Museum Honors Women Who Shaped Quinlan

Thirteen women who helped shape Quinlan and make it what it is today will be recognized throughout the month of February by the Quinlan Community Museum and Library.

The museum and libary are located in the Quinlan Education Center.

The women were also honored at a meeting Monday morning at the museum.

The list includes Joyce Barrow, Scottie Burnett, Lillian Cannon, Jacque Cobb, Rojean Cull, Cathy Goleman, Barbara Hamm, Cindy Johnson, Sharon Royal, Carolyn Strickland, Vivian Taylor, Mary Vance and Irene Willingham.

Some of those honored along with museum officials and workers shared their thoughts about Quinlan.

Joyce Hodges Barrow was elected to the position of Hunt County Tax Assessor-Collector and served Hunt County for 21 years. She was named Tax Assessor-Collector of the Year for the State of Texas. In her position, she established the tax collection sub-station and justice of the peace office in Quinlan.

Ms. Barrow said that family ties and history and love of community are most important to her. She said the closeness of friends and family was what made Quinlan a special community.

She enjoys "gardening, ranching and loving my husband and family and spending time with family." She has been married for 52 years to John C. Barrow and raised two sons, John Barrow IV and Howard Barrow.

She was born in Manila, Philippines, and was there during World War II. Ms. Barrow has seven siblings that were born in the Philippines. She arrived in the States in 1945, traveled with her family to Quinlan where they all attended Quinlan schools. Her family owned several businesses in Quinlan.

After her school career, she pursued a career in later years and became Tax Assessor-Collector for the Royse City school system and city, then successfully ran for the office of Tax Assessor-Collector for Hunt County.

Jacque Cobb was born in Newton County, attended South Park High School, Beaumont and graduated from Newton High School before attending Sam Houston State University.

She and Jack Cobb were married Aug. 7, 1949, and moved to Quinlan. They had three daughters, Joy, Judy and Jill; 10 grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren.

Ms. Cobb lists her "best accomplishment" as her three daughters who all graduated from Quinlan High School and East Texas State University at Commerce. Two of them taught in Quinlan schools.

She also helped open Quinlan State Bank, the original bank in Quinlan that is now American National Bank. Ms. Cobb received work and volunteer honors including Employee of the Month for American National Bank and Most Dedicated Kindergarten Volunteer in 2001-02. She is a member of the Daughters of the Revolution.

She enjoys flower gardens, antiquing and shopping with her daughters.

Mrs. Cobb has contributed to Quinlan through the Prayer Garden at church, reading to students at kindergarten and volunteering at the museum.

"I like to go to the grocery store and post office and have someone call out my name," she said of what makes Quinlan special.

Carolyn Strickland said she "was born down the road beside Luigi’s." She graduated from Quinlan High School and has one son and daughter-in-law and one grandson.

She retired from E-Systems after 27 years of service. Ms. Strickland enjoys genealogy and oil painting.

She was elected to the city council where she continues to serve and served as chairman of the Economic Development Corporation. Ms. Strickland served on the Administrative Council at the First United Methodist Church of Quinlan and on the Centennial Committee. She also served as chairman of the Caregiver Program for the Relay for Life.

"Family roots run deep," she said of Quinlan. "It is a great community."

Volunteers at the museum also gave their thoughts on Quinlan. Wanda Thompson who was born in Caddo Mills, graduated from Quinlan schools and completed 10 years of art instruction. She is married to Charlie Thompson and has three children, Vicki Erickson, Sharon Royal and Chuck Thompson. They have seven grandsons and a granddaughter.

Ms. Thompson enjoys oil painting and volunteer work. She is president of the Quinlan Community Museum and serves on the Planning and Zoning Committee.

"A good community with great people," she described Quinlan.

Jean Renshaw is a native of the Dry Creek community and attended grade school in Dry Creek before high school at Quinlan High School. She was married in 1956 to Henry Renshaw and has two children, Robin Gomez and Philip Renshaw. They have two grandsons, Jordan Gomez and Thomas Renshaw.

Ms. Renshaw enjoys gardening and reading and volunteers at the Quinlan museum and library.

"I grew up here. All my friends are here. It’s home," she said of Quinlan.

Barbara Ann Norris was born in McKinney, graduated from high school at North Dallas High School. She graduated from East Texas State University. Ms. Norris has been married 42 years and has two children, two step-children and eight grandchildren.

She loves to read and visit with her children and grandchildren. "We actually live in West Tawakoni, and for several years, I worked as election judge. I worked with the schools when our girls were in school as a volunteer," she said. "I went back to college and received my teaching certificate in 1986, because I wanted to work in the Quinlan School District."

She taught at D.C. Cannon Elementary School for 20 years after serving as a substitute. She worked with the PTA and was a Girl Scout leader.

Jerry Forbes volunteers at the museum. The Canton native graduated from Arlington State University and has five children, 11 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

He previously served on the Sabine River Authority Board of Directors and the Greenville Entertainment Series. Forbes is a supporter of the lake area and noted that Quinlan is the "Gateway to Lake Tawakoni."

Linda Lilly was born in Greenville and graduated from Texas Tech. She married Stephen Lilly in Aug. 1979, and they have a son, Jacob.

In addition to volunteering her time, she enjoys shopping, playing on the computer, reading the Bible and going to church.

Officers of the museum board include Wanda Thompson, president; Jacque Cobb, vice president; Louise Young, secretary; Jean Renshaw, treasurer; Henry Renshaw, historian; Lisa Gunter, Quinlan Independent School District staff member; and Carolyn Strickland, reporter.