Texas Hall of Fame - Class of 2019
Sandra 'Sandy' Cook Bassett has devoted almost a lifetime of service in numerous genealogical societies, including terms as State President of the Colonial Dames XVII Century and Dames of the Court of Honor. She has served multiple terms on State Executive Boards of several Texas lineage societies, including the Texas Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Texas Society Colonial Dames XVII Century, Texas Society Dames of the Court of Honor, Texas Society Magna Charta Dames and Barons and Texas Society Sons & Daughters of the Pilgrims. Sandy has also served as Senior State Corresponding Secretary for Texas Society Children of the American Revolution.
She is currently serving as Second Vice President General for the National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century [following a term as Chaplain General for that organization] and National Trustee for the National Society Dames of the Court of Honor.
She has chaired dozens of committees, both national and state level, for 28 different lineage organizations during more than 37 years of dedicated service. Mrs. Bassett supports a variety of projects as well as giving of herself and her time to actively participate in the many tasks needed to maintain the work of societies such as chairing state and national luncheon, nominating, conference and other committees.
In addition, she has earned many awards at both the national and state levels such as the National Service Award and Medal for the National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century, the title of Honorary Junior for Life by TXDAR and both the Medal of Appreciation and Martha Washington Medal by the Sons of the American Revolution.
Her involvement with genealogy began when Sandy was just eight years old. Since no one in the family was recording stories or history Sandy and her Mother, Dale Etter Cook, began spending every Saturday at the Dallas Public Library pouring through books, asking questions and cranking the old microfilm machines. It is the reason Sandy became a Librarian by profession and spent nearly 35 years loving the smell and feel of books and the stories and information printed within them.
Sandy’s Mother was determined they would join DAR so the research continued for 25 years until Mrs. Cook was confident they had found enough documentation to join the organization. Both were admitted into DAR in 1983, joining the Nancy Horton Davis Chapter in Dallas, where Sandy is still an active member, leader and mentor. Sandy has designed official insignia for many lineage organizations as well as President General brooches, Librarian General Bookmarks and President General Limoges style boxes to help raise funds on both the state and national level. One of her designs helped to raise $35,000 for a lineage organization. Sandy has dearly loved creating five books for DAR and Colonial Dames XVII Century, one of which was a history book, with the remaining four prayer books.
She has demonstrated a willingness to mentor and support other members of genealogical societies. She continues to recruit and assist with new member applications and is a frequent, popular speaker on a variety of topics for meetings and events.
Robert Clark has been a practicing Dallas attorney for 37 years, is a fifth generation Dallas resident, and sixth generation Texan. His father’s family were original settlers of Erath County and his mother’s family has resided in Dallas since the 1880’s. He served as President of the Thomas J. Rusk Chapter, SRT. Bob was a Certified Genealogist, Board for Certification of Genealogists, from 1980 to1995, during which time he wrote and published three genealogy books and one book on heraldry.
He served as the 98th State President of the more than 2,500-member Texas Society, Sons of the American Revolution. He has also served as President of the Texas Society of the Sons of the Revolution, as Governor of The Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Texas, and as Governor of the Texas Society of the Founders and Patriots of America. His national roles have included Treasurer General and Chancellor of the Order of the Crown of Charlemagne in the United States of America; Councilor, National Society Americans of Royal Descent; Counsel General and Vice-President, National Huguenot Society; Attorney General, Order of Founders and Patriots; Deputy Governor General, Society of Colonial Wars; and he currently serves as National Vice President, Aztec Club of 1847.
In 1990 Bob was made a member of the Society of the Cincinnati, an organization founded in 1783 with George Washington as its first president general. He is a Knight of Justice of the Bailiwick of Brandenburg of the 900-year-old Order of St. John. The Bailiwick of Brandenburg was the branch of the Order of Malta which accepted the Reformation of the Church in Central Europe in the sixteenth century. He is also a Knight Officer of the Order of Sts. Maurice and Lazarus granted by the Italian Royal Family; a Knight of the Portuguese Royal Order of Vila Viçosa, the Hungarian Order of Vitéz, and a Knight of the Order of Frances I. Bob has also received a Grand Cross of the Montenegrin Order of Danilo I and of the Imperial Ethiopian Order of the Lion, and is a Grand Officer of the Order of St. Michael of the Wing. In 1991 he was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and was granted a Scottish coat of Arms through his paternal line from the Lord Lyon in Edinburgh in 1990. Throughout the years, Bob has written numerous articles on genealogy and chivalric orders as well as given programs on both subjects to a variety of organizations and schools.
Bob received a BBA (1972) from the University of Texas at Austin, an MBA (1978) from Southern Methodist University & Juris Doctor (1982) from Oklahoma City University. He graduated from Hillcrest High School and received an Eagle Scout in 1963. He has been selected as a member of the College of the State Bar of Texas and was elected to the very selective American Board of Trial Advocates. He is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is also certified as a Civil Trial Specialist by the National Board of trial Advocates. Only 10 percent of Texas attorneys are board certified in any area of law, with only two percent of attorneys certified in civil trial law.
Davena Rigel Liepman
Co-Founder of the National Society Descendants of American Farmers, where she serves as Registrar National, having processed more than 600 member applications in less than seven months, Davena is credited with the original idea of establishing a lineage society to recognize the early American Farmer.
She also currently serves as State Registrar for the Wyoming Society U.S.D. 1812, and Historian General of the National Society Sons and Daughters of Antebellum Planters.
She has served as State Chaplain for the Texas Society U.S.D.1812, and as State First Vice President and Recording Secretary of the Wyoming Society U.S.D. 1812, as well Editor of the Wyoming Society U.S.D.1812 State Newsletter [2017-2019]. She served as Organizing Registrar of the Bison Chapter, Wyoming Society U.S. D. 1812. In addition, she served as State Historian for the Texas Society Continental Society Daughters of Indian Wars.
Davena has been registrar for the Heart of Texas Chapter, Colonial Daughters of the 17th Century and South Branch, National Society Sons and Daughters of Pilgrims. She has held chapter positions with the Thomas Bay Chapter USD1812 and belongs to 29 different lineage societies, including Sons and Daughters of Virginia Founding Fathers, Descendants of Early Postmasters, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, National Society Daughters of American Colonists, National Society Continental Society Daughters of Indian Wars and Antebellum Bench and Bar.
In addition, Davena has presented programs for state societies of U.S.D. 1812 in Wyoming, Arkansas and Nevada.
She is a two-time recipient of the Texas Society Sons of the American Revolution Martha Washington Award, and has been awarded the TSSAR Silver Service medal and the Lady Liberty Award. She is also a recipient of the United States Daughters of the 1812 Spirit of 1812 Award.
Davena was a student at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas and graduated from Wichita State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She subsequently taught school for a year before changing career paths. She is a GIA Graduate Gemologist and served as Vice President and Treasurer for Southwest Fine Jewelry Show. Davena loves to read, especially authors David McCullough, Charles Krauthammer and Mark Levin, and enjoys history.
Janisue Rigel Co-Founder and President National of the National Society Descendants of American Farmers. Under her leadership this new society has acquired more than 600 members in less than seven months, launched a youth organization and awarded four scholarships to agricultural students.
Janisue also currently holds positions as Honorary State President Wyoming Society U.S.D. 1812, Honorary Chapter President, Bison Chapter Wyoming Society U.S.D.1812 and State Parliamentarian Wyoming Society U.S.D. 1812.
At the national level she has served as Curator National United States Daughters of 1812. She has served as both Secretary National and Historian National for Antebellum Planters. She held positions of State First Vice President and State Curator for the Texas State Society U.S.D. 1812 prior to serving as State Organizing President for the Wyoming State Society U.S.D. 1812, at the request of the organization’s President National.
Janisue has served as the State President and the East Texas Chapter Organizing President for Southern Dames of America. She served the Continental Society Daughters of Indian Wars as State Governor, State Corresponding Secretary and State Historian for the Texas Society. Her service with the Texas Society Daughters of American Colonists include State Historian and State Curator.
In addition, Janisue has held the position of Organizing and Chapter President for the Heart of Texas Chapter Colonial Daughters 17th Century and Organizing Governor for South Branch National Society Sons and Daughters of Pilgrims. Janisue has served as chair for many state and national committees for the various organizations of which she is a member. She served the Thomas Bay Chapter N.S.U.S.D. 1812 as President for five years and has served numerous other chapters of various societies as an officer and/or committee chair.
During her years of service to the lineage society community, Janisue has also held memberships in the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Sons and Daughters of the Colonial Antebellum Bench and Bar, National Society Dames Court of Honor, Daughters of Union Veterans, National Society Daughters of Seventeenth Century, Sons and Daughters of Antebellum Planters, Founders of North America, Sons and Descendants of Early Quakers, Daughters of Confederacy, Sons and Daughters of Virginia Founding Fathers, National Society Southern Dames of America, First Families of Maryland, Henry County Illinois Prairie Pioneers, First Families of Ohio, Daughters of the British Empire in the U.S.A., Descendants of Early Postmasters and National Society Children of the American Revolution.
She is a three-time recipient of the Texas Society Sons of the American Revolution Martha Washington Award; she was also awarded the Silver Service medal and the Lady Liberty Award by TSSAR. In 2010 Janisue was recognized by the National Society of United States Daughters of 1812 with the Spirit of 1812 Award.
Janisue’s professional career includes more than 30 years as an event negotiator and coordinator, expertise she has shared with many Texas lineage society as event planner for numerous state conferences and fall board meetings. She is a GIA Graduate in sale and diamond grading and initiated a long-term highly successful regional trade show for the gem industry.