Milam County Historical Commission
Milam County, Texas
Milam County, Texas
Milam County Historical Commission
Milam County, Texas
Milam County, Texas
Requests for Info
Received via Website
Received via Website
1
2016-04-17
Cindy
cindy6246(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
150 County Road 481
Thrall, Texas 76578
2five4-56three-6zero95
My uncle is 98 years old. He is still sharp as a tack and his mind is a steel trap! He served honorably in
World War 2 and has amazing stories to tell. His health is deteriorating. He would love to have someone hear
his stories. Maybe record for prosperity.
Graham Dickerson
2694 S FM 486
Thorndale, Texas 76577
512-898-2188
*****
2016-04-17
Standard email reply sent to Cindy - email forwarded to MCHC members, MCGS and others.
*****
2016-04-17
Hello Cindy,
I had the honor of interviewing your uncle, at his home, for a submission in the Texas Historical Commission,
Oral History Program, Texans in World War II, on July 12th, 2013. The transcribed folder also included a list
of the medals(and photo's of the same) that he was awarded prior to his discharge on December 5th, 1945.
I also recorded the interview with an additional inexpensive recorder which I presented to Graham as a gift
for allowing me to have the honor of interviewing him. He also received a copy of the interview in a folder
with a clear cover. I still hold an 18 page handwritten transcript of the interview as well as another typed
copy of the interview in the same aforementioned folder. I would be happy to provide a copy of the above
folder for you.
My wife, Beth, and I attend Pleasant Retreat UMC with Graham and also visited with him while he was seeking
medical care in Taylor this past week. I'll visit with him tomorrow morning, if he's feeling up to it, and see
what he has in mind for recording stories. I believe that this should be done in numerous short recording
sessions due to his current fragile health condition.
For the reader of this post who may not know of the character of this fine gentleman, I'd like to share an
incident that happened at Alcoa power plant in the mid 1950's. My father in law, Leroy Guillote, was a welder
working aloft on a scaffold that was improperly assembled by another individual. It failed and "Pop" fell 65
feet while landing standing up and causing serious injury. Graham and Mr. Frank Felton rushed to his
assistance. It was necessary to lash him to one of the same scaffold boards so that he could be lifted up and
out of the coffer dam to the awaiting ambulance. He and Frank forever endeared themselves to the Guillote
family. That's the kind of mettle of which Graham Dickerson is made!.
Sincerely,
Jack Brooks
bjohnr2010(AT)hotmail(DOT)com
*****
2016-04-18
Good morning Cindy, my name is Geri Burnett. Iam the chairman of the Milam County Historical Commission. We
would love to be able to interview your uncle. I live in Rockdale and have for almost 50 years, so I'm close
by. What days and times would be good for Mr. Dickerson?
Thank you for letting us know about your uncle's willingness to share his stories! For the last few years we
have tried to get the stories of WWII veterans, but sadly many are not with any more or don't want to share
their stories.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
Geri Burnett
Milam County Historical Commission
*****
Please scroll down for more comments...
Photos courtesy of
Jack Brooks
Jack Brooks
*****
2016-04-18
James Brymer
brymerfabAT)yahoo(DOT)com
I know Graham and live just a few miles from him. I am Pastor of Conoley Community Church on the south-west part of the county. I would love to record the many tales that Graham has to share. Graham was in the hospital just a few days ago and he is not doing well. I will let you know if he wants to share.
Pastor James Brymer
*****
2016-04-18
Peggy Wright
peggy(DOT)pj(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Cindy, this is a wonderful idea. I have heard that when a person dies, a book is lost. In this case, some of it could be captured. This would be right down my alley if I were younger and lived closer.
Charlie McGregor, the Rockdale radio station manager, sometimes records short stories for broadcast. This
would be local enough for his audience.
Graham and his family used Dr Richards in Rockdale when I worked their. He was a handsome man with a beautiful family. If I remember correctly, he had a son and a daughter.
Please tell him hello from Dr Richards receptionist 'Ms Peggy'. And I could love to hear Graham's stories if they are recorded.
Peggy Wright
peggy.pj@gmail.com
*****
2016-04-18
I have forwarded this email to the Rockdale City Manager, Chris Whittaker. Chris is retired Army and active in the Rockdale American Legion and VFW -- I feel sure Chris will also pass this along....
Joyce Dalley
joyatpb(AT)aol(DOT)com
*****
2016-04-18
Geri Burnett
geriburnett(AT)sbcglobal(DOT)net
Good morning Cindy, My name is Geri Burnett. I am the chairman of the Milam County Historical Commission.
We would love to be able to interview your uncle. I live in Rockdale and have for almost 50 years, so I'm close by. What days and times would be good for Mr. Dickerson?
Thank you for letting us know about your uncle's willingness to share his stories! For the last few years we have tried to get the stories of WWII veterans, but sadly many are not with any more or don't want to share their stories.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
Geri Burnett
Milam County Historical Commission
*****
2016-04-19
Cindy,
I attempted to visit w/ Graham yesterday morning but found S FM 486 barricaded since the Brushy Creek was out due to local flooding. When I then called him, he was having weather related issues with his telephone and we were struggling to hear one another. He said that he wasn't interested in an interview at this time. Due to the poor connection, we ended the call at that time.
I wasn't planning to do the interview at that time, just lining it up. Would you reconfirm that this is something that he would like to do and advise. I see that numerous others have also offered to interview him. I commend them all for their care and concern of Graham.
Thank you.
Jack Brooks
*****
Charlene Olbrich - The Thorndale Champion - June 9, 2016
"I hope you got to read the great article on Graham Dickerson, Class of 1935 in the Rockdale Reporter. There was even a small picture of Graham in the article. He played sports in the early 1930s for Thorndale and was a true Bulldog. His thoughts brought to mind a story my dad told and we have the pictures and news articles to prove it. He played basketball for Locker, Texas and they played bare footed on dirt. They won their games and went on to the state playoffs and remember this was in the late 1920s. They had to borrow shoes and uniforms to play in. I don't remember if they won or lost, but such a story. Back to Graham's memories. His team included Bob Clark, Class of 1935; Alex Conoley, Class of 1936; Clarence Stelzer, Class of 1935; James Terry, Class of 1933; Hollis Fields, Class of 1934; and Harry Wayne Clark, Class of 1934. The reason I mention the names of these teammates is that sadly they are all deceased except Graham. They all served their country in World War II. Now isn't that patriotic here in the Memorial Day week. Graham's grandson, Bradley Dickerson and wife, Jennie, are expecting their 3rd child and plan to name him Graham. One of Graham's coffee drinking buddies heard about this and said, "Oh my God, there is going to be a Graham Dickerson around here forever." Graham says "if my mind goes, I want my body to have gone the day before". We would like to keep you around forever, Graham".
Thanks to Jack Brooks for sending this article.
*****
.
2016-04-18
James Brymer
brymerfabAT)yahoo(DOT)com
I know Graham and live just a few miles from him. I am Pastor of Conoley Community Church on the south-west part of the county. I would love to record the many tales that Graham has to share. Graham was in the hospital just a few days ago and he is not doing well. I will let you know if he wants to share.
Pastor James Brymer
*****
2016-04-18
Peggy Wright
peggy(DOT)pj(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Cindy, this is a wonderful idea. I have heard that when a person dies, a book is lost. In this case, some of it could be captured. This would be right down my alley if I were younger and lived closer.
Charlie McGregor, the Rockdale radio station manager, sometimes records short stories for broadcast. This
would be local enough for his audience.
Graham and his family used Dr Richards in Rockdale when I worked their. He was a handsome man with a beautiful family. If I remember correctly, he had a son and a daughter.
Please tell him hello from Dr Richards receptionist 'Ms Peggy'. And I could love to hear Graham's stories if they are recorded.
Peggy Wright
peggy.pj@gmail.com
*****
2016-04-18
I have forwarded this email to the Rockdale City Manager, Chris Whittaker. Chris is retired Army and active in the Rockdale American Legion and VFW -- I feel sure Chris will also pass this along....
Joyce Dalley
joyatpb(AT)aol(DOT)com
*****
2016-04-18
Geri Burnett
geriburnett(AT)sbcglobal(DOT)net
Good morning Cindy, My name is Geri Burnett. I am the chairman of the Milam County Historical Commission.
We would love to be able to interview your uncle. I live in Rockdale and have for almost 50 years, so I'm close by. What days and times would be good for Mr. Dickerson?
Thank you for letting us know about your uncle's willingness to share his stories! For the last few years we have tried to get the stories of WWII veterans, but sadly many are not with any more or don't want to share their stories.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
Geri Burnett
Milam County Historical Commission
*****
2016-04-19
Cindy,
I attempted to visit w/ Graham yesterday morning but found S FM 486 barricaded since the Brushy Creek was out due to local flooding. When I then called him, he was having weather related issues with his telephone and we were struggling to hear one another. He said that he wasn't interested in an interview at this time. Due to the poor connection, we ended the call at that time.
I wasn't planning to do the interview at that time, just lining it up. Would you reconfirm that this is something that he would like to do and advise. I see that numerous others have also offered to interview him. I commend them all for their care and concern of Graham.
Thank you.
Jack Brooks
*****
Charlene Olbrich - The Thorndale Champion - June 9, 2016
"I hope you got to read the great article on Graham Dickerson, Class of 1935 in the Rockdale Reporter. There was even a small picture of Graham in the article. He played sports in the early 1930s for Thorndale and was a true Bulldog. His thoughts brought to mind a story my dad told and we have the pictures and news articles to prove it. He played basketball for Locker, Texas and they played bare footed on dirt. They won their games and went on to the state playoffs and remember this was in the late 1920s. They had to borrow shoes and uniforms to play in. I don't remember if they won or lost, but such a story. Back to Graham's memories. His team included Bob Clark, Class of 1935; Alex Conoley, Class of 1936; Clarence Stelzer, Class of 1935; James Terry, Class of 1933; Hollis Fields, Class of 1934; and Harry Wayne Clark, Class of 1934. The reason I mention the names of these teammates is that sadly they are all deceased except Graham. They all served their country in World War II. Now isn't that patriotic here in the Memorial Day week. Graham's grandson, Bradley Dickerson and wife, Jennie, are expecting their 3rd child and plan to name him Graham. One of Graham's coffee drinking buddies heard about this and said, "Oh my God, there is going to be a Graham Dickerson around here forever." Graham says "if my mind goes, I want my body to have gone the day before". We would like to keep you around forever, Graham".
Thanks to Jack Brooks for sending this article.
*****
.
Graham Dickerson