ACU Today Spring-Summer 2013

T h i s ISSUE 2 Horizons

10 e New Cat in Town / Hello, Division I

22 Cmdr. David Bynum and the Alumni Award Winners

31 Hearing the Call: WorldWide Witness

36 Just eir Type: Successful Young Graphic Designers

44 Chaplain Robert Randolph Ministers to MIT

46 Down to the River to Pray: Baptistry Mural Collections

51 2013 Homecoming Preview

55 e Bookcase 56 Hilltop View 58 Academic News 60 Campus News 62 Wildcat Sports 65 Your Gifts at Work 66 EXperiences 80 Second Glance

OUR PROMISE

ACU is a vibrant, innovative, Christ-centered community that engages students in authentic spiritual and intellectual growth,equipping them to make a real difference in the world

Massive limestone blocks etched with words from scripture form thefoundation of the Jacob’s Dreamsculpture site on the east side of campus. (Photograph by Jeremy Enlow)

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xcitement is building for this fall, when our intercollegiate athletics

program begins competition in NCAA Division I and the SouthlandConference. As our cover story shows, a new graphic identity for the Wildcats has the campus buzzing, as does news of some of the excitingcompetition we’ll see in Abilene (Texas Tech University in volleyball) and on theroad (football games in most major Texas markets) during the 2012-13 school year. Division I affiliation also will raise our academic profile, with annual NCAAaccountability measurements designed to increase retention and graduation rates,and help us attract even more high-ability student-athletes to campus. Whether students devote their out-of-classroom time to athletics, fine arts,debate, journalism, community service or hundreds of other extracurricularopportunities, we will continue to assure them of our dedication to helping themconnect their career with their calling. God intersects the lives of students during their college years, sometimesprofoundly. He did yours, as well as mine. And when He does, I believe Christianuniversities are the ideal place for students to hear His call, surrounded bysupportive friends and selfless mentors. In The Christian College: A History of Protestant Higher Education in America,William C. Ringenberg says a college is, at the core, a company of seekers of thetruth. He says the Christian college experience is “an especially focused period of truth-seeking, usually during the formative years, when the company of the committed develop a lifelong practice of continual seeking and of beingtransformed by the truth that they find.” I see clear evidence of that in several stories in this issue: • Our annual alumni awards recognizing graduates such as Cmdr. David

Bynum (’84) and others who take to heart the university’s mission, using theirGod-given talents as servant-leaders around the world (pages 22-30);

• The innovative WorldWide Witness program, dedicated to helping studentsof all majors experience short-term vocational missions and learn how to incorporate a heart for ministry in their careers (pages 31-35);

• Creative young design graduates whose expertise and preparation help themrise to the top of their profession in a short period of time (pages 36-43);

• Dr. Robert Randolph (’62), a respected Church of Christ leader as well as the first coordinating chaplain of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who uses his wisdom, experience and considerable influence to affect faithdevelopment in the lives of MIT students (pages 44-45); and

• Theology teacher Randy Harris and the inspiring counter-cultural commitment he and the young men of Tau Chi Alpha – “Toughest ChristiansAlive” – have made to God and to each other (page 80);

I’m especially encouraged by the stories behind some of the 26 new scholarshipendowments recently created (see page 65), most honoring beloved friends andfamily members. It’s humbling to see such thoughtful philanthropy, and to know it will create life-changing opportunities for current and future ACU students. Whether you are “paying it forward” in gratitude for the difference someoneelse’s generosity made in your education, or simply honoring God with a heartfeltgift on our behalf – thank you. There is no better place in the world than AbileneChristian for a student to pair a calling with a career. We exist to help them makethat connection, and we deeply appreciate the ways in which you empower us. �

DR. PHIL SCHUBERT (’91), PresidentThe mission of ACU is to educate students for Christian service and leadership throughout the world.

F r o m t h e P r e s i d e n tACU Today is published twice a year by the Office of University Marketing at Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas.

StaffEditor and Graphic Designer: Ron Hadfield (’79)Associate Editor: Katie (Noah ’06) GibsonSports Editor: Lance Fleming (’92)Contributing Writers This Issue: Paul A. Anthony (’04), Katie (Noah ’06) Gibson, Chris Macaluso, Robin (Ward ’82) Saylor, Tamara (Kull ’77) Thompson

Contributing Photographers This Issue: Mark Anderson, Steve Butman, Jerry Cabluck, Lindsey (Hoskins ’03) Cotton, Jeremy Enlow, Allen Gillespie, Daniel Gomez (’12), Kelsey Evans (’09), Gerald Ewing, Cassie Feerer, Jason Jones, Mandy Lambright (’14), David Leeson (’78), Kim Leeson, Carlos Macias (’05), Mark Matson, Clark Potts (’53), Gary Rhodes (’07), Scott Suchman, Britni (Golden ’11) Tatum, Riley Thannum (’16), Paul White (’68)Contributing Graphic Designers / Illustrators This Issue: Greg Golden (’87), Holly Harrell, Jack Maxwell (’78), Mallory Ming (’14), Todd Mullins, Amy Ozment, Jeff Rogers (’02)

Proofreaders: Vicki Britten, Amber (Gilbert ’99) Bunton,Rendi (Young ’83) Hahn, Scott Kilmer (’01), Robin (Ward ’82) Saylor, Bettye (McKinzie ’48) Shipp

ADVISORY COMMITTEEAdministration: Suzanne Allmon (’79), Dr. Allison Garrett, Dr. Gary D. McCaleb (’64), Dr. Robert RhodesAdvancement: Phil Boone (’83), Billie Currey (’70), Paul A. Anthony (’04) Alumni Relations: Craig Fisher (’92), Jama (Fry ’97) Cadle,Samantha (Bickett ’01) Adkins

Alumni Association: Randy Pittenger (’80)Marketing: Jason Groves (’00), Grant Rampy (’87) Ex-officio: Dr. Phil Schubert (’91)

correspondenceACU Today: [email protected] Alumni Association: [email protected] Changes: ACU Box 29132, Abilene, Texas 79699-9132,325-674-2620

ON THE WEBAbilene Christian University: acu.eduACU Today Blog: acu.edu/acutoday Address changes: acu.edu/alumni /whatsnew/update.htmlACU Advancement Office (Exceptional Fund, Gift Records): acu.edu/giveonlineACU Alumni Web Site: acu.edu/alumniFind Us on Facebook: facebook.com/abilenechristian

facebook.com/ACUsportsFollow Us on Twitter: twitter.com/ACUedu

twitter.com/ACUsportsJoin our Google+ circle: gplus.to/abilenechristian

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ON THE COVERThe first new Wildcat logo in 16 years

will be featured on football helmets andother uniforms of ACU athletics teams as they prepare to begin play in NCAA

Division I and the Southland Conference.(Photograph by Jeremy Enlow)

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Mingle and JingleMore than 2,500 people gathered Dec. 1 on the front lawn of the Onstead-Packer Biblical Studies Building to watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas, enjoy hot chocolateand cookies, and sing Christmas carolswith country music recording artistAaron Watson (’00) during Mingle andJingle, the first outdoor family-stylesalute to the holidays at ACU.The 2013 event has been scheduled for Dec. 2.

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Aaron Watson invitedchildren on stage with him to sing “Rudolph theRed-Nosed Reindeer”during his performance.

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The Ascension The latest addition to the Lunsford Foundation Trail is a bronze sculpture depicting Christ ascending into heaven, installed Dec. 7, 2012, to complete a trailhead nearSewell Theatre and the Hardin Administration Building. “We want The Ascension to tell the ‘why’ story of a Christian’ssalvation, to tell God’s plan for us,” said family spokesman Holt Lunsford (’85) of Dallas. “Jesus loves us so much, He died on a cross and redeemed us and rose from the grave and ascended to heaven. Our faith means nothing without a risen Lord.” See story on page 60.

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Angels in Their OutfieldACU opened the 2013 baseball season Feb. 1-4 byplaying four games in Houston’s Minute Maid Parkduring the Astros in Action Division II Invitationalseries. Before head coach Britt Bonneau’s teamplayed its night game Feb. 2, players attended apregame party with more than 350 alumni andparents. But for 20 kids from neighborhoods around Impact Church of Christ, the mostmemorable moments of the long weekend may have been a whiffle ball game with the Wildcats, who volunteered their Saturday morning to make some young new friends – and fans.

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Grant Boone (’91), alumni relations officerand the radio voice of Wildcat sports, leads aprayer following the baseball team’s whiffleball game with Houston youngsters.

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Playing for RexWildcat football players wore red wristbands on theirankles in the final game of the season in San Antonioagainst University of the Incarnate Word. When playerstired and looked down, head coach Ken Collums wantedthem to be reminded to fight harder, as 10-year-old RexFleming was doing in the last days of his life. ACU won, 24-12, and Rex, the son of Lance (’92) and Jill Fleming, died 15 days later following a valiant struggle with braincancer. See story on pages 72-73 about how Wildcat teams and fans rallied around the Flemings.


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ACU quarterback Mitchell Gale (15) was one of the Wildcats who befriended Rex.

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1967

1981

1976 2000

1951 1961 1966

That’s three years longer than ACU students had to wait before the university decided on a mascot name in 1919. From its founding in 1906, teams competed without one until a social club won a fundraising contest to buy land for a place for baseball and football teams to play, and with the victory, earned naming rights.

Wildcats beat out Antelopes in the club’s name-that-mascot derby, and before long, Wildcat Park was built near North First Street, Wildcat Gym was constructed, Wildcat Band (forerunner of the Big Purple) was playing to rave reviews and, well, the beat went on.

A Felis silvestris (wildcat) is native to Asia, Africa and Europe. In North America, however, a wildcat is a common name representing the lynx (Lynx canadensis) and the bobcat (Lynx rufus), among others. This identity crisis has never held ACU’s Wildcat teams back, considering they’ve won the fourth most NCAA national team championships in history, behind only UCLA, Stanford and USC.

Sports marketing is so prevalent, it seems it has been around forever. Actually, most college football teams didn’t put a logo on their helmets until the 1960s (and some, like the Alabama Crimson Tide, still don’t). ACU didn’t deploy a logo on a helmet until 1965, and a Wildcat didn’t appear on one until 1968.

But what should a 21st-century Wildcat look like?

ACU’s first semblance of a recognized athletics logo was actually the idea of forward-thinking head track and field coach Oliver Jackson (’42). In 1958 – thanks to sophomore Bobby Morrow’s three gold medals in the Melbourne Olympics two years earlier – he believed his team deserved a memorable symbol to wear while

competing in the nation’s top meets. Jackson teamed with art professor Norman Whiteside (’47) to create a five-point shield with the acronym ACU inside. With a few exceptions, the mark was largely used by track and field and cross country teams for the next 40-plus years, and adapted for a few seasons by men’s head basketball coach Dee Nutt (’50) for his team’s travel blazers. But no widespread Wildcat was in sight.

Several Wildcat illustrations appeared on uniforms and on the court at Bennett Gym and Moody Coliseum through the decades, none especially memorable nor easily transferable to other uses. In 1997, alumnus Rubén Santiago (’80) helped ACU create its first set of professionally designed athletics marks for all teams to use, including the “interlocking ACU” that is part of the university’s academic logo today.

The marketing of intercollegiate athletics has become big business in the past two decades. Today,

ith a stirring video, light show, floor-shaking music and several thousand students cheering, the first new athletics graphic identity in 16 years for Abilene Christian University was successfully launched Feb. 15 in Moody Coliseum.

WBy Ron Hadfield

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Shalaina Lakey (track and field) and Jesse Harper (football) were two of the student-athletes who helped with the logo reveal Feb.15 in Moody Coliseum.

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a well-designed family of logos can go a long way toward building support among donors and other fans, attracting potential student-athletes, selling merchandise, garnering media attention, and achieving name recognition.

Because of its size, ACU does not receive a large slice of the $4.6 billion licensed sports merchandising pie each year. But it has tens of thousands of alumni and a fan base in more than 100 countries to inspire, and a winning tradition that makes it the envy of many smaller colleges and universities.

And while not related to the university’s move this fall to NCAA Division I and the Southland Conference, officials in athletics and University Marketing believed 2013 to be a great time to shift ACU’s sports marketing into higher gear.

The strategic planning and design process for a new athletics identity started a year before ACU officials knew the Wildcats would be changing leagues and national affiliations. But discussions with potential design partners actually began five years ago, with award-winning Ohio company Rickabaugh Graphics eventually chosen to develop a new Wildcat and related marks for Abilene Christian.

“Regardless of our NCAA affiliation, we wanted a fresh start with our logo, knowing it would inject new enthusiasm into athletics at ACU,” said director of athletics Jared Mosley (’00).

Rickabaugh Graphics made its mark on the collegiate sports branding landscape in the early 1990s when it put a new face on The Ohio State University. The bold look they created for the nearby university – which enrolls more than 63,000 students each year – helped unify the athletics identity of the Buckeyes, who then marched to the top of collegiate merchandising revenue leaders.

Since then, Rickabaugh has created or updated athletics brands for more than 70 universities, most of them in NCAA Division I, including Baylor, Texas, Connecticut, Vanderbilt, Marquette, North Carolina State, Seton Hall and Central Florida.

The same logo design principles that work for the largest schools also spell success for smaller ones: doing market research, listening to stakeholders, building consensus, paying attention to detail, and instilling creative energy to make an institution’s brand come to life in a way that energizes alumni and fans.

In Abilene, more than 100 student-athletes, coaches, faculty, staff,

alumni, donors and other fans were part of focus groups that reviewed early designs, then helped refine them. Eight different Wildcats were developed along the way, with one chosen to represent ACU’s 16 intercollegiate athletics teams.

The project also resulted in the creation of two custom fonts and number sets to use on uniforms and marketing materials, and an Athletics Graphics Standards guide. The new Wildcat is part of a package of artwork including a primary logo, secondary marks and sport-specific marks.

ACU’s two online merchants – campusstore.acu.edu and acuwildcatgear.com – stocked up with new products for the logo unveiling, and sales have been brisk there and in The Campus Store in McGlothlin Campus Center. The Office of Creative Services also used the new graphics to design free screen-savers for download from facebook.com/abilenechristian to use on mobile phones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers.

In January, another award-winning firm, Old Hat Creative of Norman, Okla., was asked to produce a short video to celebrate ACU’s athletics heritage and introduce the new graphic identity, which was still being finalized. The fun-loving team at Old Hat produces similar high-energy video products used in Game Day promotions at Michigan, Notre Dame, Texas Christian, Duke, Florida State and a virtual who’s who of

other major athletics programs.In February, ACU signed a

three-year contract with Adidas to supply all its teams with game, practice, travel, sideline and coaching gear, starting this fall. So new logos on their innovative clothing will be on display when student-athletes next compete in 2012-13.

The timing was good for Moody Coliseum, too. Its wood court was scheduled for refurbishing this summer, so the new Wildcat-related branding for ACU and the Southland

Conference will be painted on the floor in June, and be ready for Division I volleyball matches in August.

Ten other NCAA Division I colleges and universities also have Wildcats as an athletics mascot: Arizona, Bethune-Cookman, California State-Chico, Davidson, Kansas State, Kentucky, New Hampshire, Northwestern, Villanova and Weber State.

Regardless of how ACU teams fare against some or all of them on the scoreboard, we’re convinced this new Wildcat beats them all.

“Regardless of our NCAA affiliation, we wanted a

fresh start with our logo, knowing it would inject

new enthusiasm into athletics at ACU.”

– JARED MOSLEY

To see all of the new athletics logos and watch the video revealing

the new Wildcat, visit acu.edu/division1


Artist’s rendering of the new graphics to be applied this summer to the floor of Moody Coliseum

But it’s a new day.As of July 1, the Wildcats will

move to NCAA Division I affiliation and return to the Southland Conference, the league Abilene Christian helped found more than 50 years ago. Among other changes, fans will need to reset their GPS units for such places as Corpus Christi, Beaumont, Thibodeaux, Hammond, Lake Charles, New Orleans, Tulsa and Conway.

The Wildcats are in a new neighborhood in the Southland Conference, but not necessarily without old neighbors in former LSC opponents Stephen F. Austin State University, Sam Houston State University and University of the Incarnate Word.

Those familiar opponents – along with Central Arkansas, McNeese State, Lamar, Northwestern State and Southeastern Louisiana – form the backbone of one of the best mid-major conferences in the country (see sidebar on ACU’s new Southland Conference rivals). Others include Oral Roberts, Houston Baptist, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, and New Orleans.

Last fall, Sam Houston State played in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) championship game for the second straight season, and Central Arkansas also qualified for the playoffs. Northwestern State won the league championship in men’s basketball and was among seven Southland basketball teams (three men’s and four women’s teams) to participate in postseason play in 2013.

In 2013, the league’s television network expanded its reach to 25 affiliate stations for football broadcasts. The South-land also expanded its agreement

with ESPN for more basketball and football telecasts, and celebrated its

50th anniversary by naming its teams of the half-century (three ACU Wildcats made the men’s basketball honorees).

Dee Nutt (’50) was the co-coach of the Southland’s

all-Decade Team of the 1960s, which included John Ray Godfrey (’68) and Charles Cleek (’66). The Team of the Decade for the 1970s included Ronnie Hearne (’71), who is now the women’s head coach at LSC-member Tarleton State University.

With applications for enrollment to Abilene Christian on the upswing and retention ahead of last year’s pace, an excitement about ACU athletics and its new path has taken hold on campus.

“July 1 is a date we’ve been looking forward to since we accepted the Southland Conference’s invitation last August,” said ACU director of athletics Jared Mosley (’00). “For some of us who have been working on this transition, it seemed like that day would never get here. But now it’s upon us and we’re all excited about the move. The real work of being a viable Division I program now begins, and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”

The challenges will be many as one of the premier athletics programs in NCAA Division II steps up to the highest level of intercollegiate athletics. But Wildcat administrators and coaches have already

any ACU fans can probably make the familiar drives to San Angelo, Commerce, Canyon and Stephenville in their sleep. Forty years of travel to watch the Wildcats play in the Lone Star Conference will do that to you.


MBy Lance Fleming

begun to begun to meet them head-on.Coaches are competing for

student-athletes being recruited by

universities in the Southland as well as the Big 12 Conference. Schedules created for the 2013-14 school year and beyond will feature the Wildcats playing some of the top teams in the nation, including men’s basketball games against two members of the Atlantic-10 Conference and another against an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opponent – all in the season’s first three games.

Scheduling SurprisesACU is no stranger to playing

major NCAA Division I opponents, having met Florida State, Fresno State, Arkansas and Texas Tech in football; the Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and TCU in baseball; Oklahoma, Kansas, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, New Mexico, Houston, Pepperdine, Texas A&M and Texas Tech in men’s basketball; and Texas, Texas A&M, TCU, Texas Tech and Rice in women’s basketball.

The track and field teams, of course, compete regularly – and have for decades – against the top teams in the nation in major meets such as the Texas Relays and Penn Relays Carnival. With a move to NCAA

Division I, ACU men’s teams will again be eligible for the university division at the Texas Relays instead of the college division, and both men’s and women’s teams will continue to compete against Baylor, Arkansas, TCU, Texas Tech, Texas A&M and Texas.

“We have a great history of competing against Division I programs, and I know our fans are excited for us to face some of them again,” Mosley said. “But I’m also looking forward to competing against the great teams in the Southland Conference like Sam Houston State and Central Arkansas in football, and Stephen F. Austin, Oral Roberts and Northwestern State in men’s basketball. Those teams will provide us with a great glimpse of where we need to be in our league and at our level, maybe more so than the games against higher Division I opponents.”

The first opportunity ACU fans will have to welcome a major NCAA Division I opponent to campus will be Sept. 10, when the Red Raiders from Texas Tech visit

Location: abilene, TexasElevation: 1,719 feetFounded: 1906 as Childers Classical institutePresident: Dr. Phil SchubertEnrollment: 4,371Carnegie classification: master’s Colleges and UniversitiesAcademic strengths: Bible/ministry, business, education, journalism, sciencesNickname: WildcatsColors: Purple, whiteMascot: Willie the WildcatProminent alumni: U.S. Reps. Janice Hahn (California) and Ted Poe (Texas);

lance Barrow, coordinating producer of football and golf for CBS Sports; best-selling Christian author max lucado; Randy Brewer, executive producer and owner of Revolution Pictures inc.; Janice massey, m.D., neurologist at Duke University medical Center; Dr. Jack Scott, former chancellor of California Community Colleges System; Jack Pope, former chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court; Bobby morrow, olympic gold medalist and Sports illustrated Sportsman of the Year; nFl assistant coach Wilbert montgomery; nFl players Danieal manning, Bernard Scott and Clyde Gates; and PGa golfer Jeev milkha Singh.

Quick facts: named an apple Distinguished Program for the second year in arow, and regularly named one of “america’s Best Colleges” by U.S. news and World Report, Forbes and The Princeton Review. aCU helped found the Southland Conference in 1963. The Wildcats have won the fourth most nCaa national championships, behind only UCla, Stanford and USC.

Distance from Abilene: 0 miles

Abilene Christian University Houston Baptist University

Location: Houston, TexasElevation: 43 feetFounded: 1963 as Houston Baptist CollegePresident: Dr. Robert B. Sloan Jr.Enrollment: 2,198Carnegie classification: master’s Colleges and UniversitiesAcademic strengths: Business administration, biology, nursing, psychologyNickname: HuskiesColors: Royal blue, orangeMascot: Kiza the HuskyProminent alumnus: Professional golfer Colin montgomerieQuick facts: affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Was once

a member of the far-flung Great West Conference with north Dakota, South Dakota, Texas-Pan american and Utah Valley. Current president Dr. Robert B. Sloan Jr. grew up in abilene and was president of Baylor University from 1995-2005. The Huskies will field a football team for the first time in 2013.


New Member July 1, 2013 New Member July 1, 2013


GettinG to Know You: The Southland Conference

Dee Nutt (’50) coached the Wildcats to three Southland Conference men’s basketball titles and their first-ever trip to the NCAA College Division national tournament at the end of the 1965-66 season, where they lost to the University of North Dakota.

University of New Orleans

Location: San antonio, TexasElevation: 650 feetFounded: 1881 as academy of the incarnate WordPresident: Dr. louis J. arnese Jr.Enrollment: 8,455Carnegie classification: master’s Colleges and UniversitiesAcademic strengths: Business administration, biology, nursingNickname: CardinalsColors: Red, black, whiteProminent alumni: actors Ricardo Chavirra and Jesse Borrego, Tejano music

star Patsy Torres, former Cnn anchor linda Stouffer, and former nBa player David Robinson

Quick facts: in Texas, UiW is the largest Catholic university and the fourthlargest private university. it has five campuses, including ones in mexico and Germany, and more than 100 sister schools in 37 nations. it began as a Catholic college for women but became fully coeducational in 1971. UiW has schools of optometry, pharmacy, education, business, nursing, and interactive media and design. The Cardinals’ synchronized swimming team placed in the 2006 U.S. Collegiate Championships. UiW is a ministry of the Sisters of Charity of the incarnate Word.


Location: new orleans, louisianaElevation: 8 feetFounded: 1958 as louisiana State University in new orleansPresident: Dr. Peter J. FosEnrollment: 10,100Carnegie classification: Doctoral/Research UniversitiesAcademic strengths: Jazz studies; film studies; hotel, restaurant and

tourism administration; planning and urban studies; earth and environmental sciences; naval architecture and marine engineering; computer science; counselor education

Nickname: PrivateersColors: Royal blue, silverMascot: lafitte the instigator (alligator)Prominent alumni: James H. Clark, co-founder of netscape Communications;

actor John larroquette; louisiana state Reps. Carl Crane, Jim Donelon (state insurance commissioner), Chris Hazel and nicholas lorusso; Paul mainieri, head baseball coach at louisiana State University; nBa players ledell eackles, ervin Johnson, Wayne Cooper (now vice president of the Sacramento Kings); mlB players Jim Bullinger, Randy Bush, Wally Whitehurst and eric Rasmussen.

Quick facts: Uno was used as an evacuation point and staging area by thenational Guard during Hurricane Katrina in august 2005. it was the first university in new orleans to reopen after Katrina and the only university in new orleans to reopen during the Fall 2005 semester. it became the second largest university in the state in 1969.


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University of the Incarnate Word

Moody Coliseum for a women’s volleyball match against ACU. That’s one week after head coach Kellen (Morrow ’05) Mock and her team travel to Lubbock to take on Texas Tech at United Spirit Arena.

“I’m excited to the start the NCAA Division I era off with a bang,” said Mock. “We’re in a situation where we get to play an opponent we follow and respect for having a great athletics tradition. Home matches are hard to find right now, so we’re excited to have one against a team like Texas Tech. We’re looking forward to seeing a lot of fans in Moody Coliseum that night, and hopefully we can make ACU fans out of some of those Tech people who show up.”

The 2013 ACU football schedule is an eclectic blend of NAIA, and NCAA Division I and II schools, cobbled together because prior scheduling commitments

around the league mean the Wildcats aren’t competing in the Southland Conference this fall. Football is the only ACU athletics program to play an NCAA Division I independent schedule in 2013.

The highlight of the schedule will be an Oct. 26 road game in Las Cruces, N.M., against New Mexico State. The game will mark ACU’s first against a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) program since 1980, when the Wildcats played Hawaii in Honolulu.

“We’re excited about this move because it allows us to compete in a solid conference while expanding from time to time with an FBS game,” said ACU head football coach Ken Collums. “Normally we will play one or two FBS opponents each year, so it will be exciting to see where our schedule will take us. It will certainly be an extreme challenge, but as we grow

this program, I’m confident we will represent Abilene Christian University very competitively.”

The Wildcats will play 11 football games this fall, but only four will be at home. The first games of the season – Aug. 31 against NAIA-member Concordia College (Ala.), Sept. 7 against NCAA Division II crosstown foe McMurry University and Sept. 14 against Division II opponent New Mexico Highlands – will all be played at Shotwell Stadium. ACU’s only other home game will be the Oct. 19 Homecoming contest against Incarnate Word, which also is moving to the Southland Conference in 2013-14.

Collums’ team will travel to Normal, Ill., to play FCS powerhouse Illinois State on Sept. 21 and then play Tarleton State at FC Dallas Stadium in Frisco on Sept. 28. The Wildcats travel to


Here are just a few of the teams and conferences represented on ACU schedules during the 2013-14 school year, in addition to Southland opponents.

Kansas Oct. 5 to take on formidable NCAA Division II foe Pittsburg State before finishing off the four-game road trip Oct. 12 at Houston Baptist at BBVA Compass Stadium in downtown Houston.

ACU will play Prairie View A&M, an FCS opponent from the Southwestern Athletic Association, to finish the season Nov. 16.

In advance of the games in Frisco, Houston and San Antonio, the ACU Alumni Association will host pre-game tailgate events as it has done at several games in previous seasons.

“We are excited to gather our alumni and friends to begin, strengthen and renew relationships,” said Craig Fisher (’92), director of alumni relations and annual projects. “It is always such a great

time when the ACU family gets together and celebrates. Partnering with our

athletics teams on events before their games provides a great place for

fans to meet.” Football fans in much of North

Texas and Oklahoma can follow ACU football games on KBXD 1480 AM,

a 50,000-watt Christian radio station in the Dallas and Fort

Worth area. The men’s basketball

team opens its season in early November on the East Coast against two Atlantic-10 programs and

University of Central Arkansas Lamar University

Location: Conway, arkansasElevation: 312 feetFounded: 1907 as arkansas State normal SchoolPresident and General Counsel: Tim Courtway, J.D.Enrollment: 11,107Carnegie classification: master’s Colleges and UniversitiesAcademic strengths: Health sciences, biology, business administration,

psychologyNickname: BearsColors: Purple, grayMascot: Bear (Bruce D. Bear)Prominent alumni: Former arkansas governor Benjamin Travis laney;

Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee author Dee Brown; actor Gil Gerard; american idol winner Kris allen; Terry Pillow, Ceo of Tommy Bahama Group, inc.; Charles “Charlie” Strong, head football coach, University of louisville; melvin Ralph Carruth, associate director of engineering, naSa/marshall Space Flight Center; nanka “nisi” Sturgis, Broadway actor; Dr. a. Wesley Burks, professor and chair, Department of Pediatrics, University of north Carolina at Chapel Hill; Dexter Pearson, associate director, U.S. Department of agriculture; former nFl players monte Coleman, David evans and Curtis Burrow; and nBa Hall of Fame member Scottie Pippen.

Quick facts: Conway is 30 miles north of little Rock, ark. Distance from Abilene: 522 miles

Location: Beaumont, TexasElevation: 16 feetFounded: 1923 as South Park Junior CollegePresident: Dr. James m. SimmonsEnrollment: 14,522Carnegie classification: Doctoral/Research UniversitiesAcademic strengths: engineering/technology, business administration,

social workNickname: Cardinals and lady CardinalsColors: Red, whiteMascot: Big RedProminent alumni: C.W. Conn, founder of Conn’s electronics and appliance

stores; Joe Tortorice, founder of Jason’s Deli and president of Deli management inc.; U.S. Reps. Jack Brooks and nick lampson; nFl head coach Bum Phillips; TV sports announcer Bill macatee; mlB players Kevin millar and Clay Hensley; nFl players eugene Seale, Wayne moore and Colin Ridgeway; college basketball coach Billy Tubbs; college baseball coach Jim Gilligan; and PGa golfers Trevor Dodds, Chris Stroud and Ronnie Black.

Quick facts: Beaumont is 90 miles east of Houston. lamar is part of The Texas State University System. The university is named for mirabeau B. la-mar, former president of the Republic of Texas. The campus moved to its current location in 1942. lamar dropped football as a sport in 1989 but reinstated it in 2010.



Andrew Prince (’75), the No. 2 career rebounder in ACU history, was a sophomore during the Wildcats’ last season in the Southland Conference

(1972-73), averaging 15.6 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.

The only time John Ray Godfrey (’68) played in Moody Coliseum was the arena’s opening night his senior year, and he made it a memorable one, scoring 41 points, a single-game record that stood for 20 years. He led his team to three straight Southland Conference titles.

an ACC program that has won a national championship in the last dozen years.

“Part of the reason we wanted to schedule the games we did is to give our guys a great experience while they’re here,” said men’s basketball head coach Joe Golding (’99). “Because this is our first year in Division I play, we wanted games to give us some national exposure and spread our brand to different parts of the country. They will be very tough games from a competition standpoint, but they also will help get us ready for Southland Conference play.”

The women’s basketball team will play on the road at Texas-Arlington (now coached by former West Texas A&M head coach Krista Gerlich) and Tulsa, and also will participate in the North Texas Classic in late November and the Texas-San Antonio Classic in late December.

ACU head baseball coach Britt Bonneau wasted little time in stacking his 2014 schedule with national powerhouses: The Wildcats will play five teams that have won a combined 11,000 games and 11 College World Series titles, and made 52 College World Series appearances and 139 trips to the NCAA tournament.

The Wildcats will play a two-game series March 4-5 at Oklahoma, a pair of games at Texas Tech on March 11 and April 8, and a single game at Texas A&M on April 15 before

ending their season further west. On May 20, the Wildcats will be in

Tempe, Ariz., to take on the Sun Devils of Arizona State, one of the most successful college baseball programs of all time. ASU has won more than 2,700 games and five CWS titles and counts among its alumni all-time MLB home run leader Barry Bonds and New York Yankee legend and baseball Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson.

After the game on May 20, the Wildcats head south to Tucson to close their season with a three-game series against the Arizona Wildcats. They have won four CWS titles and more than 2,600 games in their history, and count among its alumni Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona and former San Diego closer Trevor Hoffman, who is second on the all-time major league saves list.

“Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Arizona and Arizona State represent four of the best college baseball programs in the country, and we’re honored to be able to play them,” said Bonneau, who helped OU reach the CWS as a starting outfielder in 1992. “We’ll have a lot of young guys on our team in 2014, so we know those games will be tough. But we’re looking forward to the opportunity.”

While some schedules still haven’t been completed, most include dates with high-level competition for a few reasons.

Perhaps the main one is the financial guarantee the nation’s biggest institutions pay to smaller programs in return for a game or match. Those payouts can fund a portion of an athletics budget, and the proceeds from those “money games” are built into budgets across the mid-major landscape as a source of funding.

Another reason is because the Wildcats won’t be able to compete in NCAA post-season play until the 2017-18 school year. ACU is not eligible for Southland Conference postseason competition for any sport in which the winner is the league’s automatic qualifier

McNeese State University Nicholls State University

Location: lake Charles, louisianaElevation: 13 feetFounded: 1939 as lake Charles Junior CollegePresident: Dr. Phillip C. WilliamsEnrollment: 8,941Carnegie classification: master’s Colleges and UniversitiesAcademic strengths: nursing, engineering, business administration, agricultureNickname: Cowboys and CowgirlsColors: Blue, goldMascot: Rowdy the CowboyProminent alumni: musician Doug Kershaw; historian-author Joe Gray Taylor;

best-selling author eric Pete; former Texas a&m University head football coach R.C. Slocum; mlB players Clay Buchholz, Ray Fontenot, Ben Broussard and Bob Howry; nFl players leonard Smith, Kavika Pittman and zach Bronson; and naismith memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member and Detroit Pistons general manager Joe Dumars.

Quick facts: lake Charles is the fifth largest city in louisiana. Founded as a partof louisiana State University. Ranked by U.S. news and World Report as a Tier one Regional University. mcneese State’s football team played in the inaugural independence Bowl in 1976. Contraband Bayou runs through the campus.


Location: Thibodaux, louisianaElevation: 13 feetFounded: 1948 as Frances T. nicholls Junior CollegePresident: Dr. Stephen T. HulbertEnrollment: 6,088Carnegie classification: master’s Colleges and UniversitiesAcademic strengths: Biological sciences, culinary arts, nursing,

petroleum services, teacher education Nickname: ColonelsColors: Gray, redMascot: Colonel TillouProminent alumni: State senators Jody amedee and norby Chabert;

state Reps. Gordon Dove, Joe Harrison, lenar Whitney and Hunt Downer (former louisiana Speaker of the House); and nFl players lardarius Webb, Kareem moore, Dwight Walker and antonio Robinson

Quick facts: nicholls is named after Francis T. nicholls, former governor oflouisiana and member of the state Supreme Court. The campus was once part of the acadia Plantation, and fronts Bayou lafourche, about 50 miles southwest of new orleans and 60 miles southeast of Baton Rouge. nicholls is one of the first U.S. universities to offer bachelor’s degrees in culinary arts.



By the time he graduated, ACU quarterback Jim Lindsey (’71) was college football’s career passing leader, and his name is still prominent in Southland Conference record books more than 40 years later.

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Northwestern State University Oral Roberts University

Location: natchitoches, louisianaElevation: 118 feetFounded: 1884 as louisiana State normal SchoolChancellor: Dr. Randall J. WebbEnrollment: 9,447Carnegie classification: master’s Colleges and UniversitiesAcademic strengths: nursing, business and psychologyMascot: Demons and lady DemonsColors: Purple, whiteMascot: Vic the DemonProminent alumni: author Henry C. Dethloff; louisiana Supreme Court

Chief Justice John B. Fournet; Gen. Claire lee Chennault, commander of the Flying Tigers; adm. Ronald J. Hays, commander of the Pacific Command; playwright and screenwriter Robert Harling; political consultant Raymond Strother; U.S. Rep. Speedy o. long; louisiana lt. Gov. and state superintendent of education William “Bill” Dodd; louisiana treasurer mary evelyn Parker; state Sens. a.a. Fredericks, Joe mcPherson and Kenneth micheal “mike” Smith; louisiana Speaker of the House Joe R. Salter; state Reps. ernest Wooten, Taylor Townsend, Jane H. Smith and Henry Burns; mlB player lee Smith; nFl players Jackie Smith, Charlie Hennigan, Bobby Hebert, Joe Delaney, Terrence mcGee and Gary Reasons; and U.S. olympic weightlifting coach Gayle Hatch.

Quick facts: northwestern State has its main campus in natchitoches, a nursing and allied health campus in Shreveport, and branch campuses at alexandria, leesville/Fort Polk and marksville.


Location: Tulsa, oklahomaElevation: 722 feetFounded: 1965President: Dr. William m. WilsonEnrollment: 3,169Carnegie classification: master’s Colleges and UniversitiesAcademic strengths: Business, education, engineering, nursing and theologyNickname: Golden eaglesColors: Blue, goldMascot: eli the Golden eagleProminent alumni: Singer-songwriter-actor Kathie lee Gifford;

singer-songwriter Ryan Tedder, pianist David osborne, actor Scott Thompson Baker; Christian music composers Don moen and Kari Jobe; authors Jim Stovall and David Barton; ministers Joel osteen and Kenneth Copeland; U.S. Rep. michele Bachmann; Fox news correspondent Kelly Wright; mlB players Doug Bernier, Steve Holm, Todd Burns, Keith lockhart, Keith miller, mike moore and Bob zupcic; and nBa player Hawoode Workman.

Quick facts: oRU is the largest charismatic Christian university in the world,and named after its late founder, evangelist oral Roberts. Students meet twice a week for Chapel at oRU. athletics teams were called the Titans until 1993, when they were renamed the Golden eagles. oRU’s baseball team has played in 21 nCaa regional tournaments and twice advanced to the College World Series. men’s basketball head coach Scott Sutton has led his team three times to the nCaa national tournament and twice to the niT.



new football uniform for home games

new football uniform for away games

for an NCAA championship (baseball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, football, women’s soccer, softball, golf, men’s tennis, women’s tennis and volleyball).

ACU will be eligible for cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field conference championships beginning in 2013-14 and can participate in the conference golf tournament in 2014, but only as unattached entries.

Other Ramifications of the Move

Despite the exclusion from postseason play, coaches already have seen an increase in interest in early recruiting from a higher level of student-athletes across the nation, a direct result of the move to Division I athletics.

Academic standards are generally higher for freshmen and transfers who aspire to play Division I athletics. Student-athletes must have more credits in high school “core courses” and a minimum grade-point average that is a half-point higher than the minimum for Division II.

Junior college transfers must have earned an associate’s degree from a previous institution to be immediately eligible, and have a limited time in which they can complete their degree and still maintain eligibility to compete in athletics.

In Division I, the Academic Progress Rate (APR) measures

eligibility and retention of student-athletes on a semester-by-semester basis. Universities failing to achieve a minimum APR score of 930 may be penalized by the NCAA. There is no such measurement in Division II, which is one of the reasons why ACU chose to move to Division I.

In the last five years, Division II student-athletes have proven to be less academically prepared and less likely to graduate from ACU when compared to the general student population, a trend Abilene Christian wanted to reverse. As ACU’s academic requirements for admissions and expectations for retention performance continue to rise, those gaps would likely have widened without a philosophical change or a move to Division I.

So coaches find themselves competing with much larger universities for prospective students

than they have been accustomed. That’s an expected but significant challenge but also one that has created some surprising results.

“We have a great product to sell,” Golding said, “and guys want to be a part of that. We’ve seen a tremendous amount of interest in ACU, and I believe that will continue.”

ACU softball coach Bobby Reeves already has reeled in what could be one of the best recruiting classes in the nation for the 2014 season, a group led by Flower Mound-Marcus High School pitcher Hannah Null. The right-handed

pitcher turned down the Texas Longhorns, among others, to sign

with the Wildcats. Null threw multiple no-hitters during her senior season at Marcus and is one of the top-ranked high school pitchers in the state.

“Honestly, her experience at Chapel is what

sold Hannah on coming to ACU,” Reeves said. “The way she felt the day she left Chapel was all she needed to know that this was the place where she needed to get

her education and play softball.”

ACU attracted a talented pool of

Sam Houston State University Southeastern Louisiana University

Location: Huntsville, TexasElevation: 371 feetFounded: 1879 as Sam Houston normal institutePresident: Dr. Dana l. GibsonEnrollment: 18,461Carnegie classification: Doctoral/Research UniversitiesAcademic strengths: Criminal justice, education, banking, performing arts,

mathematicsNickname: BearkatsColors: orange, whiteMascot: Sammy BearkatProminent alumni: Journalist-author Dan Rather; Super Bowl XlV head referee

Walt anderson; Broadway star Katie Rose Clarke; former mlB astros owner Don Sanders; oscar-nominated film director/screenwriter Richard linklater; award-winning country music songwriter allen Shamblin; actor Dana andrews; maj. Gen. (Ret.) William F. Garrison; and nFl players michael Bankston, Stan Blinka, Guido merkens and Josh mcCown.

Quick facts: SHSU is the third oldest university in Texas, named after Texas’greatest hero, Sam Houston. its College of Criminal Justice is the home of the Southeast Texas applied Forensic Science Facility, one of only four such facilities in the nation. The Bearkats and the lumberjacks of Stephen F. austin State University play an annual football game named the Battle of the Piney Woods in Houston at Reliant Stadium, home of the nFl Texans and the Super Bowl.


Location: Hammond, louisianaElevation: 43 feetFounded: 1925 as Hammond Junior CollegePresident: Dr. John l. CrainEnrollment: 15,404Carnegie classification: master’s Colleges and UniversitiesAcademic strengths: Business, nursing and health sciences, biology,

engineering/technology, education and teacher preparation, communications, fine and digital arts

Mascot: lions and lady lionsColors: Green, goldMascot: Roomie the lionProminent alumni: aBC-TV Good morning america anchor Robin Roberts;

murphy oil Corp. Ceo Steven a. Cossé; U.S federal Judge James Brady; U.S. federal Judge Carl Barbier (BP spill settlement case); operatic tenor Donald George; five-time Grammy award-winning pianist Bill evans. louisiana Senate president John alario Jr.; american Heart association president Coletta Barrett; iBm vice president (retired) albert Kuhn; atlanta Falcons second-round draft pick Robert alford.

Quick facts: Southeastern is the third largest university in louisiana. in additionto its main campus in Hammond, it maintains facilities in Baton Rouge (nursing), mandeville, and the livingston Parish literacy and Technology Center in Walker. The Turtle Cove environmental Research Station is a field research facility located between lakes Pontchartrain and maurepas.



ACU’s Bill Gilbreth (’69) was named all-Southland Conference, led the NCAA in strikeouts as a junior, pitched two no-hitters, and still holds the Wildcat career strikeout record (445). He was the 67th player selected in the 1969 major league draft, and began his career with Detroit. In 1991, he was named ACU’s head coach.

Stephen F. Austin University Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

Location: nacogdoches, TexasElevation: 302 feetFounded: 1921 as Stephen F. austin Teachers CollegePresident: Dr. Baker PattilloEnrollment: 12,954Carnegie classification: master’s Colleges and UniversitiesAcademic strengths: education, forestry and agriculture, business, scienceNickname: lumberjacks and ladyjacksColors: Purple, whiteProminent alumni: nancy Dickey, m.D., first woman named president of the

american medical association and the Texas a&m Health Science Center; Dr. Joseph Kennedy, co-discoverer of plutonium; former Colorado governor Bill owens; musicians Will Jennings, Ronnie laws, Rodney Crowell and Don Henley; football coaches Bum Phillips and Spike Dykes; and nFl players Jeremiah Trotter, mikhael Ricks and larry Centers.

Quick facts: nacogdoches is a sister city with natchitoches, la., home of northwestern State University, and 180 miles southeast of Dallas. SFa was named after one of Texas’ founding fathers, Stephen F. austin. it is one of four independent public universities in the state. Chief Caddo, a 7-foot, 6-inch, 330-pound statue carved from a black gum log, is the tallest trophy in college football, and goes to the winner each year of the game between SFa and northwestern State University. it is named to honor the native american tribe that settled each school’s community. SFa is a nine-time winner of the national Cheerleading association Collegiate national Championship.


Location: Corpus Christi, TexasElevation: 7 feetFounded: 1947 as University of Corpus ChristiPresident: Dr. Flavius KillebrewEnrollment: 10,500Carnegie classification: Doctoral/Research UniversitiesAcademic strengths: Coastal studies, marine science, mechanical engineering,

nursing, business, education, arts, media, and communication Nickname: islandersColors: Blue, greenMascot: izzy the islanderProminent alumni: Theresa Barrera, vice president of supplier diversity for

Walmart; Janie Barrera, founder of accion Texas, Texas state Rep. Raul Torres; author Kim Henkel (The Texas Chainsaw massacre); and Sarah Pauly, all-america softball player and 2006 national Pro Fastpitch Pitcher of the Year.

Quick facts: in 1519, on the Roman Catholic Feast Day of Corpus Christi, Spanish explorer alonzo alvarez de Pineda discovered a lush semi-tropical bay on what is now the southern coast of Texas. The spot Pineda discovered is now home to the largest city on the Texas Coast and is the sixth largest port in the nation. Key industries include petrochemical, tourism, health care, retail, education, shipping, agriculture and the military. Texas a&m-Corpus Christi is the only university on its own island. The island university has earned its spot as a premier doctoral-granting institution, supporting two institutes and 13 research centers and labs.



players in the first Division I signing group in Wildcat football history. Leading the class are transfer wide receiver Cedric Gilbert (Cisco College), transfer running back Herschel Sims (Lamar University), and freshmen Quinton Baker (defensive back from Austin), De’Andre Brown (running back from Lewisville), Quentin Bryant (defensive back from Mart), Sam Fodale (center from Shreveport, La.),

Randy Gober (running back from Waco), Kade Munden (quarterback from China Spring), Hayden Wall (offensive lineman from Hallsville), and D.J. Arnold (defensive back from Wichita Falls).

Among the schools those new student-athletes turned down to sign with ACU are Texas-El Paso, Texas State, Syracuse, Baylor, New Mexico, New Mexico State, Tulsa, Central Arkansas, Sam Houston State, Louisiana Tech and Texas-San Antonio.

Because the Wildcats won’t be playing a Southland Conference schedule until 2014 and aren’t eligible for a conference championship or playoff berth until 2017, Collums said other student-athletes weren’t interested in signing.

“We ran into some issues, just like we knew we would,” Collums said. “But we knew about those going into this process. I think it speaks to how much the guys we signed wanted to be here, because they had to look past all that. They wanted to be here with us and be part of our program, which makes us love them even more.”

Because the Wildcats have been working within NCAA Division II scholarship restrictions for 40 years, a jump to NCAA Division I scholarship maximums won’t happen immediately. Those increases will be phased in over a five-year period, with each sport seeing a jump in scholarship numbers.

Just like nearly every NCAA Division I

program, ACU also now has a deal with a major apparel company. In February, ACU announced it had signed a three-year marketing contract with Adidas for the apparel giant to outfit each of its teams beginning June 1. That announcement came just a few days after ACU revealed its new athletics logo and branding identity (see pages 10-13).

Another ripple effect of the move to the Southland Conference is the likelihood that long-standing rivals from the LSC such as West Texas A&M, Angelo State, Tarleton State, Texas A&M-Commerce and Texas A&M-Kingsville will appear less frequently on future ACU schedules.

The women’s basketball team will host Angelo State in early November, but the Rambelles are the only LSC team on either basketball schedule. Those rivalries will soon fade into the history books as ACU continues to schedule more games against not only bigger Division I programs, but mid-major programs in every sport.

“We’ve enjoyed great rivalries with West Texas A&M, Angelo State, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Texas A&M-Commerce and others,” Mosley said, “and we’ll always have deep respect for those institutions, the competition we shared and the talented student-athletes who will always be a part of that heritage. But we’re looking ahead to a new day and a new future for ACU athletics, and we’re excited that it has us back in the Southland Conference.”

In 1963, Dr. Jack Griggs (’64) became the first academic all-America student-athlete at ACU. As a senior linebacker, he helped the Wildcats finish out an 8-1 record by recording 17 tackles in a 32-29 season-ending win over Fresno State. He later became dean of the College of Business Administration.

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2 2 S p r i n g - S u m m e r 2 0 1 3 � A C U T O D A Y

Stories by Paul A. Anthonyand Tamara Thompson

Illustrations by Jack MaxwellPhotography by Scott Suchman

OUTSTANDING ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR Commander

2 3A C U T O D A Y � S p r i n g - S u m m e r 2 0 1 3

ALUMNI AWARDS

bilene Christian’s 107-year history is distinguished by

the accomplishments of graduates who take to heartthe university’s mission, using their God-given talentsas servant-leaders around the world.

Outstanding Alumnus of the YearProvides timely recognition of the lifetime achievement of an individual who has brought honor to ACU through personal and professional excellence and service to the university, the church or the community.

Young Alumnus of the YearRecognizes professional achievement and/ordistinguished service to the university. To be eligible, a recipient must not have reached 40 years of age at the time of nomination.

Distinguished Alumni CitationRecognizes distinctive personal or professional achievement that has merited the honor and praise of peers and colleagues.

NOTE TO OUR READERSIn an effort to better align our publication cyclewith the university’s timetable for presenting itsannual alumni awards, this layout includesprofiles of all 2013 winners, as well asDistinguished Alumni Citation recipients for2012. Beginning in 2014, our Spring-Summerissue will profile the full complement of annualawardees in the same calendar year in whichthey are recognized.

ASCOTT SU

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David Bynum

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Pentagon-bound militarychaplain was mentored by a minister but found his calling in the Navy


ven as a youngster,Cmdr. David Bynum (’84)

knew he wanted to be a ministerlike Henry McBroom (’54). The preacher of a Church of Christ inBrady, Texas, made a lasting impression onBynum, setting him on a path in two majorareas of his life. Bynum lived in Brady until age 7, when his family moved east toSan Saba. Even then, he and McBroom saweach other every summer for years at theHeart of Texas Bible Camp in Brady. By age 10, Bynum knew he wanted toemulate McBroom. “I wanted to be like him.I admired him for who he was and howhighly regarded he was,” Bynum said.Determined to fulfill his aspirations, ineighth grade he set a goal to graduate eightyears later with a degree in Bible from ACU. “My parents encouraged me to be goal-oriented. My dad was always a bigbeliever in goal-setting,” he said, adding that his father viewed education as a lever to move a person forward. “Besidesgoal-setting, I think, another importantthing is to not lose sight of your goals.”Bynum did not. Now a chaplain in the Navy, Bynum willcomplete his fifth college degree – a master’sin strategic studies – in June at the NationalWar College in Washington, D.C., beforebeginning a new position at the Pentagon.On Sept. 1, he will be elevated to the rank of captain. He earned three degrees from ACU – a bachelor’s in biblical studies, a Master ofDivinity and a doctorate in ministry – eachunder the tutelage of professors he admiredfor their scholarship and godliness, includingDrs. Neil Lightfoot, LeMoine Lewis (’36),Charles Siburt (’68) and and Ian Fair (’68), then-chair of the Bible department, whoselected Bynum to be his graduate assistant.He also credits former Hillcrest Church ofChrist evangelist Jimmy Jividen (’51), withencouraging him to attend graduate school. “Those people, I carry them with mewherever I go,” Bynum said. “How far I’vegone is because of their influence.” After earning his bachelor’s and master’s

degrees, Bynum fulfilled his dream tobecome a minister at churches in Waco and Hearne, Texas, while completing hisdoctorate. In 2003 he earned a master’sdegree in religion and culture from Duke University. Oh, and that other path McBroominspired 10-year-old Bynum to take? It concerned his future mate. At camp, McBroom told him, “You needto be praying right now for the spouse thatGod is going to bring to you someday,”Bynum recalled. Ten years later whileteaching at the same camp, he met ElizabethPetty, a counselor from Lubbock ChristianUniversity. They married two summers later. After a decade in local ministry, Bynum felt the need to experience ministryin a broader context. He had always wantedto serve his country, and becoming amilitary chaplain fit the bill. Torn because he loved the congregationin Hearne, he discussed his quandary with his father. “He said, ‘Sometimes ourdetermination for a thing can push us fartherthan we ought to go.’ He knew me wellenough to know how determined anddedicated I was, but he could also see that I maybe needed a little push to go ahead and make the decision,” Bynum recalled. “Of course, it’s been one of the best decisionsI’ve ever made because I think it ultimatelywas the place God wanted us to minister.” Joining the military, however, affected not

just him, but his family, which had grownwith the births of daughter Rebekah and sonMicah. The career move had to be a family decision. “We knew it was going to be such a lifechange,” he said. “For us, our first assignmentwas overseas in Okinawa, so we got thewhole change of culture from civilian toinstitutional ministry [and] a change ofculture from Texas to Okinawa. It was a big decision.” Commissioned in 1995, his career hastaken him around the world. In addition to Japan, he has served in Korea; Guam;Kingsville, Texas; Bahrain; Singapore;Hawaii; and Afghanistan, among others. Bynum is one of only five Church ofChrist chaplains in the Navy and one of 10ACU alumni serving as a military chaplain,according to Col. Don Taylor, retired Armychaplain and the endorsing agent for Churchof Christ-affiliated chaplains in the armedforces. Currently, Churches of Christendorse 40 chaplains serving in the armedforces, which includes the Army, Air Force,Navy, Marines and Coast Guard active and reserve forces. Becoming a Navy chaplain enabledBynum to broaden his ministry to theMarines and Coast Guard, as well as Navytroops. It also gave him the opportunity to go to sea, with a tour aboard the USSNimitz in 2006. While in Kingsville, he also took to the air as a wing chaplain,accumulating more than 150 flight hoursand numerous aircraft carrier landings and earning a Parachutist Badge (also known as Jump Wings). But his primary duties involved spiritual guidance and counseling of servicemembers. Like all military chaplains, he isbound by a code of ethics preventing himfrom doing something counter to his faithtenets, such as infant baptism. However, he must facilitate for those outside his faithgroup who come to him with a need heethically cannot fill. For example, he wouldconnect a sailor wanting to baptize his infantwith a minister willing to do so. All chaplainsmust care for any service member, regardlessof faith or lack thereof. “There’s no doubt to me, that as achaplain, the best work is when you’re at

H OUTSTANDING ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR H

JACK MAXWELL

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2013


those lower ranks and you’re dealing with people everyday,” he said. “You’re going to be spending most of yourtime with the problems of 18- to 25-year-olds. “It’s going tobe a lot of life counseling; spiritual and emotional issues;and disciplinary issues.” Bound by the highest degrees of confidentiality,chaplains increasingly are dealing with potential suicides.“We’re often the first responders for that. … Sailors orMarines will come to us in distress, knowing they can talk to a chaplain and it’s kept confidential,” he said. Bynum believes recent increases in suicides amongmilitary personnel is precipitated by “the demands we’ve placed on an all-volunteerforce with more than 10 years of sustained combatoperations.” He said repeatedtours of duty with little rest between them puts stress onservicemen, servicewomen and their families. As he has risen in rank,Bynum has become lessinvolved in counseling. “As you move in the higheradministrative positions, youstart to advise senior officersmore about strategic issuesthan providing tactical-levelministry to soldiers and sailors,airmen, Marines or others,”Bynum said. After earning his fifth degree in June, he will becomedirector of operations for Adm. Mark Pidd, the Navychief of chaplains, at thePentagon. Three months later,he will become a captain. “Chaplain Bynum is verycommitted to service, ministry and spiritual leadership. He has an excellent reputation in the Navy,” said Col. Taylor, the Churches of Christ endorsing agent and a congregant with the Bynums of the Fairfax (Va.) Churchof Christ. Since moving to Falls Church, Va., in 2012,Bynum and his wife, an educator, have been active inseveral ministries at the Fairfax congregation, Taylor said. Now grown, Micah is a freshman at ACU, and Rebekah(’11) is working on a master’s degree in psychology at TexasWesleyan University. With pride in his voice, Bynum notesthat Rebekah is thinking about going into the military after completing her doctorate in psychology. And why not, when her father’s military experience has been so exemplary? “I think it ultimately was the place God wanted us tominister,” he said. “Frankly, God’s favor has been on meduring this time. It’s not that I’m particularly special orgifted. It’s kind of like Jacob, you know, everything he didGod blessed. … That’s the way I’ve felt within the military –rising to senior double rank and having a number of goodassignments, as well as having great opportunities tocontinue my education. It all has really just been a blessing from God.”

– TAMARA THOMPSON

(INSET) Bynum visits with Col. Kenneth L. Sampson, Army chaplain, senior military fellow at the Institute for National Security Ethics and Leadership, and professor of ethics at the National War College.


hile many students arrive atACU with parents and even a U-Haul trailer, Dr. Marcus

Nelson (’94) showed up in 1990 with the map of Texas he used to find his way to Abilene. “When I got there, the universitywelcomed me,” Nelson said. “Bob Gomezand a couple of other people made sure Iwas successful. He told my mother he’dmake sure I was taken care of at ACU.”

Nelson grew up in a low-incomeneighborhood of northeast San Antonio,and his mother made sure he and his littlebrother rode the MacArthur Park Church of Christ white “Joy Bus” each time it came by on Sundays and Wednesdays. TheNelson boys were latchkey kids who fendedfor themselves while their mother worked two jobs to make ends meet. Marcus was a promising high school football playerwhose hopes were ended by a knee injury. That first-hand experience with povertyanimates Nelson (’94) as he works withchildren from one of Texas’ largest – and most economically disadvantaged –school districts. Since 2009, he has beensuperintendent of the 25,000-studentLaredo Independent School District, wherethe poverty rate is three times higher thanthe Texas average and median householdincomes are half. Nelson came to Abilene as a youth and family ministry major. His connectionwith the MacArthur Park congregationallowed him to meet Gomez, ACU’s mostaffable student recruiter of the day, whooffered a scholarship to help him and hismother afford the tuition. The young man had a passion forleadership, one that crystallized on a Spring

Break Campaign to Michigan, where heworked in some local schools. “Next thingyou know,” he said, “I didn’t want to be ayouth minister. I wanted to be a principal.” After graduation, he took what he calls“the hard road” to being superintendent. He has taught elementary and high school,been a middle school vice principal and high school principal, earning master’s anddoctoral degrees along the way. He wassecond-in-command of the Judson ISD near San Antonio before being appointedsuperintendent in Laredo, which sits on the Rio Grande in deep South Texas. Ninety-seven percent of students inLaredo are economically disadvantaged. The median family income of about $24,000is half the Texas average, and nearly 44percent of residents live below the povertyline – making it the poorest in Texas. “I try to be a breath of fresh air andprovide hope and change where I’mworking,” he said. “If you view your work as a ministry, you’re never really working.” Nelson’s background has led him to workin districts with high levels of poverty andthat has made his job harder. “It’s been rewarding; you see the fruits of your labor at graduation,” he said. “I’ve had to bury a student who was killed atlunch, I’ve had to break up gang activity. It was a lot of tough times.” Now the tough times are different, as Nelson handles the complex duties ofsuperintendent: Expanding enrollments anddecreased state funding, juggling the needsof faculty and staff with the priorities of aschool board, staying personally involvedwith the tens of thousands of students andemployees under his supervision. “Without question, I miss the daily

interaction with students,” said Nelson. “I still try to find time to visit campusesevery day and meet students and staff. I enjoy the superintendent side of it andworking with the kids and their families.” After going through five superintendentsin the previous seven years, Laredo ISD isentering its fourth year with Nelson at thehelm, giving him a longevity unseen inLaredo for more than a decade. Nelson points to improved AdvancedPlacement test scores, an increasedgraduation rate, lower drop-out rates, and an unprecedented number of Laredoschools earning the state’s highest academicrating as examples of what can happen“when a district – even one where kids arebelow the poverty line – is led by committedadults working together passionately for students.” “For me, it’s about working with kids in poverty,” he said. “I’m attracted to placeswhere a lot of people wouldn’t want to go.I’m attracted to the challenge. These kidsdeserve leadership that cares for everystudent every day and wants to be in thehood where often kids need courageousleadership the most.” It’s a passion nurtured ever since a Joy Bus picked him up for church, anddeveloped during his time at ACU. “ACU has this unique way of blendingthe development of your faith with thedevelopment of your career that sets itsgraduates up for success in whatever careerpath they choose,” he said. “Today, as anemployer, ACU grads just seem betterprepared than other graduates. I may bebiased, but I really believe something veryspecial happens to people on the Hill.”

– PAUL A. ANTHONY

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“These kidsdeserve leadershipthat cares for every student every day andwants to be in the hood where often kidsneed courageous leadership the most.”

YOUNG ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR

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hannon (McKnight ’92) Wilburn, co-founder and CEO of Just

Between Friends, the nation’slargest consignment franchiser, is proof that blessing can come from adversity. When she was 12, her father, DougMcKnight (’71), was diagnosed withmultiple sclerosis, disabling him in a matter of weeks. Her mother went back to work and the family struggled to workwith restricted budgets. “We had to make our money stretch,” she recalled. “We would shop atconsignment stores because you could getthe brand-name things and the nice thingsfor pennies on the dollar.” Along with fostering an appreciation for consignment stores, the illness ledMcKnight to pass on his sense of budgetingand bookkeeping to his daughters – and,most importantly, led the family to becomemore involved in church. All three developments have becomehuge pieces of Wilburn’s career with Just Between Friends. In 1988, she and her twin sister followedin her parents’ footsteps and attended ACU,where she met Mitch Wilburn (’90). Thecouple married two years later and moved to Tulsa, Okla., where Mitch became youthminister for the Park Plaza Church of Christ. Initially a schoolteacher, Shannonstopped teaching to raise their two children, but continued looking for ways to supplement Mitch’s income. Her mother

suggested hosting a consignment sale. Wilburn shared the idea with DavenTackett, a member of their church, and thepair decided to try it. The first sale in 1997featured clothes from 17 consignors, themajority of them Park Plaza members. “We had it inside,” Wilburn said,“because we didn’t want people to think it was a garage sale. We each made $150.Looking back, that was probably a penny an hour.” Nevertheless, Wilburn and Tackettcontinued to host sales, each larger than the last. As word about the sale spread, theyhelped friends start similar businesses thatproved successful. That is when the pairdecided to franchise the Just BetweenFriends consignment sale concept. “We grew slowly,” Wilburn said. “We did this as we had money. There’s no way I could have believed a living roomsale would become a multimillion-dollarcompany, hosting events in more than 130 cities around the nation.” Just Between Friends today has about60,000 consigners for the two sales itsfranchisees hold annually in each city. It has been featured on Good MorningAmerica, Inside Edition, The Today Show,CNN, ABC News and other programs. Wilburn knows her father, who died in 1998, would approve of her success: “My mom will sometimes say, ‘Daddy would be so proud of you.’”

– PAUL A. ANTHONY

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ShannonWilburn

ou may not have heard of Rob Thomas (’96), but chances are good you’ve seen his workonline or in church services. Thomas, the founder and president ofIgniter Media, is the creative force behindsuch viral videos as That’s My King!, anexcerpt of a sermon by the late preacherS.M. Lockridge set to a beat, and A SocialNetwork Christmas, in which the biblicalstory is retold via Facebook wall posts. Each has been viewed more than 3 milliontimes on YouTube.com. “It’s really amazing,” said Thomas, a 2013Distinguished Alumni Citation recipient. “I get to do a lot of the things that I think are what God created me to do.” Thomas’ love of film started inchildhood when he borrowed his dad’s VHScamera to make movies around the housewith his friends. In 1992 he came to ACU as acommunication major and became

familiar with computer-based video-editing software in his journalismclasses. “That major, those professors, theyreally affirmed my confidence in myself,” he said. “I felt like I grew a lot spiritually incollege. I made some great friendships anddeep, deep relationships.” After college, he began making shortvideos for churches while working at avideo-editing television job. Three monthsafter getting married in 2001, he told hiswife Haley he wanted to quit his TV job andform his own video company. He startedwhat would become Igniter Media,producing short videos intended for use as Sunday-morning sermon illustrations. “Videos can be very powerful. You canhave a big effect on a person in three to fiveminutes,” Thomas said. The first video, Are You Amazed?, playeda Phillips, Craig and Dean song over scenesfrom the film Jesus of Nazareth. Afterwatching a church play the five-minute

YRob Thomas

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video, Thomas said the reaction convincedhim he had a potentially successful idea.He began calling the projects mini-moviesand has since produced 125 of them,available for preview on YouTube. The most-viewed mini-movie is 99 Balloons, thetouching story of a family’s journey with

Trisomy 18, a genetic disorder that is almostalways fatal. Today, Thomas heads RT CreativeGroup, an umbrella organization thatincludes Igniter Media, which produces themini-movies; Echo Hub, which organizes anannual conference for church members and

leaders who are creatively gifted; andGraceway Media, which produces loopinganimation that has appeared in as many as115,000 churches across the country.

– PAUL A. ANTHONY

had Baker (’99) now holds a Champion of Excellence award from his employer and aDistinguished Alumni Citation from theuniversity that awarded him a bachelor’sdegree. But his road to those honors beganwhen he arrived for an interview dressedlike a sailor.

That’s what happens whenappointments conflict with Sing Songweekend in Abilene in mid-February.

“He was in town and was available,”Baker said of the representative from theStaubach Co., a commercial real estate firm with whom the ACU sophomore wasseeking an internship the next summer.“That was the only time he had available. It gave us a good laugh, going to Mr. Gatti’s[pizza restaurant] and interviewing in a sailor costume.”

The Gamma Sigma Phi Sing Song outfit didn’t prevent Baker from landing theinternship, and he returned each summerand Christmas until he graduated in 1999.Since graduation, Baker has worked for thecompany, now called Jones Lang LaSalle.

As JLL vice president and regionaldirector, Baker has worked with clients such as Mazda and Shell Oil, negotiatingmore than 200 commercial real estatetransactions worth nearly $1 billion. InMarch he received the Champion ofExcellence award, which recognizes anemployee’s professional performance,

leadership, client service and ability toperform consistently at the industry’shighest level.

JLL, which employs more than 40,000people, only gives five such awards annually.

“It’s been so humbling and veryencouraging,” Baker said. “You just go outwith the goal of living for Jesus. That’s reallymy heart in this.”

While a student in the ACU College of Business Administration, Baker wasencouraged to seek a mentoring relationshipwith management professor (and now dean) Dr. Rick Lytle. Baker took as many of Lytle’s classes as possible and observedthe way he carried himself, personally and professionally.

“I was just kind of a sponge,” Baker said. “That was a big part of my experienceat Abilene Christian.”

Now married to Ashley (Spessard ’02)and the father of two children, Baker tries to pay forward the support and mentoringhe received at ACU, including recentlymentoring Matt Sanderson (’13), whocompleted an internship last summer and begins working full time for JLL this summer (see page 75).

“I paid for an education,” Baker said. “I received the education, plus learned howto be a man, how to be a husband, how to be a leader. This is one way I can give backin those areas.”

– PAUL A. ANTHONY

CChad Baker

“I paid foran education. I received the education, plus learned how to be a man, how to be a husband, how to be aleader. This is one way I can give back in those areas.”

– CHAD BAKER

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or someone who makes a livingteaching parents how to stop

screaming at and start talking to their kids, the career success of Hal Runkel (’94 M.M.F.T.) is speaking rather loudly these days.

A licensed therapist, relationship coach,international speaker, and organizationalconsultant, Runkel is the founder andpresident of The ScreamFree Institute, an organization committed to equippingparents, couples and professionals. He haswritten three New York Times bestsellers:ScreamFree Parenting, ScreamFreeMarriage, and The Self-Centered Marriage.Runkel has been featured in more than1,000 media outlets, including multipleappearances on NBC’s Today Show.

Runkel is a graduate of ACU’s Master ofMarriage and Family Therapy program andreceived a Distinguished Alumni Citationfor 2012. He says the principles he learnedduring his time at ACU have aided him inhis work as a relationship coach and expert.

“We tell people from the beginning,‘The greatest thing you can do for yourmarriage is focus more on yourself and lesson your spouse. The greatest thing you cando for your kids is focus more on you thanyour kids.’ And people are a little jarred bythat. I follow it up with a message thatmakes total common sense. ‘Look, youknow you’re not in control of your kids. You know you’re not in control of your

spouse. So, who are you in control of? You should focus on the only person in that relationship you can actually control,and that’s yourself. Focusing on you meansthat you’re going to take a more deliberateapproach in how you speak, instead of areactive approach.’”

He loves how most people react. “Manysay, ‘When I first heard you, it was so jarringthat it made it hard to listen. but at the endit makes so much sense that I wonder why it hasn’t been put this way before.’”

Runkel, who spoke in Chapel inFebruary, says ACU’s role as a university is best seen in how it launches newChristian leaders into the world.

“ACU, and this city and the churches weattended, gave us a wonderful foundationfrom which to launch into a productiveadulthood,” he said. “It gave me a new way ofthinking about community because it wasn’tjust reinforced by what I was learning, it wasreinforced by what I was experiencing in thecommunity. It has a sacred place in my life.”

The late Dr. Charles Siburt (’68), whocoordinated church relations for ACUbefore his death in July 2012, was a mentor.

“He was a rock for me,” Runkel said. “He was the adult who called me into morematurity, but did it in a way that was likeJesus – ‘My yoke is easy’ – and that’s what it felt like. So I’m missing him, a lot.”

– RON HADFIELD

FHal Runkel

Curt Cloninger urt Cloninger (’76) has beendoing his one-man shows aboutfaith for nearly 30 years, but he

seldom does them alone. His words aredesigned to reveal the thoughts and souls ofmany men, from stuffy theologian-authors,to lowly shepherds, to Jesus.

He is an actor and writer whose comicand dramatic presentations are designed tohelp people better understand the Creator.A theatre and communication graduate, he has performed before crowds as large as 30,000 and small enough to fit in hisliving room. In February 2012, he wasinvited to present at the National PrayerBreakfast in Washington, D.C.

But speaking in Chapel at ACU Oct. 8, 2012, held a special place in his heart, and was something he hadanticipated for many years. The opportunitycame, coincidentially, on his 58th birthday. He coerced students to sing Happy Birthdayto him, which he recorded on his iPhoneand posted on Facebook.

“Beyond the self-serving birthday song, I really looked forward to performing inChapel because I felt like I was completing a big circle,” Cloninger said. “I remember allthose years ago, sitting in Moody, hearingDr. John Willis (’55) speak or some othergifted ‘bringer of grace.’ So, on that Octobermorning, I loved being able to be the one to bring a ‘good word’ to students sittingwhere I sat 35 years ago.”

His Chapel presentation was part of a nine-week study of Genesis, based on thequestions, “Who is God? Who Am I?”

Cloninger performed a skit in MoodyColiseum from God-Views, in which hedepicted various stereotypical ways in which God is perceived. The material wasinspired by J.B. Phillips’ book, Your God isToo Small, and the writings of C.S. Lewisand John Stott.

“I find it particularly relevant for collegestudents, because the college experience is,by its very nature, a time to examine andtest what they think about God and life,”

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Cloninger said. “I love the experience of‘seeing the light bulb’ go on in their eyes,when they wrestle with these concepts.”

Most of his shows are for churches,schools, colleges, and ministry conferences.At the National Prayer Breakfast, Cloninger

presented Jesus Talks! – a 25-minutemonologue about the parables and the Last Supper – for political, church, civic and business leaders from around the world.

“I’ve always considered myself to be anentirely flabbergasted recipient of favor

and grace,” he said. “For the past 35 years I’ve been blessed to be able to make a living doing what I love: writing andperforming theatre about Jesus. What more can a man ask?”

– RON HADFIELD

ometown heroes can be difficult to find these days. But Leon McNeil (’93)

does his best to qualify.After graduating from ACU with a

degree in natural and applied sciences,McNeil returned to his hometown of SanAntonio, determined to help at-risk youth.The result was City Kids Adventures, anonprofit organization that helps studentsfrom urban areas take advantage of outdoorexperiences usually unavailable to them.

“Originally, we gave kids an opportunityto really understand that someone caresabout them,” McNeil said. “We then realizedwe had more and more kids who needed thesame attention, and we hated to limit kidsbecause we could no longer afford to takeeveryone everywhere. That was thebeginning of City Kids Adventures.”

City Kids Adventures, orginally known as Camp Hawkeye, emphasizes theimportance of providing a quality educationwhile introducing youth to the outdoors.

Inner-city youth from ages 7-17 receiveoften life-changing experiences from theKing Ranch to Baffin Bay in the Gulf ofMexico. Guided by adults, they enjoycamping, four-wheeling, freshwater and saltwater fishing, and hunting trips featuring skeet shooting, and hunting deer and wild hogs.

“There is something very spiritual about the outdoors, and for us it providesthe connection we need to introduce biblical teachings without intimidating the kids in our program,” McNeil said.

His own passion for the outdoors wasignited at ACU, which he attended on afootball scholarship.

“A very special couple introduced me tothe great outdoors, and I fell in love with it,"said McNeil, who signed up for a campingclass his freshman year. “What an eye-opening experience that was!”

McNeil created CKA with a mission to introduce inner-city youth to a worldbeyond their communities. For 18 years,City Kids Adventures has served more than 1,000 children – 150 each year – andexpanded to include trips to such places asthe Grand Canyon; Alaska; Washington,D.C.; and New York City.

CKA also mentors students as theytransition into high school and college,providing career guidance and taking kids on tours of universities in the region.

Throughout the curriculum aremoments designed to build each student’sself-esteem and confidence. McNeil says histime at ACU produced similar experiences,and had a huge effect on his decision to help children in his hometown.

“Attending ACU was no accident,"McNeil said. "The daily Chapel, thefriendships, the kind and caring professors,and the warm feeling of being a part ofsomething much bigger than I could ever understand – it gave me the trust in humanity and the faith that we all can make a difference, no matter howdaunting the task.”�

– PAUL A. ANTHONY

HLeon McNeil

“Attending ACUwas no accident. … It gave me the trust in humanity and the faith that we all can make a difference, no matter how daunting the task.”

– LEON McNEIL

WorldWide Witness program introduces students of all majors to missional living

er name was Ano.Her mother left her at the doorstep of

the Danai Children’s Home in Zimbabwe.She was just a year old. Young – but old enoughto sense the abandonment.

“She wouldn’t smile,” said Caroline Nikolaus. “If someone tried to pick her up, she would


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Students climb for a dramatic viewoverlooking Capetown, South Africa.

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scream. You could almost see the hurt eventhough she didn’t know what was going on.”

Nikolaus, senior psychology major fromO’Fallon, Ill., spent the summer of 2012working at Danai and two other homes forabandoned and orphaned children as part of the WorldWide Witness program throughACU’s Halbert Institute for Missions.

e experience reshaped her life, Nikolaus said, and cemented her desire topursue long-term missions after college.

“I felt God in Zimbabwe in a way I never had before,” she said. “It helped me see my priorities

and what I was passionate about.”WorldWide Witness exists to help

students find such clarifying moments, its organizers say.

e program, in its 12th year, provides short-term vocational missions opportunities each summer for dozens of students, regardless of major or planned career. For many, such as Nikolaus, the program becomes the beginning of a domestic or international career in missions.

For many others, however, the program isno less life-altering, even if the students do

not become full-time missionaries, said Dr. Gary Green, director of the program and missions coordinator for Latin America.

“It helps them in some major ways inspiritual formation,” Green said. “ey come back permanently changed people.”

WorldWide Witness’ broad availabilityand rigorous preparation offer ACU students an opportunity to experience intercultural service on a level unmatched elsewhere. Each summer dozens of students travel to each of six continents, staying with host families andworking full time at a variety of internships.


our internships force students to get out of their culture in an extraordinary way.

-Dr. Chris Flanders


“WorldWide Witness is one way, aprominent way, that ACU is doing the global and missional pieces of our mission extraordinarily well,” said Dr. Chris Flanders(’87), associate professor of missions and director of the Halbert Institute. “Our internships force students to get out of their culture in an extraordinary way.”

ACU has a long history of supportingmission work, beginning in its earliest years, when Dr. W.W. Freeman, professor of Bible and Greek, organized missions studies classes in 1918 and student LillieCypert (’26), traveled to Japan while taking classes part time.

In the decades since, ACU has prepared missionaries through various programs, including a stand-alone missions department, which was folded into the Department of Bible, Missions and Ministry in 2000 and was renamed the Halbert Institute of Missions.

At the same time, Green, a missionary in Venezuela, was hired and charged withfinding ways to expand the number of summer missions internships available toAbilene Christian students. Such programshad existed at ACU since the late 1970s but had become increasingly informal. As a result, no more than a handful of students were participating each summer.

“You had to know one of the missionaries personally,” Green said, “and set it up one at a time.”

Green and Wimon Walker (’78), a missions coordinator at the time who nowcoordinates ACU’s Study Abroad programin Montevideo, Uruguay, began organizing

WorldWide Witness and recruiting its firstclass of students for the summer of 2002.

Although Green had envisioned eventually sending as many as 30 students to six or seven locations, the program’s firstclass comprised 33 students at 18 places.ose numbers have doubled in the decade since.

“One of the things we’re more proud of than anything,” Flanders said, “is we have a professional internship programthat’s second to none. What we do is absolutely stellar.”

Students must complete an application,provide references, undergo psychologicalscreening and, once accepted, attend a classfor credit called Service in Global Contextsbefore their internship.

e class, which professors tailor to the students’ specific destinations, helps prepare them for the cultural changes theywill experience and covers such topics as handling stress, spiritual discernment andformation, and the nature of the gospel.

After the internship, students debriefwith missions faculty to help the programadjust its offerings for next year – a processso unique Green has written a book abouthow to do it.

“e kind of mentoring that goes on between Gary Green, Larry Henderson (’74) [missions coordinator for Asia, Bible, missions and ministry] and the students is truly outstanding,” Flanders said. “It puts the students in a place to succeed.”

e program works with about 60 potential locations, Green said, from placesas diverse as Rwanda, Estonia, Cambodia

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Ali Hayes, junior education major from Abilene, was introduced to Asian elephantsduring a WorldWide Witness trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand, in June 2012.

(BELOW LEFT) Jeremy Davis (’08) comforts a Zambian child.

(BELOW CENTER) David Conley (’11) playswith children in Africa.

(BELOW RIGHT) Ashley Carroll (’12) walkswith new friends through a garden at Sam’sPlace, an orphanage for deaf children inwestern Kenya. Sam’s Place was made possible by an endowment honoring the late S.E. “Sam” McReynolds, assistant professor of mathematics at ACU.

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and the United States. Usually about half are unavailable because of missionary furloughs, political unrest or other unavoidable circumstances.

e type of work has grown, as well. A decade ago, most of the sites were

church plants; today, they still include newchurches, Green said, but also agriculture,sports ministry, orphanages and anti-trafficking ministries.

“Every year we do some things that are unique to this program,” he said. “We’re always changing what we’re offeringand where we’re offering it.”

Students learn to be flexible – as evidenced by Seth Bouchelle’s experience.

Bouchelle (’13), who graduated in Maywith a degree in missions and biblical text,had prepared in Spring 2011 to intern in the West African nation of Burkina Faso. However, a military mutiny led to a changeof plans; the team instead chose Melbourne,Australia, perhaps as far as possible culturally from West Africa.

e three students worked with threeMelbourne congregations in a significantlysecular society.

“It was on point for what we’re trying to do,” said Bouchelle, who plans to move to the Bronx with his wife, Carey (Cox ’13),next year to plant churches. “It was a goodlook for us at the strengths and weaknessesof traditional church methods in a post-Christian, urban setting.”

e team made close friendships withtheir host congregations – so close that twofriends Bouchelle made in Australia weregroomsmen in his wedding last summer.

“I don’t know if we had any impact onthem,” Bouchelle said of the congregationswith whom the team worked, “but they had a huge effect on all three of us.”

WorldWide Witness provides an experience well beyond the typical highschool missions trip or short-term serviceproject, Bouchelle said, because it focuseson pushing students beyond their comfort zones.

“For the most part, you have to be out there in the culture,” he said. “You haveto be fully present because you don’t have anyone else to fall back on. It makes you be vulnerable to the people around you, and it allows them to bless you.”

Even in an English-speaking countrysuch as Australia, the cultural differencesprovided a taste of what full-time missionswork would be like, he said.

“We spent eight weeks with a family in Australia as learners,” Bouchelle said. “We got to live in a way in which you seewhat missions is about every day – in small,ordinary ways working for the kingdom ofGod. It’s a blessing to be able to see the fullerspectrum than you see in the one-weektrip.”

And in a radically different setting, theorphanages and baby homes of Zimbabwe,Caroline Nikolaus found her calling, as well.

She worked at a government-run facility, a rural home run by an elderlywoman and a boarding school for disabledchildren, and she enjoyed the experience so much, she has returned to Africa this summer, working with a recentlyopened orphanage in Tanzania.


Cassandra Tamez (redshirt), a 2008 graduate,walks with children and students from otheruniversities through Bo Kaeo Village in theSamoeng District ofnorthern Thailand.


e Zimbabwe internship confirmedNikolaus’ belief that she should be in long-term missions.

“It was the longest missions trip I’ve ever been on,” she said. “It was a huge eye-opener for me. I realized that could be an opportunity for me in my future, and that was kind of a big deal for me.”

She and her teammates organized sleepovers for the children, giving them their first taste of foods and activities manyAmerican children take for granted, such as pizza and miniature golf.

“I fell in love with the kids,” Nikolaus said. “We made great relationships there.e friends we made there, I still talk tothem, almost daily sometimes.”

One of those children was Ano.For weeks Nikolaus worked to develop

the baby girl’s trust. Finally, after a month,she let Nikolaus hold her.

“e first time she let me pick her up,”Nikolaus said, “it was cool to see what we’re doing affected a small child. In thosemoments, you’re glad you’re there.”�


I fell in love with the kids. We made greatrelationships there. i still talk to them,

almost daily sometimes.-Caroline Nikolaus

Leah (Feemster ’12) Sutphen relaxeswith a friend at the Agape Home innorthern Thailand.



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Giambattista Bodoni would be proud. Two hundred years ago, the Italian designerwas practicing his craft of creating typographythat was art as well as an essential form of communication. Two centuries later, sometalented young artists with ACU degrees aremaking their own headlines while exploringand enriching their work with tipografia, as Bodoni would have called it.

Every student in ACU’s Department of Art and Design learns the fine art of using fonts and letter styles in their work. Some go further,immersing themselves in the intricacies of

letterforms, fine-tuning the rare eye for detail they require, even designing their own fonts.

That’s not surprising, considering Bodoni – the namesake of an extensive library of fonts hecreated – also was a bit of a hyper-perfectionisthimself. He went on to become known as the father of modern type styles.

Today, everything old is new again, with hand-crafted lettering inspired by sign painters and dynamic new fonts inspired as much by old masters as futurists. The playful layouts andtypography of Jeff Rogers (’02) were featured by fast food giant McDonald’s in a national TVcampaign in 2012, while other young ACU alumnihave been spotlighted on industry blogs and in books showcasing the rising new stars of design.

BY KAT IE NOAH G IBSON I L LUSTRAT IONS BY JEFF ROGERS See Bonus Coverage at acu.edu/acutoday

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lthough he had ahard-earned degree ingraphic design from ACU,Jeff Rogers (’02) foundhimself playing drums on tour with buddingcountry music star

Aaron Watson (’00) following graduation.

A former music major who transferred to ACU from the University of North Texas,Rogers took up graphic design “because,” hesaid, “I thought I should ‘learn the computer’if I wanted to make a living as an artist.”After a year of playing with Watson’s band,Rogers worked at several design firms in theDallas/Fort Worth area before moving toNew York City in 2008. His first job, atSpotCo, involved designing posters forBroadway shows.

“Working at SpotCo gave me someincredible experience with typography,”Rogers said. “I hadn’t painted much since Igraduated from college. I had an opportunityto paint some type for a SpotCo project andafter spending an all-nighter making thatpiece, I discovered I loved painting letters. So I would come home from designing atSpotCo and paint and draw type.”

Rogers posted his typography work on his website, drawing attention from populardesign blogs and websites, and eventuallygarnering calls from several prominent agencies. “Eventually,” he said, “I was gettingso many calls I felt it was time to go full time on my own.”

While Rogers loves running his own business, he admits the lack of a steadypaycheck can be a bit nerve-racking.

“It’s also a little tough managing all theadministrative work and trying to think like a businessman,” he said. “I’m running a business, so unfortunately, I can’t sit andmake art all day. I have to be smart andstrategic with my business. For an artist, that can be tough sometimes.”

But, he said, “I love the freedom of settingmy own pace and reaping what I sow. If Iwork really hard on a project, it’s not becausemy boss says I have to, but because I have my own reason to do it. But I wouldn’t havebeen able to make it on my own withouteverything I learned during those yearsworking for other people. It’s a process.”

In addition to his work designingtheatrical posters, illustration and hand-drawn alphabets, Rogers’ workrecently received a huge boost. Whileworking on a freelance project forNickelodeon, he received a call frommarketing agency DDB about a McDonald’sad campaign involving print, online and television components. “They wanted alettering artist to create some type for a top-secret new product [Spicy ChickenMcBites],” he says. “It took me a while tounderstand that they were looking for anartist to actually be in the television spot. But when I got it, my brain exploded.”

Rogers flew to California to shoot thecommercial, which involved him painting acolorful, hand-lettered mural on a wall. “I did as much preparation as I could, but I couldn’t know how it would go until I actually put paint on the wall, which didn’thappen until two hours after we startedfilming,” he says. “I didn’t realize we wouldhave to do all the product shots first –

which meant chewing and spitting out a ton of McBites, while trying to be an actor.”

After shooting the TV spot, Rogerscreated the lettering and design for thecampaign’s print ads and a Web feature.“This was an amazingly fun project to bepart of,” he said. “I really wanted to representthe community of designers that do customlettering in the best way possible. It’s a smallcrew that I am really grateful to be a part of.”

Rogers also is grateful to be a part of theACU community, which prepared him andcontinues to provide industry networkingopportunities.

“The focus on fine art as well as design in ACU’s art and design department gave me a big advantage in the industry,” he said.“I appreciate that the program helps studentsunderstand things like drawing, painting andart history and how they relate to graphicdesign. Also, the ACU family stretches farand wide. Most of the jobs I’ve had, even inNew York City, have been related to someACU connection.”

MARK ANDERSON



or Ryan Feerer (’05), nowan instructor of art and

design at ACU, the road to graphic design was awinding one.

“Coming to ACU as astudent, I wanted to be acomputer animator,” he said.

“I knew nothing about design and whatmade it good or bad. I could pick up aproduct in a store and tell if it was good, but understanding what made it good andeffective was the difficult part. ACU helpedme learn and appreciate the fundamentals of art and design.”

Part of that learning wasFeerer’s gradual realization thatdesign is ubiquitous.

“Almost everything we see or interact with on a daily basis has beendesigned by someone,” he said. “Realizing thateach of those items requiresa certain solution orapproach initially sparked myinterest in design. Whether weare trying to convey a message, afeeling or some other purpose, someoneneeds to design it.”

Feerer’s interest in design messages, as well as his love of vintage lettering, led him to typography.

“Typography is the cornerstone of design,but it is often not appreciated. Being able to take those simple shapes that have so much meaning, and make them morebeautiful or make them stand out in acertain way, is very pleasing,” he says. “I wouldn’t necessarily say I found my niche, but that it found me.”

After graduation, Feerer earned hisM.F.A. at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. While there, he worked for the interactive agency Funny Garbage,whose clients included Nickelodeon, TeenNick, PBS Kids, Smithsonian and Disney.

A native Texan, he eventuallyreturned to Abilene to teach at

ACU, continuing his freelance design business on the side.

Feerer’s designs includecustom logos, product packaging, wedding invitations and typography.He often collaborates withother ACU graduates, as

when he designs album art for folk group The Rocketboys

(composed mostly of fellowalumni). Feerer also has worked with

Abilene Design Co., or Abidesco, a group of current and former Abilenians who have collaborated on various design projects. His work was recently featured on adobe.com’s Design Center,

designworklife.com, oneminutewith.com,and among 100 of the world’s top designersin Typography Sketchbooks.

Last fall, Feerer added restaurateur to his resume when he launched Abi-Haus, ahip new American restaurant in downtownAbilene, with co-owner James Jackson.Feerer designed the restaurant’s branding,including its logo, typeface, menus, exteriorsignage, and interior walls covered withcustom chalk art. Before opening the space,he invited fellow New York designers JeffRogers (’02) and Dana Tanamachi to spend a few days drawing on the interior walls withhim. The restaurant’s menu, environmentalgraphics and layout are all designed to fostercreativity and community.

“My goal has always been to create timeless work that never gets uninteresting or dated,” Feerer said of his work at Abi-Haus and elsewhere. “This is extremelyhard to accomplish. But it’s nice to do what you love and have people approach you to do it for money. And I love doing something new every day, with everyproject. It’s never boring.”

CASSIE FEERER


ike most designers, I wasdrawing at an early age,” saidBrent Couchman (’05), whonow runs his own design and

illustration business inSan Francisco, Calif. He progressed from

childhood sketches todoodling band logos on his school notebooks, and, he says, his passion fordesign has grown ever since.

After graduating from ACU, Couchmanbegan his career at Range, a Dallas-basedcommunications company. He then spentthree years as an in-house designer forapparel companyFossil, creatingdesigns for productlogos, labels, advertisingcampaigns, packaging andother projects. He moved to SanFrancisco in 2010 to work at Hatch Design,where he stayed for nearly two years beforehanging out his own shingle.

Couchman’s eye-catching designs employ clean lines and bold colors, two ofhis signature elements. They have beenfeatured by AIGA, Art Directors Club,Communication Arts, Print, Graphis, The Eisner American Museum of

Advertising & Design (Milwaukee, Wisc.),and most recently, ADC Young Guns 9 – a global competition recognizing top designtalent whose work is then featured in a New York City art exhibit.

His handiwork also can be seen aroundhis alma mater on logos for the Big PurpleMarching Band, several academic centers,donor recognition societies, and the StudyAbroad program.

“My work has always been graphic andbold,” he said. “I can trace that style back to what I was drawn to visually when I wasgrowing up. After a while, it’s easy to tellwhat you’re good at. It’s just a matter of

paying attention and recognizing it,then spending lots oftime practicing it.”

At ACU,Couchman learnedthat lesson aboutpractice over and over again.

“A CU helped me understand that to get really good, I had to work hard,” he said. “It took more than just going to class.To excel, I had to put in extra work outsideof the classroom and really experiment andplay to push myself.

“During my last few semesters at ACU, I was in the design lab almost every nightinto the morning hours, working on

design projects – probably to the detrimentof my other classes, but I guess things haveturned out OK.”

While Couchman enjoys the freedom to choose his own clients and projects, he misses the camaraderie of an office environment with colleagues. “I miss beingaround co-workers,” he said. “Part of myinspiration comes from bouncing ideas off other creatives and seeing what they’reworking on. I’m in the process of finding ashared studio space here in San Francisco to get back into that type of environment.”

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lthough Rolando GutierrezAlcantara (’08) began his studies at ACU as a biology major, he eventually realized he might be happier in a different field.

“Drawing all over mybiology books was taking up most of mystudy time,” said the Mexico native.

Alcantara also was involved with ACU’sInternational Students Association (ISA),which produces Ethnos, the annual cultureshow. While serving as ISA’s advertisingdirector, Alcantara created print graphicsand trailer videos for Ethnos. As he discovered a love for graphics and video, he changed his major to electronic media,eventually realizing he wanted to make the switch to graphic design.

By then, Alcantara was nearing his senioryear, and it was too late to change his majorentirely. But former registrar Dr. DavidMerrell (’64) helped him create a tailored,interdisciplinary degree incorporating thebiology classes he’d taken, as well as anumber of graphic design courses. As they

perused the course catalogs for upcomingsemesters, the stars seemed to align.

“I saw God’s blessing at that moment,”Alcantara said. ”As far as any of my advisorsremembered, the graphic design classes I needed to graduate had never lined up like they did that year. I took this as a signand went with it. I finally felt at home in my studies.”

After spending his senior year in his newdepartment, Alcantara interned for Fossil inRichardson, Texas, then worked with Inprov,a Southlake-based Christian companyproviding marketing and developmentservices to non-profits. He then applied to several Master of Fine Arts programs in graphic design, including one at theMaryland Institute College of Art, where he began his studies in 2010. Thanks to

his professors at MICA, he discovered adeep love of typography and fonts.

“For more than a year I was knee-deep in letters: typography, type design, letteringand font fabrication were revolving aroundmy head daily, as I tried to figure out whatexactly I wanted to dive into for my M.F.A.thesis,” Alcantara said. “Finally, I arrived atMutable Typography, a study of activelychanging letterforms.” After presenting his thesis, which included hand-designingseveral complete alphabets of mutable type,Alcantara represented MICA at AIGA NY’sFresh Blood event, and was later interviewedby Print magazine about his work. Severalother interviews and publications followed.

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Alcantara now works as a lead user experience designer at AT&T in Dallas, Texas. “I still love letters,” he said. “The beautiful thing about design is that once you acquire the skills to be a designer, youcan apply those skills to a variety of subjects.I refuse to stand still, so I’m diving into and learning about the world of UX/UI (user experience/user interface) design.”

He credits his ACU experience with hiscareer direction, but also with many valuablelessons stretching far beyond the classroom.

“The most useful things I’ve learned for my career did not come from ACU’sclassrooms, but from its campus,” he said.“Everything that goes on at ACU, if you’reinvolved, will teach you a great valuablelesson. From events like Freshman Folliesand Sing Song to living in the dorms andhaving a student job on campus, everythingabout ACU is designed to prepare studentsfor what awaits us out here in the world.

“ACU is more than the lessons imparted in the classrooms,” he said. “ACU is an experience that revolves aroundits students being successful in life.” �

Mike Wiggins (’93) has a reputation for relentless perfectionism, an attribute thatserves him well as associate professor and chair of ACU’s Department of Art andDesign. Years of experience in ad agencies and as a freelance designer help him teach students the value of extra effort, teamwork and developing an eye for detail.

Ideally, what does a student earning a degree in graphic design at ACU need toknow before they graduate?

By the time they graduate, graphic design majors have had several opportunities through regional and national competitions and juried exhibitions to see how their work

compares. This often gives them the confidence to reach for highly competitiveopportunities when they graduate.

Are you surprised by the kind of recognition your graduates receive?Yes and no. It is remarkable to turn on the TV and see a former student

in a national TV commercial, featured for skills that were nurtured here, or seecolleagues’ work repeatedly featured on international websites and in journals. At the same time, this notoriety is starting earlier and earlier. Just recently AllanPeters, a senior art director at Target with more than 7,000 Twitter followers,tweeted about how great some of our students’ work was. That builds confidenceand energy among everyone in our program.

What gives ACU art and design grads an advantage in the marketplaceor as they compete for entry to grad school?

They have a strong foundation in the fundamentals, a willingness to work hard and acollaborative spirit with their peers. We have a reputation for graduates who work well withothers and are highly creative. We foster a culture in which our students are driven by thesuccess of their peers as collaborators, not competitors. When they see their classmatesproducing beautiful work, I want their first thought to be,“I can learn something from them.”

How do you convince students to choose ACU and major in graphic design?Mainly I try to communicate the culture so they can determine if it is a good fit. We want

students who love working hard. The “working hard” part often weeds out those who don’tlove doing it. Our faculty spend a lot of time with our students. It is a personal experience foreveryone involved, which makes the success of our students all the more meaningful.

What would you like others to know about your department that they might not know otherwise?

On the surface, I would like them to know the amazing recognition our students earn on aregular basis in competitions, exhibitions and highly competitive internships. For example, theDallas Society of Visual Communication hosts an annual national competition, and this year ourstudents won 11 awards. Only three universities won more: Kansas, North Texas and OklahomaState. To compete and win among some of the top schools gives us a lot of satisfaction.

But more important than awards, I want people to know what kind of environment we are trying to develop. Our goal is a culture where students are compelled to develop skills, knowledge and character that prepare them to lead with great integrity and humility.

From dinnerware for Disney to wedding invitationsfor NFL quarterbacks, young ACU artists and designers are known by the expertise they bring to making special occasions distinctive, funand memorable. Meet a few of them in ouronline-only addition to this story.

See Bonus Coverage at acu.edu/acutoday

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DistinctiveBY DESIGN

From dinnerware forDisney to weddinginvitations for NFLquarterbacks, severalyoung ACU artists anddesigners are known by the expertise theybring to making special occasions

distinctive, fun and memorable.

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alyssa reevesDA L L A S, T E X A S

or Alyssa (Waitt ’97)Reeves, choosing a

favorite part of her job istough. As the owner ofParadise Design Company,

a Dallas-based customstationery firm, she enjoys the creative and technical

aspects of her job. “I love delighting my clients – seeing their

reaction when I've captured their vision andput it on paper,” said Reeves, who foundedher company in 2003. “But I also love theproduction aspect – figuring out new orunusual ways to incorporate productiontechniques.”

A lifelong artist, Reeves earned herdegree in graphic design from ACU, butrealized the need for a “semi-practical”career after graduation. While working as adesigner and art director at several ad

agencies, Reeves began designing weddinginvitations for friends on the side. “That led me to my current business. It seemedmuch more fun to me than annual reports,” she said.

The wedding design industry wasgrowing when Reeves launched her business, and demand for custom invitationswas rising. “At first, I cold-called eventplanners and wedding planners and showedthem my work,” she said. “One hired me onthe spot for two upcoming projects. We arestill collaborating 10 years later on a range ofprojects, from corporate galas to non-profitfundraisers to weddings across the country.The Lord has opened all the doors, truly.”

Of course, Reeves’ work carrieschallenges along with the fun. “Customdesign clients are looking for a high level ofpersonal service,” she said. “Vendors alsoneed constant communication, so it's

STEPHEN KARLISCH


challenging to do both things well and find time to actually design. Knowing whento include the client and when to makeexecutive decisions also is a constantbalancing act.”Despite the challenges, Reeves loves

her work and credits her ACU training forgiving her the confidence to stand behindher designs. “That comes in handy whenyou’re trying to sell your work,” she said.Reeves has recently expanded her

business to include several stationery lines,calling the new division Paradise Papers. She now sells a range of notecards, notepads,holiday cards and “tinies” – small, brightbusiness-card-size pieces with their ownenvelopes. Many of her brightly coloredproducts feature Texas icons, such ascowboy boots, horses, guitars and a silhouette of the Lone Star State. Her custom design, however, is still the backbone of her business. Reeves’ invitations, including the ones

she designed for the wedding of New YorkGiants’ quarterback Eli Manning and AbbyMcGrew, have been featured in magazinesincluding Town & Country Weddings, The Knot, Inside Weddings, Dallas BridesandDallas Weddings.Dallas Cowboys’ fans will feel better

knowing her most recent project for a NFL quarterback was much closer to home: wedding invitations for DallasCowboys signal-caller Tony Romo and his bride, Candice Crawford.

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GARETT ANDJESSICA MAYFIELDO K L A H O M A C I T Y, O K L A H O M A

ike the other designers featured in these pages, Garett (’09) andJessica (Hopkins ’10) Mayfieldare making their mark by hand.

Specifically, hand-lettering. After earning their

degrees from ACU (Garett in graphic design

and Jessica in advertising and publicrelations) in 2009, the couple launchedWednesday Custom Design, their OklahomaCity-based business. On their website, they explain, “Wednesday is the result of abig dream, concocted in a tiny apartment, bytwo complete opposites, who happen to likegreat design and each other a whole lot.” Although their personalities, work styles

and aesthetic senses differ, the combinationis proving successful. Wednesday productsare currently sold in the nationwide shopTerrain and available in stationery boutiquesin 15 states, Washington, D.C., and Ontario,Canada.When the couple started out, “we spent a

lot of time exhausting ourselves, trying to beeverything to everyone,” Garett said. As theyexperimented with various products, theconsistent best-sellers among brides and atstationery shops were products featuringhand lettering. “This feedback has helped us

curate a card line and additional weddingsuites focusing on that style,” he added.Both Garett and Jessica enjoy the

relational aspect of custom design, which isan expression not only of the Mayfields’ stylebut also of the client’s. “You have to listen,get to know them, and then pour a bit ofyourself into a design that helps them beexpressive. We’re continually learning andgrowing, because of the shops and clientswith whom we interact,” Jessica said.Last year, the Mayfields took a big

leap when they signed up for the NationalStationery Show in New York City, an annual trade show featuring more than 800exhibitors. “It was important to have acurated line to stand out in that crowd,”Garett said. “We dedicated every wakingmoment to building our stationery lines,which included some seriously unglamorouswork just so we could pay to live and pay tomake it to the show. The show was such ahuge financial investment: we knew if wefailed, we would have to move on from thisdream. However, this risk made us workharder than we’ve ever worked before.”Their success at the show, as well as

dozens of satisfied customers, has helped theMayfields reach a more stable place withtheir business. They attended the show again

this year, and their work has recentlyappeared in Anthology and Sweet Paulmagazines, as well as on various stationeryand design blogs. In February, they returnedto campus to speak about their journey aspart of the Entrepreneur Speaker Series atthe Griggs Center in ACU’s College ofBusiness Administration.Through the challenges of establishing

both a marriage and a business, theMayfields have drawn on the foundationthey formed during their time in Abilene. “ACU instilled a value for integrating our

faith, community and careers,” Garett said.“We still have a piece of paper with somegoals we wrote down when we begandreaming about owning our own business,right after graduating. We didn’t know whatour business would be or who we’d become,but the foundational truths we wrote downon that paper are as important today as theywere three years ago. We want to serve God,serve each other, and serve God’s peoplethrough our business.”

STEPHEN KARLISCH

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he didn’t wish upon a star,but it took hard work andan entrepreneurial spirit tomake the dreams of DarbieAngell (’03) come true. And they have, in a big way.Angell’s company,

CRÜ Dinnerware, recentlyentered into a lucrative partnership withDisney that has swept her into a magicalworld of creating designs for the globalentertainment giant. The Georgetown native, whose passion

for art was kindled at ACU, launched hercompany in 2008 when she was put on bedrest during a pregnancy. In the four yearssince, her dinnerware collections have been picked up by such major retailers as Dillard’s, Macy’s, Bed Bath & Beyond –and now Disney.A touch of whimsyHer elegant, sometimes whimsical

designs are featured in a number ofmagazines, including Veranda, Brides,Bridal Guide, Elle Décor andMarthaStewart Weddings. CRÜ creations have been shown on national TV, most recentlyon Katie Couric’s talk show, Katie. Herpieces also have found their way onto somefamous tabletops, including those of film star Leonardo DiCaprio, NFL football playerAndre Gurode and President Barack Obama – not bad for a stay-at-home mom turned entrepreneur. The rising design star’s newest creations

will be sold under the Walt Disney brandand will be available in Bed Bath & Beyondstores beginning in July. Angell’s Just AfterMidnight collection features bands ofplatinum on a pale blue backgroundmirroring the simple elegance she attributesto Princess Cinderella. Her Bubbles from theGrotto line radiates clusters of bubbles youmight find under the sea and is inspired bythe Magic Kingdom’s Princess Ariel. Angell says she hopes to introduce one

new Princess line a year, following Disney’sschedule of letting a princess movie out of the vault each year. Once upon a timeAngell’s fairy-tale partnership with

Disney began with a phone call out of the blue in November 2011.“I felt as if they were under the

impression that they needed to persuade meto design and co-brand with them,” she said.“Boy, were they ever wrong. This was trulymy dream come true.”Robert Oberschelp, head executive of

Disney Collections, was part of that firstconference call. “He wanted to fly us out immediately

and compared us to top designers such as Hermes, which was clearly his way ofsweet-talking us to get us there quickly,”Angell said with a laugh. “My brother, who has been a huge part of CRÜ and is my right-hand guy, was just as eager to get there. So we flew out and met with the most creative, ingenious group of people I have ever been around.”The CRÜ team met with Oberschelp;

Debbie Chang, senior manager of DisneyProducts; Karen Torpey, senior manager of Disney Global; and Jason Stewart,Disney’s executive creative director. “Going into that first meeting was a

dream,” Angell said. “The office walls wereturned into floor-to-ceiling inspirationboards. You would see flat-screen TVsshowing deleted scenes from movies such as Bambi, and the stairwells wereturned into Alice falling down the hole in Alice in Wonderland.“I still could not wrap my mind around

the fact that they wanted me and felt that Ineeded to impress them. We had our normalsetup with lavish treats and drinks for them,only to have a lady come in and ask us if wewould like espresso and to take our ordersfrom their list of lavish treats,” she said. “The rest of the meeting continued the same way, with both groups going back and forth trying to woo each other.”

The result of the meeting was anagreement for Angell to design dinnerwarefor two Disney groups: the FairytaleWedding and Princess teams.Making the world a better placeLike any successful entrepreneur,

Angell hopes her company will continue to flourish. But her dreams go beyondcommercial success. She also wants to make the world a better place.The sales of some of her products

support orphanages in South America, and her plates are made at a factory inBangladesh that feeds its employees three meals daily. The story of a 14-year-old leukemia

victim prompted Angell to design Madison’sApril in New York, a collection named afterthe victim, and to donate a portion of thesales to pediatric cancer research. Shepartners with UNICEF to dig water wells in third-world countries. And she invitesvisitors to her website to suggest otherworthy causes her company might support.Inspired by ACU’s artand design programShe believes her time at ACU helped

shape her into the entrepreneur and personshe is today, and is amazed by how far her art and design education has taken her.“Looking back on where I started in

art class with Jack Maxwell (’78), afraid ofdrawing a leaf and getting to this point tohave the confidence to share my thoughtsand designs with the most creative people in the world, is nothing short of God trulybeing at work in all of this,” she said. “I think ACU gave me something that is

not in a class: strength that is needed tomake it over obstacles that look impassable,the drive to make a difference in the worldand, most importantly, amazing Christianfriends who support me and also keep me in line,” she said.That might be as good a “happily ever

after” as any fairy tale ever knew.�– ROBIN SAYLOR


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Dr. Robert M. Randolph (’62)was charged with being “guardian of the core values” when he became the first chaplain to the institute at Boston’s world-renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology inSeptember 2007, in a ceremony representative of the varied religious andnon-religious strands of thought at MIT. He has been an important part ofstudent life at MIT since 1978, organizing and founding what is now knownas Student Support Services. He is a housemaster in Bexley Hall along withhis wife, Jan (Randolph ’64). Prior to MIT, he was a chaplain, an inner-cityminister, a director of residence, and an instructor in history. He hasdegrees from ACU, Pepperdine University, Yale University, BrandeisUniversity, and the Andover Newton Theological School. His role wasbrought into sharper focus in April when MIT police officer Sean Collierwas killed in the line of duty by two Boston Marathon bombing suspectswho were being pursued by law enforcement authorities.

What led MIT to create the new role of chaplain to the institute in 2007, nearly 150 years after its founding in 1861? Creating a chaplain to the institute roleconcluded a process begun in 1955 when the MITChapel was built. The thought then was to have adean of the chapel such as they have at DukeUniversity, but nothing came of it. Over the last few years many had noticedthat religious concerns continued to be part of astudent’s maturation process during the collegeyears. For a long time the notion had been thatreligion was decreasing in importance in thelarger culture, but those of us working on collegecampuses knew that the topic was, if anything,gaining in importance. MIT had built a Religious Activities Center(RAC) in 1995; I had been involved in that projectand I suggested in 2007 that it was time forsomeone to be given responsibility for the variouschaplaincies on campus. The appointment ofsomeone in-house who had requisite training andwas known by the community made my choicefor the role easier to sell to the community.

How do you interface with such a diverse Board of Chaplains at MIT, which includesrepresentatives of 23 religions and other faith groups of the world? When we built the RAC, we established a Board of Chaplains to vet those appointed to be chaplains at MIT. Training had to be appropriate for the tradition represented and, once vetted, thenew chaplain would be appointed by the president of the institute. Living together in shared space was a test of collegiality and workedwell, but the chaplains still reported only to their sending tradition.Now, with my appointment, we had a structure for accountability. My role is not to tell chaplains how to do their work but ratherto help them get the work done they have laid out to do. Chaplainsdo their best work when they pay attention to the students they are called to serve rather than to issues beyond the institute.

What is a typical work week like? A typical week may include meeting with students who areplanning to marry. I will officiate at 10-20 weddings a year. UsuallyMonday is a quiet day, Tuesday begins in the chapel at 8:30 for ourTuesdays in the Chapel, which is a time of centering, reflection and

prayer. On Thursdays we begin with an early discussion of thoseinvolved in the life of the campus, meeting to connect dots and talkthrough current crises. Attendees include the chair of the faculty,several deans, mental health professionals and ombudsfolk. Each day unfolds differently but they seldom end before dinnertime. I spend time with students, talk through issues with chaplains,read and write as appropriate and needed. My assistant keeps mefocused. The role of the chaplain is composed of equal partscounseling, resource to the community, symbolic presence at affairs of the institute, pastoral care and the monitoring of interfaith interactions.

How does an institution such as MIT balance faith and science,two subjects that don't always mesh well at a secular university? A good question, but the answer is somewhat counter-intuitive.The academy, like the church, is a conservative institution despite its embrace of the speculative and its search for the new.

The academy does not like conflict so it shies away from issues that involveconflict. When I began my academiccareer, chaplains were the thorn in theflesh of college administrators. Rememberthe work of William Sloan Coffin at YaleUniversity and his efforts to bring theVietnam war to an end? Remember the role of chaplains in the civil rightsmovement? College administrators arewary of chaplains and should be becausethey answer to a higher authority.

At the same time, some chaplains are unable to do their work unless theyhave an enemy to attack. It has been myexperience that chaplains have free rein to do their work with students and areexpected to challenge the orthodoxies ofthe academy. But that means you are goingto have to understand the orthodoxies and not be afraid of criticism, and you are going to have to be in the work for long haul, not simply to hit and run.

How do the pastoral skills you have learned as a longtime church

leader help you in this role?Brookline Church of Christ, the congregation where I serve,

has not had elders for a long time, but I have been a leader theresince 1967. Sometimes I serve on the Steering Committee of thecongregation, set up to deal with the business issues of the church,sometimes I serve as a minister to the church, and sometimes asboth. Now I am an elder in terms of age. Skills that come from church involvement transfer easily to the academy. Both institutions are very resistant to change and both have hierarchies that look out for the status quo. Efforts to lead demand a commitment to the long term and a willingness to take partial success rather than expect complete victory. The care of the community is critical and the ability to listen and not react is assumed. Given that our tradition is cerebral rather than emotional, I often find myself seeking solutions rather than acting on emotions;that is not a bad style for an institute of technology.


MIT chaplain Dr. Robert RandolphQ&A

“When I began my academic career, chaplains were the thorn in the flesh of college administrators. Remember the work of William Sloan Coffin at Yale University

and his efforts to bring the Vietnam war to an end?

Remember the role of chaplains in the civil rights movement? College administrators are

wary of chaplains and should be because they answer to a higher authority.”

– DR. ROBERT M. RANDOLPH


What were the days and nights likeimmediately following the BostonMarathon bombing in April? They were surreal. We planned amemorial service on the Wednesdayafter the bombing. Publicity was slight and when I asked why, I was told there was concern that we not have a large public service since we hadnot identified the bombers. I scoffed,believing the bombers were far away, and I was wrong. They were less than a mile from where the service was held. Thursday night we learnedwhere they were.

What was your role in assisting the family of MIT police officer Sean Collier, who was slain during the manhunt in April? I deferred to the police chaplain,who worked closely with Sean’s family.Seventy-five to 100 members of thefamily attended the funeral service on our campus. There were nearly12,000 people in attendance overall. My role in the service wasceremonial, and my role in thecommunity was pastoral. The challengein such a moment is to meet the broadneeds of the community while alsoremaining focused on the needs of those closest to the tragedy, such as the police on campus.

What kind of positive conversationshave been opened on your campus as a result of the tragedy? The religious services held by faithtraditions have had a lot of conversationsabout issues raised by Sean’s death. The basic learning has been tounderstand that there is no such thing as safety in a world like ours.At the same time, how could God have allowed the sort of tragedywe went through, or for that matter, the sort of tragedy the folk inWest, Texas, went through? These are challenging questions andthey are not unfamiliar to those of us in the chaplaincy.

What of your ACU experience makes a difference in your life? Abilene Christian opened my eyes to the wider world. ACU sent me to Pepperdine, Yale, Brandeis, Andover-Newton and MIT. ACU taught me the value of good, faithful mentors whowere not frightened by youth or questions. ACU gave me friendswho have been with me since I was a freshman, and ACU helped me find a companion to spend my life with who is not afraid toremind me when I am being foolish.

How do Boston’s many colleges and universities enrichcongregational life at Brookline Church of Christ? Whenever there are large groups of young adults coming andgoing in a congregation, you are blessed with gifts that may be usedfor the glory of God or simply to remind you of the energy of youth.

Young people are by definition becoming, and so it is unusual thatone church will attract them all, but those that we do attract makean enormous difference in our community. Right now we have a good number of folk from ACU who participate in the life of the congregation.

The late Dr. LeMoine Lewis (’36), beloved longtime ACU theologyprofessor, helped Brookline Church of Christ thrive in the 1940s,when it relocated from the Harvard University campus. In whichways do you still sense his legacy there today? LeMoine taught us not to be afraid of big questions and not to be afraid of those who were afraid. I feel his presence often and remember many of his stories reminding us that the work of the church was to serve. He believed that, and he lived it. When the church janitor, a man of limited intellectual ability,died in 1985, LeMoine came back to preach his funeral because he knew a child of God had gone home, and he wanted the family to know that the people of God mourned his death. You do notforget lessons like that, and Brookline remains a place where we live that kind of faith.�

“At 4 p.m. I have a wedding rehearsal.Maybe that is the way to derivemeaning from days like today. Look evil in the eye, affirm your love for one another and step forward. That takes a courage that can banish fear.” – DR. ROBERT M. RANDOLPH

April 19, 2013Blogging the day a manhunt began near his hometown to find those responsible for theBoston Marathon bombing four days earlier.

MASSACHU

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Down RiverTO T HE

See more of the Jack Welch and Blanche Perry collections in our Bonus Coverage at acu.edu/acutoday


toPray

Two of the gems in Brown Library archives arecollections documenting baptistry murals, many painted

by an unlikely messenger of biblical truthS T O R Y B Y R O N H A D F I E L D

P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y J E R EM Y E N L OW

JEREMY EN

LOW

Most older Church of Christbuildings were devoid of paintings or photography, sofor many, a baptistry mural wasthe only artistic representationto be found. Local artists ormembers of the congregationfrequently were called to painta scene on the wall at the front of the auditorium, usuallyportraying a symbolic river or other body of water. Somemurals were always visible,while others were covered by curtains and revealed only for baptisms.

On the preceding pages, amural by Perry is still a visualfocus in the auditorium of theAnson (Texas) Church of Christ.


For a womanwho grew up in 20th-century America, Blanche Garrett Perry had an extraordinary ministry to brethren in Churches of Christ, many of whom frowned upon the voice of anyone in a place of worship who was not a male. In Brown Library’s Special Collections, a fascinating collection of three decades of handiwork shows how her faith spoke loudly and was seen in plain view. Here is a look at a resourceful, selfless woman whose mastery of a unique art form shaped a generation of Stone-Campbell Christians and their vision of New Testament baptism.


Blanche Perry kept meticulous notes inhand-written journals about her projectsand correspondence with churches.More of her paintings were done forcongregations in Colorado than anyother state.

Many of Perry’s scrapbooks feature photographs of church members standing outsidethe meeting house in which her murals were displayed.

ll my life I had wondered howI could glorify God with a talent,” admitted Blanche Perry,

an artist who was equal parts painter and preacher in amanner few ever realized.

She was born in 1890, orphaned at about age 10 and raisedby family members who were pillars in the Church of Christ in

Mount Willing, Ala. Her Bible knowledge and reverence for God were formed early,even as tuberculosis was taking a toll on her health. By 1924, Blanche – married

to Andrew Perry and the mother of two children – was near death and admitted to a sanitorium for low-income TB patients in Denver, Colo.

“Nearly five years I was a bed patient, and five more were spent as a semi-invalid,” she said. “By the grace of God I did not die.

He gave me healing according to His divine will.”Her interest in art was fostered as a child by her parents,

and furthered while attending Southern Female College for Girls in LaGrange, Ga. When a building for the Sherman Street

Church of Christ in Denver was constructed in 1934, she was asked to paint a baptistry scene for it. e experience

changed her life.“I painted that picture alone and accidentally

painted into it a perfect dove-shaped cloud hoveringover the water,” she wrote in her autobiography.

“When it was brought to my attention that Ihad represented in the picture the sun, cross,

and the dove, symbols of the Holy Trinity,and the three that bear witness, the

spirit, water and blood, I realized thata door was opened to me to preach


“A

5 0

the gospel in a peculiar way, and a means whereby I could glorify God,with paintings of those visible evidences of His creation. … e thoughtof painting baptistries from coast to coast never entered my mind. Now each picture I paint unfolds lovely thoughts found in the Bible in types, figures and symbols.”

From the 1930s to 1960s, Perry painted baptistry scenes for morethan 200 churches across North America, Canada and the Philippines,most accompanied by a personal letter explaining the religious symbolismand scriptures represented.

Perry refused payment for her murals, only charging churches forpaint, supplies and postage required to mail each finished one to itsdestination. Sometimes she painted on site, but otherwise worked athome from measurements, photos and sketches sent to her by arepresentative of each congregation. She kept meticulous records inhand-written journals. If a congregation insisted on payment, sherecommended it make a contribution to S.F. Timmerman, a nephew who was a missionary in Belgium and later, Canada.

Her 15th mural for a Texas congregation was her 185th overall: the Anson Church of Christ, 23 miles north of the ACU campus. At 16 feet long and more than 12 feet wide, it is one of her largest, with water tumbling down a steep, rocky mountainside stream in apainting members have observed during church services since 1951.

Although she never duplicated a painting, Perry’s title for the Anson mural is like some others she painted: “e Word of God and e Elect Lady,” the latter a concept she traced to 2 John 1 andEphesians 1:5. In a 1951 newspaper interview, she traced “e Word ofGod” to Zechariah 13:1 and to Isaiah 55:10-11: “As the rain and the snowcome down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering theearth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sowerand bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire andachieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

e scene was inspired by one she remembered of her view of14,264-foot-tall Mount Evans from the Colorado sanatorium, and she said the form of a woman can be seen where the peaks meet the sky. Other symbols include a dove (Genesis 15:9 and Psalms 74:19), light (John 14:6), water (Revelation 22:17), rock (1 Corinthians 10:4), sun (Malachi 4:2) and a cross (Colossians 1:20). Such details are difficultto see while sitting in the auditorium and are best appreciated up close,something she likely planned to most benefit the person being baptized.

e late Dr. Jack Welch, ACU professor of English who died in 1996while on a missions trip to Russia, made the study of American baptistrypaintings a hobby and academic expertise. A native of West Virginia, heshot 35mm color slides of those he found in Appalachian, and later, Texaschurches. e Jack Welch Collection in ACU’s Brown Library includes233 images of murals and the buildings in which they were found.

Welch divided Texas baptistry paintings into three broad categories.Literal realism reflects paintings providing artistic insights into how Texas is viewed by local artists, while others represent some moraldoctrine connected with baptism. A third category – symbolicalmysticism – is “the most difficult and the most unexpected category ofbaptistry painting,” according to Welch, who saw Anson’s in that light.

“Not all Texas baptistry paintings have been documented and studied by scholars, but all have been viewed and experienced week after week in congregations and among people who have not even thought consciously about the power of the art that is among them,” Welch wrote. He lamented the loss of many murals, as churcheshave replaced them with projection screens or stained glass. anks to his research, the beauty of many of them lives on.

e Jack Welch and the Blanche Perry collections reside in theCenter for Restoration Studies, where journals, scrapbooks, sketches,photographs, correspondence and other artifacts reflect an artistictradition, as well as an industrious, creative, forward-thinking womanwho found her calling and her voice in the churches she loved to serve.�

Jack Welch Collection: atla.com/digitalresourcesBlanche Perry Collection: wtda.alc.org/handle/123456789/51833

S p r i n g - S u m m e r 2 0 1 3 � A C U T O D A Y


In the photo above, Perry stands in front of a painting completed on site at a church in Elk City, Okla. Below is the mountainside stream seen in the Anson Church of Christ mural.

Hand-written journals such this one for 1943 holdBlanche Perry’s running thoughts on a variety ofsubjects related to her personal and work life.

A C U T O D A Y B O N U S C O V E R A G E

B C 1 1A C U T O D A Y � S p r i n g - S u m m e r 2 0 1 3

S p r i n g - S u m m e r 2 0 1 3 � A C U T O D A YB C 1 2


Without the benefit of today’s color photography or digital editing tools,Blanche Perry documented her work for future reference with painstakinghours of additional illustration. Her scrapbooks are full of black-and-whiteprints – often of the murals following installation in a church building –on which she hand-tinted in color the details of her canvas paintings. This one from 1940 appeared in a church in Old Hickory, Tenn., near Nashville.


A Church of Christ in the Texas panhandle town ofBorger, northeast of Amarillo,introduced its new baptistrymural to members with a letterin 1950. Minister E.N. McCoy’schurch met in a building atDeahl Street and W. 2nd Street.

[that] this picture will help you exalt God the Father and help you mirror Christ in your life as the watermirrors that which is above.”

– BLANCHE PERRYIn a letter to the National and High Street Church of Christ in Springfield, Mo., in April 1939.

“My prayer is


lthough American churcheshave not directly imitated ancient Christian church

buildings in this regard, it’s interesting toobserve that the oldest known Christian churchbuilding was located in Dura-Europos in Syria.

is was a house church because in A.D. 230when it is believed that the building was converted intoChristian use, Christianity was illegal in the Roman empire.

In one room of this building, archeologists unearthed an ancient baptistry which had water marks on it indicating that about a meter of water was kept in the pool for baptisms.Above this pool was a baptistry painting with water in thepainting beginning at the water of the pool and flowing back into a body of water in the painting. Sheep are in and around the pool; reeds or rushes can still be discerned in the area of

the painting’s water. Aboveit all is a man with a sheepon his shoulders; he hasshort hair and is wearing a common Roman tunic. He is the Good Shepherd,familiar in the Gospels and in early Christian art.

Although this primitive painting is not a direct ancestor of the American baptistry paintings, it provides a powerfulprecedent suggesting that religious and sociological factorswhich influenced the third-century church are still at work in the Texas churches.

– From Dr. Jack Welch’s Texas Baptistry Paintings: Landscape, Doctrine, Mysticism

ADr. Jack Welch, an ACU English professor, died in 1996. His collection of research papers and photography of

baptistry murals can be found in Brown Library.

CLARK POTTS


will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar in Lebanon;planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God.”

– PSALM 92:12-13One of the scripturesBlanche Perry quoted as inspiration for her paintings.

“The righteous


Perry’s scrapbooks include hand-tintedblack-and-white photographs of muralsshe painted in 1940 for churches in Lawton,Okla. (above) and Coal Hill, Ark. (left).



you and spare your life for many more years inservice of such marvelous productions as this oneand others you’ve painted.”

– P.D. WILMETH was a San Antonio evangelist who wrote this letter in November 1943from Frederick, Okla., where he was conducting a gospel meeting on the same day one ofPerry’s paintings was unveiled. He complimented Perry on her work and explained how itwas presented that day in church. Perry received letters from others at the church as well.

“May God bless


any Appalachian baptismspreviously took place in streams near the churchbuildings where the preaching and worship tookplace. If one has seen some of these baptisms – thecongregation perhaps gathering around a natural

pool at a swift-flowing stream, perhaps singing somehymns while the sun plays lightly on the trees and grasses – then one hasknown something of the aesthetic environment that has surrounded the baptism of thousands in the region. Some wanted to re-capture this aesthetic of the outdoors by bringing the outdoors inside through the medium of painting.

Closely connected with this impulse to re-create the outdoors is acontroversy that existed in some churches in this [20th] century whenpeople began to build baptistries indoors. Some preachers believed thatbaptism was valid only if it was done in running water. Jesus himself had been baptized in [the] Jordan, which was a free-running stream, and his disciples should do no less, the argument went. e paintings thus forged a little bridge in this controversy, providing at least asemblance of the desired free-running waters.

– From Dr. Jack Welch’s A Heritage of Regional Landscapes:Appalachian Baptistry Paintings

M


The Church of Christ in Pocatello,Idaho, was established in 1916. One of Blanche Perry’s muralsappeared in the building in 1940. A color version of it can be seen on the next two pages.


Perry’s mural for the Church of Christin Pocatello, Idaho, included imagescommon in many of her paintings: trees, running water, a cloud in theshape of a dove, and a cross on amountain in the distance.



Perhaps by design, the details of Perry’s 185thmural that appears in the Anson Church of Christ(see pages 46-47) are best seen from inside thebaptistry, such as her signature and date; a bird inflight; and the brush strokes expressing vibrantcolors of a mountainside scene.

Jack Welch and Blanche Perry Collections: atla.com/digitalresources

Blanche Perry Collection:wtda.alc.org/handle/123456789/51833

October 17-2020130202 17bO 310



MARK YOUR CALENDARSIt’s almost time for Homecoming!

e can’t wait to see you Oct. 17-20. Whether it’s the football game,a social club breakfast or a reunion event, we will relive the

memories and continue the legacy that makes ACU such a unique place.

If you’re in a class ending in “3” or “8,” join your old friends and makesome new ones at your reunion.

If you’re a graduate or friend of ACU, bring your family and enjoy theCarnival, JamFest and fireworks; the Homecoming Musical; or just hang out on the campus we called – and still call – home.

Register online for reunions and the Homecoming Golf Classic atacu.edu/homecoming, check out the schedule to the right, and save this insert for easy reference in the weeks and months ahead.

See you soon for Homecoming 2013!

Shelley (Hall ’83) Beaver Beth Ann (Souder ’93) Fisher David Pittman (’03)


Schedule of Events

acu.edu/homecoming

Thursday, OCTOBER 17

Gutenberg DinnerHunter Welcome Center, 6:30 p.m.

Friday, OCTOBER 18

Golf ClassicDiamondback Golf Course, 1510 E. Industrial Blvd., 9:30 a.m.

Chapel Moody Coliseum, 11 a.m.

Carnival North lawn of the Williams Performing Arts Center, 5 p.m.

Jam FestEast Lawn of Hunter Welcome Center, 5:30 p.m.

Wildcat Sports Hall of FameCelebration and Lettermen’s Reunion Dinner and Induction: Hunter Welcome Center, 6:30 p.m.Lettermen’s Reunion: Hunter Welcome Center, 8 p.m.

Musical: Les MisérablesAbilene Civic Center, 1100 N. 6th St., 8 p.m.

Fireworks ShowEast Lawn of Hunter Welcome Center, 8:15 p.m.

Saturday, OCTOBER 19

Social Club BreakfastsVarious locations (See website for details)

ParadeAround the perimeter of campus, 9:30 a.m.

Homecoming ChapelMoody Coliseum, 10:45 a.m.

Football Game (ACU vs. University of Incarnate Word)Shotwell Stadium, 2 p.m.

Reunion Celebrations Various locations, 6 p.m.


Reunion Concert Hunter Welcome Center, 8:30-10:30 p.m.

Sunday, OCTOBER 20


Photography by Lindsey Cotton,Mandy Lambert, Gary Rhodes,Britni Tatum and Paul White


ABOVE: The Wildcats drew a crowd of 7,200 to Shotwell Stadium for their football gamewith Midwestern State University.

BELOW LEFT AND CENTER: The parade included Prentis McCarty, inaugural King of Campus Court, and women’s social club Ko Jo Kai.

BELOW RIGHT: Jackie (Bucher ’01) Washington was one of five inductees to the ACUSports Hall of Fame. She was accompanied by her husband, George (’01) and sonsGeorge Jr., Jackson and Jayden.

ABOVE LEFT AND CENTER : Becca Clay (’14), escorted by her father, Randall Clay (’96) wasnamed Homecoming Queen at halftime of the football game Saturday. Youngsters of all agesflocked to the climbing wall and inflatables at the carnival on Friday evening.

ABOVE RIGHT: Kate (Bailey) Crawford, Brian Crawford, Wendell Edwards, Meiko Edwards andEleanor (Thompson) Bryant were among those who attended the Class of 1992 reunion dinner.

BELOW: Cody and Debbie Peterson, and Benjamin Blake joined classmates at the reunion dinner for the Class of 2002, one of nine classes to reunite around town on Saturday night.

Homecoming 2012

TheBOOKCASE


Selections of books written, edited, compiled or contributed toby ACU alumni, faculty, staff and students

Abilene StoriesFROM THEN TO NOW

Edited by Glenn Dromgoole, Jay Mooreand Joe W. SpechtISBN 978-0-89112-368-2 • 320 pagesacupressbooks.com

One hundred memorable stories about Abilene, someauthored by ACU icons Don H. Morris (’24), Dr. MaxLeach (’31), Dr. John C. Stevens (’38), A.C. Greene (’48),Dr. Gary McCaleb (’64) and Garner Roberts (’70).

JuniorBy Ray N. Donley (’77)ISBN 978-1-938416-00-2 • 366 pagesrivergrovebooks.com

A novel, Junior recounts the amazing journey of JoshuaJennings Jr., who becomes an unwilling celebrity criminal whenhe is mistaken as the primary suspect in a terrorist bombingthat kills the president, vice president and his own father. The problem is, it’s a setup, and his dad is behind it all.

The Handbook of Communication and Corporate ReputationEdited by Craig E. Carroll (’95 M.A.)ISBN 978-0-470-67098-9 • 672 pagesonlinelibrary.wiley.com

The newest addition to Wiley-Blackwell’s series ofhandbooks on communication and media reflects the growing visibility of large businesses’ ethicalprofiles, and tracks the benefits that positive public attitudes can bring.

Slingin’ SamTHE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE GREATEST QUARTERBACKEVER TO PLAY THE GAME

By Joe Holley (’68)ISBN 978-0-292-71985-9 • 368 pagestpress.utexas.edu

Holley, a columnist for the Houston Chronicle, has written thefirst major biography of one of the greatest legends in football.An all-America quarterback at TCU, “Sammy” Baughrevolutionized the forward pass while leading the WashingtonRedskins to five title games and two NFL championships.

The Stone-Campbell MovementA GLOBAL HISTORY

By Dr. Douglas Foster, Dr. Newell Williams and Dr. Paul M. BlowersISBN 978-0827235274 • 512 pageschalicepress.com

Foster, professor of church history in ACU’s Graduate School of Theology and director of theCenter for Restoration Studies, helped lead an eight-year effort encompassing the work of 11 church history scholars.

Reflections On My LifeIN THE KINGDOM AND THE ACADEMY

By Dr. Thomas H. OlbrichtISBN 978-1-60899-485-4 • 470 pageswipfandstock.com

Olbricht, a beloved former theology professor at ACU, grew up in Churches of Christ, taught on the faculty of severaluniversities, and preached/lectured on six continents. A scholar,mentor and Restoration Movement leader, he recounts hisexperiences in learning from and teaching others in a lifecommitted to the advancement of theological education.

The Early Church and Today, Vol. 1MINISTRY, INITIATION AND WORSHIP

By Dr. Everett Ferguson (’53)ISBN 978-0891125860 • 224 pagesacupressbooks.com

Ferguson, ACU’s LeMoine G. Lewis Professor Emeritus of Church History and Distinguished Scholar-in-Residence, looks at church and ministry,baptism and initiation, demonology, worship andassembly, and church music.

The Wealth of the PoorHOW VALUING EVERY NEIGHBOR RESTORES HOPE IN OUR CITIES

By Larry M. JamesISBN 978-0-89112-380-4 • 288 pagesacupressbooks.com

The ACU adjunct professor and president/CEO of CitySquare(formerly Central Dallas Ministries), writes a memoir based onhis 30 years of experience ministering to the inner-city poor ofDallas. CitySquare attacks poverty through its work in housing,hunger relief, health and the creation of hope.

Twelve Clean PagesBy Nika Maples (’96)ISBN 978-0983590712 • 279 pagesshop.nikamaples.com/

Relive the inspiring story of Maples, who suffered aparalyzing stroke as a 20-year-old ACU sophomore,then overcame great odds to recover her health andbecome the 2007 Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year.

Stealing the PreacherBy Karen (Gaskin ’93) Witemeyer ISBN 978-0-7642-0966-6 • 352 pagesbethanyhouse.com

On his way to interview at a church in Texas, Crockett Archer is forced off the train by an outlaw and presented to the man'sdaughter, Joanna, as the preacher she requested for her birthday.For months, Joanna had prayed for a minister to breathe lifeback into the abandoned church in her community. But justwhen it seems her prayers have been answered, it turns out theparson is there against his will and has dreams of his owncalling him elsewhere. Can she convince him otherwise?

� �Phillips Education Building dedicated A transformation of one of the most historically versatile structures on campus was completed April 17, 2013, when the Phillips Education Buildingwas dedicated in honor of Paul (’58)and Linda Phillips. “My mom and dad, they devoted their lives to education,” said DannyPhillips (’81). “It makes perfect sense to honor mom and dad in this way.” The dedication formalized a namechange that has been in the workssince late last year, when Danny and his wife, Carole (Hunter ’81),established the Phillips FamilyEndowed Scholarship for studentspreparing for careers in education. Paul Phillips met Linda Brewer onthe University of North Texas campusbefore he transferred to ACU, wherehe received bachelor’s and master’s (1963)degrees while also preaching for Churchesof Christ across Texas. In 1964, he began a 24-year career at The University of Texas at Arlington, ultimately serving aschair of the UTA religion department. The couple mentored and ministered to students at the UTA Church of ChristStudent Center, which they led. Paul died in 2011. Phillips Education Building was knownas Catchings Cafeteria from 1955-68, when it became the Burford Music Center.It was renovated as the Education Building

in 2005 for the College ofEducation andHuman Servicesand as a home forthe Departmentof TeacherEducation. Danny Phillips and his mother, Linda,stand near a portraitof Paul and Linda, namesakes of the Phillips Education Building.

� �Sculpture finishes The Ascension trailheadOne of the most serene trailheads on

the two-mile-long Lunsford FoundationTrail received a new addition in December2012, completing another dramatic

contemplativepublic spaceprovided by thefamily of Richard(’55) Lunsford andhis late wife, Dema(Atkins ’57).

The Ascension, a trailhead locatedon Campus Courtbetween thehistoric HardinAdministrationBuilding andSewell Theatre,now features

a bronze sculpture depicting Christascending into heaven from a largepedestal, one of five limestone blocks with scriptures reminding visitors of “The Good News” of God’s plan to redeem mankind. (See pages 4-5.) The 9-foot-5-inch, 800-poundsculpture is the work of Utah artist Dee Jay Bawden, who is well known for creating bronzes depicting Christ, in addition to various other religious and historical figures. Dedicated in 2006, the trail encircles

the campus and has become one of themost popular local outdoor exercisevenues. Hundreds of students, faculty, staff and other Abilenians each day use the scenic paved path, which features

strategically placed trailheads, FaubusFountain Lake and scriptures etched alongthe way. The Lunsford family also provided The Quiet Place in the Mabee BusinessBuilding and in the Onstead-PackerBiblical Studies Building.

� �Alumni Reunion Chorus to meet Aug. 2-3 A new CD, I Am With You, will be recorded Aug. 2-3, 2013, when theAlumni Reunion Chorus gathers in the Williams Performing Arts Center. The album will be its 18th since 1989, when the former members of the A Cappella Chorus and other singingensembles began meeting every othersummer for fellowship and to recordalbums to help raise money for vocal scholarships. For more: acu.edu/alumnichorus

� �ACU Museum receives a makeover The Jennings House, also known as the ACU Museum, has a fresh new look,thanks to window photo murals reflectingsome of the history to be found inside. Freelance graphic designer GregGolden (’87) helped update the Womenfor Abilene Christian University facility with new signage and murals intended to give passersby a sense of the people and traditions celebrated in the 85-year-old landmark. Murals portray university presidentsand other major historical figures, as wellas moments in history that have beenpreserved since WACU opened themuseum in 1966. The house was built by G.L. Jennings in 1928-29, and was thefifth in the area known as Abilene Heights.Jennings owned an Oldsmobile dealershipin town and served on ACU’s Board ofTrustees. The university acquired the property in 1976 from the late Leao (’47) and Ellene (Jennings ’43) McDaniel, who lived next door for years. The museum has four rental spaces for meetings and other events, and plans to offer coffee and refreshments at


For the latest, visit acu.edu/newsfacebook.com/abilenechristian

twitter.com/ACUedugplus.to/abilenechristian

“White people need to see inner-city people through a different set of eyes.” – J. McDONALD WILLIAMS (’64)Dallas business leader and former ACU trustee, speaking to ACUstudents at a luncheon in the Hunter Welcome Center about the challenges and opportunities of urban revitalization in his community. Williams is chair of the Foundation for CommunityEmpowerment and former CEO of Trammel Crow Company.

“I have never found high academic standards a threat to faith or the church.”– DR. ABRAHAM J. MALHERBE (’54)Esteemed theology scholar and Buckingham Professor Emeritus ofNew Testament Criticism and Interpretation at Yale Divinity School,during an interview with the Christian Chronicle in January 2002.Malherbe, who inspired or taught a generation of Bible scholars in Churches of Christ, died in September 2012 at age 82 in Hamden, Conn. See story on page 78 and obituary on page 79.

Hi l l t opVIEWPA

UL WHITE

RENDI HAHN

PAUL W

HITE

QUOTABLE

“Why did Lindsey and I choose the same path to attendACU? Why did God take her home before me? He knewfrom the beginning that the Smiths were supposed to beWildcats. He also knew I would need the Abilene Christiancommunity for such a time as this. I am forever grateful.”– LINDA (LaBOUNTY ’87) SMITHBlogging about the response of the university and her friends to the death Jan. 25, 2013, of her daughter, Lindsey, in a truck accident near Abilene. See obituary on page 78.

“Instead of picking our career and back-filling our whole life, what if we pick our life and back-fill our career?That can happen in a community of faith that’s pointingeach other towards Jesus.”– BOB GOFFNew York Times best-selling author of Love Does, speaking April 2 during JusticeWeek at ACU. Goff founded Restore International, a nonprofit human rights organization serving people in India and Uganda. He is an attorney in Washington who teaches law at Pepperdine and Point Loma Nazarene universities.


A CU BY THE NUMBERS

Homecoming 2013 to those watching theparade from its prime spot at the corner ofEast North 16th Street and Campus Court. For more: acu.edu/wacu

� Bunch is magical match for Disney’s Belle Several times a year, junior BrittanyBunch of Sunnyvale, Texas, heads toOrlando, Fla., where the psychology

major is a “friend of Belle,” as Disneyworld refers to young women who helpportray the co-star of Beauty and the Beast.Bunch auditioned

for the Disney CollegeProgram during herfreshman year, andreceived an invitation to serve in an internship.She was first trained to be “friends” with Winnie

the Pooh and with Chip and Dale, beforeanswering an audition call for Belle.

� �Texas legislators, ACU trustee, NYC artists, business execs among campus speakers

• Texas Rep. Susan King and Sen. TroyFraser participated March 22, 2013, in The Hot Seat “conversation series”sponsored by The Texas Tribune. • April (Bullock ’89) Anthony, ACU trustee and founder and CEO of healthcare provider EncompassHomeHealth, and Darbie Angell (’03),founder of CRU Dinnerware, werefeatured Nov. 13, 2012, in the GriggsCenter Entrepreneur Speaker Series.• Jeff Rogers (’02) and Dana Tanamachi,New York City artist-illustrators,presented a lecture Nov. 30, 2012, hostedby the Department of Art and Design.• Speakers at the College of BusinessAdministration’s 15th annual Leadership

Summit on Jan. 2-8, 2013, in Buena Vista,Colo., included John Aden, executive vice president for Walmart GeneralMerchandise; Stephen Quinn, Walmart’schief marketing officer; Jarrod (’00) andAllison Brown of Mission Lazarus; RickAtchley (’78), minister of The HillsChurch in Richland Hills; Lisa Anderson,host of the national Boundless radioprogram; and marriage and family expertsGreg and Erin Smalley.• Author and motivational speaker Nika Maples (’96) spoke Feb. 18, 2013, in Chapel and in a Chapel Forum.• Kenneth Cloke, author and director of the Center for Dispute Resolution inSanta Monica, Calif., spoke March 4, 2013,at a conference hosted by ACU’s DuncumCenter for Conflict Resolution. • In March 2013, Justice Week speakers in Chapel included Gerald Britt, vicepresident of public policy and communityprogram development at CitySquare in Dallas; Ryan Groves, CEO ofWishingWell; and Sally Fallon, author.• Judges for the ninth annual FilmFestMarch 22, 2013, were event founder Matt Maxwell (’08), UCLA screenwritingteacher Kris Young and Nashvillefilmmaker Brent McCorkle.• Dr. David Worley (’71), chancellor andformer president of Austin GraduateSchool of Theology, was the speakerMarch 26, 2013, at the Friends of the ACULibrary’s Spring Banquet. Frank and PattySue Schiro Coldwaterwere named 2013Friends of the Year.• Morlan Medal award recipient Dr. Jeri (Kyker ’70) Pfeifer andKaye Price-Hawkins (’72),winner of the Bob HunterFriend of Education award, were honored April 9, 2013, in an annual event sponsored by the Department ofTeacher Education.

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$39,000 Amount raised by friendstoward the Anabel Reid Memorial Fund at Water4, most of it contributed toward a run in March 2012. Reid died in a November 2011 bus accident whileaccompanying classmates and professors to Medina Children’s Home on an annualservice trip sponsored by the Department ofAgricultural and Environmental Sciences.

$17,500 Amount students can save by fully utilizing ACU’s annual blocktuition plan and graduating in 3.5 years.

2,500 Number of people in attendanceDec. 2, 2012, at first Mingle and Jingle on the east lawn of the Onstead-Packer Biblical Studies Building. (See pages 2-3.)

94 Percentage of May 2012 graduatesaccepted into medical, dental, law and all other forms of graduate school. Ninety percent of all graduates were either employed or in graduate school within six months.

88 Number of students who gavepresentations at the ninth annualUndergraduate Research Festival. Fourteen students received awards for oral and poster entries representing science,technology, engineering, mathematics, social science, arts and humanities.

28 Prestigious NCAA Post-graduateScholarships won by Wildcat student-athletes;women’s soccer standout Julie Coppedge(’13) is the latest. ACU ranks fifth all-timeamong Texas universities in number ofrecipients. (See page 62.)

25 Number of students and faculty to experience the President Barack Obamainauguration and two weeks of classes and lectures at a conference sponsored by The Washington Center for Internships andAcademic Seminars. They were accompanied by Dr. Suzie Macaluso, assistant professor ofsociology, and Dr. Lynette Sharp Penya (’91),associate professor of communication.

Pfeifer

The Jennings Housetoday and circa 1929

Straughn, Cukrowski and Snidernamed new college deans Three of ACU’s five colleges recentlyannounced the selection of new deans: Dr. Greg Straughn (’94) in the College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Ken Cukrowski(’84) in the College of Biblical Studies, and Dr. Donnie Snider in the College of Education and Human Services. Straughn has a wealth of administrative

experience, havingserved previously as interim provost,assistant provost ofgeneral education, dean of the HonorsCollege, and as professorand chair of the music department.

The College of Arts and Sciences is ACU’s largest, and is composed of 15 academic departments. An associate professor of New

Testament, Cukrowskiwas associate dean for academics in theCollege of BiblicalStudies for 11 yearsbefore serving as theuniversity’s vice provost.He has bachelor’s andmaster’s degrees from

ACU, and an M.Div., S.T.M. and Ph.D.from Yale Divinity School, and has servedin associate, education and youth ministerroles at local congregations. An experienced administrator in

K-12 schools, Sniderpreviously served aschair of the Departmentof Graduate Studies in Education for threeyears and associate dean for the College ofEducation and Human

Services, which includes five academic departments/units, the Pruett Gerontology Center and federalTRIO Programs.�

Mitchell’s $500,000 gift benefitsJMC program, student-run agency Elise (Smith ’83) Mitchell knows a lot about being benevolent, especiallywhen giving back to her alma mater. Her 2011 gift to the university helped fund creation of theMorris & Mitchellstudent-run ad/PRagency. Her latestgift of half a milliondollars funds an endowment to helpfinance the agency’s operation whileallowing it to expand into new areas. After selling her Arkansas-basedMitchell Communications Group (MCG),in January 2013, she is now CEO of the Dentsu Public Relations Network whileretaining her position of CEO of MCG. By 2011, when she received a DistinguishedAlumni Citation from her alma mater,MCG was grossing $10 million annually. Mitchell says she chose to make thedonation to JMC because the departmentchanged her life and prepared her for a career in public relations. “Supporting their work to prepare thenext generation of leaders in my field is agreat honor and just one small way I cantry to repay the department for all they didto help me succeed,” Mitchell said. “I amparticularly passionate about Morris &Mitchell, and wanted to ensure it wouldgrow and thrive for many years to come.” The donation will be used to supportthe already thriving agency, help thedepartment better focus on diversity issues in curriculum and in instruction,and create a new student entity for the multimedia majors.�

Office of Major Scholarships helpsposition students for fellowships, graduate school success Dr. Jason Morris (’96 M.A.) can findhis way around the scholarship process,having co-authored The Best Scholarshipsfor the Best Students, a book designed toassist students in locating and applying forprestigious opportunities beyond theirsuccessful undergraduate years.

In November 2012, Morris was named director of ACU’s new Office of MajorScholarships, an HonorsCollege organization

designed to provide students withinformation, counsel and support whenapplying for nationally competitive majorscholarships and fellowships. He also isassociate dean of the Honors College.

A c a d e m i cNEWS

ACU’s online M.S. in Organizational and Human Resource Developmentdegree program was ranked eighth in the nation by The BestSchools.org for itsquality, course offerings, faculty, rankings, awards and reputation. ACU’s M.Acc. program is among the top 10 in Texas with the highest CPAExam pass rates, according to a report by the Texas Society of CPAs. Test resultsfrom April 2004 to September 2012 were measured. The Texas Board of Nursing approved ACU’s B.S.N. degree program. The School of Nursing will open in Fall 2013 and enroll 50 students. ACU’s M.Ed. / Certificate in Superintendency program has beenaccredited by the Teacher Education Accreditation Council. The Department of Journalism and Mass Communication announced theformation of 99 West Media, a new student-run media agency to provide

practical experience for multimedia JMC majors. Dr. Nancy Shankle Jordan, Dr. Tom Milholland (’66), Dr. Tom Winter (’71)and Dr. Phyllis (Barsch ’70) Bolin spoke Dec. 8-11, 2012, at the annual SouthernAssociation of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges conference aboutACU’s successful accreditation reaffirmation process. Dr. Joe Cardot, Dr. Paul Lakey (’80 M.A.) and Dr. J.D. Wallace (’89 M.A.)won top honors Nov. 15-16, 2012, in competition at the 98th annual convention ofthe National Communication Association in Orlando, Fla. Chad Kelly (’13)presented his research in the Top Papers Panel. Associate professor of theology Dr. Frederick Aquino (’89) spoke

March 4-8, 2013, at Cambridge University. He is co-editing The Oxford Handbookof the Epistemology of Theology (Oxford University Press, 2015).

S p r i n g - S u m m e r 2 0 1 3 � A C U T O D A Y5 8



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Last year,Brittany Partridge(’12) becamethe first ACUstudent toearn bothTruman andMarshallscholarships.

Morris has lectured and conductedresearch in Hungary as a two-timerecipient of a Fulbright grant. He taught anHonors colloquium in Spring 2013 to covermuch of the same material as his book,including resume building, interviewingand preparation for graduate school. “This is a transformational learningprocess because students get to clarifygoals, think about their own future andcreate a clear, well-written proposal for the opportunity they would like topursue,” Morris told theOptimist last fall.“They walk out of the application processknowing more about themselves, what they want to do and their strengths and weaknesses. … We want to be aninstitution that cultivates in students aculture of achievement and scholarship.” Many times, knowing how to bestnavigate the lengthy application process is a key to being successful in competingfor Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, Fulbright,Udall, Goldwater, Gates Cambridge, and Mitchell fellowships. Abilene Christian students are morethan qualified for consideration, and twohave seen success after Morris’ tutelage. Brittany Partridge (’12), co-founder of the Red Thread Movement, was one ofthe few U.S. students to earn prestigiousTruman and Marshall scholarships in 2012. After graduating in December, shevolunteered this spring at a Christian youthhostel in Amsterdam and interned for a nonprofit in Bosnia and Herzegovina. She currently is a Washington, D.C., intern in the Truman Foundation’s summer institute for its scholars. This spring, environmental sciencemajor Wiepie Rojas (’13) received a Fulbright Scholarship. She will serve a 10-month assistantship in Malaysia starting in January 2014 that will allow her to teach and conduct agriculturaldevelopment research. For more: acu.edu/honors �

Dr. Jeff Childers (’89) spoke March 9, 2013, at a University of Oxfordconference celebrating the 60th volume of the series Translated Texts for Historians. Childers is professor of church history, Bible, missions and ministry, and Carmichael-Walling Chair for New Testament and Early Christianity. Dr. Everett Ferguson (’53), distinguished scholar-in-residence and LeMoine G. Lewis Professor Emeritus of Church History, was honored with Eucharist &Ecclesiology, an international academic colloquy on campus March 21-23, 2013. Whitney White (’14), Ellen Smith (’13) and Jennalee Sharp (’13)were honored by The Quest for Quality Teacher Preparation in Texas, a programsponsored by the Center for Research, Evaluation and Advancement of TeacherEducation, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, to identify toteacher candidates. Dr. Dana Pemberton (’81), chair and professor of teacher

education, was honored for Exemplary Field-Based Instructional Practices. Graduate English students Greg Jeffers, Leanne Moore and Alison Maxfieldreceived top honors for papers presented at the Conference of College Teachers ofEnglish and the Texas College English Association, hosted Feb. 21-23, 2013, at ACU.Professor and writer-in-residence Al Haley also was honored for his poetry. In November 2012, 29 music majors performed in the National Association of Teachers of Singing competition in Denton, with 14 students advancing to the semifinals and three – Clinton Perdue (’14), Russell Garrett (’14) andPhillip Jackson (’15) – winning their respective categories. Nicole Dorsey (’13), Chad Moore (’13) and Jillian Dowdy (’13) won first place honors in a competition sponsored by the American Society of InteriorDesigners’ 2012 Texas chapter student symposium Oct. 5-6 in Dallas.

5 9

UNDERGRADUATERESEARCH

Undergraduate research is thriving at ACU, from the annualUndergraduate Research Festival to the students from many disciplineswho present their work at academic conferenceseach year. TheMcNair Scholars Program focuses onproviding researchopportunities for studentswho are historically under-represented inadvanced research programs,such as first-generation college studentsor students from ethnic-minoritybackgrounds. The federally funded program isnamed after the late physicist andastronaut Dr. Ronald E. McNair, who died in the 1986 Space ShuttleChallenger explosion. The programpairs high-ability students with facultymentors in their major field of study,who then provide academic support as the students undertake researchprojects. Students meet regularly withtheir mentors to determine the topicand scope of their work, then continueto meet as the students undertake theresearch and synthesize their findings. “This experience affects theacademic quality of the students weserve within this demographic,” saidHilary (Walton ’00) Simpson, associatedirector of the program. “Many of our students go on to top programs in their disciplines at institutions such as Harvard, Yale, Syracuse and the University of Chicago.” While still at ACU, McNair Scholars gain experience in presenting

their research at the university’sUndergraduate Research Festival, aswell as conferences across the nation. “These projects are important

because they allow thestudents to interact with an expert in their field, and to explore a topic in greater depth than istypically possible in anundergraduate course,”Simpson said. “Thatexperience makes thescholars stronger candidates

for admission into competitive graduate programs.” A recent notable McNair Scholar is biblical text major Noemi Palomares(’12), who worked with Dr. CurtNiccum (M.Div. ’92) of the College of Biblical Studies on a project toanalyze popular Spanish translations of the Bible. “The McNair Scholars Program isone of the best educational experiencesI have ever had,” said Palomares, who is pictured above. “The research aspect,as well as the community of studentscholars, is inspiring. My experienceheightened my research andpresentation skills, and my confidencein applying to graduate programs.” A native of Weslaco, Texas,Palomares is now pursuing a Master of Divinity degree at Yale DivinitySchool. Her older brother, Samuel (’11),also was a McNair Scholar and servedas Students’ Association president. He is working on a master’s degree in communication studies at The University of Texas at Austin. For more: acu.edu/mcnair �

Research with faculty an integral role for McNair Scholars

A C U T O D A Y � S p r i n g - S u m m e r 2 0 1 3

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Scholarship campaign tops 40 percent of goal, and $20 million The Partnering in the JourneyCampaign has crossed the $20 millionmark, putting it more than 40 percent of the way to meeting its goal of raising $50 million for endowed student scholarships. As of April 30, the campaign had raised $20.64 million and passed anothermilestone – with more than 1,000 donorspledging support. The campaign will add to theuniversity’s endowment, providing a stable base from which to provide morescholarships for the students who needthem most. Since the campaign started,donors have created 66 new endowmentsand have contributed at least $10,000 to 43 others. In all, 376 donors have madecommitments to endowed scholarships for the first time. “We are blessed every day by the selflessgenerosity of our alumni and friends,” said Phil Boone (’83), vice president foradvancement. “Our students are blessedeven more. A gift to endowed scholarshipsis a gift not just for students attendingtoday but for students attending 10 years,20 years, 50 yearsfrom today.” For a list of the mostrecently createdendowments and a look at how loved ones haveused endowments to carry on the legacy of those they have lost, see page 65. More information about the Partneringin the Journey Campaign – including videos, student spotlights and more – is available at acu.edu/journey. To donate,email Boone at [email protected] or give online at acu.edu/giveonline.�

Renovations to CitySquare facility in Dallas nearly complete,new grad programs announced Excitement is building at 511 N. AkardSt. as ACU’s new office and learning spacein downtown Dallas is taking shape andpreparing for a new semester of activity. ACU at CitySquare is a collaborativeinitiative with the nonprofit communityservice organization formerly known asCentral Dallas Ministries to providestudents in most disciplines of study anopportunity to connect their learning withthe real-world problem of urban poverty. The second floor of CitySquare’s 15-story headquarters in downtown Dallas was renovated this spring for offices,classrooms and collaborative space to beused year-round by a number of ACUacademic colleges and departments.

And beginning inFall 2014, the universitywill offer two newgraduate programsthrough ACU atCitySquare: a Master of Marriage and Family Therapy

degree with an emphasis in medical familytherapy and a one-year post-baccalaureatedietetic internship.Pending final approval by the Southern

Association of Colleges and SchoolsCommission on Colleges (SACSCOC),ACU plans to offer these graduateprograms to students at the Dallas

location. Both will allow ACU students toexperience the crossroads of classroomlearning and ministry. "CitySquare adds tremendous value to these programs," said Brandon Lemley,ACU’s director of graduate marketing.“Through Abilene Christian’s partnershipwith CitySquare, students in theseprograms will have direct interaction with those who are most in need. It also paves the way for some uniqueinternship opportunities that are notavailable anywhere else in the nation.” We’ll provide an up-close look at thefacilities of ACU at CitySquare in our Fall-Winter 2013 issue. For more: acu.edu/citysquare andfacebook.com/ACUatCitySquare �

C a m p u sNEWS




ACU again named Apple Distinguished Program

Abilene Christian’s mobile-learning initiatives earned it Apple DistinguishedProgram status for the 2012-13 school year, again joining a select group ofinstitutions recognized for exemplary learning environments. “We are especiallyexcited about the future of mobile learning at ACU in relation to the iPad. It is akey strategy in our development of lower-cost, interactive digital textbooks, andparticipatory learning environments that can benefit all ACU students,"said Dr. John Weaver, ACU dean of library services and educational technologies.

Duncum, Massey added to Board of Trustees

J. Mark Duncum (’83), owner and president of Double Creek Capital, Ltd., in Decatur, Texas, and Wayne Massey, M.D., (’66) professor of neurology at

Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., were recently named to ACU’s Board of Trustees. Duncum earned a B.B.A. degree in accounting and became a CPA whileworking in the Audit Division of Ernst & Young in Fort Worth from 1983-88. Heserves on the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy; the City of Decatur ZoningBoard of Adjustments; and on the boards of North Texas Bank, Wise RegionalHealth Foundation, Wise Regional Health System, and the Wise Area Relief Mission. Massey earned his medical degree in 1970 from the The University of TexasMedical Branch at Galveston and has served on the staffs of medical centers in five U.S. states. A retired commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve, Massey is a formermember of ACU's University Council and the National Development Council, andformer co-chair of the Executive Board of Science and Mathematics. His wife,Janice (Munn ’68) Massey, M.D., was an ACU trustee from 1990-2011.

The street level view ofACU at CitySquare (right)provides an eye-catchingreminder of Abilene Christian University’s new presence in downtown Dallas.

KELSEY EVANS

University’s endowment returnsagain rank among nation’s best For the last decade, Abilene Christianhas benefited from one of the topperforming endowments among collegesand universities in the U.S., according to the 2012 NACUBO-CommonfundStudy of Endowments. ACU earned theNo. 2 spot for the 10-year period ending June 30, 2012. The National Association of Collegeand University Business Officers(NACUBO) 2012 survey evaluated the endowments of 831 institutionsrepresenting more than $406 billion inassets. The average rate of return amongthose schools reporting 10-year results(456 institutions) was 6.2 percent,compared to ACU’s 10.4 percent. For all endowments with assets of more than $100 million, Abilene Christianhad the highest five-year return at 5.0 percent. “We are blessed to have a Board of Trustees that is progressive andinnovative,” said Jack Rich (’76), ACU’schief investment officer and manager of its $312 million endowment fund. “Over the years, they have adopted a highlydiversified portfolio that has approvedinvestments in private equity, hedge funds,energy and other alternative investments.” "We invest for the long term, and we are not overly concerned about monthlymarket movements,” said Rich. “Beyondthat, we work with the best fund managerswe can identify, who then invest on our behalf.” Rich is president of the AbileneChristian Investment ManagementCompany (ACIMCO), a wholly ownedsubsidiary of the university that managesits endowment.�


INNOVATIVEACU

University presses at faith-basedinstitutions are a rare breed these days.Although many of the top secularuniversities in the U.S. sponsoruniversity presses, ACU is one of onlyseven faith-based institutions with one.Others are the University of NotreDame, Baylor University, CatholicUniversity of America, FordhamUniversity, Mercer University, and Texas Christian University. While Abilene Christianhas been in the publishingbusiness for many years,ACU Press began in 1984and produces up to 36 titleseach year. Its academic titlesfocus on the humanities,theology, church history and Christian education.Through its trade imprint,Leafwood Publishers, thepress publishes books for ageneral audience of Christian readers,including memoir, Bible studies anddevotionals, and books related toministry and the Christian life. The press also is a member of the 130-member Association of AmericanUniversity Presses. While ACU Press books are aimed atan academic audience, Leafwood titleshave a wider reach and are distributedthrough national media outlets such as LifeWay Christian Stores, FamilyChristian Stores, Mardel, Barnes & Noble, Sam’s Club, and Costco. According to Dr. Leonard Allen,ACU Press director and editor-in-chief, the division of imprints is typical: manyuniversity presses publish trade booksappealing to a broader audience, whichbring in both revenue and exposure.

Although ACU Press receives fundingfrom the university (and is designated as a nonprofit), Allen and his staff arealways searching for ways to sell morebooks and make their enterprise morecost-effective. In late April at the 2013 PepperdineUniversity Bible Lectures, ACU Pressdistributed The Story of Churches ofChrist, a new publication by Dr. Douglas

Foster, ACU professor ofchurch history. The smallbooklet gives a brief history of Churches of Christ inAmerica, describing themovement’s strengths andchallenges. It is availableonline and also will be sold at ACU Summit inSeptember. It highlightsACU Press’ commitment to engaging thoughtfullywith Churches of Christ.

“We are extending the reach and visibility of Abilene Christianthroughout academia and the church,”Allen said. “It is increasing ACU’snational reputation, serving the churchwith cutting-edge books, building faith, and supporting Christian highereducation throughout the world.” Because of the growing popularity of e-readers, ACU Press and Leafwoodhave been busy digitizing inventory, andnow have more than 170 ebooks in theircatalogs. Their products can be foundon Apple’s iBookstore, Amazon’s Kindlestore, Barnes & Noble’s Nook store, and the Kobo store. They will soon beavailable on many other ebook retailsites and library services, as well.�For more: acupressbooks.comand leafwoodpublishers.com

ACU Press, Leafwood navigating book publishing tides

New faculty added for 2012-13 school year

Abilene Christian has 243 full-time faculty members and 94 percent of those ona tenure track hold terminal degrees. The following were added to the faculty forthe 2012-13 school year:

• Dr. Dale Bertram, professor of marriage and family therapy• Jennifer (Baker ’00) Golden, assistant professor of management sciences• Dr. Bruce Hopkins (’80), assistant professor of chemistry*• Dr. Becky Hammack, associate professor of nursing and dean of the School of Nursing

• Dr. Andrew Huddleston (’00), assistant professor of teacher education• Kelly Knight, J.D., instructor of political science• Megan May, assistant professor of library science

• Dr. Ron Morgan (’81), professor of history• Dr. Kenneth Olree, associate professor of engineering and physics• Rhonda Pupella, assistant professor of social work• Dr. Carson Reed (’95 D.Min.), assistant professor of practical theology• Dr. Robert Rhodes, professor of psychology and provost• Dr. Matt Roberson, assistant professor of musicology and department chair• Marcia (Rives ’93) Straughn, instructor of nursing• Dr. Kyle Tippens (’91), assistant professor of accounting and finance• Dr. Martha (Thomas ’70) Smallwood, assistant professor of exercise science*• Diana (Ellis ’88) Taylor, assistant professor of communication disorders*• Dr. Jeanine Varner, professor of English*

* Added to faculty as of Spring 2012

Barnier named new head track and field coach

Keith Barnier, head track and field coach for 11 years at Minnesota State-Moorhead, was named to the same role at ACU in a press conference May 13. “It's tough to leave my almamater because we've done some great things here. But I couldn't pass up the chance to coach track and field atACU,” he said. “It is one of the legendary programs in oursport, and I’m looking forward to the chance to lead itthrough the transition to NCAA Division I and back to aplace of prominence.” Barnier was previously an assistantcoach and recruiting coordinator at the University ofAlabama and at Clemson University.

‘Starting Five’ honors best basketball stars of LSC era

Throughout the early part of 2013, ACU basketball fans had an opportunity tovote online and at games for the top 10 men’s and women’s players during theWildcats’ 40 years in the Lone Star Conference, and each of those teams washonored and recognized before its final NCAA Division II home games in March.

The top five vote-getters on the women’s team were Jennifer (Clarkson ‘96)Frazier, Claudia Schleyer (‘86), Anita Vigil (‘92), Melanie Carter (‘04) andDeonna (Moore ‘86) Shake. The top five on the men’s team were Jared Mosley(‘00), Randall Moore (‘80), Andrew Prince (‘75), Hunter Cooley (‘92) andPeter Kiganya (‘03).

A sixth player was added to each team: Caroline Omamo (‘98) for thewomen and Rodney Fedell (‘80) for the men.


Determined, dedicated Coppedge becomes 28th Wildcat to winNCAA Postgraduate Scholarship

e all-conference, all-region andacademic all-America accolades steadilyheaped upon Julie Coppedge throughouther collegiate career were largely the product of hard work, passion and discipline.

But these positive attributes wereinstilled and reinforced through a tragicsituation a decade ago when her olderbrother Chris, then 18 years old, died whena car in which he was riding was struck byan individual being pursued by police in a high-speed chase.

e youngest of three children, Juliewas 12 when Chris died and it’s possible hispassing would have devastated the familyeven more if not for its unshakeable faith.Julie’s mother also offered strength and

support to her family as someone who hadalready experienced the cruelty of suddenunexpected loss.

“My mom lost her mom at age 10 and her dad when she was 22,” said Julie.“Even after losing her son, I could see there was nothing she couldn’t overcome.e incident caused a lot of hurt, but I waspropelled by it, and my mother’s lessons tome during that time were to ‘never give up’and ‘have a passion to go after everything.’”

Her mother’s instructions helped set the stage for a collegiate life that has done nothing but flourish.

As a midfielder on the ACU soccerteam, Julie finished her career rankedamong the university’s all-time leaders in points and assists. She also made fiveall-region squads, four all-Lone StarConference teams, and in 2012 earned her first academic all-America citation,followed by a NCAA PostgraduateScholarship valued at $7,500.

Julie also never missed any of her 82

matches yet still found time to work as awriter and photographer for the Optimistnewspaper, serve as an on-air announcerfor NPR affiliate KACU-FM, and internduring the summer with Kimberly-Clarkand the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

“I’m lucky to have been advised by somany great mentors at ACU,” she said. “I can still remember [former ACU headfootball coach] Dr. Bob Strader (’76) tellingme to ‘go where your desires and talentsintersect,’ and I immediately made a list ofwhat I was good at and passionate about.Most of the list centered on writing and communication.”

Julie’s excellence in the classroomallowed her to graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in advertising and public relations, with the added luxury of having a full-time job waiting for herupon graduation. rough a connection at Kimberly-Clark, Julie was introduced toHCK2 Partners and started working for theDallas-based public relations firm in May.

It was one of several offers she receivedmonths before Commencement.

“is was such a huge transition for me,and I didn’t know which job to look at first,”said Julie. “I asked God to lead me, andwhile He didn’t provide a direct answer, Iremembered that nothing can be a mistakewith a God who can redeem anything. I was afraid, but was reminded that fear is what takes us away from where God is.”

Julie’s success as a student-athletemakes her an ideal candidate to lead toursaround campus for future Wildcats. Whenshe does, her advice to them is a messageof sacrifice. She also encourages them to live in the present and to develop theirown definitions of success and purpose.She believes her purpose is to impart the joy of God into others throughcommunication.

His place in her life has helped herovercome tragedy and enabled her to set an example among friends who know they,too, can conquer their fears through God.�

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Julie Coppedge

W i l d c a t SPORTS For the latest, visit acusports.comfacebook.com/ACUsportstwitter.com/ACUsportsgplus.to/abilenechristian

Five to be inducted in October to ACU Sports Hall of Fame

Hunter Cooley (‘92) and Kathy (Williams ‘79) Moore headline five ACU greatswho will be inducted into the ACU Sports Hall of Fame in October. The class alsoincludes football players Chip Martin (‘75) and Dr. Jack Griggs (‘64), as well asformer football player and longtime assistant coach Jerry Wilson (‘71).

The five will be inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame on Friday, Oct. 18, duringceremonies at the Hunter Welcome Center. Tickets to the event can be purchased bycalling 325-674-2353.

Cooley was recently named to the ACU men’s basketball “Starting Five” for theLone Star Conference era and finished his career as the ninth-leading scorer inprogram history with 1,395 points.

Moore was a standout volleyball player and the first female winner of the

Paul Goad Award (1979), which honors the top male and female athletes at ACU each year. She later served seven seasons as the Wildcats’ volleyball coach.

Martin was a two-sport (track and football) standout in the early 1970s. In 1973 he set the then-Southland Conference record in the shot put at 60-1/4. He also was a first team all-America football player in 1973, helping the Wildcats to the NAIA Division I national championship.

Griggs was ACU’s first academic all-America (1963) honoree. He serves theuniversity as the Overton Faubus Professor Emeritus of Business and previously wasprofessor and dean of its College of Business Administration.

Wilson coached 27 years at ACU, including on both of its NAIA Division I nationalchampionship teams. He was a defensive assistant for the 1973 squad and defensivecoordinator of the 1977 title team.


Rarely is a collegiate football program blessed with one record-settingquarterback. So imagine how fortunateACU head coach Ken Collums must feel to have coached two over the past eight seasons.

And not just record-settingquarterbacks, but a pair who etched their names alongside some of the topplayers in NCAA football history.

When senior Mitchell Gale took the final snap of his collegiate career onNov. 10, 2012, in a win over IncarnateWord, it lowered the curtain on a sustained run of excellence only seen by quarterbacks at two otheruniversities: Hawaii and Houston.

His final completion that night –a 17-yard pass to DeMarcus ompsonlate in the fourth quarter – gave him 408yards for the game and 12,109 yards in hiscareer, breaking the Lone Star Conferenceand ACU career records of 12,012 set by hispredecessor, Billy Malone, who directedthe Wildcat offense from 2005-08.

Gale entered the game needing 299 yards to reach 12,000 for his career, and a 15-yard pass to ompson in the third quarter placed him at exactly thatmark. On the Wildcats’ next drive, he andompson connected for 28 yards, pushingGale past Malone in the record books.

e stats put ACU in rare company: one of only three NCAA programs withconsecutive quarterbacks to each pass for more than 12,000 career yards. Hawaiidid it first with Timmy Chang (17,072 yards from 2001-04) and Colt Brennan(14,193 yards from 2005-07), and Houstonrepeated the feat with Kevin Kolb (12,964yards from 2003-06) and Abilene nativeCase Keenum (NCAA-record 19,127 yardsfrom 2007-11).

Gale’s career started inauspiciouslywhen he arrived in August 2008 as astrong-armed freshman from Alva, Okla.

“He finished his career light-years fromwhere he started it in 2008,” Collums saidwith a laugh after the UIW game. “Hedidn’t have a clue what was going on mostof the time. I kicked him out of practicesand fired him from drills several times.

“He didn’t show up as polished aquarterback as the way he finished,”Collums said. “He’s hard-headed like mostreally good quarterbacks can be. He andBilly Malone are two of the hardest-headedguys I’ve ever been around, but that’s alsopart of the reason they were so good andhad such great careers.”

Like Malone, Gale directed the Wildcatsto three NCAA Division II playoff berths,one LSC championship, one undefeatedregular season, and 30 wins as the startingquarterback. In fact, over the eight years they were the Wildcats’ starting

quarterbacks, Malone and Gale each led ACU to a 30-12 record.

Malone and Gale also combined tothrow for 211 touchdown passes. and Galesurpassed Malone as the league and ACUall-time leader in completions (931 to 818),attempts (1,513 to 1,320), total offensiveplays (1,755 to 1,439) and total offensiveyards (12,177 to 12,065).

“I had no idea when I got to ACU where this career would take me. I was asfar away from knowing as anyone couldbe,” Gale said. “But it’s a testament to God’splan for His people. I’m thankful to have aCreator who intimately loves me and hasblessed me with more than football. I’mthankful to my coaches, my teammates andeach person around me who has helped megrow and mold me into the person I’vebecome during my time at ACU.”

While Gale was not selected in April in the 2013 NFL Draft, heparticipated in mini-camps for thedefending Canadian Football Leaguechampion Toronto Argonauts and theNFL’s St. Louis Rams, eventually signingwith Toronto.�

Gale’s career heroics put ACU QBs in elite NCAA company

Teammates douse Gale (15) in San Antonio afterhe broke the ACU and LSC career passing record.

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Gale ledACU teamsto the NCAAnationalplayoffs three times.

S p o r t s ROUNDUP


Men’s Basketball • The Wildcats finished 12-14 overall and 6-12 in the Lone Star Conference during the second year of the Joe Golding (’99) coaching era.

• Senior guard Eric Lawton was voted second team all-LSC and became the first ACU men’s player to earnNewcomer of the Year honors. Lawton was one of the topscorers in the league with 17.3 points per game.

• Senior center Steven Werner, who averaged 11.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, was named honorable mention all-LSC.

Women’s Basketball • Under the direction of first-year head coach JulieGoodenough, ACU claimed a share of its ninth women’sconference championship (with Midwestern State) andqualified for their first NCAA postseason appearance since 2008-09. The Wildcats finished their final season as an NCAA Division II member at 21-7 after losing toTexas-Permian Basin in the regional quarterfinals, 70-68.

• Junior guard Mackenzie Lankford was voted second team Daktronics NCAA Division II all-South Central Region.Lankford, a second-team honoree as a freshman in 2010-11and a first-team selection as a sophomore in 2011-12, is only the third ACU Wildcat to earn three Daktronics all-region honors, joining Melanie Carter (’04) and Audrey Maxwell-Lively (’09). Lankford averaged a team-best 14.3 points per game and shot 40.9 percentfrom the field.

• Lankford also became the eighth and final Wildcat women’s basketball player to earn a third straight first team all-Lone Star Conference award. Junior forward Renata Marquez (second team) and senior center Kelsey Smith (honorable mention) also were honored by the LSC for their fine play. Julie Goodenoughwas voted co-Coach of the Year, along with Texas A&M-Commerce head coach Nicole Anderson, and ACU first-year point guard Whitney West was voted the league’s Freshman of the Year.

Track and Field • The Wildcats swept both team titles in the inaugural LSC Indoor Championships in Lubbock, where the women’steam won its first LSC track and field crown since the 2008 outdoor meet with a decisive 150-98 advantage over runner-up West Texas A&M. The men came from behind to hold off Texas A&M-Kingsville, 149-142. Both teams finished third at the LSC Outdoor Championships.

• All-conference honors were presented to 14 Wildcats,including Jordan Geary, who was named Outstanding Male Track Athlete, and Amanda Ouedraogo, theOutstanding Female Field Athlete.

• ACU’s women’s team placed 10th at the NCAA Division IIIndoor Track and Field Championships with 24 points.Amanda Ouedraogo finished as the national runner-up in the triple jump and was one of seven Wildcats to earn all-America status along with Elea Diarra(400m, 4x400m), Johnathan Farquharson (60m), Ayesha Rumble (4x400m), Shennae Steele (4x400m),Chloe Susset (mile) and Reyare Thomas (60m, 200m and 4x400m).

• Ouedraogo broke ACU records in the indoor and outdoor triple jumps. A native of Hauts de Seine, France, she won the LSC indoor title with a distanceof 43-1/2 (13.12 meters), and later placed sixth outdoors at the 55th annual Mt. SAC Relays with a career-best effort of 43-6 (13.26 meters).

• Jerrod Cook was named the NCAA Division II South Central Region Men'sIndoor Track and Field Assistant Coach of the Year. His throwers scored 24 pointsat the LSC Indoor Championships, led by senior Baptiste Kerjean’s win in theweight throw.

• Eighteen Wildcats were named to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross CountryCoaches Association (USTFCCCA) all-South Central Region teams.

Baseball• Senior Kyle Conwell tied a school single-game record with three home runs and led the Wildcats to a 5-4 victoryover Eastern New Mexico on March 29 at Crutcher ScottField. The only other Wildcat to accomplish the feat wasJoel Wells (’06), who did it against Tarleton State in 2006.Conwell's final round-tripper served as ACU's first walk-offhome run since 2008.

• The National Collegiate Baseball Writer's AssociationWednesday selected junior third baseman Kyle Giustias its NCAA Division II National Hitter of the Week onMarch 20. The Santa Fe, Texas, native was honored afterhitting .550 with seven RBI in six games vs. No. 1-rankedDelta State and No. 24 Incarnate Word.

• Carter Hahn, Brady Rodriguez, Ty Taylor and AaronLambrix earned consecutive LSC Pitcher of the Weekawards from March 5-25.

•Guisti and Rodriguez were named first team all-LSC.Guisti, who batted .358 with 40 RBI, was chosen first-teamall-region by the American Baseball Coaches Association.Rodriguez, a relief pitcher, had a team-best ERA of 2.29.The Wildcats finished 29-24 overall and 15-13 in the LSC.

Softball• ACU placed first in the Bronze Bracket at the prestigiousNational Fastpitch Coaches Association Division-II LeadoffClassic. The Wildcats defeated Minnesota-Mankato, 5-2,and CSU-San Bernardino, 8-3, on the tournament’s finalday to finish the six-game showcase with a 4-2 record.

• The Wildcats scored a school-record 25 runs April 19 atEastern New Mexico. The previous record was 22, setagainst Texas-Permian Basin in 1998 and ENMU in 2011.

• Seven members of the 2012 Wildcat softball team,including current players Madison Buckley, Shelby Hall,Peyton Mosley, Ashley Nolan and Sara Vaughn, weretabbed National Fastpitch Coaches Association all-AmericaScholar Athletes at the start of the 2013 season.

• Senior outfielder Keanna Winkfield batted .396 andscored 48 runs. She was voted first-team all-region by theNational Fastpitch Coaches Association and second-teamall-region by Daktronics. The 2013 team finished 28-26overall, 13-15 in the LSC.

Golf• Senior Alex Carpenter represented the United Statesthis summer at the 2013 Palmer Cup. The annual RyderCup-style competition was scheduled to be played June 7-9 at Wilmington (Del.) Country Club. Carpenter, who previously represented the U.S. at the 2011 PalmerCup, earned his fourth LSC Player of the Year award andalso was featured on Sports Illustrated’s “Faces in theCrowd”(April 22) after winning his 20th collegiatetournament at the Dallas Baptist Classic. He became the first ACU golfer to be named all-America four times.

• Sophomore Corbin Renner placed second (even-par 216)at the LSC Championship.

Men’s Tennis• The Wildcats finished 14-15 after falling, 5-4, in the LSCChampionship match to Midwestern State. Postseasonhonors were presented to three-time LSC Player of the YearHans Hach, sophomores Borja Cortés and Guilherme

Gesser, and freshmen Jason Proctor and Nicklas Wingord.

Women’s Tennis• ACU won its 25th and final LSC title with a 5-0 shutout of Midwestern State.Conference postseason honors were awarded to three-time LSC Player of theYear Julia Mongin, Micah and Kaysie Hermsdorf, Hannah Kelley, LauraMongin and Brittney Reed. Hutton Jones earned his fourth women’s LSCHead Coach of the Year honor.

• Jones’ team made its 25th straight appearance in the NCAA Championships,losing 5-2 in the semifinals to eventual national runnerup BYU-Hawaii. The Wildcats finished with a record of 29-6.

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JohnathanFarquharson

Y O U R G I F T S A T W O R K

6 5A C U T O D A Y � S p r i n g 2 0 1 3

Endowed scholarships provide honor, hope Dr. Darryl Jinkerson, associate professor of management,was remembered as “an authentic human being” who maintainedclose relationships with God, his family and his students beforehis untimely death in October 2012. e joyful, effervescent personality of ACU junior Lindsey Smith left a permanent impression on those who knew her and grieved her loss in a January truck accident. Ten-year-old Rex Fleming’s battle with cancer inspired thousands of people across Abilene before it ended – victoriously,his parents affirm – once and for all in December 2012. Out of the grief and loss left by their absence, family andfriends have taken steps to help future generations feel the life-changing effects of having known Darryl, Lindsey or Rex.Each has been memorialized through the creation of an endowedscholarship, cementing a legacy to be felt for decades. “Cancer is a very tough opponent, but we know that one day a cure will be found so no other family will suffer the loss of a child as we did,” said Lance Fleming (’92), Rex’s father andACU assistant director of athletics for media relations, whohelped set up a scholarship for student-athletes in pre-medicalfields. “Wouldn’t it be great if one of the doctors on the team that finally cracks the code to cure cancer went to ACU with help from the Rex Fleming Endowed Scholarship?” As part of the Partnering in the Journey Campaignto raise $50 million in endowed scholarships (see page 60), family,friends and other loved ones have created 26 new endowmentssince December, honoring exceptional servants and leaders, living and deceased. e endowments provide scholarship funds for students indefinitely as they are invested by ACU’s nationally recognized investment services team. More than that, they serve as a perpetual monument to the enduring memories of those they honor. e Lindsey Lee Smith “Live Out Loud” Study AbroadScholarship Endowment not only captures a defining aspect of her personality but provides scholarships for Study Abroad,one of her passions at ACU. A student-organized dance in February raised nearly $5,000 for the fund. Likewise, the Dr. Darryl and Cindy Jinkerson COBA Study Abroad Scholarship Endowment honors Jinkerson’s passion for intercultural learning. An April golf scramble raisedmore than $10,000 for the endowment. “ey loved my dad so much that they wanted to come out and support it,” Rachel (Jinkerson ’11) Goodman told the Optimist. “It’s just kind of humbling and makes me wish I could live up to what he lived up to.”�

To learn more about student scholarships: acu.edu/giveonline

New scholarship endowments created

• Lynn and Carolyn Anderson Endowed Scholarship• Baker Family Leadership Endowed Scholarship• Delma Butrum Brazle Endowed Scholarship• Collier-Branscome Endowed Scholarship• Lloyd Glenn Cummins Endowed Scholarship• Ellis/Stockdale Family Endowed Scholarship• First Colony Church of Christ Honor Endowment• Judy Fisher Endowed Scholarship• Rex Fleming Endowed Scholarship• Fridge Family Honor Endowed Scholarship

• Rhonda Holder Endowed Scholarship• Morris and Doris Howard Endowed Scholarship• Hutcheson-Scott Endowed Scholarship• Dr. Darryl and Cindy Jinkerson COBA Study AbroadEndowed Scholarship

• Courtney and Elaine King Endowed Scholarship• McCaleb Family Lynay Endowed Scholarship• Robert Orr Endowed Football Scholarship• Professor Paul Morris Endowed Scholarship• Willa B Patterson Endowed Scholarship• Gregg Pearson Memorial Endowed Scholarship• Phillips Family Endowed Scholarship

• Priceless Literacy/Kaye Price-Hawkins Endowed Scholarship

• Scott Foundation Endowed Scholarship• Lindsey Lee Smith “Live Out Loud” Endowed Scholarship

• Darlene Voss Endowed Scholarship• Webb Family Endowed Scholarship To create your own endowed scholarship or contributeto an existing one, see acu.edu.giveonline or call 800-588-1514.

$50E X A M P L E S O F T H E P O W E R O F A M O N T H LY G I F T

$100 brings a guest artist to campus to teach a theatre master class.

$300 purchases a 3-D printer for the Department of Engineering and Physics.

Totals represent giving by a class since its previous reunion.

$310,157FA C U LT Y/ S T A F F G I V I N G I N 2 0 1 2 -1 3 (as of May 16, 2013)

Annual participationfrom ACU facultyand staff rose 7%

2011-12 2010-11 2009-10 2008-09 2007-08

$917,1062 0 1 2 H O M E C O M I N G R E U N I O N C L A S S D O N A T I O N S

S T U D E N T S R E C E I V I N G S C H O L A R S H I P S F R O M A C U

1967$8

4,814

$132

,430

$157,800

$143

,972

$137,625

$165

,079

19721977

1982

19871992

develops six orientation-relatedpodcasts to help ease the transitionfor new students in the GraduateSchool of "eology.

77.3% 74.4% 68.9% 71.1% 70.9%

1958Charles (’60) and Erma J. (Alkire) Loveland are

enjoying retirement. 1090 Larned Lane, Abilene, TX [email protected]

1959Bill (’57) and Lily Jo (Walters) Abston have a new

address. Bill continues his consulting work and Lily Jo isretired. 1470 S. John King Blvd., #6100, Rockwall, TX78032. [email protected]

1960 Richard and Justine Robb have a new address. 8501 Onyx Drive S.W., Lakewood, WA [email protected]

1962David and Claudia (Chambers ’63) Sowell will

celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary July 13, 2013.9849 Larchcrest, Dallas, TX 75238.

1963DeWain Rhoads is retired as of September 2012.

4866 Twain Ave., San Diego, CA 92120.

1964Pat and Carolyn (Cawley ’65) Agnew have a new

address. 8925 Whitehead St., McKinney, TX 75070.

1966David and Peggy Bryan lost a daughter,

34-year-old Rebecca Jean, in a car accident July 15, 2011.2238 Haystack Way, Myrtle Beach, SC 29579.

1968Gailian and Alita Bagley have a new address.

8224 Breakers Blvd., South Padre Island, TX [email protected]

Joe Holley writes the Native Texan column for the Houston Chronicle. He is the author of Slingin’ Sam:

The Life and Times of the Greatest Quarterback Ever toPlay the Game (see page 55). 309 Bomar, Houston, TX77006. [email protected]

Larry Wishard recently celebrated 30 years asminister of the Southeast Church of Christ in Aurora, Colo.,and planned to retire this spring. He and Sheila Lynn(Self) have two children, Jeffrey (’99) and Amy Lynn(Wishard) Goggin, and two grandsons. 17031 East PrenticeDrive, Centennial, CO 80015. [email protected]

1969Ronald and Barbara (Caraway) Pace have a new

address. 11406 Old Mission Road, Houston, TX [email protected]

Geri (McEachern) Jimenez is the author of GottaBe Tough in Texas, illustrated by her son, Mik. 550 E.N.22nd St., Abilene, TX 79601. [email protected]

MaryAnn (Carlton) Shockley and her husband,Mark, are both retired. 9626 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix,AZ 85020. [email protected]

Gary and Faith Cummings are in their third year hosting exchange students for the Council onInternational Educational Exchange. 13 Freedom Place,Waynesboro, VA 22980. [email protected]

1970Jim and Sherry (Griffin) Martin have a new

address. 1114 McAlpin Road, Midlothian, TX [email protected]

1972Ralph Seegren III lives in Huntsville.

3019 Sam Houston Avenue, Apt. F-202, Huntsville, TX77340. [email protected]

The Class of 1964 will celebrate itsGolden Anniversary Reunion oncampus in 2014.

Submit your news online at blogs.acu.edu/acutoday/experiencesor use the EXperiences card in each issue of the magazine.Deadlines: ACU Today is published two times a year (June and December). Because of

printing deadlines, your news could be delayed by one issue. Births and adoptions: Please indicate whether the addition to your family is a boy or girl. Marriages: Remember to indicate the date and place of your marriage.In Memoriam: A member of the deceased’s immediate family should submit this

notification. Please include class year for all former ACU students in the family.

EXPERIENCES

ACU’s first Homecoming Queen, Addie (Rheiner ’55) Felts, was Homecoming Parade grand marshal inOctober 2012. In the image above from Homecoming 1951, Bob Davidson (’52) escorts three of the queennominees onto the football field at Fair Park: Ruth Heggie (’53), Rheiner and Ginger Atkinson (’55). Felts isretired and living in Brownwood after a long career as associate ACU professor of health, physicaleducation and recreation, and as the Wildcats’ first women’s head track and field coach. All five of herchildren and 16 of 20 grandkids have attended ACU. The 16th is her namesake: freshman Addie JaneShipley (see inset).

Felts was honoredduring HomecomingChapel in MoodyColiseum.


STEVE BUTMAN

A C U N E W S M A K E R S Austin attorney Jeffrey S. Boyd (’83)became only the second ACU graduate tobe named to the Texas Supreme Court

when Gov. Rick Perryselected him to fill theuncompleted term of DaleWainwright. Boyd (left), whohad served as Perry’s chief of staff and is a former deputyattorney general forcivil litigation, beganwork on the court Dec. 3, 2012. Jack Pope (’34)

was ACU’s first graduate to serve as a Texas Supreme Court jurist in1964 before being named chiefjustice in 1982. He was honoredApril 18, 2013, in the Texas House of Representatives on his 100th birthday. Frieda Floyd Jackson (’70), a teacher at Dallas Christian School, was namedNational Christian Schools Associationteacher of the year at the NCSA conferencein March 2013 in Oklahoma City. Dr. Robert Homsher (’03) received the Sean W. Deaver Memorial Prize from the W.F. Albright Institute ofArchaeological Research. He is a supervisoron the Megiddo Expedition and senior field supervisor for the Jezreel ValleyRegional Project. In Munich, Germany, Dr. H. Jeff Kimble(’71) received the Herbert Walther Awardfrom the Optical Society and the DeutschePhysikalische Gesellschaft. Former ACU head coach Don W. Hood(’55) was inducted to Texas Track and FieldCoaches Association Hall of Fame. Former ACU men’s basketball standout

Kevin Starks (’98) wasnamed the NationalChristian SchoolAssociation’s 2012Coach of the Year. He is vice president,athletics director andboys’ head basketballcoach at Harding

Academy in Memphis, Tenn. Starks taughtpreviously at Dallas Christian School andFort Worth Christian School. Eric Harrell (’95), associate professorand chair of theatre at Regent University, isproducing artistic director for TidewaterStage, a new professional theatre company in Virginia Beach, Va. Dr. James R. Wilburn (’53), dean of the Pepperdine University School ofPublic Policy, was honored by Pepperdinefor 40 years of service as provost, chief

operating officer, vice president foruniversity affairs, and dean of the School of Business and Management. Religion and the AmericanConstitutional Experiment, a 2010 textbookco-authored by Dr. Joel Nichols (’95), hasbeen translated by Westview Press for useby law school students in China. Nichols is associate dean for academic affairs atUniversity of St. omas School of Law and a senior fellow at Emory University’sCenter for Law and the Study of Religion. Joy (Polvado ’84) Ellinger, TaylorCounty GOP chairwoman, attended thepresident’s State of the Union address Feb. 12 in Washington, D.C., as a guest of Texas Rep. Randy Neugebauer. U.S. Rep. Ted Poe (’70) and U.S. Rep.Janice Hahn (’74) were each named 2013Port Person of the Year by the bipartisanPORTS Caucus (American Association of Port Authorities). Monica Smith (’06) was one of 12 Bestof Show awardees in the U.S. Departmentof State’s photo contest, “Serving Abroad …rough eir Eyes.” Dr. Lorraine (Clary ’76) Wilson and her husband, J Wilson (’76), helpedconduct a coaching clinic in May 2012 atLira Integrated School in Uganda. Lorrainetaught swimming instructors and J helpedwith construction of outdoor basketballcourts. ey will return this summer with ACU staff and students. Lorraine is a longtime assistant professor ofkinesiology and nutrition. Essie (Charles ’75) Childers, a professorat Blinn College, was elected vice presidentof the Texas Community College TeachersAssociation. e 6,000-member TCCTA is

the largest organizations of postsecondaryeducators in Texas. She also is founder ofYoung Ladies Success, an organization thatconducts seminars providing motivationalsessions, career information and financialeducation for middle school girls. ACU president Dr. Phil Schubert (’91)was a panel speaker on “Innovations inOnline Learning” in e Texas Tribune’ssymposium on higher education at Texas A&M University. Danny Kittley (’86), owner of KittleySports Promotions, was named generalmanager of the Abilene Bombers, an indoorarena football franchise in the Lone StarFootball League. Dr. William Rankin, ACU professor of language and literature, and director of educational innovation, has been named the new director of education andpedagogies at Apple, Inc. He has been anApple Distinguished Educator and amember of its Advisory Board. Chris (’06) and Stacy (Webb ’06) Fieldlead Mercy Project, a humanitarian effort torescue child slaves in Ghana, West Africa. Larry Sanders (’76) teamed with ACU’s Department of Political Science on Oct. 14 to commemorate the 50thanniversary of the 1962 Cuban MissileCrisis. Sanders owns Lawn Atlas MissileBase. e events included ACU studentsand faculty, veterans of the 578th StrategicMissile Squadron, civic leaders from the 1960s, and military representatives. Linda Egle (’73), founder of Eternalreads, received the Norman BorlaugHumanitarian Award from MedAssets at its annual summit in early April in Las Vegas, Nev.


Boyd

Jack Pope was saluted April 18, 2013, by the Texas House of Representatives in Austin on his 100th birthday.

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ALLEN GILLESPIE

Callen Mays Hinton, son ofTrent and Tyler (King ’05)Hinton of York, Neb.

Brown Overton Faubus, son of Todd (’03) and Erin (Norton ’04) Faubus of Bentonville, Ark.

Talia Piper Hutchins,daughter of Brian Hutchinsand Leslie (Pickett ’04)Hutchins, M.D., ofChesterfield, Va.

Alex Aven, son of Anthony(’09) and Nikita (Chaney ’10)Aven of Dallas, Texas.

Adeaiah Marie Sindayigaya,daughter of Arthemon (’03)and Lydia (Blasingame ’10)Sindayigaya of Abilene, Texas.

Witt Derrick Griggs, son of Chad (’05) and AmberGriggs of Keller, Texas.

Wendy Rose Richards,daughter of George (’02) and Rachel (McGuire ’04)Richards of Lufkin, Texas.

Brody Jeffrey Brackeen, son of Chad and Jennifer (Thigpen ’02)Brackeen of Frisco, Texas; Jacqueline Kate Grimsley, daughter of Justin and Julie (Thigpen ’99) Grimsley of Fort Worth, Texas; and Kaycen Faith Thigpen, daughter of Jeffrey (’06) and Melissa (Koenig ’09) Thigpen of Fort Worth, Texas.

Luke Usrey, son of Marc (’03) and Molly(Videtto) Usrey of Winston-Salem, N.C.

Cora June Sargent, daughterof Steve (’03) and Chelsie(Fletcher ’05) Sargent ofHouston, Texas.

Garrett Lincoln Daulton, son of Eric and Laura (Rich ’03)Daulton of Garland, Texas.

Scout Luis Farmer, daughterof Ronnye and Jazmine(Caple ’03) Farmer of Moore, Okla.

Isla Jane McCloud and Ian Thomas McCloud, twins of TJ (’03) and Holly (Lewis ’03) McCloud of Nashville, Tenn.

Isabella Grace Sanchez,daughter of Randy andDeanna (Cromwell ’06)Sanchez of Carlsbad, N.M.

Kennedy Blair Fines,daughter of Barrett andCara (Cunningham ’06) Finesof Corpus Christi, Texas.

Wylie Taliaferro Sosebee, son of Jason (’99) and Sacia Glazener Sosebee of Fredericksburg, Va.


Shelbie Faith Standridge,daughter of Steven and Mendy (Wilson ’02)Standridge of Midland, Texas.

Menley Breann Boone,daughter of Casey andLyndi (Stuart ’08) Boone of Merkel, Texas.

Hunter Reid Halstead, son of Mitchell (’07) and Kayla (Dunn ’07) Halstead of Chattanooga, Tenn.

Aubrey Senter, daughter of Micah (’99) and Sherrill(Welborn ’03) Senter ofPrinceton, N.J.

Avery Parrish, daughter of Lance (’06) and Taylor (Tuerck ’06) Parrish of Kennedale, Texas.

Kinslee Annalise French,daughter of Cole (’06) andJeanette French ofFrederick, Md.

Brooks Cave, son ofMatthew (’98) and Becky (Clark ’00) Cave of Weatherford, Texas.

Layden Jackson, daughter of Chris (’06) and Andrea(Ivester ’06) Jackson of McKinney, Texas.

A L U M N I C O N N E C T I O N S We all feel the need to connect. We keep in touch with friends and family, join communities of faith,

and spend untold hoursmanaging accounts on Facebook, Twitterand Instagram in partbecause they are all waysto keep us connected –to each other, to God,even to ourselves.

Connection has always been acrucial part of ACU. The experienceof living on a college campus providesopportunities for deep, long-lastingconnection that remain unique. We hear from thousands ofalumni each year and see every daythe love you have for this university,and we try to channel that affectioninto ways to benefit you and ACU. Our alumni are ACU’s best sourcefor prospective students, for jobs andinternships for our current students,and for gifts that sustain for futuregenerations the amazing experienceACU provides. In return, the ACUconnection produces an instant bondin cities around the globe, opens upjob opportunities and provides acommunity in the unlikeliest places. To better connect with you, we’vemade some changes that will affectthe communication you see from us. We’re moving to a new vendor,called iModules, to manage theacu.edu/alumni website, the onlinedirectory and our emails to alumniand friends. We’re excited about this changeand the opportunity it provides foralumni to better connect with eachother and ACU. This month we'resending an email describing thischange and asking you to confirmsome basic information. Helping usthis way won’t take more than threeminutes, but for you it will:• Ease registration for class reunions,

Rangers games, networking eventsand more;

• Ensure you continue receivingfreebies from the Legacy program,birthday discounts from TheCampus Store, and other offers; and

• Help you stay connected to ACUthrough our monthly e-newsletterand other communication – andbetter personalize what you receivefrom us.

Thank you for helping us make asmooth transition! �

– CRAIG FISHER (’92)Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Projects


The Alumni Association willsend a FREE Wildcat BabyWear T-shirt to the alumni parents of each newborn or adopted infant in your family! Complete the EXperiences news card andmail it to us, or complete the info online atblogs.acu.edu/acutoday/experiences. In-focus, high-resolution digital images(minimum file size of 500kb; use your camera’shighest quality setting) of alumni childrenwearing their Wildcat BabyWear should be emailed to [email protected]. Call 800-373-4220 for more information.

B O R N T O B E A W I L D C A T

Perry Belcher and Lillian Hunter, daughters of Andrew(’06) and Julia (Thompson ’06) Belcher of Abilene, Texas, and Ryan and Rebecca (Belcher ’01) Hunter of Abilene, Texas.

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S E R V I N G Y O UA D V A N C I N G A C U Do you want to recommend a prospectivestudent, volunteer, host an event or just learn more about how you can be involved with ACU where you live? To help foster relationships with alumni and future students, ACU has assigned personnelfrom its Advancement and Admissions offices tomajor markets in Texas. A university relations manager (URM)focuses on establishing relationships with churchesand schools, an admissions counselor (AC)reaches out to future students and their parents,and an advancement officer (AO) assistsprospective donors seeking an opportunity to contribute funds to ACU. Through this territory team approach, thesededicated professionals can provide exceptionalservice to those who contribute so graciously to ACU’s mission and 21st-Century Vision.

DALLAS AREAToni Young • URM 214-402-5183, [email protected] Rideout • AC – Collin, Denton, Wise and Parker counties 325-674-2650 / 800-460-6228 [email protected] Ballard • AC – Dallas, Rockwall, Ellis and Kaufman counties 325-674-2650 / 800-460-6228 [email protected] Rieder • AO 325-674-6080, [email protected]

FORT WORTH AREABrent Barrow • URM 817-946-5917, [email protected] Beasley • AC – Tarrant, Johnson and Hood Counties 325-674-2650 / 800-460-6228 [email protected] Rieder • AO 325-674-6080, [email protected]

HOUSTON AREACarri Hill • URM 713-582-2123 • [email protected] Lewis • AC 325-674-2650 / 800-460-6228 [email protected] Fridge • AO 713-483-4004, [email protected]

AUSTIN AREATunisia Singleton • URM – Austin / Central Texas 512-450-4329 • [email protected] Fleet • AC – Austin, Central Texas 325-674-2650 / 800-460-6228 [email protected] Clem • AO – Austin / Central Texas 210-573-2475, [email protected]

SAN ANTONIO AREALaDonna Wilson • URM – San Antonio, South Texas 210-410-9014 • [email protected] Mark Moudy • AC – San Antonio, South Texas 325-674-2650 / 800-460-6228 [email protected] Clem • AO – San Antonio, South Texas 210-573-2475, [email protected]

WEST TEXAS AREACassie Baumann • AC 325-674-2650 / 800-460-6228 [email protected] Rogers • AO 325-674-2669, [email protected]


When asked why shebecame the university relationsmanager for Dallas last fall,Toni (Hale ’84) Youngdoesn’t hesitate before givingtwo reasons. “I love ACU,” she says. “And I love people.”

For Toni, a former teacher andadministrator in K-12 schools, the URM jobprovided a chance to do what she enjoys:meeting and talking to parents, counselors,ministers and students. As an alumna and aparent, Toni believes in ACU’s mission andrelishes the chance to engage prospectivestudents, parents and alumni. “I get excitedthinking about how a student’s experienceat ACU will be life-changing for them,” she says. “I am always looking for ways to connect alumni, students and parents to the university. “

Like other URMs, Toni rarelyexperiences a typical day on the job: hertasks range from visiting college and careercounselors at area high schools to planninga variety of events. She coordinatesvolunteers for those events and urgesalumni to “just say yes” when they are askedto help. “I would also encourage all alumnito give back to ACU,” she says, “whether ina monetary way or by giving their time.Alumni also are very important in helpingstudents find internships and jobs.”�

– KATIE NOAH GIBSONAUSTIN AREAfacebook.com/ACUAustin • acu.edu/austin• Alumni and Friends Luncheon speakers in 2013 haveincluded Dr. Paul Faulkner (’52) on Jan. 29 and JeffBoyd (’83) on March 28. Boyd was appointed to theTexas Supreme Court by Gov. Rick Perry, and beganserving Dec. 3, 2012 (See story on page 67). Faulkner isACU professor emeritus of Marriage and Family Institute.

• Purple and White Parties were held Nov. 15, 2012, at the Waco home of Keith (’92) and Martha Kate(Stallings ’92) Gunn, and April 11, 2013, at the home of Jay (’91) and Sylvia (Bell ’94) Burcham, where co-hosts were Mark (’84) and Tere (Anderson ’89)Hager, Craig (’84) and Geri (Hargrove ’85) Archer,John (’81) and Theresa (Varvel ’80) Newton,Robert and Stephanie (Elliot ’92) Grosz, andSteve (’84) and Stefani (Pearson ’87) Dillon.

• ACU Moms events in 2013 have been held Jan. 28 at the home of Jeanette Davis; Feb. 11 at Crestview Church of Christ, hosted by Kay(Coffee ’81) Williams; and April 2 at the home of Carmen (Andrews ’85) Plunk.

DALLAS AREAfacebook.com/ACUDallasacu.edu/dallas• John Siburt (’96) presented an update on exciting ACU at CitySquare developments during analumni networking luncheon Feb. 28, 2013, atSaltgrass Steakhouse. Siburt is assistant vicepresident for programs at CitySquare.

• Purple and White Parties were hosted by Dodd (’86)

and Kelly (Cooper ’86) Roberts on Nov. 12, 2012, and by Mark (’86) and April (Bullock ’89) Anthony,Greg (’82) and Niki Samuel, and Bill Minick (’82)on April 15, 2013, at Riverside Church of Christ.

FORT WORTH AREAfacebook.com/ACUFtworth • acu.edu/fort-worth• Ricky Lewis (’01) was the speaker at an alumninetworking luncheon Feb. 13 at Pappasito’s. Lewis isexecutive director of TeenLifeline.

• Nino (’92) and Alison (Money ’91) Elliott hosted aPurple and White Party at The Hills Church in Southlakeon April 14, 2013.

HOUSTON AREAfacebook.com/ACUHouston • acu.edu/houston• About 400 alumni, parents and other ACU fans attendeda pre-game party Feb. 2, 2013, in the center fieldChampions Pavilion at Minute Maid Park to watch theWildcats play in the season-opening Astros in ActionDivision II Baseball Invitational. Head coach BrittBonneau’s team split its four-game series Feb. 1-4 in the tournament and took time before its Feb. 2 game toplay whiffle ball at Stude Park with middle-schoolerswho live near Impact Houston Church of Christ. See pages 6-7.

• A casual, young alumni social was held April 25, 2013, with representatives of ACU’s College of BusinessAdministration at Goode Co. BBQ.

• Gary and Lee Anne (Moses ’80) Robbins hosted 65 students and parents Jan. 13, 2013, at a Purple andWhite Party at Clear Lake Church of Christ.

SAN ANTONIO AREAfacebook.com/ACUSanAntonioacu.edu/san-antonio• Wildcat Wednesday alumni networking luncheonspeakers in 2013 have included Chris Field (’06) on Jan. 30, Irene (Williams ’66) White on Feb. 27, RussellNoll (’79) on March 27 and Dr. Bob Kiser (’75) on April27. Field is executive director of Mercy Project, Noll is managing director for Transwestern, and Kiser is aretired Navy rear admiral.

• Jim (’83) and Debbie (Dorsey ’83) McKissickhosted a Purple and White Party in their home on March 26, 2013.

• Cheryl (George ’77) Green, Leslie McFadden andBeth (Scantland '84) Woolfolk hosted ACU Momsevents in their homes.

Toni Young connectsDallas alumni,students, parents

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Charlie (’89) and Amy Onstead, and their sons Chad, Samuel and Benjamin enjoyed watching the

Wildcats play baseball at Minute Maid Park.

JEREMY EN

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Austin / Central Texas area• Darbie (Wilson ’03) Angell• Craig (’84) and Geri (Hargrove ’85) Archer

• Gwyn Baird• Dayna Bell• Connor (’12) and Amanda (McVey ’12) Best

• Terra (Hardin ’82) Brimberry• Chelsea (Thornton ’01)Buchholtz

• Jay (’91) and Sylvia (Bell ’94) Burcham

• Pam Cobern• Jeanette Davis• Steve (’84) and Stefani (Pearson ’87) Dillon

• Ty (’02) and Charis (Dillman ’02) Dishman

• Julie Eichelberger (’10)• April (Ward ’06) Farris• Scott (’93) and Sandy (Miller ’92) Ferguson

• Jared Fields (’08)• Liz Fox• Robert and Stephanie (Elliot ’92) Grosz

• Mark and Sue Groveunder• Keith (’92) and Martha Kate(Stallings ’92) Gunn

• Jeff Hagemeier (’03)• Mark (’84) and Tere (Anderson ’89) Hager

• Ravanne Harris (’12)• Brian Jackson (’87) • Archie and Carol Johnson• Lisa (Scott ’86) Johnson• Gary (’85) and Bonny (Spoonts ’85) Jones

• Jim (’82) and Dana (Hodde ’81) Jones

• Steve (’72) and Judy (Hale ’75) Jones

• Michael Kern (’08)• Tanya Kirby• Sylvia (Tucker ’10) Mack• Mike (’87) and Shanie (Goodpasture ’88) Mayeux

• Bill (’81) and Jan (Seaberg ’82) McClellan

• Julie (Ward ’82) Metscher• John (’81) and Theresa (Varvel ’80) Newton

• Wendy Onken• Randy Pittenger (’80)• Carmen (Andrews ’85) Plunk• Shea Rattan (’12)• Gary (’85) and Lisa (Crumley ’87) Shake

• Mason Singleton (’09)• Steve (’84) and Becky (Bourland ’84) Sorrells

• Brantley Starr (’01) • Grant Williams (’12)• Steve and Kay (Coffee ’81) Williams

• Kelly Wilson (’12)

Dallas area• Laura (Mann ’00) Aguilar• Mark (’86) and April (Bullock ’89) Anthony

• Kristen (Edens ’92) Babovec• Suzanne (Shipp ’86) Baird• Bailey (Brown ’11) Beasley• Katherine Bowen (’06)• Bryan Brokaw (’05)

• Chris (’92) and Robin (Stonebarger ’91) Campbell

• Clark (’06) and Lindsay (Davis ’06) Chance

• Clay Chesser (’04)• Kelsey Davis (’12)• Terry (’81) and Betsy (Barber ’81) Davis

• Bryan Elrod (’11)• Trey Finley (’97)• Jonathan Garner (’10)• Ben Gonzalez (’09)• Jeremy Gordon (’03)• Hutch Haley (’82)• Hutton Harris (’08)• Lantz Howard• Kenyon Jackson (’13)• Eric Johnson (’07)• Rodney Johnson (’16)• John Kimberlin• Tara (Moreno ’03) Kirk• Jenna (Mauldin ’87) Mason• Matt McBryde• Rachel (Rainwater ’84)McClure

• Bryan (’86) and Nancy(Hickman ’86) Middlebrook

• Jamie Milstead (’01)• Bill (’82) and Melissa Tonn Minick

• Jason O’Quinn (’99)• Jim Orr (’86) • Courtney (Garner ’12) Orr• Lindsay Palmer (’15)• Greg Pirtle (’98)• Eric Powers (’07)• Phillip Powers (’09)• T’Neise Ragland (’15)• Dodd (’86) and Kelly (Cooper ’86) Roberts

• Greg (’82) and Niki Samuel• Bryan Sharp (’81)• Karissa Sherry (’12)• Lindsay (Legler ’00)Shuttlesworth

• John Siburt (’96)• Jamilah Spears (’14)• Shane (’06) and Crystal (Garner ’06) Spencer

• Amanda Stacy (’09)• Audrey (Pope ’85) Stevens• Tina Tamez (’10)• Brian and Jana (Oldfield ’87) Tinsley

• Sawyer Williams (’09)• Kendell Wilson (’10)

Fort Worth area • Ashlea (Allred ’08) Adams• Shay Aldriedge (’10)• Starlyn (Thomas ’86) Barrow• Sid Beebe (’89)• Norm and Diane (Eubanks ’71) Bradley

• Blake (’08) and Katie (Mack ’09) Browder

• Robert (’80) and Emily (Mahon ’81) Bullock

• Jeff and Kathleen (Stillwell ’09)Campbell

• Tammie (Minton ’83) Cotton• Jeff (’82) and Cindy (Fenner ’82) Craig

• Cory Curtis (’94)• Nino (’92) and Alison (Money ’91) Elliott

• Leslie Fry (’87)

• Reggie and Beverly (Adams ’82) Garner

• Jim and Avery Hobby• Brittney Hopkins (’12)• Jean (Anderson ’67) Kevil• Emily Miller (’12)• Britton New (’08)• Bryce (’12) and Julieanne (Mack ’12) Orr

• Doug (’83) and Jayne (Montgomery ’83) Orr

• Madeline Orr (’16) • Mason (’08) and Casey (Lewis ’08) Orr

• Monica Parodi (’12)• Melinda Perkins (’87)• Trenton (’09) and Kylie (Jennings ’09) Pope

• Scott (’83) and Debbie (Beebe ’83) Souder

• Dub (’74) and Val Stocker• Cheryl (Renninger ’88) Vela• Sally (Montgomery ’85)Westerlage

Houston area• Gary (’79) and Awilda (Randolph ’81) Acuff

• Mike (’98) and Melissa (Hall ’01) Avery

• Chad Baker (’99)• Bryce (’87) and Jennifer(Burton ’86) Baxter

• Jay Blackburn (’03)• Eddie Boyer (’99)• Adam Brennen (‘04)• Christine (Painter ’12) Cantrell• Paige (Henson ‘91) Cawyer• Kelsey Chrane (’12)• Austin Cunningham (’03)• Chris Dowell (’05)• Ralph Draper• John Duncum (’59)• Carl Etchison• Jordan Ferguson (’08)• Dave (’98) and Amy (Berry ’95) Fuller

• Lowell Good (’87)• Kim (Beustring ’86) Greer• Ashley (Downhour ’06) Gunter• Katie Hahn (’10)• Conner Halstead (’10)• Lauren Handley (’08)• Carson (’12) and Sara (Shoultz ’12) Henley

• Abby Holland (’10)• Brandon Kahla (’12)• Colter (‘95) and Elizabeth(Mitchen ‘96) Lewis

• Guy (’80) and Holly(Hollingsworth ’80) Lewis

• Katherine (Brown ‘02) Mach• Rick McCall (’81)• David (’95) and Jennifer (Prill ’96) Meredith

• Ronnie Norman (’92 M.S.)• Charles Onstead (‘89)• Kay Onstead• Anna Peters (’09)• Warner Phelps (‘01)• Sarah Pulis (’09)• Leigh (McCook ’88) Rhyne• Wade Richardson (’89)• Gary and Lee Anne (Moses ’80) Robbins

• Steve Sandifer (’70)• Justin (‘06) and Amanda(Pierce ‘06) Scott

• Sherri Scott (‘96)• Chris (’94) and Jacinda (Jackson ’95) Shanks

• Tara Shoemaker (’11) • Steve Smith (’74)• Andy Spell (‘85)• Donna Stone (’85)• Robin Werderich• James Wright (’03)

San Antonio area• Mark (’83) and Ellen (Gilliam ’83) Abshier

• Herb and Jennifer (England ’85) Allen

• Jon (’86) and Joanna (Gomez ’87) Anderson

• Dr. Lynn Anderson (’90 D.Min.)• Ross and Valinda (McAlister ’81) Bacon

• Randy Boggs (’80)• Ron (’80) and Lee (Ligon ’80) Booker

• Traci (O’Quinn ’93) Brown• Randy Couchman (’97 M.S.)• Ben (’00) and Rachel (Holsey ’01) Crain

• Chris (’87) and Mary Beth Cuevas

• Cecil (’71) and Judi (Hines ’68 M.M.F.T.) Eager

• Chris Field (’06)• Melanie (Booker ’06) Fry• Steve (’77) and Cheryl (George ’77) Green

• Christian Guerra (’06)• Brian Hailey (’03)• Russell (’86) and Gina (Gomez ’85) Harrison

• Larry Hobbs (’69)• Lauren (Lair ’05) Jones• Chris (’06) and Danielle (Lough ’07) Lair

• Matt (’83) and Lisa (Ball ’83) Lair

• Alice Ligon• Steve Mack (’82)• Leslie McFadden• Jim (’83) and Debbie (Dorsey ’83) McKissick

• Leon McNeil (’92)• Russell Noll (’79)• Jacob Raitz (’12)• Alan (’86) and Janice (Harris ’88) Rich

• Doris Schuetze• Scott Stumbo (’86)• Kevin Thompson (’99)• Tyler Truax (’10)• Andrew Voiles (’09)• Brendan (’05) and Erin (Utley ’07) Voss

• Irene (Williams ’66) White• Beth (Scantland ’88) Woolfolk• Hunter Woolfolk (’09)• Preston Woolfolk (’10)

West Texas area • Collette (Kuykendall ’93)Barragan

• Jason (’08) and Alyse (Ritchie ’11) Creed

• Grant Davis (’11)• Darren Hodges (’81)• Emily Hood (’11)• Joey Hopkins (’10)• Bill Jenkins (’92)• Stephanie (Wakely ’03) Lee • Jessica (Bills ’08) Neitsch• Julie (Goen ’04) Panger• Mark Speck (’80)• Jerry (’71) and Diane (Stevens ’70) Wilson

• Marilyn (Murdaugh ’60) Wood


More than 350 alumni, parents, students and other fans attended a tailgate before ACU’s Nov. 10 football game in San Antoniowith University of the Incarnate Word.

Kudos to our volunteerse following volunteers have served ACU during the 2012-13 school year in each of these territories. If you are interested in volunteering,contact your URM and discover ways to get involved!

1974Alex and Fabiola Koperberg have moved to a hobby

farm in Minnesota after Alex retired in 2011 following a38-year career as a teacher and dean of students for theLos Angeles (Calif.) School District. 31632 185th Ave.,Clarissa, MN 56440. [email protected]

1975Dr. Bob Kiser retired from the Navy with the rank

of rear admiral after 38 years and is now a professor atUniversity of the Incarnate Word. 1427 Blackbird Lane,San Antonio, TX 78248.

Terry (’74) and Essie (Charles) Childersanticipate celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary inAugust 2013. She is a professor at Blinn College whorecently published her first book, Packing Tools for SuccessBeyond Middle School. He is a retired city manager andformer member of the Board of Trustees at ACU andOklahoma Christian University. They have three children:Shalawn F. Harris (’96), Jonathan Childers (’02)and Adam Childers (’06). 4400 Belvoir Court, CollegeStation, TX 77845. [email protected]

1978Dwayne King retired from Texas Health and Human

Services on June 30, 2012 after 26 years. He now workswith TeraGanix, a start-up, and manages DCALA Farm.19371 U.S. Highway 69, Alto, TX [email protected]

Craig and Gina Morgan have founded BlendedTogether, a ministry to blended families. 5248 SpicewoodLane, Frisco, TX 75034. [email protected]

Margaret (Wilson) Goldfinch is a retired teacherand vice president of Montgomery County’s Association of Retired School Personnel. She and her husband, John,live in Conroe. He works for Targa Resources Inc. P.O. Box2325, Conroe, TX 77305. [email protected]

1979Sherry (Rohre) Watlington retired from the

Garland ISD after teaching for 27 years. She and herhusband, David, have two new granddaughters, Wren Michele Watlington, born Aug. 19, 2012, to Trae (’07) and Chelsea Watlington, and Willa

Joy Watlington, born Feb. 16, 2013, to Todd (’04)and MaliaWatlington. 406 Williams St., Rockwall, TX 75087.

1980Dana Krikorian is the technical publications

manager at Omnicell. 1335 Montecito Avenue, MountainView, CA 94043. [email protected]

Melissa (Daniels) Nelson teaches music at WillowCreek Elementary School in Tomball. 14130 Castor St.,Tomball, TX 77375. [email protected]

1982Rod Self has published a book, From Children to

Champions, with Westbow Press. 1620 South Ave. F,Portales, NM 88130.

1983Amy (Withers) Dale has returned from a year of

teaching fourth and fifth grade at Pacific Horizons Schoolin American Samoa.

Dr. Jeffrey Hobbs is professor of communication

This article was published in the NCAA’sChampion magazine, and is reprinted with permission.

Rex Fleming had his mother’s red hairand his father’s dry wit.

He grew up in the press box at ShotwellStadium and at the scorer’s table in MoodyColiseum. He devoured hot dogs andnachos at Crutcher Scott Field. On tripsacross the far-flung Lone Star Conference,he swapped stories with Abilene Christian’sbroadcast crew, led by his dad, LanceFleming (’92), the assistant athleticsdirector for media relations.

In hard times, families draw on what they know, encircled by those who love them. at’s what happened in November 2010 when persistentheadaches and nausea led to an MRI thatrevealed a tumor deep inside Rex’s brain.

Lance and his wife, Jill, drew on theirdeep faith in God, surrounded by teams offellow believers, athletes, coaches, fans andfriends who rose to support them in theirtwo-year race against cancer.

at circle came to encompass an entirecommunity and a nationwide network ofsports journalists, sports informationdirectors and coaches.

Friends organized a Run for Rex to helpwith the many expenses not covered byhealth insurance. Others ordered wristbands, designed and sold P4X (Pray forRex) T-shirts, planned special days for sister Ashley, or helped with baby Ryan, the blessing who celebrated his firstbirthday just days before Rex died Nov. 25 of last year.

Lance marked each step of the way on a Caring Bridge blog that has more than157,000 visits to date. “I’ve made my living in the world of sports, whether it beworking for a newspaper or working in theathletics department at Abilene ChristianUniversity,” Lance wrote on Dec. 10, 2010,“and I’m here to tell you that there is

absolutely NO correlation to what a team goes through in a given year and real-life adversity.”

rough that adversity, Rex was determined to be normal. Hisunderstanding of the seriousness of hiscondition astounded his parents andfriends. Yet the summer after the firstsurgery, Rex was in the dugout with hisLittle League team, no longer able to pitchbut swinging a bat at the plate and doing hisinnings in the outfield with fervor.

Abilene Christian quarterback MitchellGale (’12) walked hand-in-hand with Rex tothe middle of the field for the Wildcats’ finalhome game last Nov. 3. Rex called the coinflip and then, at the bidding of coach KenCollums, called the game’s first play:

“Go deep.”In every game, at every tick of the

clock, that was always Rex’s call. Go deep.Go for it all.

“It turns your heart, stirs your heart,”Gale said a few days later when he learnedseizures had led Rex to hospice care.

rough it all, Rex maintainedperspective and courage and humor thatinspired others. Abilene Christian men’sand women’s teams dedicated games andwins and seasons to his battle. He was aregular at practices at Abilene High, wherecoach Steve Warren made him part of theteam. Abilene Christian High’s 2012 statechampionship basketball team dedicatedevery victory of the 2013 season to Rex’s memory.

On the night after Rex’s first MRI, acollege student gave Rex his own MichaelYoung home run ball, caught on the fly andlater signed by Josh Hamilton. It was thefirst contribution to a collection of signedbaseballs, footballs, basketballs and jerseys,including a team-autographed helmet fromthe Chicago Bears, a gift from formerWildcat safety Danieal Manning (’07).

“He put up such a fight,” Manning said

soon after Rex’s death. “It puts what I doand what anybody does in perspective. You hear that all the time. It hits home and puts everything in perspective.”

at perspective led the local Fellowshipof Christian Athletes to establish the RexFleming Christian Athlete of the YearAward. It led Abilene High to name itsFighting Heart Award for Rex. It led Lanceand Jill to establish an endowed athleticsscholarship in Rex’s honor and to raisefunds for children at Cook Children’sMedical Center to have iPod touches to keep them occupied on the days when treatment makes it too hard to go to the playrooms.

And it led a campus, and a community,to know what it means to go deep.�

– DR. CHERYL MANN BACON

Rallying Around Rex: Youngster lost his battle with cancer but won hearts along the way

Head coach Ken Collumsallowed Rex to call thefirst play of the last homegame of the season. ACUwon, 22-16, in overtimeover the University ofWest Alabama.

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studies in the International Tourism Program at PhuketRajabhat University in Thailand. [email protected]

1984Somphol Virojnvechapant has retired.

90 Thungkok, Suphanburi, [email protected]

Toni (Hale) Young is the university relationsmanager in Dallas for ACU. She previously served sevenyears as head of school at North Texas Christian Academy.402 Orchard Lane, Allen, TX 75002. [email protected]

1985Dr. Ben Litalien earned his Doctor of Management

degree from the University of Maryland University

College in 2012 and received the Karp Foundation Award. He is the founder and principal of Franchise Well, a consulting practice. 29 Derrick Lane, Stafford, VA [email protected]

1990Lester Towell earned his Ed.D. from Nova

Southwestern University in August 2012. 2618 Vincent St.,Brownwood, TX 76801. [email protected]

1991Angie (Upp) Cowart is an instructor and site

coordinator for the Texas Tech University College ofEducation. 3409 156th St., Lubbock, TX [email protected]

1992BORN

To Lupe and Tepi (Retherford) Alvarez, a girl,Alicia Charis, March 1, 2010. 7 Shady Brook Circle, Abilene,TX 79605. [email protected]

To Denis (McGinnis) Thomas, a girl, Zadie Ann,Jan. 2, 2012. Denis is an assistant professor in LipscombUniversity’s counseling program. 211 Radnor Street,Nashville, TN 37211. [email protected]

By Rob and Amy (Cox) White, a girl, Hannah Ellen,May 30, 2012. Amy is an associate professor at WaldenUniversity. 14105 Mill House Drive, Matthews, NC [email protected]

Rex’s mother, Jill,and father, Lance,pray with him and other friends at church.

P4X shirts – “Pray forRex” – were commonsights on campus and around town.

GARY RHODES

JEREMY ENLOW



1993BORN

To Laine and Amy (Delashaw) Phillips, a boy,Kingston Lem, Aug. 20, 2012. 9822 Brandywine Circle,Austin, TX 78750. [email protected]

1995MARRIED

Thomas Zufelt and Melody Thornton, Sept. 29,2012. Thomas is director of radiology at Texas OrthopedicHospital. Melody is a paralegal for The Shanks Law Firm.1117 Saint Charles St., Houston, TX [email protected] BORN

To Chris and Alicia (Allen) Caldwell, a boy, ConnorChristopher, Feb. 7, 2012. 12118 Melrose St., OverlandPark, KS 66213. [email protected]

1997Britt Hadley is an attorney for staff counsel at Geico.

1701 Woodmont Drive, Flower Mound, TX [email protected] MARRIED

Philip Stambaugh (’01) and Kimberly Sneed,Jan. 16, 2010. On April 30, 2012, they welcomed a girl,Hope Evalyn. 3213 Vintage Way, Bedford, TX 76021.BORN

To Bobby and Elizabeth (Branham) Smith, a boy,William Barrett, Sept. 20, 2011. P.O. Box 646, Skidmore, TX78389. [email protected]

1998BORN

To Stephen and Paige (Forbes) Toller, a girl, Leah Elizabeth, June 2, 2012. They have a son, Owen. Paige was tenured and promoted to associate professor at University of Nebraska-Omaha. 1224 N. 147th Plaza,Omaha, NE 68154.

To Brad and Laura Currey, a girl, Brynn Ann, May 18, 2011. 4409 Ashford Drive, Dallas, TX [email protected]

To Jeff (’94) and Melissa (Mortieau) Hamm, a girl, Whitney, Sept. 14, 2012. 17741 S.W. Inkster Drive,Sherwood, OR 97140.

To Monty and Heather (Teague ’99) McCulley, a girl, Clara, April 14, 2011, and a boy, Hudson, Oct. 22, 2012. They have two other children. 1200 Harrisonburg Lane, College Station, TX [email protected]

1999 Joey Roberts is the communications minister at University Church of Christ. His wife, Lesley (Starnes M.A. ’11), teaches first grade in the Abilene ISD. 2309 Homestead Place, Abilene, TX [email protected]

Erik Olson and Leeanne Harshman, Feb. 11, 2012,in Dallas. Leeanne is a diagnostic radiologist and Erik is a managing director at Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss. 5313 Ridgedale Ave., Dallas, TX [email protected]

To Jason and Caren (Frost ’00) George, a girl,Zadie Jo, July 12, 2012. 4136 Mattie St., Austin, TX [email protected]

To James and Alisha (Gustafson) Miller, a girl,Makenna Joy, Oct. 30, 2012. 306 Appaloosa Drive,Copperas Cove, TX 76522.

To Jason and Laura (Monell) Stipp, a girl, EmmaClaire, Aug. 4, 2012. 407 Susan Place, Neosho, MO [email protected]

To Don and Melissa Bell, a girl, Alexandria Jade“A.J.”, Dec. 21, 2012. 2157 Oakland Drive, Abilene, TX79603. [email protected]

To Mike and Mandy (Almond) Barrow, a boy,Myron Michael, Dec. 3, 2010. Mike is vice president ofcredit of administration at Frost Bank. 8784 Regal RoyaleDrive, Fort Worth, TX 76108.

2000MARRIED

Stephen Borchers and Danette Salcedo, Oct. 7,2012, in Grand Terrace, Calif. Stephen works with the San Bernardino County Department of Probations. Danetteis a bilingual speech-language pathologist in the PomonaUnified School District. 26081 Iris Avenue, Unit C, MorenoValley, CA 92555. [email protected]

To Randy and Vanessa (Ray) Malone, twin girls,Lydia Hope and Charlotte Liliana, Dec. 23, 2011. Vanessa isnow a stay-at-home mom. 14109 Santa Fe Court, Haslet,TX 76052. [email protected]

To Jacob and Melissa (Sheldon) Ristau, a boy, Judah Oliver Sheldon, May 14, 2012. Jacob isassistant professor in visual and communication design at the Herron School of Art and Design at IndianaUniversity-Purdue University Indianapolis. Melissa runs a freelance public relations consulting practice. 4094 Much Marcle Drive, Zionsville, IN [email protected]

To Kevin and Brittany Smith, a boy, Holden Austin,May 10, 2012. 5 Alton Lane, Little Rock, AR 72211.

To Mike and Kara (Jarman) Schlentz, a boy, RyderQuinn, March 23, 2011. 718 Beretta Drive, Abilene, TX79602. [email protected]

To James and Amber (Hagelstein) Russell, a son,Shepard “Shep” Robison, Feb. 18, 2013. They have twoother children: Kelton and Kolt. 309 Ranchgate Trail,McGregor, TX 76657.

To Michael and Kate (Milstead ’99) Vein, a son,Bennett Michael, March 14, 2013. 742 S. River Road,Naperville, IL 60540.

2001Amanda (Williams) Roman’s company, Pretzels

Pleaze, was featured in the gift bags at the 2012 EmmyAwards. 13913 Roanoke Falls Drive, Cypress, TX 77429.BORN

To Alan and Kristina (Chanslor) Dennington, a girl,Scout Mercy, in Jan. 2012. 4323 Soda Ridge Road,Southlake, TX 76092. [email protected]

To Josh and Shiloh (Webb ’04) Jones, a girl,Morgan Kay, Nov. 1, 2012. 5425 S. Delaware Street,Littleton, CO 80120. [email protected]

To Matthew and Jenny (Siebers) LaSeur, a boy,William Quincy, Sept. 30, 2012. 145 Pineland Drive, Copley,OH 44321. [email protected]

To Brian and Ashley (Lepard) Cawthon, a boy,Boone Lepard, May 4, 2012. 3814 C.R. 2526, Royse City, TX 75189. [email protected]

To Russ and Elisabeth (Goldwater) Conser, a girl, Eleanor Elisabeth, April 15, 2012. 5710 62nd St.,Lubbock, TX 79424.

To Justin and Christina (Givens) Thompson, a girl,Aubrey, April 8, 2012. 2218 Sheraton Drive, Carrollton, TX75007. [email protected]

To Jason (’98) and Heather (Woody) Starnes, a boy, Henry Isaac, Jan. 2, 2013. 606 Alderwood St., Allen, TX 75002.

To Ricky and Allison (Bradfield) Lewis, a boy,Christopher Teague, April 26, 2012. 5416 Yellowstone Trail,Fort Worth, TX 76137.

2002MARRIED

Jeremy Christopher and Meredith Bills, Oct. 27,2012, in Dallas. 5166 Westgrove Drive, Dallas, TX 75248.BORN

To Evan (’05) and Annalee (Luttrell) McCord, a girl, Mae Allene, Dec. 16, 2012. 7014 Alderney Drive,Houston, TX 77055.

To Giorgi and Lauren (Miller) Gonikishvili, a boy,Lucas David, Sept. 21, 2012. The family has a new address.1833 86th Avenue Court, Greeley, CO [email protected]

To David and Becca Cohrs, a boy, Travis James, Oct. 8, 2012. 11654 S. Maiden Hair Way, Parker, CO [email protected]

To Darek and Stacie (Danley) Tatum, twin girls,Olivia Ruth and Norah Josephine, Aug. 1, 2012. 4409 Denver Drive, Plano, TX 75093.

To Chris and Kelly (Harris) Baker, a boy, NathanaelMatthew, April 27, 2012. [email protected]

To Jay and Rebecca (Blanton) Burton, a girl, Stella Von, March 23, 2012. 512 Post Oak Drive, Newark, TX 76071.

To Steve and Renae (Moore ’03) Cates, a boy,Jonathan Monroe, Oct. 11, 2012. They also have adaughter. 1181 Pleasant Oaks Drive, Lewisville, TX 75067.ADOPTED

By Mathew and Regan (Burks) Williams, a boy, Bennett Roy, Feb. 3, 2012. 4113 Glenwood Drive,Brownwood, TX [email protected]

2003BORN To Alex and Heather (Wright) Autry, a boy, Conlan,Dec. 19, 2012. Both parents are physicians at Pikes PeakRegional Medical Center. They also have a daughter,Teagan. 830 Misty Pines Circle, Woodland Park, CO 80863. To Kenneth and Sarah Jane (Wilson) Nembu, a girl,Abigail, Nov. 13, 2012. 7124 Mesa Verde Trail, Fort Worth,TX 76137. [email protected] To Joshua and Sarah (Gressett) Ussery, a boy,Wyatt Dean, Dec. 28, 2012. 131 Lacy Oak Lane,Waxahachie, TX 75165. [email protected] To Jeremy and Jill (Lester) Hale, a girl, Clara, May23, 2012. P.O. Box 2465, Eureka, MT 59917. To Micah (’99) and Sherrill (Welborn) Senter, a girl, Aubrey Gayle, July 31, 2012. 10 Gallop Way,Chesterfield, NJ 08515. [email protected] To Cory and Elizabeth (Lang) Pritchard, a girl,Hayley Elizabeth, Sept. 16, 2012. 1910 Cedar Glenn Way,#4201, Atlanta, GA 30339. [email protected] To Mark (’01) and Lauren (McDowell) Vaught, a boy, Wyatt Austin, Sept. 10, 2012. 2309 Horseshoe Bend,Temple, TX 76502. [email protected] To Justin (M.S. ’07) and Laura (Roberts) Velten, a girl, Sadie Lyn, April 22, 2012. Justin earned his Ph.D. incommunication from Regent University in May 2012. 3942Hanover Place, Tyler, TX 75701. [email protected] To Justin and Allison (Brackeen) Brown, a boy,Daniel Ramon, Jan. 30, 2013. Justin is an attendingphysician at Presbyterian Hospital of Greenville. 3899 Poplar Point Drive, Rockwall, TX [email protected] To Edward and Cheryl Anne (Johnson)Nowakowski, a girl,Lillian Joy, April 16, 2013. They alsohave a son. Edward and Cheryl work for United Airlines. 966 Sarasota Lane, Crystal Lake, IL [email protected]

2004MARRIED Brian Turley and Heather Amend, Dec. 1, 2012, in Dallas. Heather earned her M.F.A. in creative writingfrom Full Sail University in June 2012. 4109 Niagara St.,Garland, TX 75041. [email protected]

To Brian and Catherine (Goode) Wick, a boy, Reed James, Nov. 25, 2012. 811 W. Camino Desierto,Tucson, AZ 85704. [email protected]

To Robert and Kimberly (Price) Williams, a boy,Kaiden Nicholas, Oct. 16, 2011. 1824 Morley St., SimiValley, CA 93065.

To Leonard Walton and Amber Jolley, a boy, Ruger Wesson, July 13, 2012. 1810 Country Club Drive, #2,Crosby, TX 77532. [email protected]

To Tucker and Keely (Nelson) Douglas, a boy, James Franklin, Oct. 31, 2012. 1102 Grinnell Drive,Richardson, TX 75081. [email protected]

To Shane and Lori (Terhune) Burk, a boy, ElliottNewell, Sept. 18, 2012. 3512 97th St., Lubbock, TX [email protected]

To Joshua (’01) and Marla (Flippin) Morris, a boy, Noah James, Aug. 2, 2012. 17131 Grey Mist Drive,Friendswood, TX [email protected]

To Brock (’02) and Sarah (Wilhite) Paulk, a girl,Audrey Kate, August 2012. 10121 Merrill Lane, Fort Worth,TX 76177.

To Michael and Amelia (Smith) Magallanes, a boy,Archer Luke, July 9, 2012. They adopted another child,


Justin Michael (3), June 29, 2012. 5713 107th St., Lubbock,TX 79424. [email protected]

To Clint and Laura (Trammell) Patterson, a boy,Eli James, Aug. 9, 2012. 1376 C.R. 180, Hale Center, TX79041. [email protected]

To Michael and Meredith (Swim) Seibert, a boy,Carson Michael, July 23, 2012. 1748 Colorado Drive,Burleson, TX 76028. [email protected]

To Karson and Sharon (Prude) Williams, a boy,Kaden David, and a girl, Katherine Elizabeth, Sept. 11,2012. 11241 La Grange Drive, Frisco, Texas [email protected]

By George (’02) and Rachel (McGuire) Richards,a girl, Wendy Rose, born Sept. 9, 2012. 1110 Tom TempleDrive, Lufkin, TX 75904.

2005MARRIED

Joshua Burns and Kelly Sargent, Dec. 30, 2012, in Austin. They live in Arlington, Va. BORN

To Karena Cordova Martinez, a boy, Justin TerrellMark, Dec. 11, 2011. 4706 30th St. E., Dickinson, TX 77539.

To Jery and Camilette (Yeagley) Huddleston, aboy, Jery III, March 2, 2012. The family has spent four yearsoverseas while Jery has served in the Air Force. PSC 37 Box204, APO AE, 09459. [email protected]

To Dustin and Misty (Willcox) Lackey, a boy, Trent Alan, July 29, 2012. 2513 Goldenrod Ave., Fort Worth,TX 76111.

To Brian and Haylee (Moudy) Ezzell, a boy, KnoxWilliam, Oct. 9, 2012. 1308 Apache Drive, Richardson, TX 75080. [email protected]

To Randy and Allison (Ford) Fuller, a boy, BarrettAllen, Aug. 19, 2012. Randy is the worship minister at theFort Worth campus of the Village Church. 637 WestwoodDrive, Richardson, TX 75080.

To Ryan and Laci (Bills) Newhouse, a girl, Jillian Alissa, May 24, 2012. 2505 Shoreline Drive, Keller, TX 76248.

To Ryan (’04) and Kelley (Axelson) Wendt, a boy,Collin, June 14, 2012. 8315 Astwood Court, Spring, TX77379. [email protected]

2006Katie (Noah) Gibson is the communications

coordinator for development and alumni relations at theHarvard Graduate School of Education. Her husband,Jeremiah (’07), is a staff therapist at South Bay MentalHealth Center. 23 Hollis Ave., #2, Quincy, MA [email protected]

To Dylan and Keely (Holt) James, a boy, BryantReece, Dec. 26, 2012. 1724 Mapleton Drive, Dallas, TX75228. [email protected]

To Aaron and Courtney Echols, a boy, Ripken Chase,July 30, 2012. 4549 Louisville Drive, Plano, TX 75093.

To Randy and Deanna (Cromwell) Sanchez, a girl, Isabella Grace, Sept. 22, 2012. 712 N. Ash St.,Carlsbad, NM 88220. [email protected]

To Luke (’04) and Amy (Roach) Senter, a boy,Henry, July 9, 2011. 1721 Bedford Oaks Drive, Bedford, TX 76021. [email protected]

To Cole and Jeanette French, a girl, Kinslee Annalise,July 6, 2012. 2229 Wetherburne Way, Frederick, MD [email protected]

To Craig and Macy (Burleson) Davis, a girl, RorySprings, Jan. 31, 2013. 1108 S. Valentine Drive, Sherman,TX 75090. [email protected]

To Brad and Allison (Organ) Phillips, a boy, Hunter Alan, March 20, 2012. 14626 Palladio Drive,Cypress, TX 77429.

To Andrew and Morgan (Robinson) Midkiff, a boy, Eli Clark, Feb. 4, 2013. 26338 Longview Creek Drive,Katy, TX 77494. [email protected]

2007Bethany Allen is pursuing her master’s

degree in East Asian studies at Yale [email protected] MARRIED

Nathaniel Day and Lauren Hart, Nov. 17, 2012, in Austin. 4141 N. Henderson Road, #712, Arlington, VA 22203. [email protected]

BORNTo Zach and Brittany (Hardie ’08) Allen, a boy,

Jasper Wade, Nov. 11, 2012. 7715 White Fawn Road,Arlington, TX 76002.

To Brant and Megan (Nuncio) Greathouse, a girl, Kynlee, Aug. 12, 2012. 3600 S. Highway 349,Midland, TX 79706.

To Cale and Blythe (Thompson) Smith, a girl,Eleanor Ruth, Aug. 1, 2012. 116 Woodbrook Court,Longview, TX 75604. [email protected]

To Nicodemus (’08) and Vanessa (Herring)Mount, a boy, Orion Alexander, Sept. 4, 2012. The familyhas a new address. 73-4587 Old Mamalahoa Highway,Kailua-Kona, HI 96740.

2008MARRIED

Robert Wheeler and Fawn Grissett, Jan. 26, 2013.525 C.R. 162, Abilene, TX 79601.

Jonathan Navarro and Valerie Goode, April 13, 2013. She is an education coordinator at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and he is an account manager at Homecare Homebase.2752 Gaston Ave., #13111, Dallas, Texas 75226.

Christopher James Munch and Jenna Reneé Gillit,Aug. 3, 2012. [email protected]

To Jonathan (’09) and Courtney (Clayton) Gann,a boy, Clayton Douglas, Oct. 12, 2012. 2917 Red OakCircle, Abilene, TX 79606.

To Matt (’07) and Amy Kay Tietjen, a boy, MasonMurphy, Jan. 7, 2013. 705 Ireland Way, Wylie, TX [email protected]

To John (’07) and Chelsea (Heard) Giles, a girl,Rylynn Cadence, Sept. 14, 2012. 1709 Clyde St.,Goldthwaite, TX 76844.

To Damien (’09) and Miranda (Potter) Lawrie, a girl, Rowan Yvonne, Aug. 22, 2012. 12 Boulder Crescent,Narara N.S.W. 2250, Australia.

To Louis (’09) and Dana (McArthur) Palacios Jr., a boy, Carter Nicholas, Nov. 20, 2012. 1913 SouthwickRoad, Rowlett, TX 75089 [email protected]

To Chessley and Megan (Gibbs ’09) Cavitt,

T H E P O W E R O F I N T E R N S H I P S No one needs to explain the power of an internship to Chad Baker (’99). As an Abilene Christian student, he received some valuable advice that led him toseek internships following his sophomore and junior years so he would have more thanone experience on his resume by the time he graduated. “It was a fantastic experience and with the internship earlier in my college career,allowed me the ability to tailor the rest of my studies at ACU with a specific professionalfocus,” said Baker, who works in Houston and is one of the university’s 2013 recipients of a Distinguished Alumni Citation (see page 24). “Each time I came back to work forhim, the president of our office would ask me two questions: ‘How are you doing?’ and “How were your grades?’” When it came time to expand his own business in 2012 as executive vice presidentand regional director of Jones Lang LaSalle, a real estate services company, Bakerinsisted on only interviewing ACU students for a talented intern to mentor. Hediscovered marketing and finance major Matt Sanderson of Lubbock. Baker immersedSanderson that summer in a pilot program to help JLL develop its next generation of talent. When the young man received a bonus for his outstanding performance, he requested the check instead be made payable to Habitat for Humanity. “Matt has Christ at the center of who he is, which certainly drives his excellence with work, follow-through and overall engagement. God certainly blessed our efforts in the eyes of my leaders, my clients and certainly, from my perspective,” said Baker. Sanderson’s best graduation present in May 2013: a full-time job waiting in Julyalongside Baker, his internship mentor and new teammate at JLL. “I am incredibly blessed to be able to work alongside Chad,” Sanderson said. “He has not only pushed me in my career, but also has challenged me to be a strong man of God, seeking to be a light among everyone I meet in the workplace.”�

To arrange an internship for an ACU student, visit acu.edu/careercenteror call 325-674-2473.

Matt Sanderson

JEREMY ENLOW

a boy, Carter Nicholas, Nov. 20, 2012. P.O. Box 179, Sidney, TX 76474.

To Tanner and Blair (DeLaughter) Viertel, a boy, Jackson Marc, Jan. 22, 2013. 12829 Dorset Drive,Fort Worth, TX 76244.ADOPTED

By Greg and Tiffany (Thompson ’09) Steele, a boy, Erik, born Nov. 29, 2012. 3505 Jennifer Lane,Rowlett, TX 75088.

2009MARRIED

Reece Mabry and Lauren Sanders, Oct. 28, 2012, inHouston. 1114 Morrow Ave., Apt. B, Nashville, TN [email protected]

To Kanyon and Erika (Anthony) Brown, a girl,Brindle LoRee, Nov. 4, 2012. P.O. Box 15, Welch, TX 79377.

To Ryan and Keren (Pounds) Myers, a girl,Charlotte Rose, Nov. 30, 2012. 107A Williams Drive, Early, TX 76802. [email protected]

To Justin and Jana (Pittenger) Schofield, a boy,Levi Shafer, March 7, 2013. 6517 Fisher Road, Dallas, TX75214. [email protected]

2010Joel Ashby earned his Master of Arts degree

in conflict resolution and reconciliation from ACU inDecember 2012. 858 Canyon Court, Abilene, TX [email protected] MARRIED

Chandler Harris and Janna Kasinger (’12), Sept. 22, 2012. BORN

To Drew (’09) and Kimberlee (Shelton) Lowry, a boy, Liam, Dec. 11, 2012. 7541 Red Willow Road, Fort Worth, TX 76133.

2011BORN

To Judith Mendoza, a boy, Aaron Isaac, May 26, 2012. 3211 W. Illinois Ave., Midland, TX [email protected]

2012James Jones V earned his master’s degree

from ACU in December 2012. He lives in [email protected] BORN

To Ivan and Juliana (Rosic) Kovacevic, a girl,Gabriela Mae, Oct. 18, 2012. Klinovec 6, Zagreb, Croatia,10040. [email protected]

To Matthew and Kyera (Tabor) Smith, a boy,Matthew, May 26, 2011. 4600 Coachlight Road, #162,Abilene, TX 79603. [email protected]

need something, a drink or a plate of food, so we have to lookaround and notice people’s needs and fill them for one another,”Randy said. The group also practices “dwelling in the Word.” This meansthe group reads a section from the Sermon on the Mount thenasks questions such as, “If we took this teaching about loving our enemies seriously what would we do?” They formulate whatthey call “challenges” or “experiments” to go out and live this out.Randy reports that many Tau Chi Alpha Monk Warriors whowere struggling with their spiritual lives have more confidenceand the relationships are pretty dynamic after time in the group. “I think they would tell you it's made a huge difference,” he says. “It’s a three-and-a-half year process, but the payoff is 10 years down the road." The college experience is probably not something studentswill ever get to repeat, so taking advantage of this crucial time

to change the heart as well as the mind is central to what Randy is doing. The Monk Warriors do not live together in one house,though some of the members room together. While somereligious orders are cloistered, the Monk Warriors are verysensitive about not becoming elitist, self-absorbed or isolationist.How do you instill values in a group of people in ways that changetheir lives yet doesn’t isolate them? How can they really impacttheir world? Their approach is to have a covenant with oneanother and live it out in the larger world. “We learn monastic disciplines but do them in everyday life,”says Randy. “So we don’t plan to have a monastic softball league.The students are engaging the world, identifying places on thiscampus where they can be salt and light. Our light and life don’trevolve around this group. We are out there living this radical life,not spending all our time meeting with each other. And it hasworked better than I thought it would.”�

The New Monk Warriors (Continued from Page 80)


See Bonus Coverage at acu.edu/acutoday

Summit 2012Take a look back at ACU’s 106th annual event

STEVE BUTM

AN

PAUL WHITE

STEVE BUTM

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Dr. Walter Brueggemann Dr. Elaine Heath

Bree Hembree (’15), GabrielleThompson (’16) and ChelseaEmberlin (’16) sing with Pulse, an ACU student-led a cappella group.

STEVE BUTMAN

Randy Harris from ACU’sCollege of Biblical Studiespresented "The School of Christlikeness" onWednesday afternoon.

A C U T O D A Y B O N U S C O V E R A G E


ACU senior Brittany Partridge taughta class on combating modern-dayslavery and her role in co-foundingthe Red Thread Movement as acollege student.

Randy Harris and David McQueen (’88) had "Big-Hearted ConversationsAcross the Denominational Divide."

GARY RHODES

GARY RHODES

B C 2 6 S p r i n g - S u m m e r 2 0 1 3 � A C U T O D A Y

Dr. Jerry Taylor of ACU’sCollege of Biblical Studieswas a theme speaker. His message was based on Hosea 13:1-14.

Summit is for all ages.

STEVE BUTMAN

STEVE BUTMAN


Exhibitors displayedtheir products in theHall of Servants, MoodyColiseum concourseand McGlothlin Campus Center.

Chris Goldman (’87) spoke Monday night from Hosea 4:1-12.

Edward Fudge (’67) discussedhis book, Hell: A Final Word.

GARY RHODES

STEVE BUTMAN

STEVE BUTMAN


Collin Packer (’05) was atheme speaker on Mondaymorning. His message camefrom Hosea 2:1-15.

Stacy B. Jones (’06) taught aclass on why young adultsleave church and how we can bridge the generation gap while fostering healthymulti-generational ministries.

Kent Rogers served as a

ACU students participatedin a drama presentation,“The Word In Motion,” in Fulks Theatre. This is a scene from “Haleigh’sSong,” and features thetheatre department’sActing Through Movement class.

ACU theatre student Clint Diaz performs“Framed Pictures” during “The Word inMotion” drama presentation.

GARY RHODES STEVE BUTMAN

STEVE BUTMAN

STEVE BUTMAN


Jeff Christian (’94)spoke Tuesdaymorning from Hosea 5 and 6.

Painter and art educatorEmily Jean Hood sharedher passion for creativepractice as a spiritualdiscipline.

Child care was provided atHillcrest Church of Christ.

worship leader on Monday morning.

BRITNI TATUM

GARY RHODES

STEVE BUTMAN

STEVE BUTMAN


Keith Lancaster led worship on Wednesday night.

Poet Darren Hagood and artist MA Double participated in a Poetry Slam and Hip Hop Concert in the Chapel on the Hill.

BRITNI TATUM

STEVE BUTMAN

STEVE BUTMAN


ACU students are active participants in manySummit classes and events.

Dr. Mark Hamilton of ACU’sGraduate School of Theology

BRITNI TATU

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PAUL WHITE

Mitch Wilburn (’90) was theSunday night keynote speaker,with Hosea 1:1-11 as his text.


STEVE BUTMAN

1938Bernard Shelan, 96, died Nov. 21, 2012. He was

born July 17, 1916, in St. Louis and grew up in Philadelphiaand later, Roscoe, Texas. He hitch-hiked to Abilene to join

the ACU football team as a115-pound walk-on runningback with the nickname of“Mousie,” setting a kickoffreturn record that stood for 20 years, and earning ascholarship. Bernie served inthe Army Air Corps duringWorld War II and marriedSylvia Krawitz in 1943. Theytook over Shelansky’s DryGoods, the family’s landmarkbusiness in Roscoe. Berniewas preceded in death by

two brothers, Harold Shelan and Bobby Shelan. Amongsurvivors are his wife of 69 years, Sylvia; three sons,Ronald Shelan, Charles Shelan and Evan Shelan; sevengranddaughters; and four great-grandchildren.

Maxine (McCaleb) Hill, 94, died July 10, 2011, inSugar Land. She was born March 26, 1917, in Idabel, Okla.,and married Landon Hill (’36) Nov. 5, 1938. She taughtreading in the Abilene ISD for 25 years after raising herchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband,Landon; her twin sister, Geraldine (McCaleb ’38)Shultz; and another sister, D’Nola (McCaleb ’44)Holding. Among survivors are three daughters, Judy (Hill’64) Avera, Jill (Hill ’67) Giesecke and Jana (Hill ’75)Rizzuto; two sons, Dr. Jick (’73) and Jeff (’77) Hill; 12 grandchildren, eight of whom attended ACU; and 21 great-grandchildren.

1946Evelyn Cox Templeton Fletcher, 88, died

Jan. 10, 2013, in Abilene. She was born Jan. 9, 1925, inFisher, Ark., and grew up in Clovis, N.M. She married EdTempleton May 4, 1945. He preceded her in death in 1980.Evelyn married Dr. Milton Fletcher (’47) June 25, 1985.He died March 20, 2013, in Fort Worth (see page 79).Survivors include two sons, Richard (’73) and Steve(’78) Templeton; three stepsons, Eric (’72), Keith (’76) and Paul (’79) Fletcher; a stepdaughter, Phyllis(Fletcher ’82) McNiel; a sister; four grandchildren; and five step-grandchildren.

1949Idus England, 91, died May 28, 2012, in Shawnee,

Okla. He was born March 30, 1921, in Gans, Okla., andserved in the Quarter Master Corps during World War II. He married Winifred Broyles (’51) in 1946. Idus servedas a minister for Churches of Christ in Texas and Oklahomafor more than 50 years. He is survived by his wife, Winifred;two daughters; a son; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Harry Mancel Whitlow, 86, died Sept. 23, 2012, inAmarillo. He was born April 10, 1926, in Temple. He workedfor 38 years in management at Pantex, until his retirement.He is survived by his wife, Charlotte (McLaughlin ’48)Whitlow; two sons, Charles (’74) Whitlow and DowWhitlow; two daughters; two sisters, Celeste Morris andThelma (Whitlow ’56) Gibbons; 15 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren.

1950John Tyson Sr., 86, died Oct. 17, 2012, in Abilene.

He was born Jan. 26, 1926, in Agnes, Texas, grew up inSaginaw and graduated from high school in Fort Worth.He served in the Navy from 1944-46 as a lookout aboardthe USS Colorado, earning a Purple Heart and Bronze Starfor bravery in the Battle of Lingayen Gulf in the PhilippineIslands. He earned a B.S. degree in business from ACU. After graduation, he worked as a civilian instructor atSheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls and later, with the Social Security Administration in San Angelo and FortWorth, retiring in 1988. He married Frances Stewart

(’49) June 23, 1956. Following her death June 10, 1993, hecared for his mother-in-law, Lucy Stewart, and his mother,who lived with him in his home until their deaths in 1996and 2000, respectively. He served as a deacon, elder, andBible class teacher at congregations in Wichita Falls, SanAngelo, Hurst and Abilene. Among survivors are a son, Dr. John Tyson Jr. (’81); a daughter, Lu Anne Tyson(’83); and three grandchildren.

1952Margaret King Ragus, 82, died Oct. 5, 2012, in

Lubbock. She was born June 17, 1930, in Nashville, Tenn.,and grew up in Memphis. She married Pete Ragus (’51)Dec. 15, 1949. She worked in the Lubbock ISD for 17 years.Margaret is survived by her husband, Pete; four daughters,Margaret Ragus (’73), Donna Orr, Kay Ragus andBarbara Gross; a son, Jim Ragus; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandsons.

1953Peggy Jean Davis Terry died Aug. 16, 2012.

She is survived by her husband, Doug Terry; threedaughters, Janis (Terry ’84) Collins, Diane Terry (’86) and Kay Lynn Schultz; and a son, Jim Terry.

1955James “Jim” Edwin Shafer, 84, died Oct. 16,

2012, in River Bend, N.C. He was born Sept. 19, 1928, in Brownwood and married Norma Jean Dickson in 1954. He earned master’s degrees in biochemistry andpsychology, and worked for the U.S. Department ofDefense for 30 years. He married Iris Shafer in 1982. She survives him, as do three daughters, Leslie Shafer(’80), Mary Wilkins and Sarah (Shafer ’89) McCord; a son, John Shafer; three stepchildren; 10 grandchildren;and two great-grandchildren.

1957 B.B. Stevens, 78, died Nov. 29, 2012, in Fort Worth.He was born Jan. 19, 1934, in Mineral Wells and marriedGeraldine “Jerry” Pierce Dec. 26, 1952. He served as a Church of Christ minister, worked as director ofdevelopment at a foster home, and later ran a trophy shop. He sang baritone in the Gospelaires quartet for morethan three decades. B.B. is survived by his wife, Jerry; adaughter, Stephany Stevens; a son, Brad Stevens (’82);three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

1958 Leon E. Tester, 90, died Nov. 8, 2012. He was born April 4, 1922, and attended Cascade College before serving in the Navy. He married Marion AndersonAug. 5, 1949. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from ACU. Leon and Marion spent eight years as missionaries in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and adopted twoBrazilian children. Marion preceded Leon in death. He is survived by two sons, Jon Tester (’87) and Claude Tester, and five grandsons.

1960 Neil Sconiers, 75, died Aug. 10, 2011, in Iraan, Texas.He worked as a teacher, coach and principal, and served as Pecos County Commissioner. He is survived by his wife,Alicia (Holmes ’57) Sconiers; two daughters, NeciaGraham and Sandra Sconiers (’94); two sons, John(’84) and Joe Sconiers (’86); and two granddaughters,Morgan (’12) and Peyton Sconiers (’15).

1965Robert “Dwain” Adcock died Sept. 23, 2012.

He is survived by his wife, Joy (Kirkpatrick ’69)Adcock; a son, Lance; a daughter, Keri; and two grandchildren.

1966Delma Louise Barrett Butrum Brazle, 91, died

Sept. 16, 2012, in Bozeman, Mont. She was born Dec. 30,1920, in Webb City, Mo., and grew up in Texas. She marriedHarold Butrum in 1939. He preceded her in death in 1962.

Delma attended ACU in her 40s and worked as a dormmother at Nelson Hall for five years. She married William“Clinton” Brazle (’77) in 1972. He survives her, as do a son, former ACU trustee Herb Butrum (’71); twodaughters; four stepsons, Mike, Mark, Paul (’77) and Peter Brazle; 31 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren;and three great-great-grandchildren.

1967Judith Ann (Riggins) Barker died Sept. 15, 2012.

She taught English in the Brandywine School District ofWilmington, Del., for 19 years. She is survived by herhusband, J. Michael Barker (’65); a son, NathanBarker (’91); a daughter, Kymwauna Mayazi; and three grandchildren.

1968Linda (Fowler) Francis, 66, died Dec. 30, 2012.

She was born Aug. 26, 1946, in Vernon and married Pete Francis Aug. 21, 1976, in Dallas. She served her church and community in many ways. Linda is survived byher husband, Pete; a son, Jeff Francis (’01); a daughter,Jennifer Francis (’03); her mother, Sue Fowler; a sister,Rebecca Fowler; and one granddaughter.

1969Forrest David “Dave” Odom, 72, died

Aug. 25, 2012, in Abilene. He was born Sept. 17, 1939, in Jacksonville and grew up in Sweetwater. He served in the Marine Corps from 1957-61 and married JudyAmundson (’69) July 19, 1970. He later earned amaster’s degree in education from ACU and spent many years teaching computer classes. He is survived by his wife, Judy; two sons; a brother; a sister; and two granddaughters.

Dan Frost died Feb. 5, 2012, of a stroke. He earnedbachelor’s and master’s degrees from ACU, then worked asa history teacher at Gladstone High School in Gladstone,Ore. He is survived by his wife, Gae Frost; a daughter, Gina;a son, Ty; and other relatives.

Curtis Ray Foster, D.D.S., 64, died Feb. 12, 2012. He was born Aug. 20, 1947, in Artesia, N.M. He earned his D.D.S. from Baylor College of Dentistry and practiceddentistry in New Mexico and Texas. Curtis is survived by his wife, Sharon; his mother; two brothers; three sons,Jeremy (’98), Micah (’03) and Bron Foster; twodaughters, Misty Carpenter and Brooke Foster; twostepchildren; seven grandchildren; and his former wife,Linda (Judkins ’70) Foster.

1973Dr. Phillip Wayne Smith, 61, died Aug. 27, 2012.

He was born Sept. 30, 1950, in Augusta, Ga., and marriedLena Mae Schnaubert (’75) July 1, 1972. While at ACU,he was a four-year letterman on the football team. Heserved as minister for Churches of Christ in Texas and Ohio until his death, and also worked as an insuranceagent. He is survived by his wife, Lena; a son, Chad Smith(’96); a daughter, Angie Carnes; two sisters, ParmellaSmith (’74) and Juanita Smith; and five grandchildren.

1978Eileen Laverne (Pace) Schmidt, 59, died

Feb. 29, 2012 in Collierville, Tenn. She was born Dec. 31,1953, in DeKalb, Ill. Prior to earning her B.S.Ed. degree from ACU, Eileen was the first woman to graduate fromthe preacher training school at Great Lakes ChristianCollege in Beamsville, Ontario, Canada. She married GarySchmidt (’80) Dec. 20, 1980. Eileen did mission work inCosta Rica for two years through ACU’s MARK program.She is survived by her husband, Gary; a daughter, Brionne(Schmidt) Beckman; her father, Rue Pace Sr.; a sister, LauraWilson; and a brother, Rue Pace Jr. She was preceded indeath by her mother, Coravallene Pace, and a sister,Corinne Durfee.

1979 Walker Don Weathers, 54, died July 16, 2012. He was born Aug. 21, 1957, in Columbus, Miss., and grew


I N M E M O R I A M

up in East Texas. After graduating from ACU, he earned his J.D. from Baylor Law School. He worked as a generalpractice lawyer in Tyler, Texas, and later founded a law firm with his brother. He also held his private pilot’s license and helicopter license. Walker is survived by his wife, Rhonda (Sylvester); his parents, Don (’55) andWanda (Walker ’57) Weathers; two brothers,Wade (’83) andWynne (’88) Weathers; a daughter,Grace Weathers; and a son, Ross Weathers.

1980Evelyn Annette Fowler Jordan died Sept. 7,

2012. While at ACU, she appeared in several theatricalproductions and was a Sing Song hostess in 1980. She issurvived by her husband, Don Jordan; a daughter; a son; her mother; and a sister, Teresa (Fowler ’78) Jones.

1990 James Michael “Jimmy” Womack, 44, died March 23, 2013, in an automobile accident near Pecos,Texas. He was born June 16, 1968, in Corvallis, Ore., andgraduated from A&M Consolidated High School in CollegeStation in 1986. He attended Pepperdine University beforegraduating from ACU. A counselor for at-risk youth in the Texas Hill Country, he was an avid fly fisherman whotraveled the world pursuing his hobby. Among survivors arehis parents, Dr. James (’64) and Raby (Beakley ’63)Womack; a sister, Wendy (Womack ’90) Hill; andseveral aunts, uncles and cousins.

2015Lindsey Lee Smith, 20, died Jan. 25, 2013. Born

June 29, 1992, she graduated from New Braunfels HighSchool and was a junior advertising/PR major at ACU.

She was a 2012 graduate of the theDisney College Program. She hadthree great passions: her faith, theperforming arts and seeing the world.She starred in several high school andcommunity theatre productions, andwas a coach at TBarM Sports Camp.She sang on the praise team with herfather at the New Braunfels Church of

Christ and was active in ACU’s faith-based drama troupe,Seekers of the Word. Among survivors are her parents, Todd(’87) and Linda (LaBounty ’87) Smith; two brothers,Connor and Dawson; grandparents Joe and Jana Smith andJohn and Nancy LaBounty; a grandmother, BarbaraBrigance; and great-grandparents Ben and Loretta Smithand Chet and Bonnie Norton.

OTHER FRIENDSDortha (McElroy ’87) Greenlee, 77, died Oct. 12,

2011, in Abilene. She was born May 5, 1934, in Breckenridgeand married Charles Greenlee Dec. 10, 1949. She worked at ACU in the World Famous Bean cafeteria, the computercenter, the Office of Admissions, and the restoration historylibrary. Dortha is survived by her husband, Charles; threesons, Bob (’74), Ed (’79) and John Greenlee (’87); a daughter, Deborah (Greenlee ’76) Dannheim; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Betty Marlar Gainer, 88, died Oct. 3, 2012, in Irving.She was preceded in death by her husband, Homer Gainer, a former ACU trustee. Homer and Betty received ACU’sChristian Service Award in 1990. She is survived by twodaughters, Dell Anne (Gainer ’70) Patterson andLucy (Gainer ’72) Brady; a son, Joe Gainer (’79); six grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Although Dr. Abraham “Abe” Malherbe(’54) passed away in September 2012(see page 79), his legacy remains alivethrough his scholarship and church work.His vast knowledge of the Graeco-Romanmilieu of early Christianity, the Paulinecorpus, and New Testament scholarship –combined with a keen eye for nuances in the Greek text – created a rich experience for his students. He was incredibly attentive to detail; I can remember him spending a whole two-hour graduate class on just a few versesfrom 1 Thessalonians. I marveled at hisprecision. I try to recreate those experiencesfor my students and develop their capacityto read Scripture in a careful way. Andwhen I tell them, “Read Luke 1:1-4 and tellme 10 things about the author, the recipientand the Gospel of Luke,” they look at mewith the same incredulous expression I had when Abe posed similar questions inmy classes with him. For me, there was nogreater challenge or joy than sitting at thefeet of a master and being tutored in how to read a text closely. Abe’s attention to detail was not simplyfor detail’s sake; he loved the message ofScripture and called students to thinkcritically about their scholarship. Studentswho took his classes left with both a deepknowledge of the Bible and a love of thetext; reading was a sacred task and thusshould be approached with appropriaterigor and respect. His high standards were legendary –often intimidating – but they stemmedfrom his respect for God’s Word. I remember working extremely hard on a presentation on a passage in Matthewand feeling pretty good about it, until I waschallenged by his comment, “Good work,Cukrowski, but what is the significance of your work for our understanding ofMatthew?” He was right, of course; weweren’t done until we had grappled with the implications of our scholarship.

Abe loved his heritage in Churches of Christ; he particularly valued ourcommitment to Scripture and to truth. He paid tribute to his Christian heritage in a variety of ways, such as contributinggenerously to ACU’s Brown Library.Another time, when ACU honored theaging Eldred Echols (’42), the preacher who had baptized Abe in South Africa, I saw great emotion well up in Abe’s eyes as he reminisced and thanked his mentor.Every year at the national meeting of theSociety of Biblical Literature, even thoughhe maintained a busy schedule as aninternationally renowned scholar, Abealways made time to speak with andencourage his former students. We students in the graduate anddoctoral programs at Yale Divinity Schoolwere privileged to see Abe in the classroomand at church. It would not be anexaggeration to say Abe carried that littlecongregation at Whitney Avenue fordecades, both with his leadership and hispocketbook. Several times during my 10years there, Abe did the weekly preaching in the absence of a full-time minister;additionally, he was the Sunday morningBible class teacher for much of that time. As rigorous as he could be in theclassroom, he was as pastoral in thecongregation to brothers and sisters of all races and classes and education levels.One of his many talents was an ability to converse with anyone on subjects aswide-ranging as detective novels and hisfavorite film, The African Queen, to rugbyand eschatology. I wonder just how manyvisitors to New Haven he and his graciouswife, Phyllis, have housed and fed. Even though future generations sadlywon’t be able to hear Abe Malherbe’sresonant South African accent as hepersonally instructs them, they’ll continueto hear his voice through the many writings,students, preachers and churches he sostrongly influenced.�

– DR. KEN CUKROWSKI


Malherbe was a beloved scholar, professor and churchman

“For me, there was no greater challenge or joythan sitting at the feet of a master and beingtutored in how to read a text closely.”

– DR. KEN CUKROWSKI (’84)

GERALD EW

ING

Homer and Betty Gainer

Robert Lee“R.L.” Sanders (’44), 89, died Jan. 7,2013, in San Antonio. He was born April 7, 1923, nearAnson, Texas, and served in the Navy during World War II.He earned an M.B.A. from The University of Texas at Austinand worked for Arthur Andersen, later becoming a partnerin the company. He taught at Trinity University andvolunteered with numerous charitable organizations. R.L.served as an ACU trustee from 1971-86. He is survived byhis second wife, Shirley (Mays) Sanders; a sister, Marjorie(Sanders ’50) Bourland; a daughter, Laura (Sanders’70) Otey; a son, Steve Sanders (’75); two stepsons,Dr. Scott (’78) and John (’90) Mays; a stepdaughter,Sandy (Mays ’80) Hood; five grandchildren; and sixstep-grandchildren.

Dr. Milton Birdwell Fletcher (’47), 88, died March 20, 2013, in Fort Worth. Born March 14, 1925, he grew up in Hamlin. After participating in the Navy

V-12 program at Texas ChristianUniversity, he was appointed to theU.S. Naval Midshipmen School atNotre Dame University. He wasassistant navigator aboard the USSLST 871, eventually serving as theexecutive officer and commandingofficer. He married Billie GeneHunter on Jan. 29, 1947. Milton

worked in Christian higher education administration for 40years at Rochester (Mich.) College (as business manager,vice president and president) and at ACU (as executivedirector of public relations and development, and foundingexecutive director of The ACU Foundation). He also servedas development officer and vice president for Christian Care Centers, and vice president for planned giving anddevelopment at Disability Resources of Abilene. Milton was a deacon for University Church of Christ and elder for Hillcrest Church of Christ in Abilene, and an elder for the Rochester Church of Christ. He was awardedhonorary Doctor of Laws degrees by ACU (1980),Pepperdine University (1981) and Lubbock ChristianUniversity (1983), and an honorary Doctor of Humanitiesdegree from Oklahoma Christian University (1984). His firstwife, Gene, died in 1984 after a long battle with cancer. Hemarried Evelyn Cox Templeton (’46) on June 25, 1985, andshe died Jan. 10, 2013. Survivors include three sons, Eric(’72), Keith (’76) and Paul (’79) Fletcher; a daughter,Phyllis (Fletcher ’82) McNiel; two stepsons, Richard(’73) and Steve (’78) Templeton; two brothers, HaroldFletcher (’45) andW.L. Fletcher III (’55); and a sister,Marylyn (Fletcher ’60) Swaim; five grandchildren; and four step-grandchildren.

James Carroll Sorrells (’48), 84, died Nov. 25,2012. He was born April 9, 1928 and grew up in Waco. He married Helen Stewart (’49) July 2, 1949. Jim had a long career in business and served as an ACU trusteefrom 1977-97, returning to ACU to earn his master’sdegree in marriage and family therapy in the mid-1980s.He is survived by his wife, Helen; two sons, James (’75)and Steve (’84) Sorrells; a daughter, Sharon (Sorrells ’78) Rudloff; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Walter “Dub” Winkles (’48), 88, died Oct. 27,2012, in Abilene. He was born Oct. 24, 1924, near Slatonand served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. Hemarried Fran Moser (’49) Feb. 8, 1947. Dub taught andcoached in Abilene, then pursued other business venturesbefore joining the ACU staff as director of recreation in1968. He served in that role for 18 years and was recentlyinducted into the ACU Sports Hall of Fame. Dub is survivedby his wife, Fran; two daughters, Sara (Winkles ’75)Bass and Susan (Winkles ’71) Lindsey; a son, ShaneWinkles (’79); a brother, Carlton Winkles (’60); five grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Margie Pistole Leverett (’49), 86, died Jan. 2,2013, in Abilene. She was born Dec. 6, 1927. and earnedbachelor’s and master’s degrees from ACU. She marriedWayman Pistole in 1948; they later adopted two children.Margie was an assistant professor of business andmanagement sciences at ACU from 1967-89. Waymanpreceded her in death in 1997, and she married VernonRay Leverett in 1998. He preceded her in death in 2003.Margie is survived by a son; a daughter; two brothers;

two granddaughters; and five great-grandchildren.Dr. Abraham J. Malherbe (’54), 82, died Sept. 28,

2012. He was born May 15, 1930, in Pretoria, South Africa,and after graduating from high school spent several yearsworking as a surveyor and then a draftsperson in theElectrical Supply Commission of South Africa. He came tothe United States in 1951 to attend ACU, where he earnedhis bachelor’s degree and married Phyllis Melton (’56)in 1953. From Abilene, Malherbe went to Harvard, wherehe earned an S.T.B. degree in 1957 and a Th.D. degree in1963. He also spent a year at the University of Utrechtworking on the Corpus Hellenisticum project with W.C. van Unnik (1960-61). He was selected the Harvard DivinitySchool Commencement Greek Orator in 1957. In the sameyear, he and Pat Harrell co-founded Restoration Quarterly,a scholarly journal associated with the Churches of Christ.Malherbe returned to ACU to teach New Testament andearly Christianity (1963-69), then went back to Harvard as a visiting scholar in 1967-68 and then to DartmouthCollege (1969-70). His subsequent move to Yale DivinitySchool in 1970 helped make YDS one of the internationalcenters of New Testament study and scholarship. He was a prolific writer and editor of other works. Books he authored included Paul and the Thessalonians:The Philosophical Tradition of Pastoral Care; Paul and thePopular Philosophers; and his Anchor Bible Commentary,The Letters to the Thessalonians. The esteem in which he is held as a scholar is evident in two Festschriften:Greeks, Romans, and Christians and Early Christianity andClassical Culture. He was working on a commentary on thePastorals for Hermeneia when he died. Malherbe’s essayshave been collected and will appear next year in twovolumes published by Brill. He received Abilene Christian’sDistinguished Alumni Citation in 1994 and was namedACU’s oustanding teacher for the 1966-67 school year. He helped establish the Friends of the ACU Library in 1966,and the Malherbe Library Endowment at ACU. Malherbewas the library’s speaker in March 2011 for its SpringDinner. In 2005, he was the featured speaker at ACU’s 19thannual Carmichael-Walling Lectures. Among survivors arehis wife, Phyllis; daughters Selina (Malherbe) Brooks andCornelia (Malherbe ’82) Kleman; a son, Abraham J.“Jan” Malherbe; a sister, Lettie Greyling; brothers ClaudeMalherbe and Chris Malherbe; and three grandchildren.See story on page 78.

David M. Fry (’55), 82, died Sept. 23, 2012, inAbilene. He was born Aug. 8, 1930, in Burnett and marriedJo Ann “Jodie” Howard (’51) in 1951. He served as

president of two banks and was laterpresident of Casa Bonita Restaurants.He also served as an advisor in ACU’sCollege of Business Administrationduring the final 10 years of hiscareer. David is survived by his wife, Jodie; three daughters, Diana(Fry ’74) Morrell, Julie (Fry ’79)Dawson and Amy (Fry ’88)

Castro; a son, Don Fry (’76); 12 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Donald Ray “Big Don” Williams (’59), 75, died Nov. 15, 2012, in Chickasha, Okla. He was born Sept. 22, 1937 in Cyril, Okla., and earned bachelor’s and

master’s degrees (’74) in Bible fromACU. After serving as associateminister for churches in OklahomaCity and Fort Worth, the Broadwaycongregation in Lubbock hired himas one of the first youth ministers in Churches of Christ. A respectedpioneer and leader in that field, he launched the Youth Ministers’

Seminar in Lubbock in 1969 and spoke at more than 1,000 youth and college rallies, camps and leadershipconferences in his career. He served 20 years at PepperdineUniversity as associate director of church services,including 17 years as an adjunct religion faculty member.In 1991, he received Pepperdine University’s ChristianService Award. His alma mater presented him with aChange the World award during the university’s Centennialin 2006. Williams was coordinator of special outreachprojects in ACU’s Office of Admissions from 1992-2002.

Leatrice Joy (Fisher) Watson Wilkinson, 82, died Sept. 30, 2012. She was born April 1, 1930, in BastropCounty and grew up in Kermit and Colorado City. Shemarried James Watson Dec. 22, 1946. He preceded her indeath in 1986. Leatrice worked at ACU from 1965-90,including in the president’s, chancellor’s and Lectureshipoffice. She married Dr. Harold Wilkinson, professor emeritus of education, May 1, 1990. He preceded her in death in 2006. She is survived by three daughters,Laura (Watson ’70) Cooper, Gloria (Watson ’71)Daniel and Lynne (Watson ’73) Hall; six grandchildren;and three great-grandchildren.

Dr. Darryl L. Jinkerson, 54, died Oct. 12, 2012. He was born Jan. 21, 1958, in East St. Louis, Ill., and grewup in O’Fallon, Ill. He earned his bachelor’s degree from

Harding University, a master’s degree in clinical psychology fromNortheastern Louisiana Universityand a Ph.D. in applied psychologyfrom Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. He married CindyMadden Aug. 11, 1979. Darrylworked for Arthur Andersen, LLP, and later served as vice president of

Service Companies in Rosedale, Ill. For 10 years, he servedas president of the Rockford Christian Camp. Darryl joinedthe ACU faculty in 2002, serving as associate professor ofmanagement in the College of Business Administration.During his first year, he received ACU’s Teacher of the Yearaward; he later served four years as department chair.Before coming to ACU, he taught as an adjunct professorat Judson College in Elgin, Ill., and North Central College inNaperville. He led the study abroad program for COBA atACU and accompanied many groups of students on trips toHonduras, China and England, and to Australia in summer2012. He also traveled to Honduras with Mission Lazarusand Torch Missions, building a house there in his father’smemory. He was an elder of the University Church ofChrist. Darryl is survived by his wife, Cindy; threedaughters, Whitney (Jinkerson ’07) Olson, Rachel(Jinkerson ’11) Goodman and Amanda (Jinkerson’13) Carpenter; his mother, LaVerne Jinkerson; twobrothers, Richard (’75) and Perry (’82) Jinkerson; a sister, Cheryl Hamm; and a granddaughter.

Beth R. (Robnett) Lana, 88, died March 15, 2013,in Abilene. She was born Feb. 17, 1925, in Ryan, Okla. She graduated from Ryan High School and earned a B.A.degree in music education from Southeastern OklahomaState University and a master’s degree in elementaryeducation from the Univeristy of Oklahoma. She taughtfirst grade in Duncan, Okla., from 1957-74 and was agrade school principal at Fort Worth Christian School from1974-79. She served as administrative coordinator andacademic advisor in the ACU Department of Language and Literature throughout the 1980s and ’90s. In 1946 shemarried Bert Lana, who was ACU’s security police chieffrom 1980-89. She was preceded in death by two brothers,Harold Robnett and Don Robnett. Among survivors are herhusband; a son, Philip Lana (’72); and many nieces,nephews and cousins.

Dr. Angela Laird Brenton, 60, died May 8, 2013,after a three-month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was born Jan. 3, 1953, in Duncan, Okla. Her extensive

experience in higher educationincluded teaching and administrativeroles at the University of Oklahoma,Oklahoma Christian University, theUniversity of Kansas, the Universityof Arkansas at Little Rock, ACU(where she was dean of theGraduate School and associateprovost for research and service),

Missouri State University, and Pepperdine University. At the time of her death, she had been provost and vicechancellor for academic affairs for less than a year atWestern Carolina University. She received many honors,including being named a Paul Harris Fellow by RotaryInternational. Among survivors are her husband, W. Keith Brenton; her mother, Harriette Laird; a son, Matt; and a daughter, Laura.

ACU Remembers: Sanders, Fletcher, Sorrells, Winkles, Leverett, Malherbe, Fry, Williams, Wilkinson, Jinkerson, Lana


Greg Taylor is lead minister at Garnett Church of Christ in Tulsa, Okla. He is author (with Randy Harris) of Living Jesus: How the Greatest Sermon EverWill Change Your Life for Good. This article he authored appeared in the Summer2012 issue of Christianity Today’s Leadership Journal and is used with permission.

A few years ago, I was editing a small Christian magazine,and we had commissioned a series of articles from Randy Harris,who had become popular for his “standup theologian” style ofteaching [Bible and preaching] at Abilene Christian University.

He sent me his first article hand-written and by fax. Who hand-writes articles, and who uses fax machines anymore?Randy’s handwriting was difficult to decode, and I was a littlefrustrated, but what I did not know then was that he wrote that piece in the middle of his 40-day retreat at Lebh Shomeahouse of prayer in the Texas desert. He had no computer, no Internet.

This 40-day prayer retreat changedthe life of Randy Harris. It started when he asked himself, “What wouldhappen if I gave God my full attentionfor 40 days?”

The fact that I did not get thecontext of Randy’s hand-written pieceillustrates an important truth: I can’tfully understand someone’s prayerjourney until I pay attention to God as well.

Like the Israelites waiting for Moses to come down from Mount Sinai or the disciples waitingfor Jesus in prayer on the mountain, we expect that someone whohas spent time with God, paying full attention, will come backwith words of wisdom that will blow us away.

Randy doesn’t claim God gave him any special revelation, but he did receive something profound during his 40 days in the wilderness. Randy found that God wanted to teach him thegospel all over again. This time he would learn it more with hisheart than with his head.

Those 40 days also set Randy on a quest to learn to live out the teachings and mission of Christ.

Over the next decade, Randy spent time with practitioners of prayer and mission in Celtic and Ignatian retreat houses. He did a two-year program in the Shalem Institute, learning to do contemplative spiritual direction. He spent time at theChurch of the Savior in Washington, D.C., where he saw a way to bring together the contemplative and missional, a powerful way of following Jesus and touching the world.

“I had done a lot of mentoring of students, but it alwaysseemed to be from the neck up. It wasn’t bad, and it impacted a lot of people, but I wanted to know if there was another level of engagement,” said Randy.

“As a college professor, I’m very interested in spiritualformation, but college students are notoriously difficult to form," Randy said in his recent book, Living Jesus. “It’s a greatformative age, but many students have also checked out ofchurch. So I began to wonder, Is there a way to form students that will take permanently? They are probably never going to beable to replicate their four-year college experience, so what arethe ways to form them so deeply that will impact them for the rest of their lives?"

That question and his journey led Randy toward anexperiment he’s doing now with students at Abilene Christian.

After studying contemplative and missional communities, he learned not to be afraid of the word rule or religious order, as countercultural as that might seem. A rule is simply a way of life that a group of people commit to live.

Two books that helped him understand how to establishorders outside the context of a monastery: The New Friarsby Scott Bessenecker and Punk Monk by Andy Freeman and Pete Greig, who come out of the British 24/7 prayer movementand build on Benedictine disciplines.

He devised a plan. He would form a group of freshmen anddevelop a three-and-a-half year plan, taking in a new group everyyear and having the upper-classmen continue on in the group.The name for the group is Tau Chi Alpha – one of the things it

stands for is “Toughest ChristiansAlive.” They are quick to say that thisis an aspiration not a claim. They referto themselves as “Monk Warriors.”

“We want to have the fearlessnessof warriors but the discipline ofmonks,” Randy says. “As warriors our weapons are not guns and swordsbut love and prayer. We’re trying todevelop skill using weapons that theSpirit of God has given us.”

The Monk Warriors believe that life change comes by the grace of

God, but it is not without a response ofintentional work, “training in righteousness,” toward goodnessand love and learning the Word of God.

So the group commits to living out the Sermon on theMount together. They sign a covenant to live basic principles ofthe teachings of Christ, like loving neighbors, practicing deepintegrity, and sexual purity.

“One of the things that surprised me – I should haveknown – is how powerful signing on to a covenant is,” Randy said. They do not claim to live their vows perfectly, but they dotake them seriously.

The young men also covenant to hold each other graciouslyaccountable. They give others in the group permission to speakinto each other’s life. If someone sees a member of the group on the soccer field not representing Jesus well, they’ve givenpermission to be spoken to in that situation. They pray specifically about sin in their lives and reach out to people who need hospitality or love.

About 20 freshmen come in each year, so the group stays at about 60-80 ongoing. The group also has some rituals thatidentify them, including chanting prayers, and they all memorizethe Sermon on the Mount.

“The old guys had it right that when we memorize Scripture, it gets into you in ways it doesn’t when you just read it,” Randy said. While people might balk at memorization, Randypoints out that we all have a storehouse of songs in our heads that we’ve memorized. Scripture can access that same part of the brain, particularly when chanted or sung or prayed. It doesn’t take as long as most people think it does to memorize,but it does take work.

The group also does exercises and challenges together. One of the exercises at meals is that members cannot servethemselves or ask to be served. “We watch and see if others

CONTINUED ON PAGE 76

SecondGLANCEBy Greg Taylor

8 0 S p r i n g / S u m m e r 2 0 1 3 � A C U T O D A Y

The New Monk Warriors

JEREMY EN

LOW

Randy Harris (right) and some members of Tau Chi Alpha.

r. Leroy Garrett (’42) and Joey Hopkins (’10) may span four generations of AbileneChristian University benefactors,

but they are partners in our Heritage Society.Leroy, a church history scholar and author, has

been a donor for some 50 years, most recentlythrough Charitable Gift Annuities designed to benefithim in retirement and accrue as endowment funds tohelp advance ACU’s mission.

Joey’s philanthropy began as a 20-year-old when he became the youngest member of thePresident’s Circle in 2007. Now an independentpetroleum landman, he recently established the Dell Hopkins Memorial Endowed Scholarship in

memory of his father, who died whenJoey was a child. Joey remembers his parents’ and grandparents’ involvement with ACU, and wants to help others who have the sameopportunities he enjoyed.

At ages 94 and 26, respectively, Leroy and Joeyunderstand the benefits of investing in ACU and its students. Please join them in our Partnering in the Journey Campaign to increase scholarships, andknow that every gift is significant in the partnership of Christian higher education.

Contact The ACU Foundation today for assistance with your interests and plans for meeting personal, family and charitable goals.

PhilanthropyHAS NO AGE

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Back to collegeCmdr. David Bynum (’84), a Navychaplain and ACU’s 2013 OutstandingAlumnus of the Year, rides a Metrorailtrain each day to the National WarCollege near Washington, D.C.,preparing for an upcoming assignmentin the Pentagon. One of his textbooksis On War, a treatise on militarystrategy written in the early 1800s by a Prussian general and still studiedtoday. See story on pages 22-25.

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ACU Today Spring-Summer 2013