Our Founders
From the beginning of their marriage, Ella and Lev Prichard demonstrated the values that continue today in the Prichard Family Foundation. They joined a local Baptist church, became supporting members of the Art Museum of South Texas and the Corpus Christi Symphony, and made their first donation to Baylor University, Mrs. Prichard’s alma mater, toward an endowed journalism scholarship.
Lev H. Prichard III, son of an Oklahoma City oilman, grew up in San Antonio and graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a degree in agriculture. Ella Gayle Wall, was born in New Orleans and grew up in Texarkana, Arkansas, where her father worked for the Texas & Pacific Railroad. With the help of scholarships and campus jobs, she was able to attend Baylor, where she majored in history and minored in journalism.
They met on a blind date in summer 1962, when Lev was “temporarily” working in the Corpus Christi office of the family business and Ella had a reporting internship at the local newspaper. They married five months later.
Ella’s lifetime of volunteering began immediately after marriage, and in 1966 she joined the Junior League of Corpus Christi, a formative experience that exposed her and Lev to the many needs, along with opportunities for service and for giving, in the community. Lev was particularly moved by the needs of children, while Ella focused on the arts and education. They were both increasingly involved in the life of their church. They were also increasingly involved at Baylor University, where Lev was recognized as an Alumnus By Choice and honorary life member of the Baylor Letterman’s Association. Ella served on the Board of Regents and was honored in 2021 as a Distinguished Alumna.
Lev IV was born in 1967 and Peggy in 1970, and for the next 25 years, Ella’s and Lev’s lives revolved around the family. In 1976, Lev made a significant career change, partnering with veteran oilman Ralph Storm to form the Storm Prichard Oil Company.
Beginning in about 1990, recognizing that many historic Baptist principles were being discarded, Ella and Lev expanded their giving beyond their local church to support moderate Baptist organizations, and Ella accepted leadership roles in the newly formed Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and several allied organizations.
In 1998 they established the Prichard Family Foundation to support institutions reflecting those values in perpetuity. Wanting their children to have the same spirit of giving to their communities and churches, they named Lev IV and Peggy as directors.
Lev died in 2009 and his children and grandchildren strive to continue his legacy through Foundation grants that they feel honor him and his example of generosity and compassion.
Ella remains active in the lives of her family, church and community, with homes in Corpus Christi and Dallas, where she continues to support religious, cultural, and educational nonprofits that reflect her values and enhance the lives of those they serve.
