TEXARKANA MAGAZINE
The Morgan family gathered for Christmas 2024.
of students have collaborated, studied, and built friendships that sustain them through college. Scholarships bearing his name continue to open doors for students across the Texas Panhandle, ensuring that his belief in education outlives him by generations. Hazel Kelley Wilson was one of a kind as well, and Judy credits her for her philanthropic spirit. “My mom taught Sunday School for 20 years, and I taught Sunday School for 20 years,” Judy reflects. “I followed in her footsteps by giving back to educational institutions. Most importantly, my parents always gave God the glory for all they had and all they were able to do for others. We do not get to choose our parents, but I hit the jackpot with mine.” Judy’s daughter, Shelby, reflects on how her mother has carried forward her own mother’s legacy for the next generation: “My mom has always lived her faith through service, from the First Baptist Church Sunday School room to the Texas A&M boardroom. Whether teaching the Bible to teenagers, supporting many community- based charities, or advancing education at a state level, she leads with compassion and conviction. Her example taught me that true leadership begins with loving others through action.” Watching her parents build businesses and invest in people gave Judy a masterclass in what wealth is truly for. The lesson was clear to her. Enterprise exists not just to accumulate, but to elevate. It is a philosophy she has spent her adult life putting into practice.
As her daughter, Haven, explains, “Serving others is simply a way of life for my mom, a gift she inherited from her own mother. She showed us the importance of generosity, not just with her words, but with her actions, giving freely from all that God has entrusted to her. It was not until I grew older that I realized how extraordinary her commitment to the community is. Even now, she almost always has three or four projects in the works. While I am not sure I will ever be able to fill her shoes, I will always try.” When Judy speaks about education, she talks about students by name, about programs that work, and about the ripple effects when one person gets the chance they need. She understands that investing in education is investing in families, neighborhoods, and the workforce that will shape the region’s future. She speaks of ensuring kids from Texarkana could put their feet on the campus at Texas A&M University-Texarkana and unapologetically declares her love for the Texas A&M system. This affection led to her being invited to serve on the Board of Regents. Her tenure as a Regent of The Texas A&M University System from 2011 to 2017 put a Texarkana voice at a statewide table where decisions about access and opportunity were being made. During those six years, she ensured policymakers remembered a fundamental truth: excellence should be available in every corner of Texas, not just in the metropolitan centers that dominate the
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COMMUNITY & CULTURE
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