Five “Women of Distinction” were honored by the Girl Scouts of Central Texas as having made significant contributions to the community and having served as role models for all of their members, girls and adults alike, showing them that with hard work and perseverance, anything can be accomplished.
Girl scouting affects the lives of many girls in a positive way. One such girl, Lilly, a 17-year-old Texas Youth Commission student gave her story and how with the help of girl scouting, she changed from a violent offender charged with aggravated assault to “becoming a much better person”, a successful Girl Scout.
“TYC has taught me many things, but Girl Scouts actually taught me how to use them for the best of others and myself,” stated Lilly. “When I am released, I would still like to be a Girl Scout, to help girls and boys to realize the good things that girl scouts has to offer.”
The Ron Jackson unit is the only TYC facility in Texas that has a Girl Scout troop. Maricela Cantu and Juanita Arriaga lead the Girl Scouts at TYC.
The Girl Scouts of Central Texas Women of Distinction are featured in the April edition of Texas Monthly magazine. Biographies of the ladies honored are below:
Delsie Ary
Delsie was born in Boswell, Oklahoma, but moved to Andrews, Texas when she was two years old. She graduated from Andrews High School where she was an active member of the newspaper and annual staff. In 1956, Delsie’s mustang drawing for the yearbook cover contest was chosen as the official school mascot. Today, a statue of that mustang still stands in front of the school.
After graduating, Delsie attended cosmetology school and started her own beauty salon, Delsie’s Salon of Beauty, which she owned for 15 years. She also worked as an antiques dealer where she traveled and sold antiques at shows throughout the U.S.
A second generation Girl Scout leader, Delsie’s strong faith and desire to help others makes her a well-respected volunteer at the Blanket Methodist Church. She is passionate about teaching Sunday school and sees that children get to church, even when their parents don’t attend. Delsie is also an active member of the Good Samaritan Ministries and Emmaus, a Methodist Christian organization. Her volunteer work includes working with prisons and state schools to help others recognize and strengthen their Christian faith.
Dr. Athena Bean
Athena was born in Illinois, but grew up in New York and San Antonio, Texas. She graduated from Holmes High School in San Antonio and attended college at Baylor University, earning her bachelor’s degree in Latin and English. Athena continued her education at Tarleton State University where she earned her Master of Education, and eventually returned to Baylor to earn her Doctorate of Education. She currently runs a private counseling practice, Athena Bean Counseling Service, and works as a university counselor and Assistant Professor of Psychology at Howard Payne University.
Athena has served on many boards including Texas Youth Commission, Youth and Adolescent Program and Court-Appointed Special Advocates (C.A.S.A). She also volunteers with a variety of organizations including United Way, the Educational Improvement Council, the Youth and Adolescent Program, and Coleman County Literacy Council. Athena is a dedicated worker who loves being around young people and helping them achieve a better life.
Athena’s most recent achievement was receiving Howard Payne University’s Excellence in Teaching Award two years in a row.
Debbie Hagood
Debbie was born in Columbus, Mississippi but moved to Dumas, Arkansas at a young age after her parents passed away. She graduated from Dumas High School and attended college at the University of Arkansas at Monticello where she studied elementary education. Today, Debbie works as a science teacher in Early Independent School District.
Debbie is a dedicated volunteer who thrives on helping others. For the past four years, she has demonstrated outstanding commitment to foster children through the nonprofit child advocacy program, C.A.S.A. Losing her parents at a young age allowed Debbie to understand and empathize with foster care children in her community. She also volunteers with numerous organizations including the American Heart Association, March of Dimes and Early ISD Decision Making Committee.
In 2007, Debbie was awarded the Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year Award for Brown County. She was chosen for her outstanding contribution to education, her positive impact on students, and her strong leadership skills. Debbie was also recognized by Early ISD in 2009 for her hard work in developing a Regional Science Fair.
Barbara Stewart
Barbara was born and raised in Central Texas and graduated from May High School, located 30 miles from Brownwood, Texas. Although recently retired, she continues to stay busy as a dedicated volunteer in her local community. Those who know her best describe Barbara as a selfless volunteer who will enthusiastically lend a helping hand to an organization in need.
For the past 38 years, Barbara has been a Board member of the Brown County Fair Association. Each year, she dedicates her time and talent to setting up the rodeo, stock show and auction for the local community. Barbara also spent 16 years on the Early School Board and served on the Early Economic Development board and as an Ambassador for the Early and Brownwood Chambers of Commerce. She is a member of the Brownwood Woman’s Club and was instrumental in getting the Boys & Girls Club started in Brownwood.
After two careers and raising a family, Barbara lives her philosophy of life by setting a high moral standard and living up to it.
Vi Williams
Vi was born in Fargo, but grew up in Jamestown, North Dakota. She graduated from Jamestown High School and attended Northwestern College in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Always willing to help others, Vi spent 35 years working as a nurse. She worked at the Brownwood Regional Medical Center for many years before starting a private practice as a camp nurse. Although she retired from nursing in 2000, she continued her service to patients by spending 9 years volunteering for the hospital’s auxiliary club.
Vi’s Christian faith and thoughtfulness led her to the Good Samaritan Ministries, in which she participated for eleven years. A mentor in the Christian Women’s Job Corp for four semesters, Vi continues to teach Sunday school at her local Church.
Vi’s passion for helping under privileged children motivates her to help with Operation Christmas Child, a Samaritan’s Purse organization that collects and delivers gift-filled shoe boxes to children around the world. For 20 years, she provided warmth and comfort to needy children in the community by knitting handmade sweaters.
Landmark Life Insurance
Landmark Life Insurance, one of America’s most respected and fastest growing life insurance companies, has been reliant on a predominantly female workforce since its inception in 1965. Over the years, many women have dedicated a significant portion of their lives to ensure the company’s success. Landmark Life acknowledges their continuing importance to the company by providing them with an accommodating workplace that is responsive to their needs. Encouraging women to learn and grown while working is an important philosophy at Landmark. Not only does it make the female workforce more valuable and upwardly mobile, it also gives them a sense of ownership and pride in their job.
Landmark attributes their profitability and continued success to sole focus on life insurance, as well as their workforce of adaptive, creative and responsible employees. Pictured above is Tom Munson.
Emcee Lynn Humeniuk read several statistics regarding the impact that girl scouting has on its participants:
Out of every 100 girls who join Girl Scouts:
- 12 will have their first contact with a church
- Only rarely will one be brought before juvenile court
- 1 will enter the clergy
- 18 will develop hobbies used during their adult life
- 8 will enter a vocation that was learned through the badge on the patch program
- 1 will use her girl scouting skills to save a life
- 1 will use her girl scouting skills to save her own life
Humeniuk pointed out that this was a “pretty good return on investment” of time spent with girl scouting.
