Mary Moody Northen
Mary Elizabeth Moody Northen | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 10, 1892 Galveston, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | August 25, 1986 (aged 94) Galveston, Texas, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Financier, philanthropist |
| Known for | Leadership of American National Insurance Company, Moody National Bank, and the Moody Foundation |
Mary Elizabeth Moody Northen (February 10, 1892 – August 25, 1986) was a prominent American financier and philanthropist based in Galveston, Texas. She was the daughter of the influential financial and insurance leader William Lewis Moody, Jr. and the aunt of entrepreneur Shearn Moody, Jr..
Personal life
Northen was born to William Lewis Moody, Jr. and Libbie Rice Moody (née Shearn) as one of their four children. In 1915, she married Edwin Clyde Northen; the couple did not have offspring. Rather than focusing on family life, she devoted considerable effort to overseeing her father’s financial enterprises, frequently consulting with him and serving on various corporate boards.
Business interests
Following her father’s passing, Northen took over as president or chairperson of more than 50 companies under his control. These included the American National Insurance Company, recognized at the time as the largest insurance provider west of the Mississippi River, along with the Victorian Condo Hotel. Additionally, she held the position of chairman of the board at Moody National Bank. Northen maintained stewardship over the family’s extensive business ventures until her death in 1986.
Legacy and death
The Moody Foundation was created by her parents in 1942, who bequeathed their estate to it after their demise. This foundation supports a variety of civic and environmental initiatives throughout Texas. After her father’s death, Northen became chairman and guided the foundation until she passed away in 1986. Presently, the Moody Foundation operates as a $1.197 billion USD philanthropic organization distributing grants statewide.
Under Northen’s guidance, the Foundation financed restoration projects for historic sites in Galveston, such as an unused Santa Fe Railroad depot transformed into a railroad museum and the 1877 iron sailing vessel Elissa. It also contributed initial funding to establish Texas A&M University at Galveston.
In 1964, Northen established the Mary Moody Northen Foundation, a private charitable trust. Her testament instructed trustees to restore "The Moody Mansion," her childhood residence, into a museum and to preserve the Mountain Lake Hotel, a nature retreat and resort located in Virginia.
Northen died in Galveston on August 25, 1986, at age 94. Her funeral attracted over a thousand mourners, while Texas Governor Mark White ordered state flags to be lowered to half-staff in tribute.
See also
Notes
External links
- 1859 Historic Hotels successor to the National Hotel Company
- Mary Moody Northen Theatre, St. Edward's University
- William Lewis Moody, Jr. at Handbook of Texas Online
- Mary Elizabeth Moody Northen at Handbook of Texas Online