Lifetime Members

Beth Hill, native Texan. She graduated from Texas School for the Deaf. When she was 6 years old, she moved to Austin from McKinney. Beth joined AAD as member since 1966 to present. Beth loves AAD so much. She was active participating host the halloween party, Christmas party, Easter, and many others too.

Kathryn Caldcleugh, born in New Mexico and raised there. She has been living in Austin, TX for ages. Kathryn is very loyal to AAD since 1952. As of 2022, Kathryn is the oldest member of all. She was one of original secretary of AAD.

John Mills was born in New Mexico and moved to Texas where he attended the Texas School for the Deaf (TSD) in 1950. He graduated from TSD and went on to attend Gallaudet University. After that, John returned to teach at TSD for many years until his retirement. e has been a member of AAD since 1971. During his prime years, John served as AAD Vice President, then AAD Secretary, and later became the AAD Treasurer for over 28 years. His favorite memory was when he witnessed AAD purchase the property lot and build the clubhouse back in 1973. John Mills encourages everyone to stay loyal to AAD, just as he has done.

Charlene Giacona, born in Chicago, ill. She moved to Maryland then return to Chicago. After that, she moved to Texas. She is proudly native of Texan because she has been resident in Texas for long time. In 1986, Charlene became member and served as AAD Secretary for long time. She loves to social with the others and playing the games. She enjoying to attend the General meeting.

Wait Camenisch, born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Walt recalls that in 1969, he landed in order to visit Franna, who later became his wife in 1970. In 1971, Walt graduated from Gallaudet University, and he and his wife moved to Connecticut where they both taught at the American School for the Deaf in West Hartford. In 1973, Walt's wife wanted to return to Austin, Texas, and Walt agreed to move with her. At that time, the Austin Deaf club had a Promissory Note for all members to help make a payment to own a property. Walt became a member of the AAD in 1973 and has been a member ever since. Walt was the AAD President for two years, and his favorite memory was when there was a problem with the water pump in the front of the parking lot. Texana Conn, a Deaf community leader, collaborated with Walt to contact Ann Richard, the County Commissioner who later became the 2nd female governor of Texas. 9th grade, resulting going to Gallaudet at age 14. Carl Bririnstool, who was from New Mexico, he was Joanne's classmate in that time. They graduated in 1959 but were only good friends at the time. They did not marry till 1962 when she moved to Austin from Illinois. She spent one year typing for National Geographic Magazine in Washington DC, two years, and teaching elementary grades at the Illinois School for the Deaf, one year teaching at Texas School for the Deaf and two years at the Louisiana School for the Deaf. After two years in Louisiana, they moved back to Austin and she worked for the IRS for 30 years. She have done volunteer work for GUAA and the AAD and TAD. Carl was very active in various of Deaf organizations so therefore she got pulled into them with him. They were both members of AAD from the time they moved here (1959 for Carl, 1962 for her). AAD was the center of deaf community life in their day. She hope that remains true. They have a son and a daughter who has four adult children. Carl retired in 1989 and then she retired in 1998. She hardly recognize Austin sometimes. When they were first married, it only had 200,000 people and the main landmarks were the Capitol Bldg. and the UT Tower.

Jerry MoGaugh is from Mississippi and moved to several different states until the 1980s, when he married his wife, Rosemary McGaugh, and moved to Austin, Texas. He has been a member of AAD since the mid-1980s to early 1990s. Jerry's favorite memory is when the Austin Deaf Club hosted the after-TSD Homecoming event, especially when TSD was playing against another Deaf school, as there would be a large crowd coming to AAD. AAD always had a pavilion open for anyone to buy drinks. Jerry cherishes memories of the large social crowds in the backyard of AAD.

Fred Newberry, a native of Brooklyn, New York. Fred moved to Texas in 1982. Fred has been member since 1990's. One of his favorite memories is when he was being locked in white storage for half hour until someone open the door. He left his jacket on the chair. That's how someone spotted and discovered Fred stuck in the storage. Fred loves Austin Deaf Club so much. In past, he served many different officer positions as such as Past President, Vice President, Event Coordinator, Board member, many others. Austin Deaf Club has always been his home.

Morris Porter, graduated from Texas School for the Deaf in 1958. In September of 1958, he become member of Austin Deaf Club since then. He have always been enjoying playing the poker, many different various of games including Tingo which is now as known as Lucky 13.

Brenda Mills, from Austin. As of 2022, she has been member of Austin Deaf Club for 50+ years! She loves to gathering with her friend and she also enjoy to drinking party at Austin Deaf Club.

Joanne Brininstool was born in 1941 in linois along with a twin sister, Dianne. Our father was a WWII veteran who had a small town agricultural loan job but became a farmer later to help his father for some years. So, she was a small town/farm girl but spending 5 years in a big city like Washington DC (4 years school and 1 year work) was very interesting. She became deaf at age 6 1/2 from Meningitis while in first grade. She spent a few years in day school, a year in public school, and three years in the Illinois School for the Deaf which only went 9th grade, resulting going to Gallaudet at age 14. Carl Bririnstool, who was from New Mexico, he was Joanne's classmate in that time. They graduated in 1959 but were only good friends at the time. They did not marry till 1962 when she moved to Austin from Illinois. She spent one year typing for National Geographic Magazine in Washington DC, two years, and teaching elementary grades at the Illinois School for the Deaf, one year teaching at Texas School for the Deaf and two years at the Louisiana School for the Deaf. After two years in Louisiana, they moved back to Austin and she worked for the IRS for 30 years. She have done volunteer work for GUAA and the AAD and TAD. Carl was very active in various of Deaf organizations so therefore she got pulled into them with him. They were both members of AAD from the time they moved here (1959 for Carl, 1962 for her). AAD was the center of deaf community life in their day. She hope that remains true. They have a son and a daughter who has four adult children. Carl retired in 1989 and then she retired in 1998. She hardly recognize Austin sometimes. When they were first married, it only had 200,000 people and the main landmarks were the Capitol Bldg. and the UT Tower.

Franna Camenisch was born in Oklahoma but moved to Austin, Texas when she was 10 years old. It was there that she learned ASL for the first time and attended the Texas School for the Deaf (TSD), from which she also graduated. Franna taught at TSD for many years and currently volunteers at the TSD Museum. She became a member of the Austin Deaf Club when Cora Clinger dug up the new property for AAD in 1973. Franna admires the history bf AAD, and one of her favorite memories was during a clean-up day when she and others discovered some items buried with no name in the backyard of AAD. Back then, it was so cluttered, but they were able to clean it out. Today, it looks beautiful out there. Franna credits Ray Bulter, who organized the promissory note to purchase this property and build this place.