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. …

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 Donald Stanley Vogel, artist and art dealer, concerning his recollections concerning painter Perry Nichols. He discusses his early years as a painter after coming to Dallas from Chicago, 1942; comments about the "Dallas Nine"; building a clientele for his paintings; his relationship with John Rosenfield, the arts and music critic for the Dallas Morning News; his business partnership with Betty McLean in the Betty McLean Art Gallery, 1951-54; his criticism of Nichols's work habits; comments about Nichols's personal life; his role in Nichols's mural painted for the Belo Corporation; his critique of the Belo mural; the importance of self-discipline to the successful artist.

Interview with Christopher Perry Nichols, stage director, concerning his recollections of his father, the artist Perry Nichols.

Interview with Robert Stuth-Wade, artist, concerning his recollections of his relationship with Dallas painter Perry Nichols, 1971-1985. He discusses his early interest in drawing and art; his introduction to Nichols; comments about Nichols's marital life and alcoholism; Nichols's teaching style and mentorship; his description of Nichols's studio; his comparison of Nichols's lifestyle to that of Ernest Hemingway; his critique of Nichols's works and work habits; his criticisms of abstract expressionism; Nichols's marriages; comments about the "Dallas Nine" and Nichols's contribution to the Texas art scene.