The Joshua D. Brown Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas marked its 30th anniversary Jan. 30 with a celebration at the Riverhill Country Club in Kerrville.
Thirty-eight members and guests attended the event, which commemorated the chapter’s chartering on Jan. 6, 1996.
The chapter began with 26 charter members and now includes 167 members, one associate and five affiliates, according to organizers.
Since its founding, the chapter has emphasized education, including a “Traveling Trunk” program designed for fourth- and seventh-grade students.
The hands-on exhibit includes household tools, kitchen implements, toys, animal pelts and period clothing from the days of the Republic of Texas, allowing students to examine and interact with historical items.
The program is available to schools, libraries and organizations by arrangement with the chapter.
The program opened with an invocation by Chaplain Shelly Capozzi, followed by a welcome from Chapter President Missy Solbrig.
Guests included Carla Miller, president general- elect of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, who offered congratulations and reported that the statewide organization currently has approximately 7,000 members and 107 chapters, including one in Washington, D.C.
Past President Judy Mc-Vay presented an oral history of the chapter and its community contributions. Refreshments followed.
Two chapter members, Wanda Halmon and Nancy McLarry, were presented with the Yellow Rose of Texas Award. The award is given by the governor of Texas to women who have demonstrated exceptional service to their communities and the state through historical preservation, civic involvement and public service.
Halmon, a fifth-generation Texan, was born Sept. 29, 1932, in Navarro County.
Her fourth great-grandfather, Robert Morris Coleman, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Texas.
She was married to Henry E. Halmon for 59 years. He was a World War II and Korean Conflict veteran and a member of the American Legion and Disabled American Veterans.
Halmon has been a member and officer of the Joshua D. Brown Chapter for more than 25 years and has been active in community service. During the July 4 flooding in Kerrville, she assisted residents affected by the disaster.
She has volunteered for many years at the Dietert Senior Center, including delivering Meals on Wheels despite flood damage to the facility. She also supports Shriners Hospitals, the Shriners Burn Unit and several veterans organizations.
McLarry was born Dec. 4, 1935, in McAllen. She is a descendant of James Polk, the 11th president of the United States, and James Burleson Sr., a pioneer settler in Austin’s Little Colony. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Pan American University in 1956.
She was married to Robert Fields and spent 18 years as an Army wife, living in multiple locations while raising four sons. She later married Edmund Perry McLarry, who is deceased. She has seven children, 17 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
McLarry has been active in numerous historical and genealogical organizations, including the Daughters of the American Revolution; the Joshua D. Brown Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas; Colonial Dames of the Seventeenth Century; Daughters of Indian Wars; Daughters of 1812; United Daughters of the Confederacy; the Federation of Genealogy Societies; and the Kendall County Historical Commission, where she served as president for many years.
She also served eight years on the board of the French Legation in Austin, participated in five Alamo fundraisers, and served four years on the board of the Mary Christian Burleson Historical House in Elgin.
She was president of the Burleson Family Association for many years and organized silent auctions for the Battered Women’s Shelter of Kendall County for six years. She also served six years as president of the Kerr County Genealogical Society.
A member of the Chickasaw Nation, McLarry has assisted others in tracing Native American ancestry and learning about tribal history.
Her second great-grandfather was the first elected governor of the Chickasaw Nation, and she served for many years as chairman of the South Texas Chickasaw Council.
At age 90, McLarry remains active in historical and genealogical work, according to organizers.
The chapter’s next meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 23, at the First United Methodist Church, 321 Thompson Drive.
The speaker will be Dianna Hopkins, chief advancement officer at the Cibolo Nature Center, who will present on “Herff Park.” Anyone interested in Texas history or genealogy is welcome to attend.
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