[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 170 (Tuesday, October 31, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2076]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO SUE SELLORS FINLEY

                                 ______


                         HON. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 31, 1995

  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to 
pay tribute to a pillar in my community, Sue Sellors Finley, of Corpus 
Christi, TX, who died far too soon at the age of only 57.
  It is often said that the measure of one's life is noted in the 
number of lives they influence. If that is the case, the measure of Sue 
Finley's life is enormous--and her legacy of enriching the lives of 
young artists in the Coastal Bend is abundant. For more than a decade, 
Sue worked at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi enhancing the lives of 
students in the drama department. She literally built up the drama 
department at Del Mar--set by set, play by play, and class by class.
  Under her stewardship, Del Mar had the first season of theater in 
over two decades, beginning in 1986. The next year, she accepted a full 
time teaching position as an assistant professor and coordinator of 
drama. She left us a host of achievements to enjoy and by which to 
remember her. She founded the Del Mar Mime Crew in 1977, in addition to 
the annual summer Shakespeare Fest.
  In 1986, the college decided to build a new fine arts center and Sue 
led a delegation of architects to leading theaters across the United 
States to obtain design ideas. The result of her efforts is the Nell 
Tribble Bartlett Theater at Del Mar University. The University recently 
established a scholarship in her honor, the Sue Sellors Finley Endowed 
Theater Arts Scholarship, created with a $50,000 anonymous donation, 
making it the largest endowment in drama at the college. This 
scholarship is a fitting legacy to Sue's love of dramatic arts.
  In the course of her short but very full life, Sue's vast array of 
accomplishments and talent gained great notoriety. In the 1960's, she 
was renowned in Dallas for her work in ``Little Mary Sunshine,'' and 
was awarded the Dallas Entertainment Award for best comedienne. She won 
a Sammy award for best actress for her performance in ``Legendary 
Ladies of Texas,'' a one-woman, original production. Just this year, 
she was awarded the YMCA Careers Award honoring her years as a 
pioneering educator, director, and actress.
  Easily, her best and proudest productions are her children, Valerie 
and Buck. She is survived by her children and her husband, George, who 
shared her victories and her humor. Mr. Speaker, my community has lost 
an artistic giant, and I ask that you join me in commemorating her 
accomplishments here today.

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