BROWNWOOD – May 8, 2015 – Howard Payne University’s Woman’s Club recently honored Debra Wilson, a resident of Brownwood and Houston, with the prestigious 2015 Yellow Rose Award. The award is presented annually to a woman who has exhibited exemplary leadership within her sphere of influence, who has exhibited fiscal, emotional or physical support to the ongoing of the university and who represents Christian values and beliefs foundational to HPU.
Wilson has spent countless hours volunteering on campus and providing friendship and mentorship to students. A native Texan, Wilson attended North Texas State University. She later met and married her husband of almost 50 years, Dr. Walter C. “Dub” Wilson, a 1965 HPU graduate and member of HPU’s Board of Trustees.
The Wilsons are active members of Houston’s First Baptist Church and involved in a number of volunteer activities. The couple additionally impacts the lives of HPU students through a scholarship endowment established in 2001 and by spending many hours promoting HPU’s fundraising efforts. They have two adult children, Scott and Aimee, and five grandchildren – Mackenzie, Grayson, Caroline, Abby and Ethan.
“Deb Wilson has been a personal blessing in my life and a blessing to many HPU students, faculty and staff members,” said Dr. Diana Ellis, the university’s first lady and president of the HPU Woman’s Club. “Her greatest ministry is encouragement, a gift she freely shares with others. She is so deserving of this award and I was honored to present it to her.”
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Photo cutline: Debra Wilson, left, was recently presented with the HPU Woman’s Club Yellow Rose Award. She is pictured with Dr. Diana Ellis, HPU’s first lady and club president.