Book of Memories for Augusta Koen Boatright

Story shared: What I learned from Miss Augusta

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 01:36:01 EST

I could write a book about the exceptional, unique, outstanding in too many ways to list, fabulous Miss Augusta. I was fortunate to be hired by her to be her "girl Friday",her chauffeur, an arm to lean on as she wouldn't use a cane but was determined to walk in her own power into as many establishments as she could on her list of important things to do. She was in her 90's and I was in my 50's but she wore me out as we often spent a full eight hours in her Lincoln Continental,driving to the various places she wanted to visit. She was a bonafide member of America's greatest generation and she had that steely determination that so many of those who lived through the great depression and world war two possessed. She was a problem solver and wouldn't easily take no for an answer. She was truly fair in her dealings with people and along with so many others I had great respect for her and came to love her very much. She left her imprint on me and I'm so glad I had the privilege of of working for her and I treasure her friendship. She was a very great lady.

Condolence From David A. Powell

Wed, 28 Mar 2018 14:35:05 EDT

I have never forgotten Augusta Koen Boatright, my high school American history teacher at Northside High School in Fort Smith. I remember her foremost as someone who had the courage in 1965 to speak with uncompromising directess to our American class about the active involvement she and her husband had in the Civil Rights Movement led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (whose May 18, 1967 Denver University speech I later had the fortune to attend) and precisely why she felt this involvement was not only important but absolutely necessary … and I can still feel the stunned silence of the class and hear her words as she spoke. What it all came down to was this: IF we don't consider this cause as "our cause" – and not just the cause of all the people still living in their segregated part of town on the north side of Fort Smith, Arkansas – still attending in 1965 their own schools, etc. – this will amount to a complete betrayal of all we only IMAGINE that we stand for as a nation. Mrs. Boatright, then, possessed a remarkable gift for shocking an entire class of 17-year-olds into complete silence by just standing up and stating what should be obvious to anyone who thinks. I will also never forget a "cultural" film Mrs. Boatright showed to our class featuring a prominent European string quartet performing in live concert a string quartet from Brahms … and which stands out in my memory as the only instance of anything like it during my entire time in high school. A Brahms string quartet, naturally, has nothing to do with American history – but this, I think, was the intended message: there exist completely "useless" things in this world (even though we may have no relation to them) which remain, in their own way, as "priceless" as the American concepts of "freedom and justice." As it turned out, the whole class was stunned throughout this film as well – as though it was the first time in their lives most of them had ever heard a string quartet … which was very likely the case and entirely justified including the film in an American history class. Nothing I've discovered since I sat in Mrs. Boatright's class can contradict what Karl the Austrian writer Kraus wrote approximately a century ago: "The real end of the world is the destruction of the spirit; the other kind depends on the insignificant attempt to see whether after such a destruction the world can go on."

Condolence From Donna Killgore Talley

Sun, 07 May 2017 19:30:39 EDT

Mrs. Boatright was my History Teacher in Van Buren, AR. She was one of my favorite teachers. I will always be grateful for her way of making history interesting. In 1993-1995, I was Oklahoma State President of The Delta Kappa Gamma Society. I was invited to visit the Ft. Smith chapter and there was my favorite History teacher. It was wonderful to see her again and to be able to tell how important she had been to me. I will always have a deep appreciation for both she and her husband for the wonderful examples they were to all of us. Donna K. Talley

Condolence From Joy Cory

Wed, 19 Apr 2017 18:31:57 EDT

Mrs. Boatright was my twin sister and my American History teacher at Northside High School. She was an inspiration to so many teenage girls, inspiring them to become educated, professional women. She had a caring spirit, while at the same time holding high expectations for her students. We both went on to earn MBAs and my sister a PhD--we're so glad she gave of herself to us.

Condolence From Phillips Family

Wed, 19 Apr 2017 15:43:51 EDT

My condolences to you and your family for the loss of your dear loved one. Losing a loved one is a distressing and painful time. We have assurance from God’s word at Psalm 34:18 that he is near to those brokenhearted and he saves those crushed in spirit. It is my hope that your family will find strength to endure during the days ahead.

Photo shared: Boatright 24.jpg

Wed, 19 Apr 2017 02:32:40 EDT