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​Meet The Board Of The Rance Olison Foundation

CEO & President

Mary "Mae" Olison is an accomplished Educator, Motivational Administrator and a proven leader. Mary has served the interests of public schools spanning five decades in various positions in both large and small school systems. Her administrative career is broad and extensive for twenty‐one (21) years as a teacher, campus administrator and assistant superintendent for one district – San Antonio ISD.


Mary graduated from Kansas State University with her Bachelors and continued her education, receiving Masters degrees from Texas State and Texas A&M Kingsville. She is currently completing her Doctoral Studies. Her experience and strategic programs for dropout recovery prevention and discipline programs such as Cradle to Prison Pipeline Initiatives and Restorative practices have been successful with high school students. She has recently launched her Turnaround School Consultant Business specializing in school turnaround. Mary serves on the Board of the Texas Association of Black School Educators, National Alliance of Black School Educators and Director of the Texas Education Policy Institute, which sponsors a team of young professional educators who desire to learn and work with local state senators and representatives on bills that involve public education.


Mary started the 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation named the "Rance Olison Foundation" in honor of her late husband, who not only gave back to his community but, was a long-time winning coach and former NFL player for the Kansas City Chiefs. She has continued Rance's legacy by feeding over 900 people during the holiday season and supporting high school senior student athletes with scholarships.

Vice President

Dr. Travis Batts has practiced medicine for nearly 20 years. He is a board‐certified cardiologist with a focus on cardiovascular disease prevention, nutrition, fitness optimization and primordial/primary cardiac screening. He holds a degree in Biochemistry from the University of Kansas. Where he was a former NCAA Division 1 athlete, who lettered in track and field, while attending the University of Kansas. He then went on to matriculate at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill where he obtained his medical doctorate (MD). He completed his residency and cardiac fellowship training in San Antonio, Texas at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Medical Center. His clinical interests include however are not limited to advanced cardiac imaging with 3D reconstructive modeling, cardiovascular fitness optimization of the tactical athlete (sports cardiology), multimodality imaging prevention assessment and value‐based care market integration.


Dr. Batts is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology (FACC) and serves on the National Nutritional Working Group. He also, serves as a scientific contributor to local vegan/vegetarian restaurants. He has authored multiple articles in peer reviewed journals and given numerous lectures on a host of topics ranging from the role of plant‐based nutrition in the management of cardiovascular disease to the benefits of plant‐based nutrition in athletes. He is the owner and creative director of Batts Media Group, one of San Antonio’s premier media cultivation companies. Additionally, he has built his brand, “The Lifestyle MD” into one of San Antonio’s leading proponents of cardiovascular disease prevention.


Dr. Batts currently volunteers in San Antonio with multiple youth sports teams. In this role, he works to improve nutritional awareness, fortify strategies for injury prevention, provide comprehensive techniques to improve mobility and cultivate career planning in science, technology, engineering and mathematics or STEM. His role with youth in primordial prevention was expanded in his role with the American College of Cardiology’s, Diversity & Inclusion Committee and Elementary Health Pipeline. He is the founder of the Healthier Outcomes with Lifestyle Intervention (H.O.L.I) Initiative, a program geared toward improving health awareness through prevention for faith‐based communities. He has also developed a 16‐week curriculum titled, “Total Body Health” which increases health awareness targeting youth 5‐18 years of age through scientific engagement, exposure to medical professionals and instilling practical strategies for implementing nutritional change.

Treasurer

Mr. Luther Sweeney retired on 31 December 2020 from the Department of Defense as the Chief of Human Capital Branch, Joint Information Operations Warfare Center (JIOWC), Joint Base San Antonio – Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. In this capacity, he was responsible for human capital business practices that helped supervisors/managers and employees deliver results-focused outcomes which supported the strategic goals of the Center. Mr. Sweeney was one of the senior program analysts in the Center responsible for the Planning and Programming, Budgeting, and Execution System. In this capacity, he advised senior-level personnel on the allocation of future resources (money and manpower) in order to meet mission needs.


Mr. Sweeney entered civil service in 1996 following 23 years of Air Force active duty in the administrative and information management career field. In addition to doing military and civil service duties, he remained, and is still currently active in the San Antonio community. He is a life member of the San Antonio Chapter of Blacks in Government where he has served in various capacities. Mr. Sweeney is a former member of the Texas Association of Sports. Officials (formerly known as the Southwest Officials Association) where he spent years officiating middle and high school football. He is the former President of the Alamo City Chapter of the Original L.C. Anderson High School Alumni Association, where he now serves as treasurer. Mr. Sweeney is a member of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, where he serves as Deacon and a Financial Country Team member.


A native of Austin, TX, Mr. Sweeney is a member of the last graduating class of the Original L.C. Anderson High School—a “Yellow Jacket Forever.” He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Psychology from Park University, Parkville, MO and a Masters Degree in Human Resources and Management from Webster University, St Louis, MO. Mr. Sweeney is married to his high school sweetheart, the former Eleanor Williams, and they have two daughters, Charmyne and Syreeta, and two grandchildren, Cydney and Melody.

Secretary

Reverend Darryl Crooms received his Bachelors in Theology from the Baptist University of the Americas and a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Dallas Baptist University. He is currently working on a second Master’s of Divinity from Logsdon Seminary School. Darryl is a lifelong student of all knowledge.


Darryl has serviced his community as a Diabetics Specialist at Medtronic for more than 9 years with a former background in higher education. Darryl Crooms believes in changing and transforming lives and has donated many hours to the betterment of life for others. He has accepted the charge, ensuring access to all who desire a healthier and holistic life. In addition, he serves as an Associate Minister at the Macedonia Baptist Church, where he is a faithful leader, member and spiritual advisor.


Throughout the year, you can see him taking leadership over various cultural events. Darryl is a very active member of the St. Joseph Grand Alamo Lodge #1491 in San Antonio, TX, where he holds the position of recording secretary and treasurer. He is also a member of Al Koran Shrine Temple #99.


Darryl’s greatest joy is being called “Pawpaw” by 4 amazing grandbabies.


“Speak up, speak out, get in the way. Get in good trouble, necessary trouble and help redeem

The Soul of America".


J Lewis

Auditor 

Phyllis has three grown children; all are educators, an 8-year-old Grand Daughter and a 10-month-old grandson. She works at the Garland ISD as an Internal Auditor and she grew up in a military family along with two younger siblings. Phyllis graduated from high school in 1980 and attended the University of Central Oklahoma Edmond, Oklahoma, earned a bachelor's degree in Business/Accounting, and became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc in

April 1984. 


Phyllis is an active member of the Garland AABSE, where she served for more than 12 years as Treasurer and joined TABSE, where she served two terms as the TABSE Treasurer. In 2014, Phyllis was appointed as TABSE'S Executive Director by Past President John W. Washington. She has served as Executive Director for eight years for four TABSE Presidents. Phyllis has been instrumental in raising more than $500k in donations during the last eight years. Her motto is "Always the better person".

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