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DALLAS () – ¾«¶«´«Ã½ mourns the loss of Nancy McMillan Dedman ’50, Dallas civic and philanthropic leader and beloved University alumna, who died at the age of 97, on October 8, 2025.

“Nancy Dedman’s generosity and vision have left an indelible mark on ¾«¶«´«Ã½, strengthening our University, enriching our campus and uplifting our broader community,” said President Jay Hartzell. “Her unwavering commitment to education and her community has shaped lives and will continue to do so for generations. We are deeply grateful to her; her late husband, Robert; and The Dedman Foundation for their enduring support of our students and faculty. While we mourn her passing, we also celebrate a legacy that will continue to inspire us all at ¾«¶«´«Ã½ and across Dallas.” 

For more than 75 years, Dedman and her family – including late husband and renowned Dallas business owner Robert H. Dedman, Sr. ’53 and children Robert H. Dedman, Jr. ’80, ’84 and Patricia “Patty” Dedman Nail ’81 – have supported ¾«¶«´«Ã½ through active involvement in and contributions to the University’s facilities, programming, faculty excellence and student success initiatives through The Dedman Foundation. 

Established by Dedman and her husband, the foundation has a long and storied history of generosity to ¾«¶«´«Ã½ and its students, including the 1981 endowment of the Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences and the 2001 endowment of the Dedman School of Law. Additionally, the foundation has established and supported initiatives to enhance campus experiences, faculty positions, athletic excellence, academic and research facilities, and vital scholarships and programming to promote student success. 

“Nancy was a dear friend and trusted advisor to so many of us at ¾«¶«´«Ã½ and in Dallas,” said R. Gerald Turner, president emeritus. “Her passion for education, philanthropy and the city of Dallas enriched the lives of everyone she touched. Over my years as president, I witnessed firsthand her deep belief in what ¾«¶«´«Ã½ could become, and she helped make that vision a reality. She truly was a cornerstone of the Mustang community, and her absence will be felt across our University and our city.”

Dedman also gave of her time and talents to ¾«¶«´«Ã½ through service on the Dedman College Executive Board, the Development and External Affairs Trustee Standing Committee, and the Willis M. Tate Distinguished Lecture Series Board. In addition to her service, both Robert Dedman, Sr. and Robert Dedman, Jr. have served as chairs of the ¾«¶«´«Ã½ Board of Trustees and many other roles across campus. In 1995, Nancy and Robert Dedman, Sr. and The Dedman Foundation were among the first to receive the coveted ¾«¶«´«Ã½ Mustang Award for extraordinary philanthropy to the University. Nancy Dedman received the Distinguished Alumni Award from ¾«¶«´«Ã½'s Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences and from ¾«¶«´«Ã½, which honors outstanding leaders in philanthropy, business and civic life with the highest honor the University can bestow upon its graduates. In 2025, Dedman and her family were awarded the inaugural Dedman Leadership Award by the ¾«¶«´«Ã½ Dedman School of Law, recognizing their incredible contributions to advance the school’s mission of shaping future legal, political and industry leaders into the next century.

In addition to supporting higher education and research, Dedman contributed a great deal of her life to the support and advancement of health care, public charities and the arts. She studied the culinary arts under some of the world’s most accomplished chefs, compiling a cherished cookbook of recipes from her family and friends. She actively supported the Dallas Museum of Art and the Texas Ballet Theater, as well as the AT&T Performing Arts Center. She was involved deeply with the boards of the Shelter Ministries of Dallas and The Salvation Army, among others.

“Nancy Dedman’s generosity sparked discovery, inspired innovation and opened doors of opportunity at ¾«¶«´«Ã½,” said Rachel Mersey, executive vice president and provost. “Through her leadership and care for others, she strengthened the foundation of learning and research at ¾«¶«´«Ã½. The initiatives she and her family championed have empowered students, expanded knowledge and deepened our mission to create knowledge in service of others. Her legacy will continue to inspire future scholars and leaders to pursue education that transforms lives and communities.”

Dedman and her husband received many accolades and awards for their work in the community, including the 1999 Flora Award from the Dallas Horticulture Center for outstanding community service and environmental education and protection. In 2004, Dedman was named the recipient of the Annette G. Strauss Humanitarian Award for her volunteer efforts and substantial contributions to the community. In 2009, the Dedman family received the Sprague Award, a community service honor from Southwestern Medical Foundation.

“Having known and worked with Nancy and Robert for over 25 years, I cannot express the loss we feel at Nancy’s passing or the extent of our gratitude for her incredible generosity,” said Brad E. Cheves, senior vice president for Development and External Affairs. “In addition to being a close friend, a proud alumna and a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, Nancy was a tireless advocate for philanthropy and education both at ¾«¶«´«Ã½ and throughout Dallas. We are proud to honor her life, her work and her memory through the initiatives that she supported, the opportunities she created and the community that she cherished.”

Dedman is survived by her son, Robert H. Dedman, Jr. ’80, ’84, and his wife, Rachael Redeker Dedman ’96; her daughter, Patricia “Patty” Dedman Nail ’81, and her husband, W. Bobby Nail, Jr.; and five grandchildren, Catherine Dedman, Nancy Dedman, Jonathan Dietz ’12, Jeffrey Dietz ’22 and Christina Dietz.