You might have heard that in recent days due to lack of support, the Morton Museum had to cancel their sponsorship of a two-day commemoration for the 150th anniversary of the Great Hanging at Gainesville, 1862-2012. It included educational bus tours, renowned authors and speakers, and a Civil War era ball on October 12-13, 2012 at the Civic Center.


The Clark family would like to extend a warm invitation for you to join them on October 13, as they will now host commemorative events to honor the 150th anniversary. Two days ago, the Texas State Historical Association and North Central Texas College, deemed they would like to participate and co-partner with the Clark family in remembering Cooke County's Civil War experience.


Remembering Our Past, Embracing Our Future
October 1862 - 2012
This year marks the 150th year since the Great Hanging at Gainesville. The Clark Family in collaboration with the Texas State Historical Association and the Honors Program at North Central Texas College, invite you to join them for commemorative events, special guests and catered luncheon on

Saturday, October 13, 2012 at the Civic Center

311 S. Weaver St, Gainesville, Texas



8:30am – 12:30pm
Speakers – Richard McCaslin, Leon Russell,
Ron Melugin and L.D. Clark

12:30pm
Catered Luncheon – Rohmer’s Restaurant
$7.00 adult, $3.00 children under 10

3:30pm – 4:30pm
Clark Cemetery
Intersection Clark Rd and CR220
Sons of the Union Veterans-Color Guard/Rifle Ceremony

5pm
Clark-Carri Farm
629 Clark Rd Gainesville
Hor d’ oeuvres & Bonfire

Special Guests
· Richard McCaslin, PhD is the University of North Texas Department of History Chairman. He earned his BA from Delta State University, MA from Louisiana State University and PhD from The University of Texas at Austin and has authored Tainted Breeze: The Great Hanging at Gainesville, Texas, 1862.

· Leon Russell, born in 1928, three miles East of Gainesville considered it home until enlisting in the Army Air Corp at the age seventeen 17. Fueled by his motivation and complete disapproval of the cloak of secrecy surrounding the hangings, and the lack of the proper recognition of the injustice to the slain and their families, he successfully influenced the city of Gainesville to allow the first commemoration in Georgia Bass Park in 2007. His mission was to honor those citizens who tragically lost their lives in 1862.

· Ron Melugin, Professor of Government, NCTC; chairman of Cooke County Historical Commission; research responsible for 15 Texas Official Historical Markers in Gainesville; author of Heroes, Scoundrels and Angels: Fairview Cemetery of Gainesville, Texas.

· L.D. Clark earned his BA, MA, and PhD from Columbia University. He had a long career of teaching English at the University of Arizona, The University of Nice and Korea University. He is the author of A Bright Tragic Thing and Civil War Recollections of James Lemuel Clark. Mr. Clark is the grandson of James Lemuel Clark and great-grandson of Nathaniel Miles Clark, victim of the Great Hanging.


** New Book** - The Texas State Historical Association will unveil its newest publication, The Great Hanging at Gainesville, 1862: The Accounts of Thomas Barrett and George Washington Diamond, with an Introduction by Richard McCaslin and Afterword by L.D. Clark. (Combined accounts of Barrett and Diamond )



RSVP - before October 5, 2012 to: NathanielClarkfamilyreunion@gmail.com or colleen.carri@gmail.com

Best regards,
Colleen Clark Carri


note: Guest bios were provided by participating individuals