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(April 2, 1881 - July 17, 1945) Patriot, philanthropist, writer, public figure. Born at St.Mary's, Refugio County; daughter of Robert and Julia Fox Driscoll, and descendant of a hero of San Jacinto; was educated in Texas, New York and France. In 1903 came her finest hour. When the public was shocked at plans for destroying The Alamo in San Antonio, she saved the shrine by buying it to give the State of Texas time to redeem and preserve it. In 1905-06 she published two novels, "The Girl of La Gloria" and "In The Shadow of The Alamo", and had on Broadway a musical comedy, "Mexicana". In 1922 organized the Pan-American Round Table in Austin; served as Democratic National Committee woman from Texas,1928-1944; was president of Daughters of the Republic of Texas, the Big Bend Park Association, and Corpus Christi Bank and Trust Company. This headquarters building of the Texas Federation of Women's Clubs is a monument to her generosity, for her 1939 gift of $92,000 paid off debts against it. In 1943 she gave her home, Laguna Gloria, to the Texas Fine Arts Association, for a museum. She died in Corpus Christi, leaving the bulk of her estate to a foundation for the care of crippled and diseased children. Outstanding Women of Texas Series, 1967 |
