Keep Athens Beautiful

Our History

Prior to August of 1988, there was a committee of the Athens Chamber of Commerce that worked diligently to help beautify and keep Athens beautiful and clean. In it earliest stages it was headed by Margaret Tarrance.

She was succeeded by Margaret Myers. It was her decision to attend a statewide meeting of Keep Texas Beautiful that sparked the effort to align Athens with the Keep America Beautiful and Keep Texas Beautiful programs.

Under the capable leadership of both of the Margaret’s, the Athens program had faired well. But, the committee lacked the information and materials needed to have a truly in-depth, complete program. Margaret Myers asked her board to take the initiative to become a part of the national and state organizations.

It was decided in late summer of 1988 to do this. Work began on forming by-laws, determine the agency of which Keep Athens Beautiful would be a part and the role the City of Athens would play in the program.

The decision was made to make Keep Athens Beautiful a committee of the Athens Chamber of Commerce; to have by-laws governing operation of Keep Athens Beautiful with a board that would run the organization: to report to both Athens Chamber of Commerce and the City of Athens on activities and finances on a regular basis.

The decision was made to employ a part-time executive director who would be an employee of the Athens Chamber of Commerce. The chamber would be reimbursed by Keep Athens Beautiful for expenses connected with the directors’ employment.

The initial boards of directors, along with the officer nominees, were named by the board of the Athens Chamber of Commerce. The City of Athens was asked in August 1988 to adopt a resolution in support of the program. The council did so. Among the provisions was a call for financial support from the city and a willingness to accept funds on behalf of Keep Athens Beautiful and in turn said funds turned over to the organization. The city has always provided the office facilities for Keep Athens Beautiful.

Felicia Lavoie was employed as the first Keep Athens Beautiful executive director. She is better known to most of you as Mrs. John C. Cain. Under her leadership and that of the organization’s officers and directors’, Keep Athens Beautiful won first-place state award receiving its first two beatified highway entry projects.

Twice a year cleanup programs were initiated the first year. The City of Athens, the public and firms that have served as contractors for waste disposal in Athens have been most supportive of the program.
Basic funding for Keep Athens Beautiful the first few years came from donations that individuals and put on their monthly water bills. Many still donate through this program and through the number of contributors have declined substantially. The city collects the funds and passes them on the Keep Athens Beautiful In recent years foundations, such as the Ginger Murchison Foundation and the Cain Foundation have been major financial supports of the program.

In early 1998 Keep Athens Beautiful became a 501 © (3) public fund. Donations made to it by individuals, businesses and even foundations are income tax deductible.

The original officers were Dick Dewelle, Chairman of the Board; Hugh Armstrong, vice chairman; Neil Hunter, secretary-treasurer.

Besides those appointed as full directors, the board included spots where the membership was filled by position rather than a certain person. These were for the City of Athens; city administrator and the director public works. For the Athens Chamber of Commerce, its executive director. The mayor of Athens was added later. The president of the Athens Chamber of Commerce has always been invited to be active in the organizations and to attend meetings.

Through the years, Keep Athens Beautiful won two additional first place awards in the Texas Department of Transportation competition and additional highway entry way projects have been completed.

This history was complied in 1999. Since that time Keep Athens Beautiful has won four additional first place award in the Texas Department of Transportation program call Governors Community Achievement Awards.