OUR TOWN
Some of my favorite childhood memories of growing up in Taylor are of the mom-and-pop grocery stores across the city. Often within walking distance or a short drive from home, these small family-owned businesses offered the convenience of a quick trip for items needed between weekly visits to H-E-B (today the site of the Temple College Building), Safeway (City Hall) or Piggly Wiggly (AutoZone).
I enjoyed riding my bike to Wesley’s Grocery on Davis Street where I got to know Wesley and Billie Miller, or shopping the candy aisle at Fails’ Grocery on Fourth Street while my parents visited with Bill and Lillian Fails.
I especially enjoyed stopping by Quick-Way Grocery at Second and Sloan streets on a Friday afternoon to pick up a few Tony’s Pizzas for 99 cents, featured as the weekend special.
I’m sure many of you remember the owners, Immanuel and Lydia Burow.
At 99 years young, Lydia Burow has lived in Taylor since the fifth grade and absolutely loves her hometown. She was born Sept. 16, 1925, less than a year after Taylor High School adopted the Duck as its mascot.
She is one of two remaining graduates from the Class of 1943.
Highly respected by her peers, the former Miss Lydia Matetzschk was voted class president each of her three years in high school. At that time, high school only went through the 11th grade.
Much to her disappointment, the 12th grade wasn’t added until the following year. She loved school, and said she would have gladly attended an additional year.
She also graduated at the top of her class. In researching the 1940s archives of the Cotton Boll, Taylor High’s newspaper, I found the headline, “Matetzschk Wins Valedictory Honor.”
The smaller headline announced she missed having the highest average ever made at Taylor High by a fraction of a point.
Her favorite teachers were Coach T. H. Johnson, who she describes as a wonderful history teacher, and Ruth Mantor, a Taylor High graduate herself from the Class of 1923.
During a recent visit in which we sat at her dining table, looking through a box of memorabilia and talking about old times, Burow recalled, “I adored Coach Johnson. I thought the world of that man and kept in touch with him after graduation.”
She added, “And I loved Miss Mantor. She always sat on the corner of her desk to talk to us. She demanded respect. You didn’t pull any foolishness in her class. After she retired, I always went by her house to see her.”
Two historic events happened during her time at Taylor High, both in 1941.
That was the year the cherished school song was written. Patricia Gossett from the Class of 1942 penned the words, and band director Jack Nowlin wrote the music.
“I remember when she wrote the song, and I admired her for it,” Burow said. “I love that song.”
The year 1941 was also when Johnson received a very special envelope in the mail from Walt Disney. Inside was a print of Donald Duck, autographed to the Taylor High Ducks by the entertainment icon himself.
In the 1943 senior class prophesy, classmates predicted their friend Lydia Matetzschk would become the first woman president of the United States. While she never entered politics, the future Taylor businesswoman has continued to make a difference right here at home.
Until three years ago, Burow kept in touch with her classmates. She planned their class reunion every year and sent information with details of the scheduled activities.
At almost 100, Burow keeps a very busy schedule that includes driving to certain destinations around town. When I stopped by her house a couple of weeks ago, she had just returned from a visit to her hairdresser where she received, as she called it, the three C’s: cut, color and curl.
Burow also drives to her weekly chiropractic appointments at the practice of her son, Paul Burow, and her grandson, Nathan Burow. Her parents, Herman and Mary Matetzschk, were chiropractors first in Bartlett and then in Taylor as well.
Lydia Burow is still known for her friendly smile and cheerful personality, the same qualities with which she welcomed customers to Quick-Way Grocery for 31 years. She and her husband built the store on an empty lot in 1968. They sold it in 1999.
She still sees children around town who used to come into the store. Now, they are parents and grandparents, and they still remember her from Quick-Way. Some of them call her Mrs. Quick-Way.
The best part of owning a neighborhood grocery store?
“I love people,” she said. “And I was able to be with people every day.”
You may have noticed Burow freely uses the word “love” in conversation. She loves her town, she loves the people here and she loves her family. In addition to Paul, her other children are Dawn and David; there are two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Whenever I visit with one of our local legends, I like to ask them for their “Words to Soar By,” or words of advice for success and happiness they can share with others. When I asked Burow for hers, this was her response: “You have to love people and overlook their negatives. Look for the best in everybody. If you get mad, get over it and learn to forgive. God comes first in my life. I’m not a fanatic, but he is my leader. If you give him credit, and you try to live a decent life like he wants you to, I think that’s the secret.”
As I was working on this week’s column, and was often asked about the topic, I noticed that just the mention of her name, Lydia Burow, made people smile. What a positive impact she has had on so many during her 99 years.
Join me here next week as we learn more about one of our local legends who went on to international fame in the world of children’s entertainment. Until then, make it a great week.
Crow is a longtime Taylor resident and retired from the Taylor Independent School District after 40 years of service. For a topic or suggestion, reach out to Crow via jason.chlapek@granitemediapartners.
com.
