Memorials can be made to East Texas State Fair/Park of East Texas Building Fund, 2112 W. Front Street, Tyler, TX 75702 or Tyler Catholic School Foundation, P.O. Box 131175, Tyler, TX 75713.
Mary's Achievements
Mary was born in Hemphill, Texas on February 15,1938, to Pete and Rosie Lee Procell. Mary’s unselfish contribution to service in her community has been her love. Mary was involved with the East Texas Fair for over 20 years and served on the executive committee, including President, for over ten years. While it seems Mrs. Prud’homme’s long life occupation is career volunteer, she is in fact, a widely recognized Simmental cattle rancher. Mary is owner and manager of her 7P Ranch. The Prud’hommes have shown Simmental cattle at Tyler, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Fort Worth since 1978 and Mary and family hold the honor of having the longest continuous Simmental cattle sale in the USA.
She is a member of the East Texas Simmental Association, thirty-five years; Texas Simmental/Simbrah Association, thirty-five years; American Simmental Association, thirty-five years and has served the cattle industry through organizations such as East Texas CattleEttes, twenty years, past president; East Texas PineyWoods CattleWomen, seventeen years, founder and past president; Texas CattleWomen, seventeen years, vice-president beef promotion, beef education, membership, public relations and member-at-large; American CattleWomen, seventeen years; National Cattlemen Beef Association Board, nineteen years; East Texas Farm and Ranch Club, nineteen years; Smith County Forage & Livestock Committee, fourteen years, secretary; Texas Southwestern Cattlemen Association, thirty-five years and Texas Beef Council Board, four years, Texas CattleWomen representative.
She also served on the Tyler Catholic School Foundation for twenty years. Key organizations were Girl Scouts USA; American Heart Association Board- CPR Instructor; Tyler YMCA- past president; Trinity Mother Frances Hospital Foundation Board; Smith County Medical Alliance; Smith County Drug and Alcohol; Tyler Catholic School Board; Immaculate Conception Altar Society; East Texas Cattle-Ettes, East Texas Piney Woods Cattlewomen, Texas Cattlewomen, PTA, Smith County Forage & Livestock, Texas Beef Council
Mary’s passion to volunteer work in her community has not gone unnoticed. She received the Green and Gold Award, Tejas Girl Scout Council “Outstanding Adult" Award in 1984; Tyler Woman of the Year 1991; Woman on the Move for Business and Professional Women; Golden Book Award from the World Simmental Federation; Texas CattleWoman of the Year 2001 and the distinguished East Texas State Fair Family of the Year for 2008.
Tyler Loses Outstanding Citizen
Mary Prud'homme
She'll be remembered for her work with the East Texas State Fair, and the Girl Scouts. But those who knew Mary Prud'homme says she was the quintessential "sports mom."
Noted Tyler Paper Sports Editor Phil Hicks, "She represents the sports moms out there who sit through countless games for the love of their children and the sport."
Her husband, Dr. Joseph Prud'homme, played basketball at Tyler Junior College under legendary Coach Floyd Wagstaff. Her children -- Carol, Sharon, Joey, Steven and Sheila -- were all very active at T.K. Gorman High School. Joey was a standout football player for the Crusaders, while Steven was a star basketball player. They both later became coaches.
Read the full article here.
Second mom was star in lives of many
Sunday, July 12, 2009
She was my second mother. Now she's gone.
I was blessed to grow up in a positive environment, with my parents providing the love and support every kid needs, but over the past 28 years, Mary Prud'homme and her family gave me the additional love and support that helped me become the man I am today.
I met Mrs. Prud'homme during my ninth-grade year at Bishop T.K. Gorman High School in Tyler. Having spent the previous eight years in the public school system, the transition to a mostly white, private, Catholic school was difficult for a 15-year-old black, Baptist kid from the other side of town.
Mary was one of those bright lights who made me feel comfortable in an uncomfortable time.
Read the full commentary by Cedric Golden.
East Texas Loses True Sports Mom
Tyler and East Texas lost a true sportswoman and civic leader this week when Mrs. Mary Prud'homme passed away.
Today, the term soccer mom is used, but for Mrs. Prud'homme it was Sports Mom.
She represents the sports moms out there who sit through countless games for the love of their children and the sport.
Her husband, Dr. Joseph Prud'homme, played basketball at Tyler Junior College under legendary Coach Floyd Wagstaff.
Her children -- Carol, Sharon, Joey, Steven and Sheila -- were all very active at T.K. Gorman High School.
Read the full article here. |
