2008 Woman of the Year: Lisa Magers

Community involvement runs in the family

By Pete Kendall/reporter@trcle.com

Lisa Magers comes by her community activism naturally. It runs in the family. Her mother, Joy, was prominent in El Paso civic affairs. Her father, Dr. Harold Slusher, was an environmentally conscious professor in the University of Texas at El Paso physical science department.

“Dad had kind of a running battle with the UTEP athletic department when they were building the new Sun Bowl in the early ’60s,” Magers said in a Times-Review interview several years ago. “At the time Dad was over the seismic observatory. Every time they’d blast dirt and rock for the new stadium, the seismic equipment would go off the charts. That drove him crazy.”

Nothing seems to drive Magers, a 1977 UTEP graduate, crazy.

Perhaps that’s because of the craziness in her professional background — electronic and print media.

Those who have worked with her, professionally and personally, know Magers to be solid as a rock, someone they can depend on in a crisis — perhaps especially in a crisis.

She is a person of unfailing faith and good cheer — even when those around her have lost faith and ceased being cheerful.

She is the Times-Review’s Woman of the Year — for every reason imaginable.

“Lisa is a dedicated, hard worker,” said Cleburne civic leader Mollie Mims. “For several years she served on the Black and White Gala committee and did an excellent job, always as a reliable and dedicated member.

“Through her career and volunteer activities, she is able to touch the lives of so many people, staying mostly in the background, doing her job well and guiding others to do their best.”

She is devoted to her husband of 30 years, Gary, and children Joy and Jesse. She is generous with her time as a volunteer for such organizations as United Way and Christian Business Club and also for First Baptist Church, where she worships.

Professionally, Magers is often the face, as well as the voice, of the school district. It is her duty to greet the public when things are going well in Cleburne ISD. It is also her duty to face the public when things are not going so well.

The CISD, as many are aware, has experienced rocky times in the last year.

She’s never shirked her PR duties; she’s embraced them.

“I really feel that to be a public relations person,” she has said, “you have to be a journalist first. You need to be able to understand what’s happening on that side. I’m a journalist. I understand news deadlines. I understand that the job of media is to get the news. It’s nothing personal. It’s their job.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had trouble separating the roles of the public relations person and journalist. Sometimes I’ll feel I’m in the middle, but that’s my journalism training coming into play. I try very hard to keep my journalism training in mind, but I also try very hard to put the district’s best foot forward.”

She does. Times-Review managing editor Dale Gosser is understanding of her position.

“I think I know Lisa pretty well after working with her for several years,” Gosser said. “She was heartbroken when the TEA investigation came down. She cares deeply for everyone involved and didn’t want to see anyone suffer or get hurt because of it.

“There may have been some individuals who needed to be taken to task at CISD in the last year. She’s not one of them. She’s always held her head high and deserves a lot of credit for helping others throughout the district and Cleburne.

“For us at the Times-Review, Lisa is the face of Cleburne ISD. When times are tough, Lisa keeps a smile on her face. She lives and breathes CISD, and that shows just how much she loves working there and how much she loves the kids.”

Mayor Ted Reynolds came to know Magers as a family friend.

“Angela [my wife] and I have known the Magers family for 25 years,” he said. “Lisa and Angela worked together for many years at the old Cleburne National Bank and had a lot of good times traveling to First Monday Trade Days at Canton and lots of other fun stuff.

“Our children grew up together and even went to the same pre-school. Lisa used to be in charge of the academic fair and I really enjoyed working with her as a judge.

“Lisa is a person of deep faith and is very serious about her profession. She truly loves the children of our community and is a valuable member of the CISD staff. Angela and I are both proud to call Lisa our friend. I can’t think of a better choice for this honor.”

Magers’ sister-in-law, Elaine Lewis, also an employee of the school district, knows her professionally and personally.

“I think she handles her job real well,” Lewis said. “She’s always out trying to make sure the community sees the good side of the school district. There are lots of positive things she constantly works to tell people about.

“She’s very loving and concerned and wants to be very active in the community and help in any way she can. She’s a wonderful wife and mother, very attentive to her children. She’s a wonderful sister-in-law. I consider her my sister.”

Magers and Lewis met in third grade in El Paso. They grew up and grew together in the church.

“Lisa has always been a big part of the church in the community,” Lewis said. “She walks the walk.”