There are few things that are purely American. On that short list are baseball and the two-year community college. Bill Jason Priest possessed skill and acumen for both. The better part of his life was spent developing and defining the junior college into the comprehensive community college. His contributions earned him a prestigious place in the annals of higher education, but his personality was not one of a stereotypical stodgy educator, nor is the story of his life a dry read. After working his way through college, Priest played professional baseball before serving in Naval Intelligence during World War II. His varied experiences helped shape his leadership style, often labeled as autocratic and sometimes truculent in conservative convictions. The same relentless drive that brought him criticism also brought him success and praise. Forthright honesty and risk-taking determination combined with vision brought about many positive results. Priest’s career in higher education began with the two-year college system in California before he was lured to Texas in 1965 to head the Dallas County Junior College District. Over the next fifteen years Priest transformed the junior college program into the Dallas County Community College District (DCCCD) and built it up to seven colleges. …

In 1984, a Moroccan national named Abdelkrim Belachheb walked into Iannis Restaurant, a trendy Dallas nightclub, and gunned down seven people. Six died. Despite the fact that the crimes occurred in a state that prides itself on being tough on criminals, the death penalty was not an option for the Belachheb jury. Even though he had committed six murders, and his guilt was never in question (despite his insanity defense), his crimes were not capital murders under 1984 statutes. As a direct result of this crime, during the 1985 regular session the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 8--the “multiple murder” statute--to make serial killing and mass murder capital crimes. Belachheb’s case serves as an excellent example to explore capital punishment and the insanity defense. Furthermore, Belachheb’s easy entry into the United States (despite his violent record in Europe) highlights our contemporary fear over lax immigration screening and subsequent terrorism. The case is unique in that debate usually arises from an execution. Belachheb was given life imprisonment and is currently under maximum security--a fate some would argue is “worse than death.” He is scheduled to have his first parole hearing in 2004, the twentieth anniversary of his crime. “This is a …

No More Silence is the first oral history of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, from eyewitness accounts through the police reactions, investigations, and aftermath. Based on in-depth interviews conducted in Dallas, it features narratives of forty-nine key eyewitnesses, police officers, deputy sheriffs, and government officials. Here—in many cases for the first time—participants are allowed to speak for themselves without interpretation, editing, or rewording to fit some preconceived speculation. Unlike the testimony given in the Warren Commission volumes, the contributors openly state their opinions regarding conspiracy and cover-ups. Of particular interest are the fascinating stories from the Dallas Police Department—few of the policemen have come forward with their stories until now. No More Silence humanizes those involved in the events in Dallas in 1963 and includes photographs of the participants around the time of the assassination and as they appear today. Was there a conspiracy in the assassination of President Kennedy? No More Silence gives readers the best perspective yet on the subject, allowing them to sift through the evidence and draw their own conclusions. "Sneed accomplishes what has never been done before, which is to tell the story of the four days from the Dallas point of view …

Interview with Kirthica Chandrasekar, Indian-born immigrant to Carrollton, Texas, as part of the DFW Metroplex Immigrants Oral History Project. The interview includes Chandrasekar's personal experiences of childhood and education in India, her arranged marriage to a family friend living in New Jersey, and working in the insurance industry. Chandrasekar talks about her first impressions of the U.S., struggling to keep close ties with her family in India, and the contrast of life in India, New Jersey, and Texas.

Interview with Randell Fields. The interview includes Fields' personal experiences about attending the Texas International Pop Festival in Lewisville, Texas, early youth in rural Texas, and transferring high schools. Fields also talks about attendance at the "Big D Jamboree," the effects of his parent's divorce and influence of his young stepmother's interest in current music, student challenges to authority at North Texas Mesquite High School, rock 'n roll music of the Sixties, the influence of the radio station KZEW, attending the festival accompanied by his brother, sister, and father, observing the festival from outside the grounds, and the significance of the festival.

Interview with attorney and Army Air Forces veteran Edward J. Drake. The interview includes Drake's personal experiences about being a B-17 pilot in the European Theater during World War II, youth and education in Dallas, Texas, enlistment in the Aviation Cadet Program, various training programs, bombing transportation facilities during and after the Ardennes Offensive, crash-landing in Belgium after his plane was hit, and linking up with American troops. Additionally, Drake talks about his assignment to the 91st Bomb Group, the routine for a typical mission, formation flying, flying through enemy flak, rest and relaxation on-base and in London, recuperating from a collapsed lung, his return to combat for three more missions, and his return to the crash site of his plane 57 years later. The interview includes an appendix with "The Last Flight of 'Jezebel,'" written by Drake.

Interview with businessman Harold Corey. The interview includes Corey's personal experiences about the Texas International Pop Festival. Corey talks about his parents' reaction to the social, political, and cultural changes of the Sixties, his early interest in popular music, protests against the Vietnam War, conflicts with the redneck culture, the influence of the Beatles on the music of the Sixties, the influence of the "British Invasion," meeting the Grand Funk Railroad at the festival, Hog Farm, Janis Joplin, Led Zeppelin, the sale and use of drugs, the trip tent, festival security, activities at the campgrounds, comments about Ten Years After, and the lasting effects of the festival on his life. The interview includes an appendix with a campground map and festival advertisement.

Interview with executive director of resource Center Dallas Cece Cox. The interview includes Cox's personal experiences about childhood in Ohio and Bartlesville, Oklahoma, education at Northwestern University, moving to Dallas, and having a career as a photojournalist and studio photographer. Additionally, Cox discusses her coming out narrative, involvement with groups such as Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and Dallas Gay Alliance/Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance, as well as her decision to enter SMU Law School, and her relationship with her partner, adopted son, and family members. The interview includes an appendix with newspaper articles from the Dallas Morning News and flyers.

Interview with Army veteran Charles C. Brabham Jr. The interview includes Brabham's personal experiences about the Southwest Pacific Theater during World War II, his youth in Dallas during the Great Depression, joining the 112th Cavalry at age 16, his mobilization and various assignments, and his medical evacuation die to malaria, dysentery, and hookworm.

Interview with Murphy Daniels, African-American alumnus of North Texas State University. The interview includes Daniels' personal experiences about childhood and education, enrolling in North Texas rather than Texas Southern University, majoring in pre-med, serving in the United States Air Force, studying at Southwestern Medical School, and pursuing medical research. Additionally, Daniels speaks about his difficulties with white professors and graduate assistants, race relations on campus, social life among black students on campus, and off-campus life in "Shack Town" and the support from black citizens of Denton.

Interview with Abe C. Cooper, African-American alumnus of North Texas State University. The interview includes Cooper's personal experiences about childhood and early adulthood in Dallas, Texas, attending all-black schools, and enrolling at North Texas State College in 1958. Cooper speaks about the adjustments required for attending school in an integrated setting, boarding with African-American families in the "Shack Town" neighborhood of Denton, and the comparative experiences with students and faculty in the Schools of Engineering and Education.

Interview with assistant professor of music history at UNT Ana R. Alonso-Minutti, Mexican-born immigrant to Dallas, as part of the DFW Metroplex Immigrants Oral History Project. The interview includes Alonso-Minutti's personal experiences of childhood and education in Mexico, attending college at Universidad de las Americas, discovering music history as a discipline of study, a one-year course of study in theology in Dallas, choir direction at a church in England, attending graduate school, and accepting a job offer from UNT. Additionally, Alonso-Minutti discusses family history, her grandparents' migration from Spain and Italy, her first impressions of the U.S., the decision to study musicology in the U.S. or Great Britain, the citizenship process, and the contrast of life in Mexico, England, California, and Texas.

Interview with Sharon "Tommie" Acierno, Vietnam War veteran, as part of the Tarrant County War Veterans Oral History Project. The interview includes Acierno's personal experiences about childhood, dropping out of high school and enlisting in the U.S. Army, basic and clerical training, working as drill sergeant at Ft. McClellan, struggling with alcoholism and post-traumatic stress disorder, and working with the Vietnam Veterans of America group. Acierno also discusses her coming out experience, volunteering for assignment to Vietnam, her clerical duties with a logistics unit at Long Binh, the camaraderie among gay and straight troops, her experiences with apathetic citizens and antiwar protesters upon return to the U.S., deciding to leave the Army and relocate to Dallas, her experience in the Veterans Administration psychiatric ward, and her opinions regarding the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy and the treatment of women in the military generally. The interview includes an appendix with photographs.

Photograph of an unidentified man and woman arriving together on the red carpet.

Photograph of an unidentified woman gazing to the right.

Photograph of Timothy Stickney on stage.

Photograph of Roger E. Mosley and Della Reese reading a program together.

Photograph of Kim Fields speaking on stage from behind the podium.

Photograph of Irma P. Hall and an unidentified man at a gala celebrating the 30th Anniversary of The Black Academy of Arts and Letters, held at the Dallas Convention Center Theatre Complex. The man helps Hall out of a black vehicle.

Photograph of Timothy Stickney standing on stage at the podium.

Photograph of Ella Joyce, Kim Fields, Erykah Badu, and Curtis King conversing on stage with other guests seated around them.

Photograph of several guests on stage, including Della Reese, Albertina Walker, Irma P. Hall, and Curtis King.

Photograph of two unidentified guests arriving at the gala on the red carpet.

Photograph of three unidentified guests, one seated and two standing, conversing.