By Karolyn Gephart
The Alvin Historical Museum is preparing a special permanent exhibit honoring Nolan Ryan.
Charles McCauley, a lifetime Alvin resident and retired Alvin ISD educator, has been a recent contributor to the new area.
McCauley is a collector of sports memorabilia. Among the items he acquired over the years are some which he highly prizes; those which relate to the baseball career of Nolan Ryan.
Although McCauley was not himself a baseball player, he has had a personal connection with the Ryan family since Nolan was 10 years old. In addition, one of Charles’ students at Alvin High was a young lady named Ruth Holdorff, who later became Mrs. Nolan Ryan.
McCauley liked what he saw in the baseball player and as a result started his collection.
“It was because [I’ve seen] his citizenship, competitiveness, charity, strength of character, entrepreneurship, and love of family, and because he is Alvin’s favorite son,” McCauley said.
He is loaning the museum four signed uniform jerseys, a framed collection of baseball cards and several other unique, one of a kind items. Highlights from Ryan’s high school baseball years will also be featured.
While the Alvin Museum Society prepares its newest permanent exhibit about Nolan Ryan and Alvin Sports, a temporary exhibit will be installed to display collectibles related to Ryan’s career.
Depictions of his civic and charitable involvement with his beloved home town will also be included. Part of this exhibit will include items on loan from other private collections.
The temporary exhibit will be in place at the end of March. The permanent one, being installed in the new addition to the museum, is currently scheduled to open to the public in April.
The Alvin Historical Museum, located at 300 W. Sealy, is open Tuesday –Saturday, 11 am to 3 pm.
For more information, visit www.alvinmuseum.org.
