Source: Legislative Reference Library of Texas, Austin, Texas

Obituary:
Former Woman Solon Miss Neal Dead At 96

Margie E. Neal, Texas' first woman senator, died in Panola General Hospital Sunday, December 19.

The death of Miss Neal at age 96 ended an unusual career for an unusual woman and beloved citizen of this community and state.

Born April 20, 1875 at the Neal homestead near Clayton, Margie Elizabeth Neal was the second of four children of William Lafayette Neal and Martha Gholston Neal.

Funeral services were held Monday, December 20, at Hawthorn Funeral Chapel with Rev. Robert Walker officiating. Burial was in IOOF cemetery in Carthage.

Her profession ranged from teaching school in her early years to editor and publisher of a Carthage weekly newspaper and then into state and national politics. She was editor-publisher of The State Mule, later changed to The East Texas Register in Carthage.

The woman editor-publisher took her work seriously and made many friends among her subscribers. She participated in newspaper organizations and was a member of the National Editorial Association, The Texas Press Association and other fraternal groups, which brought recognition to herself, Carthage and Panola County.

Her first public service in the state included appointment of the first woman member, and vice-chairman, state Normal School Board of Regents, 1921-27, district chairman in fight for womens suffrage (won January 1920), member state Board Democratic Executive Committee and delegate to the National Democratic Convention, San Francisco, 1920.

She was appointed one of two representatives from Texas to attend notification ceremonies for president and vice-president nominees.

A life-long Democrat, Miss Neal supported the Eisenhower-Nixon Republican ticket, speaking on a state-wide television broadcast from Houston. She introduced Richard Nixon at his Longview rally during that campaign.

Miss Neal was name chairman of the building committee for Stephen F. Austin State Normal College (now Stephen F. Austin State University) which opened in September 1923.

In 1926 Miss Neal decided to become a candidate for the senate and she won the race, carrying all the counties in her district except the one in which her opponent lived. She became the first woman to be elected to the senate.

Her campaign was based on (1) need for better schools, especially better rural schools; (2) improved system of highways; (3) encouragement and aid to farmers, labor and capital. She favored better laws, coupled with improved law enforcement.

Her record of accomplishments in the legislature related to efficient educational administration, higher educational standards and importance to curriculum. She championed a bill providing for physical education in Texas schools.

She was credited with introducing and pushing the bill creating the state board of education. She actively supported the bill requiring study of the state and national constitutions in the public schools.

Miss Neal also introduced and guided to victory a measure accepting benefits of a federal law for vocational rehabitation of cripples.

After eight years in the Senate, the Texas woman senator went to Washington where she was with the National Recovery Administration, later the Federal Security Administration and the War Manpower Commission. She resigned from the latter and returned to Carthage in January, 1945.

But, at age 70, she did not expect to retire. She again became involved in all phases of community and state affairs.

She was a charter member of the Carthage Book Club, one of Texas' oldest Federated Clubs, which she had helped organize.

She was interested in the organization of the Altruss-Club and was a charter member of the Panola County Altruss Club and a member of Delta Kappa Gamma.

She worked for the establishment of a county hospital, and became secretary and member of the original board of managers of the Panola General Hospital, a position she held until her physical health brought about her resignation.

Her last efforts in public life were directed toward saving the old jail in Panola County and establishing a historical museum in the old building on North Shelby Street. She spent much time and money making this dream a reality.

One of the great joys of her life was the honor paid her by her fellow Panola Countians. "Margie E. Neal Day" honored her with ceremonies at the Carthate High School football field, following dinner for out-of-town guests. Among the dignitaries in Carthage for the occasion were secretary of Health, Education and Welfare Oveta Culp Hobby; President Lyndon B. Johnson (then majority leader of the senate), Gov. Allen Shivers, Attorney General Price Daniel, and many other prominent national and state figures.

The late Lynn Landrum of the Dallas Morning News once wrote of Margie E. Neal as one who "refuses to live in the past," and "the key to her vigor lies in her realization that there is all of the present to live in, and all of the future to believe in and all of the neighbors to work for and to love."

Survivors include three nieces and one nephew, Mrs. E. C. Clabaugh, Jr., Miss Corinne Neal Cook, Mrs. Forrest E. Roberts and John Neal, all of Carthage; one great-niece, Mrs. Susanne Tipton of Shreveport; four great-nephews, Neal Hawthorn of Longview; Bill and David Clabaugh, Carthage; 13 great-great-nieces and nephews and four great-great-great-nieces and nephews.

Source: The Panola Watchman, Carthage, Texas, Monday, December 20, 1971; Pg. 1, Columns 5&6 continued on Pg. A-5, Columns 3&4

Historical marker located in the town square park, Carthage, Texas.

Dallas Morning News (Dallas, TX), 9 Sep 1928, Page 7.

The Kilgore News Herald (Kilgore, TX), 2 Jul 1978, Page 46.

Austin American-Statesman (Austin, TX), 29 Mar 1988, Page 13.

The Austin American (Austin, TX), 20 Dec 1971, Page 24.

The Kilgore News Herald (Kilgore, TX), 2 Jul 1978, Page 45.