Eloise Engle Thornberry

THORNBERRY, ELOISE ENGLE (1919~1989) Eloise Engle Thornberry, wife of William H. Thornberry, was born in San Antonio, Texas on June 28, 1919, to Mr. and Mrs. George M. Engle. She graduated from San Antonio Junior College in 1939, and received her BA degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1942.

She played an active role for 16 years as wife of the Congressman from the 10th District of Texas, until his appointment as United States District Judge, and Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit.

During her years in Washington, she belonged to various groups. She served as first vice-president of the Congressional Club during her last year in Washington. This club is composed of wives of members of Congress (House and Senate) and Cabinet wives. She also served as president of the 31st Congressional Club and as vice president of an International Group, composed of wives of diplomats of foreign nations and Congressional wives. She was chosen Austin "Woman of the Year" in 1962 by the Austin Business and Professional Women's Club, and was elected in 1965 to serve on the Ex-Students' Council of the University of Texas, serving until 1980.

As a bride, she undertook the care of her deaf mother-in-law for 12 years, which provided her continuing interest in deafness and deaf education.

In 1965, at the request of President Lyndon B. Johnson, she was appointed to a National Advisory Board in connection with establishing a Technical Institute for the Deaf. Other appointments included the national advisory committee for the education of the deaf, a four-year term on the national advisory group for the news established National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York, and an eight-year term on the board of trustees of the Rochester Institute of Technology.

During the same period, she served a four-year term on the executive council for the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.

In 1968, she was elected to the board of trustees of Gallaudet University, the only liberal arts college for the deaf in the world, where she continued to serve until her passing. Her husband previously served for many years while he was a member of Congress.

Upon Thornberry's return to Austin in 1964, she served as a member of several civic groups in Austin, including the Junior Helping Hand and the Settlement Home Club.

She died on Thursday, April 27, 1989, and was buried in the Texas State Cemetery two days later.

Information taken from: obituary, Austin American-Statesman, Friday, April 28, 1989.