THE TEXAS NURSES ASSOCIATION mourns the loss of Dean Emerita Billye J. Brown, EdD, RN, FAAN, the inaugural dean of The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing. Named by the Austin American-Statesman as “One of the Most Influential Women in Education,” Dr. Brown was a stalwart of the nursing profession, serving on the TNA Board of Directors from 1964 to 1973 with a term as TNA president from 1966 to 1969. During her tenure, long-term efforts culminated with a substantial change to the Nursing Practice Act, shifting it from a “title-control” to a “practice-control” act.

In 2015, she was part of the inaugural class of Leaders and Legends of Texas Nursing. Her list of accolades and achievements illustrate her long-standing dedication to nursing, and she will be dearly missed. As former U. S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson once said, “She dedicated her life to nursing because it is a profession on the forefront of patient care, human interaction, and practiced compassion. Her work is selfless, but she is so humble, she would never even say that.” TN