Your Weekend: Paddling Houston?

So, maybe it's never crossed your mind: Houston as prime canoeing and kayaking territory? Think again.

Within about 75 miles of downtown Houston, some 1,500 miles of rivers, creeks, lakes, bayous, and bays await discovery. Beware of alligators!

Here, avid paddler and author of Canoeing and Kayaking Houston Waterways (Texas A&M University Press, 2012) Natalie Wiest shares her all-time favorite weekend trek: a peaceful trip through cypress- and duckweed-canvassed, almost non-moving, clear swamp waters.

"It's a very special, quiet place," says Wiest. "Depending on the time of year, there are all kinds of wonderful birds back here, and it never looks the same from one season to the next."

Location: Cedar Hill Park, 30 miles east of Houston, near Anahuac and Liberty

Getting There: Travel Interstate 10 about 30 miles east of Houston and take Exit 810 (Anahuac, Liberty, FM 563). Follow FM 563 north about 2.8 miles. Turn left (west) on Lake Charlotte Road, which is well marked. In another 1.1 miles, the entrance to the park is on your left.

Traveling Note: There is no sign marking the entrance, but a good landmark is the Sherman Cemetery, which is directly across from the park entrance. If you pass it, you will have to make a sharp right-hand turn and then turn around. Drive down the park entrance road until you can see the water. This park has nice picnic facilities, pit toilets, and plenty of parking for a day on the water.

About Lake Charlotte: Lake Charlotte is the largest of a complex of at least four lakes that lie to the east of the Trinity River in Chambers County, just north of I-10. Although it is only 30 miles from downtown Houston, the largest westernmost cypress swamp in Texas seems a universe away.

What You'll See: The area teems with wildlife. Summer visitors can be rewarded with the sight of hundreds of shorebirds feeding on the shallow lake bottom. Winter avian visitors include many migratory species. Beavers and alligators live along Lake Pass. Paddlers on a recent Houston Canoe Club trip saw a herd of wild hogs. White ibises, night herons, and many other birds nest in the area. Large wasp nests are found here, too, some at head or paddle height, so keep your eyes open! Snakes of many varieties sun themselves on shrubs or hang out on branches to watch for prey below.

Wiest Recommends: Taking along a good map, compass, or a GPS. "Once you are back in the lakes and swamps of this area, it is easy to get turned around and lose your bearings," says Weist.

While You're At It: Also explore Mac Bayou and Mac Lake (west of Cedar Hill Park; Mud Lake (due south of Cedar Hill Park); Miller Lake (southernmost of the Lake Charlotte Complex); and/or Lake Pass (at Miller Lake's northwestern corner);

Look for Canoeing and Kayaking Houston's Waterways in early fall for more author tips, trip outlines, water safety, gear checklists, and more.

TELL TAMU PRESS: What is your favorite Texas kayaking/canoeing spot, and why would you recommend it to others?

Comment for a chance to win a free copy of Kayaking the Texas Coast, by John Whorff.

Watch next week for our new series Weekends with Texas A&M University Press books, our book-inspired and staff-curated bucket list for unique ways to spend your summer down-time!

Taking the Plunge: Texas A&M-Galveston Turns 50

Did you know Texas A&M University at Galveston was designated a special purpose institution in 1971, in part to fulfill the Sea Grant mission of Texas A&M University? The campus, however, officially opened as the Texas Maritime Academy in 1962, with students studying aboard the Texas Clipper -- then, a rehabbed World War II attack transport vessel. 

This year also marks the 40th anniversary of the Texas Sea Grant College Program housed at Texas A&M.

What does a sea grant do? It accomplishes many things, primarily focusing on areas in outreach, research and education. In the past, TXSG has participated in research on pollution, endangered sea turtles, hurricanes and costal development. It also began the predecessor to the Texas Adopt-A-Beach Program. By funding and housing TXSG, Texas A&M contributes to helping Texans learn more about their beaches through research and education.

In his book Aggies by the Sea (Texas A&M University Press, 2005), Texas A&M University at Galveston historian Stephen Curley offers a unique, historical record of the sea grant campus's humble beginnings. The campus now enrolls more than 1,600 students.

Curley is also author of the definitive history of the Texas Clipper, The Ship That Would Not Die (Texas A&M University Press, 2011). The Clipper was a ship with many lives; from its service as an attack transport used in World War II, to a trading ship for the American Export Lines, to a marine training vessel in Galveston, and finally to its current status as an artificial coral reef/floating classroom in the Gulf of Mexico.

Add these books to your summer reading list, and learn more about maritime history and Aggie involvement. It will give you one more reason to take pride in Texas A&M.

By: Madeline Loving

Father's Day: More Than a Tie

Father’s Day is on its way! Before you run to the store and pick up another tie or t-shirt with “#1 Dad”sprawled across the front, why don’t you get him something he can actually enjoy in his free time? 

Not every father is an enthusiastic novel reader—that’s why we’ve compiled a diverse list of various topics and genres of books. From the history buff, the outdoor enthusiast, or the DIY adventurer, there is sure to be a book that your dad would love!

Skip the tie this year and opt for something your hardworking dad can have an excuse to sit back, relax, and enjoy.

Here’s our top 5 picks for Father’s Day:

 

Texas Garden Almanac (Texas A&M University Publishing Press, 2007)- Give your father some new ideas for gardening projects with Doug Welsh’s Texas Garden Almanac. A detailed month-by-month  guide for the DIY dad, this useful reference book contains information on everything garden-related; from  fruit, vegetable, and flower gardening, to plant care and garden upkeep, as well as how to design gardens. 

Rudder: From Leader to Legend (Texas A&M University Publishing Press, 2011) - The first comprehensive biography of James Earl Rudder includes both his heroism in World War II and his contributions to Texas A&M University. Thomas Hatfield gives a detailed accounting of Rudder’s leadership and initiative both on the battlefield and in the boardroom. 

Texas Post Office Murals (Texas A&M University Publishing Press, 2004)- Texas Post Office Murals presents a unique and forgotten history of a program born out of the Great Depression that sought to give artists work. These popular artists created post office murals that reflected American dreams and ideals, which spurred hope during harsh economic times.  Filled with 115 photographs and a brief history of each, the Texas Post Office Murals is a good coffee-table book.




Unprecedented Power: Jesse Jones, Capitalism, and the Common Good (Texas A&M University Publishing Press, 2011) - Perfect for fathers interested in American business or Texas history. Steven Fenberg writes about Jesse Jones, a man raised on a tobacco farm with only 8 years of education, who became a powerful businessman who saved many of Houston’s banks during the Great Depression and built the city’s tallest skyscrapers at the time. He then went on to Washington, where he became head of the Reconstruction Finance Corp.

Exploring the Brazos River: From Beginning to End (Texas A&M University Publishing Press, 2011)- Good for the outdoorsy, adventurous father. Kimmel describes the landscape, ecolog, and flows of one of the oldest rivers in Texas. The book is full of stunning, vibrant photography of the beauty of the Brazos River landscape, as well as detailed maps and descriptions.

By: Madeline Loving

30th Anniversary of Westminster Speech

Thirty years ago in a now-famous speech given at Westminster Palace, President Ronald Reagan argued that the West shouldn't just criticize or contain Soviet behavior but also challenge the basic legitimacy of the Soviet system.

The Washington Post commemorated the anniversary of the speech in an editorial Friday, adding the "ash heap of history" phrase was one Reagan personally wrote into the address, according to Reagan at Westminster: Foreshadowing the End of the Cold War (TAMU Press, 2011).
 
Read more here.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/ronald-reagan-and-the-power-to-change-history/2012/06/07/gJQAQI9VLV_story.html

Ike Devastation to Houston Could Have Been Worse

The Houston Chronicle this weekend featured an article depicting the dangers of a Category 4 storm in the Houston-Galveston area. Experts predict such a storm could cause $374 billion in damages in Harris County. These damages only include those caused by wind—flooding is another issue. If a hurricane were to strike the Galveston Coast directly, its wind damage could affect neighboring counties for miles.

With hurricane season just around the corner it’s important to be aware of the possible dangers associated with them. In September 2008, Hurricane Ike smashed into the Gulf Coast, killing 20 people and causing $25 billion in damages. This hurricane initiated the largest search-and-rescue in United States history, as well as increased awareness for these unavoidable natural disasters.

In Lessons from Hurricane Ike (Texas A&M University Press, 2012) edited by Philip Bedient, the damages to the Houston-Galveston area are examined further. Bedient, a Herman Brown Professor of Engineering at Rice University, directs the research team at the Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters (SSPEED) Center. Incorporating SSPEED’s research with colorful maps and vivid photos, Bedient presents a straight-forward read on predicting and preparing for hurricanes.

“Ike revealed just how vulnerable the Houston-Galveston region is to a major storm, but Ike also helped us visualize the ‘worst-case’ storm scenario from our region,” said Bedient. “The main lesson from Ike is that we can avoid catastrophic damage from future storms if we choose to act.”

Although the last direct hit to Galveston was in 1915, it doesn’t mean it’s safe from further hurricane damage. Precautions are necessary for the upcoming summer of hurricane season. According to Bedient, if Hurricane Ike had hit 50 miles down the Texas Coast, damages would have quadrupled.

Lessons from Hurricane Ike shows that in the past decade there has been both increased hurricane activity and a higher incidence of powerful storms. Bedient gives a history of hurricanes affecting the Gulf Coast and methods for predicting and preparing for them. There is no telling what size storm will hit the Gulf Coast this summer; being informed and aware is necessary.

By: Madeline Loving

Texas A&M Press Remembers University's First Full-Time Female Professor, Author

Texas A&M University Press mourns the passing of Betty Unterberger, the first woman to join Texas A&M at the rank of full professor with tenure. Unterberger taught history for 36 years until her retirement in 2004.

She passed away May 15 in her College Station home, at the age of 89.

Unterberger, hired by the late General James Earl Rudder in 1968, was also the author of The United States, Revolutionary Russia, and the Rise of Czechoslovakia, published by Texas A&M University Press in 2000. Her classic study of the First World War and the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia examines Woodrow Wilson’s direction of U.S. policy toward Czechoslovakia, as it sought liberation in the early 20th Century.

Rudder asked Unterberger to help internationalize the history department and to build a graduate program. She became the first female in a full professorship at a formerly all-male college.

Unterberger taught Russian foreign policy and Communist China during the Cold War. In 1991, the College of Liberal Arts appointed her to the Patricia and Bookman Peters Professorship in History, which allowed her to accept an exchange professorship at Charles University in Prague in 1992. While there, she became one of the first Western scholars after the breakup of the Soviet Union to gain access to important historical documents.

Her trip there gave her the idea for her book The United States and the Russian Civil War: The Betty Miller Unterberger Collection of Documents which she felt was her “capstone research contribution to the field of American foreign affairs.”

Following her retirement from Texas A&M, she received a personal letter of appreciation for her service from Leon Panetta, the former director of the CIA.

Underberger received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Syracuse University in 1943, a Master of Arts degree from Harvard University in 1946 and a doctorate degree from Duke University in 1950. She began college on a forensics scholarship, but a citizenship course with Syracuse’s only female professor at the time incited her true passion.

A memorial service in her honor was held Sunday, May 20 at 2:00 in the All Faiths Chapel on campus.

Memorial donations may be made to the Texas A&M Foundation for the Betty Miller Unterberger Memorial Account, 401 George Bush Drive, College Station, Texas 77840. A Facebook page has also been set up for those who knew Unterberger to share their memories and photos.

"Letters to Alice" Launch Party

Authors Jane Clements Monday and Frances Brannen Vick

On Tuesday, May 8, Laura and Bob Wilson, Dub and Jane Roberts Wood, and Mel Crews and Thomas Adams hosted a launch party in Dallas for TAMU Press’s new book Letters to Alice: Birth of the Kleberg-King Ranch Dynasty written by Jane Monday and Fran Vick with a foreword by Thomas Kreneck.

In the summer of 1881, Robert Justus Kleberg rode across the hot, dusty South Texas brush country to the palatial home of Capt. Richard King to consult with the cattle baron about attending to his legal affairs. On that same journey, the young lawyer also first laid eyes on Alice King, “Princess of the Wild Horse Desert.” Neither of their lives would ever be the same.

Published for the first time in this book, the love letters written by Kleberg to Alice Gertrudis King provide a glimpse of the lives of two of the most influential people in Texas history. Letters to Alice: Birth of the Kleberg-King Ranch Dynasty represents the only existing collection of letters between any of the great Texas cattle barons and their wives. Although a great deal is already known about the ranch and its development, Monday and Vick present for the first time Robert Justus Kleberg’s personal perspective on his first meeting with Alice King, their early courtship, the difficulties obtaining her parents’ permission to marry, and the poignant time surrounding Captain King’s death.

Monday and Vick are the coauthors of the award-winning Petra’s Legacy: The South Texas Ranching Empire of Petra Vela and Mifflin Kenedy, published by Texas A&M University Press in 2007. Monday has served as chair of the Texas State University System Board of Regents and mayor of Huntsville, Texas, and is a distinguished alumna of the University of Texas at Austin. Vick, cofounder of the University of North Texas Press, has served as president of the Texas Institute of Letters and the Texas State Historical Association. She is also a Fellow of the Texas Folklore Society and president of the Philosophical Society of Texas.