Del Rio, Acuña civic leaders visit White Shaman, Shumla School

September 5, 2007
By Bill Sontag
Feature Writer

In an atmosphere of conviviality and vision-sharing, five Texas and Coahuila businessmen, civic leaders and their families congregated for casual conversation, smoked brisket and cold beer, Saturday (Sept. 1), on the rustic campus of Shumla School.

For some, it was a first exposure to the riches of ancient history and the teachers that strive to demystify this desert region at the confluence of three great rivers, the Rio Grande, Devils River and the Pecos River. For most though, the crepuscular congregation served to forge new bonds between Shumla School Director Dr. Carolyn Boyd and friends – new and old – all determined to embrace and enlarge the mission implied in the school’s acronym, Studying Human Use of Materials, Land and Art.

Del Rio businessman Nick Khoury brought his family – wife Shadia, and daughters Natalie and Victoria – to the steep hike down the slender canyon where the famed White Shaman has emblazoned the limestone overlook above the Pecos River for four millennia. Joining the Khourys were about a dozen others, including Boyd who fashioned an important chapter in her Texas A&M University doctoral dissertation around an unraveling of the prehistoric code depicted there.

From the short trip on the Rock Art Foundation’s property to the bluffs above the north bank of the Pecos River and to Shumla School on the Harrington Ranch, the hikers strode to the pavilion and refreshments and the kinship of previous pilgrims, waiting to hear their reactions to the White Shaman’s celebrated impact on first-time visitors. “It’s as if you’ve seen nothing but the trailers to a movie. Then, finally visiting the White Shaman is like seeing the whole film,” said Khoury. “It brings all the pieces together for many people.”

Boyd interrupted the socializing long enough to introduce patrons who are her inspiration and success in developing the Shumla School concept, to “shed cultural preconceptions, and look beyond the taken-for-granted world.” Boyd giggled as she introduced her father, Walker Boyd: “Thanks, Dad. They always say that if your parents chose to not have children, it’s likely that you won’t either.” Boyd introduced Jack and Missy Harrington, generous donors of the land on which Shumla School sits, and tireless workers throughout the history of its success.

Roberto Garza Crosby, Ciudad Acuña businessman, and his wife, Christina, greeted the Khourys, as did Eduardo “Chacho” Ramon and his wife, Diana. Both couples, along with Del Rioan Kim Canseco, are working with Boyd to create “Niños Del Rio Bravo,” the Mexican counterpart to Shumla’s “Pecos River Kids” programs. The kids’ programs, hosting thousands of Del Rio and Eagle Pass youngsters for one-day, hands-on learning about ancient lifeways, with lessons adapted to modern problem-solving, are ripe for introduction to Mexican schoolchildren, Canseco, Garza, Ramon and Boyd believe.

“My idea is to get this same [Shumla] concept across the river,” Eduardo Ramon said. Ramon is the State of Coahuila’s undersecretary of social and economic development, reporting to Gobernador Humberto Moreira. “We’re trying to bring employment to the poor areas of the state,” Ramon said, but added that he wants government sponsorship, as well as academic and financial support, for the “Niños” project.

Boyd explained that her immediate goals include finding philanthropic support for the entire “Kids” program. Some $200,000 is needed, and all but $33,000 has been secured, she said. “Our next thrust is to start the program for the kids in Acuña, because they don’t have anything like this in Mexico.” Boyd is on the edge of her seat, waiting to hear from the Alcoa-Fujikura Foundation about an $88,000 grant request that, if funded, would provide support of inestimable value.

After base funding is solidified for Shumla School activities, Boyd will tackle the daunting – but inevitable – goal of creating a research arm of Shumla School, with a center of international renown built and staffed on the campus. A small cluster of single bedroom, stucco bungalows to make the research teams more comfortable would also facilitate the visits of many more visiting scholars, teachers and presenters, Boyd believes. To build bungalow cottages to sleep up to 16, Boyd seeks roughly $250,000.

 

Carolyn pauses to greet another Boyd family member and pet, “Red,” during a tour of the new Shumla School bunkhouse. Chatting are Nick Khoury, center, and Carolyn’s brother, Tim, from the Woodlands, Texas. The brand new sleeping facility was completed with a generous grant from the Houston-based Albert and Ethel Herzstein Foundation. (LIVE! photo/Bill Sontag) (click image to enlarge)

Carolyn Boyd gives a tour of the Shumla School's campus nerve center, "The Bookhouse," to Shadia Khoury and Roy Ramon, left, and Nick Khoury. The conference/meeting room – seen here – is bracketed on each end by modest staff/instructor apartments and a generous library and reading room. (LIVE! photo/Bill Sontag) (click image to enlarge)

Carolyn Boyd pauses to describe to Nick Khoury her vision for future expansion of Shumla's campus, including construction of bungalow cottages on the desert in the background. They would afford overnight accommodations for up to 16 researchers, scholars, interns, instructors, staff members and volunteers. (LIVE! photo/Bill Sontag) (click image to enlarge)

Before dinner is served, Carolyn Boyd pauses to introduce and thank benefactors Jack and Missy Harrington in front of the Shumla pavilion's capacious limestone fireplace. The Harringtons donated 70 acres of their ranch for the campus facility of Shumla School, and Missy, a retired schoolteacher, helped develop and implement TAKS-based curricula. Both Missy and Jack are enthusiastic instructors for every Pecos River Kids experience at the school. (LIVE! photo/Bill Sontag) (click image to enlarge)

Khoury huddled with Boyd, her husband, archeobotanist Dr. Phil Dering, her father, Walker Boyd, and Missy Harrington to get down to brass tacks about his emerging interest in Shumla School. Khoury reiterated his belief that Shumla’s enlarging scope and influence demand another name, revolving perhaps around the word “Institute.” Moreover, Khoury told Boyd – again – of his commitment and belief in Shumla’s local and international consequence. “My thoughts are not just a one-time [financial] pledge to you, but a question about what you need to do to sustain the program,” Khoury said.

Boyd explained that Khoury’s endorsement alone would be fruitful, but Khoury drove home his conviction that the Shumla Board of Director is pivotal to the institution’s future. “It’s the board’s responsibility to help out tremendously,” Khoury affirmed. “Without the funding, you can’t do research. Without the research, there’s no money. The board’s number one purpose is raising funds.”

Khoury went on to describe the vision that brought him to sell cars, trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles in Del Rio, when others thought he’d left his senses. Shaking Khoury’s hand, Boyd implored, “Nick, have a vision for this, please!” Khoury replied, “I’m humbled that you would ask me, but there is so much heritage here to work for, and history and beyond.”

Toward the end of the Shumla evening, Del Rio businessman Nick Khoury probes Shumla colleagues, from left, Missy Harrington, Walker Boyd, and Carolyn Boyd, for information about the school’s fundraising abilities and board of directors structure. Boyd fueled Khoury’s enthusiasm with a plea for his continuing participation. (LIVE! photo/Bill Sontag) (click image to enlarge)

A rosy sky and gathering darkness gradually signal an end to the relaxed congregation of friends and colleagues in the Shumla pavilion, right center. At far left is the campus’ modern, environmentally sound shower/bathroom facility. Next in line is “The Bookhouse,” and at far right is the new bunkhouse sleeping facility. (LIVE! photo/Bill Sontag) (click image to enlarge)