Santa Gertrudis advocate and friend, Dr. Miriam "Mopsy" Wagenschein, died peacefully July 23, 2011.
She was born July 17, 1922 in Kingsville, Texas.
Miriam devoted her life to education and the advancement of women. She did her undergraduate studies at the University of Texas, received her master’s from the University of Chicago and her doctorate from Stanford University.
She taught at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington for 20 years before returning to south Texas and Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi where she became Dean of Arts and Humanities, retiring after 25 years. She played a critical role in the transition of Corpus Christi University to Texas A&I Corpus Christi, now Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi.
She brought the women’s movement to the university and the city of Corpus Christi. In 1974, she taught the first course in women studies. She started the university’s faculty senate and founded the Women’s Center for Education and Service.
Dr.Wagenschein interests didn’t stop with the university. She organized and saw the completion of South Guth Park for the Pharaoh Valley Home Owners Association and served as president.
She also sat on the board of directors for many organizations and worked with city leaders on issues concerning south Corpus Christi.
Miriam continued her father’s legacy in ranching and promoting the Santa Gertrudis breed of cattle. She was active in the Santa Gertrudis Breeders Association.
She was also an avid hunter and loved to expose others to the ranching way of life.
She is preceded in death by her parents Carl (Wag) F. Wagenschein and Joe Lee Howard, sister Carol Dryden, and nephew Charles (Carlitos) Dryden.
Mopsy leaves behind many family members and friends, all of whom brought great joy to herlife. Among them are Tommy Gardner and family, Carol Gardner, Carrie Rollins and family, Robin Dryden and family, Ellen Bass and family, Jeanie Bunnell Leach, Thalia Howard, and McClellan and Caroline Clark.