The Brown Bag Luncheon Revisited

Spend an hour with a smile… and a little Rockwall history.

In 2004, RCHF proudly introduced the Brown Bag Luncheon, bringing the community together to share stories of Rockwall’s past. Over the years, we reminisced about school days, football games, the Fate Girls, and the remarkable people who made Rockwall County their home.

Following the passing of historian Sheri Fowler, the storytelling tradition was renamed in her honor, ensuring her love of Rockwall history and her gift for bringing its stories to life would continue.

Now, after ten years, we’re delighted to bring the original Brown Bag Luncheon tradition back.

We invite new voices, new stories, and new generations to join us as we celebrate the rich and colorful history of Rockwall County. Come one, come all; bring your memories, and most importantly, bring your stories – connect with Rockwall’s roots.

Join us at high noon, on the second Friday of each month, at the historic courthouse to make new friends, share a few laughs, tell stories, and discover more about the place we call home.

Because history is about yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Free!

Time: Noon

Location: Historic Courthouse
3rd Floor Courtroom
101 E. Rusk Street
Rockwall, TX 75087

2025-2024-2023 Lecture Season

February 13 The Importance of Texas and Eisenhower(presented by John Akers)
March 13  –
April 10 Rockwall in the 1960s. Part 2 (presented by Rick Wilcox)
May 8 History of The Rockwall Texas Success and a Recollection of the Newspaper and Town Square (Presented by Joy Bounds)
June 12 The story of Betsy Ross and her contributions to American history (presented by Betsy Modrzejewski)
July 10 Benjamin Franklin’s history and the founding of the United States (presented by Darren York)
September 11 No lecture
October 9 Quanah Parker and the reign of the Comanches in North Texas (presented by Ruth Sears)
November 13
December 11

Click on the lecture names to be redirected to their recordings. Some 2026 lectures may not be uploaded yet.

January  Winter Break
February 14 Mildred Barnes & Marriage Capitol of Texas with Beverly Mummey
March 14 Rockwall Women’s League (presented by Tiffany Miller)
April 11 Darby Nielsen with Rockwall Area Chamber & Visitors Center
May 9 Brown Family History Since 1854 (presented by Mitch Brown)
June/July/August Summer Break – No Lectures
September 9 The 60s in Rockwall (presented by Rick Wilcox)
October 10 The Settlement of Rockwall County (presented by Frank Locke)
November 14 How Legends Began … (presented by Mark Russo)
December 12 If These Walls Could Talk (presented by Patty Griffin and Vicki Jolley)

Click on the lecture names to be redirected to their recordings. Some 2025 lectures may not be uploaded yet.

January  Winter Break
February 9 Cross & Crown: The Life and Times of Joe Hayes with Gabriella Hayes
March 8  Nathan Butler Cemetery with Travis Sales
April 12 Russell Phelps & Rockwall in the 1980s
May 10  Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum with Director Susan Lanning
June 14  Juneteenth with Pastor Stephen Grays
September 13 History of Rockwall County
October 11 150 Years of First Baptist Church of Heath
November 8 No. 1 British Flying Training School Museum
December 13 Historic Preservation with Texas Historical Commission

Click on the lecture names to be redirected to their recordings. Some 2024 lectures may not be uploaded yet.

February 10 J.O. Heath, founder and namesake of Heath, Texas
March 10 150 Years of Rockwall County Sheriffs
September 8  75 Years of Rockwall County Judges
October 13  Designing the Discovery Statue with Jim Bryant
November 10  Veterans Memorial (offsite at Rockwall Veterans Memorial)
December 8  Rockwall Freemasons with Glenn Atterberry

Click on the lecture names to be redirected to their recordings. Some 2023 lectures may not be uploaded yet.