DMC History Professor Dr. Bryan Stone speaking Wednesday about work on memoir of early 20th century Jewish merchant in Eagle Pass, Texas
Article by: Richard Guerrero, Jr. 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 History Professor Dr. Bryan Stone will share highlights during a lecture at 6 p.m. this Wednesday, April 9, in Wolfe Recital Hall on the Heritage Campus. Presented by the college’s Social Sciences Department, Stone will discuss the history of the Riskinds of Eagle Pass, Texas, a prominent Jewish family in the border town in the early 20th century. 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. For directions to Wolfe Recital Hall, get online directions and campus map to the Heritage Campus located at 101 Baldwin Blvd. (78404). Questions? Contact DMC faculty member Dr. Dawson Barrett at dbarrett2@delmar.edu or the Social Sciences Department at 361-698-1228. In a compelling new contribution to the historical study of Jewish communities in Texas, Stone has helped bring to life the memoir of Morris Riskind in Neither Fish nor Fowl, which was published in October 2024 by Texas Tech University Press (TTUP). The book offers a rare glimpse into the multicultural, multilingual world of the Texas-Mexico borderlands and is available on commercial platforms like Amazon.com for purchase. TTUP approached Stone to edit and provide historical context for the book, which had been years in the making. Morris Riskind originally completed his memoir in 1993 before passing away in 1998. His son, Dr. Peter Riskind, worked tirelessly to get the manuscript published, and after its acceptance by TTUP in 2021, Stone was invited to refine and enhance the text with an introduction and extensive annotations. “The manuscript Peter submitted was excellent, but TTUP believed it needed some editorial work, particularly in providing historical background,” Stone explained. “I was thrilled to accept the opportunity.” The book recounts the life and business ventures of the Riskind family, who ran a successful clothing store in Eagle Pass for nearly a century. However, working on the project posed unique challenges for Stone, who had to immerse himself in the history of the Texas border region, a subject outside his usual research focus. “Morris gives us a lot of information, but few readers—myself included—would be familiar with all the names, places and historical events he references,” Stone said. “I had to study a lot to catch up.” One of the book’s remarkable aspects is its portrayal of Eagle Pass’ small yet resilient Jewish community. With never more than 60 Jewish residents at any given time, the Riskinds played a central role in maintaining religious traditions despite the absence of institutional support. “They had to do everything themselves, ranging from leading worship to teaching their children,” Stone noted. Another fascinating element of Neither Fish nor Fowl is its depiction of the multilingual nature of the Riskind family business. Morris Riskind’s father, an immigrant from Russia, preferred Spanish over English since most of their clientele were Latino. The store operated in Spanish, English and even Yiddish with some Mexican-American employees learning Yiddish to communicate privately with the management. Stone’s meticulous editorial work involved reorganizing the manuscript’s structure, restoring Morris’s original voice and adding a scholarly framework to make the memoir accessible to a broad audience. “A previous editor had altered a lot of Morris’ language, but Peter and I agreed it was critical to restore his authentic voice,” he said. The Riskind family has responded enthusiastically to the book’s publication. “Peter and his family had wanted this book to be published for years,” said Stone. “I think it means a lot to them that Morris’ wish was finally fulfilled.” Stone emphasizes that his research enriches his teaching. “The study of history is boundless,” he said. “It’s important for students to understand that history extends infinitely beyond what we cover in class.” Stone has earned numerous awards for his research and teaching work, including the 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. Stone says he’s been fortunate to receive a lot of recognition recently. “We have such an excellent faculty at Del Mar College—my own colleagues in History and Social Sciences are the best anywhere—and to be singled out for attention from among that group is unexpected, probably undeserved and extremely gratifying,” he said. “So much of the work related to research and writing is solitary,” he added. “Even as teachers, we’re rarely seen doing our thing by anyone except our own students. It means everything to be noticed, to have colleagues, administrators and staff recognize me for the work I’ve tried hard for a long time to learn to do well. I have enormous respect and appreciation for my colleagues, and their respect for me means the world.” 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. He also edited Memories of Two Generations: A Yiddish Life in Russia and Texas.
