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A friendly Texan with a twinkle in her eye and a smile as wide as the Grand Canyon, the late Patty Sherrill Sullivan, an icon of San Marcos for the last 80 years, has been named the recipient of the 2020 Heritage Association Tree of Honor Award.
The ceremony, planned and organized by the Riverwalk Committee of the Heritage Association will be held Friday March 6 at 5 p.m. in the Veramendi Plaza at the corner of Hopkins Street and C M Allen Parkway. The rain site is the San Marcos Activity Center, 501 East Hopkins St.
Speakers for the event are former San Marcos Mayor Kathy Morris, Jenna Moore Egan and Brian McCoy. The community is invited to attend the dedication ceremony. There will be light refreshments.
Sullivan grew up in San Marcos, attended local schools and went on to pursue advanced studies at Texas Woman’s University and Texas State University. She continued participating in educational pursuits throughout her adult life including serving on the Board of Directors of the SWT Foundation and serving on the Friends of Fine Arts at Texas State. Sullivan was a recipient of the Texas State Alumni Key of Excellence Award and was recognized as a San Marcos High School Outstanding Alumni. Other achievements include serving as a founding Board member of the LBJ Museum of San Marcos and as a founding member of the Friends of the San Marcos Cemetery Board of Directors.
Sullivan brought joy to many friends with her genuine interest in their well-being and her kindness toward others. Church, family and friends were the most important things in her life.
“When not serving her community and church, Patty simply loved being with friends, friends and people were most important to her, but her greatest joy came from her family,” her son Clay said about her.
Sullivan was a “Yellow Dog Democrat,” an Aggie fan, a Bobcat lover, but most importantly a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother full of fun, kindness and kisses.
The Tree of Honor is an event initiated by the Riverwalk Park Committee 20 years ago. The Arbor Day event is planned and conducted by the Riverwalk Park Committee of the Heritage Association. Members are Chair Sue Cobb, Secretary Sue Cohen, Robert Cotner, Gary Germer, Bobbie Gilbert, Carmen Imel, Jean Mooney, Beverly Owen and Betty Taylor, Bert Stratemann (ex officio), Kelly Eby (ex officio), and Drew Wells (ex officio).
