George and Cynthia Mitchell during the opening of the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands in 1990.Woodlands Founder George Mitchell returned to the community last week to accept a proclamation honoring his wife, Cynthia Woods Mitchell.
Cynthia Woods Mitchell, who is credited with naming The Woodlands and promoting arts in the community, died on Dec. 27. She was well-liked and well-respected throughout the community and the Houston region, as evidenced by the dozens of comments posted on the Chronicle web site after her death.
“We wanted to do something special to commemorate Mrs. Mitchell,” said Nelda Luce Blair, chairwoman of The Woodlands Township Board. “We wanted to thank you for all your hard work and all you’ve done.”
The board declared April 29 Cynthia Woods Mitchell Day in The Woodlands, and a special tribute concert by the Houston Symphony will be dedicated to her that evening.
“Cynthia Woods Mitchell was a great patron of the arts and supporter of the Houston Symphony,” said a resolution in her honor. “Cynthia Woods Mitchell dreamed of a place where everyone, not just the elite, could attend symphony, ballet and opera performances. This dream became reality in the world-renowned Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. Citizens of The Woodlands Township mourn the passing of Cynthia Woods Mitchell, but know that her fondness and support for our community will shape its future for years to come.”
Cynthia Wood Mitchell was married to George Mitchell for more than 60 year and had 10 children.
In addition to her efforts in The Woodlands, Mrs. Mitchell was widely known for her historic preservation efforts in Galveston. The Mitchells helped restore 17 iron front buildings in the city’s historic district and the Galvez Hotel and built two hotels, the San Luis and Harbor House.
Mrs. Mitchell was a member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and earned the organization’s prestigious Crowninshield Award.
To promote the arts, Mrs. Mitchell was instrumental in creating the University of Houston’s Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts. She also served on the World Wildlife Fund and underwrote exhibits featuring endangered animals at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
After Cynthia Woods Mitchell was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 2002, her family funded research at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston and in Baylor College of Medicine.
During the presentation at the township board of directors meeting, George Mitchell said that his wife often would attend meetings on the development of the Woodlands in the 1960s and had a voice in how the community would evolve.
“It is remarkable what you have accomplished comparing to what happened in Kingwood,” said George Mitchell, referring to Kingwood annexation by Houston. “Thank you for the wonderful work you are doing for the last five years. It is going very well.”
Proclamation for Cynthia Woods Mitchell
The Woodlands Township approved a proclamation for Cynthia Woods Mitchell, wife of Woodlands Founder George Mitchell, at their meeting Wednesday. Following is the text of the document.
Whereas, Cynthia Woods Mitchell was a great patron of the arts and supporter of the Houston Symphony;
and
Whereas, Cynthia Woods Mitchell dreamed of a place where everyone, not just the elite, could attend
symphony, ballet and opera performances; and
Whereas, this dream became reality in the world-renowned Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion; and
Whereas, Cynthia Woods Mitchell was instrumental in bestowing The Woodlands with its descriptive
name; and
Whereas, Cynthia Woods Mitchell was the beloved wife, for more than six decades, of the founder of The
Woodlands, George Mitchell; and the mother of their ten children; and
Whereas, Cynthia Woods Mitchell, and her husband George Mitchell, believed in the dream of The
Woodlands, and that their visions and achievements brought our community to where it is today; and
Whereas, citizens of The Woodlands Township mourn the passing of Cynthia Woods Mitchell, but know
that her fondness and support for our community will shape its future for years to come; and
Whereas, The Woodlands Township fully supports “A Tribute Concert to Cynthia Woods Mitchell
featuring the Houston Symphony” on Thursday, April 29, 2010, at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion;
Now, Therefore: I, Nelda Luce Blair, as Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Woodlands
Township, do hereby proclaim April 29, 2010, as:
"CYNTHIA WOODS MITCHELL DAY"
The Woodlands, Texas
Source: The Woodlands Township