Eleanor Searle
Encyclopedia
Eleanor Searle Whitney McCollum (c. 1908 – August 12, 2002) was an independent woman of means who was married to two important American men, Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney
and Leonard "Mac" McCollum. She achieved a unique and separable identify as a philanthropist and community organizer in Houston, TX. Her contributions included the establishment of the Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers of Houston Grand Opera
, patronage for Orbis International
, and, together with her second husband, an important role in the development of Baylor College of Medicine
.http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2002_3572444
She was born in Plymouth, Ohio
to Bertha Fenner Searle and Dr. George James Searle. Her vocal and performing skills led to enrollment in Florida Southern College
where she focused on theatrical and voice skills. She subsequently became a student of voice in New York City and an opera singer. Talented and good looking, she attracted the attention of Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney
and they married in 1941. They had one son, Cornelius Searle Whitney. The marriage ended in 1957 and she resumed her singing career, with an emphasis on faith-based activities including a stint with Billy Graham Ministries. An autobiography "Invitation to Joy" was published in 1971 by Harper and Row. In 1975 she married Texas oilman Leonard F. "Mac" McCollum,http://www.conocophillips.com/about/Company+History/1928+-+1972.htm President of Continental Oil Company, a predecessor of ConocoPhillips
. They remain married until his death in 1993. Her later years were consumed with raising funds for a historic restoration, the Heritage Center Museum, in Plymouth, Ohio
, the Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers Concert of Arias, and a continuation of fund raising for Orbis International
initiated by her husband. The Orbis International
DC-10 converted to a "state of the art" eye hospital provides care for surgically correctable eye disease. It brings unique and technically demanding eye surgery to many third world countries and also functions as a classroom to teach local physicians and health care providers techniques to prevent blindness.
Although she lived a colorful life (featured on a cover of Life Magazine in 1946) , the trait that characterized this exceptional woman was enthusiasm for charitable activity. Even in her 90s she remained active in fund raising for her favorite charities. She was perhaps best known for the establishment of a national competition for young opera singers. The Houston Grand Opera Studiohttp://www.houstongrandopera.org/otherdisplay.aspx?pageid=486 was established by Houston Grand Opera
to provide young singers with the opportunity to further develop skills as an interim step between university or music school training and development of a career. The Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers is used to select aspiring singers for this program. The finalists are selected at an annual concert, the "Concert of Arias". Those who attended the Concert of Arias event featuring the finalists of the Competition for Young Singers remember the flourish that characterized Eleanor McCollum's stage entrance for the final awards, even in her 90s. She was indefatigable in her efforts to raise funds for her favorite charities.
She died August 12, 2002 at the age of 94 following a stroke.
Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney
Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney was an American businessman, film producer, writer, and government official, as well as the owner of a leading stable of thoroughbred racehorses....
and Leonard "Mac" McCollum. She achieved a unique and separable identify as a philanthropist and community organizer in Houston, TX. Her contributions included the establishment of the Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers of Houston Grand Opera
Houston Grand Opera
Houston Grand Opera Houston Grand Opera was founded in 1955 through the joint efforts of Maestro Walter Herbert and cultural leaders Mrs. Louis G. Lobit, Edward Bing and Charles Cockrell...
, patronage for Orbis International
ORBIS International
Orbis International is an international non-profit non-governmental organization dedicated to saving sight worldwide. Orbis programs focus on the prevention of blindness and the treatment of blinding eye diseases in developing countries...
, and, together with her second husband, an important role in the development of Baylor College of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine, located in the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas, USA, is a highly regarded medical school and leading center for biomedical research and clinical care...
.http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2002_3572444
She was born in Plymouth, Ohio
Plymouth, Ohio
Plymouth is a village in Huron and Richland counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 1,852 at the 2000 census.The Richland County portion of Plymouth is part of the Mansfield Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the Huron County portion is part of the Norwalk Micropolitan Statistical...
to Bertha Fenner Searle and Dr. George James Searle. Her vocal and performing skills led to enrollment in Florida Southern College
Florida Southern College
Florida Southern College is a private college located in Lakeland, Florida, United States. It was selected by U.S...
where she focused on theatrical and voice skills. She subsequently became a student of voice in New York City and an opera singer. Talented and good looking, she attracted the attention of Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney
Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney
Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney was an American businessman, film producer, writer, and government official, as well as the owner of a leading stable of thoroughbred racehorses....
and they married in 1941. They had one son, Cornelius Searle Whitney. The marriage ended in 1957 and she resumed her singing career, with an emphasis on faith-based activities including a stint with Billy Graham Ministries. An autobiography "Invitation to Joy" was published in 1971 by Harper and Row. In 1975 she married Texas oilman Leonard F. "Mac" McCollum,http://www.conocophillips.com/about/Company+History/1928+-+1972.htm President of Continental Oil Company, a predecessor of ConocoPhillips
ConocoPhillips
ConocoPhillips Company is an American multinational energy corporation with its headquarters located in the Energy Corridor district of Houston, Texas in the United States...
. They remain married until his death in 1993. Her later years were consumed with raising funds for a historic restoration, the Heritage Center Museum, in Plymouth, Ohio
Plymouth, Ohio
Plymouth is a village in Huron and Richland counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 1,852 at the 2000 census.The Richland County portion of Plymouth is part of the Mansfield Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the Huron County portion is part of the Norwalk Micropolitan Statistical...
, the Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers Concert of Arias, and a continuation of fund raising for Orbis International
ORBIS International
Orbis International is an international non-profit non-governmental organization dedicated to saving sight worldwide. Orbis programs focus on the prevention of blindness and the treatment of blinding eye diseases in developing countries...
initiated by her husband. The Orbis International
ORBIS International
Orbis International is an international non-profit non-governmental organization dedicated to saving sight worldwide. Orbis programs focus on the prevention of blindness and the treatment of blinding eye diseases in developing countries...
DC-10 converted to a "state of the art" eye hospital provides care for surgically correctable eye disease. It brings unique and technically demanding eye surgery to many third world countries and also functions as a classroom to teach local physicians and health care providers techniques to prevent blindness.
Although she lived a colorful life (featured on a cover of Life Magazine in 1946) , the trait that characterized this exceptional woman was enthusiasm for charitable activity. Even in her 90s she remained active in fund raising for her favorite charities. She was perhaps best known for the establishment of a national competition for young opera singers. The Houston Grand Opera Studiohttp://www.houstongrandopera.org/otherdisplay.aspx?pageid=486 was established by Houston Grand Opera
Houston Grand Opera
Houston Grand Opera Houston Grand Opera was founded in 1955 through the joint efforts of Maestro Walter Herbert and cultural leaders Mrs. Louis G. Lobit, Edward Bing and Charles Cockrell...
to provide young singers with the opportunity to further develop skills as an interim step between university or music school training and development of a career. The Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers is used to select aspiring singers for this program. The finalists are selected at an annual concert, the "Concert of Arias". Those who attended the Concert of Arias event featuring the finalists of the Competition for Young Singers remember the flourish that characterized Eleanor McCollum's stage entrance for the final awards, even in her 90s. She was indefatigable in her efforts to raise funds for her favorite charities.
She died August 12, 2002 at the age of 94 following a stroke.