Grayson County, Texas-- Tuesday evening, June 10 at 6:30 p.m., our guest speaker for the Grayson County Historical Society is Margo McCutcheon of the Sam Rayburn House State Historic Site in Bonham, Texas. Her topic for the program is Sam Rayburn of Bonham, Texas.
Mr. Sam, as he was called, is the longest serving Speaker of the House of Representatives, serving 48 years. One vital role he was involved in was the initiative to bring electricity to many communities. He was best known for his integrity and fairness.
One of his sayings is, "You cannot be a leader, and ask other people to follow you, unless you know how to follow too."
Mr. Sam was born November 16, 1882 in Kington, Tennessee, and died November 16, 1961 and is buried in Willow Wild Cemetery in Bonham, Texas, close to the Sam Rayburn Library and Museum and the Sam Rayburn House State Historic Site. At the time of his death there were four presidents at his funeral: President John F. Kennedy, Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson, former President Dwight Eisenhower and former President Harry S. Truman.
Margo McCutcheon, our speaker, developed an interest in history during her high school years and pursued that interest at the university level at Texas A&M University-Commerce and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in History with a second major in English in 2016. She remained at Commerce for graduate school to complete her Master of Arts degree in 2019, and she became one of the first graduates to receive a Public History certificate from the newly established Public History program at the university.
Margo participated in two oral history projects at the university as well as worked on the Handbook of Texas Women project for the Texas State Historical Association, writing and editing biographies now available on the Handbook of Texas website.
In April 2021, Margo joined the Texas Historical Commission as the Educator/Interpreter at the Sam Rayburn House State Historic Site in Bonham. At the Sam Rayburn House, Margo provides tours of the site, researches information about the Rayburn family, plans events and programs, and participates in outreach opportunities at events and with groups in Northeast Texas.
We are very pleased and give thanks to Ms. Margo for taking the time and effort to come to Dension to give her presentation.
We will be honored to have you -- our members, friends and everyone who is interested in the history of Grayson County, Texas to attend this evening's program.
If in need of more information you are welcome to call 903-647-5674 or email gchs1961@gmail.com
Our location is the Community Room at Frontier Village, we're located at Loy Lake Park Exit. Loy Lake Park is located midway between Sherman and Denison off Hwy. 75, Exit 67. The door is opened at 6:00 by our host and hostess, Pam and Gerald Alblas.
