Mrs. Emma Wise Honored for Gift of Alumni Wall


	Office of News and Information November 17, 2003

Mrs. Emma Wise Honored for Gift of Alumni Wall

The UT Tyler Alumni Association held a reception Nov. 11 honoring Mrs. Emma F. Wise for her gift of the alumni wall, which lists the names of nearly 20,000 graduates.

The large display, located on the exterior of the University Center, is the result of a gift by Mrs. Wise to honor her late husband, Watson W. Wise, and to honor all graduates of the university for their scholarly work, perseverance and life-changing accomplishments.

“This generous gift from Mrs. Wise celebrates her husband’s significant contributions that reached much further than East Texas," Janet Drake Fair, chairman of the alumni association board of directors, said during a program preceding the reception in the UC.

Sheriff J.B. Smith thanks Mrs. Wise for her gift of the alumni wall. Smith is a 1975 graduate.

“A true patriot, Watson Wise served and represented our country in important international assignments," Fair said, noting that Wise was appointed by President Eisenhower as a delegate to the United Nations Assembly in 1958 and was a U.S. delegate to London for the Atlantic Congress in 1962. He also made generous contributions to many hospitals, colleges, organizations and charities.

“Mrs. Wise, you honor your husband, this university and thousands of alumni with your contribution, your generosity, your lovely spirit and your presence. Thank you so much,’’ Fair said.

Standing in front of the UT Tyler Alumni Wall are, from left, Patrick D. Willis, former alumni board of directors chairman; Mrs. Emma F. Wise; Dr. Rodney Mabry, UT Tyler president; and Mary Untersee Irwin, former vice president for university advancement.

Remarks also were made by Dr. Rodney Mabry, UT Tyler president; Patrick D. Willis, former alumni chairman; Mrs. Wise, Sheriff J.B. Smith, representing the first graduating class; and Aimee Griffy, representing graduates of the first freshman class.

The first class of graduates of Tyler State College and Texas Eastern University, which later became UT Tyler, and the graduates of UT Tyler’s 1998 freshman class, the first group of freshmen in the university’s history, are highlighted on the wall. The rest of the almost 20,000 alumni names also listed on plaques complete the display.

UT Tyler began in 1971 as Tyler State College, which became Texas Eastern University in 1975. The institution joined the UT System in 1979. Originally created as an upper division university serving junior, senior and graduate level students, the university became a comprehensive four-year university in 1997.

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