Members of two families that have made this area home for more than 100 years will be honored when the reunion kicks off at 9 a.m. in the Howard County Fair Barn.

Descendants of S.L. Lockhart of Howard County and Douglas and Eliza Jane Lovelace of Glasscock County will be the honored guests at the reunion, organizers said.

Admission, as always, is free, but an added attraction this year is free food — hamburgers, chips and dessert — as well, according to Nila Allen of the reunion committee. Drinks will be $1 apiece. Coffee and donuts will be available for early arrivals.

Allen said this year's event will be relatively low-key compared to past reunions. No formal activities, aside from a dessert auction — which helps pay to put on future reunions — are scheduled.

“The main purpose of the reunion is for people to get together and visit,” Allen said. “So we decided to forego some of the other activities we've had in the past.”

Tammy Schrecengost of the Heritage Museum, which is helping to host the event, echoed Allen's comments.

“It's about fellowship and reunion,” Schrecengost said. “Everybody gets together and visits. It's about families joining together after years apart and giving them a chance to catch up on old times.”

This year's special honorees have long-standing ties to this area, Schrecengost said.

S.L. Lockhart came to Howard County just before the turn of the 20th century and worked as a cowboy on the Slaughter Ranch north of Big Spring, historical records state. After leaving for a few years, he returned to the area in 1920, settling in the German Springs area in northern Howard County.

Douglas and Eliza Jane Lovelace, Allen's great-grandparents, settled in western Glasscock County in 1888, she said.

Allen said the reunion's main attraction has always been the chance to renew acquaintances with old friends.

“The main thing for me has always been to get together with friends and old neighbors you don't see too often,” Allen said. “This is just a good opportunity to come back and visit with your old friends.”

For more information on this year's reunion, contact the Heritage Museum at 267-8255.

Contact Staff Writer Steve Reagan at 263-7331 ext. 234 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it