Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas, was hit by the second-worst flood ever on Texas' Guadalupe River on July 4. At the time of this report, 82 people are dead. Eleven girl campers and one counselor remain missing from Camp Mystic.
One of the campers who died was an 8-year-old Alabama girl, Sarah Marsh. Her parents were Patrick and Jill Marsh from Mountain Brook. Patrick Marsh is an assistant professor at Birmingham's Samford University.
The camp is well-known and well-loved by Christian families in the Southern United States, including dozens from Alabama. It hosts about 750 campers each summer.
Camp Mystic was established in 1926 by E.J. "Doc" Stewart and was initially known as Stewart's Camp for Girls. At that time, Stewart was the head football coach at the University of Texas and a friend of Alabama head football coach Wallace Wade. Stewart coached Texas from 1923 to 1926 and left the Longhorns to open the girls' camp. He had a record of 24 wins and nine losses. Stewart left a legacy at UT, the unusual burnt orange school color and uniform.
The camp was purchased in 1939 and has been operated by the same family since. The present-day operator of the camp, Dick Eastland, was killed in the flood Friday. He was a third-generation operator and co-owner of the camp. Eastland died trying to rescue campers.
During World War II, the camp was repurposed as a rehabilitation center for Army Air Corps veterans returning between 1943 and 1945. These are the only years it did not operate as a summer camp for girls.
Camp Mystic has hosted the daughters of political officials in Texas and throughout the South. Later, presidential daughters Lynda Bird Johnson and Luci Baines Johnson had been campers. The daughter of Texas Governor John Connally was a camper. First lady Laura Bush had been a camp counselor.
The mission of the camp is to provide a wholesome Christian atmosphere where girls can develop personal qualities, build self-esteem, grow spiritually, and bring out their best.
The camp offered over 30 activities, including sports, arts and crafts, and theater. Campers select up to 10 activities. The focus is on building self-confidence and nurturing character development.
Campers are divided into tribes, Kiowa or Tonkawa, fostering friendships and team spirit.
Campers receive awards for achievements, good attitude, effort, and improvements. Senior girls can be selected as "M Girls" based on leadership, sportsmanship, and dependability, while "Cup Girls" are selected as the best campers in different divisions.
Opportunities for spiritual growth include morning devotionals, Bible studies, and a sunrise Holy Communion service.
Counselors and campers are not allowed to have their cell phones. There is also no air conditioning in the cabins. O pioneers!
The camp offered the Texas Parks and Wildlife Hunter Safety Certification.
There has been no word on the camp's future.
Jim 'Zig' Zeigler's beat is the colorful and positive about Alabama -- her people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at [email protected].
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