Many volunteers worked long hours in preparation for McCAMEY's 75^th ANNIVERSARY & McCAMEY HIGH SCHOOL's REUNION 2000.  Among those hard working people were Charles and Glynda Taylor. Glynda was the decorations chairman for the big August event. Charles graduated from McCamey High School in 1959, and even though Glynda loves McCamey and it's school system, she never went to school there. She adopted McCamey High School, because she was convinced that it is the best place in the world to go to school. Besides all the hours spent improving the looks of McCamey, Charles & Glynda are Volunteer Firefighters, Emergency Medical Technicians, have reared eight children and have 10 grandchildren. Charles retired from Altura (Shell) and a party was held in his honor on June 20, 2000. Glynda is still a full-time beautician.  In addition, Glynda is on the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce, is a member of the Lions Club and serves on the Board of Directors for McCamey's Emergency Services, Inc. This quote is from McCamey's Mayor, Sherry Babcock Phillips:

Among the "decorating" projects the Taylors' worked on, was painting the old NEWSPAPER BUILDING with a Southwest theme.  Glynda said that she fell in love with that building the first time she saw it and has grand plans for it in the future.  For casual observers, the "newspaper" building may have been just another old building; but now, it is one of the most beautiful buildings in town. Many of the ornate features of the building were highlighted to show it's grand style. McCamey's visitors are enjoying a treat when they drive through town.

The Newspaper Building was painted in preparation for the August, 2000, Anniversary & Reunion

Glynda, an artist, and Charles painted a mural on the west side of the building which once housed McCamey's radio station and Van Atta's Freezer Service. The mural depicts the spirit and history of McCamey's past.

Charles & Glynda worked on "the mural" with the help of their granddaughter, Britnee

The following was taken from an article which appeared in Rick Smith's column on page 1-A of the San Angelo STANDARD TIMES, Wednesday, July 5, 2000.

McCamey mural is labor of love

RICK SMITH

Glynda Taylor (left, in foreground) is shown in front of a mural
she painted to celebrate McCamey's 75th anniversary.  In the
background are townspeople involved in the celebration.

    McCAMEY - In Glynda Taylor's world, the Pecos River's a little bit bluer, the trees are considerably bigger and the rugged land around McCamey's a sea of green, green grass and colorful flowers.
    "Well, maybe I used a little too much green," Glynda said, studying the mural of the McCamey countryside she just finished.
    But the fact is that Glynda and many other McCamey residents have a deep love for the place they call home. And if that colors their world of rugged mountains and endless plains a little greener, good for them.
    Lottie Bradshaw understands.
    She followed her husband to McCamey, to his oil field job, in 1936.
    "My husband got a job and the baby and I came on out. When we got here all we saw were tents, shacks - and big cars. And the smell! I thought, What has he gotten me into?"
    "But we stayed, and the people made it special."
    McCamey celebrates its specialness Aug. 4 and 5. The town turns 75 years old this summer, and McCamey folks have spent months preparing for the party and all-school reunion.
    As part of the Chamber of Commerce's party decorations, Glynda began painting a 120-foot mural four months ago. She finished just before dawn Monday and signed her creation before a small group of supporters that afternoon.
    A beautician by trade, Glynda's studied art and painted all her life.
    But she had never painted a picture on the side of a building until now.
    "The first day I came out here to start painting, I looked down that wall and it looked 10 miles long," Glynda said.
    She often painted in the pre-dawn hours to escape the West Texas heat.
    The old building is in downtown McCamey on a busy highway, and the mural quickly became a tourist attraction. Passing truck drivers encouraged Glynda and bus drivers stopped so passengers could view the painting while stretching their legs.
    And it is a beautiful painting. Horseback cowboys cross a plain leading up to the Pecos. Big mountains and a blue, cloudy sky float in the background. Cattle graze in a pasture.
    Glynda had a lot of advice on how to do the painting, including some from her young granddaughter.
    If you visit the mural, look for the little red house in about the center of the painting. Glynda's granddaughter wanted her to include two children on a see-saw in front of the house.
    "Why?" the grandmother asked.
    "So everyone will know that the people haven't moved out, that they still live there," the child said.
    Guess what?
    Two children play on a see-saw in front of a small red house in Glynda's wall-side world.
    The theme of this year's celebration is "McCamey: Still Alive at 75." Despite the heat and distance and uncertainty of the oil field economy, McCamey's alive and kicking.
    People haven't moved out. They still live here.
    Many of those people are helping to get the town ready for the August celebration.
    McCamey Mayor Sherry Phillips heads a committee that includes celebration chairperson/chamber president Roylene Chandler, Elizabeth and Bill Long, Glynda and Charles Taylor, Kay Hopper, Janice M
    Two children play on a see-saw in front of a small red house in GIynda's wall-side world.
    The theme of this year's celebration is "McCamey: Still Alive at 75." Despite the heat and distance and uncertainty of the oilfield economy, McCamey's alive and kicking.
    People haven't moved out. They Still live here.
Many of those people are helping to get the town ready for the August celebration.
    McCamey Mayor Sherry Pililips heads a committee that inchides celebration chairperson/chamber president Roylene Chandler, Elizabeth and Bill Long, Glynda and Charles Taylor, Kay Hopper, Janice Mason, Sheri Stephens, Emma Jones, James McKee, Gary Elliott, Mike Arnold, Connie Mitchum, Debra Duncan and Debra Crossland, Isabel and Steve Esparza, Debra and Stephanie Sanchez, Joyce Reeves, Lou Ann Watson, Joan Coe, Peggy Garner, Peggy Kelton and Tommy Owens. They've planted flowers, painted buildings, decorated, turned an old downtown building into a make-believe saloon/visitor's center.
    The chamber helped put together five quilts- composed of squares made by different families - that tell the story of the little town in words and pictures. The quilts will be on display throughout the celebration.
    Other murals are planned for the downtown area. Glynda will paint some and other folks will paint others.
    For Glynda, celebrating her town in paint is a dream come true.
    "I've been in McCamey since 1961, and my husband and I raised eight kids and 10 grandchildren here," she said.
    "It's the people who make a town, and this gives me a chance to show them how much I appreciate them."
    "Doing this has given me a chance to paint something I love - this town and these special people."
    For more information about the celebration, call Sherry Phillips at 652-8898 or Roylene Chandler at 652-8222.

Contact Rick at rsmith@texaswest.com or 659-8248

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Contact me at:    Odessa, Texas
432/366-6477