the general Melody Maids, but had to further audition (behind a screen to even the playing field) for precious limited spots on the international tours. Being teenage girls, the tours were usually scheduled during winter breaks and summers in order not to conflict with their school attendance. The Melody Maids sang standards, popular songs from the Hit Parade, and Broadway showtunes. Often, their performances included medleys of patriotic songs and/or hymns. Milam made many of the arrangements herself. Milam's son and trumpetist Bucky Milam also appeared at many performances with the Melody Maids. Milam as director and composer: Song Saga of Spindletop To help celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the discovery of oil at Spindletop in 1901, Milam wrote a musical production, Song Saga of Spindletop. The work contained twelve original songs written by Milam to salute the oil industry of Beaumont. Songs include "My Man's a Roughneck", "Ladders to the Sky" and the dramatic "Texas". The first performance was on the anniversary (January 10, 1951) of the Lucas Gusher and was lauded by Gulf Oil Company. The Melody Maids appeared on the television show "We, the People" in 1952 to perform the musical. Legacy Following the death of her mother, Milam took a leave of absence from the Melody Maids. In 1972, Milam's husband, Mason Milam, retired from Mobil Oil. The anti-war movement and wide sociological-cultural changes had also impacted the Melody Maids ability to perform both domestically and internationally. The legacy of the Melody Maids has been a long-lasting one. Through the years there were around 1,500 Melody Maids, and the group received many domestic and international awards. Milam was the first female Texas Ranger (Honorary), and in 1961, was given the Distinguished Service Award by the American Legion, Post No. 33. The Melody Maids and Milam have an article in the Handbook of Texas Music, by Laurie E. Jasinski (published in 2012). Several former Melody Maids went on to have careers in the arts (as teachers and performers), but all were certainly taught self-pride, graciousness and to live lives of service. In an era where the lives and activities of teenage females were limited, Eloise Milam and the Melody Maids offered opportunities to travel to distant lands, learn fundraising and public relations skills, and gain experience in service. The Melody Maids had reunions, some with public performances in Beaumont, from 1977 to 2008. Many of the Melody