‘Immeasurably blessed by her faithful servant-leadership’

Baylor is all the richer for the many alumni and friends who maintain lifelong relationships with the University. One such example, Mary Russell McCall, was recently honored with the Founders Medallion, one of Baylor’s most distinguished awards.

While a student at Baylor, McCall met her future husband, Lloyd Russell. While he was off serving the country during World War II, she transferred to North Texas to complete her degree. After the war, the couple returned to Baylor, where Mary completed her master’s degree and Lloyd served as baseball coach.

The Baylor family helped Mary persevere when Lloyd passed away in 1968. Mary eventually found a new spouse from that same Baylor family; she married University President Abner McCall on Christmas Day 1970 and went to work as the new First Lady of Baylor. Her work at Baylor has ranged from establishing scholarship funds to advising a sorority. In fact, the chapel in the Stacy Riddle Forum was dubbed the Mary McCall Chapel in her honor.

McCall has also served her church and the Waco community for many years, earning the “Yellow Rose of Texas” honor from Governor George W. Bush in 1995, but it’s her faithful commitment to Baylor that those around the University remember most.

Sic ’em, Mary Russell McCall!