It’s Time for a New ‘Stories I’ve Been Told’
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Retired La Grange educator and community leader Erwin Sladek Jr., who is featured in Stories I’ve Been Told – Volume 4, said having his life story published presents a great avenue to preserve oral history that usually has a short life span generally confined to family and close friends. Erwin added that a story in print revealing the Lord’s plan in a person’s life may influence readers now and in the future. -
On the cover of Stories I’ve Been Told – Volume 4 is former rodeo clown and Swiss Alp buzzard-whisperer Ralph Fisher and two of his favorite Longhorn steers that offer Texas-size entertainment to crowds large and small. Ralph plans to bring one of the gentle giants with the mighty horns to The Record’s 103rd birthday party on Friday afternoon, Nov. 1. Don’t miss this chance to have your photo taken with a Longhorn, a true Texas treasure.
Fayette County’s Favorite Non-Fiction Series Adds Another Book
Stories I’ve Been Told – Volume 4 by local author Elaine Thomas goes on sale Friday afternoon, Nov. 1, at The Fayette County Record 103rd birthday party. Elaine, as well as a number of the local people featured in the book, will be signing copies during the event.
This, the latest in the popular four-volume series, includes the 30 stories of: Ralph Fisher, Arnold Romberg, Erwin Sladek Jr., George Maxwell, Virginia Mika Leech, Harry Behal, Frankie Srubar, Pat Lyons, Richard Schultze, Florence Hertel Farek, Daniel Neiser Sr., Grace Dyer, Dolly Bohuslav Klesel, Willie Bohuslav Jr., Gilbert Bohuslav, Atlan Citzler, Mary Demel, Leslie Lippman, Maxine Lain, Ben Chovanec, Willy Schmidt, Cleo Wenske, Margaret Roscher, Tom Walker, Leo Wick, Johnnie and Lillie Sulak, Joe and Hattie Hlavinka, Ray Thurman, Calvin Kuehn, David Koether, former Stanzel employees: Evelyn Ripper, Dorothy Schmidt, Lorene Hengst, Sonny Ryba, Helen Koncaba and Manuel Anders, Elva and Victor Bohot and the Round Top-Carmine Class of 1950.
Several local advance readers shared thoughts about Stories I’ve Been Told – Volume 4.
“Each and every story is gripping and tells about the lives of those and their families who came before us. They sacrificed, they persevered, they endured. Our generation will never know the struggles they encountered,” says La Grange resident Paul Mikula. “So many of the individuals or families that Elaine wrote about in the book are people I knew or have developed a bond with over the years. I thought I knew these individuals very well when in fact, I knew them very little.”
“To read of these hardworking, God-believing county folks, and their love of family and community, touches me in a way I have not felt in some time. Their stories are at times funny, historical and heartwarming,” comments Fayette County native Glynis Tietjen Porter.
“Through her interviews Elaine sheds light on the stories behind some of the people whom I have known having lived in Fayette County for 70-plus years,” adds local historian and writer Gary E. McKee. “This most recent volume combines the county residents’ worldly experiences and local lifestyles that are no longer existent into a great read, one that somewhat saddened me when I’d finished the last chapter.”
As in past years, Elaine and her husband, Emil, will donate the proceeds from book sales to Blinn College-Schulenburg student scholarships. Following the La Grange event on Nov. 1, signed copies of the $18 book will be available at The Fayette County Record and Fayette County Museum and Archives in La Grange and The Schulenburg Sticker in Schulenburg. The new book joins volumes 1, 2, and 3 in the Stories I’ve Been Told series (80 people profiles) and Elaine’s other local books, “Veterans’ Voices” and “Homefront Memories” (163 people profiles) and “Same Moon, Same Stars,” the life story of Renate Meiners. The books can also be ordered from Amazon.com.