An Appearance on "Think" at KERA Radio

Light Cummins, Austin College professor of history and current Texas State Historian, was interviewed on the KERA “THINK” program April 14. As Patrick Duffey, dean of Humanities, described it, “The interview is a tour de force. It is Light at his best–lots of fascinating, entertaining, and eloquent responses to good questions, and Austin College was at the center of it all.”
Click HERE to access the podcast.

Austin College Honors Me as State Historian

The Austin College community honored me with a special day of festivities as Texas State Historian. Friends, former students, collegaues, and members of the public came to the campus to hear two presentations by me. My first talk, at which I was introduced by my former student Dallas Cothrum, was entitled “Travels with the State Historian of Texas. It recounted highlights of my experiences as the State Historian. Later in the day, I gave a class session, “Teaching and Writing the History of Austin College.” Ty Cashion, a former student and distinguished alumnus of the college, introduced me. I talked about the project my students and I undertook to research and write a history of Austin College. In the late afternoon, I went  to the Johnson Gallery of Wright Campus Center where I signed copies of two recent books: Emily Austin of Texas and Austin College: A History. The day concluded with a reception and dinner. John Crain, Ron Tyler, and Kent Calder all spoke, saying very nice things about my activities as State Historian. My former students Robin Tippett, Jay Dew, and Meg Hacker also talked about me. All in all, it was a very memorable day for me.

Light Cummins Receives City of Sherman Proclamation

Sherman Mayor Bill Majors presents Proclamation to Light Cummins
as Council Member Willie Steele looks on.

From Austin College News, April 5 2011 -- Sherman, TX:

"Austin College Professor of History Dr. Light T. Cummins was honored by the City of Sherman in an official proclamation Monday, April 4, during the City Council meeting. Mayor Bill Magers, a 1985 graduate of Austin College, recognized Dr. Cummins for his service as the Texas State Historian and for his dedication in advancing the cause of a greater understanding of history across the state.

“As a student at Austin College, I remember Dr. Cummins’ classes,” Magers said. “His lectures were enthusiastic and energetic. Through his insight and passion, I have a greater understanding of history and the impact on our communities today.”

In receiving the award, Dr. Cummins was asked to share about his experience the past two years. ”I have travelled over 35,000 miles during the last two years as the State Historian,” he said. “I have stood on the far southeastern corner of Texas at Sabine Pass and looked across at Louisiana. I have been to the furthest reaches of the Texas Panhandle and looked across at Oklahoma. I have been to the Rio Grande Valley and seen Mexico across the river, and I have been to El Paso and looked west to see New Mexico. The size of Texas is almost too much to contemplate, as is its natural beauty and diversity.”

Magers encouraged all citizens to join with him in this appreciation and extended an invitation to the community to be a part of a special day of recognition for Cummins on the Austin College campus on Thursday, April 7."