The story of Texas is a complex one with many intriguing family histories helping to build a bridge between the state’s rough and unsettled past to the thriving economic powerhouse it is today. To celebrate the recent release of his latest book, Neither Fish nor Fowl: A Mercantile Jewish Family on the Rio Grande, Del Mar College Professor of History Dr. Bryan Stone will share highlights during a lecture at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, in Wolfe Recital on the Heritage Campus.
Presented by the college’s Social Sciences Department, Dr. Stone will discuss the history of the Riskinds of Eagle Pass, Texas, a prominent Jewish family in the early 20th century. Dr. Stone served as editor of Neither Fish nor Fowl: A Mercantile Jewish Family on the Rio Grande, a rich and engrossing memoir by Morris S. Riskind (1911-1996) that was published by Texas Tech University Press in October 2024.
Neither Fish nor Fowl examines the history of three generations. A retailer and lay religious leader in Eagle Pass’ small but active Jewish community, Morris Riskind became manager of the popular local clothing store in the small border town for more than four decades after being founded in 1910 by his father, Michael Riskin. The memoir depicts a far-ranging story of Jewish identity, family business and a binational border community.
The book is available on commercial platforms like Amazon.com for purchase. To Dr. Stone’s own credit, his research and teaching earned him the 2024 Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation’s 2024 Piper Professor Award and the Association of Community College Trustees’ 2024 Western Region Faculty Member Award. Among DMC recognitions, he was named the 2019 recipient of the college’s Dr. Aileen Creighton Award for Teaching Excellence as well as a Teacher of the Year in 2021.
Dr. Stone has also penned his own book titled The Chosen Folks: Jews on the Frontiers of Texas, which won the Southern Jewish Historical Society’s 2011 Book Prize, and edited Memories of Two Generations: A Yiddish Life in Russia and Texas. The lecture is free and open to the public; and from 5:30 to 6 p.m., free food will be available while it lasts.
• Wednesday, April 9, 6 p.m., Social Sciences Department Celebration with Faculty Lecture by Dr. Bryan Edward Stone, Editor of Neither Fish nor Fowl: A Mercantile Jewish Family on the Rio Grande
• Location: Wolfe Recital Hall (adjacent to Viking Hall), Del Mar College Heritage Campus, 101 Baldwin Blvd. (78404), online directions and campus map.
• Cost: Free.
• Questions? Contact DMC faculty member Dr. Dawson Barrett at dbarrett2@delmar.edu or the Social Sciences Department at 361-698-1228.