Page 42 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2017- Online Magazine

Catherine
Royalty Sharp Centenarian BRanCH

Written by Martha Webster Navy Reserve
and Edited by Catherine Royalty

atherine Royalty mind include is hanging in the First Methodist
taught journalism chopping wood Church Christian Life Center
Cand news reporting and carrying hallway) presided at the wedding
to thousands of students out ashes from of her parents in 1906. Catherine’s
in Lubbock and on the the iron heating uncle J. B. Cardwell was on the
South Plains. These days, stove at home church board that worked toward the
the interview questions are and skating construction of the current building.
asked to her instead of by down Main He died before it was completed,
her. People are curious about Street as it was but the beautiful oak altar table was
her memories of the Tech being paved. presented to the church in memory
Dairy Barn, life during the of him by Catherine’s aunt, Katherine
Depression, the opening of Texas Tech Cardwell. Catherine was recruited
Lubbock High School and accepted the for positions in the district and local
how it feels to be 102! young lady Wesleyan Service Guild and she
where she also helped create the Canterbury
She was born in 1915, in the clinic majored in English, Journalism Class of which she was a dedicated
of young Dr. M. C. Overton. Her and Education and graduated in member for decades. After retirement
grandparents’ family home was on a 1936. Catherine began her teaching Catherine was very active in
corner of Avenue Q and Broadway, career in Post, where she lived Women’s Society of Christian Service
and Catherine’s first home was one in a rented room and had a meal and United Methodist Women.
block west at Broadway and Avenue ticket costing $5 a week. She taught
R. It was sold a few years after her English, started a school newspaper, Ms. Royalty is still an avid reader,
birth to the Methodist Church. Her directed the school play, and served mostly of historical novels and
mother Lyda Mae Royalty had in many other capacities. After five mysteries. She has visited most of the
attended University of Oklahoma years she was offered a position in 50 states and has enjoyed traveling
and served as the first court reporter Lubbock where she taught junior widely across the globe. Her service
in Lubbock in 1905. Her father Mr. high students until 1944 when she in World War II contributes to her
W.W. Royalty had the first Dodge joined the WAVES (Women Accepted awareness of the complex situations
dealership, and sold Hupmobiles for Volunteer Emergency Service in facing the world. The 102-year-old
under the brand Royalty and Benson. the Naval Reserve). After training hopes and prays people can come
in New York, she worked in the together to work things out. When
Lyda Mae was a member of First Fleet Post Office of San Francisco for asked if she has had any guidelines
Methodist Church and Catherine almost three years. for her life, she said, “Others!”,
was baptized in the old wooden and when asked how she feels
sanctuary that burned in 1917. She When she was discharged, Catherine about living so long, she answered,
grew up attending the grey brick returned to Lubbock and to teaching. “Amazed!”
church on Broadway, remembering She taught for over thirty years,
especially those imposing steps at the while earning a Master’s Degree
front. courtesy of the G.I. Bill. At each
of four junior highs she started a
Catherine graduated from Lubbock newspaper - launching journalism
High in the first class to finish at the careers for many students who went
19th Street campus. (She remembers on to serve in major media positions.
citizens complaining that it was After retiring, Catherine served with
built too far out.) In addition to the Department of Human Services.
being a good student, Miss Royalty
played the piano, accordion and There is a strong Methodist presence
ukulele, sang in choirs, and was in the Royalty family. One relative
active in Campfire Girls. Other was a Methodist Home Missionary
memories retrieved from her sharp and Reverend Hardy, (whose picture

42 Lubbock Senior Link