On March 19, 2026, the cultural landscape of East Texas will celebrate a towering inspiration as Young Audiences of Northeast Texas presents Margaret Perkins with its most prestigious honor, the ICON Award. Reserved for rare individuals whose life’s work shapes the very foundation of community and culture, the award will be bestowed at the Arts in Education Awards Gala at Willow Brook Country Club. Across Texas and even in our nation’s capital, Margaret is widely respected for her steadfast commitment to education, the arts, and the communities she serves. Yet those who know her best would say that her greatest gift is the quiet and constant way she invests in people, believing deeply in the power of learning, creativity, and opportunity to change lives.
Margaret’s journey began at the University of Texas at Austin, where she met her husband, Jim. After graduating and settling in Jim’s hometown of Rusk, Margaret embraced her calling as an educator, teaching English and history at Maydelle ISD. When the school needed a librarian, she returned to school to earn a degree in Library Science, stepping into the role during her second year—an early reflection of the lifelong learner she would always remain. Over the years, Margaret and Jim expanded their service through their family business, Citizens 1st Bank, while Margaret also lent her leadership to the Rusk ISD Board and numerous civic organizations. Her passion for the arts has been transformative, particularly at Tyler Junior College, where she co-chaired the fundraising effort that helped transform Wise Auditorium into the Rogers Palmer Performing Arts Center—now a vibrant hub for performances, festivals, and thousands of students discovering the arts.
Margaret’s legacy can be seen in classrooms, studios, and stages throughout East Texas. She has been a principal supporter of the TJC Dance Program, helped renovate dance studios, and championed opportunities for students of all abilities to experience the arts. Her leadership has extended to organizations including the Literacy Council of Tyler, the Women’s Fund of Smith County, and the Tyler Museum of Art, as well as national service with the National Museum of Women in the Arts and the Bullock Texas State History Museum Foundation. Alongside Jim and their family, she has also helped pioneer innovative education initiatives such as the Rusk High School Promise Program. Through every endeavor, Margaret has remained guided by the same belief that first shaped her career as a teacher—that education and the arts open doors for future generations. In honoring Margaret Perkins as our 2026 ICON, we celebrate not only a remarkable leader, but a visionary whose generosity and passion continue to inspire East Texas and beyond.