We recently sat down with Donna Hawes to learn a little bit more about our sister. Here's what we found out:
Before heading to UT's 40 Acres in the fall of 1968, Donna knew only one AXiD--Betty Jean (Lamb) Kealhofer. Then she entered the house, met more members and immediately felt like she belonged at 2508 Rio Grande. And so glad that she did!
Donna's college days were full of fun and campus activities. In addition to her involvement with Alpha Xi Delta, she served as Member-At-Large to UT Government, representing Alpha Lambda Delta scholastic fraternity.
The "sisterhood of women" (admit it, you totally sang that, didn't you? "The sisterhood of women, that lives within our hearts...our dear Alpha Xi Delta, we raise our hearts to thee..."), the opportunity to see old friends and make new ones every time we meet is why Donna remains active in the Alumni Association. And, besides getting to know people with the chance at longtime friendships, she really likes the thought of helping others. Reprising her past role as Treasurer, Donna serves our organization in a variety of ways--Treasurer, Houston Area Panhellenic delegate and remains involved with Northwest Harris County Alumni Panhellenic. And, you can always find Donna at our fundraisers and area Autism Speaks events.
Donna is currently the bookkeeper for Jamestown Estate Homes, owned by her daughter and her daughter's father. And, at the same time she helps with her husband's business, MIPS Timing Systems. Their firm sells a stock market timing system. It sounds like a perfect business blend for a woman who majored in math and computer science.
Success for Donna is for her to be regarded as a good person, good mother and wife, a good Christian, a kind human being. She has tried to model her life after her own mother's. An Air Force plane crash left her mother widowed at 32, with a 7 year-old son and a 10-month old baby, Donna. As an Air Force wife, she had always managed the family finances while Donna's father was away in service to our country. She did well, so she was able to stay home to raise the children according to plan. A room mom, Cub Scout leader, Girl Scout leader and PTA officer, she was always available for her children. Then, when Donna went away to school, her mother started the first of three successful businesses--the Candle Cottage in Memorial City Mall, a sportswear business in the same mall with a separate location on FM1960, and later a formalwear store on FM1960. In Donna's words, "she was fearless." She lived to be a few days shy of 91. And, it's Donna's desire to be a strong and loving woman as her mother was.
Want to know a couple of random fun facts about Donna? She was one of the first Astroworld employees--working for them when they opened in the summer of 1968. Want more? She carries a private pilot's license.
