LifeLong Learning - San Marcos
Come Learn with Us!
"What Makes San Marcos, San Marcos" Presentation Series
Registration is Required
When: Tuesdays: Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27
Where: San Marcos Public Library, Room 105
Time: 6:00-7:30pm
Fee: FREE… donations appreciated
Registration Links Coming Soon!
Oct. 5 From Yorktown to Stringtown: The Story of San Marcos from 1781 to 1994
What do Yorktown, the War of 1812, Sam Houston, Edward Burleson, and a little community called Springtown have to do with San Marcos? Quite a lot! Join Grady for a lively look at the people, places, and events that helped shape our hometown.
Presenter: Dr. Grady Early, Professor Emeritus
Grady is a longtime San Marcos resident, former mathematics and computer science professor at Southwest Texas State University, and local historian. After 30 years of teaching, he retired from the university and developed a strong interest in anthropology. By 2017, his philanthropy had supported several university initiatives, including the Grady Early Forensic Anthropology Laboratory and the Grady Early Building. He was also among the first to donate his body to the university’s Forensic Anthropology Research Facility at Freeman Ranch, also known as the Body Farm. Through his research and philanthropy, Grady continues to preserve the past and advance knowledge for future generations. Today, his curiosity is increasingly focused on the history of our community.
Oct. 13 Flowing with San Marcos: The Story of the San Marcos River Foundation – Then, Now, and Next
The San Marcos River is considered one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems in the Southwestern United States. The San Marcos River Foundation (SMRF), founded in 1985, has spent more than four decades protecting the river and the Edwards Aquifer, which feeds the San Marcos Springs at the headwaters located at the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment. SMRF focuses on maintaining water quality and quantity, while preserving the area’s beauty. Additionally, SMRF supports efforts to educate the public on critical river issues and has become an influential force in public policy, inspiring citizen action and sustainable water management through conservation and knowledgeable stewardship. Virginia will share the work being done today and why protecting these resources is essential to the future of our community.
Presenter: Virgina Parker, Executive Director, San Marcos River Foundation
Virginia is a long-time member of SMRF and served as vice president on the SMRF board prior to becoming Executive Director in 2019. She holds a degree from Texas A&M in biomedical science and began her environmental career volunteering with Bat Conservation International at Bracken Cave. The Texas Water Safari introduced Virginia to the San Marcos River and she promptly moved to San Marcos after falling in love with this unique natural resource. Virginia has participated as a stakeholder on the Texas Parks & Wildlife 2016 Tubing Task Force, Plum Creek Watershed Partnership, Martindale River Committee, Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan, Upper San Marcos Watershed Partnership, Vision SMTX Committee, and other organizations that further SMRF's mission. She has extensive experience in sales and real estate, enabling her to transfer this knowledge to the River Foundation’s land conservation program, which is designed to protect our critical recharge zones and green spaces.
Oct. 20 Growing with San Marcos: The Story of Texas State University – Then, Now, and Next
In 1899, the Texas Legislature authorized the creation of the Southwest Texas State Normal School and for more than 125 years, San Marcos and Texas State University have grown up together. Texas State is not simply located in San Marcos… it has been a major force in shaping our city’s identity, economy, and culture. Brooks will take us from its beginnings to the thriving university it is today and share how its future will continue to shape the future of San Marcos.
Presenter: Brooks Hull, Vice President and Executive Director University Advancement / Texas State University Development Foundation
With more than 25 years of experience in university advancement, Brooks joined Texas State in 2023 having a broad perspective on how philanthropy, alumni, and community partnerships help a university grow. Brooks is approachable, personable, and easy to engage in conversation, bringing an open and collegial spirit to shared interests and concerns… an approach that helps meaningful relationships and growth take place.
Oct. 27 Rooted in San Marcos: The Story of the Greenbelt Alliance-- Then, Now and Next
Founded in 1998, the San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance (SMGA) partners with the San Marcos Parks & Recreation Department, San Marcos River Foundation, and other conservation organizations. Through these collaborative efforts, SMGA built and maintains seven natural areas composed of over 2,000 acres with nearly 30 miles of hike and bike trails. These interconnected parks and greenspaces safeguard the quality of life for the people of San Marcos, protecting natural areas for us, our children, and our future.
Presenter: Jon Cradit, President of the Greenbelt Alliance
A graduate of Southwest Texas State University with a degree in environmental management, Jon worked several years for Texas environmental regulatory agencies and then moved to the Edwards Aquifer Authority, where he conducted karst studies and groundwater flow research from Uvalde to Kyle. Jon is a state licensed Professional Geoscientist and a Registered Sanitarian. To get a quick sense of Jon’s key interests is to know his email address includes the words fault and cave!