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James Smock

James SmockJames Smock has always held an interest in his Polish ancestors and heritage. He is a native Houstonian with Polish roots in Bremond, Marlin and New Waverly, Texas.

James is a past president of the Polish Genealogical Society of Texas and was the founding webmaster of the PGST website. He also served as the Surname Index Coordinator from 1994 - 2000.

In addition to serving as the webmaster and editor of this Polish Texan website, he maintains a number of other websites including;

With a lifelong passion for photography, James can often be found with a camera around his neck. In addition to photographing family events and his grandchildren, he is the church photographer for St. Mary Catholic Church in Plantersville and St. Joseph Catholic Church in Stoneham. Many of his photographs can be found on the church website or his photography gallery.

Henry Mazurkiewicz Celebrates 80th Birthday In Chappell Hill

Celebrations, Current Events / By /

Henry Mazurkiewicz 80th Birthday PartyIf you drive by St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Chappell Hill Texas on a nice sunny day you’ll likely see Henry Mazurkiewicz in his overalls mowing his yard or working in his garden. You can tell it’s Henry’s house because there is a big Polish flag flying on a pole in the front yard. Henry’s Polish pride was evident on Saturday, July 17, 2010 as he celebrated his 80th birthday with family and friends. Chappell Hill native Msgr. Harry Mazurkiewicz gave the blessing and then the guests dined on good Texas barbecue along with a tray full of home made kiszka and Polish pickles. The three beautifully decorated birthday cakes represented some of Henry’s favorite past times including fishing, gardening and swatting flies.
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Henry Mazurkiewicz Celebrates 80th Birthday In Chappell Hill Read More »

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Pierogi Palooza – A Polish Pierogi Primer DVD

Food and Drink, News / By /

Pierogi Palooza - A Polish Pierogi Primer available from Bremond Historical SocietyAt Polski Dzien 2010, the Bremond Historical Society released a new DVD called Pierogi Palooza – A Polish Pierogi Primer. The 51 minute video features Doris Bulgawich Rekieta and Frances Szymanski Robertson, two well known ladies from Bremond who have been making pierogi for many years. There are three sections to the video, the first two have Doris and Francis each showing the viewer in detail how they make pierogi. The third section is a video of St. Mary’s Altar Society making over 1000 pierogi for Polski Dzien 2006.
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Pierogi Palooza – A Polish Pierogi Primer DVD Read More »

Polski Dzien 2010 Held In Bremond Texas on June 26

Current Events, Festivals and Bazaars / By /

Polski Dzien Polish Days 2010 In Bremond TexasThe 23rd annual Polski Dzien or Polish Days was held in downtown Bremond, Texas on Saturday June 26, 2010. As always, the day started with the Polish Pickle Run, a 5K run for adults and a 1K run for the kids. It seems like there are more and more runners each year. I’m not sure why so many people would want to run the streets of Bremond in the sweltering heat of late June, but then again, how many other races have cold piwo, kielbasa and watermelon waiting at the finish line?
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Polski Dzien 2010 Held In Bremond Texas on June 26Read More »

Polski Dzien 2010 Held In Bremond Texas on June 26 Read More »

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Marshall Family, Friends and Traditions Reunion In Plantersville

Current Events, Reunions / By /

Marshall Family, Friends and Traditions Reunion In Plantersville TexasSaturday, June 19, 2010 turned out to be a typical hot, sunny Texas summer day, but that didn’t stop hundreds of people from descending on Ronnie and Hazel Dutka’s beautiful big red barn in Plantersville, Texas to celebrate their Polish heritage at a fun-filled family reunion. The crowd was made up of members of the Marszalek/Marshall, Borek, Maduzia, Filar, Zabawa and Bartkowiak families along with many of their close friends.
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Marshall Family, Friends and Traditions Reunion In Plantersville Read More »

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Bremond Getting Ready For Polski Dzien

News / By /

Polski Dzien (Polish Day) In Bremond TexasThe Bremond Chamber of Commerce is busy getting everything ready for the large crowd that will come to celebrate Bremond’s rich Polish heritage at Polski Dzien (Polish Day) XXIII on Friday and Saturday, June 25 & 26, 2010. Friday’s events include the Polish Day Beauty Pageant for girls and boys to be held at the Bremond ISD cafetorium starting at 7:00 PM with entertainment provided by Nashville recording artist, Becky Lanham.
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Bremond Getting Ready For Polski Dzien Read More »

PGST Exhibits At Tomball College International Festival

Current Events, Festivals and Bazaars / By /

Polish Genealogical Society of Texas Exibit At Tomball College International FestivalOn Saturday, June 5, 2010, Polish Genealogical Society of Texas president Dolores Wisnoski Newman and Treasurer Shirley Burzynski shared their Polish culture at the International Festival. The festival marked the occasion of the Summer Reading Kickoff Party at the Tomball College & Community Library. Dolores and Shirley were dressed in traditional Polish outfits as they greeted festival attendees and showed off their table full of Polish books, pottery, crystal and other items of interest.
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PGST Exhibits At Tomball College International Festival Read More »