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In 1933, the Texas Legislature created the post of Texas Poet
Laureate. The post was filled continuously until 1981. Since
then the post has been vacant all but a handful of years.
The last Poet Laureate left the post in 1994.
This project is an effort
to convince Austin that the post is important and that
Texans want someone in the post.
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Background
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Resources
The People Say
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Signature Count
November 20 | 81 |
November 14 | 76 |
November 13 | 76 |
November 6 | 45 |
Nominations
The notes are primarily provided by the people
suggesting the names.
Nominee
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Times Nominated
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Notes
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Dr. Frederick Turner
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1
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Naomi Shihab Nye
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1
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Robert Trammell
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2
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Thom the World Poet
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1
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Bruce Bond
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1
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Budd Powell Mahan
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1
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My nomination for this position was made via the governor's office last
spring; it was not even/ever recognized. My nomination is the 16th
president of the Poetry Society of Texas, who served 5 years in that
position; and only replaced at his request.. He supports poets and
poetry to the greatest degree by sponsoring the largest annual contest
prizes for PST and Poetry In Schools. He currently serves as 3rd Vice
President of the National Federation of State Poetry Societies. He is an
award winning poet, photographer, and actor. But his most prominent role
is that of Teacher of children-at-risk in the Richardson schools, and
nominated as Teacher of the Year -1998.
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Albert Huffstickler
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1
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Albert is an old man who looks like a tramp, and who has lived like a
tramp, but who writes pretty damn good poetry. He lives in Austin and has
published about a million poems and several books. I want him for poet
laureate simply because he cusses, smokes, looks like hammered hell, says
whatever he feels like, and is brilliant.
His poetry has been anthologized in Best Texas Writing 1 and
Grow Old Along with Me--The Best Is Yet To Be. He's been
published in any number of small magazines, including
The Hawk,
Salvaged from Coreys,
Nerve Cowboy
and there's an amusing bit of rumination by the man
in The Austin Chronicle.
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Clebo Rainey
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1
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Robert Bly
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1
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Ray Hinman
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1
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Leona Welch
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1
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She is founder and first president of Texoma Poetry Society, now
serving as Corresponding Secretary of Poetry Society of Texas, She is also
the head of Poetry In Schools project in Texas and has been recommended by
National Federation of State Poetry Societies to help establish Poetry in
School projects in other states. She served also as editor of Galaxy of
Verse. She was appointed the first Poet Laureate of Texoma at the PST Summer
Conference hosted by Texoma Poetry Society. It was presented by the Denison
Mayor, Wayne Chambliss. Sherman Mayor Julie Ellis Starr witnessed and
acknowledged the honor bestowed on Leona.
Leona is published in her own right, and has won many, many prizes for her
work. She has read in as featured poet in many places (Barnes and Nobles,
other Poetry Society's meetings, and even at a Slam in Dallas).Her reading
voice is phenomenal in my opinion. She lives the Texoma Poetry Society's
motto "Promoting Poetry by Participation". She has chaired benefits for the
Crisis Center for two years, Began the Adopt a Crisis Child for Christmas
program, and helped on the Adopt a Highway Program.
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