Page 8 - Senior Link Magazine Summer 2018- Online Magazine
P. 8

HONORING J.T. & MARGARET

                                               T ALKINGT ON




                 The Impact of Lives Well-Lived




          AND THE EXAMPLE THEY SET FOR US ALL                                       BY KITTY HARRIS WILKES, PH.D.



          In each generation, there are couples                             to start her business in Lubbock.  The result
          who have made a lasting impact on                                   was the establishment of Margaret’s, a
          the people and the community in                                       high-end, women’s specialty store that
          which they have lived and worked.                                       she both owned and operated for
          The impact of lives well-lived                                           almost 50 years.
          -  in their personal lives, in their
          profession, in serving others                                              Margaret’s served customers,
          and in philanthropic endeavors                                             not only from Lubbock, but
          - sets an impressive example                                               also throughout Texas and
          for others to follow.                                                      the United States.  It was
                                                                                     Margaret’s insistence on excellent
          J.T. and Margaret Talkington                                               personalized customer service
          loved Lubbock, the South Plains                                           that set her store apart from
          and Texas. The result of that love,                                       other specialty stores in America.
          and their determination to make                                         She retailed only the best lines of
          the community a better place, was                                      women’s clothing, cosmetics, shoes,
          not only shown by their generosity but                               handbags, jewelry and accessories.  She
          by giving of their time and talents.  They                        was skilled in marketing, in producing
          truly have a distinguished legacy of a positive               innovative and creative fashion shows and in
          impact on an entire community.                         advertising her store.  Her advertising tag line, “She’s a
                                                                Margaret’s Woman”, became an iconic slogan in Lubbock
          Margaret Weed, a public-school teacher, married World   as well as within the fashion industry.
          War II Navy veteran and certified public account J.T.
          Talkington in Fort Worth, Texas not long after the end   Margaret built her business and became an award-winning
          of World War II.  Their marriage might have been      fashion leader and nationally recognized owner and
          considered unlikely, due to the intense collegiate rivalry   operator of one of the top specialty stores in the United
          in the Lone Star State between the University of Texas at   States.  At the same time, J. T. began strategic investing in
          Austin Longhorns and the Texas A&M University Aggies.    the Lubbock community in real estate, banking, and oil and
          Margaret was a proud graduate of the University of Texas,   gas ventures.  Together, they built not only a successful
          and J.T. was a Texas Aggie and graduate of Texas A&M.   retail operation but also a business empire that yielded
                                                                impressive returns.
          The young newlyweds moved from Fort Worth to Lubbock
          in 1946 when the accounting firm that employed J.T.   J.T. and Margaret worked closely together throughout their
          wanted to expand into other markets in Texas.  Margaret   lives.  Their strong work ethic and knowledge of business
          was interested in a business endeavor of her own and   and investments gave them the ability to enjoy life and
          decided on becoming involved in the retail industry with   travel to destinations worldwide.  After J.T.’s death in
          a ladies’ specialty store.  She was naïve but energetic and   2005, Margaret kept a large map of the world, with colorful
          went to New York City to start the process of establishing   pushpins highlighting the locations throughout the world
          business contacts and relationships, as well as to learn all   where she and J.T. had traveled.
          she could about fashion retailing.  She learned how to write
          orders, how to budget, and how to determine the right   Margaret was an avid reader and lifelong learner,
          balance of price points, inventory size, styles and colors.  garnering a large collection of books throughout her
                                                                life. Another of her interests was music. In Junior High
          Margaret also learned about financing and impressed   School, she sang in the choir and played the violin.  In
          the people at Dunn & Bradstreet in New York with her   relationships, Margaret was a trusted friend, prominent
          knowledge and resolve. The staff of Dunn & Bradstreet   business leader and mentor.
          agreed to finance the purchase of the inventory she needed


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