The De Leon Quartet 

The organization was well known in the 1950’s appearing at numerous events and heard over Stephenville radio every Sunday.   The members included Al Strasner, C.L. Mohon, Jimmy Duncan, and Ambrose Morgan.  Clara Gray was the pianist.  Former school superintendent J.C. Helm sang with the group before becoming superintendent in Stephenville.

   Notice the matching suites and bow ties.  According to C.L. Mohon, the local mortician, Delton Nabors acquired the suits for the group. 

  Mrs. A.P. (Mattie Graves) Schmidt (seated on left), was a long-time music teacher in De Leon and organist for the First Methodist Church. 

   This appears to be a trio entertaining at the Travelers Hotel, possibly for the P&M Festival.

  Right:  We are unsure if this musical group had a formal name.  It was misidentified in the De Leon Centennial book as the Leonard Cobaugh String Orchestra from the 20s.  

  The photo was probably taken ca: 1905 based on the appearance of Frank Carter on the back left who was born in 1878.

   The other members have not been identified.

Musical Groups

     A recital at the First Methodist Church given by students of Mrs. Schmidt in May 1952.  Some of the students have been numbered on the photo.  Number 3 was identified on the back of the photo as Linda Clark but the number was used on two different girls.

Bottom Row (L-R):  Ann Locke (Sadberry), Sandra Sharp (13) unknown, possibly Lenetta Sloan, Delyn Dendy (12), Linda Hodges (10), Brenda Simpson (11).

Second row: Lou Ann Qualls (1), Norma Jenkins (20), Pamela Pittman (7), Cheri Boswell (8), Jo Carolyn Dendy (21), unknown, Rogenia Kay (9).

Third Row: Betty Holdridge (2), Linda Clark (3*), Ruthie Holdridge (6), Elizabeth Hodges (4), unknown, unknown, unknown, Mrs. Schmidt.

Fourth (curved) Row:  _____ Gregory (24), Linda Clark (3*), ______Campbell, Betty Holdridge (2) , Unknown, Andrea Baber (14), Pat Mahan (15), unknown.

Back Row:  Autrey Andress (19), Eddie Lynn Polnac (18), unknown, Paul Ray Wilkerson (17), Mickey Stephens (16).

A similar recital probably in 1953.  This photo was from a personal camera and is not as clear as the professionally made photo above.  The only students which have been identified are Brenda Simpson front row right with the black belt.  To her right is Sandra Sharp.  The girl on the front row left side in the dark dress is believed to be Delyn Dendy.


Mrs. Schmidt studied at the Kidd-Key Conservatory of Music which was considered the leading musical conservatory in the south for many years.  She also studied under Prof. Edwin Hughes of New York at the Fort Worth Conservatory of Music.  

The Morrison boys in the 1950s.