William Seale delivered the Eleventh Georgiana and Max S. Lale Lecture at Stephen F. Austin State University on September 27. Seale, a native East Texan, is an independent historian who specializes in the restoration of historic houses, including work on The White House. His lecture was a lively and well received talk on "the people's house," and included wonderful vignettes on the famous residents of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, their families, and even their pets. Once again, with help from Association members and the faculty, staff, and students of Stephen F. Austin State University, the Lale Lecture was held to a full house.

Nacogdoches and the Fredonia Hotel once again hosted the Association's Fall 2007 meeting on September 27-29, and for the third consecutive year we had over two hundred members and guests attend the gathering. Beverly Rowe, chair of the program committee with assistance from Ken Howell, John Crain, Mel Johnson, Jonathan Garland, Scott Sosebee, Kevin Brady, and Ricky Dobbs, arranged an outstanding program with twenty-three sessions involving ninety-three scholars/presenters/chairs. A highlight of the meeting included a session that celebrated the publication of The Devil's Triangle: Ben Bickerstaff, Northeast Texans, and the War of Reconstruction in Texas by James Smallwood, Kenneth Howell, and Carol Taylor. The Devil's Triangle is the second issue in the Bob and Doris Bowman East Texas History Series. President Dan Utley was unable to attend the meeting due to a medical emergency, but Cynthia Beeman read President Utley's address during the Friday evening banquet with resounding success. Noted historian Robert Utley delivered the keynote speech at the Saturday luncheon/business meeting, a full talk entitled "The Texas Rangers: Then and Now."

On Saturday, the Association also held its annual fall awards ceremony. Karen Kossie-Chernysev's 'Constructing Good Success: the Church of God in Christ and Social Uplift in East Texas , 1910-1935" was selected as the best article to appear in the spring edition of the East Texas Historical Journal . The Ottis Lock Award Committee presented research assistance awards to Carol Taylor, Jennifer Brancato, and John Garbut. The Lock Committee's Best Book Awards went to Jack Selden's Return: The Parker Story and Freedom Colonies: Independent Black Texans in the Time of Jim Crow by Thad Sitton and Jim Conrad. The Ottis Lock Educator of the Year was John Storey, chairman of the Department of History at Lamar University . Mattie Dellinger of Center received the Best of East Texas Award. Miss Dellinger is a legendary East Texas personality who has been active in radio and journalism. The East Texas Fellows Committee named Ty Cashion of Sam Houston State University as a Fellow of the Association. Cashion is a past president of the East Texas Historical Association and an award-winning Texas history author, whose works include A Texas Frontier: The Clear Fork Country and Fort Griffin , 1840-1887 and Pigskin Pulpit: A Social History of Texas High School Football Coaches .