Luci Baines Johnson and Lynda Johnson Robb will be the honorary chairs of Spring Shindig 2016: An LBJ Party at the Texas White House on April 23, 2016, an event celebrating the legacies of their parents, President Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson.
The Spring Shindig is the first major fund-raiser for the Claudia Taylor Johnson Endowment—established in honor of Lady Bird Johnson to support exhibits, programs, and the historic collection at the LBJ Museum of San Marcos.
“The Johnson family, including Mrs. Johnson, daughters Luci and Lynda, and grandson Patrick Nugent, has been wonderfully supportive from the beginning of our efforts to establish the museum,” said Dr. Ed Mihalkanin, board president.
“In 1998 Mrs. Johnson called our dream of establishing the museum ‘a grand idea,’” he added. “Luci and Lynda have been continually supportive—and Patrick Nugent has been an honorary board member since 2003.”
The Shindig will feature a live performance by cowboy singer Michael Martin Murphey, delicious barbecue, wine and beer tasting from Hill Country vineyards and breweries, and unique auction items.
The festivities will take place in the Oak Grove of the ranch at the LBJ National Historic Park on the banks of the Pedernales River.
Sponsorships for the event are now available at www.lbjmuseum.com/springshindig or by contacting event organizer Suzanne Perkins at 830-385-1645 or suzanne@lbjmuseum.com. Sponsorship levels include Presidential ($10,000), Vice Presidential ($7,500); Senatorial ($5,000) and Congressional ($2,500).
Known as one of the great songwriters in America, Michael Martin Murphey’s music has often topped the Pop, Bluegrass, Country and Western music charts.
He has created such iconic songs as “Wildfire,” “Carolina in the Pines,” “Cowboy Logic,” “Cherokee Fiddle,” “Geronimo’s Cadillac,” and “Boy from the Country.”
The Shindig will feature delectable barbecue by Kent Black, a third generation pitmaster, whose family ties to the Johnsons go back to their friendship with his grandparents in the 1950s.
Tastings of beer and wine from Hill Country area breweries and wineries will be featured at the Spring Shindig.
“The Museum’s endowment fund has been created in the name of the former First Lady in recognition of her many contributions to our nation during LBJ’s political career,” said Dr. Ed Mihalkanin, President of the LBJ Museum board. “We are grateful for the continuing support from Lynda Robb and Luci Johnson as the Museum preserves their father’s formative years here in San Marcos and South Texas.”
LBJ is a 1930 graduate of Texas State University, then called Southwest Texas State Teachers College. He returned to his alma mater many times, including the signing of the 1965 Higher Education Act.
The LBJ Museum collection features photographs, paintings, statuary, campaign and presidential mementos, news clippings, a book collection, and memorabilia from President Johnson’s college days. The museum has on exhibit the desk where LBJ signed the Higher Education Act in 1965 and pens that he used to sign major legislation.
For more information, visit www.lbjmuseum.com/shindig, call 512-353-3300 or visit the Museum, 131 N. Guadalupe Street, San Marcos. The Museum is free and open to the public Thursday-Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.