ustxtxb_obs_1990_05_05_50_00005-00000_000.pdf

with the American model just as the Eastern Europeans and Russians turn toward it. The discussion will begin Saturday at 1 p.m. We are putting together a second panel on rebuilding the Texas progressive coalition. The panel is now scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday and among the speakers will be Chris Dixie of Houston, who was chairman of the Harris County Democrats in the heyday of the only really effective Texas statewide progressive coalition in modern times. We know people will speak out freely at these discussions; we will tape them, and Lou Dubose will have the option of printing -them, or excerpts of them, in the Observer, as he may decide. Let me tell you a bit more formally about Studs Terkel, the featured speaker of the banquet. He is of course the author of a number of best-selling oral histories, including HardTimes, An Oral History of the Great Depression Working: People Talking about What They Do All Day and How They Feel about It The Good War: An Oral History of W orldWar H Born in Chicago in 1912, Studs has worked for 35 years as a talk-show moderator for WFMT Radio there. The last time I saw him, on East 50th Street in New York City on a cold late-winter midday about two months ago, we were holding picket signs and walking around together in a long circle on the sidewalk with 250 other writers and editors, protesting the perceived reining-in of the independent book imprint, Pantheon Books. Johnny Faulk, I first came well to know through our mutual friendship with the late J. Frank Dobie and Roy Bedichek. We meant to honor Johnny in a special way at the banquet, and now will, posthumously. Liz Faulk, his widow, and their son, Yohan, will be present; Liz will say some words about Johnny and Ann Richards will, too. Johnny’s dear friend Cactus Pryor will try to be with us as well. The story of Johnny’s life is well known, and in the wake of his death was told again all over the country: his being fired by CBS in the McCarthy era, his successful suit against his blacklisters for libel, his ensuing success as a writer, actor, folklorist, and lecturer on the American Constitution. In his book The Defense Never Rests, Louis Nizer, Johnny’s lawyer wrote about Johnny: “One lone man had challenged the monstrously powerful forces of vigilantism cloaked in superpatriotism. He did not conceive of himself as fighting a heroic battle, but simply as doing what any American would do defy the bully, spit at his pretension, and preserve his faith in his country’s Constitution and principles.” Ernesto Cortes, Jr., is the recipient of the Observer’s second annual Frankie Randolph Social Justice Award, sculpted by Fred Schmidt of Fredericksburg. The organizers of the Texas Industrial Areas Foundation will also be honored. \(Senator Ralph Yarborough, last year’s recipient, and Mrs. Yarborough, will be this year’s distinguished former editor of the Observer who is now a key staffer for Jim Hightower, will bring Ernie on. Born in San Antonio, Ernie worked in the 1960s to organize statewide support for the United Farmworkers strike at La Casita farms in the Valley. In 1974, after training with Ed Chambers and the Industrial Areas Foundation, Ernie returned to San Antonio and, as an organizer for the Industrial Areas Foundation, went door to door on the West Side, writing down on cards what people at each house said they needed in their lives. The result was Communities Organized for Pubhistory in San Antonio and became the prototype for similar organizations. In 1977 Ernie moved to Los Angeles to organize the United Neighborhoods Organization, based in East Los Angeles, Since he returned to Texas in 1978, he has worked to found 10 more community-based organizations, which have been important forces for the restructuring of political-power relationships in their own communities and, as a group, in influencing statewide policy-making, especially concerning the equalization of education funding, indigent health care, and colonias legislation. In 1984 Ernesto Cortes was named a fellow of the MacArthur Foundation. Jim Hightower, the Texas Agriculture Commissioner, will deliver one of his soulstirring stemwinders to remind us why we need each other and why so many good people form themselves around the Observer in the first place. Praise the Lord, Molly Ivins will be the emcee at the banquet again. I have been instructed by the Observer group that I am to make a speech, too; I will keep it short. Last year’s event sold out at 1,200 banquet seats, as many of you will recall. The panels begin at 1 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, across South First St. from Palmer Auditorium. Tickets, available by advance purchase only, start at $35, which gets one into the cash-bar social hour at 6 p.m. at Palmer , Auditorium and the banquet beginning at 7:30. There will also be a patron’s cocktail party \(we also, God forgive us, call it a ginning at 6 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency \($100, including admission to the dinner and program at Palmer Auditorium, which will begin pect the post-banquet dancing and socializing to start about 10 p.m., with The Roll Models providing the music. The next morning, starting at 9, and continuing until 11, those who wish will gather a hefty breakfast buffet, more talk with each other, and, at about 10, a light speaking program, with the Observer staff all on hand to catch what-for or new ideas or whatever we’re in for. The buffet service will continue until 11 a.m.. The tab, payable at Jalisco, will be $5.25, including the sales tax and the tip. I don’t know about anybody else, but after that, unless there’s a summer storm, I’m heading for Barton Springs and a swim, and after that a picnic on the tables at Zilker Park, and after that another swim, and after that a snooze on the grass in the shade. If you’re going out there, too, bring your picnic, of course, and a swimming suit would help. For further information please call us at the Observer, R.D. Panel Discussions and Evening Festivities Saturday, May 5, 1 P.M. Solidarity in Poland and the American Model a panel discussion with Ronnie Dugger and Larry Goodwyn. Open to the public at no admission charge, Texas Ballrooms 5 & 6 of the Austin Hyatt Regency Hotel \(208 Saturday, May 5, 3 P.M. Rebuilding the Texas Progressive Movement a panel discussion with Andy Hernandez of the Southwest Voter Registration and Education Project, Houston attorney Chris Dixie, and another participant to be named later. Open to the public at no admission charge, Texas Ballrooms 5 & 6 of the Austin Saturday May 5, 6 P.M. Reception for Sponsors and Observer Supporters and a John Henry Faulk Musical Tribute by Jerry Jeff Walker. Tickets $100 and up, Saturday May 5, 6 P.M. Social hour for Loyal Friends, with music by Mariachi Espuelas de Texas, Palmer Auditorium Saturday May 5, 7:30 P.M. Observer Benefit Dinner \(a ticket for either of the 6 Hinojosa. Speakefs will include Studs Terkel, Ann Richards, Molly Ivins, Jim Hightower, Cactus Pryor, Bernard Rapoport, Geoffrey Rips, and Ronnie Dugger. Celebrating the life of John Henry Faulk and presenting the Frankie Randolph Social Justice Award to Ernesto Cortes, Jr.. and the Leaders and Organizers of the Texas Industrial Areas Foundation. Saturday May 5, 10 P.M. Dancing and socializing at the Palmer Auditorium. Music provided by the Roll Models. Sunday, May 6, 9 A.M. Breakfast Buffet at Jalisco Bar. A hefty breakfast and light speaking program with Observer Publisher Ronnie Dugger, Editor Louis Dubose, other Observer staff, past and present, out of town guests, and friends. Buffet service until 11 A.M., $5.25 includes tax and gratuity, payable at Jalisco THE TEXAS OBSERVER 5