4 minute read
Homecoming
PRESIDENT'S COLUMN
BY DAVID COURREGES, UNIVERSITY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
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As many of you know, I grew up in China Spring, Texas. Though today my hometown is for every purpose a bedroom community, when I was kid China Spring was a farming town (technically a farming census-designated place). In my mind, it could have been the real-world setting of “The Last Picture Show,” if said title wasn’t already claimed by Archer City… and if it had a movie theater… or a stoplight. We did, however, have a post office, general store, and other fine establishments such as Bill and Bob’s World Famous Hamburgers, the Burger Doodle, and even a couple of gas stations that had burger counters as well. What we lacked in population and variance of cuisine we made up for in pride, and most of that pride was directed toward the finest public high school athletic program in all the county of McLennan: the China Spring Cougars!
One of my earliest memories of Cougar pride occurred at around the age of four when my neighbor and babysitter, LaDell Leach (played, also in my movie version, by Cybill Shepherd), proudly showed me the largest flower I had ever seen. It was white, and decorated with “Cougar blue” and white ribbons, glitter, and other fabulousness. Her presentation included a monologue about how people were coming from far and wide that evening to cheer on the mighty Cougars, freshly off their recent Class 1A state championship, as they were to take on the lowly Clifton Cubs. She was excited to see everyone making their way back home. This was to be, and is, my first memory of both “homecoming” and the legendary Texas homecoming mum.
The origin of the homecoming tradition is, I’m told, feverishly debated throughout the U.S. The University of Missouri claims that its 1911 event was the first, which is corroborated by the NCAA and even Jeopardy. They, however, conveniently ignore the Thanksgiving 1909 Homecoming hosted in the China Spring suburb of Waco to celebrate the students and alumni of Baylor University, who decorated their vehicles and lapels with chrysanthemum indicum. The hosts of this historic event were three professors, who simply called upon the graduates to return to campus to “renew former associations and friendships, and catch the Baylor spirit again.” A tradition was born.
I am a sentimental person who loves history, thrives on tradition, and blindly believes in the human spirit. Over the past year we have collectively made history and have been unceremoniously deprived of our traditions. We have all been in lands far away on what has often felt like a solitary journey yielding anxiety-laden adventures and tribulations caused by slow broadband connections and makeshift home offices. We have been tested a lot, but we have spirit!
I am not suggesting that these unprecedented times are over. In fact, they’re still proving to be just as difficult of times as every single commercial reminded us last summer. The challenges, however, are changing and will require us to provide even more support for one another and our community than ever before. While I decline to ask you, my friends, to catch anything in this age of COVID, it is time that we come back home as we face yet another stage of what has been a great unknown.
make the Austin Bar Association the greatest Bar in the country, even better than the county of McLennan.
While there is no way to predict how the upcoming bar year will unfold, we will be better equipped to face the challenges ahead of us if we honor our personal wellbeing, make a resolute effort to become and remain connected to one another, and continuously strive to live purposefully. This year the Austin Bar will provide an even greater focus on the physical and mental health of our members though the Lawyer Well-Being Committee. We will build upon the momentous efforts of the Equity Committee as we work together to ensure understanding and opportunity for all. In addition, we will honor our duty to our Austin Community through a renewed focus on the Law-Related Education Committee. We will also strive to provide mentorship, fellowship and relevant education through our prodigious CLE programming. Finally, we will continue to build an Austin Bar Association strong in both substance and number through the reactivation of the Membership Committee. All of this effort is in addition to dozens of truly phenomenal programs, committees, and sections that
No commentary on homecoming would be complete without home. As you are probably aware, at the onset of the pandemic we officially moved into the new home of the Austin Bar Association: the historic Hilgers House, located at 712 W. 16th Street. The house is nothing short of magnificent and is waiting patiently for you. Be it in person or virtually, I do hope you will come visit us at your Bar home as often as you can. We would love to have you.
Fellow attorneys, paralegals, and law-student family, please consider this a formal invitation for you to join me, the board of directors, and staff, for a year-long celebration of professional association and friendship through your active participation and engagement in your Austin Bar Association. I invite you to your Homecoming. Mums are optional, but encouraged. AL
David C. Courreges serves the members of University Federal Credit Union as Senior Corporate Counsel and Director - Legal and Compliance.
