Notable SHSU Alumni

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Mary Emma Chambers, courtesy of UTSA Special Collections

Katie Rose Clarke

Melinda L. Estes

Nota le Wo en fro SHSU

As indicated from those featured in this issue, we have a long and proud history of women who have created a great name for themselves and a great name for Sam Houston State. Here are even more notable female Bearkats. Jan Adams (1975), in1993, was appointed commanding officer of Naval Station Pascagoula, becoming the Navy’s youngest female ever to command a naval station and the only in the U.S. Navy in command of an operational naval station. Her military awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, two awards of the Navy Meritorious Service Medal, three awards of the Navy Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Ribbon and the Sharpshooter Pistol Qualification.

Mary EmmaChambers (1890), along with her husband, Caleb, served as missionary-teachers among the Alabama-Coushatta Indians from 1899 until their retirement in 1936. The work of the husband-wife team went far beyond the usual responsibilities of a pastor or teacher. They worked with government and socialwelfare groups in improving conditions on the reservation. During their tenure, a new school and a hospital were built, and federal and state funds were appropriated to purchase more land.

Katie Rose Clarke (2005), currently holds the record for the longest-running actress to play the role of Glinda in “Wicked” on Broadway. She has also appeared in “Miss Saigon,” “The Light in the Piazza” and “Allegiance.” Her TV work includes roles on “NCIS: New Orleans,” “Relevant,” “The Good Wife” and “Submissions Only.”

Melinda L. Estes, MD (1974), has served as president and CEO of Saint Luke’s Health System (based in Kansas City) since 2011. Estes previously served as president and CEO of Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, Vermont. Before that, chief medical officer and CEO of Cleveland Clinic Florida. Prior to her administrative leadership roles, she was as a practicing neurologist and neuropathologist. Modern Healthcare recognized Estes as one of its 50 Most Influential Physician Executives and Leaders.

Carolyn Faulk (1970), was recognized in ’08 and ’10 when Forbes Magazine called her one of the strongest businesswomen in Houston. In ’95, Ernst & Young named her “Entrepreneur of the Year.” Faulk is the founder/owner of Houston-based A&C Plastics, one of the largest single plastics distributor in the U.S., with annual sales exceeding $21 million. She was named one of the Houston Business Journal’s “Women Who Mean Business.” During the COVID health crisis, Faulk and her company were featured in the media for their tremendous work in quickly creating and providing protective gear to a variety of industries.

Carolyn Faulk

LaTonya Goffney (1999, 2003, 2011), serves as superintendent of Aldine ISD, dedicating herself to more than 67,000 students and more than 9,000 employees of the district. She was named “Superintendent of the Year” by the Texas Association of School Boards. She was also selected as the Texas nominee for the “National Superintendent of the Year” award. Under her leadership, in 2020, Aldine ISD made the College Board’s AP® Honor Roll for the first time. In 2019, she was named a SHSU Distinguished Alumni.

Mia Gradney (1998), is a KHOU 11 evening news anchor in Houston. She started her television career as a writer and production assistant for abc13 KTRK in 1998. In 2012, she joined KHOU. For over two decades, the Emmy award-winning journalist/producer has covered major events including: Tropical Storm Allison, Andrea Yates, Hurricane Katrina, the BP Oil Spill, Tax Day Floods, Josue Flores murder investigation, the Santa Fe school shooting, ITC chemical plant explosion and Hurricane Harvey. Viewers across America watched Gradney when was chosen to guest anchor nationally for CBS Weekend News on Easter weekend, 2020.

Mary Kate Hunter (1887), served as a delegate to the first annual meeting of the Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs in 1898 and organized a local chapter of the Women’s National Foundation in 1921 for the preservation and study of local history. She also founded and led the Fort Houston Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. A supporter of voting rights for women, Hunter organized and was the first President of the Palestine, TX Equal Suffrage Association, and held statewide office in the Texas Equal Suffrage Association in 1915-16. In addition to her civic duties, she also was a published poet, editor of a local society journal, and board member of the Texas State Library.

Lynne Liberato (1974), served as director and chairwoman of the State Bar of Texas and was the first woman president of the Houston Bar Association (’93-’94). She has argued before the United States Supreme Court and lobbied Congress. In 2017, she represented the NFL during the Houston Super Bowl. In 2019, Liberato was named a commissioner on the Texas Legislature’s Judicial Selection Commission. In addition to her legal work, she was chair of the United Way Hurricane Harvey Recovery Taskforce.

LaTonya Goffney

Mia Gradney

Mary Kate Hunter

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Dedication of Charlie M. Noble Planetarium, Fort Worth Children’s Museum; Charlie M. Noble explains projector to J. Lee Johnson Jr., museum president, and Mrs. Edwin T. Phillips, president of Fort Worth Junior League, 12/19/1949. (1949). Courtesy of Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection, University of Texas at Arlington Libraries. Retrieved from https://library.uta.edu/ digitalgallery-beta/img/10010485

Marilyn McAdams Silbey served as the President of the Texas State Historiacl Association from 1981 to 1982. Courtesy of tshaonline.org Charlie MaryNoble (1887), dedicated 46 years to teaching high school mathematics before building a reputation for her work in astronomy education. During WWII, Noble taught a celestial navigation class for U.S. Navy officer trainees. In 1947, she began teaching an astronomy course at Texas Christian University and organized a Junior Astronomy Club at the Fort Worth Children’s Museum. In 1954, she received the Altrusa Civic Award as the “First Lady of Fort Worth” for stimulating interest of astronomy in young people. She also became the first woman to receive the Astronomical League’s annual award for her advancement of astronomical knowledge. In 1955, the museum’s planetarium was dedicated to her.

Mary Francis Park (1944, BA, MS), After earning two degrees from SHSU and a Doctor of Education from the University of Houston, Mary Parks returned to her hometown; dedicating 25 years as a SHSU professor of Education and a lifelong commitment to her community. While at Sam Houston, Park was the first woman to serve as chairperson of a university athletic conference when she headed the Lone Star Conference. Her commitment to service earned her numerous acclaims. In 1982, she was named “Mother of the Year” for the state of Texas. The Huntsville Chamber of Commerce honored her with a Lifetime Achievement Award and Community Builder Award in recognition of distinguished service and personal contributions. Upon retirement, she received the prestigious Minnie Stevens Piper Teaching Award, which she used to establish a youth scholarship endowment at SHSU and the Mance Park Athletic Scholarship at Huntsville High School.

Trisha Pollard (1974), was appointed to the Texas State University System in 2007, serving six years. Gov. Rick Perry appointed her to a three-year term as a public member of the Texas One-Call Board in 2003. She also served as a director of the SHSU Alumni Association, as foreman of the Harris County Grand Jury for three terms and as chairman, Building and Standards Commission, for the City of Bellaire. Pollard’s professional career also includes almost 30 years in the oil and gas industry during which she served a term as the chair of the Houston Bar Association Oil and Gas Section.

Marilyn McAdams Sibley (1942), served as president of the Texas State Historical Association and authored articles in the Journal of Southern History and Southwestern Historical Quarterly. She authored eight books including “Travelers In Texas” (1967) and “Lone Stars and State Gazettes” (1983). Sibley received the Summerfield G. Roberts Award from the Sons of the Republic of Texas for the best book about Texas and the Piper Award for excellence in teaching.

Lala FayWatts (1899), was an American suffragette, temperance advocate, and labor activist. Watts was well known for leading multiple organized reform efforts in Texas. In 1918, she was named the state’s first child welfare inspector and first chief of the women’s division in the Texas Department of Labor. To investigate conditions of factory workers, Watts secured a job sewing overalls, joined the garment workers union and worked in the factory until her boss discovered she was an activist and fired her. Watts reported her findings back to the Texas Legislature and recommended a series of reforms for working women and children. Her work led to the passage of 22 laws and amendments.

Mattie Lloyd Irvin Wooten (1914), is known as an early scholar of Texas women culture. In 1929, her thesis “The Roles of Pioneer Women in the Texas Frontier Community” was one of the first sociological studies of women on the Texas frontier. Her research explored the effects of frontier life on their roles in such realms as family, religion, education, business, and writing. She served as an instructor in sociology at Texas State College for Women (now Texas Woman’s University). She remained at the institution for 24 years, serving as associate professor, professor, director of the sociology department, dean of women, and dean of students.

Adina Emilia De Zavala (1881), was a prolific writer of Texas history and a preservationist. When she came to San Antonio in 1887, she formed the “De Zavala Daughters” organization dedicated to preserving Texas history. In 1893, the organization became a chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. De Zavala became known as the “savior of the Alamo” when she was propelled into the national spotlight by preventing part of the Alamo from being razed in the “Second Battle of the Alamo” during a lock-in protest. She was also instrumental in the conservancy of the Spanish Governor’s Palace, one of San Antonio’s earliest city preservation projects.★

Mattie Lloyd Irvin Wooten

Adina Emilia De Zavala earned a degree in education from the Sam Houston Normal Institute in Huntsville and in 1884 began teaching school. She is one of first Tejanas to earn a degree from a Texas college. Courtesy of The Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word Archives and the University of the Incarnate Word.