Fort Worth author Dr. J’Nell Pate will speak on her new book, Arsenal of Defense: Fort Worth’s Military Legacy, at the W.K. Gordon Center for Industrial History in Thurber at 2:30 p.m. Sept. 16.

Pate, who taught history for 32 years at Tarrant County College, has written 10 books, several of which focus on Fort Worth history. She also shares her knowledge through a weekly column that she has written for her hometown Azle News every week since June 1968.

Pate’s books cover such areas as the early history of North Fort Worth, the growth of the regional cattle industry, and the Fort Worth’s Boys Club.

Though Fort Worth is mostly recognized for its “cow town” beginning, another legacy, that of a military town, grew from the “aviation age.” In her latest book, Pate traces how World War II became a driving force behind Fort Worth’s transformation from the largest livestock market in the U.S.to the hub of war preparedness and the development of its immense military aviation industries.

Dr. Pate’s free public program will be followed by a book signing.

The W.K. Gordon Center, a museum and research facility of Tarleton State University, is located at exit 367 on Interstate 20 midway between Fort Worth and Abilene. Motorists from the west should leave I-20 at exit 363 to avoid construction delays. Regular hours for the center are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 1 to 4 p.m. on Sundays.