Lady’s lasting legacy

Odessa has lost a tireless volunteer and generous benefactor.

Ellen Noël, a longtime Odessa arts patron and philanthropist, died Thursday morning.

"She helped establish an endowment fund to make sure the museum could go into the future and be able to survive," said Marilyn Bassinger, executive director of the Ellen Noël Art Museum. "She gave with the thought of encouraging other people in the community to give as well."

Noël, born Ellen Witwer in Iowa in 1914, and her late husband, W.D. "Bill" Noël, were known for their love of West Texas and their support of the arts in the community. For more than half a century, Ellen Noël was a supporter of everything from Permian Playhouse plays to the Ellen Noël Art Museum.

The volunteer of the year awards in Odessa were named in honor of the Noëls and are handed out each year to those who give the most to their community.

The Noëls moved to Odessa in the late 1940s. Bill Noël, who died in 1987, was founder of the Odessa petrochemical complex and was a tireless community benefactor. He's also credited with being a driving force behind UTPB being located in Odessa.

Bassinger said Ellen Noël helped develop her love of art as a member of the "Ladies in the Attic," a group of women who shared their enjoyment of the art world.

Ellen Noël was recognized in 2002 by the Junior League of Odessa for a long history of philanthropic and volunteer contributions with a lifetime community service award.

She was a sustainer emeritus with the Junior League. She joined the JLO in 1951 and served as president of the women's service organization from 1954 to 1955.

She was co-sponsor for the creation of the Noël Heritage Plaza in downtown Odessa. She was advisory director at the Ellen Noël Art Museum of the Permian Basin and established a permanent fund there.

She was a patron of the Midland-Odessa Symphony and a sponsor of the National Young Artists Competition. In addition, she was a patron of The Globe Theatre of the Great Southwest, the Permian Playhouse, the Presidential Museum, the Commemorative Air Force Museum, the Parker House Museum and the White-Pool House Museum.

"You just knew that she had been here," local arts patron Ronald Bennett said. "Every community can benefit by having an Ellen Noël in their midst."

She was governor of the High Sky Children's Ranch in Midland County, a patron of Harmony Home Child Advocacy Center, a member of the Permian Basin Development Board, a former director of the Salvation Army and a platinum pillar of the United Way.

Ellen Noël, a former schoolteacher, founded many scholarships, including the Ellen and Bill Noël Scholarship funds at both Odessa College and the University of Texas of the Permian Basin and the UTPB Support for Excellence Fund.

She also made a $5 million gift toward UTPB's proposed Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center, which shares the name of her son-in-law, Cy Wagner. University president David Watts said her legacy will live on for generations.

"She and her husband were leaders in the best sense of the word," he said. "They were people that made Odessa and the university better places."

She also donated funds toward the construction of UTPB's Center for Energy and Economic Diversification.

The longtime arts partron joined the Ellen Noël Art Museum's board of directors in 1990 and provided leadership for several committees. She was one of the first woman directors of the Salvation Army's advisory board.

The former Art Institute of the Permian Basin, which now bears her name, was one of her favorite projects. And supporters of the museum say she reluctantly allowed her name to be used.

In 1996, Ellen Noël was named outstanding philanthropist during a National Philanthropy Day Awards celebration.

Although her surname is attached to such local landmarks as Noël Plaza, the Noël Center, Noël Elementary and the Ellen Noël Art Museum, ehr contributions are frequently made anonymously. When she accepted her 1996 award, Ellen Noël said she believed the recognition should go instead to those overworked staff members who work for philanthropic organizations everywhere.

After the ceremony and in between congratulatory hugs and kisses, she again tried to deflect attention.

"It's an honor," she said, a handkerchief clutched tightly in her hands. "But, I think there are so many others who deserve it. It's hard to pick just one."

She shrugged when asked why she chose to get involved when so many others hadn't.

"People need to get involved," she said. "Everyone needs to get involved."

In January 2000, Ellen Noël was chosen for the award by the Odessa Lodge No. 955 with the approval of the state Masonic organization.

She was selected for the honor "for her complete dedication and service, not only to Odessa but to the whole Permian Basin" and because she "has committed her time, talent and money so that Odessa would be a better place to live."

Beyond that, Bassinger said Ellen Noël was a great person to be around.

"She was a wonderful person to sit down and talk to," she said. "She was a very personable and warm woman."

SERVICES

>> What: Memorial services.

>> When: 4 p.m. Saturday.

>> Where: Westminster Presbyterian Church, 4901 Maple Ave.

>> Arrangements: by Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. 

REQUESTS

>> In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to the Ellen Noël Art Museum.