SAN ANTONIO – J. Bruce Bugg Jr. says Lila Cockrell rose above the divisive fray of politics. Cockrell was Bugg’s mentor while she was San Antonio’s first female mayor.
- Cockrell died last week
- Several memorials/tributes planned
- Served as Mayor from 1975-1981
"She carried herself with such grace and such integrity," said Bugg.
The businessman and banker currently sits as Chairman of the Texas Transportation Commission. Much earlier in his political career, in 1989, Bugg Jr. served as the Chair of Young Leaders for Lila Cockrell.
"She was the original servant leader," he said.
Before Cockrell’s passing last Thursday, Bugg said he spoke to Cockrell about his intent to create an educational fund to help the next generation of public leaders.
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"We have now established a Lila Cockrell Endowed Scholarship at Southern Methodist University," he said.
Cockrell graduated from SMU in 1942 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. In 1967 the University gave her the Distinguished Alumni Award, SMU's highest alumni honor.
In 1981, she received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. Then, in 2014, she earned the private university's Distinguished Alumni Award during SMU’s Centennial Celebration.
Bugg contributed the first $10,000 to the scholarship and has a $100,000 goal he hopes to raise by the end of the year.
"She was very pleased and overwhelmed that people would step up and contribute to an endowed scholarship in her name," Bugg said.
A public visitation is Tuesday at Mission Park Funeral Chapels North between 6:00pm-8:00pm.
A memorial service is scheduled for Thursday at Laurel Heights United Methodist Church beginning at 10:00am. Also Thursday at 2:00pm, a public tribute takes place at the Lila Cockrell Theatre.