Obituaries

Margaret Gill Hein

Photo of Margaret Gill Hein
Dr. Margaret Gill Hein, an Arkadelphia native, died February 10, 2013. She was an only child, born June 25, 1921, to Joseph Mote and Lula Helms Gill and was the only granddaughter of George W. and Cora Spears Gill. Her husband, Dr. W.J. (Bill) Hein, died March 11, 2001. Margaret grew up in Arkadelphia, graduated from Arkadelphia High School, 1939 Valedictorian and from Henderson State Teachers' College (now HSU) second in the class of 1943. During those years she moved easily between her dad's Clark County Cattle Auction (Saturday sale) and the academic world, equally at ease in both areas. Throughout her life she remained connected with people in every walk of life. Her educational career began with teaching Latin at Arkadelphia High School during her last two years in college; later teaching in Okalona and Mountain Pine. Following two years in the WAC, she returned to education, earning a M.A. at SMU (1950) and then pursuing work on the Ph.D. at UT - Austin, while teaching at SMU during the academic year with summer studying.in Austin (Ph.D. 1956). In 1957 Margaret joined the ASCD (Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development) staff in Washington, D.C. as Assistant Secretary, later moving to Executive Secretary for six years, the first person to serve two three-year terms. Margaret moved from Washington, D. C. to Mills College in Oakland, California, Head of Teacher Education (1965), where she met and married Bill; she then moved to Lehigh University in Pennsylvania as Associate Dean of Education when Bill became Vice-President of East Stroudsburg State University. Margaret continued speaking and consulting at local, state national and international arenas. She served as representative of the United States to NATO in Brussels, Belgium, as well as representative to a British, Canadian and American meeting at Ditchley Park, England. She was also a national evaluator for the Ford Foundation of grant programs for secondary schools and junior colleges across the United States. In fact, her speaking, consulting and evaluating work took her to all the states, except Alaska. Margaret also taught at the University of Puerto Rico (two summers), the University of Arizona, Lehigh University, HSU (one semester),and East Stroudsburg State University, Pennsylvania. Always Margaret kept busy with a variety of educational, city, county, state and humanitarian activities. When the Heins retired to Arkadelphia in 1983, she helped start the Humane Society of Clark County and at the same time, started a recycling program to support the Humane Society. She directed the legislative Commission for School District Reorganization when President Bill Clinton was governor. When the Heins moved to Tucson, Arizona for Bill's health, she continued her customary involvement: Northminister Presbyterian Church, the Southern Arizona Veterans' Administration Health Center and membership on the board of the Educational Enrichment Foundation. On returning to Arkadelphia a second time (2004) after Bill's death, she re-entered the Colerean and Philharmonic Clubs and the Presbyterian Women activities and Democratic Woman of Clark County. Margaret leaves two mutually adoptive families. Dr. John and Kate Galgiani (Jessica and Allison) and Mr. Charles and Donna Singleton (Emily and Alex), both of Tucson, Arizona. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, February 17th at First Presbyterian Church in Arkadelphia. Interment will be in Richland Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Humane Society of Clark County, 627 Walnut St., Arkadelphia, Ark. 71923. Online guest register is available at www.ruggleswilcox.com.

Published February 13, 2014

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