Who is Melinda Webb?

Melinda Webb was the first student to mainstream from the Houston School for Deaf Children (now called The Center for Hearing and Speech) to a public school.  In 1954, at the age of 7, Melinda entered into a second grade classroom in a Texas City school. 

She was a very bright child with an engaging personality.  In a letter from a former teacher to Melinda’s father, Frank Webb, it says, “I recall Melinda as one of the most vivacious, intelligent and outstanding children I have ever taught.  She was the type of student teachers delighted in teaching – a very eager pupil, and a joy to have around.”  She went on to say Melinda stole the hearts of all who came to the school.

Sadly, Melinda’s life was cut short before her eleventh birthday by childhood leukemia.  Melinda’s mother, who passed away in 1991, had wanted to bestow a gift upon the school in memory of her daughter.  In 1996, Mr. Webb offered a one million dollar endowment bequest to The Center for Hearing and Speech's (CHS) school and the it was renamed the “Melinda Webb School.” 

However, Mr. Webb wanted CHS to receive the money while he was still alive, so he could see the results of his contribution.  So, in 2002, Mr. Webb presented CHS with a $1 million check.  Because of this generous donation, many children like Melinda will continue to receive the services they need to learn to listen and talk.  This gift from the heart will impact generations to come.

“I presented this endowment to The Center for Hearing and Speech because of the impact they had on my daughter’s education and life,” said Frank Webb.  “Given the opportunity, I know we would have seen great things from Melinda throughout her life, due to the education and training she received from CHS.”

Melinda’s portrait hangs in the lobby of CHS as a reminder of the little girl who accomplished so much and touched so many in her short life.

Click here to read a Houston Chronicle article about Mr. Webb's donation to CHS.