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Well, Doggie, it’s been a kinda wild ride, but I wouldn't trade a minute of it for a buck. I am writing this as an introduction, to any
new readers, and an update for my long time readers, of the changes that are coming to Uncle Hiram's "Adventures in Genealogy."
A little under
four years ago, I became a genealogical host. My mentor and trainer was the editor of the Newsletter, so naturally, I agreed to help her do some editing. (I found out much
later that I was the only trainee she suckered into working on the newsletter.) For reasons I never completely understood, ““De Boss”” had me editing the humor section. After
attending a Genealogical Conference in Dallas, I decided to do a cute, humorous write up of the conference. I sent the piece to the boss and a few friends, then forgot all
about it. Well, I was surprised when the newsletter used it, and down right shocked when the Dallas Genealogical Society Newsletter asked permission to print it. I was
flattered by all the attention and didn't even realize it when I had agreed to write a second column.
At that time, the column was called "GFS Waffle’’s
Adventures in Genealogy"
and, was mainly, just a section of the Golden Gates Forum Newsletter. In the December 1998 column I, accidentally, created the character that would take over the column and push it into more prominence. The column was the
"Christmas Reunion" and introduced Uncle Hiram Traywick.
During Jan of 99, at the urging of several friends (Read this as death threats), I set
up an ““Adventures in Genealogy””
website, which also featured original short stories about Uncle Hiram and Nomocotton, Texas. The column continued to grow in popularity, as well as becoming more and more identified with Uncle Hiram. During the summer of 99, I wrote the “
“Mail List Manners”” column, which proved to be a major breakthrough column.
In October of 99, with the founding of StateGenSites.com, the column went
weekly and settled into a nice growth pattern. A few months later, we added the SGS mailing list and started adding other columnists. I retired from active hosting during the
first part of 2000, in order to devote more time to my writing and SGS.
In October of 2000, the Column was picked up by the "Houston Gazette
" and the new genealogical magazine "Southern Footprints". As it stands now, about three and a half years after its birth as a joke, "Uncle Hiram’’s Adventures in Genealogy
" is a weekly column, appearing in the Golden Gates "Genealogy Forum News", the "Houston Gazette
", the "Leonard Graphic" and "Southern Footprints" magazine, as well as on my new site, http://www.bhocutt.com/
During the last year, at the urging of a few good friends, I have given a few online, and in person, Genealogical talks, which have gone extremely well. Earlier this week
I received my first paid speaking gig. It will be in Aug 2002, at the Van Zandt County Genealogical Society meeting in Canton, Texas. I am honored and flattered that anyone
would pay to hear me speak.
At one point, the column included a monthly award to the best Genealogy site and a mailing list with over 350 members. For almost a year,
my column appeared on www.GenealogyToday.com. I, recently, decided to go independent with the column and, as a result, you are here at its new home. I have started a new
mailing list for anyone that wants to receive a weekly update on this column, or the other one I write (On the Homefront). I have also returned to active hosting as of Monday,
December 10th, in the Golden Gates Genealogy Forum. I don't know what changes the next year will bring, but I invite you to join me for the ride.
I wish I could say all
this growth was due to my brilliant insight or my unique sense of humor, but to tell the truth, none of this would have happened without the unflagging support of a large
group of people. These people are GFS Carol, GFS Jan, GFS Cindy, GFL George, DearMyrtle, GFS Hope, GFS Shell, Tom Sluder,
Ascaife, the6Jays, Doxart, DMCcor62, GFS Jill, bitsobluengray, GFS DarlaJo, GFS Kate and, of course, my sweet blonde, Darlene Hocutt, and my two kids.
Adios and Keep Smiling
Bill Hocutt aka Unk Hiram
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Adventures in Genealogy:
