75 Years of Impact in Midland

In 2024, the Junior League of Midland celebrated 75 years of service to the Midland community. From the first charter members of the League to the newest group of Provisionals, one thing that has remained the same is our mission of loving and serving Midland.

In celebration of the decades of service to Midland, we also remember the women who came and served before us. Their tenacity in working together with fellow active members and other community members made it possible for the Junior League of Midland to be known as an organization of hardworking and caring women.

The Midland Service League

Founded in 1949, the organization began as the Midland Service League, focusing on charitable activities and volunteer work to address the needs of the growing Midland community. With 29 charter members, the group of women set out to give back to our community however they could.

The Midland Service League’s first projects included participation at the local library, hospital, and children’s theater. Initially, the League required each member to provide at least 80 hours of volunteer service each year bringing the grand total after the first year to over 1370 combined hours.

Charity Ball, 1959 – Mrs. W.S Gessel, Mrs. Howard Ford, Mrs. Daniel Strong, Mrs. Thronton Hardie

In 1951, the League established its first fundraising event, Charity Ball, and later the Next-to-New Shop in 1957. These fundraising opportunities enabled the League to financially support projects such as an incubator gift to Midland Memorial Hospital. In 1954, the Midland Service League changed its name to the Junior Welfare League. The League then applied to the Admissions Committee of the Association of Junior Leagues in 1957. The Midland Junior Welfare League was initially denied due to the small size of our city’s population. Following the denial from the Association, the Junior Welfare League continued to serve Midland with more opportunities at the Children’s Dental Clinic, Family Counseling Services, the Children’s Isolation Ward at Midland Memorial Hospital, and the Directory of of Community Services in Midland. The League also presented children’s concerts in cooperation with the Midland Symphony League. 

JWL Board, 1959-1960 – Mrs. Evans Dunn, Mrs. Lloyd Innerairty, Mrs. James T. Smith, Mrs. J. Wilmont Hunt, Mrs. Lynn Durham, Mrs. Murphy Baxter

The Junior League of Midland

In 1964, the Junior Welfare League was elected to membership in The Association of Junior Leagues as the 195th Junior League in the United States. During this time, the League offered placement opportunities at the Cerebral Palsy Center, the Opportunity Center, the Outpatient Department of Midland Memorial Hospital, the Children’s Diagnostic Clinic, and the Red Cross. Other community service in Midland included volunteer shifts at the Midland Community Theatre. In 1965, members of the Junior League of Midland voted to establish an arts and science museum in Midland. The Museum of the Southwest opened in 1966 and has continued to grow and serve our community in numerous ways. Since the opening of the Museum, a Junior League member has served on the Board of Trustees every year. 

In the 70s, the Junior League of Midland worked to bring awareness to the issue of drugs. This included a TV spot with an anti-drug message. At this time, League members had placement opportunities at the Petroleum Museum, Audiometric Screening, CPR training, and the Prenatal Clinic. During the 70s, the League offered a placement at the Petroleum Museum to work with youth.

Kids on the Block, 1980

In the 1980s, new projects were added to the Junior League portfolio including Adult Basic Education, Hospice of Midland, and the Emergency Shelter Boards. To address larger issues in the community, the League also developed Standing Tall, Teen Court, Kids on the Block, Council Against Substance Abuse, Junior League Singers, and Hearthstone. The League also worked to finance Tumbleweed Park, a park located next to JLM headquarters. This public space is open to all to enjoy from the playground to the walking paths. During this decade, the Junior League of Midland celebrated 40 years of service to Midland and 25 years as a member of The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. To commemorate the milestones, the League gave a total of $100,000 to 13 local organizations in Midland.

As the Junior League of Midland prepared to celebrate 50 years, the League participated with the City of Midland in Objective 2000. This goal setting

Groundbreaking, 1991 – Junior League Headquarters expansion

program helped the community to set goals and objectives to be accomplished in the next decade and millennium. Members of the Junior League of Midland approved a $10,000 contribution towards this project.

Building a Better Midland

Following the participation in the Objective 2000 project, the League planned the capital campaign for the expansion of our headquarters. The “Building for a Better Midland” campaign included the projecting and planning of the needs of the League along with the community. The project concluded with the opening of the newly expanded headquarters in 1992. From that point, all general meetings would be held in Mabee Hall.

In 1991, JLM celebrated 40 years of Charity Ball while adding a new fundraiser, Festival of Trees.

The last Charity Ball event took place before being replaced in 2001 by Clay Shoot (eventually Buckshot Bash in 2006) and Spring Fling in 2004. The League was looking to explore further options for fundraising and providing opportunities for its members. rom the efforts of Clay Shoot and Spring Fling, the Junior League of Midland launched community projects at Bynum School, Scholarship Clearinghouse, and Suits with Skills. Other projects that the League created at this time were Kids in the Kitchen, Face the Race, Family First, and Vision 2020.

League photo, 2012

The 2010s in the Junior League of Midland

The 2010s were a decade for the Junior League of Midland numerous projects, placements, and events were added for League members, including some that we know today such as Kids First, Reading Olympics, the GEM Award, IMPACT, and Volunteers in Midland. The Advisory Planning Committee was also reinstated to help the League navigate new projects and decisions. In 2010, the League joined Spring Fling and Clay Shoot into one event called Shotguns & Stilettos.

League Photo, 2016

The 2019-2020 League Year brought a new program to the Midland community and to Junior League members. The new Pink Pantry placement was added as a collaboration with Communities in Schools of the Permian Basin and Midland ISD. The program has continued to grow and serve more students with more offerings outside of feminine hygiene products.

Following the mass shooting tragedy that took place between Midland and Odessa in the same League Year, JLM launched Stop the Bleed and Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events training alongside other community members and the Midland Fire Departments.

In spring 2020 with the COVID-19 pandemic, JLM continued to serve the Midland community with service to MISD, Pink Pantry, and Reading Olympics (Girls & Boys Club). The League transitioned programming to include virtual meetings along with a new fundraiser, Farm to Table(aux).

League Photo from the 2024 Annual May Meeting

Looking Forward

As we look towards the next 75 years and beyond of service to the Tall City, let us not forget the paths that were paved by the League members before us. Their commitment and contributions to Midland are a legacy that we are tasked with as Junior League of Midland members to continue in our work. Whether we are representing the League at an event, putting in volunteer hours, or participating in a General meeting, we will continue to preserve everything the Junior League of Midland has stood for and will stand for in the decades to come.