Speakers Bureau
The following speakers have developed topics and programs that are Historic, Patriotic, and/or Educational in nature. If a Texas SAR Compatriot would like to be added to this list, please fill out and submit this form.
Index by Location:
Abilene | Austin2 | Ben Wheeler | Boerne | Boerne 2 | Cedar Hill | Cedar Park | Dallas2 | Dallas3 | Dallas4 | Dallas5 | Flower Mound | Houston1 | Houston2 | Houston 3 | Humble | Kingwood | Lufkin | Providence Village | Quinlan | Richardson | Sabinal | San Antonio | Tyler | Tyler2
Click here for the Speaker Locations map
Index by Topic:
A Tale Of two Patriots
Adams & Jefferson: Revolutions, Rivals, & Redemption
American Civil War
American Frontier Life
An Instrument of War
Bad Girls of the American Revolution
Battle of Bennington
Boston Tea Party
Breaking into the British Arsenal for Washington
Bunker Hill
Callahan/Blassingame Incident
Churches and Religion During the American Revolution
The Constitution
The Constitution
The Constitution, an 1812 look
The Continental Navy
The Continental Soldier of the American Revolution
Cowpens
The Declaration of Independence and the Magna Carta
Descendant of Boston Patriots
Diseases and Pestilence of the Revolutionary War and their Impact
Election of 1800
Ethnicities in the Continental Army during the American Revolution
Explaining Authentic Revolutionary War Artifacts Collected Over 30 Years
Florida in the American Revolution
Founders our students’ study
The George Washington Story
How a German, a Pole and A Frenchman helped America Win Her Independence
Influence and Contribution of General Marquis de LaFayette
Jones
Kings Mountain
The King's Mountain Boys
The Language of the Tombstones
Lessons Learned from the American Revolution
Lexington & Concord, A Detailed Look
Life of the Kentucky Frontierman
The Lion Sleeps Tonight
Mary McCauley aka MOLLEY PITCHER
My 16 Revolutionary Ancestors
The Orange and the Green
Outline of the Battles
Pint-Sized Patriots
The Preamble to the Constitution
Preserving History
Presidential Scandals
Privateers: Pirates or Patriots?
Psychological Origins of the Constitution
Real Story of the Bill of Rights
Real Story of the Declaration of Independence
Religion in the English Colonies and Early American Republic: The Great Awakening
Remember the Ladies
The Rise and Fall of the Newburgh Conspiracy
Samuel Nicholas and the Continental Marines
The Scotch Irish and the War for American Independence
The Signers of the Constitution
The Sons of Liberty
Texas Revolution
Timothy Murphy - The Best Shot in the Revolutionary War
Vignettes of George Washington
Washington’s Crossing
Washington's Secret War
Washington's Spies
What Life was Like during Revolutionary Times
The Whiskey Rebellion
Who Were The Loyalists?
Why I Am A Member of the SAR
Winter Encampment at Valley Forge 1777-1778
With A Little Help From Our Friends
Women in the Revolutionary War
The Worst of Hells: British Prison Ships During the American Revolution
| Name: | Arnulfo Alvarado |
| Chapter: | San Antonio |
| City: | Sabinal |
| Contact Info: | email: ahalvarado1999@gmail.com phone: 830-900-4492 |
| Availability: | Weekends |
| Advance Notice Required: | 2 weeks |
| Distance willing to travel: | 1 hour |
| Fee required: | None |
| Topic: | "The Constitution" |
| Synopsis: | Was the Constitution about freedoms or is it a social control document or both? |
| Time: | 30 minutes. |
| Topic: | "Psychological Origins of the Constitution" |
| Synopsis: | What did the founders take into account when creating the Constitution? You guessed it...the Human Condition. |
| Time: | 30 minutes. |
| Name: | Peter Baron |
| Chapter: | San Antonio #4 |
| City: | San Antonio, TX |
| Contact Info: | email: ptbaron@hotmail.com Additional information at: https://www.texassar.org/SanAntonio/speakers.htm |
| Availability: | By appointment - weekdays available. |
| Advance Notice Required: | |
| Distance willing to travel: | negotiable |
| Fee required: | none |
| Topic: | Lectures on outfitting the soldier, equipment, tactics, battles, genealogy, reenacting, general Revolutionary War history. |
| Synopsis: | NA |
| Time: | Varies to suit audience. |
| Name: | Pat Blackman |
| Chapter: | Boerne #64 |
| City: | Boerne, TX |
| Contact Info: | email: jackpat@gvtc.com phone: 830-431-0477 |
| Availability: | Weekdays |
| Advance Notice Required: | One month |
| Distance willing to travel: | 100 miles |
| Fee required: | none |
| Topic: | "How a German, a Pole, and A Frenchman helped America Win Her Independence" |
| Synopsis: | Contributions by Von Steuben, Kosciusko And Lafayette to the Revolutionary War. |
| Time: | 30-40 minutes |
| Topic: | "Who Were The Loyalists?" |
| Synopsis: | A survey of who the loyalists wsere , where they were located and what happened to them after the Revolutionary War. |
| Time: | 30-40 minutes |
| Name: | Richard Brock |
| Chapter: | Dallas #2 |
| City: | Dallas, TX |
| Contact Info: | email: brockcapital@aol.com phone: 214-394-2080 |
| Availability: | Flexible |
| Advance Notice Required: | 2 days |
| Distance willing to travel: | 50 miles |
| Fee required: | none |
| Topic: | "Breaking into the British Arsenal for Washington" |
| Synopsis: | Recaps the story of George Washington ordering my ancestor, Captain John Johnson, to lead 12 men to break into the British arsenal in New York City for desperately needed gunpowder. |
| Time: | 20 minutes |
| Name: | Randall Bush |
| Chapter: | Plano #37 |
| City: | Providence Village, TX |
| Contact Info: | email: randall.bush@aol.com phone: 970-560-8761 |
| Availability: | Most evenings and weekends |
| Advance Notice Required: | 2 weeks |
| Distance willing to travel: | 3 hours |
| Fee required: | none |
| Topic: | "The Whiskey Rebellion" |
| Synopsis: | Discussion of the Whiskey Rebellion in the greater context of the Westylvania succession movement culminating in 1794. |
| Time: | 30 minutes |
| Topic: | "Religion in the English Colonies and Early American Republic: The Great Awakening" |
| Synopsis: | The effect the first two religious Great Awakenings had on the viewpoints and attitudes of the colonists and their influence in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. |
| Time: | 30 minutes |
| Name: | James Clements |
| Chapter: | Patrick Henry Chapter # 11 |
| City: | Wimberley, TX |
| Contact Info: | email: j.clements.tx@gmail.com mailing address: 722 Saddleridge Dr.; Wimberley, TX 78676-6310 phone: 512-574-6744 |
| Availability: | Open |
| Advance Notice Required: | 2 weeks subject to prior commitments |
| Distance willing to travel: | 100 miles |
| Fee required: | none |
| Topic: | "Life of the Kentucky Frontierman" |
| Synopsis: | Survival on the Western Frontier of Kentucky, Fighting the Indians and the British and settling the wild frontier. Bryans Station and the Battle of Blue Licks. |
| Time: | 30 minutes |
| Name: | Jim Cook |
| Chapter: | Paul Carrington #5 |
| City: | Houston, TX |
| Contact Info: | email: jwcook713@sbcglobal.net phone: 713-504-1462 mailing address: 1935 Tallulah; Houston, TX 77077 |
| Availability: | Weekdays Monday - Friday, evenings, and weekends |
| Advance Notice Required: | 2-3 weeks |
| Distance willing to travel: | 1 hour each way |
| Fee required: | none |
| Topic: | "What Life was Like during Revolutionary Times" |
| Synopsis: | |
| Time: | 60 minutes |
| Topic: | "Outline of the Battles" |
| Synopsis: | First Attack: Concord heard round the world as the war progresses |
| Time: | 60 minutes |
| Topic: | "My 16 Revolutionary Ancestors" |
| Synopsis: | Vignettes of each of my ancestors and how they fought in the Revolutionary War (Bunker of Bunker Hill, James Sherman, Nathan Cook to name a few) |
| Time: | 60 minutes |
| Name: | Wayne Allen Courreges, Jr. |
| Chapter: | Patrick Henry Chapter #11 |
| City: | Austin, TX |
| Contact Info: | email: 66@austin.rr.com phone: 512-422-1300 mailing address: P. O. Box 9266; Austin, TX 78766 |
| Availability: | As available |
| Advance Notice Required: | Weeks |
| Distance willing to travel: | One hour each way |
| Fee required: | none |
| Topic: | "The George Washington Story" |
| Synopsis: | From childhood to American President |
| Time: | 20-25 Minutes |
| Name: | William Covington |
| Chapter: | Arlington #7 |
| City: | Cedar Hill, TX |
| Contact Info: | email: covingtonw@sbcglobal.net phone: 972-299-9328 mailing address: 312 Cedar Street; Cedar Hill, TX 75104 |
| Availability: | contact for availibity |
| Advance Notice Required: | at least a few days |
| Distance willing to travel: | negotiable |
| Fee required: | will discuss with each applying party |
| Topic: | "The Continental Soldier of the American Revolution" |
| Synopsis: | Presentation of the equipment and weapons carried by the Continental soldier during the course of the American Revolution. |
| Time: | 25-30 minutes |
| Topic: | "Bad Girls of the American Revolution" |
| Synopsis: | Contributions of the patriot women during the American Revolution. Individual women are spoken of in this presentation and this may vary according to the women selected to speak on. |
| Time: | 25-30 minutes |
| Topic: | "Ethnicities in the Continental Army during the American Revolution" |
| Synopsis: | This presentation will vary according to the requests of the audience. I have spoken on the Scots-Irish, Germans, indentured servants, children, Native Americans, African-Americans and other foreigners who contributed to the colonies winning their independence. |
| Time: | 25-30 minutes |
| Topic: | "Pint-Sized Patriots" |
| Synopsis: | This presentation discusses the contributions of children to the patriot cause during the American Revolution. |
| Time: | 25-30 minutes |
| Topic: | "Churches and Religion During the American Revolution" |
| Synopsis: | This presentation looks at the different denominations and their positions as the Revolution approached. |
| Time: | 25-30 minutes |
| Topic: | "The Worst of Hells: British Prison Ships During the American Revolution" |
| Synopsis: | This presentation will examine the use of prison "hulks" by the British as places of confinement for patriot prisoners of war during the American Revolution. |
| Time: | 25-30 minutes |
| Topic: | "The Signers of the Constitution" |
| Synopsis: | This presentation is a type of group biography of the various men who signed the Constitution. It looks at several key figures who are rather remarkable. |
| Time: | 25-30 minutes |
| Topic: | "The Declaration of Independence and the Magna Carta" |
| Synopsis: | This presentation looks at the similarities between these two crucial documents. |
| Time: | 25-30 minutes |
| Topic: | "Vignettes of George Washington" |
| Synopsis: | This presentation fits the DAR specifications for the "George Washington Tea" around the birthday of Washington. Scenes from the life of our first president. |
| Time: | 25-30 minutes |
| Name: | Ray Cox |
| Chapter: | PineyWoods #51 |
| City: | Humble, TX |
| Contact Info: | email: coxmr47@gmail.com phone: 281-454-6074 mailing address: 17410 Huntersglen; Humble, TX 77396 |
| Availability: | Days and evenings except Sundays |
| Advance Notice Required: | 2 weeks |
| Distance willing to travel: | 2.5 hours each way |
| Fee required: | none |
| Topic: | "An Instrument of War" |
| Synopsis: | A day in the life of a Revolutionary War soldier and how it was completely governed by the fife/drum signals that regulated the day, including stories about daily life and the playing of fife calls. |
| Time: | 20-40 minutes depending on need |
| Name: | Kenneth E. Holmes |
| Chapter: | Big Country #16 |
| City: | Abilene, TX |
| Contact Info: | email: holmeskenneth300@gmail.com phone: 512-626-7755 mailing address: 274 Sugarberry Ave.; Abilene, TX 79602-8303 |
| Availability: | Most of the time |
| Advance Notice Required: | 2 weeks |
| Distance willing to travel: | Anywhere in Texas. |
| Fee required: | None. |
| Topic: | "Callahan/Blassingame Incident" |
| Synopsis: | Months after Capt. James H. Callahan leads a troop of Texas Rangers in an 1855 military incursion into Mexico, people wonder at the rumors that Texas Gov. Pease had sent Callahan there on a secret mission. They also speculate on the cause of Callahan’s “difficulty” with his neighbor, Woodson Blassingame, resulting in Callahan’s death as well as that of friend Thomas “Maulheel” Johnson on the Blanco River the following March 1856, followed by the lynch mob killing of both Woodson Blassingame and his son Calvin, and a trial with 2 changes of venue and hearings that lasted for years. |
| Time: | 30 - 45 minutes depending on questions. |
| Name: | W. Michael Hurley |
| Chapter: | Captain William Barron #25 |
| City: | Tyler, TX |
| Contact Info: | email: whurley64@me.com phone: 903-705-8655 mailing address: 712 S. Chilton Ave; Tyler, TX 75701 |
| Availability: | Weekdays, week nights, Saturday |
| Advance Notice Required: | 7 days |
| Distance willing to travel: | 3 hours drive |
| Fee required: | none |
| Topic: | "The Influence and Contribution of General Marquis de LaFayette" |
| Synopsis: | The life and character of a great French American. |
| Time: | flexible |
| Topic: | "Why I Am A Member of the SAR" |
| Synopsis: | Why I am a member of the SAR. |
| Time: | flexible |
| Topic: | "The King's Mountain Boys" |
| Synopsis: | An examination of the pivotal battle of Kings Mountain and it's contribution to the American Southern Campaign during the War for American Independence. |
| Time: | 20-30 min |
| Topic: | "The Scotch Irish and the War for American Independence" |
| Synopsis: | An in depth look at the Scotch Irish contributions to the war against the English. |
| Time: | 20-30 min |
| Topic: | "The Language of the Tombstones" |
| Synopsis: | An examination of the meaning and often secret purpose of the tombstone in America from Colonial to modern day. |
| Time: | 20-30 min |
| Name: | Judge Tom Lawrence |
| Chapter: | Paul Carrington # 5 |
| City: | Montgomery, TX |
| Contact Info: | email: tomlaw840@gmail.com |
| Availability: | Any time |
| Advance Notice Required: | None in particular but the more lead time the better. |
| Distance willing to travel: | Greater Houston area |
| Fee required: | None but if the organization gives an honorarium I prefer that it go to the Tom & Betty Lawrence American History Teacher Award through NSSAR. |
| Topic: | "Boston Tea Party" |
| Time: | about 30 minutes |
| Topic: | "Women in the Revolutionary War" |
| Time: | about 30 minutes |
| Topic: | "Lessons Learned from the American Revolution" |
| Time: | about 30 minutes |
| Topic: | "Presidential Scandals" |
| Time: | about 30 minutes |
| Topic: | "Election of 1800" |
| Time: | about 30 minutes |
| Topic: | "Real Story of the Declaration of Independence" |
| Time: | about 30 minutes |
| Topic: | "Real Story of the Bill of Rights" |
| Time: | about 30 minutes |
| Topic: | "With A Little Help From Our Friends" |
| Time: | about 30 minutes |
| Name: | John Maloney |
| Chapter: | Dallas #2 |
| City: | Dallas, TX |
| Contact Info: | email: Jmaloneymd@gmail.com |
| Availability: | Evenings during the week, weekends are flexible |
| Advance Notice Required: | 4-6 weeks |
| Distance willing to travel: | 20-30 miles |
| Fee required: | No Fee Required |
| Topic: | "Diseases and Pestilence of the Revolutionary War and their Impact" |
| Synopsis: | The diseases that made a difference in the war: smallpox, malaria, Yellow Fever, and special attention to those who lost their lives on prison ships. |
| Time: | 30-40 minutes |
| Name: | Dave McLeod |
| Chapter: | Capt. William Barron #25 |
| City: | Tyler, TX |
| Contact Info: | email: dynamicdmcleod@gmail.com |
| Availability: | Weekdays |
| Advance Notice Required: | Two Weeks |
| Distance willing to travel: | 100 miles from Tyler |
| Fee required: | No Fee Required |
| Topic: | "Adams & Jefferson: Revolutions, Rivals, & Redemption" |
| Synopsis: | This presentation explores the complicated relationship between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, commencing with the writing of the Declaration of Independence and ending with both of their deaths on July 4, 1826. |
| Time: | 25 minutes |
| Name: | Ron Moulton |
| Chapter: | Patrick Henry #11 |
| City: | Cedar Park, TX |
| Contact Info: | email: ronmoulton66@gmail.com phone: 512-589-6760 mailing address: 2410 Sweetwater Lane, Cedar Park, TX 78613-5628 |
| Availability: | Weekdays, weekday evenings |
| Advance Notice Required: | Weeks |
| Distance willing to travel: | 30-40 min. |
| Fee required: | Free will |
| Topic: | "Descendant of Boston Patriots" |
| Synopsis: | Ancestors were indentured worked on the first ship built in America, was Boston Militia, Silver Smith on Charlestown Peninsula, show artifacts, early money, flintlock guns, period attire. Play violin, zither, fife, rope snare drum, fife. |
| Time: | 20-45 min (can taylor length to suit) |
| Topic: | "Texas Revolution" |
| Synopsis: | I fought in all mock battles of the Tx Rev. including Alamo, Gonzales, Goliad, Concepsion, San Jacinto. Wear period gear, have period firearms and equipment. Share stories of TX Rev play fiddle music, indian flute, etc. |
| Time: | 20-45 min (can taylor length to suit) |
| Topic: | "American Civil War" |
| Synopsis: | As twins, one North and one South, show Civil War equipment, training. Have full equipment from both sides. Play banjo, guitar, fiddle, rope snare drum. |
| Time: | 20-45 min (can taylor length to suit) |
| Name: | Dr. Jennings Neal Naranjo |
| Chapter: | Nathan Gann #28 |
| City: | Lufkin, TX |
| Contact Info: | email: asdf.neal@gmail.com |
| Availability: | Weekdays, evenings |
| Advance Notice Required: | 30 days |
| Distance willing to travel: | 100 miles - 1.5 hours |
| Fee required: | gas |
| Topic: | "Explaining Authentic Revolutionary War Artifacts Collected Over 30 Years" |
| Synopsis: | I have a collection of Revolutionary War artifacts and I display the items and explain how I obtained the item and how and where it was used. |
| Time: | 30 minutes plus questions |
| Name: | Drake Peddie |
| Chapter: | Plano #37 |
| City: | Richardson, TX |
| Contact Info: | email: drakepeddie@gmail.com |
| Availability: | Flexible on time, but prefer evenings or weekends |
| Advance Notice Required: | |
| Distance willing to travel: | within 100 miles of Plano |
| Fee required: | No charge - but buy my dinner or lunch |
| Topic: | "Privateers: Pirates or Patriots?" |
| Synopsis: | Infamous Privateer Jonathan Haraden in full uniform from Salem speaks about the history of privateering before and during the American Revolution and how it benefited the American cause. He then tells several enlightening stories about some of his personal adventures on the high seas during the Revolutionary War. |
| Time: | 30-35 minutes |
| Topic: | "Preserving History" |
| Synopsis: | no description available. |
| Time: | 30-35 minutes |
| Name: | Michael Petridis |
| Chapter: | Dallas #2 |
| City: | Dallas, TX |
| Contact Info: | email: vipjets@hotmail.com 972-217-5758 |
| Availability: | weekend, select weekdays |
| Advance Notice Required: | 2 weeks |
| Distance willing to travel: | 100 miles |
| Fee required: | mileage |
| Topic: | "Battle of Bennington (Vermont)" |
| Synopsis: | Powerpoint presentation outlining the importance of the battle as a prelude to the battle for Saratoga. The battle caused the Indian tribes in the area to abandon the British war effort. |
| Time: | 30 minutes |
| Topic: | "Bunker Hill" |
| Synopsis: | PowerPoint on Battle of Bunker Hill. |
| Time: | 30 minutes |
| Name: | Frank Rohrbough |
| Chapter: | San Antonio #4 |
| City: | Boerne, TX |
| Contact Info: | email: frankr@gvtc.com phone: 703-868-8006 mailing address: 124 Spring Valley Cove; Boerne, TX 78006-7832 |
| Availability: | Weekdays |
| Advance Notice Required: | One month ahead |
| Distance willing to travel: | 2 hrs travel time |
| Fee required: | none |
| Topic: | "Washington's Spies" |
| Synopsis: | Explain the why, what, and where of spying during the American Revolution. |
| Time: | 30 - 45 minutes |
| Topic: | "Washington's Secret War" |
| Synopsis: | Why some members of the Continental Congress wanted to remove Washington as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. |
| Time: | 30 - 45 minutes |
| Topic: | "Winter Encampment at Valley Forge 1777-1778" |
| Synopsis: | The Challenges Washington faced to rebuild his down-trodden Army. |
| Time: | 30 - 45 minutes |
| Name: | Bill Sekel |
| Chapter: | Athens #54 |
| City: | Ben Wheeler, TX |
| Contact Info: | email: firstsgtusmcret@yahoo.com phone: 830-992-5619 mailing address: 200 VZ County Road 4816; Ben Wheeler, TX 75754 |
| Availability: | Afternoon and evenings/weekdays and weekends |
| Advance Notice Required: | 1 month |
| Distance willing to travel: | 1 hour |
| Fee required: | none |
| Topic: | "Samuel Nicholas and the Continental Marines" |
| Synopsis: | Overview of the Continental Marines and the first Marine Commandant. Tailored for November meetings and the Marine Corps birthday of November 10th. |
| Time: | 30-40 minutes |
| Name: | Larry and Barbara Stevens |
| Chapter: | PineyWoods #51 |
| City: | Kingwood, TX |
| Contact Info: | email: Wardtracker@aol.com phone: mailing address: |
| Availability: | Weekdays and evenings |
| Advance Notice Required: | 30 days |
| Distance willing to travel: | Houston area; will consider farther depending on event |
| Fee required: | none |
| Topic: | "American Frontier Life" |
| Synopsis: | Larry and Barbara dress in period clothing and talk about articles of clothing, tools, cooking, foods, and weapons (when allowed) used during the frontier period. The program is done topically so you can select what you what to discuss by item or items. |
| Time: | 30 minutes to 60 minutes depending on the time available and the audience |
| Name: | Thomas F Van Fossen |
| Chapter: | Dallas #2 |
| City: | Flower Mound, TX |
| Contact Info: | email: tvf1776@gmail.com phone: 972-965-7224 mailing address: 3500 Hasland Drive; Flower Mound, TX 75022 |
| Availability: | Most any time with enough lead time. |
| Advance Notice Required: | |
| Distance willing to travel: | 100 miles round trip |
| Fee required: | none for SAR/DAR |
| Topic: | "The Sons of Liberty" |
| Synopsis: | From the Navigation Acts to the Boston Tea Party PLUS a section on the Daughters of Liberty. |
| Time: | 20-25 minutes |
| Topic: | "A Tale Of two Patriots" |
| Synopsis: | Done with Jerry Pinkerton of the Dallas Chapter. The story of our Patriot Ancestors who fought in 3 Battles together. |
| Time: | 25-30 minutes |
| Topic: | "Mary McCauley aka MOLLEY PITCHER" |
| Synopsis: | From her beginnings to her death and subsequent details. |
| Time: | 15-20 minutes |
| Name: | Hank Voegtle |
| Chapter: | Dallas |
| City: | Dallas, TX |
| Contact Info: | email: hjv3@outlook.com phone: 214-769-5040 mailing address: 9431 Loma Vista Dr.; Dallas, TX 75243 |
| Availability: | Weekday evenings, weekends. Some weekdays possible. |
| Advance Notice Required: | 3-4 weeks |
| Distance willing to travel: | Less than 3 hours each way |
| Fee required: | Lodging if overnight stay is required. |
| Topic: | "Florida in the American Revolution" |
| Synopsis: | An overview of the personalities in the 14th colony as well as the battles fought there. |
| Time: | 30 minutes |
| Topic: | "The Preamble to the Constitution" |
| Synopsis: | An overview of the preamble to the constitution. |
| Time: | 15-20 minutes |