 Sara Graham '63
Growing up in the Rio Grande Methodist Conference as a preacher’s kid with three brothers and two sisters, Sara Graham’s mother and father instilled in their children the idea of giving back for a good cause. Sara’s mother believed in making life better for others and taught her children the same. Sara has a long history of involvement with the United Methodist Church. Her mother was the great, great granddaughter of Policarpo Rodriguez, one of the earliest Mexican Methodist preachers in Texas. Sara’s family moved to El Paso, where she attended two years at the University of Texas at El Paso. Then, as a junior, Sara came to McMurry. She stated, “My father felt that it was a safe place for me to be since I didn’t have any brothers living at home anymore to chaperone me. McMurry was a natural fit, and once I got here and became involved, I became more insistent about giving back to the University.”
Sara was involved in Wah Wahtaysee Service Organization and T.I.P. Women’s Social Club. Since Sara graduated, she has served McMurry in many capacities. She served on the Alumni Association Board of Directors and is currently serving the Board of Trustees where she is in her ninth and final year. In addition, she agreed to serve on the Capital Campaign Cabinet. Sara works for her husband’s company, Graham McAlister Co., where she serves as a trustee.
Sara has fond memories of her college experience at McMurry. Her ability to make McMurry her college home was made possible with the help of the work study program and a scholarship from the Rio Grande Methodist Conference. Sara recalls that when she was in high school, it was uncommon for Hispanic girls to go to college; however, since her mother had a degree, she encouraged all of her children to receive a higher education degree. Between Sara and her five brothers and sisters, they have earned 11 post-secondary degrees. To honor her parents’ influence, Sara established the Reverend Richard and Sarah Herrera Hernandez Scholarship, to be awarded to a Hispanic female from the Rio Grande Conference. Sara has also passed the same philanthropic commitment on to her own children. Sara’s son, Eugene Hudman ’92, established the Dr. Victor E. Hudman Scholarship for the Science Department in honor of his father.
When asked why she is serving on this campaign, Sara said, “I have lived in Abilene for 30 years now and I have seen all the wonderful changes at McMurry; but there is still a need for more, and I want to be a part of that.”
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