The Lakeside 4-H Club held their annual fund raising Shrimp Boil on February 19 at the car wash in Seadrift. There was a great turnout of helpers and supporters. Funds raised are used to support the group’s activities and enable them to enjoy a summer trip.

Deadline nears for Scholarship Applications: Each year the Port O’Connor Chamber of Commerce gives two $500.00 scholarship each for graduating seniors, of that year and one $100 continuing education for a student in college. The deadline for 2010-2011 will be March 23rd. If submitted after this date, application will not be considered. Applications may be picked up at Calhoun High School or Leah Griffin at Tigrett Real Estate.

The Chamber is purchasing a table of 8 at the Warriors Weekend Muster on April 1, 2011. This event is such a great effort and support to our troops and POC certainly needs to do all we can to help out. We will be giving Chamber koozies to our visiting “Warriors”–just a little something to remember how much we appreciate what has been given for us.

Spring is coming and many visitors and tournaments will be heading our way. You can access the list of tournaments and calendar of events on the Chamber web site, portoconnorchamber.org, (right side of the home page.) Some tournaments also provide access to entry forms and rules. If you have something to add to the calendar, contact me at poccc@tisd.net. Speedy Stop Tournament “Big Trout Pot” will be held on March 12, 2011. Deadline for entry is March 1, 2011, for info call 361-582-5193. Good Luck!

If you have not joined our Facebook Community, we are waiting on you, come and share your trips to Port O’Connor with others and you can keep up with what’s happin’ here.

I see where Josie’s Mexican Food is now having a drawing every Monday. Every time you eat there your name goes into drawing for a FREE BUFFET. There will be one winner each week, but your name will remain in the drawing if you are not the winner, which means you could win several times; must be 16 years of age. Winners will be posted on Facebook. ENJOY!

Have A Great Time In POC – Best Kept Secret On Gulf Coast – The Natural Place To Be for people who love fishing, hunting, and the great outdoors.

Two 30 cubic yard roll-off bins will be located behind the fence on 16th. & Harrison for MUD customers to bring bulky waste to be hauled off. The bins will be there for 1 day on Saturday, March 12. Bins may be used from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. MUD customers only may deposit large items like carpet, furniture, mattress, stove, etc. We will have someone to collect auto batteries outside the bins.
MUD customers must sign in with their name and Port O’Connor physical address. Please, no commercial waste; this is for residential waste only. Do not put any refrigerators, a/c units, paint, tires, gas cans, or any unacceptable waste in the bin. Do not place anything outside the bin.

“Do you remember when?” We are often asked this question when we begin to reminisce. When we think of days gone by, we sometimes wonder what our loved ones and friends remember about the times that they spent with us. Were the memories good ones or ones that they’d just as soon forget? I can remember many of the good times of my “growing up”. There were hunting trips with my granddad and fishing trips with my dad. There was an occasional vacation with the family. One summer we (the whole family) pulled cotton to get the money to take a vacation. It was hot and miserable pulling cotton, but the memory is a good one (especially the vacation). I’m going to ask my children about their memories of “growing up”. What do they remember? Do they remember the discipline that came with their disobedience? Do they remember the fun times we had as a family? The fun times are what I hope, are brought to mind most often. It’s too late to make childhood memories with my children, but I can still make memories with them as adults. (Did I tell you that you never get them “raised”?) However, it’s not too late for the grandchildren. I encourage my children to make good memories with their children (my grandchildren) and I, too, want to make good memories with my grandchildren.

How do you want to be remembered? I want to be remembered as a loving, caring, compassionate, tender, and gracious brother, uncle, husband, dad and granddad. I want to be remembered as one who laughed a lot and one who encouraged joy and happiness within each family.

Do you remember your wedding day? What a wonderful memory I have of my marriage to the love of my life, LaDonna Sue. She is still my best friend and lover and we are still making memories.

Speaking of memories, do you remember the time you invited Jesus into your heart and life? I remember it well. I gave my life to Jesus while attending the First Baptist Church in Bishop, Texas. I was sitting with my parents on the right side of the church auditorium (looking out from the pulpit). When the invitation came to make commitments to Christ was given, I got up out of my seat and moved forward to speak with the pastor. I don’t remember the date. I don’t remember the pastor’s name. I don’t remember the song we were singing. But, I do remember being prompted by the Holy Spirit to commit my life to Jesus Christ. The moment I arose from my seat to move forward is the moment of my surrender to the claim of Jesus on my heart and life. The moment I arose from my seat is the moment of my yielding my life to Him. It goes without saying; I want to be remembered as one who gave his heart and life to Jesus Christ. I want to be remembered as one who gave his heart and life in service to the Lord. I want to be remembered as a faithful servant of God. I want to be remembered as one who pointed others to Christ.

We have a challenge to teach those around us to remember: Deuteronomy 6: 4-7 says: 4Hear, O Israel; The LORD our GOD, the LORD is one. 5Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. We must teach them to remember the One who makes it possible for us to go to Heaven.

I officiate at a number of funerals. I ask the family to write a eulogy, a listing of memories of their loved one, to be read at the funeral service. I have never had a family write negative and unhappy things about their loved one. The eulogy is always positive and happy. Will people say good things about when you when you are gone? We pre-write our eulogy by the way we live.

How do you want to be remembered?

As I type away, before me sit multiple copies of Seadrift Success, the first publication to be distributed in the City of Seadrift, Texas. This find is very unique and, let me tell you, the time I spent searching for this particular newspaper has proven to be well worth it.


I first learned about the weekly publication on my very first interview for this column in September of 2009 with Margaret Chatham. At that time she held the position of City Judge in the City of Seadrift. She was a pleasure to speak with and very generously allowed me to borrow a book, Seadrift Memories, which was produced for Seadrift’s sesquicentennial by a particular committee. Since then, I find myself referencing the book, which I scanned into my computer for future reference. In the book, Seadrift Memories, Brenda Dworaczyk reproduced a copy of a Seadrift Success issue from December 28, 1912. Seadrift Success was entered as second-class matter on September 16, 1911. City Council Secretary Geo. L. Rhea was the editor. A subscription to the paper cost $1.00. I found the publication extremely interesting and have been on a quest to find an actual paper.


In the last issue of Dolphin Talk, Dorothy Geraldine Wilson submitted a letter to the editor writing that she had copies of the actual paper. I was ecstatic and did not waste any time in meeting with her.


We met at the local library where we chatted the afternoon away as I skimmed through the papers. Towards the end of our conversation, Dorothy said I could have the copies as they were just sitting, collecting dust in her home. I could not believe my ears, nor could I mask my excitement.

That evening I began to read the articles, advertisements and classifieds printed nearly 100 years ago. The headlines and information were bold, direct and to the point. Below are various news clips which I found interesting from 1914:
• It was declared by the Attorney General that if you wished to vote, you had to pay a city poll tax to vote in state or county elections.
• The Masons were organized in Seadrift on April 28, 1914; the Seadrift Lodge A.F. & A.M. No. U.D. was instituted and the following officers were selected: R.B. Dennis, W.M., J.W. Trulove, Secretary, A.E. Scott, S.W., and D.L. McDonald, J.W.
• The American Townsite Co. moved their main office from San Antonio to Seadrift the week prior to the June 27, 1914 paper. President A.D. Powers and secretary C.A. Newton were busy as bees when contacted by the Seadrift Success office. President Powers was optimistic regarding affairs in and around Seadrift and his company has come to Seadrift for no other purpose than to make things hum. He also informed that a canning factory would soon be in operation, as orders had been made for 50,000 cans, 2000 boxes to ship in, 1000 field crates and a car load of coal, which certainly looked like business for that in situation beyond the peradventure of a doubt.
• Lumber Business Strong. The McMurry Lumber Co. shipped out a car of sand and cement to POC the week of May 2nd to be used in the construction of a new gin at that place to take care of the fall crop. The company also unloaded a car of fence stays, cypress boat lumber, shingles and car of posts.
• Coal oil could be purchased at 10 cents per gallon, canned tomatoes cost 85 cents per dozen, pure lard 15 cents per lb. and can oats for 10 cents at Prop. Bayside Store, Phone No. 4.
• And, in one of the first columns I read… We will offer a little free advice to the young men and young ladies who read this paper. Never marry until you are certain that single life is a failure and under no circumstances marry until you find someone who will have you. Be sure you are right, then go ahead. Boys, remember that a girl rigged out in ribbons and paint may look good enough to eat; but that smile, however may be made to order and come off with her best clothes.


Mesmerized I sat, realizing that although the issues that I was reading about were from the last century, many are the same we deal with today. Till next time when I hope to share more of Seadrift Success with you! A very special thank you goes out to Dorothy Geraldine Williams Wilson. If it were not for her I would not of have the opportunity to share these articles with you which I will cherish for years to come.