“When I was going to high school in Anahuac, the person I really admired was my world history teacher, Mr. Broussard. He made learning about history so much fun.

“He used to have these little sayings like, ‘Now we’re going to slide into Greece.’ Or, ‘It’s time to roam over to Rome.’ Those are some of the things I took with me into my teaching career.

“He was a World War II veteran. He lost his leg in the war, but never talked about it. He was just an engaging teacher, and a really nice man. I never got to tell him how much he impacted my life and my decision to go into history.

“I’ve always loved anything to do with history. It’s probably because there’s so much of it in my family. I’m a fifth-generation Texan. My great-great-great-great-grandfather fought at the Battle of San Jacinto with Sam Houston. Our ancestral history goes back to the ‘Old Three Hundred’ — the original settlers in Texas. Where our family ranch house is located is part of the original Mexican land grant.

“My mother had the wanderlust that I do, wanting to travel and see things. Anything with a historical background, I’m all for it.

“I’ve been to a lot of places in the states. I’ve been to Vicksburg. I’ve been to Mount Rushmore and the Badlands. I’ve been to Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.

“In Europe, I’ve been to the Bastille, which is now just a monument in France. I’ve been to Normandy and done the beaches. That was unbelievable, because I especially love World War II history. I’ve been to Greece, and saw the Acropolis and Parthenon, and Olympia, where the first Olympics were held. I’ve been to Machu Picchu in Peru. There are no words for it, knowing that you’re going up to this ruin that’s hundreds and hundreds of years old. So many other places. And as a teacher, I would use pictures that I took to go along with stories in my classes.

“I just love to travel. With COVID, and other issues in our family, it’s not been possible as much. But I have a bucket list of places I still want to see. One day, I’m going to make it happen. I’m definitely ready to get back out there.”

— Melanie Rayner

Related:

• Retired teacher: ‘It was always about my students’

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“I started getting tattoos when I was 18. Luckily I had friends who knew how to do them, so I just let them experiment on me. I think the last time I got one was 2013. I have a lot of them. The only thing I’ve got left to do probably is my back.”

Which tattoos are most meaningful to you?
“My left leg has this Japanese theme. It really represents my Asian heritage. When my dad was in the Army, he met my mom while serving in Korea. I was born there, but I came to the states when I was about 1. My parents got divorced, and my dad got custody of me.

“The last time I saw or talked to my mom, I think I was 5. But I’m still interested in that part of my heritage. I read a lot about it, like history books, and I try to learn words every now and then. It’s still important to me. It’s part of who I am.

“My dad is African-American. My mom is Korean. That’s like two different cultures, and I’m part of both. I think that’s pretty cool.”

— Devon Terrell

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• Young realist enjoys living a carefree life

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“I read a lot. I like history, philosophy, sports, all kinds of topics. But I don’t read much fiction, stuff that’s not real. I’m more interested in real live things. I consider myself a realist. I don’t care for make-believe.

“I live carefree. I try not to worry about things. If it happens, it happens. That’s one of my favorite mottos: stuff happens. Well, not in those exact words. S**t happens. You can’t control everything, so why be upset about it?”

— Devon Terrell, 29

Related:

• Asian heritage tattoos most meaningful

The post Young realist enjoys living a carefree life appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“I was born and raised in Baytown. When I look back on my teenage years, I think about Texas Avenue. The movies I saw. Hanging out with my buddies. Checking out the pretty girls driving by. It was like ‘American Graffiti’ via Baytown.

“But when I was 16, if you would have told me that when I’m 52 I’d get my jollies and my kicks from Baytown history, I would have told you to put a bullet in me. I’m glad nobody did. I just have a passion for my hometown and its history.

“I didn’t do all that well in school, but I could have. The teachers always said I was bright enough. I was just too busy being a hippie and all that entailed.

“But my love for history started in high school. There was a teacher, Joe Herzik, and he made it fun. I have this fascination with it now. I think Baytown history is so cool. I don’t know how else to put it.

“Working on my site, I learn something new every day. And I’ve found that if you make it fun, cool and interesting, folks will tend to remember it more.”

— Russell Hamman

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“I’ve taught history and directed the Honors Program for years at Lee College.”

What is it about history that intrigues you?
“The human experience is so unique. The truth of the matter is that history is really stranger than fiction. There are a lot of things that have happened, that if you put them in a work of fiction, they wouldn’t work.”

Do young people have your same desire to study the past?
“Many come into my class and don’t seem interested, but I can see them awaken. My philosophy is that in most cases, this is probably the last history course that these students are going to take. If I can’t convince them that somehow this is relevant to their own lives and their own experiences, then what have I accomplished?”

— John Britt

(Update: John passed away in January 2018.)

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