Community photojournalism in the heart of Texas
Lance Armstrong, left, with lyrics in hand, came out for a surprise duet with Lyle Lovett on Lovett's new song "It's Rock and Roll" at Bass Concert Hall on Monday Nov. 23, 2009. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Lyle Lovett performs at Bass Concert Hall on Monday Nov. 23, 2009. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Roger Paynter, left, a Baptist; Heide Harris, a Lutheran; Christ-Singh Khalsa, a Sikh; and Kerry Baker, a Jew, listen to George Harrison's 'My Sweet Lord' performed at the 25th Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service and Celebration at First Baptist Church of Austin on Sunday Nov. 23, 2009. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
John Comstock was working on the Aggie Bonfire when it collapsed ten years ago on Nov. 18, 1999. He was the last person pulled out alive from the rubble, and very nearly died. He would have been the 13th fatality. Since then he has referred to himself as the Thirteenth Man. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Comstock’s condition was so serious that Texas A&M prepared this news release on Nov. 29, 1999, announcing his death. It was never released, and Comstock keeps it in a frame at his home in College Station. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Comstock displays the Bonfire helmet, or “pot,” that he lost as he fell 40 to 50 feet from the stack. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
In the early morning hours of Wednesday Nov. 18, 2009, on the 10th anniversary of the 1999 Aggie Bonfire collapse, John Comstock lingers at the Aggie Bonfire Memorial after most have left the 2:42 a.m. candlelight remembrance. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
On the 10th anniversary of the collapse, John Comstock passes in front of the words of a poem engraved on the Bonfire memorial: ‘The Last Corps Trip,’ which was read each year at Bonfire’s burning. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Learn more about John Comstock and the Aggie Bonfire by reading Kevin Robbins’ story.
Dillon Miller, 7, gets an H1N1 vaccination from nurse Margie Silva at the Rosewood-Zaragosa Neighborhood Center on Thursday Nov. 19, 2009. Young people from six months to 24 years old are encouraged to get the immunization. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
The famous Aggie spirit was in full force early this morning. Hundreds of Aggies gathered at exactly 2:42 a.m, at the Bonfire Memorial on the Texas A&M campus to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the 1999 Bonfire collapse that killed twelve students. Texas A&M student Aylen Lira, bottom photo, cries during the candlelight vigil. Photos by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Strawn quarterback Parker Purvis rests after practice in August. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
The small Texas towns of Gordon and Strawn, midway between Fort Worth and Abilene, are only eight miles apart. Their schools are so tiny they play six-man football because they don’t have enough boys to field regular 11-man teams. The townsfolk are crazy about football. For decades the two teams have played each other in one of the greatest rivalries in Texas sports.
This was one of my favorite assignments of the year. It was so much fun to see all of the dedication and effort these boys put into the preparation for the annual Gordon-Strawn game. The action and emotions on game day were a photographer’s dream. It was Texas high school football at its purest.
Check out the audio slide show.
If you prefer to see the photos without audio go to this photo gallery.
Read Kevin Robbins’ wonderfully written story.
The body of Michael Cahill is brought to St. Monica Catholic Church in Cameron, Texas, for his funeral on Sunday Nov. 15, 2009. Michael Cahill, 62, a physician's assistant, was killed in the mass shootings at Fort Hood. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Soldiers fold the flag to be presented to Joleen Cahill at the funeral for her husband Michael Cahill at St. Monica Catholic Church in Cameron, Texas, on Sunday Nov. 15, 2009. Michael Cahill, 62, a physician's assistant, was killed in the mass shootings at Fort Hood. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Kerry Cahill, right, and Lt. Veronica Pacheco of Fort Hood's 7214 Medical Support Unit console each other at the funeral for Michael Cahill at St. Monica Catholic Church in Cameron, Texas, on Sunday Nov. 15, 2009. Kerry's father Michael Cahill, 62, a physician's assistant, was killed in the mass shootings at Fort Hood. Pacheco was a friend and co-worker who was at the Soldier Readiness Processing Center during the mass shootings. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Joleen Cahill, right, and her children, left to right, James Cahill, Keely Vanacker, holding her son Brody Vanacker, and Kerry Cahill at the funeral for Joleen's husband and their father Michael Cahill at St. Monica Catholic Church in Cameron, Texas, on Sunday Nov. 15, 2009. Michael Cahill, 62, a physician's assistant, was killed in the mass shootings at Fort Hood. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Statesman multimedia producer Jenni Jones made an audio slideshow of staff photographers Rudy Gonzalez, Ricardo Brazziell and me describing our experiences covering the Fort Hood shootings and aftermath. It’s very well done, and I invite you to check it out.
Various items, including a stamp and the book "Dreams and Interpretations" by Allamah Muhammad Bin Sireen lie on the table in the kitchen in the apartment of Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, the alleged Fort Hood massacre gunmen, at the Casa Del Norte Apartments in Killeen, Texas, on Wednesday Nov. 11, 2009. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
I was allowed inside the apartment of Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, the alleged gunman in the Fort Hood massacre, to photograph what was left behind. See the complete photo gallery.
Fort Hood's 3rd ACR 43rd Combat Engineer Company Color Guard lead the Veterans Day parade in downtown Killeen, Texas, on Wednesday Nov. 11, 2009, less than a week after the massacre at nearby Fort Hood. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Alex Delavega, 7, cheers at the Veterans Day parade in downtown Killeen, Texas, on Wednesday Nov. 11, 2009, less than a week after the shootings in nearby Fort Hood. "When I get big I'm going to be in the military," he said. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
On Wednesday, less than a week after the massacre at Fort Hood, Killeen celebrated Veterans Day with a parade. For a moment it seemed the grieving was put on hold while people cheered loudly for Fort Hood soldiers marching through the old downtown streets.
