James Arthur "Hot" & Dora M. Tucker Alexander
Superintendent of the Woodmen Circle Home
& Hostess of the Woodmen Circle Home

 
James Arthur Alexander (August 5, 1891 - July 15, 1977) was born in Garland, Texas to Mr. and Mrs. James D. Alexander.  He married the former Dora Tucker on February 2, 1917, in Garland.  He was a farmer and in the retail clothing business in Garland until 1939 when he moved to Sherman to become Superintendent of the Woodmen Circle Home.  While in Garland, he was the Mayor from 1936 to 1939; served as President and was a charter member of the Garland Rotary Club and President and secretary of the Garland Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Alexander retired as Superintendent of the Woodmen Circle Home in 1956 and established the J.A. "Hot" Alexander Real Estate firm in Sherman.  He was a Paul Harris Fellow of the Sherman Rotary Club and was honored by the Sherman Rotary Club in 1976 for completing fifty years of perfect attendance.  He was a President of the Boy Scouts of American in Sherman and also served as President of the Sherman Chamber of Commerce, Texas Alfalfa Dehydrators' Association, the Grayson County Livestock Improvement Association, and the Texoma Exposition and Livestock Association.
Mr. Alexander was a member of the Dallas Consistory of Scottish Rite Masons, Grayson County Scottish Rite Association, Helia Temple Shrine, North Texas Shrine Association, Patron of the Garland Eastern Star, and a sixty-three year member of the Garland Masonic Lodge.  Among other activities, he organized a Grayson County Rural Youth Program in 1951, was a member of the Grayson County State Bank Board of Directors, and past president of the Sherman Board of Realtors and the Grayson Board of Realtors.  He was a deacon of the First Baptist Church.

Dora M. Tucker was born February 6, 1893, on her father's farm between Garland and Rowlett. She was educated in the Dallas public schools and is a graduate of Trinity University.  Before her marriage she was a teacher in the Whitewright schools.  She married J.A. Alexander of Garland on February 2, 1917.  She came to Sherman in 1939 with her husband to work with him as Hostess of the Woodmen Circle Home.  Before coming to Sherman, she served as president of various civic and study clubs.  She was especially active in church work, girls' club work, and took special interest as a leader in educational, social and civic movement in Garland.  On Mr. Alexander's retirement as superintendent and director of the home in 1959, Mrs. Alexander assumed the duties as director of the home until it closed in 1962.  During this time, she was active in the Sherman Parent Teacher Association.  As a charter member of Altrusa, Mrs. Alexander has held all offices, including that of president twice.  She has served as chairman on all committees, delegate to district meetings, general chairman of the Christmas Pilgrimage for several years and chairman of the Heart Fund Style Show and Tea for many years.
During Word War II she was active as a USO hostess and involved in other volunteer service.  She chaired the Teen Town committee that organized the first Youth Center in Sherman.  She serves on the Board of the Sherman Girls Club and was instrumental in establishing the Sherman Girls Club.  In 1977 Altrusa Club International of Sherman honored Mrs. Alexander for her many years of work and effort by presenting the Sherman Girls Club a $1,000 check in her name.  She is a lifetime member of the City Countil PTA.
She is affectionately known as "Missy" by the many children who were reared at the Woodmen Circle Home, who say she and her husband changed the home atmosphere in a short time from that of an institution to one of a real family home. She is active in the Salvation Army, Child Welfare and the First United Methodist Church of Sherman.