Wava Henry
Wava Banes Turner Henry was
born in Cleveland, Oklahoma, on March 14, 1920.
She grew up in the oil fields of Oklahoma and
Texas. Wava attended schools in California,
Oklahoma, and Texas and graduated from Wink,
Texas, High School in 1936. Her parents felt that
she was too young to go to college, so she spent
another year in high school playing in the band
and participating in sports. In the summer of
1937, Wava entered Texas Tech University and
graduated in the summer of 1940 with a Bachelor's
Degree and a major in Band Music. In the fall of
1939, Wava succeeded in getting sorority status
for Tau Beta Sigma at Texas Tech (the Alpha
Chapter until the Sorority went National).
Most universities were not
allowing women in the band at that time, and
certainly there were no women Band Directors
around. No positions seemed to be available.
Finally, she got her first position in Avoca,
Texas, in the fall of 1940. Wava's position
consisted of teaching vocal music in all grades,
band in all grades, and coaching basketball and
track. Because of World War II, universities
began to accept women in their bands, and
positions opened up for women. The following year
she accepted a position in Andrews, Texas. In
December 1941, Wava married H. Jack Turner, Jr.,
who was a charter member of Alpha Omicron Chapter
of Kappa Kappa Psi. They lived in Lubbock, Texas,
and she worked in a music store until Jack went
into the Army Air Force. In 1943, Wava became
band director in Sundown, Texas. After the war,
she and Jack had a business in Lubbock. During
that time, Wava went to Texas Tech and received a
Master's Degree. After Jack's death in 1958, she
received her certification in math and
counseling. She taught math in the Lubbock school
for a year before she moved to Aspen, Colorado,
in 1961 to teach in the Aspen Schools. Later, she
became counselor and administrator until her
retirement in 1981. Wava was involved in
developing the Outdoor and Experiential Programs
in the Aspen School District and was District
Director of the programs. She was also
coordinator of the school ski program for several
years.
Wava married Reese Henry in
1981. She stayed occupied with volunteer work at
the hospital and other charitable activities. She
became active in Tau Beta Sigma when she attended
the National Convention in 1971 and has attended
every National Convention since then. She is a
Charter member of Beta Chapter, a Life member of
the National Chapter, an honorary member of Alpha
Chapter, a life member of the Board of Trustees,
a Life member of the National Alumni Association,
and an honorary member of Alpha Omicron Chapter
of Kappa Kappa Psi. Beta Chapter has set up a
scholarship in her name at Texas Tech. Among
other awards are Beta's 50th Anniversary for
Outstanding Service award and the Kappa Kappa Psi
Richard E. Tolley Service award
Wava and Reese moved to
Midway, Utah, in 1997 to be next door to daughter
and family. Sandra and Paul Grindle operate the
Double G stables where the staff trains, teaches,
and ride horses. Wava and Reese look out on the
beautiful Wasatch Mountains and watch the
activity at the stables. They have traveled
extensively. Through the years, Wava has enjoyed
rafting, camping, skiing, golfing, traveling, and
other fun activities. She now spends time trying
to dissect the computer.
Wava says that she will
remain active in Tau Beta Sigma until she joins
the Great Sorority in the sky.
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