TYLER — The City of Tyler hosted a ceremony Monday to unveil the second marker in the Reflections Program in Tyler. The subject marker honors Henry M. Morgan; it can be found at 212 E. Erwin, in front of the Henry M. Morgan Barbers Museum.
Material provided by the City says that in accordance with the Tyler 21 North End Action Plan, in 2009, the City launched a three year program to promote Tyler Historic Landmarks status and the installation of historic markers and plaques at North End locations. The City says the chosen locations are important to city history, including the history of the African-American community. The Reflections Program encourages citizens or interested organizations to submit nominations for the designation in the North End as Tyler Historic Landmarks, Tyler Historic Subject Markers or Half Mile of History markers.
On August 25, 1895, Henry Miller Morgan was born in Tyler’s St. Louis Community to Henry and Alice Ingram Miller. He attended school in the St. Louis Community, completing his education at East Texas Academy later known as Butler College and received a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from Summerville Law College, Dallas, Texas.
In the 1920’s, Texas enacted laws requiring licenses for barbers. Due to segregation, there were no schools that admitted African Americans, so they were excluded from the practice of barbering. In 1929, Morgan conceived the idea of a barber college for African Americans. By 1933, he opened the first college for African Americans and located it on Erwin Street. It opened with only five chairs. Within just 16 years, Mr. Morgan had branches of his barber college located in such cities as New York City; Jackson, Mississippi; Little Rock, Arkansas; and Dallas, Texas.
The Tyler headquarters quickly grew to accommodate the expanding business, and at one time the school reportedly was training a majority of the nation’s African-American barbers. The school’s curriculum included subjects ranging from Scalp and Skin Disease to Electricity, Chemistry and Anatomy. Morgan went on to help found the Texas Association of Tonsorial Artists, a professional barber’s organization. He was vice-president of the Texas Association of Barber Schools.
In addition to his legacy to the barber industry, Morgan was actively involved in many community organizations including:
· Organized the H.M. Morgan Lodge and served as Exalted Ruler;
· Served as President of the Tyler Chapter of the NAACP;
· Served at Vice President of the 1936 Tyler Negro Chamber of Commerce;
· Was elected Chairman of the East Texas District at the State Republican Convention in San Antonio;
· Founded and served as President of the Tyler Chapter of the Democratic Progressive Voters League;
· Served as a Trustee of Butler College.
Additionaly, Mr. Morgan was an active member at St. Louis Baptist Church. He died on May 9, 1961 and is buried in Tyler’s Evergreen Cemetery. Today, he is remembered as a civic and political activist, as well as a leader in his profession.
TYLER — The Christian Men’s Job Corps has been up and running in Tyler for just seven months, but it’s already getting great results. That’s the word from Executive Director Charles Smith. On KTBB “Staff Meeting,” he says the agency offers “Christian-based life and employment skills training to men who desire a positive change in their life.” The agency, modeled after the long-running Christian Women’s Job Corps, also offers one-one-one mentoring. Smith says his organization combines practical training, relationship building, emotional healing, and spiritual growth “to meet a man’s eternal needs.”
TYLER — The Smith County Wide Clean-Up is underway and runs through July 31. The event is an opportunity for county residents to bring trash and bulky items to the Greenwood Farms Landfill for free. The Smith County Environmental Crimes Unit, precinct constables, and Commissioners Court are working together to host the event.
MARSHALL — An inmate of the Harrison County Jail has died after hanging himself in his jail cell. Jecori Montra White, 34, of Marshall, was arrested Wednesday morning and charged with aggravated assault-family violence. He was believed to be under the influence of narcotics at the time of his arrest. According to a news release from the sheriff’s department, White was found hanging in his cell around 5:20 Thursday afternoon. He was rushed to Good Shepherd Medical Center-Marshall, where he was pronounced dead about an hour later.
TYLER – Tyler police have confirmed the suspect in the July 14 robbery of the BBVA Compass Bank has been arrested. According to KETK, Tyler FBI officials say 61-year-old Eddie Ray Myers was arrested without incident. Shortly after his arrest he was taken to East Texas Medical center after complaining of chest pains. Precinct 5 constables were doing surveillance when they saw Myers enter a house. Deputies pulled him over and arrested him. Myers was on parole in Arkansas, but was living in Tyler. It is unknown when Myers will be moved to a jail. 
TYLER — A bit of a scare, but it could have been much worse as a Tyler restaurant catches fire. According to KETK, the Tyler Fire Department responded to the two-alarm blaze just before 7:15 Wednesday night at Bourbon West, 1523 East Erwin. The fire began in a bucket near an outside grill that was used to store ashes from the grill. Flames then traveled up an outside wall and entered the attic space. There was approximately $1,500 in damages and no injuries were reported.
TYLER — A new $20 million, six-level parking garage with over 950 spaces opened recently on the east side of the ETMC Tyler campus. The skywalk now extends over Hospital Drive to connect to the new east parking garage. “We are now directing visitors to park there,” said Bob Hampton, vice president of property services for ETMC. “The spaces are extra wide so all types of vehicles will easily be able to get in and out of their slot. Visitors will also be able to enter the hospital on the new extension of the skywalk.” The front parking lot where the helicopters are located will now be used for handicap parking, valet and clergy as space allows. 
JACKSONVILLE (AP) – The nation’s oldest person, an East Texas resident, has celebrated yet another year. But which year is a matter of mild debate. The Gerontology Research Group in Los Angeles lists Eunice Sanborn at 114, validating her as the oldest person in the U.S. and the second oldest in the world. A lady in France has her beat by about five months for top international supercentenarian. However Sanborn, a longtime Jacksonville resident, and her friends say she was actually born on July 20 in 1895, not 1896 as the official record states. That makes her 115. The Tyler Morning Telegraph reports that Sanborn has been resting up since partying with 100 well-wishers at her birthday bash at the First Baptist Church in Jacksonville on Tuesday.
LONGVIEW — The City of Longview Thursday hosted a Grand Opening Ceremony for the newly constructed Fire Station 6, located at 2808 McCann Rd. As part of the Capital Improvements Projects bond election in May 2007, voters approved $2.5 million in bond funds for fire station improvements. Fire Station 6 is a 10,701 square foot building that features sleeping quarters for twelve, four apparatus bays, kitchen, living area, and work spaces. The cost of land and construction was approximately $1.83 million.
MABANK — A Mabank baseball coach has been arrested and charged with indecency with a child. Arrested Wednesday was Kevin Reed, 34, of Gun Barrel City. He turned himself in to authorities after an arrest warrant was issued. The warrant was issued after a woman alleged that Reed inappropriately touched her ten year old son. Reed is currently free on a $10,000 bond.
LONGVIEW — The suspect charged with murder in the death of Brian Keith Burnett on Tuesday surrendered at the Gregg County Sheriff’s office Thursday afternoon. KETK reports his surrender was arranged through Longview Attorney Lance Larison. “James Nathan Alexander charged by a criminal complaint Wednesday with this offense, some 22 hours after investigators, Texas Rangers and ATF agents, worked had around the clock on the case examining evidence and conducting interviews,” Captain Mike Claxton said. After his surrender Alexander was taken to an arraignment hearing in Judge B.H. Jameson’s courtroom. His bond was set at $100,000. Alexander, of Harrison County, remains in custody. Burnett’s body was found around 7:30 Tuesday night at Riverside RV Park. 
TYLER — The weekend death of a Smith County woman appears to be accidental. Anjanette Herring, 40, was found dead under a lawn mower Sunday afternoon. The accident occurred off County Road 26. According to KETK-TV, the woman’s husband told deputies his wife had been mowing an overgrown trail down to the creek. He says he had turned around to do something else when the incident occurred. Investigators say the case is still an open investigation, but all indicators point to it being an accident. 
TYLER – A 45-year-old San Antonio man has been sentenced in Tyler to federal prison for counterfeiting violations. Mark Merryman pleaded guilty on March 8, to counterfeiting and was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis. Judge Davis also ordered Merryman to pay restitution in the amount of $440 to area merchants and to forfeit ownership in office equipment used in the scheme. According to information presented in court, on December 23, 2008, Merryman used a printer/scanner/copier to counterfeit and alter approximately 16 counterfeit $20 bills in Palestine.