About Us:
The idea for a community library for Bullard was conceived by Mrs. O. O. Ferrell, Sr., Dr. Marjorie Ferrell Roper and Helen Terrell Nunnally. On June 12, 1976 they convened a group of women at the home of Thelma Cravey to formulate a plan for raising money and building a library. They wanted a library that not only would provide books for the community, but would also have space for a community meeting room to serve the needs of the community. On June 18, 1976 a formal committee was established. Officers were: Thelma Cravey, Chair; Helen Nunnally, Vice Chair; Jan Berry, Secretary; and Jack Stoddard, Treasurer. Additional committee members included: Jewel Phelps, Marjorie Roper, Polly Moseley, Charles Dupree, Peggy Lynch, Liz McDaniel, Audrey Owens, Barbara Owens, Lorene Johnson, Iotha Wallace, Brent Coleman, Lesley Bartley, Gary Curry, Richard Cooper and Valerie McCugh. An ambitious plan was laid out to raise money through donations and grants from 120 different foundations. Donations of books cam almost immediately from the community, with Dr. and Mrs. Rhea Nichols of Dallas being the first to donate for the new library. The committee wanted to get the whole town involved in the library effort, and to this end many community-wide events were planned. These included a Trades Day and Bullard Homecoming, a Christmas Tour of Homes, and writing a book on the history of the Bullard Library. The first event, The Bullard Bi-Centennial Blast-Off and Homecoming was held on September 25, 1976 and raised $5,000 for the Library Fund. It was a fun-filled day filled with exhibits, games, food and a fireworks display, ending with the crowning of Jewel Phelps and Leonard Owens as Queen and King Senior Citizen. On December 10 - 12, 1976 the community hosted a Tour of Homes, Bake Sale and Book Fair. The homes of J. T. Davis, George Carvey, Roy Mosely, Malcolm Johnson, Robert Edge, Johnny Peavy and Walter Birks were featured on the tour and another $500 was raised for the library. The Bullard Area - It's History and Its People: 1800 - 1977 was written and published thanks to the efforts of Thelma Cravy. Jewell Phelps, Maurine Padrucco, Verna Dennis, Marjorie Roper, Barbara Owens, Jan Berry, Jack Stoddard, Jack Moor and Kenneth Barron. This interesting two-volume history of the community and surrounding area is available for sale at the library for $48.50. In addition to local fund-raising efforts, the committee received grants from foundations such as the Garvy Foundation and the Harry S. and Isabel C. Cameron Foundation.
