Welcome to Sokol Ennis

Unit Karel Havlíček Borovský (KHB)

Our thoughts and prayers are with those in West, Texas
A Relief Fund for those in West has been set up at Point West Bank.

As a show of support, the Southern District of the American Sokol, of which Sokol West is an integral part, is establishing an account for donations. Please consider donating to the following:

AS Southern District Sokol West Fund
c/o Libbie Vrla
4416 Westdale Court
Ft. Worth, TX 76109-4928

All checks should be made out in the same manner: AS Southern District Sokol West Fund. And as a friendly reminder - Sokol West is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and all donations are tax deductable.

Sokol Ennis is a non-profit membership organization exclusively for charitable and educational purposes that offers a gymnastic program that is designed for any age and volleyball for ages 12 and up.  It was recognized as the first gymnastics club in Texas and celebrated 100 years in 2008.

Most of our gymnastic staff is made up of parents who volunteer their time and energy to help teach and carry on the Sokol traditions. Our instructors are safety certified through USA Gymnastics as well as the American Heart Association.

Through our gymnastics program, gymnasts learn hand/eye coordination, motor skills, balance, self discipline and respect for themselves as well as respect for others.

We provide a positive, safe, and fun environment.

Sokol Ennis has a 30,000 square foot activity center located two miles east of downtown Ennis on Highway 34 (East Ennis Ave).  It is home to a Czech Museum and Library, where artifacts range from ancient local photos of early Czech-American history to authentic Czech costumes, and the uniforms of local Czech-Americans who fought valiantly for their new homeland.  It is also home to the Sokol Tyrš Pool, equipped with an Olympic-size and a children's swimming pool.  The Sokol Activity Center also has a clubroom where members can socialize and share fellowship.

Sokol Ennis can also be followed on www.facebook.com/Sokol-Ennis.

Work for the common interest and improvement of the Americans of Czech and Slovak descent in the United States of America and to safeguard their good name.

Maintain in suceeding generations an interest in Czech and Slovak cultural life in the United States of America.

Support the learning of the Czech language and culture.

Promote the preservation of the traditions of democracy.

Work and cooperate with the Česká Obec Sokolská (ČOS) and other Sokol organizations worldwide in all their social and athletic activities.

Work and cooperate with the World Sokol Federation.

Cooperate with Sokols around the world to provide for the physical and moral training of all members in accordance with the Sokol principles of Miroslav Tyrš, Doctor of Philosophy and Founder of the Sokol movement.

Quotation

"Whatever is Czech is also Sokol..." - Miroslav Tyrš (Sokol founder)

Our Namesake

Karel Havlíček Borovský was born on October 31, 1821, in Borova in Southeastern Bohemia, near Německého, Brodu. Living during a period of Czech and Slovák revival, he came to be a fearless journalist and the political leader of the younger generation.

He began writing as early as grammar school when he started composing poems in German and in Czech. He made a great effort to learn the Czech language thoroughly, despite the German surroundings of his youth and the Slovák influence in the area. After studying philosophy in grammar school, he decided to be a priest.

Beginning in his studies for the priesthood in a seminary in Prague, Havlíček became disillusioned with some of the professors and students and spent most of his time studying history instead. He was eventually suspended. Although his father wanted him to become a lawyer, Karel preferred to be a grammar school teacher.

Havlíček continued, however, to think of a career in journalism. As Havlíček expanded his journalistic work, he edited various Czech papers and kept working for the right of the Czech Language to be spoken in the schools and in public. He stressed the Slavic tongue and culture. Fighting for freedom of the press, he expressed his feelings for everyone to be given free voting power, and also expressed his knowledge and ideas about religion.

In December 1851, the police captured Havlíček and carried him to jail in the little town of Tyrolean, in Brixen where he remained a prisoner for the next three and a half years. He was released in 1855, after promising to give up all his political and literary work. Returning to Německého, he died of tuberculosis one year later on July 29, 1856. His funeral was held in Prague and was a national mourning.

Historians have called Karel Havlíček Borovský a brave man, without fear and shame, a true Czech, and one of the most knowledgeable and best like characters that the Czech land has born. Czech esteem and affectionate regard for him can be compared to the American love for Abraham Lincoln. Havlíček’s services for his nation were of the same value.