Meet The Team Lindsey Kasprzak
PUBLISHER, ART & MEDIA DIRECTOR
Leslie Henderson MANAGING EDITOR
Robert Kasprzak EDITOR
Taylor Smith WIRTER
Welcome to Lone Star Local Guide! My name is Lindsey and I am so proud to not only call myself a Texan, but also a Houstonian. My family history is not only deep in the heart of Texas but deep in the heart of Houston since I’m a direct descendant of the Allen Brothers. I’m therefore very proud that my digital publication represents the area where I live and where my family is from. I am passionate about my community and the businesses that reside in it. Without a community, we have no place to call home and nothing to leave the next generation. I believe strongly in the power of the small business and what it represents. When you shop at a small business, you’re not only supporting your community, but you’re also supporting a family. I started Lone Star Local Guide to showcase these local businesses. I strive to fine unique small businesses, each offering something different. You may not have even known some of these companies were local to you and my hope is that I’ll be able to give them exposure and support for their businesses. Along with promoting these unique businesses, the Guide will also include informational, educational, and just plain interesting articles on various issues and topics that I hope you will enjoy. Here’s a helpful tip: every ad is linked directly to the advertiser’s website so no more having to write it down- just click and go! Thanks again for stopping by and I look forward to seeing you again in the next issue! Please help spread the word by liking and following us on Facebook and Instagram, where we’ll regularly post upcoming local events, news, and, of course, awesome local businesses!
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table of
CONTENTS
SEPTEMBER 2019
Business of the Month Delta V Chiropractic & Sports Medicine - Page 6
Features
6
Squeaky Pig Living Keto - Page 5 Spring Fire Department - Page 9 A Page From History - Page 13
5
‘Gunsmoke’ And The Texas Connection- Page 15 Learn From Lady Justice - Page 17 Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber - Page 19
13
Come And Explore It - Page 21 Division and Chaos - Page 27 Lone Star Local Savings - Page 34
21 Lone StarEdition Local Guide Dock Line Magazine - Atascocita AprilPage 20183 3
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By: Raigan Mayo
Cupcake: 1 Box Chocolate Cake Mix Make as directed and cool completely. Peanut Butter Swiss Meringue Buttercream 6 Large Egg whites 3/4 Sola sweetener (I’m sure you could substitute sweetener of choice) 1/4 TSP Cream of Tartar 12 ounce of room temp butter, cubed 2 TBL Peanut Butter
Food Blogger
Chocolate Cupcake with Peanut Butter Swiss Buttercream One of our favorite cupcakes is a chocolate cupcake with peanut butter swiss buttercream. With my wife’s birthday around the corner I wanted to make her these without the carbs bit with the same satisfaction. So I decided to just go for it and make the swiss meringue buttercream by substituting the sugar for Sola Sweetener and using Swerve Chocolate Cake Mix. I hope you enjoy these as much as we did!
(Photo: John Bradley)
Heat Egg whites and Sweetener in a double boiler (pot of water to a simmer, use heat safe bowl, egg whites, sugar and place over pot of water, see picture). Whisk and heat until sweetener is completely melted. Add Whites mixture and cream of tartar to mixer or use a hand mixer and whipped until stiff peaks(see picture). Butter should be room temperature but not melted. Add butter slowly and whisk until fully incorporated. Add peanut butter or flavor of choice. Whsik until fully incorporated. Once cupcakes are fully cooled, top with the buttercream. If your buttercream is too soft to ice the cupcakes add to the refrigerator until it stiffens up a bit but not to long because it will get to hard to pipe or spread.
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By: Taylor Smith Sciatic pain, knee pain and neck pain- these are just a few symptoms we’ve all experienced at least once in our lives. The medical field’s answer to these, and many similar problems, is to prescribe a medication to alleviate the pain. But, once the medication wears off, we’re left again with the symptoms because we haven’t addressed the cause of the issue. Going to the root cause is the only way to rid ourselves of these issues permanently. The body is an interconnected web. Pain in one area may be the result of a problem in another. Understanding that web and the interplay between the various muscles, bones, nerves, and trigger points is vital to properly diagnosing a problem, but more importantly, in fixing it. This is Dr. Lone Star Local Guide Page 6
Paul Harris’s specialty! Dr. Harris is the owner of Delta V Chiropractic and Sports Medicine, located in The Woodlands off of Sawdust Road. Dr. Harris’ office is welcoming, warm and friendlyjust like him. On your first visit, Dr. Harris will sit down with you to review your medical history, listen to you explain your symptoms, and diagnose and treat the cause of them. For me, I was having some pain
in my knee, especially during squats. By engaging me with dialogue, and listening to me, he learned that I reg-
ularly do Olympic weightlifting.
This
helped him identify what could be the cause of my knee pain and provided him with valuable insight into how I might have injured myself. Next, he asked me to perform some bodyweight squats and other movements as he continued to probe for identifying where exactly the pain was located and what movements specifically were causing the pain. At this point, he was fairly certain of the cause of the issue and knew exactly how to attack a treatment plan.
He utilized a scraper (also called an IASTM tool) on the muscles above my knee and applied suction cups in the area to draw blood flow to the muscles, reducing soreness and helping to loosen tight muscles. After that, Dr. Harris provided me with several stretches and foam rolling techniques to institute into my regular warm-up, or just to do at home to help the muscles around my knee relax and recover. The whole process with him took about 40 minutes. After this, I felt as good as new! “I do whatever I can to make my patients feel better, and I try to give them at least one homework exercise movement the first day so that they can be sure that the muscles are being worked or stretched properly. I also personally try to follow up with my patients within the next couple of days. I text, email or call to find out how it went. I want to make sure they actually got what they were looking for in our visit.” But you may be thinking, I don’t work out, I just need to be adjusted or I was in a car wreck and I have horrible neck pain all the time. Dr. Harris is your one stop shop! Just like
his business name says, “Chiropractic and Sports Medicine”. Dr. Harris is able to work out that horrible neck pain with some deep muscle work followed by a quick adjustment. After a visit with him, you’ll be feeling like your old self in no time! Dr. Harris explains that his motivation is simple. “I want to make an impact in people’s lives and at the end of the day, I leave knowing I had a positive impact because people leave with a smile on their face.” For more information about Dr. Paul Harris or if you would like to make an appointment you can visit his website at: www.deltavsportsmed. com or visit him on Facebook and Instagram.u
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Spring Fire Hits Service Milestone this Month By: Tyler Mowery
(Photo by Captain Noel Webber) In case you haven’t noticed, Spring is not the rural railroad stop it was in the early 1900s nor is it a small bedroom community anymore. Spring is a vibrant, growing community that is home to major campuses of Fortune 500 companies, a Six Flags Waterpark, hundreds of businesses and so much more. With those changes in mind, the Spring Fire Department is proud to announce a major new milestone. For the first time in the department’s history, every Spring Fire station will be manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This 21st century staffing plan began with the 2013 hiring of Spring’s first eight full-time firefighters. It has continued with multiple hiring classes over the last few years. With eleven new firefighters earning their badges on Saturday, August 3, the department will have 87 fulltime firefighters on the staffing roster, along with dozens of part-time firefighters and volunteers who continue to work hard for this community every day.
This staffing milestone means that August 2019 will go down in history as when the department completed its transformation to a combination department that fully staffs all nine of its fire stations.
“This is an exciting time for everyone that lives, visits, works or invests in the Spring area,” said Spring Fire Chief Scott Seifert who joined the department as a volunteer firefighter nearly three decades ago. “This milestone is being achieved several months ahead of schedule because this fire department believes in exceeding the needs of our community.” Since 1953, the men and women of the Spring Fire Department have unselfishly helped their friends and neighbors by volunteering to put out fires for little or no compensation. The number of homes Spring Firefighters provide fire protection for has more than doubled since the first parttime firefighters were hired in 1997. As the relocations of ExxonMobil, HP and Southwestern Energy began adding thousands more people to serve, the Spring Fire Department saw – and acted on – the need for a major evolution. “Within the last five years the plan was to progressively hire people over Continue on page 11 u
(New Spring firefighter cadets training on forcible entry. Photo by Captain Noel Webber) Lone Star Local Guide Page 9
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time to have all the stations staffed,” said Spring Assistant Fire Chief Robert Logan. “The original plan to fully staff Station 77 was 2020, so we’re several months ahead of schedule in staffing our ninth and final station.” Seifert and Logan expressed immense gratitude to the Harris County Emergency Services District Seven Board for providing adequate funding and for their support during the hiring process. “They are the ones who have given us the ability to be able to hire these people earlier which allows us to staff the station several months earlier, which is better for the community,” Logan added. The board of HCESD7’s commitment to building new stations and renovating existing ones to meet full time staffing needs was also essential to achieving this milestone ahead of schedule. “As a longtime volunteer firefighter myself, it’s been an honor to serve in this capacity to ensure the community I call home is protected,” said HCESD7 Board President Bob Schmanski. “As taxpayers ourselves, this board’s vision has always been always been about providing the best value possible. Working with the fire department to provide a robust infrastructure and the best possible en-
(Cadet Orientation Academy Photo by Captain Noel Webber) vironment for our firefighters, whether they be paid or volunteers, is all about meeting your expectations when you call 9-1-1.” This evolution didn’t happen overnight, because only the very best are chosen to serve and protect the citizens of Spring, as is apparent in the department’s hiring process. Those chosen have passed written exams, physical ability tests and panel interviews. The new Spring Fire cadets are currently finishing a rigorous three week orientation academy, before they receive their badges and are assigned to a station. “The first of the 11 new firefighters go on shift August 5,” Logan said. “So that’s when station 77 will begin being fully staffed.” As the Spring community keeps
(Cadet Orientation Academy Photo by Tyler Mowery)
expanding, Logan explains there is yet another plan set in motion for the future. “We own land for a tenth station and if the call volume for that area increases and we see the need to build a station then we’ll build that in the future,” Logan said. Logan added that the department still has part-time firefighters, but “in lieu of hiring more part timers we hired more full-timers without eliminating any parttime positions.” In the coming years, new positions will be added as the department continues to evolve with the community and volunteers continue to remain a key part of the present and future of the department. “On Saturday, several more volunteers are receiving their firefighter badges and this community is blessed to have their service,” added Seifert. “Together, our full-time, part-time and volunteer firefighters step up every day with the ‘Desire to Serve, the Courage to Act and the Ability to Perform’, because that’s what this community deserves.” Spring native Tyler Mowery is a senior mass communications student at Sam Houston State University. Tyler is spending the summer as a Spring Fire Department Community News Writer. During the school year, he reports for The Houstonian and serves as a volunteer firefighter for the city of Huntsville.u
(Cadet Orientation Photo by Captain Noel Webber) Lone Star Local Guide Page 11
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XB70 Robert A. Kasprzak Major, USAF (Retired) Did you know that one of the
77,350 feet. The Valkyrie was a huge
to-Air Missiles (SAMs) that threatened
most elegant and technically ad-
airplane over 185 feet long, over 30
the survivability of high speed, high
vanced airplanes was conceived in
feet high, with a fully loaded weight
altitude bombers and the installation
the 1950s?
of over 534,000 lbs!
As a compari-
of less costly, nuclear-armed Inter-
the XB-70, was designed as a high
son, modern jetliners fly at around 600
continental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs),
altitude, high speed, long range
MPH at an altitude of around 35,000
the Valkyrie program was canceled
bomber that could fly at three times
feet.
in 1961.
This airplane, known as
the speed of sound (over 2,000 MPH).
The XB-70 flew so fast it created
Although the bomber program
Called the Valkyrie who, in Norse
a phenomenon called “compres-
was canceled, the Air Force ordered
mythology, would lead warriors into
sion lift”. Similar to a surfer, the shock
two XB-70s (AV-1 and AV-2) as pure
battle.
wave generated by the airframe at
test aircraft.
Originally designed to thwart the
supersonic speed supported part
they carried out 129 flights, generat-
threat of Soviet fighters, the Valkyrie
of the airplane’s weight. The XB-70
ing valuable data and knowledge
would fly higher and faster than any
could also droop its wingtips as much
regarding large supersonic aircraft.
fighter at the time. The XB-70 was
as 65 degrees for additional stability
AV-1 flew in September 1964 and
powered by six massive General
at high speeds. The Valkyrie was built
exceeded Mach 3 (three times the
Electric YJ93 engines each capable
with advanced techniques and ma-
speed of sound). However, due to
of generating 30,000 lbs of thrust.
terials to reduce weight and to with-
structural concerns AV-1 was limited
It’s maximum speed was 2,056 MPH
stand high temperatures from aero-
to flight at Mach 2.5.
at 73,000 feet, had a range of 4,288
dynamic heating at high speeds.
Valkyrie (AV-2) first flew in July 1965.
miles, and had a service ceiling of
With the advent of new Surface-
Between 1964-1969,
The second
Tragically, Valkyrie AV-2 was lost in June 1966 after an F-104 fighter collided with it in mid-air. Currently, the only remaining Valkyrie (AV-1) is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. Even though
the Valkyrie pro-
gram never materialized, the knowledge gained from it’s research and development helped promote the SST concept (Super Sonic Transport) most notably captured by the Concorde program. I do not believe any future aircraft design will capture the beauty, the elegance, and the exotic nature of the XB-70, Valkyrie...one of my favorite airplanes!u
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By: W.F. Strong It opened with this line from the narrator: “Around Dodge City and in the territory on West, there’s just one way to handle the killers and the spoilers. And that’s with a U.S. Marshal and the smell of gun smoke… The story of the violence that moved west with young America and the story of a man who moved with it.” “I’m that man. Matt Dillon, United States Marshal … the first man they look for and the last they want to meet. It’s a chancy job … and it makes a man watchDennis Redfield and James Arness as Matt Dillon in “Gunsmoke.” CBS Television / Public domain
ful … and a little lonely.”
Ever heard of the “Gunsmoke” rule?
smoke.” We were discussing the show
It was created several years ago by
and he said to me, “Did you know that
TV ratings guru Bill Gorman. He noticed
Matt Dillon was a Texan?”
that sports cable channel shows like ES-
“No,” I said, “I didn’t.”
PN’s “First Take” were being beaten by
Dillon is the central character of
“Gunsmoke” reruns. In fact, Newsday
“Gunsmoke” – the U.S. Marshal of Dodge
found in a sample a few years ago that
City, Kansas. In the series, he often goes
all but seven of the 276 sports programs
to Texas to bring back a bad guy. I didn’t
on cable television on one day were be-
know, though, that Matt Dillon was from
ing beaten by “Gunsmoke” reruns, even
Texas.
though the show went off the air more
It’s true. Jack told me that in the last
than 40 years ago. So the message to
made-for-TV “Gunsmoke” movie, “One
sports show programmers was, “If you’re
Man’s Justice,” which aired in 1994, it was
not beating “Gunsmoke,” you’ve got little
revealed that Matt was born in San An-
to crow about.”
tonio.
And that’s just “Gunsmoke” reruns.
His father was, in fact, a Texas Ranger
When “Gunsmoke” was actually on
and was killed in the line of duty. But Matt
the air in prime time between 1955 and
didn’t move immediately in the direc-
1975, it was often the No. 1 show on tele-
tion of becoming a law man. The movie
vision. It was enormously popular in Texas.
reveals he spent some years in the Texas
As a kid I remember it being the last show
Panhandle where he sowed his wild oats
I could watch Saturday night before be-
and crossed paths with outlaws who tried
ing rushed off to bed. I always felt deeply
to corrupt him. He resisted and moved on
connected to the culture of the show
to Kansas where he followed in his father’s
and I recently learned why.
footsteps and became a U.S. Marshal,
Not long ago I was I visiting with an
the iron-handed law man of Dodge City.
old friend and colleague, Dr. Jack Stan-
Another thing you might not know is
ley who wrote his dissertation on “Gun-
that, originally, the show was on the radio.
William Conrad played Matt Dillon on radio, but when the show moved to TV, another Texas favorite, John Wayne, was supposed to play Matt Dillon. He decided against it, though, and convinced James Arness, a man who was often his double in movies, to take the role. On TV, the show opened in its early seasons with no narration. It showed a quick-draw gunfight between Matt and an outlaw, which Matt won, of course. There is a close-up of Matt’s post-fight grimace that seems to say, “Business as usual. Bad guys making bad choices.” “Gunsmoke” still has enormous viewership, almost half a century since it quit putting out new episodes. It’s on TVLand these days and based on my own survey of Texans, including my brother, Redneck Dave, and his crowd of six retirees, it’s on several hours a day in their households. I, myself subscribe to The Western Channel just so I can watch “Gunsmoke.” And now that I know that Matt was a Texan, which I always suspected, I will enjoy all the more.u This article was edited for broadcast by Texas Standard producers for the Texas Standard radio program on Apple podcast Lone Star Local Guide Page 15
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A Little About Guardianships Guardianship cases are unique in nature. A guardianship may be necessary for an adult individual who, due to intellectual disability, is unable to make life decisions. Examples of persons who might need a guardianship would include an 18-year-old suffering from an intellectual disability such as Down Syndrome, an adult who incurs a traumatic brain injury or an elderly person with dementia when any of these situations cause the induvial to be unable to make decisions for his or her own maintenance. A guardianship is established when a loved one, or in some cases The State of Texas, applies to the court to become guardian of the disabled individual. Evidence is presented during trial to the court (or a jury) which always includes a Certificate of Medical Examination (CME) from a qualified physician regarding the individual’s intellectual disability. If a guardianship is established, the court becomes responsible to monitor the guardianship until it is concluded (usually at the death of the individual). We have approximately
Program. This program utilizes community volunteers and student interns to pay in-home visits on a regular basis to check on individuals under guardianship. The court partners with local colleges, including Lone Star College, University of Houston & Sam Houston State University, to utilize student interns as court visitors. The court also uses members of the community to serve in this important role. The court is currently taking applications from the community for new court visitors. To learn more about the court visitor program or apply to become a court visitor please click here.
The court is also required to check on individuals that are reported as potentially needing a guardianship in the community. If you know of an incapacitated person in Montgomery County you think is in need of a guardianship, please click HERE for the reporting form. To report Abuse, neglect, or exploitation of children, the elderly, or people with disabilities contact the Texas Abuse Hotline Texas Abuse/Neglect Hotline 1-800-2525400 or www.txabusehotline.org. If an individual is in an emergency situation, remember to call 911 for police help.u
475 guardianship cases pending in Montgomery County. County Court at Law Number Two handles all of the guardianship cases in Montgomery County. The judge has implemented a court visitor program, dubbed The Guardian Angel Lone Star Local Guide Page 17
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ak ey Kasprz By: Linds
Southern California
it out to be. It’s actually a pleasant and family friendly place to visit if you know the right spots to go. Most people think if you’re going to visit Southern California, you would just fly into LAX. Although maybe a bit cheaper, you’ll fight traffic at any time of the day just getting out of the airport.
We actually choose to
fly into Palm Springs, which is a quiet, easy-going airport where you don’t have to pop a Xanax right before you get there. Because it’s not a very popular airport, there are less travelers- which means shorter lines, easier to be picked up, and cleaner restrooms. Once you’ve landed in Palm Springs, you are just a 40-minute drive Downtown Redlands is Full of Shops and Restaurants!
This month I decided to write
would anyone want to go there?”
about my trip to Southern California.
Well, Southern California isn’t the
I know what you’re thinking, “why
devil’s playground the media makes
to a quaint and historic town called Redlands. Redlands is the place you want to make your home base. Why? Because Redlands is centrally Continue on page 23 u
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Don Orange a Great Indoor and Outdoor Atmosphere!
located between the high California
all over Redlands and if you visit in
Thursday evening where you can pur-
mountains and the beautiful Pacific
the spring you can roll down your
chase locally grown fruits and vege-
Ocean.
windows while driving and the sweet
tables or a creative art piece from a
smell of orange blossoms will fill your
local artist. Market night is also a great
car.
place for “people watching” while
I know what you’re thinking, “why would I go to Southern California to stay in some town I’ve never heard
Redlands is the type of town that
you set at one of the open-air local
of?!” Here’s why. Redlands is that
has a wonderful market night every
craft cocktail bars or Mexican food
classic town with a theme and that
restaurants like Don Orange, but I will
theme is oranges. Orange trees are
warn my fellow Texans, while “people watching” in California you may spot a lady pushing a stroller with her cat in it... you’ve been warned. So where should you stay in Redlands? Air BnB it! Why? Because Redlands is full of great deals ranging from $49 a night and up. You could even stay in one of the historic homes
Aroi Mak Mak Thai Street Food Inspired Kitchen
Aroi Mak Mak Has a Tuk Tuk Table!
from the early 1900’s that is absolutely beautiful! Continue on page 25 u
Historic Home Built in Early 1900’s!
Historic Southside Bungalow! 3 bedrooms, 2 baths For more information click here: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/12847732?s=67&shared_item_type=1&virality_entry_point=1 Lone Star Local Guide Page 23
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Once you’ve done market night and you’re ready to see a little more of as they call it “SoCal” you’re only an hour drive up the mountains to Big Bear where you can shop, eat and relax by the lake or, if you go during the winter months, get in some ski time. Not feeling the mountain air? No problem, you’re only an hour and thirty-minute drive to the ocean, L.A., and Hollywood where really one day is the perfect about of time because it can get a little crowded around those areas. Some of you may be thinking, “what about Disneyland?” Yes, Disneyland is also close to Redlands, I’d say without that wonderful L.A. traffic you can get there in a little over an hour and if you’ve never been then you should go. But the hidden gem that no one really knows about is Knott’s Berry Farm. If you have kids that are out of the Disney phase, then this is the spot for you.
Knotts has so many rides that are
the Peanuts Gang so if you do have a
for kids of all ages plus roller-coasters
little one, you can find Snoopy walk-
that will make you lose your voice be-
ing around the park and get a pic-
cause you’ll be screaming so load.
ture with him.
The park is much cheaper for admis-
That’s my advice on how to do
sion and there are hardly any lines.
“SoCal” the right way. Like the name
The theme for the park is Snoopy and
of this column “Come and Explore It”. Go and Explore Southern California and what it has to offer. Don’t just stay in a hotel in L.A. and have a horrible time because there are too many people, Disneyland is $150 a ticket and you’re stuck standing in lines the whole time... that sound horrible. No wonder no one from Montgomery County wants to go. Don’t do it like that, explore Southern California my way, it will be a great time and you’ll love the people you meet along the way.u
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By: W.F. Strong
You hear people claim all the
tion of 1824, which Santa Anna had
vade Matamoros, Mexico. However,
time that if the other political party
abolished when he came to power.
they couldn’t decide on who would
wins, they’ll leave. Nobody much fol-
Others argued for full and complete
take charge of this invasion force,
lows through, but Davy Crockett did.
independence. At the first indepen-
so they chose three men to share
As he ran for reelection to Congress
dence convention, called the Con-
command. Guess you know how
in Tennessee in 1835, he said that if he
sultation, it was decided that the rein-
that worked out. And then Gover-
won he would serve the people faith-
statement of the Constitution of 1824
nor Smith found out about the secret
fully, as he always had. “But if not,” he
would be sufficient. They’d get back
plan and disbanded the council, but
warned, probably with a smile, “they
their state’s rights.
the council said Smith had no such
might all go to hell, and I would go to
So they chose a provisional gov-
Texas.” He made good on his prom-
ernment with Henry Smith as gover-
ise, too. Within six months of losing, he
nor and Sam Houston as commander
That conflict was resolved four
packed up and headed for Nacog-
of the army, though there was no real
months later at Washington-on-the-
doches.
army at the time – just a theoretical
Brazos when 60 delegates met on
In the early 1800s, pre-Alamo,
one. The council that chose the gov-
March 1, 1836. They signed the Texas
many people from the U.S. – be-
ernor then secretly arranged to send
Declaration of Independence the
cause of debt, or local government,
an army (this one of volunteers), to in-
next day. They had remarkable re-
or in pursuit of greener pastures – im-
power and they impeached him. Not a good start.
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migrated to Texas. They left signs on their doors or sent letters to relatives with this abbreviation: GTT. And GTT was just as clear to people then as LOL is in chatspeak today. GTT meant Gone to Texas. Early Texas was populated by opinionated individuals of strong beliefs and unyielding determination. This is why the Texas revolution was no hotbed of harmony, if I can use such an oxymoron to define it. As the idea of revolution evolved in Texas, the first disagreement was in deciding what Texans were fighting for. Were they fighting for a return to full Mexican statehood or for a Republic of Texas? Many saw the latter as suicide and argued for just reinstating the Mexican federal ConstituLone Star Local Guide Page 27
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solve. They met, created and signed
that time struggled to keep control of
about their resentment of his appar-
the document, declaring Texas free
their troops.
ent strategy of retreat. The men were
all within 24 hours. Fastest govern-
Professor Stephen L. Hardin said,
frustrated that he wouldn’t make a
ment in history. Of course, enemy
“Texians were great fighters but poor
stand at each river they crossed, but
armies advancing from the south
soldiers. …Independent and insubor-
he used that frustration to wind them
and the west likely inspired their work.
dinate, they were an officer’s night-
tight and turn them into ferocious ti-
Then at the Alamo, they couldn’t
mare… The Texian volunteer was
gers at San Jacinto.
decide on a single commander be-
disorderly, bedraggled, and unpro-
My point in this commentary is
cause the volunteers wouldn’t submit
fessional. He did not fight for pro-
that Texans started off as a disorderly,
to Travis’s authority. So James Bowie
cedures, politics, or pay. His reason
contentious bunch who resisted and
commanded the volunteers and Wil-
stood over the hearth cooking game
bucked against structure at every
liam B. Travis commanded the army
he had bagged; his reason napped
turn. Argument and disagreement
recruits, at least until Bowie became
in the crib he had crafted; his rea-
and contentiousness remain within
gravely ill, then Travis was the sole
son grew in the fields he had cleared
us, but out of this friction has arisen a
commander.
and planted. Because his imperatives
beautiful and wealthy state, a place
At Goliad, prior to the disaster
were so personal, he zestfully slaugh-
that Crockett described in his last
there, troops refused to take orders
tered any who threatened them.
known letter, written to his children,
from Sam Houston. They preferred
A consummate individualist, he did
as “the garden spot of the world.”
commanders they knew. So, for a
not want to belong to any establish-
He said, “…I do so believe it is a for-
while, Houston was a commander
ment—a military establishment most
tune to any man to come here. There
in search of an army. He went to
of all.”
is a world of country to settle.” That
Gonzales where there were 300 vol-
So it was a struggle for Houston to
has been an accurate prophecy for
unteers who followed him unenthusi-
get control of these men, but he did
many of us.
astically. As he went east away from
a little better as he went eastward
Santa Anna instead of west to en-
and volunteers flocked to his ranks.
This article was edited for broadcast by Texas Standard producers for the Texas Standard radio program on Apple podcast
gage the enemy, they questioned his
They were still often insubordinate
courage. All Texas commanders at
from time to time, and outspoken
One of the “twin sisters” – cannon used by Texians at the Battle of San Jacinto Image: BFS Man from Webster, TX, USA/Wikimedia Commons [CC BY 2.0 ] Lone Star Local Guide Page 29
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