The Pierian Study Club met February 12, 2009 at the beautiful home of Bebe Bagley with the following ladies acting as co-hostesses: Connie Adams, Jeri Jones, and Martha Leigh Whitten. Barbara Hardy and Nancy Oliver were also co-hostesses but unable to attend the meeting. Other members present were: Ann Allison, Paula Barrier, Loy Nell Behrens, Gail Bruner, Millie Burnham, Liz Haug, Kathleen Hawkins, Zolly Jones, Cherry Kay Lange, Dorothy Miller, Anita Miles, Joycelyn McRorey, Susie Nettleship, Jane Randolph, Clione Rochat, Patty Shaw, Sandy Smith, Geanne Taylor, Martha Roe Terry, Patricia Warren, Louise Williams, Polly Womack, Nancy Bannister, and newest member, Janice Dugan.

As the members arrived they were served a very festive and fitting Valentine snack of heart shaped cookies with pink or white icing, grapes, strawberries, and coffee.

The President, Patricia Warren, opened the meeting by calling on Geanna Taylor to lead in the Club Collect and introduced and welcomed new member, Janice Dugan.

Susie Nettleship had the privilege of introducing our speaker for the day, her husband, Clay Nettleship; who so graciously filled in for the scheduled speaker.

Clay is a native of San Saba County having graduated from San Saba High School in 1986. He graduated from Baylor University in 1990 and Baylor Law School in 1994. Shortly thereafter married Susie Smith from Goldthwaite, Texas and they made San Saba their home. Clay began his law practice and then officed with Dick Miller and joined with Dick in owning and operating Miller Title Company.

In 1997, Clay became general manager of his mother’s family’s ranching and oil and gas interest in South Texas, which he contines to serve in this capacity today. In addition, his other ventures include; San Saba Insurance Services, Harry’s Department Store, and Rafter Cross Ranches. He is also an amateur architech and has designed much of downtown San Saba, as well as his office and his home. He does this “to relax” in his spare time.

He currently serves as Vice Chair of LCRA, President of the Museum Society, President of San Saba Businessman’s League, Vice President of The Community Foundation of San Saba, is a director on the board of San Saba Chamber of Commerce, and an active member of the First Baptist Church. But his real love is his family, his beautiful wife, Susie, and their adorable girls, Allison -twelve years old and Madeleine - eleven years old.

Clay spoke to the Pieriean Study Club two years ago with the aspirations and hopes for San Saba. It was very timely to hear about the progress from that time and the update and changes for the future.

A major dream for San Saba was to have a LCRA Park in San Saba and that dream will soon be realized due to the hard work and dedication of Clay, as the Vice Chair of LCRA. Hats off to Mark Martin and Bob Whitten who were instrumental in getting the 35 acres needed for this project! The Park will be located around and in conjunction with what is now known as Risien Park. This will be a beautiful addition to our county.

Clay brought some charts to depict the plans for the downtown area. The original plan was to tear down the old Butane Store and have this area for parking but the Historical Commission has convinced the business men that this should be kept in tact and restored.

The Economical Development Board purchased the land across the highway from Golding Motors for parking.

The Burden Hotel built in 1867 will be the focal point for a tourist attraction and you can now see this old treasure from the Courthouse. There will be restoration to this building and it will have a courtyard in this area. Jimmy Shook very generously donated property in this area to the city.

Another real treasure was when they discovered, quite by accident, the Opera House which was in operation in 1909 - 1912. Plans are pending on this site.

Clay and Ken Jordan purchased Harry’s in downtown San Saba and immediately began restoring this 1907 building. They have tried to perserve the original floors that are over 100 years old and have joined the five buildings on main street for a very beautiful addition to our city.

And YES, the historical boot which decorated the front of Harry’s for many years will soon be in place. It was very fitting to be in the home built by Harry Shapiro, as the program centered around his origianl store. Harry did so much for San Saba and was a visionary. The beautiful home was bought by Dean and Bebe Bagley after his death.

Dean Bagley was also one of San Saba’s leading business men who did so much to promote San Saba and was instrumental in the building of the San Saba Golf Course.

Many people are involved and proud of what is going on in San Saba today and have given their time and efforts in this ongoing project. Clay closed with a heartwarming story of meeting a man who complimented him for his dedication and work and when they shook hands there was a check for $500 to go to the San Saba Businessman’s League.

The President, Patricia Warren, called the business meeting to order and asked for roll call and the reading of the minutes. The Secretary, Dorothy Miller, read the minutes and they were approved with the corrections of adding two hostesses, Gail Bruner and Kynda Jordan, who served as co-hostesses at the January meeting and their names had been omitted. Louise Williams, Treasurer, gave the financial report and announced it is past time to pay your dues for next year.

Susie Nettleship, the Membership Chair, read a letter of resignation from Maude Ann Kuykendall and this was accepted with regrets. Susie reported that we now have 35 active members, seven associate members, one honorary member, and no one on the waiting list. Susie also announced that she had been contacted by the San Saba School Superintendant, Leigh Ann Glaze, to ask for volunteers to have lunch with a pupil during public school week.

Kathleen Hawkins, Yearbook Chair, announced that the March meeting will be the One Act Play at the High School Cafeteria at 2:00 PM and encouraged all members to be present to support our high school students in this endeavor.