What life stories and backgrounds comprise our school song’s composers? What roads did they travel following their high school days? In uncovering and researching their respective histories, all three continued their love of music through their involvement either by participating in university bands, studying in music conservatories, teaching, in addition to serving their churches and communities with the talents they were blessed with.
Donald D. Cherry would soon move with his family to Slaton, TX. following his freshman year where his dad was employed with the Santa Fe Railroad. Cherry graduated from Slaton High School in 1941, and attended Texas A & M University where he played saxophone for the “Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band.” With World War 2 ensuing, he served a period of time with the U. S. Army, and would later return to A & M to receive both his B. S. and Master’s degrees in Civil Engineering. Donald had a long-tenured career with Humble Oil, and worked in employee relations for the production department, serving the last two years of his career in Singapore. Cherry continued his musical talents by playing his saxophone for parties and gatherings, and some years later, finally hung up the old woodwind after hearing a recording of a performance where his G# key got stuck on his horn. In visiting with Donald, now in his mid-90’s, he mentioned working for Loy Fry at the Limit Cafe making those famous hamburgers that were the talk of the town. He even revealed the recipe: one pound of hamburger meat mixed with one loaf of white bread.
Maxine Brundage Worley was born in 1922 to Mac and Charity Brundage in Baird, Texas. As a youngster, she moved to Hamlin and graduated from Hamlin High School in 1940. Maxine showed a musical ability at a young age playing the piano. She graduated from the Chicago Conservatory of Music in 1944, and began pursuing her master’s degree at the same college. Her years in Chicago were truly the happiest times of her life. In 1945, she married Ralph Worley, a Navy pilot, and in 1946, moved to eastern Washington where she raised her two children, Jamie and Larry. For many years, she had a small music studio where she taught piano. Although classically trained, Maxine loved music of all genres, especially jazz. Her home was always filled with the sounds of great musicians from the 1940’s, 50’s, and of course, compositions of Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, and the like. In the 1970’s, Maxine moved to a small town in Oregon, not far from Mount Hood. She loved her life on the mountain where she ran the Senior Center. Maxine loved animals, especially dogs. Later in her life, she worked with two men who had disabilities, and her loving care changed their lives. Maxine continued to play her piano until close to the end of her life. She passed away in 2009 following a brief illness.
Geneva Jo Maberry was born the middle child of five siblings to John Frank and Zula Maberry on the family’s 220 acre farm east of McCaulley, Texas. During the Great Depression, Geneva’s parents packed up the entire family and traveled to south Texas to pick cotton to earn extra money so the family would not lose their beloved farm. The family farm is currently owned by Geneva’s children and remains an important part of the family. From an early age, Geneva had a gift for music. She loved to practice and was able to take lessons from Bessie Louise Myers as a child. She became an accomplished pianist and played for the church as a young girl. She graduated from Hamlin High School in 1938, and began her college studies at Texas Women’s University in Denton, TX, and would later receive her degree from McMurry University in Abilene, Texas. She was a natural born teacher and taught school in the Trent, Roby, and McCaulley school districts while also teaching piano lessons from home. She had a passion for directing and producing school musicals. At most any event, one would find Geneva behind a piano. She served as the church pianist throughout her lifetime, and she also played for weddings, funerals, and at most any gathering where music could be found. Geneva met Albert Maberry, the love of her life, at a Medicine Show held in McCaulley during her senior year in high school. The Medicine Show advertised a genuine diamond ring to be found in one of the Cracker Jack boxes at the show. Albert bought her a box, and it ended up having the real diamond ring inside! They were inseparable from that night on, at least in spirit. Albert was a junior at Texas A & M University. While Geneva was studying at T.W.U., a sister school to A & M, the young couple had opportunites to see one another as the female students were bussed from Denton to College Station for the football games and school events. The couple married in June 1939. They were blessed with four children, nine grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. Geneva Jo passed away in 1997, yet her legacy lives on through her family, the “Pied Piper Song,” and the countless people she instructed in piano lessons who continue in sharing their music today.
