Louise Jolly

1961-1963

If anyone had suggested in the nineteen fifties that CalRTA would hold a State Council meeting in a small town in the red volcanic foothills of Northern California, he would have been scoffed at as crazy—but a woman in such a locality believed it could be done – and she did it!

Louise Jolly was probably the most versatile and exceptional personality in CalRTA over a period of years. She was an innovator, thinking up and planning new things. At her first meeting as president, she presented a proposal for a group car insurance plan for retired teachers. She had asked an insurance agent to look up statistics on a large scale to point up the fact that retired teachers were better than average as accident free drivers. Later we got both a state and NRTA group automobile insurance – but Louise had a dream – that it might have come true in her time!

In legislation, Louise secured the introduction of SB 57 by Senator Walter Stiern, which passed the legislature after many anxious days, with Louise making many drives to Sacramento to push it through. The Governor’s signature was held up and not recorded until the day after he left for Europe. Only then could Louise and her co-horts take a deep breath. Its passage in 1963 gave additional benefits for about 9,000 persons who had retired prior to July 1, 1956. It was the biggest imp5rovement for old-timers that had ever been granted. Its main provision was an increase of ten dollars per year of service. The bill also provided finance for the measure. Substitute pay limit was increased to $1800 per year without loss of retirement income.

Miss Jolly became known at the grass roots, for she visited 51 of the 53 divisions during her two year term, encouraging them to become a vital part of CalRTA. She built stronger state meetings; and initiated job analysis for state officers and state chairmen.

With cooperation of the editor of the California Pioneer Teacher, she produced a variety of content; sketches of officers and more pictures; articles on tax returns, wills and other pertinent problems. She appointed a state music chairman. She started the development of business practices in the organization, and outlined plans which would include a Business Administrator.

Louise represented CalRTA well in other organizations. After retiring as president of CalRTA, she was active in State meetings, served on several committees, including the nominating committee at the time of her death.

The California Pioneer Teacher (Winter 1970-71) was given over largely to memorials to E. Louise Jolly with such a flow of personal testimonials as will probably never again be found in our annals. Said one, “by her undaunted spirit, her deep convictions, and her contagious good humor, she carved a unique niche in the annals of CalRTA”. Another, “able, conscientious, rugged as a rock”. A final quote, “One never dies so long as there are those who remember”.