Thelma Mothershed-Wair

This week’s Cass County Pioneer is Thelma Mothershed Wair. Wair was a groundbreaking civil rights activist and educator, who was best-known as the eldest member of the brave and infamous Little Rock Nine. The Little Rock Nine were a group of African American students who, in 1957, courageously integrated the previously all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Wair was born November 29, 1940, in Bloomburg, Texas. When she was very young, she moved with her family to Little Rock, Arkansas. Following the Brown vs. Board of Education case, which ended segregation in schools, Wair and eight other African Americans attended Little Rock High School. There, they faced intense intimidation, harassment, and racial tensions, but persevered and became the first African Americans to earn diplomas in the previously allwhite school.

Following the Little Rock Nine, Wair attended Southern Illinois University at Carbondale for her bachelor’s degree, then Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville for her master’s degree, then taught school in the East St. Louis School System for twenty-eight years. She retired in 1994. In 2003, Wair moved back to Little Rock, where she remained until her death on October 19, 2024. In her lifetime, Wair received numerous awards, including the Spingarn Medal from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for outstanding achievement in 1958, Congressional Gold Medal in 1998, the National Humanitarian Award at the 2005 National Convention of Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc., and an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 2016.

Jobs in and around Cass County

Deputy Sheriff - Patrols and responds to calls for assistance from the public. Enforces Federal, State, and Local laws. Arrests, transports, and books offenders. Testifies in courts. Performs investigation of all reported offenses. Serves warrants and civil process.

Blade Operator - Effectively operate various sizes and models of self propelled motor graders to spread and level dirt, gravel, stone, and other road materials to rough and fine grade specifications in construction and maintenance of county roads.

Licensed Vocational Nurse - Community Health-Core-Atlanta: he LVN serves as a clinical member of Crisis Stabilization Unit treatment team. The LVN is responsible for using the nursing process to meet the needs of clients according to the professional standards of nursing care.

Registered Nurse - Community HealthCore-Atlanta: Under the general direction of the Director of Nursing (DON) and the RCSU RN Nurse Manager is responsible for utilizing the nursing process to meet the needs of patients in the Rapid Crisis Stabilization Unit (RCSU) (involuntary extended observation unit and voluntary crisis residential unit) according to the professional standards of nursing care.

Atlanta Fire Department - Firefighter/EMT positions: Paramedic Preferred. If applicant is EMT, applicant must obtain paramedic certification within two years from date of hire. If applicant is paramedic only, applicant will be sent to the fire academy.

Cass County Property Fraud Alert Program Cass County Property Fraud Alert Program notifies landowners of actions filed that impact their property title at the County Clerk’s Office. Click the button to sign up. It’s free!

Reach out to my office — P.O. Box 825 Linden, TX 75563 Phone: 903-756-5181, Ext. 0 Fax: 903-756-5732