TDHP Board Welcomes Three New Members!

Texas Dance Hall Preservation is proud to welcome three dynamic new members to our Board of Directors:

• Kitty Henderson brings decades of expertise in heritage tourism and preservation, having served 10 years with the Texas Historical Commission and leading the Historic Bridge Foundation since 2000.

• Denis O’Donnell, an Austin-based musician and co-founder of The White Horse and Sagebrush, brings deep, hands-on experience in live music production, event logistics, and venue management.

• Paul Struck, a U.S. Army veteran and seasoned program manager with over 30 years of leadership experience, serves as President of Twin Sisters Dance Hall and Secretary of the Grapetown Schützenfest.

But We're Not Finished ... More Board Members Needed!

We are excited about our newest board members and TDHP is continuing to grow and build our leadership team for the future. If you are reading this, you already know how vital and irreplaceable Texas dance halls are to the culture, history, and fabric of our state.

Because dance halls are located across all regions of Texas, we are actively seeking statewide representation. TDHP operates virtually via Zoom, phone, and email, so you can serve effectively no matter where in Texas you call home. As an organization with a small staff, we rely on an engaged, hands-on working board ready to share their time, energy, and connections.

We are especially seeking candidates with experience in:

• Organizational Leadership
• Fundraising, Donor Cultivation & Sponsorships
• Community Engagement
• Historic Preservation & Architecture

If you want to play a direct, practical role in saving our state’s historic halls, we invite you to learn more about expectations and complete our brief questionnaire here. You can also contact Jean Spivey at director@texasdancehall.org with questions or a statement of interest.

Dance Around DeWitt County Bus Tour

Leave the driving to us, pack your favorite cooler (no glass), and hit the backroads with fellow music and history lovers!

On Saturday, November 14, our road trip explores three historic rural gems: Gruenau Hall, the 1901 Nordheim Shooting Club, and Lindenau Rifle Club Hall for their historic 125^th year celebration—complete with barbecue, outdoor games, and a dance with the Drew Oliver Band. Throughout the day, we’ll get dance hall stories and history from Erik and Laurie McCowan of the Texas Dance Hall Show and two step tips from Julie Wilmer from Blue Moon Dance Company.

The Details

When: Saturday, Nov. 14 | Departs at noon, returns ~10:00 PM
Where: Departs from Cavender’s Boot City (4435 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin
Tickets: $130 public | $120 for TDHP Members

Seats are limited and filling fast. Grab your dancing partner and join the fun!

Member Spotlight: Bobby & Donna Reynolds

When longtime musicians Bobby and Donna Reynolds saw public television posts highlighting historic Hill Country halls, it reignited a lifetime of dance hall memories—and inspired them to become supporters of Texas Dance Hall Preservation. From meeting on the bandstand to watching family members take tickets and run kitchens, their story reflects why preserving these spaces matters. 

TDHP: How did y’all meet?

Bobby: My band, Alive & Kickin’, was playing monthly at Schroeder Hall in the late ’70s. Our drummer knew Donna sang with another country band and invited her up. She sang a Tammy Wynette tune, blew us all away, and joined the band. The rest is happy history. 

TDHP: What are some of your earliest memories of the Texas dance hall circuit?

Donna: When I was about four, I remember watching bands at Schroeder while my grandparents worked the kitchen. Later, I played halls like Schroeder, Raisin, DaCosta, and Six Mile with my family band, Donna Hill & the Country Classics. My sister and I sang, my brothers played drums and bass, my dad played steel guitar, and Mama took tickets at the door! 

Bobby: Between the late ’70s and mid-’80s, we played everywhere—Schroeder, Weesatch, Nordheim, Lindenau, Gruenau, and DaCosta, sharing bills and circuits alongside regional favorites like The Triumphs, Al Dean, and the Taylor Brothers. 

TDHP: Any favorite brush with music legends under those rafters?

Bobby: I said howdy to Ernest Tubb at Schroeder, and once played pool with Lucky Oceans from Asleep at the Wheel at Weesatch Hall while they waited on the rest of the band to arrive. 

TDHP: Why is it vital for Texans today to support and visit these historic halls?

Donna: Dance halls are the cornerstone of the local community. People need to go to these historic halls to socialize, meet their neighbors, and feel connected. 

Bobby: Younger generations miss out when everything stays behind a screen. Historic halls give you an opportunity to meet people face-to-face and get a true feel for community life. That sense of connection is what makes them worth keeping alive.