A Memorial Tribute: The Lawlers

I am not sure that our organization’s membership would know of the generosity of Dr. L. D. Lawler. Dr. Lawler was recently memorialized in The East Texas Journal in a beautiful tribute written by Hudson Old. There was also a good tribute in The Mount Pleasant Daily Tribune after his death. Our members might not realize that Dr. Lawler was a substantial donor for FCHA projects. For every fundraiser, that firm would send a check – most times $100, but oftentimes $500 – and this is a pattern of giving going back for twenty years. Dr. Lawler, a World War II vet, a prisoner of war who weighed 88 pounds when finally liberated, a public servant, our friend.



And his wife Betty, a great cook. She made Christmas candy and distributed it far and wide among her friends. We often benefited from her silken pink peanut patties at Christmas. I’ve tried: Either they are hard as a rock, or they have are full of undissolved grainy sugar crystals. Or they just don’t set up at all and I have a sticky mess! She made these perfect patties which were smooth from the combination of butter and sugar that she cooked to just the exact moment when they would firm up and still dissolve as a luscious candy with raw peanuts cooked perfectly in the boiled batter. Their son Harry is married to the first secretary of our organization, Michelle Rost Elliott Lawler. We are lucky that Harry and his family have enjoyed such a long good relationship with Mt. Vernon. At this holiday season, when they were most active in spreading good cheer, we must wish good rest to those merry and good Lawlers now departed.

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