Mary Margaret Farabee

Austin, TX

Mary Margaret Farabee has lived in Austin since 1957 when she entered the University of Texas with a major in the Plan II Honors Program. She finished her Masters of Arts degree at UT in American Studies in 1968.

Volunteerism has been a cornerstone of her life in Austin through her work in initiating projects in areas of culture, literature, and health care including the organization of the Texas Book Festival, which she chaired for eight years after establishing the festival in 1996 with First Lady of Texas, Laura Bush. Farabee was also active in spearheading the restoration of the Paramount Theater; establishment of Philosophers' Rock, a statue of writers J. Frank Dobie, Roy Bedichek, and Walter Prescott Webb in Zilker Park; and the organization of the Charles W. Moore Foundation to preserve architect Moore's home and studios as a Center for the Study of Place. In 1998, she was honored as the Austin Board of Realtors' Most Worthy Citizen. She currently serves on the UT Harry Ransom Center Advisory Council, UT Press Advisory Council, Peoples Community Clinic President's Council, Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders Governors Council, the Texas Child Study Center Advisory Board and Dell Children's Blood and Cancer Center Advisory Council.

Her husband, Ray Farabee, is a former State Senator from Wichita Falls and General Counsel for the University of Texas System. She has one daughter, Patricia Carlson Albright, who lives in Austin and is her best friend.