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Personal Reflection/Anecdote

The Executive Director’s office, in
the front right corner of the building,
looked out on a fenced courtyard with
a small fountain. Down the hall was a
kitchen that connected to the Blanton
Room through a small serving pantry.
In the main hall of the building,
we noted built-in display shelves
housing DKG memorabilia—including
Dr. Blanton’s original Achievement
Award and figurines of Pioneer Women
Educators. Opposite the kitchen, Dr.
Fechek pointed out the library, named
in honor of International Past President
Edna McGuire Boyd (1954–1956).
In the hall once again, Dr. Fechek
referred to the elevator shaft on the
left side of the hallway. The architects
and contractors had been prescient
enough to incorporate the structure for
an elevator, although the elevator itself
was not installed until the mid-90s.
Staff enjoyed the peace of the San Antonio Street Courtyard—here, The tour continued toward the
looking toward Blanton Room windows. back hall of the building, where we
saw offices supporting accounting and
membership services. Throughout the building, each office had one or more filing cabinets and an electric
typewriter. Membership records were kept in several large rotary files.
Now we were ready to go to the lower floor. As we descended the stairs, Dr. Fechek pointed out the
exit to the San Antonio Street Courtyard, an attractively landscaped area shielded from the street by
shrubbery and a brick wall. Continuing to the lower floor, we visited offices of the communications staff,
as well as the supply and mechanical rooms. The Ruby Terrell Lomax Board Room was also on this
level, across from an office reserved for the international president. Although at that time the president
generally came to Austin only for meetings, she needed a place to keep materials and work when she
was at Headquarters. This office had a large window looking out onto the San Antonio Street Courtyard.
Before we went back upstairs, Dr. Fechek called attention to the back entrance, which led
to covered parking spaces for the professional staff. A parking lot for support staff and guests
was next door. Both parking areas were accessed from a public alley behind the building.
At the end of our tour, Dr. Fechek led us back to the Blanton Room. We concluded
our Headquarters visit by forming a circle in the room, holding hands, and singing “The
Delta Kappa Gamma Song,” accompanied by Dr. Fechek on the grand piano.

A Decade Later
It would be approximately 10 years before I again came to Headquarters—this
time for meetings of the International Finance Committee. When I returned, I observed
noticeable changes—among these, most desks had desktop computers sitting on them, and
the international president’s office adjoined the library on the main floor, while the office
downstairs previously designated for the president was now the editor’s office.

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