Open | Oral History

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OH 2004

Dallas-based business leader and philanthropist. Grandparents’ experiences in present-day Belarus and Prussia and as immigrants to the U.S. and eventually to Fort Worth; parents’ experiences growing up in Fort Worth. Education in Fort Worth public schools culminating at Paschal High School and at UT-Austin; experiences in U.S. Army. Career as a systems engineer at Bell Helicopter, Electronic Data Systems, General Motors, Perot Systems, and others.

OH 2002

For the Geezle Oral History Project. His story of his nativity in Hawkins, TX, and his public education in Lewisville, TX. Insights about his athletic football career in high school, at Texas Technological College, and to North Texas State College. Recollections on graduating in business administration, beginning a career in securities, and establishing his own business, CDS Resources.

OH 2001

For the Geezle Oral History Project; Dr. Victor Rodriguez spotlights significant insights into his storied and sterling career through five time dimensions: (1) his early all-Hispanic elementary school training; (2) his continued study and budding athletic prowess in the Edna, TX, school district; (3) his Victoria Junior College athletic achievements and learning; (4) his higher education art training, Geezle membership, and track accomplishments at North Texas State College; and (5) his 37-year career as a teacher, coach, and superintendent in the San Antonio (TX) school district.

OH 2003

For the Geezle Oral History Project. This interview traces the background of Alfred Edgar Greer from Snyder, TX, to his public school education in Decatur, TX. It continues with his two-years of study at Decatur Baptist College, where he starred for and captained the basketball team. It examines his continued academic pursuits at North Texas State College in public school administration (BS, 1951; MS, 1954) and his membership in the Geezle Fraternity.

OH 2000

For the Geezle Oral History Project; this interview extends and develops OH 0653 conducted in 1985 about Integration of North Texas Football; it probes Charlie Joe Cole, Jr.'s life journey from a 17-year-old Pilot Point, TX, athlete to a freshman football player at North Texas State College in 1948 to his distinguished Air Force Service during the Korean War; the interview continues with Charlie's return to NTSC and his football career as a varsity player; it explores his membership in the Geezles and the values he gained from that organization; it traces his beginning career as a pu

OH 1999

Mildred Kitchens recounts her childhood growing up in the small timber mill town of Diboll, Texas during the early twentieth century. She discusses working her way through the Texas State College for Women (now Texas Women’s University) in the late 1930s. After graduating from TSCW, Kitchens took a job working for the National Youth Administration (NYA). After that, she spent a lifetime working in several different industries. She describes these working experiences in detail, chronicling her time working as an administrative assistant in the military, and a social worker in East Texas.

OH 1997

Professor emeritus of the UNT Political Science department, native of Czechoslovakia and survivor of the Nazi and Soviet invasions of that country, and political activist.

OH 1996 Teske, Kirk

Kirk Teske’s interest in the built environment began with a love of drawing and a high school apprenticeship with a local architecture firm in his hometown, Longview, Texas. He began his career with HKS in Dallas in 1984 working with cost-driven developer clients who did not share his passion for passive design strategies. In the late 1990’s he began managing projects for corporate clients. The Sabre Headquarters project in Southlake, Texas, which opened in 2001, was a milestone for Kirk and a catalyst for change in the region.

OH 1995 Olp, Gary

Gary Olp grew up outdoors in the Wisconsin suburbs and the rural Midwest. Whether tending the garden, working in a steel mill or building a fort, he was hand’s-on, immersed in nature. Since the third grade, he had wanted to be an architect, to design buildings. He was inspired by the work of Frank Lloyd Wright to understand the integration of the natural world and the built environment. He attended the University of Cincinnati and created his own path of study. Early successes validated his design philosophy and entrepreneurial talents.