Bill Text: TX HR2235 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of Mary Wilson Russell McCall.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2015-05-26 - Reported enrolled [HR2235 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HR2235-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 2235 | ||
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| WHEREAS, The Baylor University community was deeply saddened | ||
| by the passing of Mary Wilson Russell McCall on November 13, 2014, | ||
| at the age of 95; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Born in Chillicothe on October 7, 1919, the former | ||
| Mary Wilson was the daughter of Dora and Quincy Wilson; she | ||
| graduated from Vernon High School and enrolled in Baylor University | ||
| at the age of 16; following her marriage to Lloyd Russell, she | ||
| completed her bachelor's degree at North Texas State University, | ||
| and she taught at that institution during World War II while her | ||
| husband served in the U.S. Navy; Dr. Russell subsequently became a | ||
| department chair at Baylor and the couple returned to Waco; and | ||
| WHEREAS, She was employed as a teacher and counselor in Waco | ||
| public schools and earned her master's degree from Baylor; after | ||
| the untimely death of Dr. Russell in 1968, she was fortunate enough | ||
| to find love a second time with Dr. Abner McCall, the president and | ||
| chancellor of Baylor; they married on Christmas Day in 1970, and she | ||
| fully embraced the role of first lady of the institution; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Committed to expanding access to higher education, | ||
| Mrs. McCall served as president of the Baylor Round Table and led | ||
| the creation of its scholarship fund; she was instrumental in the | ||
| establishment of the Lloyd O. Russell Memorial Scholarship Fund and | ||
| the Abner V. and Mary McCall Scholarship Fund; in addition, she was | ||
| a charter member of the President's Club and the Endowed | ||
| Scholarship Society, and she was co-president of the Heritage Club; | ||
| also benefiting her sorority, she served as an advisor to the Kappa | ||
| Kappa Gamma chapter; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Mrs. McCall designed and supervised the building of | ||
| the president's home, and she was chair of the wives' organization | ||
| of the Southern Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities; | ||
| she enjoyed getting to know the other presidents and their spouses, | ||
| but she took the greatest pleasure in making Baylor a warm and | ||
| welcoming place; over the years, she helped students cook dinners | ||
| to impress their girlfriends, located elusive homecoming game | ||
| tickets for their dates, and graciously opened her home to hundreds | ||
| of people; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The university recognized Mrs. McCall with one of | ||
| its highest honors, the Founders Award, and she received the W. R. | ||
| White Meritorious Service Award from the Baylor University Alumni | ||
| Association; she was named a Yellow Rose of Texas by then-governor | ||
| George W. Bush, and her two daughters, Linda Letbetter and Nancy | ||
| Chapman, donated the Mary McCall Chapel of the Baylor Panhellenic | ||
| Building in her honor; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Benefiting the wider community as well, Mrs. McCall | ||
| was a member of the Historic Waco Foundation, the Brazos Forum, the | ||
| Thursday Study Club, and the Waco Literary Club; moreover, she was a | ||
| trustee of the First Baptist Church of Waco, and she taught Sunday | ||
| school, took part in missions, and delivered Meals on Wheels; and | ||
| WHEREAS, In 1995, Dr. McCall died, and eight years later, | ||
| Mrs. McCall moved to the Edgemere Retirement Community in Dallas; | ||
| she served on its board, and she joined Park Cities Baptist Church | ||
| and served as president of both her Sunday school class and the | ||
| Variety Book Club; she was also a sustaining member of the Baylor | ||
| University Women's Council of Dallas, which recognized her with its | ||
| Woman of Distinction Award, and she belonged to the Ermance Book | ||
| Club of Dallas; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Mary McCall made a lasting, positive impact on | ||
| Baylor University through her vision, leadership, and dedication, | ||
| and although she is profoundly missed by her loved ones, she left a | ||
| legacy that they can remember with pride; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Mary Wilson Russell | ||
| McCall and extend sincere condolences to her family and friends; | ||
| and, be it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
| prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of | ||
| Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Mary | ||
| McCall. | ||
| Anderson of McLennan | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 2235 was unanimously adopted by a | ||
| rising vote of the House on May 21, 2015. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
