A Midland attorney turned stay-at-home mom is truly making her mark on Texas. From starting a grammar school, then co-authoring a book, to unveiling the cloudy labyrinth of Texas political dollars, Tracy Marshall’s efforts extend far beyond Midland’s city limits and will undoubtedly make an impact on many for years to come.
Marshall has called Texas home for over twenty years and says she “can’t imagine living anywhere else.” She was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina and moved to Texas just after graduating law school to practice in Dallas. And although she was planning to return to her home state after a couple of years, love was busy writing a different story. While living in Texas she met Billy Marshall, her now husband, who brought her to Midland where they would eventually start a family, an oil and gas business, and a school.
Upon starting a family, Marshall took a break from practicing law and stayed home to raise their four children – Caroline, Luke, Adrienne, and Lillian – while Billy managed their oil and gas exploration business, Marshall & Winston, Inc. It was during this chapter in their life that the Marshalls, along with other families, helped establish the Grammar School at Midland Classical Academy. After it opened, Tracy continued her involvement through various volunteer, advisory, and teaching roles at the school.
When their eldest child graduated and left for college, Marshall utilized her newfound time to dive headfirst into one her lifelong passions: politics. She began volunteering with a political group that eventually birthed one of Marshall’s most notable and recent achievements – an online tool called TransparencyTexas.org that shines a light on the money behind Texas politics.
“With Transparency Texas, I want to make information about the money in Texas politics available and easy to understand so citizens can know who is truly on their side.” It’s no secret that money drives politics, yet historically it’s been almost impossible to find where political dollars are coming from and what it’s being spent on. “That’s why we built Transparency Texas,” the website says, “we’ve taken all the available data and made it easy to search. We’ve taken all the political jargon and made it easy to understand.”
In addition to her work with Transparency Texas and Midland Classical Academy, Marshall teaches a women’s bible study and is coauthoring a book about the grand adventure of a life with Christ. And although her various projects never fail to keep her busy, she says her favorite way to relax is simply spending time with Billy and the kids.
When asked why she’s gotten involved at the level she has, with so many wide-ranging endeavors, it becomes clear that there’s a noticeable and common thread woven through them all. “I want people to be free – free politically and free spiritually. Political freedom is found in self-governance, and spiritual freedom is found in Christ. That’s what motivates me.”
