OUR BEGINNING:

25 YEARS OF SERVING PARKER COUNTY
 

Most people rightly assume that PCRW stands for Parker County Republican Women.  But, in reality, it also stands for Powerful, Courageous, Resourceful Women.

To further clarify this statement, one must realize that even the local newspaper in Parker County carries the name, The Weatherford Democrat. 

The story of the Parker County Republican Women began in 1962 when a group of Republican women met at the ranch home of   Kathrine Lege to organize the Republican Women’s Club of Parker County.   Anne Bergman was elected president with the other officers to be elected at the August meeting. Other ladies attending that meeting were:  Wanda Eidson, V.A. Littleton, Juanita Saul Hagman, Gerry Corcanges, and Jeanne McCarty.  The purpose of this club was “to stimulate interest in the Republican Party, to discuss various aims of the national party, and increase workers at the precinct level of the party.” 

The first programs were built around the United States Chamber of Commerce course on practical politics, which covered, among other things, organizing precincts for election victories.  These ladies were so effective that in 1965 they were featured in a filmstrip presentation, narrated by the late Senator John Tower, to be shown across Texas to promote the organization of more Republican Women’s groups. 

This group was active politically, educationally, philanthropically and socially.  They set the example for all civic-minded women to follow. They supported and contributed to our present library, the sub-courthouse, the Pythian Home and presently the heritage center. Their first fundraiser was a “Tasting Tea”, an activity so successful that a cookbook containing all the recipes was compiled for sale. Although these women invested much of themselves, their time, talents and money, for over a decade, they netted little profit but amassed a fortune of goodwill and acceptance for the Republican Party in Parker County. 

Beginning in 1968, the club sent delegates to national and state Republican conventions. Wanda Eidson was named one of the Ten Outstanding Republican Women at the TFRW convention in 1968.  At that time she was serving as Republican County Chairman and was later named State District Committee-woman.  Elected as District Director of TFRW in 1968, Anne Bergman later served a two-year term as president of the Texas Federation of Republican Women from 1975 through 1977.  She was a delegate to NFRW conventions, delegate to the 1988 National Republican Convention which nominated George H. W. Bush (’41) and was chosen as one of the Ten Outstanding Republican Women in 1981.  

Former Club President and now District Clerk Elvera Johnson was TFRW District Director in the 1980s and also named as one of Ten Outstanding Republican Women. In 1997, Texas Federation of Republican Women named former club president and TFRW Senatorial District Director Gladys Jeter as one of the Ten Outstanding Republican Women.  

In 1981, a group of members organized and federated as  “ Greater Parker County Republican Women.”  In 1986, the charter was changed to read, “Parker County Republican Women”.  There were more Republican candidates on the ballot that year than ever before. 

PCRW has always held voter registration drives, worked at Republican headquarters, and supported local, state and national Republican candidates.  They have organized and run Republican headquarters, lead local campaigns for local and statewide candidates, and conducted voter preference surveys by both phone and door-to-door.

For many years the club has awarded scholarships.   Members participate in the “Relay for Life”, a fundraiser for cancer research. They volunteer at the hospital and senior center. They are active in every area of Parker County when civic responsibility is needed. In 2004, they participated in “Memory Walk”, a fundraiser for Alzheimer’s research, in memory of President Ronald Reagan.  

PCRW is comprised of women who want to make a difference. They believe that every one deserves the right and opportunity to be the best they can be.  They believe that government activities should be limited to those things that people cannot do at all, or cannot do well for themselves.  

Past presidents:  Kay Martino, Anne Bergman, Dotti Young, Virginia Carter, Camille Lockwood, Ann Davis, Pearl Randolph,  Olivia Schoenke, Kitty Decker, and Shelia Woody. 

Past presidents 1981 to present:  Wylene Thomas,  Jean Krebs,  Elvera Johnson,  Zoe Hurley, Melissa McKay,  Gladys Jeter,  Audrey LaFleur,  Patsy Hooks,  Janelle Shepard,   Carrol Hamilton,   Helen Robinson,  Debbie Roark, Zan Statham, Carolyn Estes, Patti Parrish and Elizabeth Bozzell.

This is an active, patriotic, vibrant organization eager to grow and make a difference.

We meet the second Thursday of every month at the Doss Heritage and Culture Center

beginning at 11:30 a.m.  If you share this philosophy, if you are powerful, courageous, and resourceful, we are eager to get to know you.   

 

PRAYER

 

              “Our Holy Father:  We’re grateful for this opportunity to gather in shared political interest. Help us,

              Lord, to evaluate problems wherever we confront them and arrive at just and fruitful solutions.  Give

              us vision  so that we will not be narrow in outlook.  Grant us courage and determination to undertake

              whatever work is  necessary to accomplish goals that will benefit the citizens of our country and be

             acceptable to You.  As we  are individually so willing to accept the privilege of political freedom, let

             us also be ready to accept some personal responsibility for its preservation.  In our Lord’s name we pray.  AMEN”

 

Pol. adv. pd. for by PCRW PAC