As part of TCU’s 150th anniversary, the university is highlighting notable Horned Frog leaders who found their inspiration at TCU with a series of hand-painted, large-scale murals and events in cities across America.
The larger-than-life artistic portraits are installed in select U.S. cities to recognize
outstanding individuals who represent the power of TCU’s alumni leading on in extraordinary ways. The latest mural was unveiled Feb. 6 in Los Angeles and features
Katherine Beattie '08, producer/writer for “NCIS” and wheelchair athlete. The TCU Bob Schieffer College
of Communication alumna was the first woman to land a backflip using a wheelchair.
“Katherine is inspiring, and she represents what we believe is the power of all Horned Frogs: We find our passion and pursue it,” said TCU Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr. “In corporations, in classrooms, in operating rooms, and even on screens large and small, you’ll find Horned Frogs leading on.”
Beattie credits TCU and the mentorship of her professors with sparking her interest in becoming a writer. Aside from writing classes, she says what prepared her most for a career in television was learning how to find her voice, have an idea, and stand up for it.
“I am so grateful to everyone at TCU for broadening my worldview, helping me develop empathy, and tapping into the person I wanted to be,” said Beattie. “It is so meaningful to be celebrated like this and to know that I am viewed as a leader in my community. As one of just a few disabled people working behind the camera in Hollywood, I get to create authentic characters and write storylines that celebrate disability as part of natural human diversity, not something that is sad or tragic.”
The mural featuring Beattie is 56 feet high and 32 feet wide. It is located on Hollywood Boulevard and N. Gower Street on the side of the iconic Fonda Theatre. The bold mural, painted in TCU’s signature purple, is accented with the Sesquicentennial year creative featuring a prismatic purple sunrise gradient. It features a photorealistic portrait of Beattie and unique, dynamic lettering featuring her inspiring quote: “Live a life story worth telling.”
The first mural in the series was unveiled in New York City and spotlighted alumnus John Devereaux of “Hamilton.” Other mural subjects and locations will be announced soon, with the final mural debuting in Fort Worth in fall 2023.