All Things Soldier Women’s History Month Celebration At the Vets’ Museum

Women’s History Month Celebration At the Vets’ Museum: Airman Mattye Murray To Be Honored, Mary Scott Hunter To Speak

Residents of Athens are in for a real treat on Saturday, March 30th at 1pm. That is the day that Airman Mattye Murray will be honored as a Korean War era veteran, and Mary Scott Hunter of the Alabama State Board of Education will speak about the accomplishments of women in science and technology, which is this year’s theme.

Mattye Murray was born in Athens in 1929, the daughter of sharecroppers. She was a graduate of Trinity High School, served in the Air Force, attended Tuskegee Institute, graduated from Alabama A& M, taught at her high school alma mater as well as Tanner High, and that’s just the beginning of her accomplishments.

“I was blessed to complete high school,” she said, and she graduated from Trinity in 1948. A few years later she joined the Air Force, spending 4 years in service to our country, and received training in food service. She served amongst some of the Airmen of Tuskegee fame, and finished her military career in 1955.

She was able to get her bachelor’s degree in business education, and began her teaching career at Trinity in 1962. She taught there until 1970, when Trinity was closed. “We lived through desegregation,” a wild time for everyone. I asked her what it was like to go to Tanner to teach, and her smile said it all. “Oh, they were sweet to me.” She became everyone’s “Auntie,” and spent the rest of her teaching career there. Miss Mattye never married, and is the devoted Aunt of several nieces and nephews. She currently resides at Athens Rehab and Senior Care Center.

Mary Scott Hunter is also a veteran of the United States Air Force, and is a resident of Huntsville. She holds a BA and JD, both from the University of Alabama. She is a member of the USAF Reserves as well as the Alabama Air National Guard. She is an attorney with the Judge Advocate General, (JAG) and is an associate at the law firm of Siniard, Timberlake and League.

She is also the owner of Torel Technology, LLC, and in 2010 was elected to the Alabama State Board of Education. She is greatly looking forward to talking about the specific area of women’s accomplishments in science, education and technology, and said, “I am going to have fun with this.” Please come and join us at the Veterans’ Museum and enjoy the presence of these two remarkable women. For more information, you may contact Museum Director Sandy Thompson, at 256-771-7578. We hope to see you on the 30th!
By: Ali Elizabeth Turner