Some TEXAS MONTHLY Stories on Biography
Andy Mullins »
Andy Mullins, midway barker.
As told to Jordan Breal [October 2008]
Tour de Farce »
Only yesterday, it seems, my mother was taking me to visit colleges. A second later, here I am, enduring this rite of passage from the other side.
by Mimi Swartz [July 2008]
The Man Who Wasn’t There »
Every family has its myths. Some are intended to reveal,
and some are intended to conceal, and sometimes the
intentions can get confused. The problem with myth,
however, is that it can overpower history. That’s
what happened in the case of my father, who died when
I was four. Only when I finally learned the truth about
him could I come to appreciate him as a real person.
by Paul Burka [June 2008]
A Lady First »
Today, many younger Texans may be inclined to think of Lady Bird Johnson as belonging entirely to the past. But if her demeanor and style seemed faintly anachronistic, the virtues instilled by her parents back in East Texas—practicality, thriftiness, good manners, and an open mind—made her remarkably effective as a first lady, more so than some of her “modern” successors.
by Jan Jarboe Russell [September 2007]
My Dog Days »
What I’ve learned from Moe, Oscar, Flannery, George, Odette, and Roscoe.
by Antonya Nelson [May 2007]
He Was A Camera »
Russell Lee’s rarely seen Texas photographs reveal an artist at the peak of his powers of observation.
by Michael Ennis [April 2007]
Main Squeeze Blues »
Saying good-bye to my dear Phyllis was the hardest thing I’ve ever done—and losing her so suddenly didn’t make it any easier. But I know I’ll see her again someday.
by Gary Cartwright [September 2006]
My Name Is Tonnyre Thomas Joe »
And I am a woman rancher. Here’s what my life is like.
As told to Katharyn Rodemann [August 2006]
It’s Hard Out Here For a Pipkin »
Have you heard the good news? My career as a bit player in Hollywood continues apace.
by Turk Pipkin [June 2006]
Me of Little Faith »
All I know for certain about religion is that the one my mother tried so hard to pass on to me just didn’t take.
by Jan Reid [December 2005]
Army Brat »
More than anything, we hated the moves, the long drives in a hot car with squabbling siblings, then getting to the new post and having to be the new kid all over again.
by Michael Hall [December 2005]
Embarrassment of Riches »
At Westlake, even if your parents wouldn’t spring for Ralph Lauren, you could still work your way into the in crowd.
by John Spong [December 2005]
Flatlander »
People have an attitude about the Panhandle, as if living there is a hardship. To this day, they offer condolences when they learn where I’m from.
Photographs and text by Wyatt McSpadden [December 2005]
Midnight in the Garden of Memory »
My San Antonio was an overgrown small town, socially stratified and inbred, controlled by a handful of old, wealthy families.
by Mimi Swartz [December 2005]
Christmas in Brownsville »
My father, who had grown up on a farm, used to talk about his family’s killing a pig for the tamales, but this was back in the twenties.
by Oscar Casares [December 2005]
The Lost City »
A few of the streets near what used to be downtown have familiar names, but Arlington has mutated into a disconnected clump of shopping malls, cul-de-sacs, and gated communities, faceless, soulless neighborhoods that give urban sprawl a bad name.
by Gary Cartwright [December 2005]
I of the Storm »
The Gulf carried mendacity in every molecule. Its beauty, its tranquillity, was all a lie. It had created Galveston, carved out its deepwater port, tempted us with the promise of greatness, and then betrayed us.
by Paul Burka [December 2005]
Greetings from Fort Bragg »
With a pistol in my hand. And a rifle.
by Jonathan Moss [September 2005]
The Anderson Boys Grew Up in Texas »
A short, illustrated history of my childhood. And Wes’s too.
by Eric Chase Anderson [July 2005]
In the Year 1974 »
I still remember the moment I discovered that a world existed outside Brownsville. I’ve been trying to explore it ever since.
by Oscar Casares [March 2005]
The Shot Not Heard Round the World »
Elmo Henderson’s entire life story can be summed up in a single moment: when he stepped into the ring in San Antonio one night in 1972 and knocked out Muhammad Ali. At least that’s the way he tells it. And tells it.
by John Spong [December 2004]
The Good Wife »
Is she a “saccharine phony”? A closet liberal? A foot soldier—or a rebel—in the culture wars? The truth about Laura Bush is that her ambiguity makes her a model first lady: a blank screen upon which the public can project its own ideas about womanhood.
by Mimi Swartz [November 2004]
Accentuate The Negative »
To read a Patricia Highsmith novel is to suspend one’s moral judgments. She irresistibly persuades us to side with killers and other amoral characters.
by Don Graham [November 2004]
Bring Him On »
A "conversation" with John Kerry.
by Kinky Friedman [October 2004]
Love Thy Neighbor »
Writer-at-large Cecilia Balli on U.S. ambassador to
Mexico Tony Garza and the two countries' post-9/11
relationship.
Interview by Patricia Busa McConnico [October 2004]
Flour Power »
Bill Crawford, who wrote a book about former Texas
governor W. Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel, talks about flour,
campaigning, and the mass media.
Interview by Stephen Saito [October 2004]
Coming Out »
The night I made my debut into society was the most
wonderful night of my life.
by Caroline Harper [October 2004]
Party Time »
Platon, who took the images for this month's photo
feature, "Conventional Wisdom," talks about being at the
Republican and Democratic national conventions,
capturing the chaos, and getting arrested.
Interview by Kate Getty [October 2004]
Sleeping Around »
Writer-at-large Suzy Banks on what she likes best about
staying in a hotel.
Interview by Patricia Busa McConnico [October 2004]
Mrs. Feelgood »
Executive editor Skip Hollandsworth on getting
Burleson's Joanne Webb to talk about her sex-toy
business.
Interview by Patricia Busa McConnico [October 2004]
Small-Town Hospitality »
Contributing photographer Artie Limmer on taking
pictures in Roby and the best thing about his job.
Interview by Lauren Smith [September 2004]
A Time to Remember »
W. Marvin Watson talks about LBJ's greatest achievement
as a politician and writing his book, Chief of Staff:
Lyndon Johnson and His Presidency.
Interview by Lauren Smith [September 2004]
Sarita's Secret »
Could Ray Fernandez, the grandson of a Mexican
American maid, be the rightful heir to the vast Kenedy
fortune, including the family's mythic South Texas ranch?
by Gary Cartwright [September 2004]
Man About Town »
Why do I live where I live? To get away from the Peruvian
marching powder—and because my door was ajar.
by Kinky Friedman [September 2004]
Into The Woods »
My parents and I had a generation gap. My kids and I
have a geographic gap, as I learned when I took my son
to my hometown of Cleveland.
by Jan Jarboe Russell [September 2004]
Country Boy »
Associate art director T. J. Tucker, who grew up on a
ranch near Baird, in Callahan County, talks about hauling
hay and hitting the back roads.
Interview by Lauren Smith [September 2004]
Life Is Good »
For the Bethel Dozen, a group of friends who won the
Texas Lotto, it doesn't get much better.
by Lauren Smith [September 2004]
The Rat Unpacks »
I've been collecting vintage Texana
since I was ten years old, and believe me, I've got loads.
But it's time to sell.
Anne Dingus [August 2004]
The Wedding Partyer »
Do I, Kinky Friedman, take tequila-loving country singer
Pat Green to be my friend for life? I do.
by Kinky Friedman [August 2004]
White Like Me »
Growing up in segregated Collin County, I was oblivious
to the impact of Jim Crow—until I read John Howard
Griffin's American classic.
by Don Graham [August 2004]
First in Flight »
Brandon Hughey didn't ask to be a celebrity. All the San
Angeloborn soldier wanted was to avoid fighting
what he considered an unjust war. So he fled to
Canada—and now the private's every move is
public.
by Katy Vine [August 2004]
Dad vs. the Dress Code »
In 1971 I wore hip-huggers and other clothes
appropriate to the times. This did not please the
superintendent of the San Marcos public schools, and his
displeasure did not please my father.
by Elizabeth Crook [August 2004]
Keep on Truckin' »
Associate editor John Spong on Toyota trucks, the SUV
craze, and hybrid pickups.
Interview by Patricia Busa McConnico [August 2004]
Drawing the Lines »
Writer-at-large Patricia Kilday Hart on redistricting and
what this next election will tell us about Texans and
party labels.
Interview by Lauren Smith [August 2004]
Good Riddance »
Senior editor Anne Dingus talks about collecting, a cast-
iron safe, and eBay.
Interview by Lauren Smith [August 2004]
Digging It »
Contributing photographer Wyatt McSpadden, who took
this month's cover image, discusses working with David
Carr and helping create the Cadillac Ranch.
Interview by Lauren Smith [August 2004]
Our Hero »
My grandmother sat down to tell me a story she hadn't
told in years. It turned out to be the greatest tale I've
ever heard.
by Amber Byfield [August 2004]
Paradise »
Musician Ian McLagan survived the British rock explosion of the sixties. Now he lives in Austin, a place he loves to
call home.
by Charlie Llewellin [August 2004]
The Unknown Soldier »
Hector Perez loved his country enough to die for it. A year later, his family is still paying the price of patriotism.
by Cecilia Ballí [July 2004]
Grieving Process »
Writer-at-large Cecilia Ballí, who wrote this month’s feature “The Unknown Soldier”, discusses reporting a story about death and the need for media sensitivity.
Interview by Lori Fradkin [July 2004]
Tuition de-reg: Will it be an issue in the speaker's race? (Sun Nov 23 at 11:35 AM)
Can You Spare Some Change I Can Believe In? (Sat Nov 22 at 4:10 PM)
Even Worse, They're Cutting Back on Monocles (Fri Nov 21 at 8:39 AM)
