Generous hearts have built a wonderful tradition of philanthropy in North Texas, which strengthens communities so families can thrive. For more than three decades, Southwestern Medical Foundation has honored the outstanding leadership of those who inspire hope for a better future through its highest community distinction – The Sprague Award.
These exceptional philanthropists continue to shape the future of our region and inspire a higher standard in medical education, discovery, innovation, and care through contributions of time, leadership, and treasure. Please help us celebrate the 2023 awardees: Bonnie Bass Smith, Barbara Bass Moroney, James (Jim) E. Bass and the Rita Crocker Clements Foundation. As children of the late Richard D. Bass and Rita Crocker Clements, the Bass family siblings are passionate about preserving their family’s legacy, which spans multiple generations and has transformed the landscape of UT Southwestern Medical Center.
The Sprague Award: A Legacy of Philanthropic Leaders
In 1991, the Foundation created a community service award, which later was renamed the Charles Cameron Sprague Community Service Award, honoring the Foundation’s former president, CEO, and chairman emeritus, and in recognition of the significant and lasting influence his service at UT Southwestern Medical Center and at Southwestern Medical Foundation had on medicine in Dallas. Now, simply called The Sprague Award, prior recipients have included: Ruth Collins Altshuler, James W. Aston, Paul M. Bass Jr., Julie T. and Louis A. Beecherl Jr., H.R. (Bum) Bright, Nancy Brinker, Rita C. and William P. Clements Jr., Mary McDermott Cook, Joe M. Dealey, Maureen and Robert Decherd, Robert H. Dedman Family (Nancy Dedman, Patricia Dedman Nail, and Rachael and Robert H. Dedman Jr.), Jerry Farrington, Earl A. Forsythe, F.B. Pete Goldman, Cecil H. Green, Ute Schwartz Haberecht and Dr. Rolf R. Haberecht, Nancy and Jeremy Halbreich, Nancy B. Hamon, Linda W. Hart and Milledge A. Hart III, Jess T. Hay, Lyda Hill, Hoblitzelle Foundation, Adelyn and Edmund Hoffman, Sydney and J.L. Huffines, Vester T. Hughes, Nancy and Ray Hunt, J. Erik Jonsson, Robert W. Korba, George L. MacGregor, Margaret M. McDermott, Sammye and Mike A. Myers, Edith and Peter O’Donnell Jr., Margot and Ross Perot, Madeleine and T. Boone Pickens, Caren and C. Vincent Prothro, Charlene and Lee Raymond, Laura and Jack Roach, Ralph B. Rogers, Sarah M. and Charles E. Seay, Annette and Harold C. Simmons, Jean and Dr. Bob Smith, Gay F. and William T. Solomon, Charles Cameron Sprague, M.D., The Thompson Family, Jean and Tom Walter, and Donald Zale.
Rita Crocker Clements Foundation (Bass Family) – Bonnie Bass Smith, Barbara Bass Moroney, James (Jim) E. Bass
Bonnie Smith, Barbara Moroney, and Jim Bass have traveled life’s journey together, climbing mountains throughout the world and swimming in its oceans. Their adventures taught them to appreciate the love of family and helped them build a sense of community with their fellow man.
The siblings are grateful for the life lessons taught by their parents, who instilled a keen sense of responsibility in their children to care for others and the world. Their mother, Rita Crocker Clements, was a civic and philanthropic leader who was married for 36 years to former Texas Gov. William P. Clements Jr. Rita and Governor Clements are remembered for their extensive contributions through government and community service to the city of Dallas and the state of Texas. The siblings’ father, Richard D. Bass, was a businessman, rancher, ski area developer and mountaineer who introduced his children to adventure in the great outdoors and exemplified making the most of each day.
The family’s remarkable philanthropic legacy of giving to Southwestern Medical Foundation in support of UT Southwestern Medical Center now spans three generations. The Clementses both served on the Foundation’s Board of Trustees and made a $100 million gift in 2009, the largest in the Foundation’s history. They also established the Bill and Rita Clements Advanced Medical Imaging Building and the Rita C. and William P. Clements Jr. Scholar in Medical Research. Mr. Richard Bass made various gifts to support research in depression, pulmonary fibrosis, and Alzheimer’s disease. He died in 2015 at 85 from pulmonary fibrosis.
In 2018, Mrs. Clements died at 86, and it was her struggle with Alzheimer’s disease that brought her children closer to UT Southwestern. They watched firsthand the outstanding treatment and care she received during her illness, and they made personal and collective gifts through the Rita Crocker Clements Foundation to the Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, creating the Rita Clements Center for Clinical Research in Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Rita Clements Chair in Brain Research to support depression/bipolar and Alzheimer’s translational research.
The Bass Family’s Commitment to Community Leadership
The family also provides volunteer leadership to support Southwestern Medical Foundation and UT Southwestern. Mr. Jim Bass has served on the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, where Mrs. Smith presently serves and is a member of the Investment Committee and Chair of the Personnel/Retirement Plan Committee. She has also served on the Campaign for the Brain Steering Committee and the President’s Advisory Board. Mrs. Smith’s son, Mason Smith, is a member of The Cary Council, a group of future-focused young leaders dedicated to engaging their peers to help shape the future of medicine at UT Southwestern. Mrs. Smith’s daughter, Caroline Smith, is an Instructor in the Department of Pediatrics in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at UT Southwestern / Children’s Medical Center Dallas. Dr. Smith completed her medical degree at UT Southwestern in 2017 and her residency training in Pediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital and Boston Medical Center in the Boston Combined Residency Program (BCRP). Mr. Bass’ son, Kevin Bass, worked at UT Southwestern in Dr. Helen Hobbs’ lab in Molecular Genetics for two years after receiving his master’s degree.
Each generation strengthens the family legacy, and giving together remains a bonding experience for the Bass siblings and their 13 adult children. Proud of their family’s legacy of hope, they continue their important work to make Dallas a great place to live for present and future generations.
Benefactors of Distinction
GENEROUS GIVING: DR. HONG Z. BASS AND MR. JAMES E. BASS
- Rita Clements Chair in Brain Research
- Dennis K. Stone, M.D. Memorial Fund
- Friends/Affinity Groups
- Programs in medical education, research, or clinical care
- Pulmonary disease research
GENEROUS GIVING: BARBARA AND JAMES M. MORONEY III
- Rita Clements Chair in Brain Research
- Programs in medical education, research, or clinical care
- Friends/Affinity Groups
- Pulmonary disease research
GENEROUS GIVING: BONNIE AND PETER P. SMITH
- Rita Clements Chair in Brain Research
- Dennis K. Stone, M.D. Memorial Fund
- Programs in medical education, research, or clinical care
- Friends/Affinity Groups
GENEROUS GIVING: RITA CROCKER CLEMENTS FOUNDATION
- Rita Clements Center for Clinical Research in Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases
GENEROUS GIVING: RICHARD D. BASS FOUNDATION
- Center for Depression Research and Clinical Care
- Pulmonary Fibrosis Research
- Harriet L. Worsham Fund for Alzheimer’s
GENEROUS GIVING: GOVERNOR BILL AND RITA CLEMENTS
- Made a transformative $100 million gift through Southwestern Medical Foundation, the largest single donation in UTSW history to support the institution’s research, education, and clinical mission.
- Bill and Rita Clements Advanced Medical Imaging Building
- Rita C. and William P. Clements Jr. Endowment for Scholars in Medical Research
LEADERSHIP ROLES: JAMES E. BASS
- Trustee, Southwestern Medical Foundation
- Member, Southwestern Medical Foundation Grants Committee
LEADERSHIP ROLES: BONNIE BASS SMITH
- Trustee, Southwestern Medical Foundation
- Member, Southwestern Medical Foundation Investment Committee
- Member and Chair, Southwestern Medical Foundation Personnel/Retirement Plan Committee
- Member, UT Southwestern Campaign for the Brain Steering Committee
- Member, President’s Advisory Board, UT Southwestern
LEADERSHIP ROLE: MASON SMITH
- Member, The Cary Council
