Chronology of Confederate plaques removal by the Governor's Office, Supreme Court, & General Services Administration
SAVE FOR GARY BLEDSOE of the NAACP,
NOTE THE COMPLETE ABSENCE OF ANY INPUT FROM THE PEOPLE OF TEXAS
“GSC” = General Services Commission
Summary of documents obtained regarding the Texas Supreme Court Building Memorial Plaques
Documents are listed by date, type, origin, destination, and subject.
1. FEBRUARY 2, 2000
Letter from Clay Johnson, Executive Assistant to the Governor, to Gary Bledsoe, Texas NAACP, in answer to 14 January 2000 letter from Mr. Bledsoe about plaques. The main body of the letter reads:
“The small plaque outside the Supreme Court you mentioned is not an official State symbol. As you may know, the people of Texas overwhelmingly supported a constitutional amendment in 1954 to transfer the Confederate Pension Fund to the State Building fund for the purpose of constructing a Courts Building. The 1955 Legislature then passed enabling legislation to reflect the will of the people. The law in part stipulated that the building should be designated as a memorial to Texans who served in the Armed Services of the Confederate States of America and that a suitable cornerstone or plaque should be integrated into the construction of the building for this memorial purpose. The reason for the plaque’s existence in the Supreme Court Building should be more clearly explained, and the General Services Commission is exploring ways to do so.”
2. MARCH 16, 2000
Memo from Clay Johnson to Matt Kelly, Director of External Affairs, General Services Commission, proposed wording of new plaques:
“This Supreme Court Building is for all Texans. The Courts of Texas are dedicated to providing equal justice under the law to all persons.
In 1955, the Legislature designated this building as a memorial to Texans who served in the Armed Services of the Confederate States of America. The people of Texas had voted the previous year to use monies from the Confederate Pension Fund to pay for the building’s construction.”
The words “(no flag or seal)” are visible but scratched through.
A handwritten note (presumed to be by Matt Kelly) on the bottom: “Left Clay voice message 4-5-00. Gathune indicates 2-3 weeks a sign from A-Okay Signs after final language.”
3. APRIL 4, 2000
Handwritten facsimile from Sherry Craig, A-Okay Signs, to Ken Gathune, GSC, giving cost estimate per plaque ($975) and delivery specifics.
4. APRIL 26, 2000
Fax from Justice Al Gonzales, Supreme Court of Texas, to Matt Kelly, GSC
“As we discussed. Please let me know immediately at 463-7899 if there are any problems with this (?) marker and (?) request - - ” (This is handwritten on cover sheet)
5. APRIL 28, 2000
Interagency Memorandum, General Services Commission, Office of General Counsel, from Ann Dillon, General Counsel, to Matt Kelly, Director of External Affairs. Attached are six pages copies from previous purchases from Southwell Co. Cover memorandum reads as follows:
“Attached are recent GSC plaques purchases from Southwell Co. in San Antonio.
Provided that the specifications agreed upon with the Governor’s Office and the Supreme Court are priced similar to the attached requisitions, the process can be streamlined.
Joe Dykes indicates that he does not anticipate any problems with removal or installation and assures that he has qualified staff and contractors available.
Please let me know if I can provide any additional information.
CC: Jim Muse, Executive Director
Jerry Williams, Associate Deputy Director:
6. MAY 8, 2000 and MAY 9, 2000
SERIES OF FIVE (5) EMAIL MESSAGES between Ann Dillon, Matt Kelly, Joe Dykes, Norma Barrera, all of the GSC, concerning whether the Supreme Court or the GSC would assume the cost of the plaques. In one of them, Matt Kelly reports talking to Clay Johnson in the Governor’s office and telling him (Clay Johnson) that the GSC would pay for the plaques.
7. MAY 9, 2000
Email message from Norma Barrera, GSC Purchaser, to Ann Dillon, with copy to Matt Kelly, Joe Dykes, and Thomas Johnson
“Joe and I worked on the specifications and Joe approved them on Friday 5/5. Fiscal approved the requisition late yesterday, 5/8. I have faxed the IFB to the vendor as of this morning 5/9. I have asked them to respond within 48 hours, since I will be in Lubbock at a HUB forum on Wednesday so I should have the bid back on Thursday 5/11. I will let you know a firm price and commitment date.”
8. MAY 11, 2000
PURCHASE ORDER # 303-0-1271 (5 pages total) for “Two (2) Building Dedication Plaques. Bronze plaques 13” wide by 34” long, wording for each plaque to follow…”
*NOTE* Wording on each plaque is EXACTLY the same as the wording contained in the fax from Justice Gonzales dated April 26.
At $750 each, the cost of two plaques was $1500 plus $150 shipping, total = $1650.00
9. MAY 11, 2000
Email message from Norma Barrera, GSC Purchaser, to Matt Kelly, Joe Dykes, and Ann Dillon
“We have awarded a PO to the Southwell Company for a total of $1650. $1500.00 for the two plaques and $150.00 for shipping. (It was faxed this morning and I received confirmation from the vendor that they received the PO). We expect a rubbing of the plaques at actual size prior to casting early next week. I have asked that they be sent to Joe Dykes for approval and once approved the vendor expects to have the plaques delivered within 10 days. I will keep you posted once the rubbings are approved.”
10. MAY 12, 2000
Email message from Matt Kelly to Justice Al Gonzales
“Thanks for your help. Here is the latest on the plaques – we will bring the rubbings of the plaques for review when we they (sic) are delivered next week.”
Email message from Matt Kelly to Jim Muse, Jerry Williams, Ann Dillon, Thomas Johnson, Mary Davis, Debbie Simecek (all in GSC)
“Latest info on the Supreme Court plaques. Please see below. I spoke with Justice Gonzales yesterday afternoon and informed him of the most recent action.” This is followed by a copy of the message from Norma Barrera about the PO to the Southwell Company.
11. MAY 26, 2000
Email from Norma Barrera, GSC purchasing, to Southwell Company, with copy to Matt Kelly and Thomas Johnson.
“Scott, please accept this E-mail as approval of the computerized graphics received by the GSC on 5/25/00. I have also faxed the computer graphics sheet with a cover memo of approval. Per the contract and your bid, delivery is 30 days from the date of the award. Purchase Order 303-0-1271 was issued to your company on 5/11/00. The plaques are expected to be delivered to the GSC by 6/10/00. Thank you in advance for your assistance in getting the plaques to us within the required time frame.”
My copy of this has handwritten notes on the bottom; they look like Matt Kelly’s handwriting. The notes are as follows:
“Clay Johnson – 5-2325 (or S-2325)
3 weeks late
Preservation Board
(enclosed in a box) Steve Stamphes
Silk screened plaque
Remove old ones
Replacement / take down
end of week.
wants to see plaque.
12. JUNE 9, 2000
Copy of ROUTINE MAINTENANCE SERVICE ORDER, Building and Maintenance Division, issued on June 9 at 10:00 AM to “Remove old plaques and install new plaques” on SCB (Supreme Court Bldg.)
The job was started at 11:30 AM and finished at 11:00 PM
Remarks: “11:30 to 3:30 went to SA. Pick up plaques and return” “5:00 pm to 11:00 pm – Gathered tools and equipment to remove old plaques and install new plaques” “5 hours overtime (each) for 2 workers”
13. JUNE 14, 2000
Email message from Hadassah Schloss, OPEN RECORDS ADMINISTRATOR, GSC, to Joe Dykes, Walter Pearson, copy to Ann Dillon
“I have received an open records request related to the removal of the plaques at the Supreme Court Bldg…..” the remainder is a list of the documents I requested.
14. JUNE 14, 2000
Email message from Joe Dykes to Hadassah Schloss, copy to Walter Pearson and Ann Dillon, all in GSC, reads as follows:
1. General work order for the building, 850-8
Requested by the occupants of the building and state leadership
2. Joe Dykes, Director of BPS and Walter Pearson, Director of Minor Construction
3. BPS time to support this process:
1 hour for the purchasing process $19.28 @$19.28 per hr. M&O standard
charge out rate
4 hours pick up plaques BPS Director $77.12
4 hours pick up plaques MC Director $131.00 @$32.75 per hr. MC standard
charge out rate
5 hours comp.time BPS Director $96.40
5 hours comp.time MC Director $245.65 @$49.13 per hour MC rate for OT
Total cost for BPS $569.45
4. Fund number: 001 General Revenue, org. code 04-41
5. Comp. Time paper work hard copies sent
6. Memo to DPS for work at Courts hard copy sent”
15. Letter from Ann Dillon, General Counsel, to Mr. Andy Taylor, First Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General, dated 24 March, 2000,
but the date must be in error because Ms. Dillon refers to event of June 9, 2000 in the body of the letter. Generalized thank you for assistance in the case of “Deanne (sic) A. Sweeney vs. Jim Must” in the SCV attempt to get a temporary restraining order to prevent the removal of the plaques.
16. JUNE 12, 2000
Copy of “Addendum to Complaint & Request for Hearing” from Denne A. Sweeney to Jim Muse
17. UNDATED
Memos, 2 reading “from the desk of Matt Kelly”, probably written by Matt Kelly, with notations as follows:
#1 “Clay Johnson, have ___ language from the supreme courts; Ideal situation 2 days; court a tenant, request at to do so; replace 2 plaques"
#2 “replace with 1 plaques explaining; bronze plaques; will be 71 words, 2 paragraphs; find out general timeframe”
One memo reading “*MEMO* Texas House of Representatives House Business Office: as follows: “From Clay Johnson Backing (?) at attention and are making waves (?) _____ . Give office a possible solutions.”
These memos are handwritten and not clear. This is the best that I can do to decipher them.
Ernest & Margaret Charlesworth
