By: Sibley S.C.R. No. 85 97S1400/1 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, Among the great men of Texas who have left their 1-2 indelible mark on the state is the late Abner McCall, former 1-3 President and Chancellor of Baylor University; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Born on June 8, 1915, in Jack County, Abner 1-5 experienced sorrow while quite young when his father died, leaving 1-6 his mother to care for four small children; and 1-7 WHEREAS, Left almost literally an orphan when their mother's 1-8 health declined, Abner and his brothers and sister went to the Fort 1-9 Worth Masonic Home and School; understanding the value of an 1-10 education, Abner graduated from the school as valedictorian in 1-11 1933; and 1-12 WHEREAS, A superb student, he received a Masonic scholarship 1-13 to attend Baylor University, where he intended to become an 1-14 attorney; and 1-15 WHEREAS, Working his way through college and law school, 1-16 Abner McCall graduated at the top of his law school class; his 1-17 score on the bar exam was higher than that of any other examinee; 1-18 and 1-19 WHEREAS, In 1940, he married Frances Bortle, and they made a 1-20 warm and loving home for their four children: Anne, Bette Gail, 1-21 Richard Vernon, and Kathleen; and 1-22 WHEREAS, In 1969, Frances predeceased him, and in 1970, he 1-23 married Mary W. Russell of Waco; and 2-1 WHEREAS, Appointed Dean of Baylor Law School in 1948, Abner 2-2 McCall was the youngest dean in the history of the law school; and 2-3 WHEREAS, Dean McCall was appointed by Governor Allan Shivers 2-4 to fill an interim position on the Texas Supreme Court in 1956; the 2-5 dean returned to the law school when the term was over; and 2-6 WHEREAS, An upright and moral man of great probity, he served 2-7 as Dean of Baylor Law School from 1948 through 1959; promoted to 2-8 Executive Vice President in 1959, he was named President of Baylor 2-9 University in 1961; and 2-10 WHEREAS, Blossoming under his leadership, Baylor University 2-11 increased its academic stature, capital assets, and national 2-12 reputation; the student enrollment increased to around 10,000, and 2-13 the size of the campus increased from about 40 acres to about 300 2-14 acres; and 2-15 WHEREAS, In 1970, President McCall hired Jack Patterson as 2-16 Athletic Director, and Grant Teaff was hired to become an 2-17 outstanding coach for Baylor; and 2-18 WHEREAS, President McCall began Baylor's development program 2-19 to enlarge the university's endowment, which has increased to over 2-20 $130 million; he served as Chancellor from 1981 until 1985; and 2-21 WHEREAS, Throughout his illustrious career, his service to 2-22 education has taken many different forms; he served on the Board of 2-23 Trustees for the Waco Independent School District and was on the 2-24 steering committee of the Waco Adopt A School; he served as Trustee 2-25 of the Masonic Home Independent School District; a list of his 3-1 honors and awards would fill several pages; and 3-2 WHEREAS, A man with strong religious convictions, Chancellor 3-3 McCall worked devotedly on behalf of the Southern Baptist 3-4 Convention and was an active member of First Baptist Church in 3-5 Waco, where he taught a Bible Study class and was a deacon; and 3-6 WHEREAS, Accorded the highest honors among his peers, he was 3-7 appointed to the Texas Judicial Council by several different Texas 3-8 governors, and his unequaled record of professional and personal 3-9 contributions to his church, university, and state made him an 3-10 exemplary citizen of Texas; and 3-11 WHEREAS, Texans will remember Abner McCall for his leadership 3-12 and achievements, and it is fitting that a state building be named 3-13 in his honor; now, therefore, be it 3-14 RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas 3-15 hereby direct that the Raleigh Building in Waco be named the Abner 3-16 McCall Building in honor of one of the state's most beloved leaders 3-17 and citizens; and, be it further 3-18 RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official 3-19 copy of this resolution to the executive director of the General 3-20 Services Commission.