Mary Moody Northen
Encyclopedia
Mary Elizabeth Moody Northen (10 February 1892 – 25 August 1986) was an American financier and philanthropist from Galveston, Texas
. She was the daughter of financial and insurance tycoon William Lewis Moody, Jr.
and aunt of businessman Shearn Moody, Jr.
which, at the time of Moody's death, was the biggest insurance company west of the Mississippi River. She was also named chairman of the board for the Moody National Bank
. Northen continued to maintain control over the family's companies, until her own death in 1986.
, to which their estate was transferred after their deaths.
. The Foundation awards grants to various civic and environmental causes in Texas. Northen was installed as chairman of the foundation after her father's death and continued to run the foundation until her own death in 1986. Today the Moody Foundation has grown into a $1.197 billion USD charitable foundation, making grants throughout the state of Texas.
Through her work with the Moody Foundation she helped to fund the restoration of many historic structures in Galveston, including an abandoned Santa Fe Railroad depot and office building, turning it into a railroad museum, and the 1877 iron sailing bark Elissa
. Under Northen's direction, the Moody Foundation also provided seed money
to help establish the Texas A&M University at Galveston
Northen established herself as a philanthropist in her own right in 1964 with the founding of Mary Moody Northen Inc., a private charitable foundation. In her will she directed the Northen foundation's trustees to restore her childhood Galveston home, "The Moody Mansion", and maintain it as a museum, as well as maintain the Mountain Lake Hotel, a nature sanctuary and resort in Virginia
.
Northen died in Galveston on August 25, 1986, at the age of 94. Her funeral was attended by more than a thousand people and Texas Governor Mark White
ordered flags flown at half-staff at state buildings in her honor.
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
. She was the daughter of financial and insurance tycoon William Lewis Moody, Jr.
William Lewis Moody, Jr.
William Lewis Moody Jr. was an American financier and entrepreneur from Galveston, Texas, who founded a private bank, an insurance company, and one of the largest charitable foundations in the United States. Moody was active in the day-to-day operations of his companies until two days before his...
and aunt of businessman Shearn Moody, Jr.
Shearn Moody, Jr.
Shearn Moody Jr. was an American financier, entrepreneur and philanthropist from Galveston, Texas. He was heir to a financial empire, as well as a convicted felon and originator of the Moody Gardens resort complex....
Personal life
Northen was born to William Lewis Moody, Jr. and Libbie Rice Shearn Moody on February 10, 1892 in Galveston, Texas and was one of four children. Mary Elizabeth married Edwin Clyde Northen in 1915, however they had no children. Instead, Northen focused most of her time on her father's "financial empire", including sitting on various boards of companies and dining with her father every evening to discuss business.Business interests
Upon the death of her father, William Lewis Moody, Jr., she was named president or chairman of the board of more than 50 corporations her father had controlled, including the American National Insurance CompanyAmerican National Insurance Company
American National Insurance Company is a major American insurance corporation based in Galveston, Texas. The company and its subsidiaries operate in all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa.-Company description:...
which, at the time of Moody's death, was the biggest insurance company west of the Mississippi River. She was also named chairman of the board for the Moody National Bank
Moody National Bank
Moody National Bank is a nationally chartered bank, founded in 1907, that is based in Galveston, Texas, USA.With assets of nearly $1 billion dollars Moody Bank is one of oldest and largest privately owned Texas-based banks. Its trust department, established in 1927, administers over $15.5 billion...
. Northen continued to maintain control over the family's companies, until her own death in 1986.
Legacy and death
In 1942 her parents set up the Moody FoundationMoody Foundation
The Moody Foundation is a charitable foundation incorporated in Texas and based in the island city of Galveston. It was chartered in 1942 by William Lewis Moody, Jr...
, to which their estate was transferred after their deaths.
. The Foundation awards grants to various civic and environmental causes in Texas. Northen was installed as chairman of the foundation after her father's death and continued to run the foundation until her own death in 1986. Today the Moody Foundation has grown into a $1.197 billion USD charitable foundation, making grants throughout the state of Texas.
Through her work with the Moody Foundation she helped to fund the restoration of many historic structures in Galveston, including an abandoned Santa Fe Railroad depot and office building, turning it into a railroad museum, and the 1877 iron sailing bark Elissa
Elissa (ship)
The tall ship Elissa is a three-masted barque. She is currently moored in Galveston, Texas, and is one of the oldest ships sailing today....
. Under Northen's direction, the Moody Foundation also provided seed money
Seed money
Seed money, sometimes known as seed funding, friends and family funding or angel funding , is a securities offering whereby one or more parties that have some connection to a new enterprise invest the funds necessary to start the business so that it has enough funds to sustain itself for a period...
to help establish the Texas A&M University at Galveston
Texas A&M University at Galveston
Texas A&M University at Galveston is an ocean-oriented branch campus of Texas A&M University offering undergraduate degrees in marine biology, marine fisheries, marine engineering technology, marine sciences, marine transportation, maritime administration, maritime studies, maritime systems...
Northen established herself as a philanthropist in her own right in 1964 with the founding of Mary Moody Northen Inc., a private charitable foundation. In her will she directed the Northen foundation's trustees to restore her childhood Galveston home, "The Moody Mansion", and maintain it as a museum, as well as maintain the Mountain Lake Hotel, a nature sanctuary and resort in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.
Northen died in Galveston on August 25, 1986, at the age of 94. Her funeral was attended by more than a thousand people and Texas Governor Mark White
Mark White
Mark Wells White is an American lawyer, who served as the 43rd Governor of Texas from January 18,1983-January 20,1987.-Biography:...
ordered flags flown at half-staff at state buildings in her honor.
External links
- Moody National Bank
- The Moody Foundation
- 1859 Historic Hotels successor to the National Hotel Company.
- Moody Mansion Historic Home
- http://think.stedwards.edu/theatre/mary-moody-northen-theatre-and-st-edwards-universiMary Moody Northen Theatre, St. Edward's UniversitySt. Edward's UniversitySt. Edward's University is a private Roman Catholic institution of higher learning located south of Lady Bird Lake in Austin, Texas. The university offers a liberal arts education and its campus is located on a hill overlooking the city of Austin. The campus's most notable landmark is Main...
] - William Lewis Moody, Jr. at Handbook of Texas Online
- Mary Elizabeth Moody Northen at Handbook of Texas Online
- National Western Life insurance company