About

A group of retired teachers met March 21, 1979, to organize the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Retired Teachers Association. Officers elected were President: Norman White; Secretary-Treasurer: Mary Lanham, Historian: Verta Miller, and Parliamentarian: Dan Maddalun. The main business throughout this time was recruitment of members. Meetings were held in the Board room of the H-E-B school administration Building, with only a small group attending. Minutes show meetings through October, 1980.

After six years of inactivity, reorganization was begun. Available records show charter members were Wilhelmina Gladden, Lennijo Blair, Gayle and Rebecca Sebastian, Lou Dodson, Barbara Hardman, Gloria Binion, Lou Farris, Jo Smith, Norman White, Bob and Mildred Smith, Joe Waller, Doris Wren, Mary Lanham, Dan Maddalun, and Verta Miller. September 22, 1986, the first meeting of the reorganized unit was held in the Senior Citizens Building at Bedford Boys Ranch. Officers elected were President:

Wilhelmina Gladden, Vice-President: Lennijo Blair, Secretary: Lou Dodson, and Treasurer: Barbara Hardman. The membership steadily increased to 39 the first year.

In 1990 the name of the organization was changed to Hurst-Euless-Bedford Retired School Employees. The location for the meetings was changed to the Century Room in the Forest E. Watson Education Center in 1996. The move to the Lennijo Blair Room in the Pat May Center was made in January 2000. The present location for meetings is Room D3 in the Pat May Center. This unit has led a struggle to retain control of the Texas Teacher Retirement System with educators rather than with legislators. HEB RSE is recognized state-wide for efforts to gain better benefits for active personnel as well as for retired employees. With the leadership of Anna Nohavitza, Lennijo Blair, and John Henry Clanton, many other units across the state have joined in support. However, much is still to be accomplished by the united work of all members.