History of Our Club

The Republican Women of Arlington Club had its beginning in 1958 as Arlington Republican Women. One of the founding women, Doraline Daeley, later suggested the name change. To look at the history of the club stirs the desire to look and compare it to chapters in our American history.

Both beginnings harbor the struggles of pioneer women. The spirit in the Lone Star State of Texas today lived in the determined settlers who found their way west. They dug in with the strength of their bodies and the dreams of their hearts. New dreams stirred also in the hearts of a small band of Arlington women in the 1950’s. They set out to bring Republican change to the frontier of Texas politics.

As this story goes,  "Because of the small number of Republicans for membership, their meeting took place in the local phone booth." Arlington was undisputedly a Democrat stronghold. Yet just as the pioneer women a century earlier had set their minds to change the hard prairie land, so too did this group of women take charge to change Arlington with its embedded hard-crusted Democrats.

These Republican women set out to work hard and stick to their convictions. They would keep the club alive and growing. Their numbers were so few, outgoing officers would recycle their positions. Perhaps their bodies grew tired at times, but their spirits were strongly committed to growing a Republican base in Arlington. Each election would show a little more promise, and the Tarrant County Republicans were gaining in numbers as well.

The large Republican presence in Arlington, in the early days, is due to the stalwart leadership exhibited by Doraline Daeley, Irene Jones, Rosemary Jersak, Joyce Morgan, Helen Maddox, Dorene Goodson, and Kay Walsh. (It was also through the dedicated work of these women and their husbands that the Arlington Republican Club was organized). A pivotal time for the growth of the club was during the 90's when, under the leadership of Delores Pell, the club created and funded their scholarship program and, with their "An Evening With Charlton Heston" fundraiser, raised over $60,000 for the RWA PAC which benefitted Texas Republican candidates.  Over the years of growth, the hard work of the women has escalated their recognition. The members are precinct chairs, election workers, and serve as delegates to County, State and National Conventions. The club believes in building and nurturing the "grass roots" of the Republican Party, and welcomes all those who also support limited government and belief in the Constitution, as written by our Founding Fathers, to join us.  

RWA meets 3rd Thursdays of the month (except July and August) at 11:30 a.m. @Shady Valley Country Club in Arlington

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