Sarah Weddington Estate provides new opportunities for student success McMurry Alumna Sarah Ragle Weddington ’64 recently contributed more than $6,000,000, through her estate, in support of student success initiatives at McMurry.
During her time at McMurry, Sarah served in McMurry Student Government, was a member of Theta Chi Lambda, and was driven by and focused on service, often mentoring other students in her spare time. It was evident to those who knew her as a student that she would be successful in her career and in life.
After graduating in 1964, she went to the University of Texas Law School and began working as an attorney. After successfully arguing her first case in front of U.S. Supreme Court, she was elected to the Texas House of Representatives, where she served from 1973 to 1977 when President Jimmy Carter appointed her as the first woman general counsel for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. She worked as his assistant until 1981. Weddington was a highly sought out keynote speaker from international organizations to McMurry’s Women’s Leadership Luncheon.
Throughout her life, she was committed to serving others and mentoring students. She knew the value of her own education and how it prepared her for life and professional success. She sought to provide that same opportunity for other students as they journeyed through college and beyond. She established two endowed scholarships at McMurry – one with her brother in memory of their parents and the other for pre-law students. Now, she continues her legacy through an estate gift of over six million dollars to McMurry.
“Throughout her life, Sarah embodied servant leadership,” Dr. Harper emphasized. “She demonstrated this trait as a student leader, a professional, a public servant, and in her community. Her legacy will continue at McMurry through the programs made possible by this transformative gift to establish and support student success initiatives.”
Nearly 18-months of work between McMurry officials, in collaboration with her estate executor, Pete Morrison, and her cousin, Dr. Ralph McCleskey ’65, was spent to ensure the University maximized impact on our students while honoring Weddington’s life and wishes for her alma mater.
“This is truly a transformative gift that will spark a new era of academic engagement, enrichment, and empowerment at McMurry,” Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Matthew Draud said. “Impactful initiatives like the Professional Exploration Summit and the Professional Leadership Program will provide students with unparalleled opportunities for holistic growth, diverse career exploration, and leadership development.”
The Professional Leadership Program facilitates the self-discovery of students’ leadership abilities. These students will join a cohort where they will attend discussions and intensive study on what it means to be a leader and earn leadership certificates they can use in their future careers. The Professional Exploration Summit is a unique opportunity for students to build career confidence and gain inspiration for what they want to achieve beyond graduation.
Along with student success experiences, the estate gift will also create the Innovation Fund, which allows the University to introduce innovative or novel ideas and projects that move the University forward. “We know the world is moving quickly and in many different ways,” Dr. Draud said. “The Innovation Fund allows us to pivot toward the ideas, technology, and programs that will be impactful in the future.”
When asked what inspired Sarah to make this commitment to McMurry, Vice President of Institutional Advancement Mike Hutchison ’87 said, “Sarah was always dedicated to improving the lives of others. She fundamentally understood the integral role education plays in the development of future leaders. Ultimately, I believe Sarah wanted to be part of McMurry’s mission of preparing students for lives of leadership, service, and professional success. It’s one she certainly lived out herself.”