Valley View resident named county citizen of year

Special to the Register

Beginning in 1986 the Texoma Council of Governments (TCOG), a press release read, began to recognize individuals who made outstanding contributions to the region. The Governing Body appoints a committee of board members to consider the selection of a citizen from each county which has dedicated volunteer time and resources to their community. The honoree may be involved in either public/non profit organizations or private sector business. This is an opportunity to recognize the impact of one individual whose life has truly made a difference for the Texoma Region.

This year, the outstanding citizens committee for Cooke County, James Graham, Jerry Lewis and Troy Idom selected Nelda Hudspeth to receive the honor.

Hudspeth is a native of Denton County where she attended Sanger School graduating from High School there.

She went to Texas Women's University and graduated with a Home Economics Education Degree and returned for Master's Degree.

Hudspeth married Jerry Hudspeth who is still active in farming and ranching in Valley View. They are the parents of three daughters and have three grandsons and two grand daughters.

She taught Home Economics at Valley View High School for 33 years and was an inspiration to the many youth she taught and worked with in other school activates.

When Hudspeth's children were young she worked with them and other youth as a 4-H leader.

After retirement she serve on the Family Living Committee of the Texas Cooperative Extension of Cooke County and assisted in planning, conducting and presenting parts of numerous education programs in nutrition, health and other topics relating to the home and family.

Serving on the Extension Program Council /Texas Cooperative Extension for 6 years she volunteered her time in planning and executing numerous educational activities including Safety Camps, Character Count Camp, Litter Control Projects, and Adopt-A-County Road Program.

Hudspeth has generously given her time and talents for judging youth events such as food shows, fashion shows, creative art shows, and youth fairs countywide as well as district level.

Hudspeth is an active member of the Liberty Belles Extension Education Club and a past chairman of the Cooke County Extension Education Council and has been involved in the County, District, and State level.

She is an active member of the Valley View First Baptist Church and has taught Sunday School and worked on numerous community service projects.

As a distinguished alumni of the Texas Women's University, Nelda served several years on the former students board. She also has been active in the Red River TWU Alumni Association.

Hudspeth always has a smile on her face, always stands out, and is a very caring and dependable person who is always willing to help others, the press release concluded.

She joins the other Outstanding Citizens for Cooke County:

1986 Bo Mannis

1987 Mary Bierschenk

1988 Bud Joyner

1989 Roger Martin

1990 Sue Leonard Vic

1991 William Powell

1992 Margaret Hayes

1993 Weldon Stokes

1994 Pat Ledbetter

1995 Claudia Brewer

1996 Billie Ruth Lawson

1997 Joyce Malinowsky

1998 Elwood S. Poore

1999 Bertha Hamric

2000 Shirley Wooldridge

2001 Tom Carson

2002 Charles Draper

2003 Emogene House

2004 Nelda Hudspeth