ABWA makes Mattie Crockett's day

After retiring and surviving cancer, Mattie Crockett refuses to slow down

By Paula Felps

If retirement is a time to slow down, someone forgot to inform Mattie Crockett.

Since leaving TI in 1996, Mattie has maintained her belief that busier is better, keeping active in community volunteer work and professional organizations. Earlier this year, she was honored by the state chapter of the American Business Women's Association, and will again be recognized by that organization in November at its national conference.

"At our spring conference in Austin last year, I took a challenge to sponsor 50 new members by the next year," says Mattie. The ABWA is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, which is why they chose that number.

"I reached my goal in January and received a beautiful blazer that was presented to me by the national president."

Although Mattie wasn't the only one to reach the goal, she definitely is part of an elite minority; of the 70,000 members nationwide, only 42 others met the challenge. Finding a way to honor her presented the chapter with a challenge of its own; Mattie has been involved in the ABWA since 1983 and already had received a number of pins and accolades from the organization. So the group went for something bigger.

A reception on July 22 at the Fellowship Hall of the First Christian Church in Lancaster gave friends, family and former business associates the opportunity to pay tribute to her. But she was in for even greater surprises once she arrived there.

"At the reception, I got a letter of congratulations from Gov. George Bush and Laura," she says. "I received a letter from the national chapter, and then Mary Witherspoon, from the Dallas chapter, explained the importance and significance of what I had done."

The biggest surprise, however, came when a city council member read a proclamation, signed by the mayor, that the day had been designated "Mattie Crockett Day" in DeSoto.

"I could have passed out just thinking it was that important to them," she says. "I didn't expect nearly all that attention."

It's a good thing she didn't pass out; she would have missed the "Surprise Cake," which was packed with charms representing her contributions and accomplishments. Inside the cake were charms of a gavel, representing her tenure as president of the organization; a mortar board, which stood for her dedication to continuing education; a telephone signifying her networking through the years; a moneybag for the fund-raising she had conducted through the years; a heart for the dedication which had given her perfect attendance during her 17-year membership with the organization and a rose symbolizing fellowship.

"I was very humbled that I had been so honored," Mattie recalls. "They presented me with a book and everyone had written very nice things on cards and put them in there. It was an incredible experience."

It also was a fitting tribute for a woman who has given so much to others. She retired from TI at the end of 1996, just one year into her battle with cancer. She spent 31 years and two months working for TI, always in the semiconductor area, and when she retired was a quality assurance supervisor of product distribution in military products.

Now a cancer survivor, she volunteers at the Charleton Methodist Hospital in DeSoto, serving as a resource center coordinator and working with cancer patients. She also volunteers with the American Cancer Society and is active in fund-raising for the ABWA.

When she was approached to be part of the steering committee for the TI Alumni Association last year, she eagerly agreed, and hasn't regretted that.

"The friendship aspect of that is so important," she points out. "I believe in the Association and what it's doing. It's like an extended family, and it's important for people to be able to stay in touch."

She says that volunteer work, whether it is with young, up-and-coming business women, cancer survivors or working on TI Alumni projects, has enriched her life.

"I still like to be active," she understates. "The more active I am, the better I am. It's what I need to do; it's very rewarding."

And there are no plans for slowing down anytime soon for this grandmother of six and great-grandmother of five.

"I love people and love being able to be a mentor. It makes me feel like I have a part in making a contribution to something greater," she says. "I guess I'll go out swinging."