Happy Founder Day - Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc., Rose City Chapter

Happy Founder Day - Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc.

On This Day:
June 4, 1964, on the campus of Texas College in at 2404 N Grand Ave, Tyler, Texas, the first meeting to establish policies and to enact governing laws for the Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. organization.

Happy Founder Day - Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc.Photo byStock photo

>Mrs. Ollie Mae McLemere Crawford, is being credited for design the "Crown", shown below<

Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. (TLOD) is a non-profit educational, humanitarian organization12that was chartered in Texas on September 8, 1964, by eight women.

TLOD has over 125 chapters and over 7,500 members across the United States. TLOD aims to enhance and enrich the lives of youth and adults through national programs, projects, and partners.

The purpose of the organization was to marshal the talents, energies, and skills of women nationally in a collaborative effort to help alleviate the moral and social problems confronting our youth in the mid-sixties. Thus, the organization was born.

Franchell Boswell*
Lady Boswell, of Tyler, Texas, received a Bachelor of Art in Music from Prairie View College and pursued graduate work at the University of Oregon. She taught music in Port Arthur, Texas and Tyler, Texas. She served as the first National President of Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. and held office from 1964-1971. The Franchell Boswell Foundation is dedicated in her memory.

Ina Bolton Brown, Ph.d.*
Lady Brown,of Houston, Texas, received a Bachelor of Science from Washburn University and a Doctorate from University of Southern California. She served as Dean of Students for 16 years at Texas Southern University. She held the office of Vice-President and hosted the first meeting to increase membership at Texas Southern University. Her philosophy of TLOD when founded was: “Idealism: Belief in God, put him first in everything and believe in people.”

Augusta Rivers Cash-Latham*
Lady Cash-Latham, of Memphis, Tennessee, received a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science from Tennessee State University. She was an educator. She served as Second Vice President and was instrumental in the decisions for the names Parliament-Top, Syn-Lod, and the Crown. Her philosophy of TLOD when founded was: “Whatever you do, do it well.”

Major Ozell Dean*
Lady Dean, of Washington, D.C., received a Bachelor of Art from Texas College, BSN from Dillard University, and was a LA MSN & Ph.D. candidate at the Catholic University of America. She was the first African American Flight Nurse in the U.S. Air Force Corps. She was the Founder of the Esther Dean Ministry and the Executive Organizing Founder of TLOD, Inc. Her philosophy of TLOD when founded was: “Success in life does not lie in your material wealth, social position, or education level, but what you are able to give of yourself for the good of others.”

Willie Lee Glass*
Lady Glass, of Tyler, Texas, received a Bachelor of Science from Prairie View University and a Master of Science from Iowa State University. She was a State Consultant with Texas Education Agency. She was the first National Vice-President and the first National Top Teens Director and was responsible for spearheading the ritualistic mechanics and properties of the organization. Her philosophy of TLOD when founded was: “To be Tops in Service to all mankind and especially to the youth of the land. Service is the rent we pay for living in God’s world.”

LaVerne Madlock*
Lady Madlock, of Tyler, Texas, received a Bachelor of Science from Texas College and a Master of Science from Iowa State College. She held the offices of National Recording Secretary and was the second National President of Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc., serving from 1971-1974.

Ruth Payne Smith*
Lady Smith, of Austin, Texas, received a Bachelor and a Master of Science in Home Economics from Prairie View University. She held the offices of Chapter Vice President, Secretary and Advisor. She was a Vocational Home Economics Educator. She was instrumental in developing the motto “Serving Youth and Adults.”

Georgia Bell Presswood Nelson*
Lady Nelson, of Dallas, Texas, was the first National Treasurer.