Austin American-Statesman METRO STATE Tuesday, April 3, 2007 B5 Eight winners will be named din May pocket Word Fl AlphoR teach Nests, In the Rain it EVERYONE Larry Kolvoord AMERICAN-STATESMAN Teacher Debra Hurst had two treats waiting for her H-E-B award finalist. She is circled by kindergartat Joe Dan Mills Elementary on Monday: newly ners, from left, Mia Moore, Chad Mingaine, Max hatched baby chicks and $1,000 check for being an Wurth, Simoon Saiyaed and Diane Shan. Funerals and Memorials Death notices and obituaries online at statesman.com/obituaries. Marjorie Ann (Logan) Williams Marjorie Ann (Logan) Williams, long time citizen of the world, loving mother, grand-mother and greatgrandmother and bon vivant passed from this world to the next on March 24, 2007 after a long battle with emphysema (acquired from smoking). Born September 1, 1924 to Juanita Robson and John A Logan of LaGrange, Texas she was a hard driving and stubborn lady from the start.
She graduated from LaGrange High School in 1941 as Valedictorian and went on to the University of Texas; receiving her B.A. in 1945 with not Francis one, but four: majors: government, history (both life-long interests), economEugene "Gene" Pereira ics and Spanish. She graduated Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa and Francis Eugene "Gene" Pereira was a member of the Orange Jackets, Mortar Board and other honorary, mu- went suddenly to meet his Heavenly sic and literary societies. Father on March 31, 2007, one month Life in Austin being too pedantic, she went on to take a job with Eastern before his 83rd birthday. Left to cherAirlines and worked as a stewardess (the old name for a Flight Attendant) be- ish his memory is his wife of 58 fore deciding that while traveling was exciting, it was not mentally fulfilling.
years, Dorothy Marie Scoggins She saw an ad for a stock broker training school while working at the Statler Pereira. He is also survived by his Hotel in Washington, D.C. and applied. She was accepted but noticed that at daughters Katherine Hansen (John) that time, women were not allowed on the floor of the NYSE. She went of San Marcos, Janet Sweezey (Alan) straight to managing partner, Winthrop Smith (of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fen- of Houston, Nancy Milliken (Carl) ner and Beane) who took it to board and after the completion her of Plano, Diane Zapata (Edgar) of six-month training course, she lead the the first 9 women out onto the floor of the Friendswood, Donna Mackall (Jim) NYSE during trading hours (a first in the exchanges 150 year history).
of Norwich, VT; fourteen grandchilShe went to work in Detroit for Merrill Lynch and her first child, Philip dren, Jeremy (Crystal) and Meghan Cyrus Simpson, was born there in 1954 following her marriage to her, first Hansen, Evan and Ryan Sweezey, her Tod, Matt, and Kevin Modisette, husband, Sydney Simpson. Philip would be adopted by second husband and renamed John Williams following her return to Texas in Daniel, Jonathan, and Joel Zapata, 1955. She married her second Phillip husband, Dr. Edward Williams, II, in 1957 Meredith, Henry, Mikey, and Hillary Mackall; his sister, Mary Faith and they had two children together: Lucia Leigh Williams in 1957 and Bruce Tangney; and numerous nieces, Gilman Williams 1959. She was also the step-mother of Dr.
Williams' first son, Edward (Bill) Williams, Ill (born 1943). Ted preceded her in death in nephews, grandnieces and grand1970. nephews. Not content with the homemaker's role she began teaching in the LaGrange ents Theodore John Pereira Gene was predeceased by his parand Ann Independent School District in 1964. Initially Marge taught fifth grade but for Ellen Ryan Pereira, his two brothers the majority of her teaching career she was in High she taught Theodore John Pereira, Jr.
and WilSchool where economics, history and government. She was a life-long learner and returned liam and his to the University of Texas and obtained her M.A. in 1970. She fought for and Ryan Pereira, son Michael Wayne Pereira. successfully established the first academic lettering program at the High School.
She taught for 16 years resigning in protest in 1980 over unfair labor Gene was born April 22, 1924 in Corpus Christi, TX where he atpractices. and articles in tended College Academy High She was continually active in publishing editing numerous School. He attended St. Edwards "American Heritage" and the "Southwest Historical Quarterly" as and in 1948 well as being co-author of the textbook, "Texas: The Land and the She University, graduated from Texas A8I University with a was perhaps most proud of her High School students however, who published Past Present" which she edited. BBA and a major in accounting.
"Fayette County, Texas A8I is where he met his beauShe was also honored for these contributions as well as numerous activities tiful wife, Dorothy. He also earned in the community (secretary of the advisory council at Winedale, president of his Senior Residential Appraiser and the board of directors of the Fayette Heritage Museum and Archives, the Texas Real Estate Appraiser cersecretary-treasurer and president of the LaGrange Cemetery Association, es- tifications. Gene served in the US tablishing the first chapter of the DAR in Fayette County, establishing and Marine Corps during WWII from becoming president of the Hospital Auxiliary, co-chairman of the Fayette August 1943 to March 1947 as a County Historical Commission among many others) with the title: Woman of marksman with the 8th Marine the Year for 1978. Regionally she was program chair for the Texas State Regiment. He was wounded during Historical Association in that same year and was inducted into the combat at Tinian in the Northern international honor society of Delta Kappa Gamma.
Mariana Islands as part of the Her retirement from teaching was a great turning point in her career as Saipan Invasion and was honorably rather than sit and retire in the archives in LaGrange she decide to travel the discharged as a corporal. His combat world and did so in 1980 completing a circumnavigation in a little over 80 wounds made him eligible for the days. This perspective allowed her to see the next horizon however: Law Purple Heart. School. Ignoring all nay-sayers, she applied to and was accepted at all 7 schools Gene retired as the Chief Apin the State and entered the University of Texas in 1982, graduating in 1985.
praiser for Howard County; he also 1985 was a momentous year for Marjorie as she would not only pass the Bar farmed in Combes, TX; was emExam but would do so with a major head injury acquired during a taxi ployed as a Bankers Life Insurance accident in Austin! She would recover however and went to work for the Agent, was Chief Deputy Tax AssesTexas Legislative Council in 1986 leaving to work for a State Legislator in sor and then Tax Assessor in Harlin1988. She retired again in 1994 and moved to Laguna Hills, CA to Leisure gen; was Tax Assessor for the City of World. Port Lavaca and Port Lavaca ISD; was Appraiser of oil properties and She was not going to a sleepy immediately the: DAR real estate for Lathum and retirement however, she became Stultz in part of numerous clubs and activities at Leisure World including Dallas; and was Tax Assessor for (secretary and Regent), AAUW (American Association of University Women City of and Denison. ISD. (historian and Parliamentarian), Community Association, College Club, He Denison member of InternaMac-Users Group, UDC (United Daughters of the Confederacy), Colonial was a Rotary Dames, DRT (Daughters of the Republic of Texas) and Historical Society tional, the Society of Real Estate Appraisers, and Texas Association of (serving as Archivist).
School Assessors. Gene served as the For her service to these committees and Leisure World she was named "Lei- President of Texas School of Assessure Worlder of the Month" for October of 1999. Her service to the Archives sors Association and President of were recognized not by the society (Life Achievement Award, 2000) but West Texas Society of Real Estate also by an article on her activity from the LA Orange California County Senior Appraisers. edition (12-12-00). Finally in 1999 she ran for and was elected to the After retirement Gene volunteered Legislature (a shadow group composed entirely of seniors that proposes for the St.
Vincent DePaul Society as legislation of importance to seniors). a member of St. Catherine of Sienna She introduced two bills, one added seniors to the targeted populations for Catholic Church where he was an acenvironmental impact of new state programs, and policies and the second tive member of the parish for 17 required that the consumer guide to Cemetery purchases be years. He was also an avid bridge available by telephone, internet, computer and any other form of electronic player, participating in two different requests. The latter was enacted! She also served on the Orange County clubs.
His friends and family will Senior Citizens Advisory Council and was a member of the Legislative remember him as an intelligent, Committee. brave, honest, hard working, and lovAs her health gradually deteriorated, she returned first to her native Texas ing man, and a all will sorely miss him. and finally to Pennsylvania to a retirement home, St. Barnabus Villages where The viewing will be held from she was living at the time of her death. Not surprisingly, she was organizing p.m.
at All Faith's Funeral an archives for St. Barnabus Service, 4360 S. Congress Avenue on when she died! Margie is survived by her brother, Rev. Canon John A. Logan of Houston, Tuesday, April 3rd with the rosary at TX; her four children, Edward (Bill) T.
Williams, III, MD and his wife Janice 7:00 p.m. The funeral mass will be of Tampa, FL, John P. Williams, MD and his wife Valerie of Pittsburgh, PA, held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Lucia L. Williams, MD of Jacksonville, TX and Bruce G.
Williams of Colo- April 4th at St. Catherine of Sienna rado CO; nine grandchildren, Ian Williams of Tampa, FL, Allison Church, 4800 Convict Hill Road. InSprings, Shamblin and her husband Keith of Tampa, FL, Colin Williams and his wife terment will follow later in the week Maureen of Orlando, FL, Lauren Signorino of Jacksonville, TX, Brynna at Mont Meta Memorial Park in San Williams of Houston, TX, Alex Williams of Jacksonville, TX, Connor of Benito where Gene will be laid to rest Gibsonia, PA, Eleanor Williams of Jacksonville, TX, and Victoria Trott next to his son, Michael. In lieu of Gibsonia, PA; and two great-grandchildren, Kate C. and Reid Shamblin of flowers, donations may be made to Tampa FL.
the American Cancer Society or St. Flowers may be sent to Koenig-Strickland Funeral Home in LaGrange, TX, Edward's University Scholarship St. 78945 and donations will be accepted at a later date for an Fund under Gene's name. 208 W. Pearl educational fund to be set up in Marjorie's name.
If you wish to donate please send your name and contact information to Dr. John Williams, MD at 5004 Grove Ln, Gibsonia, PA, 15044. Viewing and funeral were held Saturday, March 31st with internment in LaGrange City Cemetery. Fl Continued from B1 only the adults I work with but the students," Deike said. "I am truly the luckiest principal in the world." Since H-E-B CEO Charles Butt created the Excellence in Education Awards in 2002 to recognize outstanding teachers, the program has awarded more than $2.5 million to educators statewide, said H-E-B spokeswoman Marcie Casas.
The program has grown to include principals and districts and is the largest monetary awards program of its kind in the state. Eight statewide winners will be announced at a dinner in Austin on May 7. Two principals will receive $10,000 in cash and $25,000 grants for their schools. Six teachers will receive cash prizes ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 with matching grants for their schools. H-E-B received more than 7,000 nominations this year.
After 2,000 educators returned applications explaining their experience, accomplishments and educational philosophies, the list was shortened to 223 semifinalists and then the 39 finalists. The finalists will interview with a team of judges in Austin in early May before the winners are chosen. In 2004, McCallum High School history teacher Jim Furgeson won $25,000 through the awards and gave the majority of his winnings to his sons for Nick Simonite AMERICAN-STATESMAN Teacher Tammy Phuong of McBee Elementary is one of five Austin and 39 finalists statewide. She is hugged by H-E-B repre- On statesman.com: See a video and photo gallery of all the teachers being honored with this story online. their college tuition.
The school used its grant for technology updates and, at Furgeson's urging, toward staff development such as teacher workshops. After Kristi Beall, then a bilingual teacher at Blanton Elementary School in Austin, won in 2002, she trained to be a yoga teacher and wrote a book of poetry, she said. 445-3851 The finalists The five Austin educators who are finalists for the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards: Mary Alice Deike, 58 Principal, Akins High School Deike has led the redesign of the school's curriculum to include academies where students can choose career-. oriented classes. Linda Webb, 45 Principal, Pillow Elementary School In a school where 65 percent of students are low-income, Webb wants her school's ethnically diverse population to know that the school is a source of support.
She shared her breast cancer diagnosis with students to show that it's important to help people through life's difficulties. Debra Hurst, Teacher, Joe Dan Mills Elementary School Hurst strives to develop a sense of community in her kindergarten class. Students are rewarded for random acts of kindness and work in groups at tables instead of individual desks in her classroom. David Journeay, 55 Teacher, LBJ High School Journeay, a science teacher, has filled his classroom with items from the many zoos, museums and labs he has visited. Tammy Phuong, 36 Teacher, McBee Elementary School Phuong organized schoolwide activities such as a science fair, a mystery fest and an international fest.
Source: H-E-B ARTS: Lawmakers considering ways to increase Texas' cultural funding Continued from B1 Launched in 2001 by the private, independent Texas Cultural Trust Council, the Texas Medal of Arts is presented in odd-numbered years, when the Legislature meets in Austin. Conceived as a Lone Star version of the Kennedy Center Honors, the medal was created, council officials said, to recognize the career achievements of Texas artists and to shine a needed spotlight on the importance of the arts. "We want to highlight how the arts are just so much more than a final product," said Amy Barbee, executive director of the council. "They're about leveraging and inspiring creative people and creative industries of all kinds." Past medal winners have included actor Fess Parker, dancer Debbie Allen and musicians Willie Nelson and Lyle Lovett. Arts educators and philanthropists have also been recognized.
The trust council began in $1995 as a nonprofit corporation Steven D. Ruzicka Steven D. Ruzicka of Washington, D.C. died on Thursday, March 29, 2007, after an eleven month battle with cancer. He was fifty years old.
Mr. Ruz- icka lived in Austin from 1987 to 1994 during which time he was the admissions director at St. Stephens Episcopal School. He will be fondly remembered by his many friends and colleagues in Austin who will miss his optimism, larger than life personality, sense of humor, personal ethics and strong commitment to excellence in education. Mr.
Ruzicka was born on April 20, 1956 in Silver, Lake, Minnesota and raised on his family's near by dairy farm. After graduating from college at Minnesota State University in Mankato, Minnesota, he worked in the field of education at St. Mary's University in San Antonio, St. Stephens in Austin and at the National Association of Independent Schools in Washington, D.C. He was employed at the time of his death as the Executive Director of The Association of Boarding Schools in Washington.
He had a keen interest in choral music and sang in the choir at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Washington for a number of years. He strongly believed that a liberal and enlightened education could help solve many of the world's problems by increasing the depth. of understanding and tolerance among the world's people. A Midwesterner to the core, Steve still loved Texas and returned to Austin as often as he could after moving Washington. He is preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Anna Ruzicka.
He is survived by his brothers, Roger Ruzicka and Dennis Ruzicka of Hutchinson, Minnesota, and Larry Ruzicka and Kevin Ruzicka of Silver Lake, Minnesota, his sister Dianne Ruzicka of Minnetonka, Minnesota, his friend Tony Borgia, many nieces and nephews, uncles and aunts, colleagues in the field of private education and close friends across the whole country. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or to the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 3513 Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20007. 2007 Texas Medal of Arts winners Walter Cronkite (lifetime achievement); Ornette Coleman (music); Sandra Brown (literary arts); Moroles (visual arts); Judith Ivey (theater); Bill Wittliff (multimedia); Paul Baker (arts education); Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (dance); Sid W. Richardson Foundation (foundation arts patron); Diana and Bill Hobby (individual arts patrons); Neiman Marcus (corporate arts patron) to raise private donations to supplement the Texas Cultural Endowment Fund.
Created by the Legislature in 1993, the endowment originally aimed to raise $200 million, the interest from which would permanently fund the Texas Commission on the Arts. The trust council raised $3 million for the endowment, which now totals $14.3 million. Among the trust's efforts are the Young Masters Program, which awards scholarships to high school students. "Adventures in the Arts," a children's book, interactive CD and Web site, also generates income for the trust. In 2003, the Legislature, facing statewide budget deficits, froze distribution of the endowment interest.
In response, Barbee said, the trust stopped contributing its money directly to the endowment. It now gives directly to the Texas Commission on the Arts, the Texas Film Commission and the Texas Music Commission. Last year, the trust gave between $250,000 and $300,000, Barbee said. Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, has filed House Bill 399, which proposes to restore the arts commission's access to the interest earned by the endowment.
Other arts-related proposals being considered by the Legislature this session include Gov. Rick Perry's recommendation for a onetime investment of $29 million into the Texas Cultural Endowment Fund. According to the proposal, the infusion would increase the amount available for arts grants from $3.3 million to $5.5 million annually, based on 10 percent annual interest for the endowment, along with $1 million from the sale of special "State of the Arts" license plates. Perry also recommends transferring the arts commission's status to a trusteed program within his office. According to figures from the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, Texas' spending for the arts is 18 cents per resident, placing it last among the 50 states and behind five of the six U.S.
territories. The national median for state funding is more than five times that amount, 95 cents per resident. The arts commission said that the arts contribute more than $1 billion annually to the Texas economy, and the arts and cultural industry provides jobs for more than 60,000 Texans. 445-3699 DEATH NOTICES BLAGG, Gelene, 82, retired bookkeeper, of Austin died Monday. Services pending.
Arrangements by Wilke-Clay-Fish. BURKE, Thomas 65, retired computer programmer, of Georgetown died Sunday. Survived by wife Dona. Services pending. Arrangements by Georgetown.
COLLINS, Ruby, 74, pastor, of Austin died Saturday. Visitation 9 a.m. Wednesday, King-Tears Mortuary. Services 11 a.m. Thursday, Simpson United Methodist Church.
Burial Parks Cemetery, Pflugerville. DAHMER, John Helmuth, 78, retired Postal Service employee, of Round Rock died Monday. Services 2 p.m. Wednesday, Beck Funeral Home, Round Rock. FORTE, Mary 69, certified nurse's aide, of Austin died March 28.
Visitation 2 p.m. today, King-Tears Mortuary. Services 1 p.m. Wednesday, New Hope Baptist Church. Burial Mount Zion Cemetery, Urley.
Arrangements by -People's, Smithville. HYDE, David Clayton, 51, of Round Rock died Saturday. Survived by wife Carol. Visitation 6 p.m. Wednesday, Beck Funeral Home, Round Rock.
Services 2 p.m. Thursday, Beck. KAUFFROTH, Eloise, 84, retired registered nurse, of Eugene, formerly of Austin, died Thursday. Services 1 p.m. Wednesday, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1000 E.
Rutherford Lane. Burial Parks Cemetery, Pflugerville. Arrangements by CookWalden, Lamar location. MAGNUSON, Margaret Adele, 89, homemaker, of Manor died Sunday. Visitation 6 p.m.
today, Elgin Funeral Home, Elgin. Services 10 a.m. Wednesday, New Sweden Lutheran Church, Manor. Burial New Sweden Cemetery. MALONE, Billie Jo, 78, homemaker, of Austin died Friday.
Services 11 a.m. today, Wilke-Clay-Fish Funeral Home. Burial 1 p.m. Wednesday, Greenlawn Gardens, Port Lavaca. McFARLIN, Frankie Lee, 51, entertainer, of Austin died Sunday.
Services pending. Arrangements by Phillips-Upshaw Richard. POWELL, Manuel Joseph IV, 27, of Austin died Sunday. Services pending. Arrangements by FullerSheffield.
RIORDAN, Joseph Jude, 82, of Round Rock died Friday. Services pending. Arrangements by All Faiths, north location. VIOLET, William Craig, 50, smallengine mechanic, of Harwood died Saturday. Visitation 5 p.m.
today, O'Bannon Funeral Home, Luling. Services 10 a.m. Wednesday, O'Bannon. Burial Harwood Cemetery. WILSON, Lorraine, 92, homemaker, of Gause died Saturday.
Survived by husband Sylvan. Services 2 p.m. Wednesday, Gause Baptist Church. Arrangements by Phillips Luckey, Rockdale..
