On October 25, 1938…
the Houston Branch of the USNA Alumni Association held their first, formal meeting at the Hotel Stratford. Although the branch had loosely been in existence before this date, it was considered “inactive”, and was formally established per requirements until this date. Members in attendance at the first meeting were Geisenhoff, N. H. ’13; Whistenford, Chas. ’21; Parrott, J.H. ’23; Spangler, J.B. ’23; Randolph, A.K. ’24; Wallace, A.B. ’26; Blank, C.F. ’26; Schirmeyer, T.G. ’27; and Worth, F.R. ’37.
From the December 1938 Shipmate article [re: October meeting]… Whiteford, Randolph, and Parrott recently located in Houston and we were pleased to have them at the meeting. There are about fifteen Naval Academy Alumni in Houston ranging from Mr. Maxey’s class, 1884, to Felix Davis, 1939. A.F. Carter, 1905, and D.W. Moore, 1921, are associated with oil companies located in Houston, but found it impossible to attend our first meeting.
U.S.S. Arkansas visited Galveston for Navy Day and some of the Houston Alumni made a trip to Galveston to visit classmates and friends in the regular Navy. Lt. E.W. Lamons, ’27, now on the U.S.S. Arkansas, spent the week-end with his former roommate, T.G. Schirmeyer, ’27, who is practicing law in Houston. It has been about ten years since they had the occasion to see each other. By the way, Lamons has only been married about four weeks. Logan, ’26, is visiting his folds at Houston. He is on thirty-day leave after serving a tour of duty in the Asiatics. Michaux, ’22 is expected to spend some time with his relatives in Houston in a few weeks when he returns to the States from Asiatic duty.
We are very anxious to have Naval Academy Alumni in this vicinity get in touch with the Houston Branch. This can be done by calling the Secretary, T.G. Schirmeyer, either at his home or at his office. All itinerant Academy men passing through Houston are urged to check in with the Houston Branch because it is always possible to get several of the members together and make your visit a pleasant one. For information concerning the Houston Branch, communicate with T.G. Schirmeyer, Cotton Exchange Bldg.
Other interesting chapter facts:
- First President: J. B. Spanger, ’23
- Chapter changed from “Houston” to “Texas Gulf Coast” in 1 quarter 1975
TxGC MEMBERS ALWAYS GET $5 OFF!
- Advance purchase online: $30 ($25 for TxGC members)
- Week-of-event & walk-ups*: $35 ($30 for TxGC members)
- *if seats available
- TxGC Member discount is provided by a discount code via member-only newsletter
- TxGC Membership is only $10/year… join today
MENU
- Ice tea, water, soda, cash bar
- Choice of Sicilian salad or Mama’s gumbo
- Choice of entree
- Chicken John Kim: grilled chicken topped in mushrooms, roasted peppers, white wine butter sauce
- Penne Pasta with Meat Sauce: traditional penne pasta with Mama’s slow cooked meat sauce
- Blacked Trout: filet topped with etoufee served with red-skinned mashed potatoes and vegetables
- Choice of chocolate cake or cheesecake
Featured Speaker: Richard W. Murray, Ph.D.
We usually call on Richard Murray when an election is near and politics are on our mind. Certainly that is the case now, and Richard will weigh in on the Kavanaugh//Ford situation, as well as his views on everything from Beto v. Cruz to other key state and national races.
Bob Lanier Chair in Urban Public Policy, Department of Political Science, University of Houston
Director, Survey Research Institute, University of Houston Center for Public Policy
Richard Murray is a native of Louisiana with B.A. and M.A. degrees in Government from Louisiana State University (1962, 1963) and a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Minnesota (1967). Dr. Murray has taught at the University of Houston since 1966, and is the Bob Lanier Chair in Urban Public Policy. After serving as the Director of the University of Houston Center for Public Policy for over nine years, he is now concentrating on the Center’s polling operations as the Director of the Survey Research Institute.
His academic interests are in Houston and Texas politics, focusing on campaigns and elections, political parties and interest groups, and public opinion. Professor Murray has written extensively in these areas including co-authoring Texas Politics: An Introduction (6 Editions, 1972-1992), and Progrowth Politics: Change and Governance in Houston (1991), while teaching courses ranging from graduate seminars to introductory American Government.
Professor Murray has previously consulted in more than 200 political campaigns. He conducts polls for The Houston Chronicle, other media, and local governments, and is the political commentator for the local ABC affiliate, KTRK-TV, Channel 13. In addition, his analyses and commentary are carried by television and radio, as well as print media such as The New York Times, Washington Post, L.A. Times, and The Houston Chronicle.
Professor Murray is married to Deborah Hartman, public relations consultant, and has three sons and one grandson.
The TxGC continues their partnership with the Rotary Club, and West Point Club of Greater Houston, in honoring Veterans on Veterans Day. This year the TxGC is partnering with Downtown Rotary Club of Houston’s inaugural SALUTE TO VETERANS LUNCH.
- Largest Veterans Day lunch in downtown Houston
- Keynote speaker, LGEN Steven A. Hummer, USMC (Ret)
- Entertainment by High School for the Performing & Visual Arts Student Voices
- Wednesday November 7, 11:00am @ the Ballroom at Bayou Place (500 Texas Ave)
- $75 per person- proceeds benefit Houston Veterans
- Check-in 7:30 AM
- Shotgun start 8:00 AM
- Lunch & awards 12:30 PM
- Private room, sports TV, drinks
- Two man (Pair scramble). Army vs. Navy Pairs.
- Each foursome will consist of two pairings – one Navy and one Army.
- The pairings will compete within their foursome as well as overall
- Bogie is your friend
- Pairings and pairing opponents are established for fair competition via handicap calculation by Rick Bush USNA ’69 (rpb2801@att.net or 832.282.7512)
- Pairings per balanced handicap is designed to foster networking and camaraderie. Meet someone new! However, If you have a preferred pairing partner, feel free to request him/her.
- Longest Drive = 2 chances to win
- Closest to the Hole = 2 chances to win
- Army vs Navy Winner will be determined by # of Navy pairings wins vs. # of Army pairings wins. Winning Society will hold the trophy until next year.
- Low Pair Score Overall = 1 winner and holder of trophy until next tournament Second and Third Low Pair Winners
Register as an Individual = $75.00
Lunch ONLY, NO GOLF = $20.00
Sponsor a Hole for $250.00
Sponsor the Tournament for $500.00
(includes one green fee)
Donations for door prizes welcome!
Tuesday, November 6th, 2018
The official party of the USNA AA Tx Gulf Coast Chapter & West Point Club of Greater Houston
- Presented by Combined Arms
- Saturday December 8, 12:00 to 16:30
- Warehouse Live! 813 St. Emanuel Street, Houston
- Free for all to attend
- Food & Drink Specials
- Prizes & raffle
- Donations & Sponsorships welcome – benefits Combined Arms (a Veterans Service Organization, 501c3), the USNA AA TxGC Foundation (a 501c3), & West Point Club of Greater Houston
- Please RSVP (or donate) via the green button
On Saturday, December 8, Combined Arms will welcome the greater Houston community—veterans, active military and civilians alike—for a family friendly afternoon including games, food, craft beer and football. This game is a show of mutual respect and solidarity, and a time for veterans United After The Uniform to come together with non-military and celebrate our city, our traditions and our country.The event will start at 12:00 at Warehouse Live, with the official game kickoff at 2:00.
![Smith-McCool Award Lunch @ Taste of Texas](https://txgulfcoast.usnachapters.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2018/11/Atlantis-Shuttle-Ship-300x182.jpg)
In January, each year, the TxGC Foundation awards the Smith-McCool Sword to the Midshipment from the Chapter area, with the highest order-of-merit, going into their First Class year. The sword, is named after astronaut Michael Smith ’67, who was lost in the Challenger disaster, and astronaut William McCool ’83, who was lost int he Columbia disaster.
For the graduating class of 2019, we’re proud to award Midn 1/c Francis Kim of Clear Lake High School. Link to full biography
Presenting Astronaut, and keynote by Sunita Williams (Captain, US Navy, Ret.) NASA Astronaut. Link to full biography
TxGC MEMBERS ALWAYS GET $5 OFF!
- Advance purchase online: $30 ($25 for TxGC members)
- Week-of-event & walk-ups*: $35 ($30 for TxGC members)
- *if seats available
- TxGC Member discount is provided by a discount code via member-only newsletter
- TxGC Membership is only $10/year… join today
TxGC MEMBERS ALWAYS GET $5 OFF!
- Advance purchase online: $30 ($25 for TxGC members)
- Week-of-event & walk-ups*: $35 ($30 for TxGC members)
- *if seats available
- TxGC Member discount is provided by a discount code via member-only newsletter
- TxGC Membership is only $10/year… join today
MENU
- Ice tea, water, soda, cash bar
- Choice of Sicilian salad or Mama’s gumbo
- Choice of entree
- Chicken John Kim: grilled chicken topped in mushrooms, roasted peppers, white wine butter sauce
- Penne Pasta with Meat Sauce: traditional penne pasta with Mama’s slow cooked meat sauce
- Blacked Trout: filet topped with etoufee served with red-skinned mashed potatoes and vegetables
- Choice of chocolate cake or cheesecake
GUEST SPEAKER
Anne Keene is the author of The Cloudbusters.
75 years ago the New York Yankees won the 1943 World Series but they were beaten by a Navy “fighter pilot” team known as the Cloudbuster Nine with Red Sox legend Ted Williams. As a child, Anne Keene’s father, Jim Raugh, (a future minor-league Detroit Tigers player) suited up as the Navy team’s batboy. Seven decades later a trunk revealed the untold story of this team manned by greats from the Yankees, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Detroit Tigers and every other big-league team. Learn about “Greatest Generation” heroes in this narrative including: Babe Ruth, Presidents George H. W. Bush and Gerald “Jerry” Ford; astronauts John Glenn and Scott Carpenter; and Alabama’s Paul “Bear” Bryant.
Keene has written about THE CLOUDBUSTERS in the New York Times, and her book was listed among the top 20 selling summer sports books on Amazon. Keene has spoken at the Texas Book Festival, and has been on tour in Boston, Dallas, North Carolina, and New York. She’s also been a keynote speaker at the South Carolina- Palmetto Chapter of the USNAAA, and will be speaking at the Los Angeles and San Diego Chapters.
Come join us, and meet your fellow SETX area Alumni. No-host style lunch (pay your own way). Bring a guest. RSVP via email or text to John Augusto, or RSVP on our Facebook page to help us reserve the right size table.
TxGC MEMBERS ALWAYS GET $5 OFF!
- Advance purchase online: $30 ($25 for TxGC members)
- Week-of-event & walk-ups*: $35 ($30 for TxGC members)
- *if seats available
- TxGC Member discount is provided by a discount code via member-only newsletter
- TxGC Membership is only $10/year… join today
MENU
- Ice tea, water, soda, cash bar
- Choice of Sicilian salad or Mama’s gumbo
- Choice of entree
- Chicken John Kim: grilled chicken topped in mushrooms, roasted peppers, white wine butter sauce
- Penne Pasta with Meat Sauce: traditional penne pasta with Mama’s slow cooked meat sauce
- Blacked Trout: filet topped with etoufee served with red-skinned mashed potatoes and vegetables
- Choice of chocolate cake or cheesecake
GUEST SPEAKER: Dr. Joseph Thomas, USNA
Joe is a graduate of Marine Corps Command and Staff College and a past recipient of the MajGen Merrit A. Edson Leadership Award, the Marine Corps Association Research and Writing Award, and the Col Donald Cook Distinguished Graduate Award of Command and Control Systems School. He is a former elected school board member, a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7293 and American Legion Post 739 Whitehall PA, and is involved in a variety of community services.
His research interests involve experiential leadership development in austere and remote environments and he has advised student research for Rhodes, Mitchell, and Fulbright Scholarships. Joe has served as the Faculty Representative to the USNA Mountaineering Club, is a certified Wilderness First Responder and liaison to and instructor for the National Outdoor Leadership School in Lander, WY. He has led trekking expeditions to the Tibetan Himalayas, South Africa, Mongolia, Mt. Ararat in Turkey, Peruvian Andes, Vietnam, Morocco, Jordan, and elsewhere. Joe speaks on the topics of leadership and ethics regularly throughout the US, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
The author of numerous articles on the subjects of command and control, military training and education, and leadership, his published books include, Leadership Education for Marines (UMI Press), Leadership Embodied (The US Naval Institute Press, 1st and 2nd Editions), Naval Leadership Capstone (McGraw-Hill), Leadership Explored (AcademX), and Leadership and Ethics Discussion Guide for Marines (Marine Corps University Press). He co-published chapters in Leadership in Dangerous Situations (USNI Press) with colleagues from West Point, the US Air Force Academy, and the NYPD and Perspectives on Modern Honor (Lexington Press). Joe’s education includes an M.S.Sc. from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, a M.S.S. from the US Army War College, a Ph.D. from George Mason University, and Certificate in Public Leadership from the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC.
TxGC MEMBERS ALWAYS GET $5 OFF!
- Advance purchase online: $30 ($25 for TxGC members)
- Week-of-event & walk-ups*: $35 ($30 for TxGC members)
- *if seats available
- TxGC Member discount is provided by a discount code via member-only newsletter
- TxGC Membership is only $10/year… join today
MENU
- Ice tea, water, soda, cash bar
- Choice of Sicilian salad or Mama’s gumbo
- Choice of entree
- Chicken John Kim: grilled chicken topped in mushrooms, roasted peppers, white wine butter sauce
- Penne Pasta with Meat Sauce: traditional penne pasta with Mama’s slow cooked meat sauce
- Blacked Trout: filet topped with etoufee served with red-skinned mashed potatoes and vegetables
- Choice of chocolate cake or cheesecake
GUEST SPEAKER: Mike Matson ‘06
Are you ready for a motivational lunch?! Ready to meet a bad ass? Mike Matson has made a name for himself as an adventurer, most notably earning two Guinness World Records skippering a three-man rowboat over 3,200 miles across the Atlantic! Mike’s love of ocean adventure began at the US Naval Academy, where he first learned how to sail as a crew member of a Navy 44′ MKI visiting ports along the US Eastern Seaboard. Mike was also a member of the Men’s Heavyweight Crew team, the Trap & Skeet team, and completed two marathons. After leaving the Navy, Mike returned home to Houston and became a volunteer firefighter/emergency medical technician in the City of Stafford while simultaneously earning a doctorate in Chemistry from Rice University. As a new professor, Mike authored Inorganic Chemistry for Dummies and taught undergraduate classes at the local University of Houston-Downtown. When his research shifted from biomedical applications to shale oil extraction, Mike transitioned into the oil and gas industry and currently he is a drilling engineer with Kinder Morgan CO2. Mike first met his wife, Sami, in 7th grade, and they now have two happy, healthy Scouts (Morgan, a Brownie, and Cooper, a Bear) that love living in the Heights. When not at his desk downtown, Mike is likely found weight lifting atCrossFit Live Oak in Montrose with Brian.