Comments:
Dolly D. Harrell 1917- 2013 Dolly D. Harrell, 96, pioneer of interactive computerized Spanish language training, world traveler, sister, aunt, and friend, favorite teacher of hundreds of Austin students, died in Austin on Wednesday, August 7, 2013, of age- related causes. Born in Smithville, the seventh and youngest child of James and Josephine Harrell, she earned a scholarship to Baylor College in Belton, Texas, where she majored in Spanish and worked part-time in the President's office. After she graduated in 1937 she embarked on a 45-year career teaching Spanish, including 21 years at Alamo Heights in San Antonio, 9 years at the University of Texas, Austin, and 10 years at St. Stephen's Episcopal School. She led field trips to Monterey, Mexico, ran foreign language tournaments, and awarded scholarships to the National University of Mexico. Hundreds of her students were statewide leaders in the Pan American Student Forum of Texas. Her cutting-edge work in teaching language with films, newscasts, and music, led in 1963 to her position as director of the audio-lingual program in Spanish at the University of Texas. There she helped create a closed-circuit television network for classrooms and labs in colleges and universities throughout Texas. In 1972 she published Dimensiones de Espana, a cultural-based slide and tape series. After 1990, although in her 70's, she created Bookshelf, Encarta, the Broderbund series, and other encyclopedic media devices for assimilating Spanish. Throughout her career, her close friend and associate for 50 years was Frankie Maverick, also a teacher, who died at the age of 103 in 2003. Together they made frequent trips throughout the U.S., Mexico, and beyond. Eventually they settled at the Summit at Northwest Hills in Austin, where Dolly Harrell continued to teach a Spanish class until 2011, and where she held court with an admiring circle of former students, family, caregivers, and friends, all of whom appreciated her mischievous wit, generosity, and gift for making every person feel like he or she was her favorite. She is survived by several generations of nieces and nephews, and friends throughout the world. Services were held at 2:00 pm, Monday, August 12, at St. David's Episcopal Church in Austin. In lieu of flowers, the family suggested contributions to the Dewey Winburne Fund, 301 E. 8th Street, Austin TX 78701, or contribute online at www.stdave.org.
