Clarence Scharbauer III ’73, whose visionary leadership as Chair of the TCU Board of Trustees helped guide the university through a transformative era of growth and distinction, died on October 22, 2025. A devoted Trustee for almost three decades, Scharbauer’s steadfast commitment to his alma mater and his West Texas community left an enduring mark on both.

Scharbauer’s path to TCU began with a dream that never came true — and led to everything that did. He came to Fort Worth in 1969 to play baseball, having never set foot on campus. Former Athletic Director Frank Windegger ’57 had offered the Midland High graduate a tryout, and that was enough. Scharbauer didn’t make the team, but he found something more lasting.

“I loved every minute of my four years here, I really did,” he told interviewer Christie Shields ’13 (MS ’16) for the TCU Oral History Project in 2013. “I have a passion for this place.” 

Born into the prominent Scharbauer family of Midland — whose roots in West Texas stretch back to the 1880s — Clarence was the first in his family to earn a college degree when he earned a BBA in business. During his senior year, he married Kerry Wallace ’73, the love of his life. The two met in Midland and were high school sweethearts, and their partnership spanned a lifetime — raising two daughters, supporting countless causes and building a legacy of generosity grounded in humility.

“He was very hands-on, a fantastic dad who never missed a ballet recital, horse show or game,” said daughter Charlotte Scharbauer French ’98, who now serves as a TCU Trustee. “He loved my basketball career in high school — I think it was one of his favorite times of his life — and he’d still tell people about it 30 years later.” 

A Leader Who Lifted Others

In 1990, at age 39, Scharbauer joined the TCU Board of Trustees. His first meeting coincided with a changing of the guard: Bayard Friedman stepped down as Chair and John Roach ’61 (MBA ’65) assumed the role. Over the next three decades, Scharbauer played a pivotal role in shaping the university’s modern trajectory. In time, as Board Chair himself, he would preside over one of the most ambitious eras in TCU history. 

The  Vision in Action  strategic plan, shepherded under his leadership, transformed the campus and elevated the university’s national standing. He helped guide major initiatives, including TCU’s entrance into the Big 12 Conference, the revitalization of the Mary Couts Burnett Library and the founding of the Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine at Texas Christian University. 

“Getting into the Big 12 and the medical school, those were the things he was most proud of,” French said. “He believed everything we do is for the students.” 

“This is TCU’s finest moment,” Scharbauer told TCU Magazine in 2012. “We have a leadership team that is committed, a faculty that is engaged, a Board that is supportive and students who are energetic and talented.” 

Former Board Chair Luther King ’62 (MBA ’66) described Scharbauer as “a steady, unwavering friend and leader at TCU.” He added, “Whatever Clarence said, you could count on it. He was trusted, reliable and all in on whatever needed to be done.”

Clarence Scharbauer III, right, joins Trustee and immediate past Chair Mark Johnson, center, and Chancellor Emeritus Victor J. Boschini, Jr., left, at TCU’s 2015 announcement of a joint medical school with the UNT Health Science Center. Photo by Amy Peterson

King recalled Scharbauer’s essential role in the West Campus expansion and the rebuilding of Amon G. Carter Stadium. “He stepped forward as one of the six founders of [the West side expansion project] when we had a very tight fundraising deadline,” King said. “He was a staunch supporter of TCU Athletics and a key part of what we achieved over the last few decades.” 

Chancellor Emeritus Victor J. Boschini Jr. reflected, “Clarence’s leadership as Board Chair changed the course of our history. He has meant so much to me personally and professionally over the years, and I will be forever grateful for Clarence’s friendship, wisdom and support.”

Chancellor Daniel W. Pullin called him “a defining leader in Texas Christian University’s history,” adding: “Our community owes him a debt of gratitude for his vision, his support for our students and his legacy of generosity.” 

The Man Behind the Title

Though Scharbauer’s name graces Scharbauer Hall, home to the AddRan College of Liberal Arts, he preferred wide-open spaces to boardrooms. “He wasn’t a coat-and-tie guy,” said longtime friend Rex Amini. “He was a cowboy. That’s how he grew up, and he loved being outdoors.” 

Even as his influence grew, humility remained his compass. “If he were on the phone right now,” Amini added, “he’d be totally embarrassed by all this talk about him. He’d tell us to stop and let it go. He didn’t need people to know what he’d done.”

Clarence Scharbauer III appears in a Phi Delta Theta fraternity group photo from the 1971 Horned Frog yearbook. Photographer unknown

King saw the same quality in him. “With his name, he could have been different,” he said. “But he wasn’t. He was very regular, a true West Texan. A handshake meant more to him than any contract.”

Kit Moncrief, chair of the Board of Trustees, said that “Clarence’s vision, leadership and generosity shaped TCU in profound and lasting ways. … His commitment to excellence leaves an indelible mark on our university.”

“He was the first in his family to graduate from college, and that shaped everything,” French said. “He believed education was the key to changing lives. He was honest, hardworking, philanthropic and funny — that was our dad.”

A Legacy of Generosity and Joy

Beyond his professional and philanthropic roles, Scharbauer was a husband, father and grandfather who lived his values daily. “Ideas and buildings are what they are, but people make the difference,” he told the TCU Oral History project. 

French recalled his unstoppable enthusiasm for TCU. “We used to joke on family vacations that we should take bets on how long it would take him to mention TCU to a stranger,” she said. “He met so many people that way; we laughed that he probably did more publicity for TCU than us winning the Rose Bowl.” 

King said Scharbauer’s leadership reflected his belief that “diverse viewpoints made TCU stronger.” He added, “He might disagree with you, but once a decision was made, he was there. You could always count on him to carry it forward.”  

Clarence Scharbauer’s legacy will continue through his family’s ongoing service to TCU. He is survived by Kerry Wallace Scharbauer ’73; daughters Kelly Scharbauer Whittenburg ’02 and Charlotte Scharbauer French ’98; sons-in-law Kirk French ’97 and Ben Whittenburg; and three grandchildren. 

Chancellor Pullin added: “On behalf of the TCU community, Annie and I send our sincere condolences to his beautiful family, who continue his legacy of leadership at TCU.” 

Scharbauer’s family shared his essential life advice: “Be honest, be loving, be kind, always be generous to others, never take yourself too seriously, laugh, make others laugh louder, stop to think, respect the views of others, love those closest to you deeply, understand that it’s OK to not be understood, always try your hardest, try even harder when life gets tough, your toe is a long way from your heart and holy dang cow never stop cheering on the Horned Frogs!!” 

Support the education of future Horned Frogs in memory of Clarence Scharbauer III by visiting advancement.tcu.edu/new/give/Scharbauer.