Koon Kreek Klub near Athens, Texas
Peter Fokes
Ted [Dealey]cared little for the civic meetings and causes, the
fundraising drives and betterment groups that had been his father's
lifework. He became a charter member of the Dallas Citizens Council,
the group of Dallas executives that would chart the city's political
course from1937 to the mid-seventies, but he rarely went to its
meetings. He preferred to hunt and fish, often at a private lodge near
Athens called Koon Kreek Klub, frequented by other members of the
Dallas power structure. His great civic passion was the Dallas zoo.
<quote off>
excerpt from "The Legacy of Citizen Robert," by Peter Elkind.
Published in the July, 1985 issue of Texas Monthly.
Anyone know anything more about this club?
Peter Fokes,
Toronto
Peter Fokes
wrote:
Koon Krrek Klub has been around for a loooooong time.
Looks like originally shares issues in 1905:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/fullsize/2257917190014159124UXLTcB
General W. H Patterson, Esq, Athens, Texas, sent an invitation to
King Edward of England to join the Klub in 1906!
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9B00E3DC1E3EE733A25754C1A9609C946797D6CF
Even the iconic TIME magazine ran an article on the Koon Kreek Klub in
1955:
It was entitled "TYCOONS: The New Athenians
(featured Murchison ... isn't he the fella some claim had a party the
might before the assassination? Heck, if ya gonna plan a 'piracy
better to plan it deep in the woods, no?)
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,823445-4,00.html
<quote on>
Murchison likes to hunt on his 1,000-acre island in the Gulf of
Mexico. He and his wife are now putting the finishing touches on a
$100,000 farm near his old home town of Athens. To landscape the
2,000-acre site, he has planted 10,000 pine seedlings and 10,000
strawberry plants. Says a friend: "Murchison does almost everything by
ten thousands." But when the new Athenians really want to enjoy
themselves, they make for the Koon Kreek Klub, an exclusive (i.e.,
mostly millionaires) tract of wilderness near Athens. There,
Murchison, Richardson and such other Athenians as Oilman Ike La Rue
and Lease Broker George Greer loaf around simple cabins in sports
shirts or old clothes, play gin rummy for 1� a point, kid each other
about their waistlines, and fish for bream (pronounced "brim" in
Texas, and a member of the sunfish family). With guides to bait the
hooks and take off the fish, it is perhaps the most relaxing form of
fishing in the world; Murchison likes it because it gives him time to
think.
<quote off>
And from 1957, an articlefrom The Gadsen times entitled
"Money Real Plentiful At Koon Krrek Klub"
Interesting comments on some of the members (Herman Brown, husband of
Greer Garson ... is that the actress Ruby said he met?, Deputy Chief
of Staff of the Air Force Lt. General Rosie O'Donnell, and LO and
BEHOLD, DR. Alton Ochsner ... omg
Remember .... MARY, FERRIE & THE MONKEY VIRUS
http://www.kenrahn.com/Marsh/Jfk-conspiracy/OSCHNER.TXT
No NEWSMEN allowed.
Here is a more recent snippet from a newspaper:
http://www.laweekly.com/2004-09-16/news/don-t-mess-with-texas/
<quote on>
East Texas was the political nut the Republicans had tried for years
to crack. Culturally conservative, Christian, racially divided, yet
historically Democratic in voting habits, Republican strategists saw
it as a place where only African-Americans should have been voting
Democratic. It was also the field-and-stream playground of the Dallas
Social Registry. The Republican governor who preceded Richards, the
owners of The Dallas Morning News, and the most prominent members of
the old Dallas oil oligarchy weekended there at a racially exclusive
fin-and-feather camp called the Koon Kreek Klub. The pun involving
�coons� and KKK was hardly accidental, and provides some insight into
the raw racial politics of the region.
<quote off>
Coincidentally, the sleepy females who claim to have found shells near
the Tippit murder scene resided in Athens pre and post assassination.
Women were resting on separate pieces of furniture though .. at least
that's what Mrs. Davis said.
Here's what Chad smith had to say about the Klub in 2005:
<quote on>
A virtual who's who of Texas politics and old money, have homes there.
Membership is virtually based on Texas style royalty. There are three
lakes, all with multiple duck blinds, an; a small hatchery of which
largemouth bass are bred and then stocked in the lakes, minimum 8
lb.s. I believe our current president [Bush] was either a member or
frequent guest back in the 80's. You colud be the worlds worst
fisherman and still catch a 12 pound bass.
Obviously the KKK part of the name was in poor taste, but I'm
reasonably sure it was never affiliated with the Klan in any way. I
only remember it being referred to as Coon Creek Club. My first visit
there was the first time I saw how the clubs name was spelled with
K's. I honestly think it was meant more as a political statment or a
gag.
I seem to remember Texas Monthly getting info. about the Bush/KKK
connection during his initial run at governor. The sign was changed to
be PC shortly after.
<quote off>
http://www.symmonline.com/phorum/read.php?2,29511
Add your own links!
What a treasure trove!
Peter Fokes,
Toronto
>
>
>Peter Fokes,
>Toronto
Peter Fokes
wrote:
>On Tue, 01 Jun 2010 22:58:01 -0400, Peter Fokes <pfo...@rogers.com>
>wrote:
>
>><quote on>
>>
>>Ted [Dealey]cared little for the civic meetings and causes, the
>>fundraising drives and betterment groups that had been his father's
>>lifework. He became a charter member of the Dallas Citizens Council,
>>the group of Dallas executives that would chart the city's political
>>course from1937 to the mid-seventies, but he rarely went to its
>>meetings. He preferred to hunt and fish, often at a private lodge near
>>Athens called Koon Kreek Klub, frequented by other members of the
>>Dallas power structure. His great civic passion was the Dallas zoo.
>>
>><quote off>
>>
>> excerpt from "The Legacy of Citizen Robert," by Peter Elkind.
>>Published in the July, 1985 issue of Texas Monthly.
>>
>>
>>Anyone know anything more about this club?
>
>Koon Kreek Klub has been around for a loooooong time.
>
>Looks liked shares issues in 1905:
>
>http://community.webshots.com/photo/fullsize/2257917190014159124UXLTcB
Actually the Klub was opened in 1901. It is limited to 140 members.
Folks on a long waiting list must wait for an existing member to die!
Here's an interesting article about the Koon Kreek Klub from Sports
Illustrated (May 21, 1956):
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1069698/1/index.htm
>"Money Real Plentiful At Koon Kreek Klub"
>Here's what Chad Smith had to say about the Klub in 2005:
Peter Fokes
wrote:
>On Wed, 02 Jun 2010 08:55:14 -0400, Peter Fokes <pfo...@rogers.com>
>wrote:
>
>>On Tue, 01 Jun 2010 22:58:01 -0400, Peter Fokes <pfo...@rogers.com>
>>wrote:
>>
>>><quote on>
>>>
>>>Ted [Dealey]cared little for the civic meetings and causes, the
>>>fundraising drives and betterment groups that had been his father's
>>>lifework. He became a charter member of the Dallas Citizens Council,
>>>the group of Dallas executives that would chart the city's political
>>>course from1937 to the mid-seventies, but he rarely went to its
>>>meetings. He preferred to hunt and fish, often at a private lodge near
>>>Athens called Koon Kreek Klub, frequented by other members of the
>>>Dallas power structure. His great civic passion was the Dallas zoo.
>>>
>>><quote off>
>>>
>>> excerpt from "The Legacy of Citizen Robert," by Peter Elkind.
>>>Published in the July, 1985 issue of Texas Monthly.
>>>
>>>
>>>Anyone know anything more about this club?
Oh well .... Judyth Vary Baker mentioned this Klub in a post on the
Education Forum in 2004. Said Ochsner and Murchison played poker
there. Seems more likely they fished and hunted!
<quote on>
The Murchison connection to Ochsner is powerful and enduring. Ochsner
went to El Charro where Hoover and the mob and Murchison and his
buddies would meet. Murchison also paid for construction at the new
Ochsner Clinic that was moved into in March, 1963. Murchison also gave
Ochsner a RACE TRACK that Ochsner sold for half a million dollars.
Ochsner's best friends were Murchison and his buddies. They also met
at Koon Kreek Klub in Texas to play poker.
<quote off>
And another article on the Klub ...
http://www.dmagazine.com/Home/1997/06/01/SECRET_HIDEAWAYS_OF_THE_RICH_AND_FAMOUS.aspx
PF
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Peter Fokes,
>>>Toronto
Anthony Marsh
According to the WC mantra if Judyth mentions something it doesn't
exist. So how do do they explain this reference.
>>> Remember .... MARY, FERRIE& THE MONKEY VIRUS
Peter Fokes
<anthon...@comcast.net> wrote:
Perhaps Judyth did a search of Ochsner's name, and discovered the
newspaper article from 1957. Although I'm not sure this newspaper was
online 6 years ago.
See:
I find Koon Kreek Klub fascinating, but apparently I am a lonely soul
in these woods!
PF
Sandy McCroskey
> On Tue, 01 Jun 2010 22:58:01 -0400, Peter Fokes <pfo...@rogers.com>
> wrote:
>
>
>
> ><quote on>
>
> >Ted [Dealey]cared little for the civic meetings and causes, the
> >fundraising drives and betterment groups that had been his father's
> >lifework. He became a charter member of the Dallas Citizens Council,
> >the group of Dallas executives that would chart the city's political
> >course from1937 to the mid-seventies, but he rarely went to its
> >meetings. He preferred to hunt and fish, often at a private lodge near
> >Athens called Koon Kreek Klub, frequented by other members of the
> >Dallas power structure. His great civic passion was the Dallas zoo.
>
> ><quote off>
>
> > excerpt from "The Legacy of Citizen Robert," by Peter Elkind.
> >Published in the July, 1985 issue of Texas Monthly.
>
> >Anyone know anything more about this club?
>
> Koon Krrek Klub has been around for a loooooong time.
>
> Looks like originally shares issues in 1905:
>
> http://community.webshots.com/photo/fullsize/2257917190014159124UXLTcB
>
> General W. H Patterson, Esq, Athens, Texas, sent an invitation to
> King Edward of England to join the Klub in 1906!
>
"More as a political statement or a gag"... than as what? I find it
disconcerting to see "political statement" (of the assumed sort) and "gag"
so blithely equated.
Maybe you were actually thinking it was "Meant more as a political
statement [that would be a euphemism] "*than* as a gag"?
Or did you intend to put it the other way around, "meant more as a gag
than as a political statement"? (What a relief.)
/sandy
Peter Fokes
<gwmcc...@earthlink.net> wrote:
<quote off>
The quote above comes from this url:
http://www.symmonline.com/phorum/read.php?2,29511
>"More as a political statement or a gag"... than as what? I find it
>disconcerting to see "political statement" (of the assumed sort) and "gag"
>so blithely equated.
>
>Maybe you were actually thinking it was "Meant more as a political
>statement [that would be a euphemism] "*than* as a gag"?
You would have to ask the fellow who wrote the comment, Chad Smith.
>Or did you intend to put it the other way around, "meant more as a gag
>than as a political statement"? (What a relief.)
Sounds more likely.
By the eay, if you have Google Earth, you can type Koon Kreek Klub,
Texas in the search box and the planet will whirl around and drop you
in backwoods Texas!
>
>/sandy
Peter Fokes
Sandy McCroskey
I mean, Chad Smith was
actually thinking it was "Meant more as a political
> statement [that would be a euphemism] "*than* as a gag"?
>
> Or did you
he, that is.
Oops.
/sm
Sandy McCroskey
Some "gag,"
And a political statement nonetheless.
Peter Fokes
<gwmcc...@earthlink.net> wrote:
Some fellow on an internet board posted this comment Jan 2010:
<quote on>
The club is named after a Mr. Koon, who has a creek named after him:
Koon Kreek. There has never been any association with the Ku Klux
Klan, and in fact if you spend time in the main club house you'll find
quite a few pictures of men of color hanging in places of honor
amongst their white angler brethren. I was suprised and delighted by
the polite, humble and comfortable climate of the club and how
gracious our hosts were.
As for the name change: their insurance company refused to write them
a policy unless they changed the name to a less politically incorrect
spelling.
<quote off>
http://www.warmfly.com/smf/index.php?action=printpage;topic=3154.0
Peter Fokes,
Toronto
Sandy McCroskey
My comment had only to do with Chad Smith's strangely blithe equation
of a supposed "political statement" in the name with "a gag."
I certainly haven't fact-checked the assertions in sources you've
referenced here that the club was racially segregated.
The post you cite now would seem more authentic, though, if we were
given this Mr. Koon's first name.
/sm
Peter Fokes
<gwmcc...@earthlink.net> wrote:
I did come across it, but forget where!
A river in the vicinity is named after the late late late Mr. Koon!
>/sm
PF
Peter Fokes
the Greatest Texas Oil Fortunes":
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/25/books/review/Swartz-t.html
Not sure if book mentions the Klub.
Peter Fokes,
Toronto
Coondog
> Interesting review of this book, “The Big Rich: The Rise and Fall of
> the Greatest Texas Oil Fortunes":
>
> http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/25/books/review/Swartz-t.html
>
> Not sure if book mentions the Klub.
>
> Peter Fokes,
> Toronto
It has been a while since I read “The Big Rich” but I don’t believe
it mentions the club. It does go into some detail about the islands
Murchison and Richardson owned off the Gulf Coast.
These rod and gun clubs were common for the rich. The timber barons to
the south of Athens also had such clubs that catered to the rich and
powerful. A picture of LBJ’s visit to one hangs in the hunting lodge.
Bill Clarke
wagnera...@gmail.com
mont...@gmail.com
mention was part of the Klan there and there's a very obvious usage of the
word Coon and the KKK spelling. The Klan was comfy and well supported in
their elite yet horribly prejudice club there. I am ashamed I am related
to someone who was part of the Klan and that my family still has a place
there. The one time I went, there was an old KKK jacket in the closet, the
place gives me the willies.