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A VIEW OF COLUMBUS THROUGH ROSE COLORED GLASSES
This column is dedicated to acknowledging examples of positives that express the community spirit of Columbus – our town.
Peggy Jean Hudson, from Rock Island, Texas, was blessed with a grandmother, “Grammie”, who was well aware that her granddaughter had an amazing singing voice. Peggy’s Grammie, a preacher at Rock Island Full Gospel Church, did encourage her and helped her to develop an exceptional voice. Peggy and her family still sing and worship in that church today The story of Peggy’s family is most entertaining. You see, Peggy was one of seven Hudson children. At an early age, Peggy’s parents ran the Hudson Hotel in Rock Island. Oil rig crew members and hunters were frequent hotel guests. Of course, the family of nine had their rooms in the hotel also. The children had their chores, and mother, Billie Jean Berger Hudson, did the cooking, and whether you ordered a steak or a country breakfast, the guests were always pleased. Mother’s hot rolls were always perfect and were Peggy’s favorite. Mother did not share her recipe. She simply said “a pinch of this and a dab of that. Peggy’s “dabs” have never been quite right.
Peggy graduated from Columbus High School. (this was after an unusual circumstance with Eagle Lake Schools) Peggy is proud that she taught 19 years in third and fifth grade at Columbus Elementary after graduating from the University of Houston. With seven children in the family, there really was no college money for Peggy. She was determined and, on her own, wrote Wharton Jr College asking for assistance. She went to WJC and enjoyed being a “Starlet”... that’s the high kickers. She remembers one special Bowl trip to Mississippi. Wharton won the Bowl game and the band and starlets headed downtown to march and celebrate. After Wharton, she was determined to complete her degree. Again, it was her own initiative to ask for assistance at the University of Houston. The Businesswomen’s Association awarded her a scholarship for tuition and books. Peggy knew how to work; one of the years during college, she drove a bus for college students. She remembers being so short behind the wheel, that people could not see her driving.
While interviewing Peggy, I loved hearing stories about the seven children. Peggy laughs when she tells about the day that her third-grade teacher was walking past the hotel and came in to tell her that her sister, Sue, was on top of the roof. Mother was gone, so Peggy ran to the top floor, crawled out the window and began to coax the little sister to safety. It took a while, but Peggy finally got her back inside. Frankly, there is a second story that I think was even funnier. Peggy had seen the movie Mary Poppins; so she believed that her umbrella might work just like in the movie. Peggy climbed up to the top of the garage, stretched out her umbrella, and quite readily jumped from the roof-top falling to the ground – no injuries – just disappointment.
As Peggy was growing up, her family enjoyed numerous religious activities. One of the favorites was summer camp revivals. There were tents and great activities, one of the favorites being the ice cream booth. It was traditional for the teenage girls to “man” the ice cream booth. One particular summer, some young guys from Illinois came to the camp. After having a few cones, the boys became members of the crew. It was there that the first glimmer of attraction occurred between Peggy and the man who would be her future husband. The courtship took a while and there were other summer camps. Sure enough, one of those young men faithfully wrote and called occasionally. Their romance blossomed and Earl Pitchford came to Houston to marry his sweetheart Peggy Jean Hudson. Earl and Peggy enjoy their children, Cathy and Greg. You will find the Pitchfords at most of their grandchi ldren’s act ivit ies. Kathy’s twin boys are grown. Greg’s three are in college and high school. The families are particularly fond of their vacations to Colorado.
I must give you the names of the seven Hudson Children. Peggy, Sue, Bob, Judy, Nancy, Randy, and Joe. If you want to spend time with Peggy Pitchford, she will share some delightful stories about her two pets... giraffes.
Peggy and Earl Pitchford are stellar pillars of our community and are faithful friends of Columbus both personally and professionally through Drymalla Construction. Peggy loves to quote her favorite motto - “Trust in God”.
