Accepting a First Place certificate on behalf of Freestone County Historical Museum is Linda Mullen, who compiled the historical articles by the late Sheriff Sonny Sessions of Freestone County, Texas. Presenting the award is Bill Buckner of Waco Library Genealogy Center.

Freestone Past And Present, a collection of former Sheriff Sonny Sessions’ historical articles compiled by Linda Mullen, won 1st Place in the Texas State Genealogy Society Book Contest. Susan Ball, president of the TSGS, along with Bill Buckner, Waco Library Genealogy Center Supervisor and TSGS Awards Chairman, presented Mrs. Mullen with the First Place certificate in the Partner Society Category and a $200 prize at the TSGS State conference banquet, Saturday, Oct.12, held at the Omni Westside in Houston.

Taking First Place is in a State-wide genealogy book contest is “Freestone Past and Present,” a 456-page hardbound volume containing Freestone County historical knowledge that Sheriff Sessions shared in his weekly newspaper column.


The book was compiled by Mullen on behalf of Freestone County Historical Museum as a fundraiser for the 1881 Jail restoration project. Earlier this year the book was submitted by the Jonathan Hardin Chapter of the DAR and accepted into the National DAR Library in Washington, D.C., an honor awarded to very few books.


Over 200 volumes have already been sold. Copies of Sessions’ book are available for sale at the museum, as well as Armadillo Emporium – Fairfield, Reba’s Ragtop Salon – Kirvin, LaDonna’s – Teague, and One Hair Place – Wortham.