H.R. No. 2235

	R E S O L U T I O N
	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