Victoria Advocate from Victoria, Texas • 19

www.VlctorieiAdvocate.coni 1G Thursday. January 26, 2006 LocalState 2CMore localstate news 3-IOCClassifieds 6CCrossword puzzle Champion steer in Hallettsville sells for more than $10,000 (7bojrL 4 Donna McWilliamThe Associated Press Glenda Mounger, a volunteer at the Texas Civil War Museum in Fort Worth, looks at a unit flag. The museum, which houses Texas oilman Ray Richey's private collection, opened to the public on Wednesday. Barry HalvorsonVictoria Advocate Megan Sommer of Hallettsville FFA showed the grand champion steer at the 2006 Hallettsville Junior Livestock Show. The steer sold for $10,200.

sold for $5 a pound and brought Produce, Kalisek's Automotive for $6,000. It was bought by a Repair, Grahmann's True Value ilman opens massive Civil War museum Donna Mc William The Associated Press Ray Richey became interested in Civil War history after seeing an exhibit at the Smithsonian. Before, he called himself a C-plus student who had little interest in the Civil War. MATT CURRY The Associated Press FORT WORTH After two decades collecting Civil War treasures, Texas oilman Ray Richey finally reached a turning point. "Either build a third storage building or a museum," said Richey, 50.

"Or I could quit collecting, which was not an option." Richey went with the museum, an expansive building just a short walk from his office on the western outskirts of Fort Worth. But the Texas Civil War Museum, which opened to the public Wednesday, is more than just his huge stockpile. Richey partnered with the United Daughters of the Confederacy, whose Texas collection was displayed in Austin from 1904 to 1988. The UDC had been seeking a permanent home for their artifacts since being uprooted by tion of the State Capitol. "This is just a proud time for us because we've waited so long for it," said Deena Harrison Dark of the UDC.

Richey calls himself a "C-plus" history student who had little interest in the subject until he and his wife Judy came face to face with history during a trip to Washington, where they visited the. Smithsonian. He later purchased some muskets at a gun show in Richmond, the start of a collection that has ballooned over 21 years. The Richeys pall tVipir miiQA- um ne- culmina tion of a dream. Fascination with the ail-American conflict, boosted by its centennial in the 1960s and.

Ken Burns' PBS television documentary in the 1990s, shows no sign of letting up, historian Steven E. Wood-worth said. "If a pri-V vate per- Ison is going to BARRY HALVORSON Victoria Advocate' HALLETTSVILLE While the difference in their ages means the exhibitors of the grand and reserve champion steers at the 2006 Hallettsville Junior Livestock Show probably aren't going to be hanging around together, they do have one thing in common. Grand champion exhibitor Megan Sommer of the Hallettsville FFA and reserve champion exhibitor Lana Hickson of the Lucky 4-H Club made donations from their sales checks back to the Lavaca Exposition Association's building fund. This year's sale was the first event held in the recently dedicated William and Alton Allen Exposition Center.

While the center is paid off, the expo association is continuing to accept contributions to make additional improvements and expand the property. "I wanted to so something that will help keep things going," Megan, 16, said of her $500 donation. "It's a place that I hope to be at a lot in the future. I'm also a barrel rider, and they are planning to hold those kinds of events here so I thought it was a good idea to keep raising funds." Lana donated $400 from her reserve champion check. "I had the reserve champion last year and made a donation," she said.

"They did a lot of hard work to get this built and so giving them back a little money is my way of helping out." During the show, several other grand and reserve champion exhibitors made announced donations to the building fund as did some of the other exhibitors during the course of the evening. "And theyaren't the only ones," Geraldine Dornak said. "A number of the exhibitors came back later and will drop around during the week and make donations to the building fund." In addition to their interest in donating to the expo association, Megan and Lana share at least one other common interest -They want to show pretty steers. "Last year I only finished sixth in my class," Megan said. "So I was really surprised when I won.

But I had a good idea I'd finish higher because last year the judge told me I needed a longer-bodied steer. So that was part of my decision-making. And I really liked the way it looked." "She picked the steer," her father Ross Sommer said. Her mother is Keeve Sommer. "It was a paint and we told her those kinds of steers usually don't show well.

But she liked the way it looked and insisted on that calf and she was right." In selecting her project, Lana said she had to negotiate with her parents Doyle and Rose Hickson. "I wanted a pretty steer," she said. "And they wanted a good steer so we kind of had to work it out. I thought I would do good again this year but really didn't expect to finish with the reserve, champion again. But I plan to keep showing and hope to eventually raise a grand champion." Lana said she also has another goal for future shows.

"I'd like to win the showmanship award," she said. "It's kind of hard now because I weight 58 pounds and my steer weighs 1,350 pounds. But I get in lots and lots of practice. The firs.t couple of times I work with a new steer, I'm a little nervous. But after that, it's not a problem." Both the grand and reserve champions were sold on a per pound basis using a benchmark weight of 1,200 pounds.

The grand champion steer sold for $8.50 a pound for a final price of $10,200. The buyers group included Peoples State Bank, Carl A. Bozka Fielder's Quality Ford, R.J. Pesek Memorials Kelly Mudd Equipment ASAP Paging Brookshire Bros. Food and Pharmacy, Migl Feed and Grain Terrell Mullins-At-torney at Law, Ehler's Furniture and Appliance Morton's Drive In, Bohuslav Feed Mill Godwin's Supermarket, Jim Fair-man-Attorney at Law, Janak Packing Hallettsville Livestock Commission, First National Bank of Shiner, Smokehouse Andy and Dean Anderson, Hallettsville Communications, H.E.B.

Pantry Foods, Auto Worx, Curt's Carpeting and Design Center and Wal-Mart. The reserve champion steer Lavaca Farm Equipment, Paul's Supply Kaiser's Air Conditioning and Electric, Rudolph's Thomas and Joyce Jackson, AutoBrite Car-wash, Pat's Service Center, Alvin Paul and Barbara Grahmann, Larry Dornak Construction, Edward Jones InvestmentRobert Lundy, Brookshire Bros. Food and Pharmacy, 2 Bar RanchAMn B. Mikulenka, Forrest T. Kroschel DDS and Jalisco Mexican Cafe.

The grand champion pen of broilers was shown by Hallettsville Junior FFA member Tara Leopold, who donated $50 to the building fund. Her project was bought for $800 by a group including Chovanetz Insurance Agency, Dworsky Farm RanchBen and Nancy Dworsky, Dr. Wayne and LeAnn Freytag, Grafe Chevrolet-GMC, Hallettsville Auto Supply-CarQuest Auto Parts Hallettsville Lumber Company, Lavaca County Butane Company, Lavaca Farm Equipment, Ludwig Repair Shop, Charles and Angie Netardus, Dr. Justin and Amy Powell, Prosperity Bank, Roger Janak Construction, Bar Ranch, Schulenburg Printing and Office Supply Town and Country Appliance and Air Conditioning, Werner's Restaurant, Wietings Steakhouse and Williamsburg House. Town Rounder 4-H member Holly Pustejovsky exhibited the reserve champion pen of broilers.

It sold for $799 to the Six Pack Plus group of Elrose Kalisek, Darlene Shimek, Barbara Grahmann, Diane Morton, Florine Bo-: hac, Marie Tobola, Mary Beth Najvar, Sandra Holly, Patty Grahmann, Leona Najvar, Margaret Pozzi, Donna Dornak, Pam Dornak, Debbie Wagner, Beverly Hrncir, Pam Tucker, Teresa Kaiser and Nola Bohuslav. if ft, in Texas Civil War Museum information The museum is located outside of Fort Worth. It is open Tuesday through Saturday. Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for students ages 7-13 and free for children younger than 6. Group rates are available, For more information visit www.texascivilwarmuseum.com "This is cool, it really is." said Tom Stuart, 53, of Flower Mound, a Civil War re-enactor and museum volunteer who pointed out possible bullet holes in the worn standard.

The museum covers 15,500 square feet and more than 3,000 artifacts that will rotate on exhibit. Camp gear, muskets and even locks of hair from Confederate President Jefferson Davis and Gen. Robert E. Lee can be seen. The museum has more than 200 colorful Victorian dresses collected by Judy Richey, 36 of which are on display.

The UDC collection contains more than 60 flags and items from the home front, including a piano that Davis bought for a niece. group including Wells rargo Bank, Capital Farm Credit, Hallettsville Lions Club, Bludau Fab rication Pat's Service Center Glen's Packing Bohuslav Farm and Ranch, Fair West Trailers and Equipment, Fielder Quality Ford, Leopold Insurance Agency, Lavaca Feed and Fertilizer, Jansky Sand and Gravel, Hoffer Truck Company, Hoffer's Drive In, Brookshire Bros. Food and Pharmacy, J.R. Fencing, Estes Chemical, Lavaca "Last year I only finished sixth in my class. So I was really surprised when I won.

But I had a good idea I'd finish higher because last year the judge told me I needed a longer-bodied steer." Megan Sommer, Grand champion exhibitor County Butane, Wal-Mart, Chovanetz Insurance Agency, Kor Construction, Kocian Auto RepairKocian Charlois, Morgan's Building and Spas, American Services Georgia Bu-jnoch, Prosperity Bank, Barnes-Osborne and Associates; Stevens Nursing and Rehabilitation, UAS Resources, Godwin's Supermarket, Dr. Justin Powell and the Hallettsville Livestock Commission. Exhibiting the grand champion hog was Hallettsville FFA member Kaley Rother, who donated $100 to the building fund. Her exhibit auctioned for $20 a pound for a final price of $5,080 and was bought by a group including Sitka Laser WashTommy and Char-' lotte Sitka, Barnes and Osburn Insurance, Jo's Greenhut and NurseryRonnie and Katie Stef-fek, For Everlasting Hunting ProductsBilly and Amy Gerke, Thermal Protection ServicesCollie and Jodie Webb, Henke and Janak Hog Farm, Peoples State Bank, Hallettsville Livestock Commission, Migl Feed and Grain Advanced Health Services-Home Health of Moulton and Hallettsville, Wayne Rother Construction, Essex Exploration LLC, Louisiana Gas Development Company, Cattle Co.Harold and Pam Dolezal, Frank and Elrose Migl, Lone Star Bank, James Evans-Attorney at Law, Kelly Mudd Equipment and Mark and Bren-daThrcadgill. Lucky 4-H member Casey Leopold showed the reserve champion hog, which sold for $14 per pound for a total of $3,640, of which he donated back $100.

A group including the Sonic Drive-Ih of Hallettsville and Victoria, Pasture Pro Liquid Supplements, Brookshire Bros. Food and Pharmacy and Inland Environmental bought it. Exhibiting the grand champion lamb was Colby Mikes of the Green Leaves 4-H, His project sold for $28 per pound for a final price of $3,612 of which $200 was donated to the building fund. The lone buyer was Kubena Funeral Home. The reserve champion lamb was exhibited by Christy Wicks of the Hallettsville Junior FFA.

It sold for $1,888 at $16 per pound and was bought by a group including the Cole Theater, Alfred's own a lot of Civil War memorabilia or artifacts, I think this is the right thing to do with it: Put it on display, allow the public to look at it and scholars to look at it," said Wood-worth, a Texas Christian University history professor and prolific author whose books include "Jefferson Davis and His Generals" and "Davis and Lee at War." Richey built the spacious museum on property he owned at a cost of about $2 million. His collection alone, an estimated 65 percent of which is on display, is insured for $3 million. "The firearms are not my favorite. You have to have them because that's what they used to kill each other," he said. "I like the personal items, the flags.

That's what the boys fought for." Among the most heart-rending is the bloodstained New Testament recovered from Confederate Pvt. Julius T. Sawyer of Georgia, who was killed, at the Battle of Olustee, on Feb. 20, 1864. Another of Richey's favorites Is the Confederate battle flag Pvt.

Charles Matthews sneaked under his shirt at his unit's surrender and brought home to Texas. A photo next to the framed, tattered banner shows an elderly Matthews in 1910, holding the flag in a ramrod-straight pose. I 7 if ''J I v1 it I vi' Sponsored By: TWcWMmim SHIS Q-92 VICTORIA Itl5aS ADVOCATE StAlh 108 FM For more information, call 361-582-2511 or visit www. museumofthecoastalbend.com.