DEL
RIO PAN AMERICAN ROUND TABLE
History
What follows is an excerpt from The Pan American Round Table, Lois Terry Marchbanks, Avon Behren Press, 1983, (pg. 133).
A chance meeting in Mexico in early 1969 between two women from Del Rio and two women from Eagle Pass, resulted in the formation of Pan American Round Table of Del Rio.
Carolina Cerna and Ruth Riskind of the PART of Eagle Pass told Zina Worley and Libbie Stool of Del Rio about the Eagle Pass Table. These two were excited about the possibility of such an organization in Del Rio to answer a long-felt need for a means of the women in Del Rio and Ciudad Acuna, Mexico, to get to know each other in a social atmosphere.
Mrs. Stool and Mrs. Worley organized a luncheon meeting for interested persons from Del Rio, Laughlin Air Force Base and Ciudad Acuna on March 31, 1969 and Miss Cerna, then International Director of Zone One of the Alliance of PART, described the goals and makeup of Pan American, to those gathered.
The next months were spent in study and letter exchanges. In addition to the guidance of Miss Cerna, there was also direction from State Director Nita Harmon and First Assistant Director Mary Emily Reigle. There was a constitution to be written. This document was constructed with the desire for continuing provisions for the inclusion of women from both Laughlin Air Force Base and from the sister city Acuna.
A little more than a year from the time the dream began, Pan American Round Table of Del Rio became a reality when State Director Harmon presented the charter to newly-elected Del Rio Director Julia Beavan on February 27, 1970.
The dream has been realized as women of two cultures and two languages have come to know and love each other in friendships which have transcended any other differences. Women from Laughlin are a continuing traditional part of the Table with the Constitution and By-Laws providing for their
PAST
DIRECTORS
1970-1972 Mrs. James G. Beaven
1972-1973 Mrs. Watt Murrah
1973-1974 Mrs. E.L. Worley
1974-1975 Mrs. Robert Smith
1975-1976 Mrs. John G. Prude
1976-1978 Mrs. Reynaldo Paredes
1978-1980 Mrs. Ramon Garcia
1980-1981 Mrs. William Oglesby
1981-1982 Mrs. Louita Wilson
PRESENT
DIRECTOR
1982-1983 Mrs. Sol E. Arledge