An Evening of Story Telling:
Remembering Senator Ray Farabee
Please join us for an evening of storytelling—a reunion of friends and admirers of Ray Farabee and his family. Last fall, Ray agreed to this tribute from the Texas League and promised that his sons would stand in for him if he were ‘not around or unable to attend’. Ray’s sons, Steve and David Farabee, have agreed to host this event honoring their parents’ lives.
Texas Monthly said of Farabee, "he acts as a trustee for the entire state”, while naming him Ten Best not once, but five times. He was a champion for higher education and had a true talent for compromise allowing him to craft legislation in a fair and methodical way.
Senator Farabee and his first wife, Helen, were heroes to many across Texas who needed a voice to protect the disadvantaged and bring justice to our juvenile court system. Senator Farabee and Helen, like FDR and Eleanor, worked side by side to reform systems that denied due process to juveniles confined with adults in prison. They teamed up to reform a broken mental health system in Texas. Farabee helped thousands of Texas mothers rise above poverty by sponsoring a constitutional amendment limited to garnishment of wages just for child support. After Helen passed away, Ray continued to advocate in the public interest for Legal Aid, public television and radio, and as a founding board member of the Center for Public Policy Priorities. His next helpmate and second wife, the late Mary Margaret Farabee, co-founded the Texas Book Festival. Together, Texans have lost a most remarkable triumvirate of philanthropy and public service.
Whether you knew and loved Ray, Helen and Mary Margaret, or just heard of their feats of courage and generosity, please join us for an evening of storytelling—a reunion of friends and admirers. By their extraordinary leadership on issues important to citizens of Texas, they have earned the LWV-TX’s recognition for Making Democracy Work®.