Tribute to H.G. Dulaney, 1918 – 2009

Born in Ector to H.G. and Lucy Dulaney, H.G. Dulaney attended Ector schools. He married Rita Redman in 1941 and they had two children, Loretta and Mike. He served in the Air Force during World War II, eighteen months of which was spent in the India-Burma theater.

Following the war, H.G. returned to Texas and attended Draughons Business College in Dallas. He joined Speaker Sam Rayburn’s Washington, D.C., staff in 1951. H.G. was one of only 38 employees who worked for Rayburn during his 48 years in Congress. While in Washington, H.G. attended night classes at Southeastern University of Accounting. He was unable to complete his degree, however, because the Speaker asked H.G. to accompany him back to Bonham, Texas, in 1956, when Rayburn’s sister, Lucinda, became gravely ill.

In 1957, Speaker Rayburn handpicked H.G. to be the first director of the Sam Rayburn Library and Museum in Bonham. Rayburn was never concerned with lack of experience and knowledge of running a library. He simply asked H.G. to do his best. H.G. worked tirelessly with Karl Trever, special assistant to the archivist of the United States and the man responsible for establishing presidential libraries. Together, they organized the collection at the Rayburn Library. Ever mindful of the mission set upon him by the Speaker, H.G. continued to communicate with Trever, asking for instruction on the proper running of a congressional library. H.G. also continued his education, attending classes in Library Science at Rayburn’s alma mater, East Texas State University (now Texas A&M-Commerce).

When Rayburn died unexpectedly in 1961, the Rayburn Foundation was ill prepared for the difficulties that arose. H.G. was given the task of overseeing the library’s current programs while also developing new programs and events that would create public interest and support.

Typical of his approach to any difficulty, H.G. faced the obstacles head on. The majority of the programs and publications associated with the Rayburn Library were the creation of H.G. He developed Speak, Mister Speaker, the Library’s quarterly newsletter, and served as editor and contributing author for twenty years. He also was a contributor to The Majority Report, the quarterly newsletter of the Friends of Sam Rayburn.

Mr. Dulaney established the Sam Rayburn Foundation scholarship essay contest in 1993, and, in partnership with Dr. James Conrad of Texas A&M-Commerce, developed an oral history program on Speaker Rayburn for the university’s Special Archives. In addition, H.G. was instrumental in organizing the Sam Rayburn Symposium, held annually at Texas A&M-Commerce for 25 years.

Given H.G.’s knowledge of Speaker Rayburn and the Rayburn collection, he earned the reputation of being the foremost authority on all things related to the Speaker. During his 45 years as Director, H.G. provided invaluable research assistance to countless scholars, including Dr. Anthony Champagne, The University of Texas at Dallas; Dr. Don Carleton, The University of Texas at Austin; and Dr. Patrick Cox, The University of Texas at Austin. In addition, H.G. was a contributing researcher to Rayburn: A Biography by D.B. Hardeman and Don Bacon; Mr. Sam by C. Dwight Dorough; and Robert Caro’s Pulitzer Prize-winning biography series on Lyndon B. Johnson. H.G. edited two works about Speaker Rayburn: Speak, Mr. Speaker and Impression of Mr. Sam: A Cartoon Profile. He also developed the Guide to the Sam Rayburn Papers for the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.

In addition to his scholarly contributions, H.G. was responsible for the everyday operation of the Rayburn Library and Museum. His duties ranged from the supervision of employees and interns to obtaining new research materials, not to mention his critical efforts to preserve of the Library’s buildings and collections (including binding books framing pictures).

His work at the Sam Rayburn Library led to his appointment as a trustee of the Sam Rayburn Foundation Board and advisory board member of the Friends of Sam Rayburn. He worked with the Fannin County Historical Commission, as well as the Texas Historical Commission, and continually worked with local civic organizations to promote events, exhibits, and programs throughout the Bonham area. H.G. had the honor of membership in the Blue Lodge of the Masons and was involved in the Ector Masonic Lodge for over 60 years. He was a member of the Dodd City Lion’s Club and the Ector Community Friendship Club, as well as a faithful long-time member of Ector Methodist Church. He served a number of years on the Ector Carson Cemetery Board and the Public Housing Authority Board.

H.G. received numerous awards and accolades over his lifetime. In 1980, he received the Good Government Award from the Zeta Gamma chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the Political Science National Honor Society. He was named Bonham Citizen of the Year in 1997. In September 2002, in honor of his official retirement from the Sam Rayburn Library and Museum, the Fannin County Commissioner’s Court and the City of Bonham signed a proclamation declaring H.G. Dulaney Day. In addition, the main exhibit gallery of the Rayburn Museum was renamed in his honor, commemorated with the permanent installation of his portrait. In 2005, H.G. was doubly honored by the Friends of Sam Rayburn — he was given the inaugural Public Service Award and the award was named in his honor. The same year, the Sam Rayburn Foundation established a scholarship in his name. His dedication to service, both to the Rayburn Museum and to the community at large, has been the subject of numerous articles and interviews throughout the years.
H.G. was the only person to have ever held the position of director of the Sam Rayburn Library. Upon his retirement in 2002, he was named Director Emeritus and was subsequently re-hired by the Briscoe Center as a special consultant to the Rayburn Museum. As a result of his years of service, H.G. was a highly recognizable figure associated with the Rayburn Library and the Bonham area, second only to Speaker Rayburn himself.

H.G. was a fixture and integral part of the history of the Rayburn Library. Many who visit the museum expect to see his smiling face waiting for them as they walk through the front doors. He made it his life’s mission to carry on the responsibility placed upon him by the Speaker: to protect and promote the legacy of Speaker Sam Rayburn, and ensure that people know the lasting contributions of one of history’s greatest statesmen.