Milam County Historical Commission
Milam County, Texas
Milam County, Texas
Final History column: ‘Thanks for the memories’
by Joy Graham
Rockdale Reporter - October 3, 2013
Editor’s Note: This is the final column by local historian Joy Graham
I liked Texas History in school. Growing up after World War II, I do remember attending the State Fair of Texas at age 13 with my family.
Growing up, I loved hearing my grandparents and great aunts and uncles telling how they grew up and what things were like back then.
My great grandparents who came to America were Simmons (French/English 1864), and Timmermans (German/Swiss, 1878.)
In 1996 the Milam County Courthouse restoration began fund raising for grant matching funds. I was contacted by KRXT to provide them with an update on the progress and I accepted.
The weekly article grew to KMIL in Cameron. The Rockdale Reporter was publishing names of donors purchasing bricks with family names as part of Milam County’s fund raising.
I began what I thought might be a 4-year project, and 17 years and 882 columns later “Bits of Milam County” was shared in Cameron, Rockdale, and Thorndale newspapers and the rest is history.
What an opportunity this was to communicate history carried by the radio and the newspapers! I am personally indebted to the sponsors of these efforts over this past 17 years.
All this is not to say that I had much experience, I was a novice, never had spoken on the radio or written a column for a newspaper but I did have 28 years of experience and some college courses, which gave me the education to share the history of Milam County. I am thankful for that.
I hope you remember that I‘ve enjoyed this part of my life, I loved doing the research, and interviewing people and getting to know about Texas history.
This time has flown by, and I apologize to my husband for spending time at the computer and researching information.
We have gained knowledge of our genealogy in doing research. What’s up for me in the future? God willing, I plan to publish a book “Bits of Milam County History, its Land and People.”
Milam County is a great place full of history. Again, thanks for the memories.
maryjoygraham@yahoo.com
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