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Ring of Fire

It was one of the most passionately observed traditions on any college campus in the country. Then, on November 18, 1999, a week before it was scheduled to burn, the Texas A&M Bonfire collapsed in the middle of the night, killing twelve Aggies. Ten years later, as the university continues to wrestle with the tragedy—and debate whether Bonfire should ever return to campus—the students and alumni who chopped logs, hauled timber, and built stack talk about what they saw, what they lost, and how their school was changed forever.
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Below the Surface

Since 1996, a legal battle has raged between ExxonMobil and a powerful South Texas ranching clan that believes the oil company sabotaged wells on the family property. Even after a ruling by the state Supreme Court earlier this year, the bitter feud shows no signs of letting up. Maybe that’s because it’s about something far more important than money.
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With God On Their Side

The decision to abruptly remove 437 children from a fundamentalist Mormon compound in Eldorado sparked the largest custody battle in U.S. history. But now that the last child’s case has been settled and all the kids are back home, a question still lingers: What really happened on the Yearning for Zion Ranch?
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The 50 Greatest Hamburgers In Texas

A gastro-scientific inquiry into the finest burgers in the state that invented the burger, including the Toro (#4), the Stodg (#6), the Miss Hattie (#28), and, in our top slot, a miracle of meat served only on Sundays. No wonder they call it the Lord’s day.
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Across The Line

According to the district attorney in Smith County, this building was the site of the most horrific child sex ring in Texas history. Three of the adults convicted of running it have already been sentenced to life in prison. There’s just one problem: The DA in neighboring Wood County, where the building is located, says nothing happened here at all.
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The Reaper Doth Protest Too Much

When the president visited Texas A&M last week, the opposition was waiting.
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Memo to Kay

Even someone who supports the death penalty, as you do, can and should be up in arms over the Cameron Willingham case.
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Texas High Ways

Why the unlikeliest of states—ours—should legalize marijuana.
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Fundamental Arguments

On October 26, the first FLDS criminal trial in Texas begins. What legal strategies remain for the defense?
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O Sister, Where Art Thou?

In the early forties, eight inmates of the Goree prison unit formed one of the first all-female country and western acts in the country, capturing the hearts of millions of radio listeners. Then they nearly all vanished forever.

by Skip Hollandsworth

4 comments

October 9th, 2009 at 10:33pm
RT says:
This is a great story! For a current fantastic all woman band, check out Giddyup Kitty, they were great at the Telluride bluegrass festival this year.

August 6th, 2009 at 7:54am
twixle says:
If you dig deep enough into the past there is always a good story to find! Thank you so much Mr. Hollandsworth for all of your hard work and effort put into writing this wonderful story of our Texas history. It was a delight taking the time to read it and learn something new. These women tried a lifetime to get on with their lives and hide their past only for it to resurface years later and show what wonderful women they really were deep down inside.

August 5th, 2009 at 10:17pm
siska says:
I love this article, i really hope Jen will do well with this movie, i think and wish the director will bring this great story to life, so we can remember this group woman!

November 19th, 2008 at 3:02pm
awibird says:
This story is incredible. I have been a journalist/writer/editor for years, have a M.A in history, very rarely any more see a story that makes me wish I had written it. This one did. Awesome. I understand Jennifer Aniston plans to make a movie about the Goree girls band. Bully for her. My opinion of her just went up 1000 % (and it wasn't bad to start with.) I just love it when people dig out and publicize little known parts of our history, especially about people who face daunting odds. This story made me wish I had worked in that prison and helped those women, and that is the key to involvement in a story. If Aniston can capture that humanity it should be a dynamite movie. I hope it is not trivialized and Hollywoodized. Regardless, kudos to the guy who researched and wrote this haunting story. It inspired me to get on with projects I'm working on and see them to completion.