Bill Cheek, A. C. Cook, and Morris Matson have all collected Early Texas Art for a number of years and have amassed an impressive array of works by some of the most important Early Texas artists. Bill Cheek grew up in Schleicher County, Texas and graduated from Baylor University in 1957. He joined the firm of Ernst and Young in San Antonio and retired as a partner in 1999. He has collected Early Texas Art for 20 years and is sponsor of The Eyes of Texas, an exhibition currently traveling the state. He is the founding chairman of the Center for the Advancement and Study of Early Texas Art (CASETA).

A. C. Cook was one of the first people since 1980 who became interested in and collected Early Texas Art. His family collection, known as the "Hock Shop Collection", has toured a number of Texas museums. Mr. Cook has recently opened "The Bull Ring", an ice cream shop and wine tasting cellar in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards. This has become a favorite haunt for many because of the number of important Early Texas Art pieces on display there. Mr. Cook is a member of the Governing Council of CASETA.

Morris Matson is a newer collector of Early Texas Art who has been fortunate enough to find some interesting pieces by some of Texas’ most important artists, including Don Brown of Marshall and Caddo Lake. Mr. Brown was a contemporary of the famous Dallas Nine and participated regularly in their activities. Mr. Matson has been a docent at the Amon Carter Museum in Ft. Worth for the past seven years and is an active member of several art collectors groups. He is a member of CASETA and the Art Advisory Council of the Fort Worth Public Library Foundation.

The lecture is free and open to the public. There will be a reception following the presentation. Please call 903-595-1001 for reservations. Seating is limited.