Texas History Book Featured at Book Signing

Arcadia Publishers, the premiere local history press, has published two titles which are a must for anyone who has an interest in the history of the Rio Grande Valley. Both books are filled with pictures from the archives of several local historical societies and private collections.

Join us at Paragraphs On Padre Boulevard, on Saturday June 12, 2010, for a book signing featuring San Benito and Charro Days in Brownsville, which are both part of the Arcadia Press, Images of America series.

There are two opportunities to meet those involved in publishing these books, first from 1 to 2 PM to have books signed and again, at 6 PM when there will be time for discussing the books, a short reading, and additional time for having books signed.

Refreshments will be provided.

Both sessions are free and open to the public.
No purchase is required to attend.

Book Description for "San Benito":
San Benito was built on the banks of a dry riverbed of the Rio Grande, called a resaca. Long ago, Coahuiltecan Indians made their home here, and Spanish land grant ranches flourished in the 1700s. The arrival of the railroad in 1904 brought a diverse group of pioneers from the Midwest in search of cheap and fertile land. These early settlers, together with descendents of Spanish colonizers, began an agricultural community. During his engineering surveys in 1903 for the proposed railroad connection to the rest of Texas, Sam Robertson realized the potential of the land. He envisioned an irrigation plan that would utilize the resacas to bring water from the Rio Grande and thus make arid ranch land into a garden. It was with this history and this dream that the little town of San Benito was created. San Benito is also home to entertainment--Conjunto Music began here--and it is the hometown of international singing star Freddy Fender and Olympic athlete Bobby Morrow.

Author Bio:
The San Benito Historical Society, founded in 1995, compiled this book with images from townspeople and from its own collection. The mission of the historical society is to chronicle, protect, and preserve the history and cultural heritage of San Benito.

Book Description for "Charro Days in Brownsville"
Brownsville, Texas, was established in 1850 on the banks of the Rio Grande. Every February since 1938, this thriving community of nearly 200,000 has joined its Mexican neighbor, Matamoros, to celebrate their shared cultural heritage. Charro Days burst upon the Rio Grande Valley scene in the depths of the Depression, bringing dances, parades, fireworks, boat races, and a rodeo to a dispirited populace. The celebration achieved instant success, followed by national recognition in magazines, radio, and television. Renowned dance bands and celebrities increased the enjoyment of revelers dressed in Charro costumes. As time passed, Charro Days evolved with the addition of events such as the Mr. Amigo presentation, which recognizes an outstanding Mexican, and the Sombrero Fest, which attracts a large number of attendees with its diverse entertainment.

Author Bio:
Anthony Knopp is an emeritus professor of history at the University of Texas at Brownsville and a former president of the Brownsville Historical Association. Manuel Medrano is also a professor of history at the University of Texas at Brownsville and a recognized expert on Mexican American history and culture. Priscilla Rodriguez is the executive director of the Brownsville Historical Association. Many of the photographs used in this history are from the archives of the Brownsville Historical Association.

Frank Yturria Booksigning at Paragraphs

Frank Yturria will discuss and sign “The Patriarch” on Friday November 6, 2009 beginning at 6:00 p.m.

The book “The Patriarch: The Remarkable Life and Extraordinary Times of Francisco Yturria" tells the story of Francisco “Don Pancho" Yturria, an authentic Texas giant and business baron who shaped South Texas.

Penned by his great grandson, Frank Yturria, and published by UTB/TSC, this book is based on never-before published family documents and stories and provides a fascinating and intimate look at one of South Texas founding fathers.

Pancho Yturria’s legacy includes a vast archive of business and personal papers that his great-grandson, Frank Yturria, has mined – along with family sources – to produce The Patriarch, a richly – detailed and often heart – stopping portrait of this singular figure in Texas history. Not only does Frank trace the birth and progress of his great grandfather’s career in commerce, he also serves up a rare, first – person witness to the Lower Rio Grande Valley’s bare – knuckle political history, its many bloody conflicts, as well as the internal narrative of the Yturria family itself, a bittersweet saga of high drama, humor, adventure and, on occasion, utter heartbreak.

"The Patriarch" is both a gripping epic and a unique look at an exceptionable man and his extraordinary times.

Book sale profits benefit the Arnulfo. L. Oliveira Literary Society and support the development of UTB/TSC’s John H. Hunter Archives and Special Collections Room. “I want to support the Hunter Room because that’s where all the history of the area is collected, Frank Yturria stated. Yturria further elaborated that “Brownsville has been declared the most historical city in Texas, next to San Antonio, yet we have people living in Brownsville who don’t know much at all about our rich heritage."

Anyone interested in the history of South Texas or the Rio Grande Valley should try to make this event. I am looking forward to it.

First Thursday - Book Signing

We will be having our inaugural

"First Thursday--An Evening with the Author"

tomorrow, October 1, 2009, beginning at 6:00p.m.

Dr. Regesh will be on hand to discuss and sign his provocative book:

Saint Paul, The First Antichrist-- Deception and Dogma

The book that changes everything.

Dr. John Ben Regesh shares a fascinating revelation of his own as he closely examines ancient scripture to expose what he sees to be the fraudulent teachings of one of the most influential ‘Christians’ in history.

By laying out the writings of Saint Paul and comparing relevant passages with the teachings of Jesus Christ, Dr. Regesh reveals where he sees the error of Paul’s teachings without conjecture, theory, or supposition.

Using passages from the Bible, Regesh's indictment against Paul is constructed before your very eyes. The truth of this book stands against any attack and promises to cause a whirlwind of controversy and consternation throughout Christianity.

You will also be introduced to concepts like the eighth day of creation, moving from darkness to light and death to life, the Creation Continuum, and how John 21 is actually the demotion of Peter from leader of the Church. Finally, the true reason that Christmas is on the 25th of December.


About the Author:

Growing up in a strict Roman Catholic family, Dr. John Ben Regesh, J.D., spent most of his life studying theology and scripture, including successfully translating the New Testament from Latin. Dr. Regesh has practiced law since 1977 and preached the last ten years to a small but active congregation. He is the Archbishop of The Christian Church in Texas and is currently working on his next book that explains the true teachings of Jesus Christ and the Law.

I found his presentation to be well-reasoned and logical although I cannot say that I am convinced of the premise which Dr. Regesh spells out in the pages of this book. But, in honor of Banned Books Week, I found myself returning to my tattered old Catholic Study Bible and rereading the often difficult letters of Paul. The wonderful thing about being presented with ideas that challenge our way of thinking is we are forced to reevaluate and utilize our critical and analytical skills, which is a habit often neglected in favor of the quick sound bite or comfortable opinion.

Hopefully, we will see some of you tomorrow night. Stop by to meet this fascinating local author, enjoy a glass of wine and some interesting conversation.

Saturday Booksigning - Ruslan of Malaysia

I attended the book signing held at the Library Reading Room Saturday afternoon, even though I had never heard of, and knew nothing about the subject of the biography written by Roy Davis Linville Jumper and published by CDR Press, South Padre Island, Texas. However the enthusiasm of Dr. Jumper for Edmund Colin Ritson Dewsnup - an Englishman who converted to Islam and became known thereafter as Ruslan, following the tradition of shortening to a single word his full Islamic name, Mohamed Ruslan bin Abdullah Iskander - was contagious.

I brought home my copy of Ruslan of Malaysia,The Man Behind the Domino that Didn't Fall, and set aside my other reading to begin this fascinating story about the man who led a counter-insurgency against the communist infiltration of Malaysia. Admittedly, Jumper, who has studied the political situation of Malaysia and taught political science in the Navy Pace Program, comes at his subject from a perspective with which, while recognizing my limited knowledge of the history of this region, I may not completely share. That being said, he writes in an easily understood, conversational tone that makes the book an informative, interesting and yet enjoyable read.

To quote from the back cover the book is:

The life story of a courageous Englishman who conceived the plan to arm Orang Asli tribesmen to fight communism in the Anglo-Malayan Emergency, converted to Islam and then with renewed zeal and singular focus in a bloody sequel, the shadowy Second Emergency, led his troopers into the country's jungle interior killing the insurgents one-by-one. In sum, this book makes the effort necessary to secure for posterity Ruslan's many accomplishments. Through it others may, now that Malaysia is after years of struggle strong and well on the way to being an advanced, fully developed country, know him as the man behind the domino that didn't fall. By comparison when one considers the buckets of blood that drenched Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, there but by the merciful all-knowing will of Allah, through Ruslan, goes Malaysia.

Dr. Jumper's parents are residents of South Padre Island and meeting them just reconfirmed my belief that this island attracts fascinating people from all walks of life. Their experiences, living and working in the middle and far east, would be an interesting topic for a future lecture or discussion series. They obviously passed their passion for the region on to the author who:

...has traveled throughout Asia and sailed the Pacific Rim teaching political science in the U.S. Navy Pace Program. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, he spent his boyhood in Beirut, Lebanon, where he attended the American Community School. He studied public law at the University of Dijon, France, and holds B.A. (French Language), M.A. (Public Administration) and Ph.D. (Political Science) degrees from major universities in the United States. His publications include Death Waits in the Dark: The Senoi Praaq, Malaysia's Killer Elite (Greenwood Press, 2001); Orang Asli Now: the Orang Asli in the Malaysian Political World (University Press of America, 1999); and Power and Politics: The Story of Malaysia's Orang Asli (University Press of America, 1997).

If you enjoy history or biography, this is a fast-paced book which covers the political and military situation sufficiently to provide context to Ruslan's story, but does not overwhelm the reader with historical nuance. Each chapter closes with footnotes which cite the interviews or source documents used by the author.

I'm going to go finish reading my copy right now. If this book sounds interesting to you, the South Padre Island Reading Room should have a copy.