Uses West Point Society of Central Texas maintained web site to create award-winning essay, is scheduled to present his paper in Austin on May 7th during Texas History Day observances at the Bob Bullock Museum Texas State History Museum.

Austin, Texas, April 30, 2011–Truman Dowdy, a middle school student in Tomball, Texas and member of the Texas Young Historians has won their Junior Division Lone Star Leadership Award for an essay about an 1825 graduate of West Point entitled "Joseph Bonnell: The Forgotten Texas Leader." The award, sponsored by the Texas State History Association includes a medal, a $75 prize, and a scholarship to the Lone Star Leadership Academy, supported by Education in Action, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering young people to be informed and active leaders in their communities.

"I attended the Leadership Academy two years ago as a regular student," Dowdy recently wrote in a letter to WPSCT member Sel Graham '51. "This year I can help lead activities as a Youth Facilitator and work with younger kids who are new to the program."

The essay relates the experiences of Joseph Bonnell, West Point Class of 1825 who, as a Lieutenant in the 3rd Infantry, served at Ft Jesup, LA on the Texas-Louisiana border. Between 1831 and 1836 Bonnell became a personal friend of Sam Houston and earned recognition as a hero of the Texas War for Independence for his role in events leading up to the Battle of San Jacinto and the defeat of the Mexican Army.

Writing about his essay, the young history buff credited the WPSCT Joseph Bonnell web site with making a major contribution to his research. "I could not have cited the great information without it," Dowdy said.

In addition to the Leadership Award, the essay also made Dowdy a finalist in the Junior Division of the Kate Harding Bates Parker Award competition conducted by Texas Historian Magazine.

The young historian is scheduled to present his paper on May 7th during Texas History Day observances at the Bob Bullock Museum Texas State History Museum in Austin.

Document available at: http://www.west-point.org/joseph_bonnell/sites/default/files/Joseph_Bonnell-The_Forgotten_Texas_Leader-Truman_Dowdy.pdf

About the West Point Association of Graduates:
The West Point Association of Graduates was founded in 1869 to reunite Academy graduates who found themselves on opposing sides during the American Civil War. West Point Societies exist to further the ideals of the United States Military Academy and to serve graduates through social and business networking events, to perform active duty and community outreach initiatives, and to assist with Academy admissions.

CONTACT:
Fred Bothwell
West Point Society of Central Texas
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http://www.west-point.org/joseph_bonnell/