Vivian L. Dobbs

Vivian L. Dobbs graduated from Texas Woman’s University (formerly Texas State College for Women) in 1942 with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. Shortly after graduation, Dobbs joined the United States Marine Corp where she served for 29 months. Returning to Emory University after her military service, Dobbs earned a Masters of Library Science degree and went on to work as a civil servant supervising libraries at different military installations. She traveled to Okinawa, Germany and France, opening libraries as well as phasing them out, often riding the Orient Express through Germany. Her work took her to Korea working as a librarian during the Korean conflict and when the conflict ended she returned to work in various military installations in Louisiana and Texas.

After receiving a medical library certificate from Emory University in 1967 Dobbs accepted a position at Brooke Army Medical Center at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio where she remained until her retirement in 1980. After retiring, Vivian continued to use her skills as a volunteer at the Waco-McLennan County Library where she was honored for accumulating more than 7500 hours of volunteer service.

Dobbs loved to travel and continued to do so throughout her retirement enjoying foreign countries with friends and tour groups. Upon her death in 2013, Dobbs remembered TWU with a generous gift used to create the Vivian Dobbs Scholarship Fund from which General Scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate leadership qualities.