Missouri PTA was founded during the 16th annual convention of the National Congress of Mothers held in St. Louis, Missouri, thanks to the efforts of Mary Harmon Weeks and Mrs. Frank DeGarmo. Missouri (then 500 members strong) was organized into a state branch on March 25, 1912, with Mrs. James Nugent as its first state president.
In 1928, two years after the founding of its national counterpart, the Missouri Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers was organized, with Mrs. Henly Cox as its first president. During the term of Irma Detjen as state president and with Walter Rusan as president of the Missouri Colored Congress, Missouri became the first state PTA to invite its counterpart to join in membership. In April 1955, the two organizations became one united Missouri PTA.
Missouri PTA has over 100 years of history and past experiences. We were one of the first states to have students serve on our board of managers. Our students presented a resolution at the 2013 National PTA convention regarding distracted driving.
1912 – 1914 Mrs. James Nuget*
1914 – 1916 Mrs. J.B. McBride*
1916 – 1917 Mrs. W.H. Jobe*
1917 – 1920 Mrs. J.H. Sheldon*
1920 – 1923 Mrs. William Ullman*
1923 – 1925 Mrs. F.O. Cox*
1925 – 1929 Mrs. W.A. Masters*
1929 – 1933 Mrs. James Cook*
1933 – 1936 Mrs. W.L.Mabrey*
1936 – 1939 Mrs. Frank Dorsey*
1939 – 1942 Mrs. True Davis*
1942 – 1946 Mrs. Frank Wheeler*
1946 – 1949 Mrs. Otto Eisenstein*
1949 – 1952 Mrs. Herman Engle*
1952 – 1955 Mrs. Wheeler Detjen*
1955 – 1958 Mrs. Frank B Leitz*
1958 – 1961 Grace Carr*
1961 – 1964 Irene Powell*
1964 – 1967 Fritzie Trampe*
1967 – 1969 Almalee Yeghisian*
1969 – 1971 Kathryn Wasson*
1971 – 1973 Mabel Schulenberg*
1973 – 1975 Edith Conner*
1975 – 1977 Eleanor Langemach
1977 – 1979 Clarice Seals
1979 – 1981 Ruth Scheetz*
1981 – 1983 Freddie Nichols
1983 – 1985 Joan Keiser
1985 – 1987 Teresa Dean
1987 – 1989 Chloe Nitsch
1989 – 1991 Helen Smith*
1991 – 1993 Gwen Tucker
1993 – 1995 Sue Raumaker
1995 – 1997 Teresa Lupton
1997 – 1999 Linda Hyde
1999 – 2001 Sherry Davis
2001 – 2003 Julie Kays*
2003 – 2005 Tina Zubeck*
2005 – 2007 Kathy Nevans
2007 – 2009 Mary Oyler
2009 – 2011 Wendy Jackson*
2011 – 2013 Donna Petiford
2013 – 2016 Kim Weber
2016 – 2018 Dorothy Gardner
2018 – 2020 Susan Rupert
*(deceased)