January 3rd, 2011
LBJ Museum to preview expansion plans at annual meeting

SUBMITTED REPORT

Members of the Board of Directors of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Museum of San Marcos, located on the downtown courthouse square, will hold their annual meeting Wednesday, Jan. 5, at 6:30 p.m. at the museum.

Museum supporters, as well as the general public, are invited to attend and hear a recap of the museum’s accomplishments during 2010, as well as plans for 2011. Among the reports to be presented is an overview of plans – including a display of preliminary design work – for the renovation of the massive second floor of the building that houses the museum and creation of archival storage and curation areas on the first floor. Board members and officers will also be elected for the 2011 calendar year.

The non-profit organization’s board holds its regular meetings on the first Wednesday evening of each month at 5:30 p.m. at the museum. The annual meeting is traditionally held the first Wednesday evening in January.

“We are anticipating exciting events over the next six to eight months,” board president Pat Murdock said. “Thanks to our local government leaders, we will be able to not only expand our exhibit space and create special auditorium, curation and archival areas, but we will have flexible space that we can make available for public use.”

Murdock said Frank Gomillion of Gomillion, Kester and Zimmerman, Inc. has been working with the museum board to develop design plans for the renovation work. A facilities committee chaired by board vice president Scott Gregson taking the lead in renovation planning, she added.

“Frank has provided a display of the general layout anticipated for the renovation and we would love to have the opportunity to show it to our friends and supporters,” Murdock said, adding, “We appreciate everything Frank is doing, and we are very fortunate to have knowledgeable board members like Ted Breihan and Scott Gregson to serve on the Facilities Committee. And, of course, Ed Mihalkanin has been involved with the museum since the idea of creating one surfaced in 1997. He is invaluable.”

The LBJ Museum of San Marcos fills a special niche in the Johnson legacy by celebrating not only the President’s days in San Marcos where he attended what is now Texas State University-San Marcos but also his days as a public school teacher in the South Texas town of Cotulla. It has a unique perspective to share with the public about the man known as “The Education President.”

Texas State remains the only university in the state of Texas to have graduated a U.S. president.

Museum board members and officers include president Pat Murdock; vice president Scott Gregson; treasurer Theresa Schwartz; secretary Carmen Imel; and members Ted Breihan, Teresa Hobby, Vicki Meehan-Clarke, Ed Mihalkanin, John Navarrette, Jim Pape and Linda Rodriguez. Former board member Bill Cunningham has been serving as museum operations manager since early 2010.

The museum is open to the public without charge from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Tours and visits on other days of the week can be arranged by calling the museum at (512) 353-3300, Murdock at (512) 353-1943 or Cunningham at (512) 393-8828.