By Gene Ballew, Recreation Manager
Explore the rich history of Texas A&M sports with Hall of Fame Aggie coaches R.C. Slocum and Mark Johnson at the Exploring History Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 21, at the Larry J. Ringer Library. The event also features other special guests, including longtime sports administrators John Thornton and Alan Cannon.
For many years, the City of College Station’s Historic Preservation Committee has conducted popular monthly luncheons featuring lectures and presentations about our rich local history. Aggie sports teams and athletes have been an essential part of that history, etching an indelible mark on the community’s landscape for 130 years.
Slocum was the head football coach from 1989-2002, becoming the winningest coach in A&M history. Before that, he served the university as an assistant coach for 16 seasons. Slocum was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2012 and was recently named interim athletics director.
Johnson was head baseball coach from 1985-2005, leading the Aggies to 13 postseason appearances and 1,043 wins. He was named National Coach of the Year in 1993 and is a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Thornton is a former all-conference basketball player who later served as an assistant coach, interim head coach, and associate athletic director. Cannon has served in the Athletics Communications office since 1981, including 35 years as director. He is a member of the College Sports Communicators Hall of Fame.
Attendance is free, but lunch is $10 per person. Lunch reservations are required by Friday, Feb. 16. You can reserve your lunch by calling 979-764-3486, visiting a park facility, or online. Payment is required at registration.
The taped lectures are broadcast on Suddenlink Channel 19, streamed online, and archived on the city’s YouTube page.
Upcoming History Luncheons
Much of Brazos County’s colorful past is preserved in fascinating documents, maps, and photos, but nothing matches history as told by those who lived it or the historians who studied it.
Here’s the remaining Exploring History Luncheon schedule:
| March 20 | College Station Southside 101, by Brad Lancaster |
| April 17 | CSISD History Students, by Caitlin Baumgarten |
Lunch reservations are required by the Friday before each event.
Historic Preservation Committee
The Historic Preservation Committee advocates preserving our area’s history to be enjoyed and recognized by future generations. The committee includes nine citizens appointed by the city council for two-year terms.
It meets on the first Monday of each month at 4 p.m. in the second-floor conference room of the Municipal Court building at 300 Krenek Tap Road.
For more information, call 979-764-3486 or email parks@cstx.gov.
About the Blogger
Gene Ballew has been with Parks and Recreation Department for 16 years and is in his second year as the recreation manager. He earned a bachelor’s degree in sport management from Texas A&M in 2008.
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