Mary Mathis El-Beheri

Mary El-Beheri has been a mighty force in Sprachfest, Texas State German Contest, the AATG and the German Texas Heritage Society. She taught at MacArthur HS for 37 years and the following is excerpts from the retirement letter she wrote in 2005: “It has been great fun spending nearly half my lifetime at MacArthur High School. I was blessed with a situation which encouraged creativity and let me do the unusual. From this vantage point at Mac, the Sprachfest area contest (1976) and the State (1982) German Contest were founded, as well as the 1200 member German Texas Heritage Society now housed in Austin. In 1974, we won multiple awards for our contributions to the conservation of the German culture in San Antonio and we have done something in this behalf every year since then. Mac German students created the only website presently up on the internet about German San Antonio(2000). MacArthur High School is actually quite famous as a center for German in Texas. I am very proud of this fact..My personal happiest moments came about during the 10 years we won First Place Sweepstakes at the Texas State German Contest! .. But when all is said and done, the most important thing is that Mac students are always welcome in any motel, restaurant or theme park because they are such nice young people. Now that is impressive. I have dragged Mac kids all over Texas and Germany and I have only good things to say about them. I always [told] them I would go anywhere with them.” In 2004, Frau El-Beheri received the prestigious Outstanding German Educator and Checkpoint Charlie Foundation Scholarship awards. Friends and former students joined her in Chicago to watch the ceremony.

Cemetery:
It was Mary's wish to be cremated.

Library at McArthur High School 2923 E. Bitters Rd. San Antonio, Texas