McMurry University grieves Barbara Seidel Swagerty ‘56

McMurry University grieves the loss of alumna, longtime donor, and tennis legend Barbara Seidel Swagerty '56 after her passing on Sept. 11, 2024. Her passion for the sport and generosity led to the renaming of the Seidel-Swagerty Tennis Center in 2005 in her honor.

Barbara received both her Bachelor of Science in 1956 and her Master of Education in 1958 from McMurry. As a student, she was an avid tennis player, editor for the yearbook, reporter in the student newspaper, and member of the T.I.P Social Club. Following graduation, she was a dedicated physical education teacher and decorated tennis coach. Her teams won six state championships and went to nationals in 1997. She continued to play league tennis for 24 years.

Barbara's support of McMurry continued long after her career. In addition to the Seidel-Swagerty Tennis Center, she regularly provided support to T.I.P. Her most recent capital funding project was the paving of a parking lot near the Tennis Center and repaving of the lots between the Bynum Band Hall and Wilford Moore Stadium. She also provided lead funding for a new weight room that will provide a workout facility for the tennis teams. Finally, she endowed ten scholarships for McMurry students in honor of her family and friends.

McMurry bestowed many awards upon her for her generosity. Barbara was inducted to the Athletic Hall of Honor in 2008 and received the Bob & Clara Brown Award. She was awarded the John Wesley Award in 2016, the highest award for philanthropic and voluntary service given to McMurry. She received an honorary doctorate and was inducted into the Trailblazer Society in 2018. This past April, Barbara was inducted to the newly formed S.M. and Inez Jay Society, created to inspire philanthropy and recognize McMurry's most generous donors.

During McMurry's Centennial celebration in 2023, she was named to the prestigious McMurry 100, a list of people who most impacted the university during its first 100 years. Throughout every phase of her long and illustrious life, Barbara never wavered in supporting her alma mater, and McMurry will forever be left with the indelible mark of her generosity.

Barbara's funeral service will be Friday, Sept. 20 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Paul Abilene. A reception will follow at McMurry's Garrison United Methodist Campus Center in the Mabee Room from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.