Retired public school teacher Trudy Lewis, who spent 39 years teaching history, will present a talk on the restoration of Tom Lea’s Stampede mural at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10, at the Sibley Nature Center. The event will focus on the mural’s significance and the efforts that brought it back to life.
The Stampede mural, created in 1940 by El Paso artist Tom Lea, has long been a source of pride in Odessa. Originally housed in the Odessa post office, it depicts a dynamic cattle stampede. For many years, Lewis took her students to see the mural. “One student was so inspired by the mural that they composed a musical piece based on the artwork,” she said.
However, the mural suffered from years of neglect, poor lighting, and damage. “It wasn’t well lit or maintained, and it had condition issues,” said Michael Nickell, museum scientist at the Sibley Nature Center. He first saw the mural in the post office and later learned of efforts to restore it.
Lewis played a key role in these efforts. In 2014, she presented at a Smithsonian American Art Museum conference on Lea’s New Deal murals, which helped lead to a historic agreement between the U.S. Postal Service, the Ellen Noel Art Museum, and Odessa Arts. This collaboration secured permission to restore and relocate the Stampede mural.
“A collaboration among the Ellen Noel Art Museum, Odessa Arts, and the Tom Lea Institute was instrumental in persuading the government to make an exception,” Lewis said. The mural was restored and is now on permanent loan to the Ellen Noel Art Museum, though it is currently on display at the Museum of the Southwest while the Ellen Noel undergoes renovation.
Nickell, who is responsible for booking speakers for Sibley’s quarterly talks, invited Lewis after learning about her connection to the mural. “When I thought about Tom Lea’s work being temporarily exhibited in Midland, I knew I needed an expert to speak on it,” Nickell said. “Trudy’s personal involvement made her the perfect choice.”
Lewis believes the mural is both an artistic treasure and a historical document. “The mural is a valuable piece," she said. "Third-grade students love this dramatic work that tells an exciting story.”
Lewis is married to former state Rep. Tryon Lewis, and they have two grown daughters.