Ed Hersh and his late wife Shellie were frequent visitors to the Austin College campus after their son Jonathan enrolled at the college as a member of the Class of 2009 and became a member of the football squad. Ed and Shellie and their sons Craig and Robbie were involved and active fans of the Austin College Kangaroos, cheering at home and away games. A well-known Austin College football mom, Shellie passed away on February 6, 2009, in Houston, Texas, after a valiant fight against cancer.

The family decided the Austin College campus would be the perfect site to memorialize Shellie and funded the creation of the rose garden and adjacent swings on the main walkway of the campus near the athletics facilities and facing Abell Library Center. “Austin College is honored to dedicate this Garden of Love in memory of Shellie and her wonderful spirit,” President Hass said at the dedication. Director of Athletics David Norman expressed his appreciation for the family and the friendships he has formed with the entire family.

In addition to Ed and the three sons, Shellie’s parents, Sig and Lee Liberman of Plano, Texas, took part in the dedication of the garden, with a marker reading “Garden of Love in memory of Shellie Ann Hersh, devoted wife, daughter, friend, and loving mother of Jonathan ’09, B.A., ’10 M.A.T., Craig, and Robert.