The Carrie LaVerne Langford Memorial Scholarship was established by Mr. and Mrs. Darrell Robertson to honor Mrs. Langford, who was one of only a handful of female agents on the Santa Fe Railroad system in 1970. She excelled in what was then a traditionally male-dominated profession.

Below are excerpts from an article highlighting Mrs. C.L. Langford  that were published in the January 1970 edition of the Santa Fe Magazine.

“‘Mrs. Santa Fe’ is what they call her in Pineland, Tex…and she wouldn’t want it any other way.”

“‘I love being an agent for the Santa Fe’ states Mrs. C.L. Langford, who holds that position with the company in Pineland”…

“One of the few women agents on the Santa Fe system, Mrs. Langford is the only one of her kind on the entire Western Lines. A youthful appearance and vitality belying her long service with the Santa Fe, Mrs. Langford takes pride in talking about her twenty-five and a half years with the railway.”

“In the beginning I started out as an apprentice operator at San Augustine, Tex., (23 rail miles south of Pineland) in 1944, and then worked in Carthage, Tenaha and San Augustine. I’ve been at Pineland twelve and a half years.”

Mrs. Langford returned to Carthage.  Since her family heritage in Panola County dated back to the early 1800’s, it was only natural that she would return to Carthage after she retired from the Santa Fe Railroad, with 40 years of service.

Her grandfather James Edward Bruster was a prominent land owner and farmer. He instilled strong work ethics in his children.

Her other grandfather, Thomas Etheridge, was a good student in school and chose to be a teacher. He attended Sam Houston State Teacher College and was in the first graduating class. He returned to Panola County and taught school in the Macedonia area. He was also a mail carrier and an apiarist.

“My cousin was a wonderful role model,” said Mrs. Charlcye Robertson. “Her parents, Carl and Gladys Bruster Etheridge impressed upon her the importance of receiving a good education. I think she would be pleased to know that a scholarship has been established in her name to help others achieve their educational goals. It will keep her memory alive and benefit students for years to come.”

The Carrie LaVerne Langford Memorial Scholarship will be awarded annually to a deserving student. The selection and announcement naming the recipients will be made in the spring each year.