Doris A. Mayhew
is honored with a Brick from Suzanne Seminoff and Steve Seminoff.
It is with great pride, admiration, and love that we wish to honor
our mother in The Plaza of Heroines at Wichita State University. She
continues to be our inspiration, and provides a legacy of accomplishments,
optimism, and giggles.
Born in Fairfax, Oklahoma, Doris Aleen (Shinn) Mayhew has lived most
of her life in Wichita, Kansas. She nurtured two children, Steve and
Suzanne Seminoff; two step-children, Barclay and Melinda Mayhew; and
four grandchildren. She was educated in Oklahoma and Kansas. She
was Commencement Speaker at Guthrie High School, received her B.S. degree
from Oklahoma (A&M) State in Stillwater, received her M.S. in
Education and a Specialist Degree in School Administration from
Wichita State University. Her 29-year career teaching Home
Economics/Foods included schools in Burbank, OK; Benton and Wichita,
Kansas at Roosevelt and Brooks Jr. Highs and Southeast High School.
Since retiring from teaching, she has been extremely active in
several organizations: Woman's Kansas Day Club; Project Beauty, Inc.;
Wichita Farm and Ranch Club; Daughters of the American Revolution; Wichita
Child Guidance Advisory Board; Normandy Republican Women's Club;
Metropolitan Ballet of Wichita; Kappa Phi Club; Thursday Afternoon
Music Club; Afternoon Home Economics Club; Daughters of American
Colonists; Republican Precinct Committee woman; Wichita Historical
Museum; Wichita Art Museum; Wichita Center for the Arts;
Wichita/Sedgwick County Arts and Humanities Council; Soldiers and
Sailors Monument Preservation Committee. Notable honors include:
Woman's Kansas Day Club - Past State President and of one of the
few second generation presidents following her mother-in-law, Patricia
Mayhew, who was also once President of the club. Project Beauty, Inc. - As a
past President and early developer of the Shakespearean Garden at Botanica,
The Wichita Gardens, Doris was the driving force in obtaining donors for the
sculptures, fountain, and benches. She chaired the sales booth at the Bard's annual
birthday party. Using the Project Beauty symbol to develop a large
trash can vehicle topped with a rose and a Trash Can Stan costume,
she used them in parades to promote recycling and the beautification of
Wichita. She started the downtown median strip to beautify a main
street; was instrumental in implementing the Adopt-A-Highway program
in Kansas initiating the highway clean-up north of Wichita on I-135
between 37th and 61st Streets; and continues keeping litter off
neighborhood streets. Wichita Farm and Ranch Club - In 1998, she was chosen
as the first woman President of this agriculturally oriented club in its 52 years
of existence. She had an interesting, varied Board of Directors from
all facets of agribusiness. Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) - Doris
received a medal of national recognition for work done to promote trash clean-up and
beautification of local and state areas.
Travel is a special interest, and Doris has visited all fifty United
States of America. Other countries she's explored include Mexico,
Canada, England, Scotland, Wales, Belgium, Netherlands,
Liechtenstein, France, Germany, Switzerland, and the Caribbean Islands.
Dancing is one of her passions. She enjoys Ballroom, Round and
Square Dancing, Polka, Folk Dances, Country Western, West Coast Swing, and
Push. Doris sews many of her costumes for dance competitions and
historical folk dances in the Entre Nous Club; and has researched,
constructed, and wears an Elizabethan costume at various
Shakespearean events. She loves all aspects of entertaining, from the decorating
and cooking, to getting people of similar interests together to share
their knowledge. Her garden includes vegetables, flowers, and
trees. She plays the piano and organ and likes to sing. Other hobbies
include crossword puzzles, history research, reading, photography,
and collecting. For spiritual enhancement, Doris explored 87 churches in
the local area.
As her children, we've seen many phases of our mother; from working
irrigation ditches on the farm to gracefully waltzing across a dance
floor. She can lovingly listen and advise a friend or address a
large audience or classroom. She's a teacher, leader, philanthropist,
dancer, traveler, gardener, cook and hostess. But most of all, she's
our mom, and we love her forever!
Submitted by Suzanne Seminoff and Steve Seminoff
November, 1998
