'The Voice of Hopkins County'

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  • Enola Gay Mathews, a.k.a. the “Voice of Hopkins County,” was honored Monday as a recipient of the Texas governor’s Yellow Rose of Texas Commission for her service to the community since moving to Sulphur Spring in 1985. Courtesy
    Enola Gay Mathews, a.k.a. the “Voice of Hopkins County,” was honored Monday as a recipient of the Texas governor’s Yellow Rose of Texas Commission for her service to the community since moving to Sulphur Spring in 1985. Courtesy
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Enola Gay Mathews passionately serves community

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Local radio personality Enola Gay Mathews may not have been born in Hopkins County, but she got here as soon as she could.

“I’ve had my share of difficulties during my life,” Mathews said, “but it’s often the difficult path of life that produces real gold. That’s certainly true for me.”

Mathews was born in Odessa and raised in Longview. Growing up in the 1960s, she aspired to be a Kilgore Rangerette and/or a Miss Texas pageant contestant. She married in her teens, and while neither of those dreams came to fruition, Mathews found those ladies’ poise and pride to be an inspiration.

The closest I ever got to the Rangerettes was in 2001. I was in Washington, D.C., in the ballroom at the inaugural Black Tie and Boots Ball of President George W. Bush when the full squad of Rangerettes entered the back of the darkened room and lined up in their signature stance before heading for the spotlight.

Mathews’ biggest inspiration was her mother, Billie Moorman White, from whom Mathews learned how to cook, sew and, most importantly, help others whenever possible.

“My mother came from the Depression era”, Mathews said, “but she still did anything she could to help others. She didn’t know how to not extend her own helping hand. She was known for her grit and capability, and she had a sense of humor, style and dignity I admire to this day. It's been my lifelong goal to make her proud of me, and I wish she could have lived to see me receive the Yellow Rose of Texas commission.”

After her marriage, Mathews traveled with her husband to various military posts, which included one year in Vietnam. This was followed by a stint living on a docked houseboat in Oahu Harbor while working as a nanny for the five children of Hawaiian hoteliers.

For two years, Mathews and her family lived in a cabin made from a converted school bus in the mountains of southeastern Oklahoma. Although life was very difficult, Mathews said it gave her an appreciation of the pioneer lifestyle.

“We had no running water or electricity,” Mathews recalled. “I carried water from a spring, and we hunted and preserved our own food. I remember during one summer, we killed 25 copperheads. My children rode the bus to a school 30 miles away. It was very primitive living, but also a good lesson in surviving.”

Later influences came from a mentor who was a local cattle raiser, Vera Harrington, who served on the President's Beef Board during Bill Clinton’s term in office and encouraged Mathews to take a job as a news reporter.

Harrington introduced Mathews to her second mentor, Sarah McClendon, a native Texan whose news career began in Tyler and spanned over 50 years covering the terms of 12 consecutive U.S. presidents, from Franklin Roosevelt to George W. Bush.

“Sarah was elderly when I first met her during one of her occasional visits to Texas, but she still commanded any room she was in with intelligence, wit and candor. Both those ladies were on their own [widowed], and they showed me by example how to be influential and make things happen.”

Mathews arrived in Hopkins County in 1985 with a husband and four lively children — Clay, who joined the Army, along with sisters Bobbi Jo, Jamie and Jessica. A fifth child, Angela, joined the family soon after. The family fell in love with a historic house, built in 1895 by local businessman O.M. Pate, in Sulphur Springs, but wasn’t able to buy it at the time.

“About three years later, we had another chance at the same house and got it for half-price. To me, that was a sign we were meant to be in Sulphur Springs,” Mathews said.

Mathews began her radio career in phone sales and commercial production at KDXE in 1987. Two years later, a neighbor, Linda Stanford, who at the time had the morning show at KSST, suggested Mathews apply there. She got the sales job, along with an on-air shift later, and “the voice of Hopkins County” was born.

In 1995, Mathews revived the Reilly Springs Jamboree, where she and her band, Running Creek, continue performing today. Mathews also began an annual Crockpot chili contest. This funded a local summertime event, the National Day of the American Cowboy, which American Cowboy magazine sponsored through 2010.

Mathews developed a strong interest in Western or “cowboy” music and continues to cultivate that through various organizations, including the Academy of Western Artists and the Texas Music Association. She has received awards like DJ of the Year and was inducted as a Western Swing Hero into the Western Swing Hall of Fame. She’s also been recognized by various local groups for her service to the community.

In addition to all that, Mathews continues her morning radio show, supports community organizations, produces and emcees the Jamboree. She also is one half of local duo Sentimental Journey with Mike Shing, singing ’50s and ’60s pop, rock and country favorites at various events.

“Music allows a combination of personal expression with making people happy, and that makes it just about the most fun thing there is for me,” Mathews said.

Today, Mathews is a proud mother of five with 12 grandchildren ages 2 to 25 and four great-grandsons. She says they make her life busy and fun — just like she makes Hopkins County’s life.