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Roll Call Tribute
William "Bill" Donnell '42 April 30, 2012 9:30 AM
Published in (San Antonio) Express-News on April 29, 2012
William Donnell
DONNELL
William Conly Donnell
William Conly Donnell, a longtime Brewster County rancher and a former chairman of the State Senior Colleges of Texas, died peacefully at his home on Saturday, April 14, 2012. He was 92. A memorial service was held at noon Thursday, April 19, at Lightning Ranch headquarters. Alpine Memorial Funeral Home handled arrangements. He was born January 30, 1920, in San Antonio, where he attended Jefferson High School. He earned a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics from Texas A&M University. Mr. Donnell was a B-17 pilot during World War II. While serving with the 15th Air Force in Italy, he was awarded the Air Medal with oak leaf clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster. He was honorably discharged as a captain. Named "Man of the Year in Agriculture" by the Texas County Agents' Association in 1971, Mr. Donnell held directorships in Friona Industries, the Texas Association of Taxpayers, the West Texas Chamber of Commerce, the American National Cattleman's Association and the Texas Hereford Association. Mr. Donnell served as president of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association from 1972-74. In 2000, he received the Outstanding Alumni Award from the Texas A&M University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Additionally, he was a former chairman and member of the Board of Regents of State Senior Colleges of Texas. He served on the 37-member Texas Constitutional Revision Commission in 1973-74, a panel charged with replacing the constitution adopted in 1875. The commission worked for seven months, but the convention failed by three votes to produce a document to present to Texas voters. Mr. Donnel was pre-deceased by his wife of over 50 years, Roxana Holland Donnell. Survivors include his sister, Jane Donnell Graham of Bandera; his sister-in-law, Kathleen Holland Olsen and husband Paul Olsen of Alpine; children Dorothy Tate Mullin and husband Robert Mullin of Atherton, Calif., Frederic H.S. Tate and wife Lee Ann McCoy Tate of Marfa, William C. "Billito" Donnell Jr. and wife Kathleen Stover Donnell of Alpine, Jean Donnell Norris of El Paso, and David Gage Donnell and wife Mendora Reinberg Donnell of Sierra Blanca; 12 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Roxana Holland Donnell Memorial Nursing Endowment at Office of the President of Sul Ross State University, Box C114, Alpine, TX 79832, or to a charity of the donor's choice.
William Donnell
DONNELL
William Conly Donnell
William Conly Donnell, a longtime Brewster County rancher and a former chairman of the State Senior Colleges of Texas, died peacefully at his home on Saturday, April 14, 2012. He was 92. A memorial service was held at noon Thursday, April 19, at Lightning Ranch headquarters. Alpine Memorial Funeral Home handled arrangements. He was born January 30, 1920, in San Antonio, where he attended Jefferson High School. He earned a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics from Texas A&M University. Mr. Donnell was a B-17 pilot during World War II. While serving with the 15th Air Force in Italy, he was awarded the Air Medal with oak leaf clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster. He was honorably discharged as a captain. Named "Man of the Year in Agriculture" by the Texas County Agents' Association in 1971, Mr. Donnell held directorships in Friona Industries, the Texas Association of Taxpayers, the West Texas Chamber of Commerce, the American National Cattleman's Association and the Texas Hereford Association. Mr. Donnell served as president of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association from 1972-74. In 2000, he received the Outstanding Alumni Award from the Texas A&M University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Additionally, he was a former chairman and member of the Board of Regents of State Senior Colleges of Texas. He served on the 37-member Texas Constitutional Revision Commission in 1973-74, a panel charged with replacing the constitution adopted in 1875. The commission worked for seven months, but the convention failed by three votes to produce a document to present to Texas voters. Mr. Donnel was pre-deceased by his wife of over 50 years, Roxana Holland Donnell. Survivors include his sister, Jane Donnell Graham of Bandera; his sister-in-law, Kathleen Holland Olsen and husband Paul Olsen of Alpine; children Dorothy Tate Mullin and husband Robert Mullin of Atherton, Calif., Frederic H.S. Tate and wife Lee Ann McCoy Tate of Marfa, William C. "Billito" Donnell Jr. and wife Kathleen Stover Donnell of Alpine, Jean Donnell Norris of El Paso, and David Gage Donnell and wife Mendora Reinberg Donnell of Sierra Blanca; 12 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Roxana Holland Donnell Memorial Nursing Endowment at Office of the President of Sul Ross State University, Box C114, Alpine, TX 79832, or to a charity of the donor's choice.
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