By Bob Allen
A Texas Baptist university has bestowed an honorary doctorate on former First Lady Laura Bush, recognizing her decades-long advocacy of education, health care, human rights and the family.
Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas, presented the former first lady an honorary doctor of letters degree Oct. 21.
“During her time as a Texas governor’s wife, the first lady of the United States of America, and as a visible private citizen in our nation, Mrs. Bush has consistently exhibited grace, serenity and strength of character,” said Wayland President Paul Armes.
On campus to deliver the Willson Lecture Series, established in 1950s for topics related to “applied Christianity” and “Christian home and family life,” Bush said she felt very much at home in West Texas.
“I’ve really been looking forward to visiting Plainview,” she said. “I feel like you’re my people.”
Bush, who was born and raised in Midland, recalled that her first experience with the people in Plainview came in 1978, shortly after she got married and her husband was running for Congress.
“There were about a dozen Republicans in Plainview at that time,” she said. “But everyone was very nice. George lost that election to Kent Hance, but the people in Plainview are nice. They were nice to us and friendly to us … even though very few of you voted for him.”
After her remarks in chapel, Bush helped raise about $95,000 for student scholarships by speaking to about 450 people at a luncheon in the Pete and Nelda Laney Student Activities Center, named after a former Texas Speaker of the House who is a good friend of the President and Mrs. Bush.