Mary Lou Hughes Matlock

Mary Lou had two older brothers and one younger sister, Carrie Hughes Puckett. She learned to sew, garden, cook, can, preserve, make jelly, jams and dry fruits. She joined the 4-H Club where she won many cash prizes including one of only 25 state Gold Star awards. She graduated as valedictorian at Harlton High School. Using prize money she had saved, she paid for her first semester of college at East Texas Baptist College and graduated valedictorian in August 1932. She entered SMU and graduated in August 1934, with a Bachelor of Arts and Science, a complete business course, requirements for pre-law and pre-med, permanent high school and elementary school certifications and five M awards in women’s intramurals.

She was given a contract for one-year cadet teaching with pay $40 per month the first semester and $50 the second. At the end of the year, she became a full time teacher for $100 per month. She continued her education earning a master’s degree from SMU with her thesis on Dr. George Washington Carver, whom she personally interviewed.

On November 10, 1943, in Dallas, Mary Lou married Joseph Dixon Matlock. They settled in Newport News, Virginia, where Dixon served in the army’s embarkation center. As a WWII army wife, Mary Lou called on families of wounded or dead soldiers to explain the services provided by the army, joined the Grey Ladies to help serve coffee and doughnuts to debarking and returning soldiers, rolled bandages five days a week and knitted scarves and mittens for soldiers. Mary Lou helped many Texans coming through feel welcome.

In 1947, the Matlocks came back to Texas where Dixon had a job teaching history at UT. Mary Lou substituted as substitute teachers were scarce. Dr. I. I. Nelson offered her a job teaching science at University Junior High. She requested math classes. During 12 years at UJH and 14 at Martin Junior High, Mary Lou mentored numerous student and young teachers including Penny Burleson Miller, Janie Maldonado, Glenda Hunt Black, Becky Maxey Shelton, Mary Louise Schawe, Ann Fallin Rogers and Marcia Hearon Lind. She also supervised graduate students and wrote “Classroom Control” to help student teachers with discipline.

Mary Lou was active with professional development. She attended local workshops, for three years was chairman of Texas Council of Teachers of Mathematics, attended National Council of Teachers of Mathematics meetings and was on programs of both. She presented to UT classes in person and on tape. Dr. Irby Carruth named her to his first Superintendent’s Council and she served many years leading to passing social security, negotiating salaries and getting paychecks before holidays. She spent many years on various legislative committees. As one of ten founders of the Austin Area Federal Teachers Credit Union, she proudly held passbook #3.

Mary Lou received lifetime memberships in PTA’s of four schools where she taught. She was a 50-year member of Alpha Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International and received the Chapter Achievement Award. She was a longtime member of Austin Retired Teachers Association and Texas Retired Teachers Association, the University Ladies Club and its travel and stitchery groups, the Optimistic Garden Club, and the American Association of University Women.

She received her first camera in 1933 and presented hundreds of slide shows for Austin groups. She served on the board of the Senior Citizens Center and organized the Arm Chair Travel Group. She was awarded the Senior Working for Seniors Award.

Mary Lou touched many lives in a positive way. She thoroughly enjoyed her 90th birthday party attended by 200 friends.

Mary Lou is survived by nieces and nephews; Jane Gore (Don), Walter Saunders, Jr. (Mary Lelia), Ouida Smith, Steve Smith (Alice), Stan Smith, Mike Gregory (Delaney), Phillip Mitchell (Diane) and Marcella Houston (Ken) and numerous great nieces and nephews.

Special thanks to Dr. Laura Guerrero and to longtime friends Tom & Marie Brown, Julie & Eric Pastor, Glenda & Joe Black and Margaret Jensen.

A private family burial in Frost, Texas is planned. Memorials may be made to the Austin Retired Teachers Association Scholarship Foundation; Linda Harvey; 5602 Westminster Drive; Austin, TX 78723.