Bob Urban to speak at Troup luncheon

Bob Urban

Bob Urban has been collecting goofy toys for years. He likes those that move, sing, dance and generally act or look like fools, even if they are supposed to be serious. What he began as a hobby to entertain himself, then his children and his grandchildren, has now become the basis for many invitations to share his toys, his jokes, and his zany sense of humor with others.

When the Friends of the Troup Librar y asked Jane Oswalt, the popular book reviewer, now retired, who entertained at the first fall luncheon and for many years afterward, for a recommendation for a speaker for the 2006 luncheon, she answered without hesitation: "Bob Urban."

Pressed for details, she added, "He's really funny in his own original way. When I've seen him perform, he has people, men and women both, almost falling out of their chairs with laughter."

An East Texas native, Urban was born in Cr ystal City a n d m o v e d f r o m there to Jacksonv i l l e , w h e r e he gradua t e d from high school and Lon Morris College. After a stint in the Navy, he enrolled in TCU and emerged a few years later with two degrees. He married his high school sweetheart, and together they raised three sons.

As a young man, Urban was a favorite biology teacher at W.B. Ray High School in Corpus Christie for many years. He left that job to take a position with Merck & Co., a pharmaceutical firm. After 30 years with Merck, he and his wife retired to Tyler, and at this point, his collection of toys and gadgets moved into overdrive.

Urban has toys for every holiday and plenty left over for otherwise uncelebrated days. For the fall luncheon in Troup, he will bring a variety of Christmas favorites and a few Thanksgiving specialties to cover both seasons as the luncheon and silent auction do.

The fall luncheon and silent auction is one of the signature events presented by the Friends of the Troup Library to earn money to support the collections and services of the Cameron - J. Jarvis Troup Municipal Library. Usually, this event is the biggest fund-raiser of the year.

The luncheon, prepared by many of the best cooks in Troup, is always beautifully presented and perfectly delicious. The silent auction offers an exciting array of homemade food items, handcrafted decorative pieces for the home, and enough gift items to fill out everyone's gift list.

The Christmas Book Tree will also make its debut at the fall luncheon and silent auction luncheon on Nov. 18. It will remain on display through Dec. 24. Once again patrons can buy the library a Christmas present in the form of a new book the library needs, but cannot afford to purchase at this time. When the gift books arrive in the library shortly after the new year begins, they will be put on the shelves with special book plates commemorating the gifts and givers.

Tickets for the Fall Luncheon and Silent Auction are on sale now at the Troup Library and by members of the Friends of the Troup Library. Each ticket costs $12.

Call the Troup library at 903- 842-3101 to reserve your tickets or drop by the library, located at 102 S. Georgia, during its regular operational hours to pick up your tickets in advance. The Troup Municipal Library is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 1-5 p.m.; Thursdays from 3-7 p.m.; and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.