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He didn ’ t say a lot , but when he did , it meant something . He got things done , not by his words , but by his actions .
“ He didn ’ t say a lot , but when he did , it meant something ,” King said . “ He got things done , not by his words , but by his actions .”
By the time Westbrook became a councilman , he ’ d been in Athens for more than 20 years and was a source for the city ’ s history .
“ He had all that historical information that was so valuable to us ,” King said . “ He was a person we always went to when we wanted to know what happened in the past .”
Carl was born in Houston and graduated from Galveston Central High School . After his stay at Prairie View A & M , Westbrook began a 40-year career as a Texas agricultural extension officer . He served in Lee and Marion Counties before coming to Athens .
His years as Henderson County agent saw changes such as the beginning of the Farm and Ranch Tour . His son , Gilson Westbrook , recalled that he enjoyed working with the farmers , ranchers and students during his agent days .
“ During the days when they had the Black-Eyed Pea Jamboree , he was in charge of the pet show ,” Gilson remembered .
Although Carl Westbrook had already begun his career when he came to Athens , Marian grew up in the city and was a 1935 graduate of R . C . Fisher High School . From there , she left for Prairie View A & M , earning a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing in 1939 . It was there that she and Carl met .
Gilson recalled Marian began her career as a county school nurse . She worked in Athens , Malakoff and St . Paul . In 1951 , she wrote an article , published in the Athens Review , about teaching health .
While the Fisher school nurse , she wrote urging parents get their children immunized for class .
In 1956 , Marian was named to the program committee at her alma mater ,
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Prairie View A & M . Her medical career progressed to Henderson County Memorial Hospital . She became the first Black registered nurse on staff there .
Marian was chief nurse on the 11 p . m . to 7 a . m . shift at the hospital ,.
“ She liked that because it gave her time to do other things ,” Gilson said . “ She took care of dad ’ s my needs during the day then went to work . It worked out very well .”
Marian later became staff resource nurse for the Texas Department of Public Health Region 7 , a post she held from 1968 until her retirement in 1979 .
Later she was a member of the Top Ladies of Distinction , a Tyler-based humanitarian organization , founded in 1964 . It is one of several chapters nationwide . The organization ’ s website said , since its inception , the organization has expanded its objectives to include its focus on youth known as Top Teens of America .
For several years , Marian was the Henderson County leader for its youth oriented Top Teens program .
“ She took them to all the conventions and conferences ,” Gilson said .
When Marian passed away in 2009 , at the age of 90 , one of her former students , Vicki Williams , posted a remembrance .
“ She was a wonderful Top Teen advisor . As a top teen because of Mrs . Westbrook , I received a scholarship for college ,” Williams wrote . “ The impact that Mrs . Westbrook has made in my life is everlasting .”
With so much on their schedules , the Westbrooks still made time for a busy home life with sons Gilson , Reginald and Carl .
“ They were great parents ,” Reginald said . “ It was just us three boys but everyone wanted to be our sister and brother . Our house is where everyone wanted to come and stay .”
February 2022 | Greater Athens Magazine 27