Robert E. Howard, one of the best known action and adventure story authors, is being celebrated and fans are coming to “pay homage” to their favorite author in Cross Plains, TX this weekend June 11-12. They call it Howard Days and fans come from near and far to attend… putting Cross Plains in the spot light for a weekend.
Howard’s family moved to Cross Plains in 1919 where he grew up and lived with his parents. The home is restored and now stands as the Howard House Museum where visitors can learn more about Howard and have the opportunity to purchase related memorabilia.
Howard graduated from Brownwood High School in 1923 because school in Cross Plains only went through the tenth grade. He also attended Howard Payne College (Howard Payne Commercial School as noted in his short biography by Rusty Burke) where he completed a bookkeeping program in 1927. He then set out to become an accomplished writer.
By 1928, Weird Tales had published four of his stories which included the first Solomon Kane tale, “Red Shadows” and five poems. After that, Howard stories or verse appeared in nearly three of every four issues of the magazine until his death in June 1936. One of his most well known characters was Conan the Cimmerian.
Everyone is invited to attend Howard Days, visit the Howard House Museum, and enjoy all of the activities. All the panels, tours, Swap Meet, etc. are presented at no cost. The dinner at the Friday night Banquet is the only paid fee for the weekend due to limited space at the Banquet site. Preregistration is appreciated but not required for the banquet.
Weekend Activities are as follows, taking place in Cross Plains, other than the Greenleaf Cemetery, which is located in Brownwood on Hwy 377S:
FRIDAY JUNE 11
8:30 – 9 am: Coffee and donuts at the Pavilion, compliments of Project Pride
9 am – 4 pm: Robert E. Howard House Museum will be open to the public.
9 am – 4 pm: REH Postal Cancellation at Cross Plains Post Office
9 am – 11 am: Walking Tour of Cross Plains
9:30 am – 12 Noon: Bus Tour of Cross Plains area
10 am – 5 pm: Cross Plains Public Library will be open.
Noon: Lunch hosted by Project Pride. Donations Welcome.
Noon to 4 pm: Pavilion available for REH items Swap Meet
1:00 pm: PANEL: The Illustrators of REH
3 pm: PANEL: The Evolutionary Heroes of Robert E. Howard
5:30 – 6:30: Silent Auction items available for viewing & bidding at Banquet site.
6:30: Robert E. Howard Celebration Banquet at the Cross Plains Community Center, featuring Guests of Honor Jim & Ruth Keegan, great food, a Silent Auction, and the Robert E. Howard Foundation Awards.
There will also be an REH Poetry Reading at the Pavilion after the Friday Night Banquet.
Paul Sammon (author of Conan the Phenomenon) will be joining the 2010 Guests of Honor Jim and Ruth Keegan on a couple of panels.
SATURDAY JUNE 12
**9:00am -1:00 pm at Greenleaf Cemetery, Friends and Relatives of Greenleaf will again honor the memory of Robert Ervin Howard with a hospitality tent near Robert E. Howard gravesite. Refreshments along with information about REH will be available. Many also visit Howard’s best friend’s grave as well (Tevis Clyde Smith), which will be marked. Directions to Clear Creek Cemetery, between Brownwood and Bangs, where Novelyn Price Ellis is buried will also be available.
9 am – 4 pm: Robert E. Howard House Museum will be open to the public.
9 am – 4 pm: Barbarian Festival: Located in the large lot north of the Dollar Store on Main St. During this time, there is a parade, car & tractor show, live music, craft vendors & lots of food vendors, games for the whole family, and new this year – a Talent Show.
9 am – 11 am: Walking Tour of Cross Plains
9:30 am – 12 Noon: Bus Tour of Cross Plains area
10 am – 3 pm: Cross Plains Public Library will be open.
10 am: PANEL: The Jim & Ruth Keegan Hour. Jim & Ruth Keegan will tell of their ongoing association with the works of “Ol’ Two-Gun”. Presentation at the Cross Plains Public Library.
Noon to 4 pm: Pavilion available for REH items Swap Meet
Lunch & Festival Activities at your leisure during the day
1:00 pm PANEL: Paul Sammon: 51 Years in Cimmeria
3 pm PANEL: What’s Happening with REH
5 pm: Sunset BBQ at the Caddo Peak Ranch
** Not a sponsored event of REH Days but a site most REH fans will want to visit.
