December 17, 2013
† † † †Northeast Texas Community College Presidential Scholars Tyler Reynolds (left), and Kayleah Cumpian (right) presented their work on the long-term Northeast Texas Congressman, Wright Patman, at the Fall Meeting of Texas?s Webb Society.††The meeting was held at the University of Houston at Victoria.††Student chapters of the Webb Society and their professorial advisors attended the meeting.††Webb societies, from universities and colleges throughout Texas, cultivate Texas history on their campuses and in their communities.
† † † †Cumpian, from Mount Pleasant, presented her research on Patman as the ?Last Populist.?††She argued that Patman?s early experiences with destitution led to a money fixation, a hallmark of nineteenth-century populism.††Patman, she noted, did everything possible to empower economically the residents of rural towns and villages, and showed zero tolerance for symbols of financial privilege, such as Andrew Mellon.††Reynolds, the executive producer of the film on Patman, next showed clips from the film.††In one, Reynolds, from Pittsburg, playing the part of Andrew Mellon, confronts Patman.††The movie, filmed last summer by NTCC?s Webb Society in conjunction with NTCC Honors, is a feature-length work on Patman?s career, and congressional crusades.††The film, to be released in early 2014, features Presidential Scholar, Noah Griffin, starring as Wright Patman.
† † † †Honors Director Dr. Andrew Yox noted: ?Cumpian?s coherent powerpoint, and Reynold?s film filled a good sized hall, projected on seven screens.††I believe that even the university chapters were startled to see a student group so far advanced in their year?s main history project.††Of course, we have many others to thank for this, including Professor Chuck Hamilton for his film expertise, a Whatley Enhancement Grant and many others from the college and our community.?
