... was born in Kilgore, Texas in 1948. In 1966 he graduated from Kilgore High School and then attended Kilgore College. After further study he received a BA in Religion/Philosophy from Southern Nazarene University. Seeking further understanding, he continued in graduate studies at Texas Christian University. When satisfied with the knowledge he received there, he moved to Los Angeles, California where he worked at Kaiser Foundation Hospital. While in Los Angeles, Richard studied art at the Hollywood Art School, the Barnsdall Art Center, and Los Angeles City College. In 1993, he moved back to the East Texas area and now resides in Longview.

For the past few years Richard has served as senior dental assistant to Dr. Damon Spencer for the Texas Department of Health Services in Longview, Tyler and Texarkana. And when he finds time, Richard teaches private art lessons in his home/studio here in Longview.

Louise was born and raised in Southern California. During the early 1960s she attended the Unitarian-Universalist Society in Sepulveda, California, otherwise known as "the onion" for the unique form of the central building. However, for the first several years at the Society, the abandoned horse stables were the only buildings that had been left standing on the property. RE training for the children was held in and around the stables, while the adults met under "the tree," a large oak tree that provided shade for those attending services. Her memories of this time center on the music of the civil rights era: at the end of each service the entire congregation joined hands to sing "We Shall Overcome." After services, petitions circulated and "the adults" made plans for upcoming social concerns projects, including Equal Housing and Voter Registration throughout the southern United States.

During the late 1960s and through the 1970s she attended and later taught Sunday school at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Foothills in La Cañada, California. This group met at an elementary school. The work of social concerns continued as the UUFF members actively supported César Chavez' United Farm Workers Union.

The main focus of all UU congregations with which she has been involved has been Social Concerns. When she and her husband moved from Austin to Kilgore (and then to Longview), it was clear to her that she would search out and find the local UU congregation.

"I'm a former member who first joined the Unitarians when my children were small and I wanted them to get a balanced religious education. I only left the Unitarian Fellowship of Longview when I found myself stretched too thin with other commitments and with three teenage daughters who had found other things to do on Sunday mornings (mainly sleep). Now that they're all grown and on their own, I have more time, although I'm still pretty stretched, and I want to give back to the Unitarian Community that has given me so much over all these years. I'm glad to be back, and I appreciate the wonderful welcome back I've received from all of you. I hope I can live up to your expectations and the needs of this Fellowship."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*Bring any of these items to the Fellowship and we will see that they get to these worthy organizations.*