Mrs. Susan Perry Bryan

The Susan Perry Bryan Music Scholarship has been established through the Stephen F. Austin State University Alumni Association.

Susan Perry Bryan was born in Mineola, Texas on November 9, 1921 to Minna Lee Norwood Perry and William Edward Perry. At age six she returned to her mother’s hometown of Nacogdoches where she lived until she was in 7th grade. Her teenage years were spent in Paris, Texas with the exception of her senior year of high school which was in Jayton, Texas.

She earned her Bachelor of Science in home economics from SFA in 1941. As a student she was active in the Pine Burr Social Club (now the Epsilon-Zeta chapter of Chi Omega) where she served as president her senior year. Following graduation, she taught Home Economics in the Ysleta school district before beginning graduate school at the University of Chicago. She went on to work in the experimental kitchen at Ballard Mills (now Pillsbury) before returning to Texas as a county home extension agent in Sinton.

In 1949, Susan married Arnold Bryan and moved to Robstown. They had 3 children, Betty Bryan Cruikshank, Sally Bryan (deceased), and William Arnold Bryan. While living in Robstown and San Benito, she taught first grade. In 1964, the family moved to Lufkin Texas where she began a 25 year career as a home service advisor for Texas Power and Light.

As a proud Life Member of the SFA Alumni Association, Bryan loves sharing about her time spent at SFA. She currently lives in a retirement community in Tyler and has 5 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.