Published: October 04, 2008 12:02 pm         

JC Kellam building named after LBJ’s associate

Answers-To-Go

Each week hundreds of people call or visit the San Marcos Public Library to find information. "Answers•To•Go" highlights recently received questions. Please visit the library at 625 East Hopkins, call 393-8200 for information over the phone, or e-mail us through our web-page at www.ci.san-marcos.tx.us/library.htm.



Q. I’ve been reading a book about President Johnson, “In the Boat with LBJ” by John Bullion. It refers to Jesse Kellam who managed Austin’s KTBC for the Johnson family. Is the J.C. Kellam building named for Johnson’s associate, Jesse Kellam?



A. Yes, Jesse Kellam is J.C. Kellam who was the son of long-time San Marcos resident, Juliet C. Kellam. Our San Marcos-Hays County biography collection contains a file on the Kellam family.

I want to commend you on your choice of reading material. This 100th anniversary of LBJ’s birth is a fine time to read a book about Texas State University’s famous graduate. In fact, we have acquired many copies of another book by John Bullion, “Lyndon B. Johnson and the Transformation of American Politics.” This book is the University’s choice for this year’s Common Experience.

We’re also displaying other Johnson biographies, as well as photographs and artifacts from the LBJ Museum of San Marcos and our own San Marcos-Hays County Collection.

Mark your calendar now. On Tuesday, October 14th at 7:30 pm, the San Marcos Public Library and Mayor Susan Narvaiz will welcome author John Bullion to the library. Local participants in the recent LBJ oral history project will also share personal stories about President Johnson and the continuing impact of his political career.

Let’s return to your question. In our local history file on the Kellam family, I found an October, 1977 San Marcos Daily Record obituary for J.C. Kellam. It describes Kellam as long-time friend and business associate of the Lyndon B. Johnson family.

Kellam received his bachelor’s degree from Southwest Texas Normal College. Our 1923 copy of the “Pedagog” has a photo of a handsome young Jesse who captained the football team in 1920. He also earned a master’s degree from U.T.

He became a teacher, coach, and athletic director, and deputy state school superintendent. He served as the National Youth Administration’s state and regional director.

Kellam joined the LBJ Company in 1946 as vice president and general manager of the Johnson family-owned radio station, now KLBJ. He was also general manager of KTBC-TV until the Johnson family sold it.

Southwest Texas State presented Kellam with the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1966. One of the first to receive this award was Lyndon B. Johnson, a 1930 graduate.

The Kellam family file also includes a 1966 Record obituary for Juliet C. Kellam. Born in Blanco in 1879, she moved with her children to San Marcos in 1912 after her husband’s death.

For more than 30 years Mrs. Kellam operated a boarding house for college students on Pleasant Street. (Pleasant Street is now part of the Texas State University campus near the music building.)

The Record reports, “In order to permit students to complete their education, Mrs. Kellam often kept them in her home, without charge, sharing the family life with each of them.

“One of these longtime student-friends, President Lyndon B. Johnson, has maintained a close relationship with the family and always called on Mrs. Kellam when he was in the vicinity.”

Our collection of Pedagogs and SMHS yearbooks are heavily used, but we have some missing years. We welcome donations at any time. These are our missing years for the high school yearbooks: 1923-1939, 1946, 1965, 1972-1976, 1981-1991, 1995, and 1999. For the Texas State University “ Pedagog,” we need 1916, 1940, 1957, 1975-77, 1979-83, and 1995 to the present.



Q. May I use one of your computers? I need an update on conditions in Galveston.



A. Certainly. The library has welcomed a steady stream of visitors from the coast since the hurricane struck.

You can check the municipal website at www.cityofgalveston.org. When I wrote this, there was detailed information on the Galveston re-entry plan. At that point, Galveston residents who lived on the east, behind the seawall, could check their homes and decide whether they wanted to stay or not.

Those who lived west of 103rd Street were asked to plan on assessing the damage to their homes, gathering important items, and leaving by 6 p.m.

Plans included a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew for all of Galveston.

The city’s website also offers a link to information about claiming rescued pets. The Galveston Animal Incident Command Center is working with the Houston SPCA to reunite rescued pets with their owners. Call the Houston SPCA’s hotline at (713) 435-2990. They also hope to display photos and descriptions of rescued animals at the houstonspca.org website. They have saved cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, lizards and even prairie dogs.

If you have been affected by Hurricane Ike, the Red Cross has a website that will help you find out how family, friends, and neighbors are doing: disastersafe.redcross.org.

I’d also recommend Galveston County Daily News website: www.galvnews.com.



Q. I’m one of those people who starts making Christmas gifts after Labor Day. I’m usually done by Thanksgiving. Do you have any new books that include gifts to sew?



A. Yes. I’d suggest “Simple Gifts to Stitch: 30 Elegant and Easy Projects” by Jocelyn Worrall.

Are there babies on your list? Worrall offers directions for a quilted baby blanket, a gingham bear bib, a baby bubble hat, and a terrycloth bunny.

Here’s a sampling of her scarf projects: silk loop scarf, pleated wool scarf, and beaded silk wrap. There’s also a chapter on gifts for the home including place mats, table runners, duvet covers, throws, and pillows.

The author promises you can finish these projects in an afternoon.

     

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