The Denton County Republican Party has lost a longtime stalwart champion for conservative Republican values, Mary Denny, who passed away last week. She served the DCRP from 1973 through 1991 as a Precinct Chair for a decade and then as our County Chair for eight more years, building the party and preparing to run successfully for the State House of Representatives in 1992. Her victory flipped that seat for the first time from Democrat to Republican.
Mary served District 63 for seven terms from 1993- 2007, where she served on the Elections Committee each term, including twice as its chair. She also served on various other committees, including the Criminal Jurisprudence, Financial Institutions, Agriculture & Wildlife Management, Human Services and the Health and Human Services Block Grants Joint Committee. In 1990, she was appointed by Governor William P. Clements to the Texas Committee for the Humanities.
Mary was the recipient of numerous prestigious legislative awards, including the Outstanding Texas Legislator Award, Common Cause’s 1995 Star of Service Award as well as being a four-time recipient of both the Texas Ten Award from Free Enterprise PAC and of the Leader of Excellence Award from the Free Enterprise PAC, a special honor given to the top 20 percent of the most conservative legislators.
Other legislative awards include the Texas Eagle Forum Freedom and Family Award for the years 1999, 2001 and 2003 for her conservative voting record on social and economic issues
Mary’s distinguished career included both government and community work marked with gravitas and tenacity. Hard work and integrity were her hallmarks. A successful businesswoman, Mary began her education at the University of Texas at Austin with a double-major in Education and Mathematics, plus a minor in Chemistry. She subsequently graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of North Texas in 1973 and ultimately served on the UNT Foundation Board.
Mary truly was a lifelong community volunteer. A Lifetime Member of the UNT President’s Council, she was appointed by Governor Abbott in 2018 to the UNT Board of Regents. She was a member of the Denton Benefit League, United Way, Arts Council, City Federation of Women’s Clubs, Current Century Department of Ariel Club and a former board member of the YMCA and numerous other civic associations.
She was the owner of a small ranch at the time of her death, and was the former owner of Craver Ranch, both properties in Denton County. She has one son, Bryan. Services are pending.
Mary’s warm personality and her “eager-to-help” attitude inspired those who knew her to love and admire Mary Denny. We shall miss her greatly. RIP Chairman, Representative, Regent, Volunteer, Friend.
– Contributed by: Commissioner Dianne Edmondson, friend of Mary Denny