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Lubbock native, local legend, and renowned sculptor Glenna Goodacre passed away Monday night, April 13th, 2020, according to a Facebook post by her son-in-law, musician Harry Connick, Jr.


Goodacre’s father, Homer Glen Maxey, was a builder and a developer. He graduated from Texas Tech University, served on the Lubbock City Council from 1956 to 1960, and became the first president of the Red Raider Club. What Lubbockites know as Maxey Park was named after Goodacre’s grandfather, James Barney Maxey, who was also a builder and civic leader.

Goodacre was born in Lubbock in 1939. While in Lubbock, Goodacre attended Monterey High School and later graduated from Colorado College. She would later receive an honorary doctorate from Texas Tech University.

As a professional sculptor, Goodacre’s most famous work is the Vietnam Women’s Memorial in Washington D.C., dedicated on November 11th, 1993.

Goodacre is also well-known for her 8-foot standing portrait of President Ronald W. Reagan, unveiled at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California in 1988. The Sacagawea dollar, minted in 2000, has a side designed by Goodacre that was picked through a nationwide competition. It was later unveiled by former First Lady Hillary Clinton.

In 2005, 8th Street from University Avenue to Avenue Q was renamed Glenna Goodacre Boulevard. Two years later, Goodacre suffered a severe head injury from an unexplained fall that briefly put her in a coma. She survived, but dealt with lingering issues for the rest of her life. She retired from sculpting in 2016.

Glenna Goodacre was 80-years-old when she passed away on Monday, April 13, 2020. She will be missed and remembered fondly by the Lubbock community.

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