Dr. Margaret Penn Sherrod
 
Dr. Margaret Sherrod is a distinguished veteran pageant contestant, producer, and judge with a legacy of groundbreaking achievements.  After winning the Miss Prairie View A&M University Pageant, she made history in 1970 by becoming the first African American to compete in the Miss Texas/ Miss America Pageant in Fort Worth, Texas, participating in a field of 82 contestants.  Earlier, in 1968, she represented the State of Texas as Miss Black Texas in the Miss Black America Pageant at Madison Square Garden in New York City. 

Dr. Sherrod earned both her Bachelor’s (1973) and Master’s (1980) Degrees from Prairie View A&M University.  She later obtained her Doctor of Jurisprudence from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law in Houston, Texas and went on to practice law in Houston.

A visionary leader, and cultural influencer, Dr. Sherrod is Founder of the renowned Black Foxes of the Prairie View A&M University Marching Storm Band.  She directed this group over 40 years, leading workshops for high school groups across Texas, along the way.
 
In addition to her contributions to the arts, Dr. Sherrod practiced law as a partner in the law firm of Willie, Willie, and Associates, (now closed) from 1991-2003, specializing in personal injury and family law. She also served as Department Head of Social and Behavioral Sciences, and served as Chairman of the Faculty Council at Wharton County Junior College, and later, joined the Adjunct Faculty in Political Science at Texas Southern University’s Barbara Jordan School of Public Affairs. 

Now retired, Dr. Sherrod continues to make an impact as she works on a book documenting the rich history of The Black Foxes, that she hopes will serve as a guide to young women striving for profound excellence.