Palm Valley Association of Retired School Personnel chapter was founded in 1969 as Hidalgo County Retired Teachers Association as a local unit of Texas Retired Teachers Association founded in 1953. The chapter meets monthly September through May. Luncheon meetings are held from 10:30am - 12:30pm.
Brief History
Palm Valley Association of Retired School Personnel was formerly Hidalgo County Retired Teachers Association. On May 26, 1969, the Hidalgo County Retired Teachers Association was formally organized at the First National Bank of McAllen at 2:30pm. State President-elect Juanita DePue installed the officers, and Mayor Whetsel of McAllen was made an honorary member of the Hidalgo County Retired Teachers Association.
Installed as the first officers and serving as Chapter Members of the Hidalgo County Retired Teachers Association were: Alba Anderson, President; Ruth Mongan, Vice-President; Elsie Graham, secretary; and Nora Wilmer, treasurer. Zara V. Thigpen, Ada Cairns, Beulah Morris, Victor Fields, and Elizabeth Chenoweth were chapter members also.
Meeting were held on the first Thursday of the month at Luby's Cafeteria on the east side of South Tenth in McAllen. Dues at that time were as follows: $2.00 (Local), $1.00 (State), $2.00 (Texas State Teachers Association), and $2.00 (National Retired Teachers Association).
Past Presidents
Alba Anderson...................1969-70 Bertha D. Garcia................1995-97 Maggie Gonzalez................2019-2021
Lola Barnhart......................1970-72 Maudie Finney...................1997-99 ...........................................................2021-23
Nora Wilmer........................1972-74 Ricardo Chapa..............1999-2001 Margaret Rose Guerra.....2023-2025
Grace Brown........................1974-76 Dorinda Van Burkleo.....2001-03
Margaret Small...................1976-78 Ann Brant............................2003-05
Lola Barnhart......................1978-80 Dorothy Lee Pope............2005-06
Arline Neal...........................1980-82 Gordon M. Taylor.............2006-08
Kay Derrick..........................1982-84 Yvonne Hylander..........2008-Dec
Estella Cuellar.....................1984-86 Carmen G. Garza..........2009-May
Nell Eblen.............................1986-88 Ofelia G. Estevis.................2009-11
Marie Gibson......................1988-90 Ann Foerster.........................2011-13
Elena Barrera.....................1990-92 Karen Kinerk........................2013-15
James A. Jones....................1992-94 Chiqui Guerra.......................2015-17
Bertha C. Garcia...............1994-Dec Hilda De Shazo.....................2017-18
Sidney F. Ford.......................1994-95 ................................................2018-2019