Scholarships Aim to Keep Top Lawyers in Texas
MariBen Ramsey established a scholarship to give back in her own life and planned a legacy gift to help future generations of Texas Law students.
MariBen Ramsey ‘84 was destined to be a Longhorn. “In my family it wasn’t even a thought process about where to go to school — it just was Texas,” she said with a laugh.
Her father Ben Ramsey, a UT alum and San Augustine native known for his razor-sharp wit, spent his life in public service as a state representative, state senator, secretary of state, lieutenant governor and railroad commissioner.
And he was a lawyer like his father. The legal genes run strong in the Ramsey family and MariBen enrolled in the School of Law after earning a degree in accounting at UT.
As a partner in an Austin firm, Ramsey practiced corporate securities law for 12 years. But locally she is better known for her passion and know-how in the field of philanthropy. She brought her talents together at the Austin Community Foundation, where she served as vice president, general counsel and chief philanthropy officer. Today she is a widely sought consultant for nonprofit organizations.
Ramsey models the power of giving back in her own life. Over the years she has served on over 20 nonprofit boards. And today she’s changing the lives of Texas students. She and her sister Rita Ramsey Kreisle established the Ben Ramsey Endowed Scholarship, awarded to UT law students who are from San Augustine and have financial need. “I always wanted to honor my dad and celebrate his legacy in Texas politics,” said Ramsey.
My hope is that this scholarship will help educate top lawyers and keep those top lawyers here in Texas, where we will all benefit.
“With this scholarship, we can help students like him — bright students interested in law who come from a small East Texas town.” Ramsey has also established a planned gift to help future generations of UT law students through the MariBen Ramsey Scholarship. “My hope is that this scholarship will help educate top lawyers and keep those top lawyers here in Texas, where we will all benefit,” she said.
“The commitment of our alumni to the School of Law — through volunteering, mentorship and giving — has helped make us the best law school for over a thousand miles in any direction,” said Dean Ward Farnsworth. “MariBen Ramsey is a pioneer of this spirit of giving back. The foresight of her gifts continues to be felt today and her generosity will be amplified throughout Texas and beyond.”
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To discuss how to include Texas Law in your will or estate plans and leave a legacy of generosity, please contact Jennifer Monday Goldman ’00.