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Building BCM and Biochemistry History: The McLean Familyby Kristi Krupala 
Verna and Marrs McLean The relationship between Verna and Marrs McLean and Baylor College of Medicine is among BCM's oldest. Encouragement from fellow oilman Marrs McLean led Lillie and Roy Cullen to provide the $800,000 needed to construct the College's first building after World War II. The generosity and vision of the McLeans, recently echoed in the actions of their daughter Ruth McLean Bowman Bowers, has enabled the College's biochemistry department to grow into the internationally renowned, consistently top-ranked educational research center it is today. "We are fortunate to have the longstanding support of generous friends like the McLean family, who embrace our core mission to prepare the clinicians, scientists, and educators of tomorrow," said Dr. Peter G. Traber, BCM president and CEO. Marrs McLean was a loyal supporter of Baylor University whose commitment to the Waco university expanded to include support for its medical school, now Baylor College of Medicine. The College's vision of developing an out-standing biochemistry program sparked the McLeans' curiosity and philanthropic investment in 1946. Mr. McLean died seven years later, but the relationship with Mrs. McLean and the Marrs McLean Foundation continued to strengthen. In 1970, the Marrs McLean Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department's newly appointed chair, Dr. Salih J. Wakil, met with the Foundation president in San Antonio after discovering information about the department's namesake in files. "I told him my grandiose plans for the department in terms of faculty and students," said Wakil, who requested $100,000 for fellowships. His appeal was answered within a week with a check for $25,000 from the Foundation and a personal $25,000 check from Mrs. McLean. The following month, he received the same amount. This support touched Wakil so deeply that he established a lectureship honoring the McLeans. Held annually since 1972, the Verna and Marrs McLean Lectures have hosted some of biochemistry's best known talents and upcoming stars, including Dr. James W. Curran, a leader of the nation's evolving response to AIDS; Dr. J. Michael Bishop, who pro-vided a link between viruses and cancer; and Dr. Mario R. Capecchi, an expert on modification of the genome. 
Ruth McLean Bowman Bowers After Mrs. McLean's death in 1981, the department was formally renamed the Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology to honor the couple's philanthropy. Ruth McLean Bowman Bowers recently endowed the Ruth McLean Bowman Bowers Professorship in the department, proudly continuing her parents' legacy. The position is designated for new faculty members in the department who have been at BCM no longer than one year. "With this gift, the family of Mrs. Bowers hopes to help Baylor College of Medicine recruit an outstanding scientist, researcher, and educator to the department," said Wakil, who retired as chair of the department last year. "Our long relationship with Mrs. Bowers' family has been important to the department. This new example of its generosity will enable the department of biochemistry and molecular biology to expand the reach of its scientific endeavor," said the department chair, Dr. Adam Kuspa. |
Patient CareHealthy Living for a Thousand, Alex ResearchFighting Obesity one Molecule at a Time Doctors are from Jupiter, Patients are from Saturn EducationA Lot's Changed in 40 Years... Sort Of Community ServiceAlumni & DevelopmentBuilding BCM and Biochemistry History Following Father's Bedside Manner More than a Street Sign: Advocates for Medicine College NewsAn Artist in the Medical Arena
Educating the Next Generation of Leaders
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Volume 2, Issue 3, Fall 2006 |
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