By LORETTA FULTON The Grace Museum decked out in elegance, a marquee style CONGRATS sign topped with black and silver balloons, a professional photographer snapping party pics–it all added up to gala occasion. “Mary Cooksey Day in Abilene, Texas” was certainly that. A proclamation from the mayor’s office–read by the mayor himself–made it official. Jan 27, 2022, was designated as
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By JIM NICHOLS I first met my future mother-in-law when I was in high school. She thought I was funny and clever, and I thought the same about her. As I hung around the house for years pursuing her daughter, we developed two questions/statements we would make to each other. Each elicited a predictable response. My statement to her was
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CURTIS HOUSE CULTURAL CENTERThe center houses photos, newspaper and magazine articles, and other documents and memorabilia depicting the contributions of Black residents to Abilene’s history. Contact Andrew Penns to schedule a group tour during Black History Month630 Washington St.Monday-Saturday 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.Admission is by donation325-518-4604 By LORETTA FULTON Andrew Penns is used to hearing the words, “I didn’t know that,” but
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Wendy Kilmer, wendy.kilmer@acu.eduDirector of Communications and Media Relations Guest speakers, a prayer walk, a lecture series and several student activities are slated for February as part of Black History Month at Abilene Christian University. Feb. 1 – An outdoor prayer event organized by the Carl Spain Center on Race Studies and Spiritual Action will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the
Read moreBy PHILIP LeMASTERS With the support of the Lilly Fellows Program and the Abilene Interfaith Council, the Department of Religion and Philosophy of McMurry University is sponsoring three lectures on “Coptic-Muslim Interactions Across the Centuries” Feb. 7 and 8. The lectures will be presented by Bishop Anba Suriel, Ph.D. Bishop Suriel serves in the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Los Angeles
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Last week’s piece about misstatements on the radio–as well as other communication boondoggles–resulted in readers’ contributions of foul-ups they’ve either heard of or experienced. Revisiting the topic allows me to give due credit to one Rev. William Archibald Spooner, a 19th century English preacher. He often found himself in “verbal muddles,” typically transposing words, letters
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By JIM NICHOLS Odors or aromas are apparently closely connected to our brain memory centers. Popcorn may connect us quickly to some sports event. Freshly baked cookies may transport us back to another time and place in our family. One whiff of mimeograph ink and I am sitting at a wooden desk in a school classroom again. Mimeograph ink? What
Read moreBy MARIANNE WOOD A painting that I encountered at The Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth when I was teaching AP Art History gave me a new perspective on the power of art. And with it came a renewed sense of God’s care for me as an artist and art appreciator. I’d seen this work in books and online, but
Read moreBy DANNY MINTON “I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to earth.” (John F. Kennedy, before Congress, May 25, 1961) “We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the
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Spirit Of Abilene 