On Broadway in 1949 , Martin appeared in the Rodgers and Hammerstein hit South Pacific . Critics loved her in the comic role of Ensign Nellie Forbush . During the 1950s , she appeared on stage and in television performances of her roles in such productions as The Skin of Our Teeth , Annie Get Your Gun and Peter Pan . She won Tony Awards for Peter Pan and for The Sound of Music , in which she also played the lead as Mary Rainer . She starred in that role from 1959 to 1961 .
Mary Martin was honored by the John F . Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington , D . C ., in 1989 . When she died of cancer in California , her cremated remains were buried here in Weatherford , according to her wishes . She always considered Weatherford her home .
Mac Curtis Innovative Musician Award
Fort Worth native Mac Curtis began playing guitar at the age of 12 , entering local talent competitions . He moved to Weatherford in 1954 , and while there he formed a band with two classmates , Jim and Ken Galbreaith . The group played locally , and in 1955 they were offered a deal with King Records , who released their debut single , “ If I Had Me a Woman .”
Soon after Alan Freed heard the group and invited them to play on his Christmas radio special in 1956 . Curtis returned to Weatherford to finish school in 1957 and continued work as a DJ in the South , and released a few albums ; his 1968 release , “ The Sunshine Man ,” hit No . 35 on the U . S . Country albums chart . As rockabilly grew in popularity in the 1970s , he began recording with Ray Campi and signed to Ronnie Weiser ’ s Rollin ’ Rock Records ; his career took off there in the 1980s and 1990s . He was later inducted to the Rockabilly Hall of Fame .
He died on September 16 , 2013 , at age 74 , following injuries received in a car accident a month earlier , after which he had undergone rehabilitation at a nursing home .
Patsy Hooks Pet Rescue Award
She was Weatherford ’ s beautiful first lady . Throughout her life , Patsy Hooks had a huge heart for animals and advocated for their care and helping them find forever homes . She also believed in serving others . Through her efforts Weatherford ’ s dog pound became an animal shelter . It was natural that Weatherford ’ s new Dog Park was named for Patsy , who passed away in 2013 . The Patsy Hooks Pet Rescue Award goes to someone who goes beyond the call of duty to help otherwise unwanted pets .
Pat Martin Lady of Title Award
Parker County native Pat Martin is a woman who knows the importance of being involved in the community . The Weatherford College graduate has been working in the title business since 1974 , starting when she went to work for attorney Gabe Vick . After a few years later , she invested in another title company , opening Weatherford Title in 1978 . That company became very successful , and she decided to sell the company to Phil Adams of Gainesville , becoming part of a partnership that continues to this day .
She got involved in the community by joining the Weatherford Chamber of Commerce and serving on their Board of Directors . She was also a member of the Weatherford Lioness Club ( now Weatherford Lions ) and mentored students at Weatherford ISD for 15 years . She served on the board of the Parker County Committee on Aging for several years , along with serving Meals on Wheels to local residents .
Pat was a founding member of the Parker County Health Foundation , a founding member of the Weatherford ISD Foundation , and continues to be actively involved with the
WISD foundation board . She serves on the Parkview Terrace Housing Facility Board , doing so for over 20 years . She is actively involved in Willow Park Baptist Church , including being a children ’ s leader with the Bible Study Fellowship . When she has spare time , she spends time with her ladies golf group , traveling and playing golf . Her favorite way to spend her time is with her 11 grand and 7 – great-grandchildren . Pat says that she is “ very active in all of their lives ”. It is with her dedication to family and the community that we decided to name this award after her .
Jamie Bodiford Benevolent Powerhouse
Award
While building an impressive career matching families with the perfect home for them , Jamie Bodiford is always looking for ways to make Parker County even better .
Jamie Bodiford became president of the Weatherford ISD School Board at age of 30 , she is a former elected member of the board of the Parker County Hospital District , appointed to Parker County Historical Commission , and Chandor Foundation , Weatherford Rotary Club , Board of Directors of Pecan Valley MHMR , she has served on the board of directors for Weatherford Christian School , was a Weatherford City Councilwoman and Parker County Heritage Society .
She is known as , ” The Lady Who Saved Chandor Gardens ,” just to name a few of the causes she works tirelessly to further .
Jamie is also very active in her church , helps anyone in the community she knows who needs a leg-up in their careers , a kind word , is sick or sad . The Jamie Bodiford Award Winner should get a set of Wonder Woman bracelets along with her award .
Dr . Jack Eidson Physician Excellence
Award
For more than half-a-century , Dr . Jack L . Eidson helped Parker County families with their health issues . But for most of his patients , he was so much more than someone they went to when they had the flu . Dr . Jack was a beloved and trusted doctor of numerous local families for more than 50 years — he helped bring more than 5,000 Parker County residents into the world .
He was especially known for giving one great tonsillectomy and his gracious and gentle bedside manners . He once said , that he was fortunate that he got to practice during the ‘ Golden Age of Medicine ,’ that period after penicillin and before Medicare .” Dr . Jack was an active citizen and involved with many professional , political , religious , social , civic and government organizations . Dr . Jack was there to help ease the suffering of those who were leaving this world and he helped them through all their health crises , whether they were major or minor and with everything in between .
Even though Dr . Jack retired from his practice nearly 18 years ago , and he left this world in 2014 , his patients and the entire community still fondly recall his kindness , his gentle bedside manner , and the way that nothing seemed quite as frightening as long as Dr . Jack was there to face it with you .
Dr . Jack was more than a great doctor — he was a great human being .
See The 2017 Who ’ s Gonna Fill Their Shoes Honorees — page 14
MAY 2017 PARKER COUNTY TODAY
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