BELTON, Texas—The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB) proudly presented Paul “Crunch” and Carol McClinton of Waco with the prestigious John and Mary Hardin Visionary Leadership Award, the highest philanthropic award presented by the university, last night at UMHB’s annual donor event.
“Before tonight, we have only presented this award five times. To the late Jane Meyer, Elizabeth and Drayton McLane Jr., Sue Mayborn, Ted and Kathy Floca, and Kay Scroggins. This evening, we add Paul ‘Crunch’ and Carol McClinton,” said UMHB president, Dr. Randy O’Rear, at the event.
John and Mary Hardin were prominent Texas philanthropists, and in 1934, in the depths of the Great Depression, when the college was in danger of closing, they made a $675,000 gift to save the school. Their gift would be the equivalent of nearly $17 million today. This gift was transformational for the college and is the reason the school’s name was changed at the time to Mary Hardin-Baylor College.
“The Hardins' gift kept the doors of this college open. Crunch and Carol's continued generosity is helping make sure that what happens inside those doors, in the classroom, in the lab, and on the field is the very best experience we can give our students,” O’Rear shared.
The McClintons received this special recognition for their generosity to the university, their support of Christian higher education, and their commitment to enhancing the student experience at UMHB. In 2021, the McClintons made a major gift to upgrade UMHB’s recreation space, which now bears their name, and, more recently, they made another major gift to help the university meet the original $5 million fundraising challenge for the new science lab facility.
“It’s been such a great opportunity to give back to these young men and women who are molding their lives here, where they’re being developed with a Christian education in a Christian atmosphere. It’s amazing. Carol and I are both so honored to be part of it and to continue to be a part of it,” Paul “Crunch” McClinton said.
Paul is a 1962 alumnus of Baylor University who got his start in business pushing a goodie cart around his dorm and selling advertising in the student-run newspaper. This operation eventually became Automatic Chef, which reached $5 million in annual sales before being sold in 1987. In 1963, he married Carol, a native of West Texas, and they formed a strong partnership over the following decades, growing more than 30 businesses while raising a family in Waco. Their daughter, Melinda, is a 1992 graduate of UMHB, and her positive experience inspired them to invest in the student experience at UMHB. The McClintons currently reside in Waco, and Paul serves as the CEO of Credit Corporation of America and as a member of UMHB’s Board of Trustees.
