business that made more changes in Freestone Co. than any other along with importation of Florida cattle when the terrible drought broke in l957. Please come join us at one or all of the above, especially younger people with historical interest. This program needs younger folks; we have a few new one’s and sure has helped. Also new programs are requested, anyone wanting to do such please advise. - *** From Original Sheriffs Report l971 Amused sometimes how easily some people’s feelings are innocently injured by this column. Guess it goes back to old saying hit dog always holler the loudest. Deputy to Big Brown Lake late night after crying request from Palestine wife that husband been fishing but running late and she fearing the worst. While here found another wife been out looking for hers as didn’t believe this where he was. THP persecuted trio off 75 one night, father of one advised keep the long haired slob in Jail, another fresh from Vietnam told Judge Young everyone indebted to him for that deal. Awakened late night by man advising daughter and son in law having trouble, about that time soon in law showed up to tell his side before going to Dr. and have head worked on. Advised he cooking meat when she opened his head with can opener, Consoled and sent home.. Local THP to Austin for dedication of LBJ Library while Nixon there, real impressed with hippy demonstration who used most abusive language on them. Looked in little store house near old Jail and surprised at amount of explosives stacked there. Sue said she told me about people bringing it in to be destroyed and I told her it be alright there. Removed to safer locale and requested she impress me when more showed up. Freestone Co Emergency Corps sponsoring rodeo to try and make operating expenses without passing the hat. Sheriff and deputies to Bar BQ near Oakwood with food and hospitality outstanding. Wife of man giving said she told he giving it for Freestone Co. laws but she wasn’t telling why. Took another ride in DPS Helicopter here for opening stretch of i45, anytime you see me in it there is business involved. Unable to locate youth filed on by wife for thrashing her on streets in town, she called next date requesting it be disregarded as he had promised not to do it anymore. *** Grandpa’s Report Memorial services for one of many characters I have been fortunate enough to call friend F.B. Covert a few days short of 95 years old. F.B. proud of his military career which started before WWII in the old Army Calvary when the horses were more important than the soldiers and continued off and on until his retirement as Master Sgt. in the US Air Force. F.B. kept a new uniform even after retiring; he loved to wear it and a striking figure in it. He served Wortham for a number of years as Mayor and other civic endeavors. During his wife Theda’s life they socially active and fun to be involved with. In his later years he had serious sight problems but I don’t remember ever meeting him and having to tell him who I was, he knew my voice. He once put on a program for the Historical Comm. in full military dress which enjoyed by all. At the Cemetery a full military ceremony performed by the Air Force even with a real bugler sounding “Taps” and the gun salutes, he would have liked that.