Region 6 People - Annie T. Giles

Annie T. Giles

Annie T. Giles
Dedicated Region 6
and
American Hemerocallis Society Leader

Region 6 RVP 1959-60
American Hemerocallis Society President 1962-63
January 20, 1896 - June 14, 1975
by Ray Houston

Annie T. Giles Award
1959-1993
(photo by Ray Houston)

Region 6 and AHS annually present awards in honor of Annie T. Giles. The Region 6 Annie T. Giles Award for the Best Seedling hybridized by a member of the Regional Meeting Host Club is presented each year at the Region 6 Meeting Banquet and was first presented in 1959. The AHS Annie T. Giles Award for the best Small Flower Daylily (3" or more but less than 4 ½"), voted by the AHS Garden Judges, was first presented in 1964.

Annie Theresa Giles was born January 20, 1896, in Manor, Travis County, Texas, the daughter of Banton White Giles & Leora (Norwood) Giles. She was always addressed as Annie T. Giles and she never married.

Annie was educated at the University of Texas and Southern Methodist University. She was a public school teacher in Travis County, Dallas, and Austin schools. She retired from teaching in 1957.

Annie was a fourth generation Texan. Her great-grandparents came to Texas in 1836. Her family always took an active part in educational, charitable, and agricultural interests. It was only natural that Annie followed in their footsteps. Her early interest in gardening was the result of following her mother as she selected fine horticultural specimens for shows and exhibits. In her own garden, Annie grew cannas, chrysanthemums, iris, and amaryllis. Although she was a member of the American Iris Society, her gardening interests soon drew her to love daylilies.

Annie was an active participant of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Daughters of 1812, and Daughters of the Republic of Texas. She was President of the Austin Genealogical Society and Editor of their quarterly newsletter. She was an active member of the First Methodist Church of Austin.

Annie was extremely important in the daylily world, serving AHS and Region 6 in many capacities - 1957-58 Region 6 RPD; 1959-60 Region 6 RVP; 1961 AHS 1st Vice-President, Board Member, and Regional Vice Presidents Committee Chair; 1962-63 AHS President; 1964-65 AHS Publicity Director; and she was an accredited AHS Exhibition Judge and Awards and Honors Judge. She was instrumental in the organization of many daylily clubs in Texas. Annie was an excellent speaker and gave generously of her time and talents whenever called upon.

Two of Annie's hobbies were woodcarving and China painting which she shared generously with her friends. In 1959, Annie hand-painted daylilies on a China plate, and presented it to Region 6 to be awarded each year at the Region 6 Meeting Banquet as the Annie T. Giles Award for the Best Seedling hybridized by a member of the Regional Meeting Host Club. The award was a traveling award and the winner was to keep it until the next year's Meeting. The China plate award was retired in 1993, and was replaced by a medallion which is kept by the award winner.

Region 6 and AHS are forever grateful to Annie T. Giles for her dedication to the world of daylilies.