Matt Shelton

ALED 422

11/23/14

Symbols: words, objects, gestures, sounds, images etc..

Language: vehicle used to transmit culture

Values: guidelines for our lives, decisions, goals, choices, and actions

Norms: implicit principals for social life, relationships, and interactions

FamilyMale

White

American & Texan

English

Individualism

Christianity

Middle Class

Matt Shelton

22

Frank J & Marie Pesek

John & Josephine PesekMushka

Augustine & Edith Mushka Motal

Augustus Motal & Kay

Arnold Motal

Jeff & Sandra Kay MotalShelton

Matthew Shelton

Born in Entolic, Czechoslovakia 1850

Moved to the US in 1868 to a small town called Praha, TX where he and his wife Marie Bucek lived and raised their children

At the age of 18 Frank was teacher and later became a tax assessor

“He loved his family and carried candy in his pockets for all the kids in town” (Judy Klesel, 2014).

Well educated man who spoke German, Czech, and English

Frank mostly wore a suit and dress clothes

His family lived in one of the nicest houses in Praha, Tx

“One of the best memories that was shared throughout the family was when his daughter got married, and there was a huge wedding” (Sandra Shelton, 2014)

After years in the school house and public office, Frank became a farmer on 200 acres

He was a man of great integrity and respect, he was respectful to the black people of that time and knew them by name

Born in Praha, Texas 1884 Never worked Her hobbies were Canning and crochet as well as cooking “I remember her being a part of the KJJT organization (Czech

club” (Judy Klesel, 2014) She cooked things such as Baked chicken, tomato fig jelly,

and corn bread Met her husband John Mushka at a dance She wore Long dresses with lots of buttons She only spoke czech, never learned English Josephine was very poor growing up and even after she was

married Her relation to agriculture was farming chickens and cattle

and crops

Born in Praha, TX; March 11, 1921

Never worked outside home; nor had drivers license

Enjoyed cooking & canning preservatives, quilting

Augustine Ernest Motal Sr, carpenter and farmer/rancher

“She made the best chicken noodle soup & kolaches” (Sandra Shelton, 2014)

Everything handmade out of gunny sacs (flour sacs)

Husband was in the Navy, married 1941 on D Day WW2

Struggled with money all their life

They were poor, lived in a modest house with no air or running water, outhouse

Catholic; went to church everyday

Husband was a farmer/ranch

Raised pigs, chickens

Gardening for family

Pigeons, finches, parakeets

“Slaughtering hogs was a big deal, they made their own sausage” (Betty Motal, 2014)

Born in Yoakum, Texas September 16, 1944 He Lived with grandparents for the most part Lot of farming in country Gus Spoke English & Czech He Raised and showed cattle & family crops Was Poor until later in life when he became tax preparer Manager Perry’s Department store 21 age Tax Preparer Cattle rancher Married Kay Arnold Then remarried Betty Joyce Patton

“He enjoyed card playing, games, Frisbee golf, being with family, and cooking” (Karen Gossett, 2014)

Elvis was his favorite singer

He also enjoyed Country music

Black people were in separate schools at that time

Sandra Shelton Mother Interview in person 11/7/14, 11/18/14, 11/22/14

Karen Gossett

Aunt

Telephone interview 11/22/14

Betty Motal

Grandmother

Telephone interview 11/16/14

Judy Klesel

Aunt

Telephone interview 11/21/14

Ho, S.P. (2014). Course notes: ALED 422 course notes. College Station, TX: Author.