I went back to the University of Texas in 1982 and took a series of courses in creative writing, journalism and editing. Around the middle of that 18-month period, I passed a test and joined the staff of the Daily Texan, UT’s student newspaper. There was an orientation session in a large, circular classroom adjacent to the undergraduate library, and one of the key speakers was Margaret Berry. She gave such a splendid presentation about UT history that I called her up on the phone soon thereafter and introduced myself. Thus began an edifying friendship that is now going on 30 years.
Margaret was born in 1915 in Dawson, Texas, a town of about 900 residents. Co-valedictorian of her high school, she turned down a scholarship to Baylor University and chose to enroll at UT. Because she has done so much in her long life, I have to summarize here—which inevitably means leaving out some interesting and pertinent facts. After graduation in 1937, Margaret taught elementary school, served as dean of women at East Texas State University and got a Ph.D. at Columbia; her dissertation was about student life and customs at UT over its first 50 years. She returned to Austin in 1961 and was part of the faculty or administration until her “retirement” in 1980.
Numerous books were penned, perhaps most notably The University of Texas: A Pictorial Account of its First Century. I was pleased to edit two of her books. Scholarships have been given in her name, and a long list of honors culminated in her being chosen one of UT’s Distinguished Alumni in 1996. I hope it is not cynical to state that quite a few of the winners of the Distinguished Alumni award are rich people, those who have made and given lots of money to the university. That does not apply to Margaret. She was among the honorees who were picked because of what they had done. Furthermore, I would submit that she deserved to be so honored well before '96.
An excellent public speaker, she was constantly asked to come and talk to groups big and small. Margaret had a hard time saying no, and when I told her she should be paid for her services she would not hear of it. I was present at the Arboretum Hotel when she was named Austin’s Most Worthy Citizen of 2005. Her acceptance speech was predictably eloquent and gracious.
She and I have shared many meals at restaurants around the UT campus, in northwest Austin and most recently at Westminster Manor, the high-class retirement home where she lives. The conversation never lags with this lady. She stays well informed about topics local and global. One of the things I most admire about Margaret is her desire to keep learning, regardless of her age. She is always reading a book if not two or three of them. A few weeks ago, I inquired as to what she was reading, and she promptly replied: José Antonio Navarro—In Search of the American Dream in Nineteenth-Century Texas by David McDonald.
I would say that at age 96, Margaret Berry has lived a full and rich life, adapting well to a rapidly changing world.
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