Elta Joyce McAfee

慈善家-社区领袖

Elta Joyce Murphey was born in the Concho Valley of Texas into a ranching family southwest of San Angelo in Mertzon and Barnhart. 她的父母是托马斯·贾勒特和埃塔·蒂奥拉·温德姆·墨菲. Joyce attended public schools and was actively involved in the First Baptist Church of San Angelo, 参加主日学, 训练会和星期三晚上的祷告会. 1952年，她从圣安吉洛中心高中毕业. She began her college years at Lindenwood College for Women in St. 查尔斯,密苏里州. 后来，她开始在中文博彩平台学习. 在大二时，她遇到了罗伯特·阿伦·尼克尔. They transferred to the University of Texas in Austin, married and had a child, Jarrott Lynn.

While her husband served the army for sixteen months in Korea, Joyce transferred back to HSU. 她对自己上的历史课有着美好的回忆. Katherine Boyd’s drama class and Miss Billie Lacy’s art appreciation classes. She graduated from HSU with a degree in elementary education in 1957. This outstanding individual would go on to make her mark upon the history of San Angelo and demonstrate her significant appreciation for the fine arts in special, 有形的方式.

Upon Bob’s return from Korea, the couple’s second child, Elisa Michelle was born in 1960. Except for her time in Austin, Joyce has lived all of her life in the Concho Valley. 她喜欢在小学教书, pursuing stage acting and being heavily involved in clubs and organizations.

In 1980, Joyce married Millard Francis McAfee and they enjoyed many years together until his death in May of 2016.

Joyce is blessed with two adult children, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild. 这家人喜欢旅行，喜欢在牧场上度过时光.

Joyce is best known for her generosity to the community and as a steadfast supporter of education, 尤其是在表演艺术方面. Among her numerous civic and charitable endeavors is her endowment of the nationally recognized San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts En Plein Air Texas annual juried art competition where artists throughout the US and internationally participate. 她也是博物馆的创始成员之一, 并担任过圣安吉洛市民剧院的院长.

McAfee joined the San Angelo Symphony Board in 1964 and the San Angelo Symphony Guild in 1967, 她曾在1973-74年和1992-93年担任总统. In 1996, 她被任命为交响乐团荣誉圈的一员, 并继续担任交响乐团的董事会成员, 每年赞助一场交响乐音乐会.

In 1983, she chaired the fundraising effort to introduce ballet to San Angelo. The first production of the Nutcracker was introduced in San Angelo. She played a critical role in birthing what is known today as Ballet San Angelo. In 2017, Joyce was honored by the Texas Senate with the passage of Senate Resolution 161 recognizing her for her $3 million donation toward the restoration of the San Angelo City Auditorium facility and the renaming of the renovated auditorium as the Elta Joyce Murphey Performance Hall and Stage. 进一步, the resolution stated that other beneficiaries of her generosity include Angelo State University, 安吉洛市民剧院, 圣安吉洛少年联盟, 信仰之家和浸信会纪念医院.

She was honored by the Girl Scouts of Texas as one of five “Women of Distinction” of 2015. She was named Honorary Chairman of the Texas Association of Symphony Orchestras, and was Grand Marshal of the San Angelo Christmas Parade in 2017. 三年了, Joyce was gratified to sponsor a hunting weekend and golf weekend for Wounded Warriors, at which times she presented the veterans with a hunting rifle and a set of golf clubs. San Angelo’s business leaders honored McAfee naming her the 2017 San Angelo Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year.

Joyce has contributed to a widely attended concert entitled “Christians United for Israel” which featured Holocaust Survivors and was held in Lakeview High School Auditorium. 进一步支持以色列, 乔伊斯和她的妹妹捐款在以色列种树, 遵循利未记19:23的话, 你到了那地要种树.”

2016年12月, she was our honored guest for the HSU annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony, 拨动开灯的开关. 她的微笑像闪烁的灯光一样灿烂. The HSU students fell in love with her, and she left a lasting impression on our campus.

In recognition of her significant philanthropic initiatives and her leadership in her community and beyond, it is the high honor of Hardin-Simmons University to induct Elta Joyce McAfee into the HSU 领袖堂.