"Cowboy" Williams Exhibit
Cowboys, spurs, collectibles and stories come to life in Chappell Hill! The exhibit "The Life and Legend of V.T. Cowboy' Williams, Jr.," will be displayed June 7 through July 27 at the Chappell Hill Historical Museum, as part of the third annual Summer Cowboy Event.

The collection includes stories, spurs, tusks, suspenders, many other personal items, and the seven oral interviews of "Cowboy" by Tumbleweed Smith. The exhibit also includes children's activities such as knot tying, roping a calf, pitching horseshoes, using a branding iron (with ink only), tossing a cow chip and reading cowboy stories.

The annual Summer Cowboy Event will take place after the July 4 parade in Chappell Hill. Visitors will enjoy the Rocking T Chuck Wagon, pony rides and western type demonstrations. BBQ will be available.

"It is especially fitting that this memorabilia be exhibited in Chappell Hill," said Ladonna Vest, museum Director, "since 'Cowboy' spent 44 of his happiest years married to the late Beth Chappell, a descendant of Robert Wooding Chappell for whom the town was named."
On any given day in this tiny town, visitors might have encountered "Cowboy" sitting on a bench enjoying a good chew of tobacco. Usually a conversation would take place and "Cowboy" would begin telling a tale that soon had his listeners thinking they had stepped back into the Wild West of old.

Born in Thornton, Texas, in 1917, "Cowboy" carried the nickname "Slim" during his younger years. He was known around Washington County for his western dress, ten- gallon hat, famous suspenders, jeans and hog tusk necklace. Well known for using cow-dogs to round up wild cattle and hog-dogs to hunt wild hogs, "Cowboy" was an Ambassador to the ITC Folklife Festival in San Antonio for over 34 years, representing the cowboy culture.

The exhibit was organized and assembled with the cooperation of the Williams family, Linda and Don Dixon. Hours are Wed-Fri. 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Sat. 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. and Sun. 1:00 p. m.-4:00 p.m.
The historical museum is at 9220 Poplar Street in Chappell Hill, located between Houston and Austin on Hwy. 290.

For more information, call 979-836-6033, ext. 6, Wed-Fri. from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. or visit www.BrenhamTexas.com

Chappell Hill is located halfway between Houston and Austin, near Brenham, the home of Blue Bell ice cream and Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Historic Downtown Brenham is designated a National Main Street District.