OUTSTANDING EL PASO HIGH EX - MARY JO MELBY

OUTSTANDING EL PASO HIGH EX - MARY JO MELBY

MARY JO PONSFORD MELBY Resume Mary Jo Ponsford Melby is a fifth generation Texan and a third generation El Pasoan. Her great, great grandparents Rebecca and Henry Hester Robertson arrived in our state by covered wagon in the 1800's and settled in Whitesboro, a small community north of Dallas. Her great grandfather, Calvin Simpson, served as mayor of Whitesboro for several terms and her other great grandfather, Silas B. Cowell was elected Texas State Senator from Grayson County for two terms. He was appointed by Governor Pat Neff as the first Chairman ofthe Board of Controls of Texas. Governor Neff also appointed Senator Cowell to chair a five member committee charged with determining the location for Texas Tech College (later University). Senator Cowell's wife, Mary Florence Cowell was the "Mother of P.E.O. Sisterhood" in Texas having organized Chapter A in Whitesboro in 1902. She later became the first president ofP.E.O. 's State Chapter. P.E.O. is an organization that promotes higher education for women both in the United States and internationally. Arriving in El Paso in 1897, the Ponsford family became pioneer contractors and built many historic homes and buildings in the region. Kate and H.T. Ponsford had nine children and all nine lived and worked in El Paso all of their lives. Mary Jo's grandfather, H.T. Ponsford was joined by his five sons in the family firm. All four daughters became teachers. H.T. Ponsford and Sons were the General Contractors for the Plaza Theatre as well as the Sun Bowl football stadium. They worked closely with the pioneer architect Henry Trost whose designs they greatly admired. Mary Jo and her late husband Everett Melby both graduated from the University of Texas in Austin as did their three children Kinn Melby, Kathy Melby and Vicki Melby. Mary Jo received a Bachelor of Science degree in Interior Design from the University of Texas in 1963. An avid Longhorn fan, Mary Jo had the good fortune to be born on March 2nd, Texas Independence Day. EDUCATION Coldwell Grade School - First Grade Mesita Grade School- Graduated in 1954 El Paso High School- Graduated in 1958 University of Texas, Austin Graduated in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Interior Design Mary Jo represented the Woman's Club ofEl Paso in the 1959 Sun Carnival Court and the American Association of University Women in the Fabens Cotton Festival.

Area: Central / El Paso High

Source: El Paso Baseball Hall Of Fame 2

Uploaded by: [email protected]

Comments

Add a comment
Thank you for your comment

Report this entry

Choose the most important reason for this report

Your name

Your email address

Optional detail

Thank you for your report

More from the same community-collection

Annual Sun Bowl Parade - 1952

The Sun Bowl was chartered in 1934 making it the second oldest ...

Annual Sun Bowl Parade - 1951

The Sun Bowl was chartered in 1934 making it the second oldest ...

Annual Sun Bowl Parade - 1950

The Sun Bowl was chartered in 1934 making it the second oldest ...

Annual Sun Bowl Parade - State National Bank - 1948

The Sun Bowl was chartered in 1934 making it the second oldest ...

Annual Sun Bowl Parade - State National Bank - 1942

The Sun Bowl was chartered in 1934 making it the second oldest ...

Annual Sun Bowl Parade - 1940

The Sun Bowl was chartered in 1934 making it the second oldest ...

Annual Sun Bowl Parade - State National Bank - 1939

The Sun Bowl was chartered in 1934 making it the second oldest ...

Annual Sun Bowl Parade - State National Bank - 1938

The Sun Bowl was chartered in 1934 making it the second oldest ...

First Carnival Parade -1936

The Sun Bowl was chartered in 1934 making it the second oldest ...

Sun Bowl Parade-1970-Second Prize-Commercial

The Sun Bowl was chartered in 1934 making it the second oldest ...

Annual Sun Bowl Parade - State National Bank - 1969

The Sun Bowl was chartered in 1934 making it the second oldest ...

Annual Sun Bowl Parade

The Sun Bowl was chartered in 1934 making it the second oldest ...

Annual Sun Bowl Parade - 1966

The Sun Bowl was chartered in 1934 making it the second oldest ...

Annual Sun Bowl Parade - 1962

The Sun Bowl was chartered in 1934 making it the second oldest ...

Annual Sun Bowl Parade - 1992

1992 Sun Queen. Kristen Brown-and -Lady in waiting.

Annual Sun Bowl Parade - 1992

Annual celebration draws many participants. Sgt. Major James and ...

Annual Sun Bowl Parade - 1992

El Paso police take part in the parade celebration.

Maj. Gen. John Little

Ft. Bliss Maj. Gen. John Little

El Paso High

El Paso High School is the oldest operating high school in El ...

Commanding General James Maloney

Ft. Bliss Commanding General James Maloney

Sun Bowl Parade

The Sun Bowl Parade is on its 78th it started as holiday ...

Children of Mr. and Mrs. C.S. Hill - El Paso, Texas

Children of Mr. and Mrs. C.S. Hill--on Wyoming Street - 1916.

House in El Paso around 1910

A woman is sitting on the fence of her porch. The location of ...

home.search_collection