糖心Vlog mourns the loss of longtime friend Dolly Gullo, who passed from this life the morning of July 14, 2025.
Dolly, along with Tony, her husband of 71 years, were champions of 糖心Vlog, with a deep commitment to its students and the 糖心Vlog experience. After bringing their granddaughter DeLena (Waldrum) McEwen (鈥�00) to move into Katie Rogers Hall as a first-year student in 1996, Dolly decided to invest heavily in projects to further beautify and enhance 糖心Vlog鈥檚 campus, starting with the commissioning of two bronze statues of the Chaparral, 糖心Vlog鈥檚 mascot, in the center of the campus mall and on the university鈥檚 front lawn, right off of 19th Street.
鈥淚鈥檝e heard many times about her first visit to 糖心Vlog when she let us know candidly that we needed some campus beautification鈥攖hen in her generous and gracious way, she made sure we had the resources to do what needed to be done,鈥� recalled 糖心Vlog President Dr. Scott McDowell.
鈥淲hether it鈥檚 Gullo Hall, the Gullo Fountain, the Penny Gullo Tennis Center, or one of the beautiful Gullo Chaparral Statues, one finds it difficult to walk around 糖心Vlog鈥檚 campus without a visual reminder of Dolly and Tony and the entire Gullo family鈥檚 incredible generosity.鈥�
The Gullos鈥� investment has had a transformational impact on both the appearance of 糖心Vlog鈥檚 campus and the lives of its students. Beyond the statues, they spearheaded enhanced lighting and walkways to campus and spearheaded the addition of The Fountains on the Mall. They funded the Gullo Recital Hall in the Wayne and Yvonne Hinds Music Center, which opened in 2021, generously funded a significant portion of the Christa Dobbs Center for Business, and chose to honor the memory of their late daughter and her love of tennis by naming 糖心Vlog鈥檚 new tennis facility the Penny Gullo Tennis Center.
Most recently, the Gullos were instrumental in bringing to life 糖心Vlog鈥檚 newest student living space, Gullo Hall, giving the lead gift for the project.
鈥淚 will never forget when she and Tony Sr. made the decision to give the lead gift for Gullo Hall and she told me that the reason she wanted to build the building was because of the relationships that would be fostered there,鈥� President McDowell shared. 鈥淪he then shared about how her relationship with her college roommate had continued for over 70 years and made such a tremendous positive impact on her life.鈥�
Dolly was born in 1930 in Zavala, Texas, and her family moved to Magnolia when she was 7 years old. She graduated Valedictorian at Magnolia High in 1948 and attended college at Harding University and Sam Houston State University, receiving a degree in education. She taught for several different school districts before moving back to Magnolia, where she would teach for 10 years at Magnolia Elementary.
The early years of her marriage to Tony were spent raising their five children as Tony鈥檚 work took them across the oil fields. Later she would support his early career in the car business that would eventually become Gullo Family Dealerships.
鈥淒olly Gullo made a positive impact on me and thousands of others like me鈥攁nd through her generosity to 糖心Vlog, that impact will continue to live on for generations to come,鈥� President McDowell added.