Margo Dianne Looney, 1960
Margo Looney earned recognition at East High for her brains, talent,
leadership abilities, and commitment to service, qualities that she used effectively throughout her life. In a class with many extraordinary students, Margo was a star. She participated in many school and community activities, including East High’s music productions. At right is a photo of Margo in the spring musical, “Do Re Mi,” where she delivered a stunning performance of “Summertime” from Porgy and Bess that won her a standing ovation.
Following her graduation from Wichita East in 1960, Margo attended Wichita State University, where she majored in psychology and sociology.
She joined the women’s auxiliary drill team, the Navy Anchorettes, sponsored by ROTC. In 1963, Margo was the WSU Anchorettes Commanding Officer. Below, Margo is front and center. WSU 1963 Yearbook. )
In 1964, the year she graduated from WSU, Margo was a finalist for Homecoming Queen. Her sponsoring group was NAACP.
As a member of the WSU campus chapter of NAACP, Margo participated in a march to City Hall in support of fair housing. Other objectives included advancing civil liberties, equal opportunity and better understanding.
Above, yearbook and newspaper photos of civil rights demonstrations and a WSU Yearbook photo of NAACP members.
After graduation from WSU, Margo worked for the Sedgwick County Social Welfare Department. She was hired in 1965 for the Wichita On-the Job Training program as an adviser. Her responsibilities included teaching participants, most of whom had little education and were unskilled, proper work attitudes, how to dress for work, being neat and clean, and being on time. Before long, she was making news as the first person to challenge housing discrimination under Wichita’s fair housing ordinance. See story below from the Wichita Eagle.
Margo acted on racial discrimination when a landlady refused to rent her an apartment advertised as being available. Shortly after being refused, Margo asked a white friend to inquire about the apartment, which the landlady then said was ready to rent. In a hearing, the landlady conceded that she was not willing to rent to Negroes. No penalties existed for the apartment owners who were found guilty of discrimination under Wichita’s fair housing ordinance. The only official condemnation consisted of including the incident in the minutes of the City Commission.
In 1966, at the age of twenty-four, Margo accepted an assignment with
the Red Cross to work in Vietnam arranging shows and other entertainment for service personnel. “I am going there because I feel I can help,” she said. “Some understand that I want to do what good I can, wherever I can. Others think I must be crazy. But, I want to help.” Perhaps because of Margo’s high profile in the community, the local newspaper published a story about her new job with the Red Cross. At this time, she anticipated being assigned to a military base once she reached Saigon. See “A Veterans Tribute.”
While stationed in DaNang, Margo met with Brigadier General Edward Fry, who was visiting with African-American soldiers and volunteers in Vietnam. Fry reported that Wichita service personnel conveyed deep concerns about racial disturbances in Wichita and about the safety of their families. Fry, who said he was carrying a letter from Margo to the director of the American Red Cross, promised to contact the families of more than 150 people with whom he met in Vietnam.
Margo’s first marriage was to Lester Clark in June, 1968. Residing in Flushing NY, she worked with the American Red Cross at the Naval Hospital in St. Albans, Long Island, NY.
Margo married a second time in 1974 to Stanley Rogers Watkins, an Air Force veteran, who worked for 37 years in helicopter maintenance and then as a Helicopter Quality Assurance manager for Bell Helicopters. Together, Margo and Stan spent many years overseas, especially in the Middle East. He passed away in 2002, after 28 years of marriage.
Margo enjoyed life-long friendships with classmates and colleagues. We invite her friends to share their memories of Margo and more information about her life of service.
