Poplar Bluff’s own Designing Woman

The Poplar Bluff Museum has tales about us, our family and our history. I want to tell you some of those tales found within the museum walls.

Linda Bloodworth was a true success story. Born in Poplar Bluff, she moved to Los Angeles after college. Linda became a school teacher in the urban ghetto of Watts. She began writing for a local newspaper and soon wrote a few scripts for Hollywood sitcoms. Those sitcoms included “Rhoda,” “Paper Moon” and “One Day at a Time.” When Linda started writing for “MASH,” she was nominated for an Emmy.

In 1983, Linda married Harry Thomason. Together, they formed a production company called Mozark Productions. They produced such television hits as “Designing Women,” “Evening Shade,” “Hearts Afire,” and “Women of the House.”

Their production company also made campaign films for political candidates.

Linda didn’t forget her roots. She created the “Claudia Foundation” in 1989 in honor of her grandmother Claudia Bloodworth. The foundation created reading programs for school children. They also provided cultural opportunities for the young women of Poplar Bluff.

These women were affectionately known as Claudia Girls. The Designing Women Foundation handed out over 100 scholarships to young women of promise.

The foundations were headquartered in the Bloodworth family home known as the Claudia House.

The Claudia Foundation also makes the house available to the public for cultural events, exhibits and entertainment.

Still a hometown girl, Linda inserted Poplar Bluff into many episodes of “Designing Women.”

The Poplar Bluff Museum has captured many of those film clips and runs them continuously in the “Butler County Historical Society” room.

Bring some popcorn and enjoy the show.

The museum is open every Sunday free of charge from 1-4 p.m. at 1010 Main St., Poplar Bluff (Formerly the Old Mark Twain School). Tell them Mike sent you!

Mike Shane is a veteran, Poplar Bluff resident and board member for the Poplar Bluff Museum.