Texas DKG

These 12 Founders were Dr. Annie Webb Blanton, Austin, Texas; Miss Mamie Sue Bastian, Houston, Texas; Miss Ruby Cole, San Antonio, Texas; Miss Mabel Grizzard, Waxahachie, Texas; Dr. Anna Hiss, Austin, Texas; Miss Ray King, Fort Worth, Texas; Miss Sue King, Fort Worth, Texas; Dr. Helen Koch, Austin, Texas; Mrs. Ruby Terrill Lomax, Austin, Texas; Dr. Cora M. Martin, Austin, Texas; Mrs. Lalla M. Odom, Austin, Texas; and Miss Lela Lee Williams, Dallas, Texas. (All are deceased.)

The Founders believed that there was need for an organization in which women educators—rural and urban teachers; preschool, elementary, high school, college, and university teachers; librarians; school administrators; supervisors—might be united for efforts toward better professional preparation, recognition of women’s work in the teaching profession, and scholarships for those needing aid in improving their professional preparation. 

Pictured above, is The College Building in Edinburg, Texas where the Rho Chapter was founded on September 16-17, 1930.

RHO Chapter Founded 1930

​A local chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, national Greek letter honorary society in education was formed with 12 Edinburg school instructors as charter members in Edinburg, Texas in1930.

Dr. Annie N. Blanton and Miss Clara Parker of Austin arrived Saturday morning to officially install the chapter.  On Saturday morning on May 16th, 1930, a group of twelve women met in the college building in Edinburg and, under the direction of Dr. Blanton and Dr. Parker, organized Rho Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma.  Enola Shepperd, Ruth Reed and Nora Wilmer, then teaching in the Edinburg School District were three of this group.

Following installation, the following officers were elected:

• Miss John Petty, President

• Miss Enola Shepperd, 1st Vice President

• Mrs. M. C. Lubbock 2nd Vice President

• Mrs. Douglass McKenzie, Recording Secretary

• Miss Nora Wilmer, Corresponding Secretary

• Mrs. Lillian Reitz, Parliamentarian

• Miss Ruth Reed, Keeper of Records

Other members of the organization were Miss Faye Bible, Miss Jewell Barron, Miss Charlotte Tompkins, and Mrs. Kathleen Hawley.

​The convention lasted two days, May 16-17, 1930.  The first Rho Chapter president was Miss John Petty.

 Introduction to RHO Chapter Members

All the twelve charter members of RHO Chapter taught in Hidalgo County during the years of 1925 through 1929.  Most of the charter members came to the Valley from neighboring states—although two were Valleyites—and most of them were from Edinburg Schools.

There was a simple explanation for this:  Dr. Annie Webb Blanton wrote to eight superintendents of schools asking for their recommendations for membership and only four responded.  Some who were recommended declined membership.  It was then that Dr. Blanton asked Miss John Petty, who was teaching Education courses in Edinburg Junior College at the time, to make recommendations, and so she selected only Edinburg teachers.  How very fitting for Miss Petty to be RHO Chapter’s first President 1930-31.

First RHO Meeting

The Rho Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma met in first regular session on September 27, 1930 at 9:00 AM in the Music Room of the Sam Houston School.  Nine responded to roll call.  The President extended greetings to the members after the long summer vacation.  Congratulatory letters from several sister letters from several sister chapters and state officials were read.