Dr. Martha May Tevis

McAllen - Dr. Martha May Tevis peacefully left this earth for her heavenly home on September 26, 2024, surrounded by love and cherished memories. Martha was born in Wichita Falls, Texas. She graduated from Wichita Falls Senior High, attended Texas Christian University, and received a B.A. in Latin with a minor in English and an M.A. in Education with a Specialization in Latin from Our Lady of the Lake College in San Antonio. She also received a PhD in the History and Philosophy of Education from the University of Texas at Austin where she studied with George I. Sanchez and where she was an Ellis Fellow.

After graduating from the University of Texas she began her teaching career in 1967 at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, formerly Pan American College, Pan American University and University of Texas-Pan American, where she was a Professor of Education. At the University she was Counselor of Kappa Delta Pi, honor society in education, Graduate Coordinator for her department, Secondary Program Coordinator for undergraduate and graduate secondary programs, Department Chair of Curriculum and Instruction-Secondary, member of the University Press Editorial Advisory Board, the University Admissions Committee, the first Equal Opportunity Committee, the first Honors Counsel, and Parliamentarian of the first Faculty Senate. She also received an Outstanding University Faculty Award for Teaching and Service, an Outstanding Faculty Award for Research and a Distinguished Professor Award from the Alumni Association. At the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley she served as Graduate advisor in the Teaching and Learning Curriculum and Instruction department.

She served as President and Secretary of the International Society for Educational Biography, President of the Southwest Society of Philosophy and Education, Fellow of the Philosophy of Education Society, Secretary/Treasurer of the Society of Professors of Education as well as member of the John Dewey Society and the American Education Studies Association. She served on the editorial boards of Educational Studies and Vitae Scholasticae. She published articles in several scholarly journals. Her research interests were focused on social justice, biography (specifically biography of George I. Sanchez), history of education and educational philosophy. On July 15, 2017 she celebrated 50 years teaching at PAC, UTPA and UTRGV. She was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, where she had served on the Vestry, past Vice-Chair of the University Alumni Association, member of Trinity Episcopal School Board, member of the Steering Committee Board for the Canterbury School in Edinburg and member of Daughters of the Republic of Texas. She served as a member and officer of the Tropical Texas Community Center for Mental Health and Mental Retardation from 1969 to 1992 when she was made Board Member Emeritus. She was a founding member of the Texas Council of Community Mental Health and Mental Retardation Centers, Inc., editor of the organization's monthly publication, The Curriculor, from 1977 to 2001 and the coordinator of all board of trustee training in Texas for trustees of MHMR community centers from the first training conference in 1980 until 1993.

Martha was preceded in death by her mother and father, Valerie McLamore and John Felix Tevis. She is survived by many friends and several cousins.

A memorial service will held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 16th, at Trinity Episcopal Church in Pharr, Texas. Donations should be made to Trinity Episcopal Church, Martha May Tevis Endowed Scholarship or Valerie McLamore Tevis Endowed Scholarship at UTRGV.