Biographical Text
Associate Professor Emerita of Business Education and Office Administration Martha Grey Hawkinson (August 13, 1917 -), retired college professor, was born in Charlotte Courthouse, Virginia the daughter of DeBerniere Smith and Matt McMurray Grey. Hawkinson attended Sharon and Central High Schools in Charlotte, North Carolina and graduated in 1934. She married the late Walter A. Hawkinson (May 20, 1906 -December 29, 1976) on April 5, 1947. The Hawkinsons have two sons, Murray G. Hawkinson (March 21, 1952 -) and John W. Hawkinson (March 20, 1954 - ). Murray Hawkinson married Gail Suggs and the couple has one son: Grey McMurray Hawkinson (June 1, 1986 -). John has two children by an earlier marriage: Heather Grey Hawkinson (January 28, 1975 -) and Kristian John Hawkinson (August 26,1977). John Hawkinson is now married to Ursula Dust. Martha Hawkinson has two sisters: Frances G. Pfohl (July 27,1915 - now living in Greensboro, North Carolina) and Jane G. Torrey (February 4, 1921 -- now living in South Korea). She also had two brothers: William H. Grey (January 17, 1923 - now living in Staunton, Virginia) and DeBerniere S. Grey (January 1, 1925 - February 13, 1956). Hawkinson attended Queens College in Charlotte, North Carolina where she earned her A.B. degree in mathematics and history in 1938 and her B.S.S.A. degree in business in 1939. After receiving her B.S.S.A. degree Hawkinson became a faculty member at Tryon High School, RFD Bessemer City, Gaston County, North Carolina where she taught business until 1942. In 1942 Hawkinson moved to Cherryville, North Carolina where she joined the faculty at Cherryville High School for two years as a commercial teacher. Hawkinson moved to Boone, North Carolina in 1944 to join the faculty at Appalachian High School where she was a commercial and critic teacher for seven and a half years. While at Appalachian High School Hawkinson attended Appalachian State Teachers College during the summers of 1946-50, to work on her M.S. degree in mathematics which she received in 1950. Hawkinson became a member of the faculty of Appalachian State Teachers College (now Appalachian State University) in 1955 as an assistant professor in the Department of Economics and Business. She taught courses in accounting, shorthand, typing, business math and business machines. She was promoted to associate professor in 1979. During her tenure at Appalachian Hawkinson worked for eight years as a part-time tax consultant for H & R Block during the tax season (January-April). She also attended several workshops held by H & R Block to learn of new laws affecting income tax preparation as a means to improve her teaching. Hawkinson spent a lot of her time evaluating and updating the courses she taught. She was also the major moving force in establishing the Learning Laboratory in the College of Business, which she also directed. Hawkinson also prepared guidelines for typing manuscripts for the Graduate School and devised a system for school typewriter inventory control. Her publications include: "Yes, I Teach to Music," in Journal of Business Education, 1951. Hawkinson served on the Re-Evaluation Committee on Teacher Training as well as several years on the ASU Equal Opportunity Committee and several other professional committees. In addition, she attended annual Business Education conferences. She was the senior member of the College of Business faculty, having taught longer than any other faculty member. Hawkinson worked with, the State Department of Public Instruction as consultant, evaluating schools and judging a contest. She also assisted in the evaluation of schools for the Southern Association of Schools; served as curriculum consultant for North Rowan High School; participated in the validation study of the National Teachers Exam; conducted a Business Teacher Workshop for in-service training for teachers in the Buncombe County Schools; and taught several extension classes in Improvement of Instruction in Teaching Business Machines in Mecklenburg County schools. In the community Hawkinson has been president of the Appalachian Woman's Club; a charter member and president of Boone Junior Woman's Club; secretary and treasurer for Delta Kappa Gamma; local president and treasurer of the American Cancer Society; and member of Women of the Presbyterian Church. Hawkinson retired from the University in 1981. She was chief faculty marshal for the 1975 commencement and faculty marshal for the 1976 commencement. She was honored with the emerita status by the Board of Trustees in 1981. In her retirement Hawkinson began working as a public secretary with an office in her home. She also pursues her handicraft of traditional rug hooking, attending workshops and demonstrating and exhibiting her work in numerous festivals and craft fairs. Sources: Appalachian State University files and personal correspondence. - Dr. Richard D. Howe and Miss Lynette Tuttle
Comments