engineering programs accredited 4 hca grant aids nursing program ...

ENGINEERING PROGRAMS ACCREDITED 4 HCA GRANT AIDS NURSING PROGRAM 5 MISSION TO CHINA 9 EZELL TO LEAD ALL 21

FROM THE PRESIDENT
Milestones
Amilestone is defined as “an important event, as in a
person’s career, the history of a nation, or the advancement of
knowledge in a field; a turning point” according to the
American Heritage Dictionary. It may seem unusual to write
of milestones at the first of a new academic year — the 114th
in Lipscomb University's history. Yet Lipscomb has already
experienced several important events this fall that are markers
of exciting progress.
Two of our academic areas have received national recognition.
The Graduate Bible Program has been awarded “associate
member” status by the Association of Theological Schools,
and the Accrediting Board for Engineering and Technology has accredited our computer
engineering and engineering mechanics majors.
ATS membership has a number of benefits for our Graduate Bible students.
Many doctoral programs only accept students from ATS-member institutions. It
opens the door to a variety of grants for faculty, students and the program at large.
These opportunities will make Lipscomb more attractive to prospective students
and help us retain students through completion of their master of arts in biblical
studies or master of divinity degree. This is a well-deserved recognition for an excellent
program.
ABET accreditation for our engineering majors is a crucial achievement. In
Tennessee and numerous other states, graduation from an accredited program is
required before a candidate may pursue professional engineering licensure. Many
employers will only hire graduates from accredited programs, and ABET is the only
engineering accrediting body recognized by the U.S. government. The strength of
engineering instruction at Lipscomb is reflected in the fact that accreditation was
granted retroactively to include all ten of our graduates from the two programs to
date. Our graduates have been accepted to such prestigious institutions as Harvard,
MIT, Stanford, Vanderbilt and Columbia, or have entered the workforce with strong
engineering companies like Boeing, Aerospace Testing Alliance; Ragan, Smith and
Associates, and the Nevada Automotive Testing Institute. Lipscomb is rapidly
becoming the place to earn an engineering degree.
We expect to see continued growth in our student missions program this year.
In 2003-04, this program included 32 trips and 600 participants, doubling the
numbers from just two years previous. And don't think these trips are vacations:
our students, faculty and friends are making a lasting difference. Last year, some of
our mission students pooled their resources to purchase property so three churches
in Mexico could build permanent homes. Our engineering students designed and
constructed a 20-foot-high water tower and solar-powered pump so the village of
Los Delicias, Honduras, could have a working medical clinic that serves a 400square-mile
area. They are going back this year to expand the solar electric system,
and to share more about Jesus Christ.
Yes, milestones are important. And at each one, our mission of integrating
Christian faith and practice with academic excellence shows bright and clear. I am
firmly convinced there is no better place to be than Lipscomb University! ■
Cover photograph by Amber R. Stacey.
2 | THE TORCH
— STEVE FLATT (’77)
TORCH STAFF
Kimberly E.Chaudoin, director of marketing and public relations
Amber R.Stacey, public relations specialist
Student Staff
Katera Bolander, Fayetteville, Tenn.; Joseph Mankin, Murfreesboro,
Tenn.;Caitlin Parham,Brentwood,Tenn.;Jennifer Brimm,Gallatin,Tenn.;
Tim Wright,Dickson,Tenn.
UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION
President:Stephen F.Flatt
Executive Vice President/Advancement: William H.Tucker
Provost:W.Craig Bledsoe
Vice President and Campus School Director:Keith Nikolaus
Vice President Enrollment & Marketing:Jim L.Thomas
Vice President Finance:Danny Taylor
Vice President University Relations:Walt Leaver
General Counsel:Phil Ellenberg
Athletic Director:Steve Potts
Board of Trustees: G. Hilton Dean, Nashville, chairman; J.D. Elliott, Madison, vice-chairman;
Neika B. Stephens, Nashville, secretary; Richard S. Peugeot, Nashville, treasurer; James C.
Allen, Destin, Fla.; Gary T. Baker, Franklin; Thomas E. Batey, Brentwood; Gary M. Bradley Sr.,
Huntsville, Ala.; Alfred N. Carman, Brentwood; Lewis M. Carter, Donalsonville, Ga.; D. Gerald
Coggin Sr., Murfreesboro; Bryan A. Crisman, Memphis; Robbie B. Davis, Roger L. Davis,
Nashville; Dr. Thomas Duncan, Brentwood; Stanley M. Ezell, Nashville; Dr. Edwin L. Grogan,
Paducah,Ky.; J.Gregory Hardeman,Nashville; Linda Heflin Johnston,Brentwood; Raymond
B.Jones,Huntsville,Ala.; Robert E.Keith,Brentwood; Charles Link,Nashville; Bill Luther,Palm
Coast,Fla.;William B.McDonald,Centerville;Countess Metcalf,Goodlettsville;Bill A.Mullican,
Maryville; Sandra W. Perry, Franklin, Ky.; David W. Ralston, Memphis; Harriette Shivers,
Roanoke,Va.; David Solomon, H. Carlton Stinson, Nashville;William Thomas, Chicago, Ill.; Dr.
Jean Shelton Walker,Suffolk,Va.; Melvin White,College Grove.
National Development Board: National Development Board: Lucien and Emily Acuff,
Larry T. and Kellene Adams, Brentwood; David M. and Connie Adcox, Hohenwald;
Thomas E.and Carrie Batey,Murfreesboro; Gary B.and Deborah Berry,Troy,Ala.; Michael
L. and Pam Bixenman, Old Hickory; Harold and Diane Brantley, Bowling Green, Ky.; Joel
B. and Joy Campbell, Loveland, Ohio; Calvin and Kathryne Channell, Nashville; Oakley
and Janice Christian Jr.,Nashville; Gary and Sheila Clark,Brentwood,Tenn; Dr.Michael W.
and Becky Coleman, Money, Miss.; Willard and Ruth Collins, Nashville; J.R. and Sarah
Compton, Madison; Caroline Cross, Franklin; Jeffrey and Julie Dale, Beaverton, Ore.;
Harrison S. and Robbie Davis, Nashville; Richard and Mary Dickerson, Brentwood; Joe
Donaldson, Montgomery, Ala.; Mike and Kay Duncan, Brentwood; John and Janene
Ezell,Brentwood;Trent and Krista Fortner,Old Hickory;Mark and Mary French,Nashville;
Dennis and Suzanne Goldasich, Albertville, Ala.; Gregory and Sherri Gough, Brentwood;
Chris and Melissa Gunn, Pete T. III and Judy Gunn, Benton, Ky.; J. Gregory and Linda
Hardeman, Harold and Helen Hazelip, Don and Linda Lee Hudson, Nashville; Dr. Ronald
A. and Barbara Hunter, Brentwood; Raymond and Kristy Jones, Huntsville, Ala.; Dan and
Margaret Jordan, Nashville; Myron and Lois Keith, Franklin; Marty and Jane Kittrell,
Advance, N.C.; Sharon and Lionel Lillicrap, Brentwood; Roger and Elisabeth Loyd,
Nashville; W. Lee and Gail Maddux, Chattanooga; Ben and Loy Martin, Hendersonville;
Jody and Marti Mason, Brentwood; Dale and Mary McCulloch, Lebanon; Jim and Fay
McFarlin, Nashville; John R. and Kelly Mick, Brentwood; Dr. Billy Sam and Trudy Moore,
Huntsville, Ala.; Dolph and Ellen Morrison, Birmingham, Ala.; Ty and Nancy Osman,
Brentwood; Frank and Barbara Outhier, Nashville; Sam and Janey Parker, Brentwood;
John and Tammy Paul, Brentwood; Dick and Mary Ann Peugeot, Nashville; Lewis and
Nan Rankin,Brentwood,Tenn; John and Kathryn Roberson,Brentwood; Monte and Kim
Rommelman, Paducah, Ky.; John and Lynn Rutledge, Brentwood; David and Gerry
Sciortino, Nashville; Robert and Alison Shackelford III, Selmer; Bob and Teresa Shaw,
Goodlettsville; Ralph and Harriett Shivers, Roanoke,Va.; Chris and Kelly Smith, Paducah,
Ky.; George Smith II, Huntsville, Ala.; Dr. Rodney and Linda Smith, Richmond, Va.; Patrick
and Shelia Stella,Brentwood;Kevin and Kim Temple,Brentwood;Tim and Linda Thomas,
Clarksville; David A. and Cathy Thompson, Charlotte, N.C.; John and Sharon Thweatt,
Nashville; J.W. and Debbie Tolley, Franklin, Tenn; Ben and Jan Vance, Hixson; Sid and
Suzanne Verble, Elizabethtown, Ky.; Jimmy E. and Emily Warren,Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Ansley
and Charlotte Whatley, Dothan, Ala.; Randy and Carolyn Wright, Franklin; Ed and Cindy
Yarbrough, Nashville; Lee Yates, Nashville; Jim and Julie Young, Douglasville, Ga.
Vol.1,No.3,Fall 2004
The Torch is published three times a year in March,July and November at
Lipscomb University,3901 Granny White Pike,Nashville,Tennessee 37204-
3951. POSTMASTER: Send changes of address to The Torch, University
Relations Office, Lipscomb University, 3901 Granny White Pike, Nashville,
TN 37204-3951.
For more news and information about Lipscomb University visit
www.lipscomb.edu.
©Copyright 2004 by Lipscomb University.
All rights reserved.

Features
FALL 2004 | VOL. 1, NO. 3
9 Mission to China
China — with its majestic mountains and flowing rivers — is the fourth
largest country in the world. It’s also a Communist state where population
growth is controlled and nationalism is the primary religion. It’s a
place where people are desperate to find meaning in life.
12 Lighting the way in the world
Each year hundreds of Lipscomb students and employees embark on
missions that lead them to all corners of the world. Jeff Fincher, director
of student missions, and Mark Jent, missions development coordinator,
have dreams of growing the missions program.
15 Water of life
Lipscomb engineering students took their class project outside the walls
of the Raymond B. Jones School of Engineering as they travelled to
rural Honduras to use their skills to help improve the lives of others.
18 Keebles honored for lifetime of service
Laura Johnson Keeble and her husband, the late beloved evangelist and
educator Marshall Keeble, were honored at a special dinner during
Summer Celebration.
PHOTO: ANTHONY ESTES/LIPSCOMB ATHLETICS
Departments
CONTENTS
4 News:Bennett leaves legacy of service, friendship to Lipscomb
20 Athletics: Kristin Peck named NCAA ‘Woman of the Year’ finalist
21 Advancement: Book, Chapter and Verse campaign gets large gift
22 Bison Notes: News from alumni around the world
30 University Calendar
31 Final Word: Spirituality is ‘in’
PHOTO: COURTESY RAYMOND B. JONES SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
Top: Engineering students at work on a water tower in Honduras. Middle: Janis Adcock, Bible
Department secretary, interacts with a child during a mission trip to The City of Children. Left: The Lady
Bisons are looking to Keirstin Head as a key player this season.
FALL 2004 | 3
PHOTO: COURTESY LIPSCOMB MISSIONS OFFICE

4 | THE TORCH
NEWS
Engineering programs receive ABET accreditation
Lipscomb University’s engineering
mechanics and computer
engineering majors have
received national accreditation
from the Accreditation Board
for Engineering and
Technology.
ABET awarded the accreditation
retroactively to October
2001 to include students who
have already received degrees
in the two fields, said Dr. Fred
Gilliam, associate dean of the
Raymond B. Jones School of
Engineering at Lipscomb.
Lipscomb has graduated ten
students with engineering
mechanics or computer engineering
degrees since May
2002. Eighty students are
enrolled in the two majors,
with plans to expand to 300
students, Gilliam said. A program
must produce graduates
before ABET will consider
accreditation.
ABET is the only engineering
accrediting agency recognized by
the United States government.
Accreditation is often vital in
professional development. In
Tennessee and several other
states, students planning to pursue
professional engineering
licensure must graduate from an
accredited program, and many
employers will only hire graduates
from ABET-accredited programs,
Gilliam said.
“There is a certain amount of
credibility and quality communicated
by a student who can
say he or she graduated from
an ABET-accredited program,”
Gilliam said.
ABET considers a variety of
factors before accrediting a program,
including the quality and
preparation of the faculty, laboratory
facilities, curriculum,
integration of the engineering
program into the university at
large, attitude and quality of
students, and continuous
improvement programs,
Gilliam said.
“ABET has strengthened its
commitment to general education
and has required institutions
to demonstrate that the
general education program is
effective in building the ‘soft
skills’ necessary for engineering
success in a global and societal
context,” he said.
ABET expects programs to
prepare graduates to work with
engineers from other parts of
the world in situations where
technical solutions must be
blended with sociological solutions.
Programs are also expected
to emphasize lifelong learning
skills, environmental
awareness and a strong ethical
foundation, he said.
ABET has “eleven outcomes
they expect of each engineering
Bennett leaves legacy of service,
friendship to Lipscomb
With the death of Word B. Bennett on
Aug. 28, Lipscomb University lost a good
friend and longtime member of the board
of trustees.
A 1936 graduate of Lipscomb, Mr.
Bennett joined the board in 1967 and
remained a member until his death.
During the administration of Harold
Hazelip, Mr. Bennett served as board chair.
As chair, he led the board into a more
effective and productive structure, which
has had a significant impact on the function
of the board and direction of the university.
Through the years, Mr. Bennett also
contributed significantly to the financial
welfare of the institution. In 2002, Mr.
Bennett was named the first recipient of
The Torch Award, the most prestigious
award presented annually by Lipscomb
University.
“Word Bennett was one of a handful of
great men I’ve known in my life. He served
God’s purposes in his generation,” said
Steve Flatt, Lipscomb president.
Harold Hazelip, chancellor and president
from 1986-1997, remembered Mr.
Bennett’s friendship.
“I remember Word best for the gift of
friendship he and Lera extended to Helen
and me. The countless evenings when they
introduced us to excellent restaurants, fol-
lowed by delightful TPAC programs
(notably Symphony performances), were
so special,” said Hazelip.
“As board chair, Word learned from
national organizations regarding board
management and institutional development
practices, and sought to adapt ideas
to Lipscomb’s needs. The board’s committee
arrangement — a direct contribution of
his leadership — led to great efficiency in
the board's efforts to deal with policy and
governance issues.”
“He was a true friend and encourager.
He was a great encourager to me as president,”
said Willard Collins, president
emeritus and president from 1977-86.
Hilton Dean, chair of the Lipscomb
board of trustees, said Mr. Bennett’s contributions
to the university will be missed.
“Word Bennett was the consumate
Christian gentleman. He always treated
everyone with respect and listened attentively
and patiently to all points of view.
While soft-spoken and quiet, he spoke
with authority when he did speak. He was
always punctual for all meetings and had
the respect of his fellow board members.
We will miss him,” said Dean.
Mr. Bennett, a Nashville native and
elder at the Donelson Church of Christ
since 1964, worked for 40 years with the
Word B. Bennett
graduate. We add to those outcomes
by connecting engineering
skills with the spiritual
growth that is central to the
Lipscomb experience,” Gilliam
said.
Lipscomb had a head start
on developing its engineering
majors because of a long-standing
pre-engineering program,
which provided an immediate
source of students for the new
majors.
“Building on that program,
we developed a curriculum for
a full four-year program and
brought in a top-notch faculty
that is among the best I’ve
taught with at four universities,”
Gilliam said.
For full information about
engineering studies at
Lipscomb, contact Gilliam at
615.279.5887, 800.333.4358,
ext. 5887 or fred.gilliam@lipscomb.edu.
■
U.S. Tobacco Company, from which he
retired as senior vice president of research
and development in 1980. He was also
instrumental in the development of
Lakeshore Heartland.
Mr. Bennett is survived by his wife of
64 years, Lera (Polk) Bennett, children,
Dr. Thomas W. Bennett (’66, DLHS ‘ 62),
Dr. Clifford Bennett (’71, DLHS ’67),
Ruth (Bennett x ’68, DLHS ’64) Balch,
Nancy Bennett (’72, DLHS ’68), a sister,
Nancy (Bennett) Taylor, and thirteen
grandchildren. ■
— KIM CHAUDOIN

HCA awards $500,000 grant to
Lipscomb for nursing program
Hospital Corporation of
America recently awarded a
grant of $500,000 to Lipscomb
University to support the new
Lipscomb/Vanderbilt Nursing
Partnership.
The grant, to be distributed
to Lipscomb over three years,
will cover the initial costs associated
with adding the program
to the Lipscomb curriculum,
said Lipscomb President
Stephen F. Flatt.
“We deeply appreciate the fact
that HCA shares our vision for
nursing education and is willing
to provide the financial support
necessary to make this monumental
venture possible. HCA has
a wonderful record of supporting
a variety of works that enhance
the community,” Flatt said.
“I believe the Lipscomb/
Vanderbilt Nursing Partnership
will do more to recruit and prepare
new nurses than any other
initiative in this area. This grant
will make a tremendous difference
in the quality of health
care in the region and nation,”
Flatt said.
“The national nurse shortage
remains a serious issue for hospitals
across the country,” said
Jack O. Bovender Jr., chairman
and chief executive officer of
HCA. “We are pleased to be
able to help a local institution
develop their nursing program.
This will provide more educational
opportunities for those
seeking a career in healthcare
and increase the available pool
of nurses – a winning combination
for everyone.”
In December, the Tennessee
State Board of Nursing
approved a partnership agreement
between Lipscomb
University and the Vanderbilt
University School of Nursing
that will allow Lipscomb to
offer a Bachelor of Science in
Nursing degree with courses
provided by Vanderbilt.
Students in the program will
take their first five semesters of
foundational nursing courses at
Lipscomb. The remaining three
semesters of professional nursing
courses and clinical experiences
will be offered at Vanderbilt.
Upon successful completion of
the program students will receive
the Bachelor of Science in
Nursing from Lipscomb.
In addition to the grant, HCA
is one of three companies —
along with Vanderbilt University
Medical Center and National
HealthCare Corp. — that have
agreed to provide tuition assistance
to qualified students during
their professional coursework
in return for a work commitment
after graduation.
“A student who completes this
program of study will have had
the experience of an academic
career in both a liberal arts environment
of a small university
campus and a health sciences
environment of a major research
university,” said Linda Norman,
D.S.N., senior associate dean for
academics at VUSN, who will
also serve as director of the BSN
program at Lipscomb.
“This unique combination of
study on two differently oriented
campuses will provide a student
with training in nursing,
strongly complemented by
extensive study in the humanities
and social sciences. Thus,
the student will be well educated
to function as a bachelor’s
degree nurse, and also have the
necessary foundation to pursue
master’s and doctoral studies in
nursing,” she added.
Lipscomb has offered prenursing
courses since 1949
when the university began
offering pre-professional studies.
Some 22 students now
enrolled at Lipscomb are eligible
for the new program, and
about 30 freshmen have enroll
ed in the program this fall.
Applications for the program
are accepted through the university’s
Admissions Office.
For additional information on
the BSN program at Lipscomb,
visit nursing.lipscomb.edu. ■
LI-COR grant enhances biology, chemistry programs
The Departments of Biology
and Chemistry recently received
a grant for $28,500 from LI-
COR Biosciences’ Genomics
Education Matching Fund to
purchase a DNA sequencer.
DNA sequencers are instruments
designed for the rapid
determination of the sequence
of the building blocks (bases)
of the genetic material, DNA,
said Kent Clinger, professor of
chemistry. Such devices were
used in the completion of the
Human Genome Project during
the past few years. By the use of
DNA sequencers, scientists
from academia and the life science
industry sequenced most
of the DNA found in human
cells, said Clinger.
At Lipscomb, a DNA sequencer
will be used in cell biology,
molecular biology and biochemistry
labs to teach students methods
of sequencing DNA. In cell
biology and molecular biology,
Dr. Jon Lowrance, associate professor
of biology and chair of the
department, said he plans to
teach students to sequence a fragment
of their own DNA, allowing
them to see their own genetic
individuality. Clinger plans to
have biochemistry students
sequence a small piece of DNA
used to insert a gene into bacteria
that allows the bacteria to fluoresce
(glow) when exposed to
ultraviolet light.
The DNA sequencer will also
greatly expand the opportuni-
ties for research in the life sciences,
said Clinger. Lipscomb
students have been attempting
to isolate the DNA from a pigmented
bacterium that causes
the bacterium to be violet.
Having an in-house DNA
sequencer will allow students to
sequence the DNA as well,
extending the amount of information
that Lipscomb scientists
will obtain. Additional research
experiments which were not
feasible may now be possible,
said Clinger, especially with
advanced undergraduate life
science students who have
already used DNA sequencing
in class. ■
NEWS
Lipscomb in
‘U.S. News’
top tier for
11th year
For the eleventh consecutive
year, Lipscomb University has been
ranked in the top tier of “Best
Universities-Master’s” degree institutions
in the South by U.S. News
and World Report in its 2004 edition
of “America’s Best Colleges.”
Lipscomb is ranked 33rd on the
list, which is not as highly placed as
last year but remains positioned
among the best of the best institutions
in the South, said David
England, university spokesman.
Lipscomb showed improvements
this year in the alumni giving
rate, from 30 percent last year
to 31 percent this year – one of the
best alumni giving rates among
comparable schools – and in full
time teacher percentage, which
rose from 77 percent to 80 percent.
Lipscomb’s alumni giving percentage
was second only to
Milligan College’s 33 percent
among top tier institutions.
The university’s rating may have
been hurt by a three percent
decline in the six-year graduation
rate, from 53 percent to 50 percent.
Graduation rate is a significant factor
in the U.S. News methodology.
Due to a reporting error, two statistics
were left blank in this year’s
survey – the percentage of classes
under 20 students, and the percentage
of classes with more than 50
students. Both categories actually
saw improvements this year, to 50
percent under 20 students and only
three percent with more than 50
students.
“The high alumni giving percentage
speaks volumes about the
quality and value of the Lipscomb
degree,” England said. “While students
generally do not decide to
attend a university based on a statistical
comparison, it is still
rewarding to be considered one of
the best institutions in your region
for ten years in a row. As we do with
all assessments of quality, we will
analyze these results and see how
we may be an even better institution,”
England said.■
FALL 2004 | 5

On behalf of the 2004 U.S. Ryder Cup
Team, the PGA of America will distribute
$2.6 million to charities designated by team
members. Donations will also go to colleges
and universities of their choice to help fund
the “Golf: For Business & Life Program.”
Longtime Lipscomb supporter Kenny
Perry was selected to the 2004 Ryder Cup
Team and chose Lipscomb to receive a
$100,000 gift to start a “Golf: For Business &
Life Program.” Perry, along with the other
2004 Ryder Cup team members, have designated
a combined PGA of America contribution
of $1.3 million to 14 colleges and universities
across the country to fund this program.
The “Golf: For Business & Life” program
offers college juniors, seniors and graduate
students the opportunity to learn the basics
of the golf swing, etiquette and how to use
golf as a business tool regardless of their
6 | THE TORCH
NEWS
Graduate Bible program gets ATS associate membership
Lipscomb University’s
Graduate Bible Program has
been awarded “associate
member” status by the
Association of Theological
Schools.
The Lipscomb program was
elected to the new status by
other ATS member institutions
during their biennial
meeting in Los Angeles earlier
this year, said Dr. Michael
Moss, associate dean of the
College of Bible and Ministry
at Lipscomb and director of
the Graduate Bible Program.
Election to associate member
status begins a process toward
full professional accreditation by
ATS, which officials hope to
achieve as early as 2006, Moss
said.
“ATS accreditation is really a
stamp of approval on a graduate
theological program. It
says, ‘This program is at a special
level,’” Moss said.
Moss said he expects ATS
membership to have an
impact on student recruitment
and retention. Master’s degree
graduates of ATS-member
institutions may choose from
a wider array of doctoral programs
than those from non-
Perry, PGA gift to
fund academic
golf program
ATS programs. Membership
also opens the door to a variety
of grants for faculty, students
and the program at
large.
Dr. Charles Willard, director
of accreditation and institutional
evaluation for ATS,
noted in a staff report that
Lipscomb’s program “meets
the constitutional criteria for
membership.”
Lipscomb “has demonstrated,
in the areas of faculty,
students, range of courses,
openness to the community
of theological education, and
quality, stability and permanence,
that it is making an
effective contribution to the
community of faith in its metropolitan
area through the
provision of a sound theological
education to women and
to men,” Willard said.
Lipscomb’s program was
also recommended for membership
by six peer institutions:
Abilene (Texas) Christian
University, Harding Graduate
School of Religion, Memphis;
Southern Christian University,
Montgomery, Ala.; Southern
Baptist Theological Seminary,
Louisville; Emmanuel
Theological Seminary, Johnson
City, Tenn.; and Cincinnati
Bible Seminary.
Willard noted the quality of
Lipscomb’s Beaman Library
for theological studies, but
encouraged the university to
pursue making the library’s
resources available via the
Internet.
Other improvements that
Lipscomb should pursue as it
works toward full professional
accreditation include adding
of a course to the master of
arts program developing a
coordinated evaluation
process, improved faculty
diversity and construction of a
planned Bible building,
Willard said.
The new building, a 75,000
square foot, $9.5 million facility,
is a central component of
Lipscomb’s $150 million
Lighting the Way: Igniting the
Future Campaign. Fund raising
has already begun, and university
officials hope to break
ground on the facility next
spring.
“Everyone recognizes the
need for improved space for the
College of Bible and Ministry,
including the Graduate Bible
chosen careers. The classes are taught by
PGA professionals and also feature business
leaders who are asked to address how golf
has enhanced their business.
Dr. Mike Moss
faculty,” Willard said.
Lipscomb offers two theology-related
master’s degrees –
the master of arts in biblical
studies and the master of
divinity. Of universities associated
with the churches of
Christ, Lipscomb is the only
university whose full-time faculty
members all hold doctorates,
Moss said.
For full information about
the program, contact Moss at
615.279.6051 or via e-mail at
Michael.Moss@lipscomb.edu. ■
2004 U.S. Ryder Cup Team members selected 14 colleges and universities across the country to receive funds to start
a “Golf: For Business & Life” program. Kenny Perry, top row far right, selected Lipscomb Univesity to receive a
$100,000 gift from the PGA of America.
The PGA of America, founded in 1916,
is a not-for-profit organization that promotes
the game of golf while continuing to
enhance the standards of the profession. ■
PHOTO: PGA OF AMERICA

2004 Avalon Awards honor Grant, Hyman, Henderson
Lipscomb University presented
its ninth annual Avalon
Awards for Creative Excellence
at the Evening of Excellence
dinner Nov. 1.
The 2004 recipients included
singer/songwriter Amy
Grant, Nashville; theater professor,
director and actor Jerry
Henderson, Thousand Oaks,
Calif.; and ceramicist Sylvia
Hyman, Nashville.
“We honor them because
the product of their creativity
is making a positive difference
in our community and in our
society,” university President
Stephen F. Flatt said.
The Avalon Awards were created
in 1995 to encourage the
exploration of creativity
among Lipscomb students and
faculty by illustrating excellence
in the creative arts. The
awards “celebrate the creative
spirit, but also look for relevance
to our daily lives,” said
Carolyn Wilson, director of
library services at Lipscomb
and an Avalon Steering
Committee member.
Award recipients "have
enriched our existence, challenged
our minds, compelled
our eyes and ears to see new
visions and hear wondrous
sounds. They have pursued
that truer art, the language of
the human spirit, which
reveals the meanings of our
broader worlds," Wilson said.
A huge influence on the
development of modern gospel
Artist Series features Orlando
Consort, A Cappella Singers
The Lipscomb University
Artist Series presents the
Orlando Consort, joined by the
A Cappella Singers in concert
Feb. 8.
The Orlando Consort,
formed in 1988 by the Early
Music Centre of Great Britain,
has rapidly achieved a reputation
as one of the most expert
and consistently challenging
groups performing an early
music repertoire. For their work
on the extraordinary techniques
of 12th Century
Amy Grant Jerry Henderson Sylvia Hyman
and contemporary Christian
music, Amy Grant is an extremely
talented singer and songwriter.
Grant received her first
record deal from Word Records
in 1977 at the age of 15. Her first
albums, released in the late
1970s and early 1980s, helped
invent the contemporary
Christian genre. She also successfully
crossed over to the pop
charts with several of her hit
songs. During her more than
25-year career, Grant has sold
25 million albums, and has
received 24 Dove Awards and
five Grammy Awards. Grant's
19th project, Amy Grant's
Greatest Hits 1986-2004, was
recently released.
An artist for more than 60
years, Sylvia Hyman has
worked with clay for more
than 40 years. For the past few
years Hyman has produced
Aquitanian polyphony, they
were awarded the 1996 Noah
Greenberg Award by the
American Musicological
Society. The Consort has also
attracted considerable attention
for their imaginative programming
of contemporary music.
Tickets are $10 for adults and
$5 for students. Admission is
free with a Lipscomb ID. For
more information, call 279.5929
or 800.333.4358, ext. 5929. ■
— TIM WRIGHT
artwork in the “trompe l'oeil”
genre which emphasizes superrealism.
Hyman has received
numerous awards during her
career. Her work was featured
in a 30-year Retrospective
Exhibition at the Tennessee
State Museum in 1995, and she
received the Governor's Award
in the Arts for Lifetime
Achievement in the Arts in
1994. Hyman also received an
award for Lifetime
Achievement in The Craft Arts
in 1993 from the National
Museum of Women in the Arts
in Washington, D.C. Hyman's
work is included in many
Museum collections in the
United States and around the
world. Her work is featured in
the Best of Tennessee Craft
2004 Biennial exhibit at the
Tennessee State Museum in
Nashville through Jan.9, 2005.
A 1957 Lipscomb graduate,
Jerry Henderson returned to
campus in 1962 and quickly
established Lipscomb drama
as among the best in Tennessee
colleges. While there he took
productions of Richard II and
Macbeth on the road. In 1969
he led a Lipscomb drama
troupe on a USO tour of
Greenland, Iceland, Baffin
Island, Newfoundland and
Labrador. In addition to his 12
years at Lipscomb, he taught
theater at Tennessee
Technologial University in
Cookeville from 1973-79 and
at Pepperdine University from
1979-2003. He has directed
numerous productions and is
an accomplished playwright
and author. Henderson has
also performed in a variety of
productions. ■
— KIM CHAUDOIN
Help make a legend
Each year, Lipscomb University chooses four former employees and
honors them as “Lipscomb Legends.” Lipscomb Legends are chosen
from among faculty, staff and administrators with a minimum of ten
years of service who were “legends” during and after their employment.
Those already inducted include Henry O. “Buddy” Arnold, Irma
Lee Batey, Batsell Baxter, Batsell Barrett Baxter, Sue Berry, H. Leo Boles,
Eugene Boyce, S. C. Boyce, Eunice Bradley, Charles R. Brewer, Robert
Childress, Willard Collins, Allene Dillingham, Gene Dixon, Ken
Dugan, E.A. Elam, Carroll Ellis, Max Hamrick, Tom Hanvey, James A.
Harding, D. M. Hassey, Margaret Hopper, John Hutcheson, David
Johnston, Robert H. Kerce, Jimmy Langley, David Lipscomb, Lewis
Maiden, Margaret Meador, Bob Neil, S.P. Pittman, Martha Riedl, Anne
Marie Robertson, J.P. Sanders, Mary Sherrill, J. Ridley Stroop, Axel
Swang, Betty Watts, Thomas Whitfield and Sara Whitten.
Nomination deadline for 2005 honorees is Nov. 30. New
Lipscomb Legends are honored at the annual appreciation dinner
for faculty and staff each spring. To nominate a Lipscomb Legend,
visit http://academics.lipscomb.edu and click on the Lipscomb
Legends link in the directory.
FALL 2004 | 7

A Cappella Singers, alumni tour China
Members of the A Cappella
and University Singers gave the
gift of music to people thousands
of miles away from
Nashville this summer.
Twenty-four members of the
choral groups, joined by six
alumni and directed by Dr. Larry
Griffith, professor of music,
combined to form a “concert
choir” that embarked on a tenday
tour of China in June.
During the journey, the chorus
performed before audiences in
two of China’s largest cities.
The ensemble’s first stop was
in Shanghai, China’s famous
financial center and secondlargest
city. They sang for children
at the Children’s Palace, a recreational
and educational facility
for Shanghi’s gifted and talented
children. In addition, the group
joined with a community chorus
to present a concert in front of
several hundred people.
“The audience was so receptive
to our music. We were greeted
very enthusiastically,” said
Griffith, who is in his 25th year
directing Lipscomb’s choruses.
Chorus members also performed
in Beijing, China’s capital
for 3,000 years. While there, the
ensemble performed on the campus
of Beijing University and at
the Beijing Theater. A stop at the
Great Wall on an afternoon of
siteseeing provided another
unique performance setting.
“We had an informal,
impromptu concert by the Wall.
We sang a couple of songs.
People gathered around and listened
to us. Several came up and
wanted their picture made with
8 | THE TORCH
Members of the Lipscomb University “concert choir” had the opportunity to visit many historic sites such as the Great Wall while
on a tour of China.
our group. It was quite a moving
and memorable moment,” said
Griffith.
Griffith said he plans international
chorus tours on a routine
basis to provide unique learning
opportunities for his students.
“Of course getting to perform
in such different settings are
highlights of any tour. But, having
the opportunity to see some
of the things we get to see is really
incredible,” he said.
Since 1992, Griffith has led
international chorus tours to
Oxford, London, Belgium,
France, Holland, Germany,
Scotland, Australia, New
Zealand, the Carribbean and
Aruba. He has also led the
Lipscomb ensembles on domestic
tours that has taken them to
all corners of the United States.
Students raise their own funds
to finance the overseas trips.
Occasionally, alumni and
friends of the choruses join the
tours.
Griffith said he believes the
benefits of exposing students to
‘The Art Event at Lipscomb’ to benefit Campus School
The David Lipscomb Campus
School community will have the
opportunity to support their
school and add to their art collections
during “The Art Event at
Lipscomb” Feb. 3-5.
“The Art Event at
Lipscomb” is an exhibit and
sale of fine art that includes
works from a variety of local
artists, according to Debbie
Lambert, director of campus
school development. Streater
Spencer is the event’s featured
artist and Danny Holman is
the featured “up-and-coming”
artist. A variety of other
artists’ works will also be
available for purchase.
“We are very excited about
the opportunity to showcase
some of our area's talented
artists through The Art Event,
and to make their work available
for purchase to the
Nashville community. As a
fundraising event for the David
Lipscomb Campus School,
buyers will have the opportunity
to purchase some beautiful,
original artwork for their home
or office, and at the same time
provide financial support for
the Campus School. Twentyfive
percent of all purchases
will benefit the Campus School
Annual Fund and will be used
to enhance our programs and
improve facilities,” said
Lambert.
For more information, call
615.279.6321 or visit dlcs.lipscomb.edu.
■
a variety of cultures are many.
“These trips are extensions
of a student’s education. They
provide wonderful opportunities
for them. Even our stateside
trips are great learning
opportunitites. We try to plan
trips where we can see something
educational and have the
chance to recruit students,” he
said.
For more information about
the Lipscomb choruses, visit
music.lipscomb.edu. ■
— KIM CHAUDOIN
Clarification
The English Language Learning
Program led by Steve Sherman at
Lipscomb (The Torch, Summer
2004, page 17) is funded by a
$5,000 grant from a Dollar
General Corp. program for the
advancement of literacy as administered
by the Tennessee
Independent Colleges and
Universities Association.
WANT MORE NEWS?
For more information on these and other
stories go to www.lipscomb.edu. Click on
the “news”link. Or, sign up to receive news
updates by e-mail. Sign up for the
“Lipscomb Digest”by e-mailing lipscombdigest@lipscomb.edu.
Put “subscribe” in
the subject line.
PHOTO: COURTESY LARRY GRIFFITH

Mission to China
CHINA ... ITS MAJESTIC MOUNTAINS AND FLOWING RIVERS are the
setting for the fourth largest country in the world. The 5,000 year-old
country is also one of the most populated with nearly 1.3 billion residents.
It’s a Communist state where population growth is controlled
and nationalism is the primary religion. It’s a place where people are
desperate to find meaning in life. 1
BY KIM CHAUDOIN (’90)
David Lipscomb Middle School teacher Rebecca Lavender, front row center, led
the China mission team with her husband Earl, professor of Bible at Lipscomb
University.
FALL 2004 | 9
PHOTO: COURTESY EARL LAVENDER

Senior Alex Ansley, far right, took some of his workshop students to a bowling alley in Wuhan on an activity-oriented field trip.
It’s also a country whose people have become a passion for
Earl Lavender (’77), professor of Bible at Lipscomb. In June,
Lavender took a team of ten Lipscomb students and faculty,
along with his wife and team co-leader, Rebecca (’76), a sixth
grade teacher at David Lipscomb Middle School, to China on a
mission to help a group of university professors improve their
English skills. The Lipscomb team served as instructors during
an intensive conversation skills workshop sponsored by Wuhan
University of Science and Technology as a professional development
course for its faculty. The university has an enrollment of
35,000 and is located in Wuhan, a city of 7.5 million people in
the province of Hubei on the Yellow River.
During the three-week course at Wuhan, Lavender said
Lipscomb team members worked with professors there to help
them strengthen their English skills by engaging them in conversations
and assigning writing exercises. Lipscomb students
encouraged their pupils with verbal and written feedback, he
said. At the conclusion of the course the professors completed
an exam which required each of them to participate in fiveminute
extemporaneous conversations as well as a question and
answer session.
While improving their language skills the Chinese “students”
also learned new teaching methods. They also got a first-hand
look at how Christian people live.
“The teaching styles in China are so different. Our style is
much more interactive and compassionate. A comment that we
get is that ‘I’ve learned more about how to teach than anything.’
10 | THE TORCH
PHOTO: COURTESY ALEX ANSLEY
One professor said that he was going to start writing ‘good’ on
his students’ papers and to start using positive encouragement
with his students,” said Lavender, who has made four trips to
China.
Prior to embarking on this mission, Lipscomb team members
obtained working visas from the Chinese government.
Lavender stresses that the primary purpose of the mission is to
teach English — not to teach the Bible. In exchange for their
services, team members received enough money to cover many
of their expenses while in China. Lavender said officials are
aware that Lipscomb is a Christian institution and are intrigued
by the idea of a Christian education.
“We’ve been asked, ‘what does Christianity have to do with
education,’” he said.
PRACTICING CHRISTIANITY IS NOT ENCOURAGED in China.
Team members are instructed not to talk much about religion or
politics. Lavender said that by the way the Lipscomb team members
conducted themselves, however, their faith was evident.
“They could see the joy that was in our students. They just
flourished. They were joyful and confident. It’s embodiment
evangelism. You don’t do anything overtly. You just conduct
yourselves the way you should live as a Christian. They see the
difference. If you live what you believe in any context God is
ultimately the One who brings about good,” said Lavender.
Lavender said the people his team encountered in China
were “desperate for meaning in life.” He said some of them

asked questions about team members’ faith.
“There is a universal need in people to have meaning in life.
Jesus demonstrated how to lead a life of purpose and meaning.
That’s why it’s so valuable to go into cultures and demonstrate
this purposeful living. If the way you’re living is not authentic —
there’s no meaning,” said Lavender.
Alex Ansley, a senior from Winchester, Tenn., participated in the
2002 and 2004 workshops. He said the experience was enjoyable
and life-changing.
“The experience of teaching something to those who really
want to learn is so much fun. Each student of mine contributed
so much and that made each day a blast! I got the chance to
combine verb conjugation with bowling as we took many activity-oriented
field trips over the three-week course,” he said.
“Showing how God plays a role in my life was something
they (the Chinese professors) didn’t expect because they don’t
see that in every foreigner they meet. Meeting Chinese Christians
was also great because it showed me just how far God’s reach is
and how He can live through someone in China just like He can
through me. For me, this trip was a life changer as it makes me
try to combine my marketing major with something that will
send me back over to China after I graduate.”
After a day’s work, the Lipscomb team retreated to their
apartments nearby and often, the team gathered for devotionals.
On weekends and evenings through the week, Lavender and his
crew worked with the “house churches” in the area. (Christians
in China meet in people’s homes.) Lavender said that was an
“exciting” opportunity to meet people in China who believe in
Christ.
There are a large number of house churches in China,
Lavender said. “In that culture people tend to quickly come
together as communities and have an interdependence on each
other. There are coded ways people let each other know they are
Christians,” he said.
The Lipscomb team met a lady who lost her job because she
was baptized. Not long after that she found a better job.
“One lady told us ‘I can’t tell you how wonderful life is now
that I know Jesus. This community of Christians in these house
churches exists in a culture where you’re not supposed to be
gathering for these purposes and you see the Lord coming to life
in these people and the joy these people have in finding a purpose
in life,” said Lavender.
Seeing Christianity alive in a strict environment made a positive
impact on team members.
“The mission trip showed me how God works even in the
strictest environments. Even though we could not talk openly
about God in class, we were able to show God’s love through
our actions,” said Brent Culberson, a political science major
from Nashville. “It really hit me when a Chinese student told
(another team member), ‘I know you all are different. I don’t
exactly know what it is, but I know you are different.’ That to me
PHOTO: COURTESY EARL LAVENDER
The 2004 China missions team included, from left to right, Andy Ogle, Matt Vollrath, Brent
Culberson, Alex Ansley, Jocelyn Bailey, Brian Stephens and Allison Hartwig. Earl and
Rebecca Lavender, front row, led the team.
shows how we can make a difference by just living the Word.”
Culberson said one of his favorite memories of this year’s
trip was an evening spent in the capital city of Beijing.
“We were riding back from dinner and our tour guide asked
us if we could sing. She loved music and wanted to hear our
English songs. We all decided to sing songs of praise and worship.
We started singing as were driving through the streets of
Beijing and it was amazing. After several minutes of singing, our
bus stopped at an intersection at a stop light. We looked up and
directly to our left was Tiananmen Square. Even though we were
in a country that forbids Christianity, there were singing songs of
praise. It was an awesome feeling,” he said.
LIPSCOMB HAS DEVELOPED A GOOD RELATIONSHIP with officials
at Wuhan and has been asked for a long-term commitment
to provide teachers to them, Lavender said. He said there are
many opportunities for teachers in China and that six Lipscomb
alumni are teaching there this year.
“There are endless opportunities for our graduates to go to
China and teach — no matter what they majored in. It gives
them the chance to expand their worldview and to see their
place in the kingdom,” said Lavender.
Lavender said he hopes to involve the Education Department
in future China mission efforts. For more information about
mission and teaching opportunities in China, contact Lavender
at earl.lavender@lipscomb.edu.■
1 Information cited from www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ch.html#Intro
FALL 2004 | 11

Lipscomb student missions program
lights the way in the world
BY KIM CHAUDOIN (’90)
The command that Jesus gave His apostles to preach the
gospel is at the heart of what makes Jeff Fincher (’97) and Mark
Jent (’00) get up and go to work each morning. It fuels a passion
that has driven them for years to seek souls hungry to learn
about God’s love.
Fincher and Jent make up the energetic pair who direct the
Lipscomb student missions program. Operating out of the
McCaleb Mission Center in Burton Bible Building, Fincher and
Jent, working alongside Earl Lavender (’77), professor of Bible
and director of missions, and Steve Sherman, missionary in residence,
have crafted a mission program that last year involved
600 participants from the university in missions across the
globe. For the 2004-05 school year more than 40 mission trips
are planned for fall break, spring break and summer. New trips
are being organized for New Zealand, Japan, India, Italy, Hawaii,
the United Kingdom, St. Martin, Zambia, Los Angeles, New
aJersey, Miami, Monterrey and El Salvador.
Providing a variety of mission opportunities that vary in
duration, location and scope has made it easier for more students
to be a part of the program.
“There are a lot more opportunities to serve now and in
more diverse ways than in the past. Our mission trips are made
not only to teach the Word but for medical missions, to help
teach English and many more reasons. We want students to be
able to use their talents no matter what God has given them,”
said Fincher, director of student missions at Lipscomb.
This idea of “vocational ministry” is the overriding mission
12 | THE TORCH
of the program. According to the office’s “Vision for Mission at
Lipscomb University 2004,” written by Lavender, the goal is “to
convince every student they are called to disseminate the message
of God’s love to the world, no matter what discipline of
study they pursue or what vocation they choose.”
Fincher said this will be done by coordinating the efforts of
faculty from all disciplines across the unviersity, the strong
encouragement for students to be involved in ministry outside
the classroom and particular curriculum development and focus
in the College of Bible and Ministry.
Several vocational mission trips have been made in recent
months. This past spring break a group of Engineering students
travelled to Honduras to use their engineering skills for building
a watertower to provide a nearby community with water. (See
story on page 15.) In May, education majors travelled to the Pine
Ridge Reservation in South Dakota to work at Rockyford School,
which serves primarily Native American students and is located
in one of the poorest counties in the country. Plans are also in
the works to develop a mission trip that would partner nursing
and Spanish students next spring, Fincher said.
Growing urban missions is another long-term goal of the
student mission program.
“We’re also trying to look in our own backyard and utilize
resources in Nashville. There are 60 known spoken languages in
Nashville. There are many opportunities to teach English using
the Bible as a text. Steve Sherman (Lipscomb’s missionary-in-residence)
has developed an English as a second language program
on campus that reaches out to some of our own people on cam-
’

PHOTO: COURTESY LIPSCOMB MISSIONS OFFICE
pus who need to develop their Englishspeaking
skills,” said Jent, coordinator of
missions development.
STUDENTS ARE EAGER TO SERVE on mission
trips, Fincher and Jent said.
“They come to us and their hearts are
already passionate about service. Students
seem to be more aware of what’s going on
in the world and they want to make a difference,”
said Jent.
Fincher agrees.
“We’ve even gotten ideas for new mission
opportunities from students who had
experiences in high school and want to
start similar trips here. A lot of youth
groups are more involved in mission work
now. So, students come to us more and
more with mission trip experience,” he
said.
“Lipscomb’s mission trips have been a
vital part of my college experience. I was
privileged to go to Mexico one spring break
and Tegucigalpa, Honduras for the following
three spring breaks. I just spent three
weeks in Brisbane, Australia this summer.
All three experiences have been extremely
different, yet equally as rewarding,” said
Laura Klapheke, a May 2004 graduate.
“There’s no greater feeling than knowing
you’ve used your time wisely. As a gradute
student, I’m excited at continuing the
Lipscomb mission trip tradition in Mexico
again this spring break. Christian service is
promoted at Lipscomb — mission trips are
merely one illustration of that principle.”
Sophomore Allison Hubbard led a team
to Ghana, West Africa this summer. The mission
team included three students who are
from Africa.
“Missions here at Lipscomb helps build a
PHOTO: AMBER R. STACEY
Left: In July, a Lipscomb mission team travelled to
Brisbane, Australia. Here Brad Johnson baptizes Craig
Harris at Camp Connect in Brisbane. Above: Mark Jent,
left, and Jeff Fincher lead the student mission program
at Lipscomb. Right: Senior Matt Cline distributes food
during a recent mission trip to San Quintin, Mexico.
sense of community. My mission team last
summer brought together students who may
have never met if it weren’t for the trip. At the
return of my trip I felt as if I had a whole new
family ... people to share my joys and excitements
with about the trip, the things I struggled
with while I was there, and how God
has used the trip to convict me. God continues
to use missions to draw our student body
closer not only to Him but closer to each
other through Him,” said Hubbard.
Faculty and staff have also become
more involved in mission work in the last
few years, Fincher said. He said university
officials have made an effort to encourage
employee participation in university-sponsored
mission trips by granting those who
lead trips a week’s leave time each year.
“It is wonderful to work at an institution
that strongly encourages its students,
faculty, and staff to make service to others a
priority. The growth of the Lipscomb missions
effort over the past years has been
evidence of God's continual work on this
campus,” said Rebekah Parker, director of
housing at Lipscomb.
“My first trip to the City of Children
was as a senior in college, and I have been
four times as staff sponsor. I look forward
to this trip every year. As a result of going, I
have made numerous friendships with the
children and staff at the City of Children.
They are so special to me. Every year, my
goal is to encourage and love the children
and staff. However, when I leave I always
feel they have encouraged me and shown
me more love than I could have possibly
imagined.”
THE FUTURE OF STUDENT MISSIONS IS
BRIGHT. Fincher and Jent have dreams of
growing the scope of the program by
involving more students and reaching more
souls domestically and internationally.
They said they plan on focusing on three
areas in the coming year — on the spiritual
formation of every student, on reaching out
to ethnic groups in Nashville and forming
teams for world missions.
“I am passionate about missions
because it helps you identify the plan God
has for your life, no matter your line of
work. It is who we should strive to be and
what we are called to do — to be messengers
of the Word into the world. I am passionate
about missions because I have seen
lives changed over the years on both ends,
from those giving and from those receiving,
then afterwards seeing both sides have a
closer relationship with the Father and
both sides seeking to know more in how to
live a Kingdom life here on earth. Being
passionate about missions does not constitute
a trip to a third world country on the
FALL 2004 | 13
PHOTO: COURTESY LIPSCOMB MISSIONS OFFICE

PHOTOS: COURTESY LIPSCOMB MISSIONS OFFICE
other side of the world. Yes, that is needed,
but there is just as much work to be done
here at home. There is nothing more
rewarding that I have ever done in my life,”
said Jent.
For more information about the student
mission program at Lipscomb call
279.6050 or 800.333.4358, ext. 6050, email
Jeff. Fincher@lipscomb.edu or visit
missions.lipscomb.edu. ■
David E. Lavender was one of 1,500
Christians gathered in Wichita, Kansas in
1952 for the Wichita Forum. There,
Lavender heard James Nichols telling about
the desperate need of missionaries to go to
post war Europe, specifically to Italy.
Lavender was working as an aircraft engineer
at Cessna Aircraft Company at the time and
gave that up to answer the call of doing mission
work in Italy.
Lavender and his wife, Edith, were
encouraged to go to Italy by several of their
close friends. The next day Lavender's boss,
Earl Lauer, who attended the Wichita Forum
with Lavender, told him that he “should
leave engineering and go and help the people
in Italy to know of the Christ who died
for them.” Encouragement also came from
Maurice and Marie Hall, who visited and
prayed often with the Lavenders about their
decision to go to Italy and even postponed
their own trip to France so they could all
sail together.
In October of that year, Lavender, his
wife and their (then) four children sailed to
France then went on ti Italy. They were in
Milano for six months, but the government
would not issue them a visa. In March 1954,
they went to Trieste, which was still under
Allied Military Government making it possible
for them to stay there. They worked
there for two years, planting a church and
working out an agreement with the Italian
government when Trieste was given back to
Italy in October 1954 that allowed the
church to function and to display a sign outside
their building. As a result, all congregations
in Italy were allowed that privilege.
From 1956-58 the Lavenders returned to
14 | THE TORCH
Left: A student mission team travelled to New York City during spring break. Above: President Steve Flatt and a team
of 28 people from Lipscomb visited the City of Children in Mexico and churches in Baja during a weekend trip.
Lavender scholarship encourages Christian education
the United States. For their second trip to
Italy, they went to Udine and worked until
1961 when the family (now six children)
returned to Columbus, Ohio due to schooling
issues with the children. Lavender
resumed working as an aircraft engineer and
he returned to Italy to conduct gospel meetings
on two occasions.
Then, in 1965, a group of college students
held a spring campaign in Columbus
and met an Italian family while doing door
to door work. The students enjoyed that
experience and it launched the idea of taking
a group of students to Italy for a summer
campaign. Lavender again quit his job,
this time to raise money for this effort. As a
result, the 1966 mission trip to Italy became
one of the first planned summer-long campaign
attempts in a non-English speaking
country.
Lavender and his family led the group
since they had lived in Italy for six years.
While planned as a one-time project, it
went so well that the work continued
under the Lavenders’ direction for 13
years. The project became known as
“Project Italy” and was a highlight in their
lives. He hoped that eventually, it would
serve as a basis to supply new missionaries
to the work force in Italy. He said that they
would do all they could to inspire youth to
think in terms of mission service to God.
During the “Project Italy” mission trips,
hundreds of young people participated in
the mission effort. Many of the students
who went on “Project Italy” trips have
returned as full-time missionaries.
Lavender died in March 2004 after a
lengthy illness. Just before his death, an
endowed scholarship was established in his
name at Lipscomb
University. The
David Lavender
Missions Scholarship
was created to assist
students with their
Christian education
at the university.
The minimum
endowment level for
the scholarship has
been set at $25,000. David E. Lavender
Lipscomb officials
hopesto achieve that
goal by summer 2005 in order to award the
first recipient in the fall of 2005, said Earl
Lavender, son of David and Edith Lavender
and professor of Bible at Lipscomb.
“Contributing to this scholarship is a
great way not only to honor my father, but
to continue his vision of proclaiming the
good news of Jesus to every person alive,”
said Lavender. “My dad was passionate
about this up to the day he died. He spent
his last few weeks, knowing he was dying,
trying to convince everyone he knew to
obey Jesus Christ. Of course, he received
his passion for this work from the Father of
us all.”
To contribute to the David Lavender
Missions Scholarship, send donations earmarked
for Lavender Missions Scholarship
to Janis Adcock, College of Bible and
Ministry, Lipscomb University, 3901 Granny
White Pike, Nashville, TN 37204-3951. For
more information, contact Mark Jent at
615.279.6261 or Mark.Jent@lipscomb.edu. ■
— KATERA BOLANDER

Water
of
LIFE
Lipscomb engineering
students improve access
to water in rural Honduras
BY TED PARKS (’78)
PHOTOS BY THE ENGINEERING MISSION TEAM
Unlike some universities, the
Lipscomb engineering project last spring was not about
building the most energy-efficient vehicle or the geekiest
robotics. The focus was much less esoteric and much more
real — clean water, served up with compassion and faith.
Last March, nine students and two professors from
Lipscomb's Raymond B. Jones School of Engineering spent
spring break erecting a 20-foot water tower in the rural
Honduran community of Las Delicias, some five hours
northeast of the Honduran capital, Tegucigalpa. The students
— three seniors, three juniors, one sophomore, two first-year
— capped months of research and planning by assembling
the steel structure, then topping it with a 300-gallon tank
equipped with a solar-powered submersible pump.
The specific site of the Lipscomb construction project
was the Center for Community Development, abbreviated
CEDECO in Spanish. The center belongs to Mission
Predisan, a Christian medical outreach based a couple of
hours away in the town of Catacamas. Constructing the center
almost 20 years ago, Predisan intended CEDECO's buildings
to serve as health care facilities but later changed its
plans. CEDECO now serves as a sort of base of operations
for the rural clinics run by Predisan in the surrounding
mountains.
Founded in the mid-1980s, Predisan derives its name
from two words taken from the Spanish New Testament. In
Luke's Gospel, Jesus sends his disciples to preach
("predicar") and heal ("sanar"). The compound term communicates
the organization's holistic approach to ministry
that brings the gospel to bear on a variety of human needs.
According to a recent formulation of its mission,
Predisan strives "to promote the process of transformation
in the lives of people as beings capable of enjoying wholeness
in health and developing socioeconomically, according
to the redemptive plan of God." Predisan works closely with
Northlake Church of Christ near Atlanta.
Though the electric lines end kilometers back in
Catacamas, CEDECO and the nearby community of Las
FALL 2004 | 15

Delicias enjoy water from a system that
pipes it from the neighboring Cuyamel
River to a mountainside tank. Without electricity,
the system distributes water to
CEDECO and the community below by
gravity. While the center lies slightly below
the level of the mountain tank, the drop to
the village of Las Delicias is considerably
sharper. If people down the hill in the village
open their spigots, little or no water
flows to CEDECO.
Predisan needed a dependable supply
of water for CEDECO, where some maintenance
staff live and where the mission
keeps the horses and mules required to
navigate impassible mountain roads in the
rainy season.
So how did Honduran water needs and
Lipscomb engineering skills get connected?
Lipscomb engineering instructor David
Fann, who helped coordinate and oversee
the project, credited students with the initial
push to translate learning into service.
Fann said a group of students approached
him last fall about possible sites for an
engineering mission. Because Fann's wife
had worked extensively in Honduras and
both had spent time at Predisan, he immediately
thought of the Catacamas-based
organization.
Fann e-mailed Predisan to ask how a
group of willing student engineers could
help most effectively. Fann and Predisan
personnel bandied several ideas across the
miles. But with the majority of the
advanced students in the group majoring in
mechanical engineering, the water project
seemed the best choice.
With the tower becoming the class project
in his Structural Design course, Fort
Gwinn, associate professor of physics and
engineering science and chair of the department
of engineering mechanics, worked
hard in the planning phase of the mission
and intended to accompany students to the
field. But in the meantime, the Lipscomb
professor found himself up to the chest, literally,
in problems of a different sort.
When Gwinn went to the doctor to get
vaccinations for the trip, the professor complained
to the physician of recurring lowgrade
fever. Concerned, the doctor ordered
tests.
Nothing showed up at first, but then the
doctor discovered a mass in Gwinn's left
lung. The specialist to whom Gwinn was
referred felt sure the problem was cancer.
Dizzied by the medical consultations
and alarming news, Gwinn knew the trip
was off. "We did a lot of praying," he said.
The diagnosis was wrong. Further procedures
revealed that the mass was not
malignant but the result of a fungal infection.
"The Lord blessed me greatly on that
one," Gwinn commented. To take his place
16 | THE TORCH
Previous page: Engineering students completed work on the water tower during their spring break mission.Top: The
Center for Community Development was the site of the project. Above left: Amy Gilfilen uses a drill to work on part
of the tower. Above right: Kris Hatchell with the pump for the watertank.
in Honduras as he fought the infection
back home, Gwinn invited a friend, retired
engineer Lee Whitney, to go with the students
to help them in the field.
In his role as design engineer, Gwinn
was one of three Lipscomb engineering faculty
working directly with the Honduras
project. Joining Gwinn and coordinator
Fann was faculty member Fred Gilliam, an
aerospace engineer with additional expertise
in solar power.
Gilliam, professor of engineering and
associate dean for the Raymond B. Jones
School of Engineering, jokingly described
himself as a "draftee" to the project,
brought on-board after some persuasion
during a year in which he and other engineering
faculty were busily applying for
program accreditation from ABET, the
Accreditation Board for Engineering and
Technology. Yet Gilliam assisted students
with design issues involving fluid mechanics
and power generation, then accompanied
them to Honduras to bring their plans
to life.
The Lipscomb engineer explained why
solar power was a natural for the water
tower project. Photovoltaic solar cells,
devices that translate light into volts, are
inefficient compared to other energy
sources. Yet given the rural Honduran context,
where electricity is scarce and sunshine
abundant, solar-generated electrical current
made sense.
THE SOLAR CELLS ON THE TOWER produce
about 80 watts that, passing through a control
center, power a one-quarter horsepower
pump inside the water tank. "This is not a
big, high-powered pump," Gilliam said,
noting the device pulls a gallon and a half
of liquid a minute into the tank.
The tower-mounted storage works in
tandem with a lower holding tank. The
lower storage unit receives the water that at
times trickles in from the local water supply.
Powered by the hot Honduran sun, the
pump hums during the daylight hours to
replenish any water used the night before
or to keep the tank filled during the day.

Applying their knowledge of fluid mechanics,
the Lipscomb team engineered enough
height and volume into the tower tank to
provide the volume and pressure often
lacking in the old system.
"We kind of researched ... how much
water a human would need in a day, and
how much water a horse needs," said senior
engineering-mechanics major and program
participant Karla Childress. The engineering
student said the group based its
water consumption estimates on U.S. figures,
adding that Hondurans on average
use much less water than their affluent
North American counterparts.
The engineering senior's observations
about water consumption echo U.N. findings
about worldwide water usage. Figures
from the U.N. World Water Development
Report indicate that a child born in an
industrialized country consumes 30 to 50
times as many water resources as a child
from the developing world.
Underscoring the connection between
clean water and health, U.N. officials say
some 6,000 people die every day from diseases
related to diarrhea, with most of
these deaths occurring among children
under five. In 2001, nearly two million
people died from infectious diarrheas, with
children under five accounting for over
half — 1.3 million — of the victims.
Though the needs were clear, planning
a steel structure to be built thousands of
miles away in Honduras without electricity
and with limited resources proved a challenge
for Lipscomb engineering students.
“When we were thinking about packing,”
said senior Childress, “we had to pretty
much go through ... every single step that
needed to be done.” She quipped, “There’s
not a Home Depot on every corner,”
remembering questions like, “How many
holes do we need to drill?” and “Are we
going to need to take the bolts with us?”
Not only did group members have to
carefully think through their list of materials,
but they had to get the supplies they
bought through post 9-11 airport security.
Engineering professor Fann recalled an
issue among Atlanta airport officials over
cutting oil, which the group needed to drill
the angle iron sides of the tower. Anxious
over the unusual array of materials the
Lipscomb students and teachers were carrying
aboard, security officials refused to
let the group take the oil on the plane.
Knowing he had to have a lubricant for
the drill press the group used, Fann looked
for a local replacement: lard. After securing
the substitute lubricant at a butcher shop,
dogs and chickens gobbled up the supply
one night. Finding more fat, the group
pressed on, earning the female crew operating
the drill the label of “lard ladies,”
Fann said.
THOUGH THE HONDURAS PROJECT
TOOK students far from their Nashville
classrooms, Lipscomb engineering professors
felt the water tower provided learning
opportunities unavailable in more traditional
settings.
In the field, students had the chance to
watch theory impact life. "They were able
Left: Members of the Engineering mission team.
Above: An engineering student welds a piece of the
tower. Below left: Children near the tower project were
interested in what the Lipscomb team was doing.
Katie McDonald took a break from the project to
share some fruit with some of the local children.
to see a project go from beginning to completion,
and in school that very rarely happens,”
said Fann. For Fann’s colleague
Gilliam, students “saw people who had
need,” then were able to “take what they’d
been learning here in their classes and use
it to God's glory.”
James Savage, a senior involved in the
project who now works for Boeing as a
structural design support engineer, said the
Honduras trip shaped him both personally
and professionally.
"The trip was fundamental in my development
as a professional and as an engineer.
The kind of planning it takes to actually execute
a design that has real-world application
and has to be built in such an extreme situation
is an experience that cannot be matched
by other university design projects," Savage
said. "This trip changed me as a person and
as a child of God in ways that I am still discovering
today."
Gwinn sees a close connection between
the Honduras experience and the historic
mission of the university. The professor
looked to David Lipscomb himself, who
Gwinn said founded a school not to turn
out professional evangelists but equip
common people to better share their faith
as they worked.
“We are training young men and
women to be engineers and to use their
engineering talents to the benefit of others,”
Gwinn said. The engineering department
hopes to encourage students to apply
their skills with a sense of compassion
rooted in the Christian faith.
For Childress, utilizing what she has
learned to help others is “part of being a
disciple of Christ.” She said engineering
allows people to glimpse the orderliness of
the world and cooperate with the natural
laws God created. “God is, like, the best
engineer,” she said. ■
FALL 2004 | 17

18 | THE TORCH
NEWS
Keebles honored at
Summer Celebration
“There was a man.”
“She is a worthy woman.”
There was no shortage of
words to describe sister Laura
Johnson Keeble and her husband,
the late beloved evangelist
and educator Marshall
Keeble, during an event in their
honor at Lipscomb University
July 1. But when it came time to
capture their essence, speakers
turned to scripture, paraphrasing
Job 1 and Proverbs 31.
Honoring the Keebles for
their ministry and influence
through the Nashville Christian
Institute was the focus of the
annual Dinner Honoring Elders
and Preachers, held during
Summer Celebration in July. The
event — or rather, the honorees
— attracted the largest audience
in the history of the dinner,
President Steve Flatt announced.
Flatt presented sister Keeble,
now 105 years young, with the
“Barnabas Award,” named for
the New Testament figure known
as the “son of encouragement.”
“We've given this award
before. We will give it again,
Lord willing. But I doubt we will
ever give it to anyone who will
render more encouragement to
the church than Marshall and
Laura Keeble,” Flatt said.
Flatt also presented sister
Keeble with the “Diakonia
Award,” in honor of her husband's
service in preaching.
Eighteen men were honored for
preaching the gospel more than
50 years, including the posthumous
award to brother Keeble.
Many of this year's honorees
were NCI graduates.
“I daresay that I don't know
of any institution with as small,
proportionally speaking, a number
of students that has had any
greater influence on saving souls
in the name and in the love of
Jesus Christ,” Flatt said.
It was an evening of stories,
of reminiscence, of recognizing
the formative influence of one
man and a worthy woman - an
influence that continues today
in “Keeble’s Boys” and through
their descendants.
Jack Evans, an NCI graduate
and president of Southwestern
Christian College, paraphrased
the opening of Job 1 to summarize
brother Keeble's life.
“There was a man in the land
of Tennessee whose name was
Marshall Keeble. That man was
blameless and upright. He
feared God and shunned evil.
He was, indeed, a man. … He
touched the lives of so many
that his name is, in any age segment
of our brotherhood, still a
household word.”
Sister Keeble, on the other
hand, was just the opposite of
Job's wife, he said. “Brother
Crowder has already read about
sister Keeble from the Bible
when he read from Proverbs 31 -
a worthy woman, but she has
already been found.”
David Jones, minister for
Schrader Lane church of Christ,
Nashville, enrolled in Nashville
Christian Institute in 1956.
Sister Keeble was the first
school representative he met.
“She was the bookkeeper
and campus watchdog,” he
said, as many in the audience
laughed and nodded agreement.
“She knew everything. …
I don’t know how she knew this
but she always knew when we'd
been to preach and when we
had money. She would tell
brother Keeble and he would
remind us we owed something.
“They were the perfect couple.
She thought; he ruled. His rule
was such that he taught magnificent
lessons, very difficult lessons
that I found rather troublesome,
often,” Jones said, because
the lessons would often involve
“advice” that went against his
free-spirit nature. “There was
never a time that I went anywhere
with him that I didn't
learn a lesson like that.”
Richard Rose, minister for
Gray Road church of Christ,
Cincinnati, was one of the last
students to travel with brother
Keeble. After arriving at NCI he
wanted to return home, but
after staying a while, “something
happened,” he said.
“I don't know exactly what
that was, but it happened. You
Dr. Steve Flatt presented Laura Johnson Keeble with the “Barnabas Award” during
a special dinner at Lipscomb University honoring Keeble and her husband, the late
evangelist and educator Marshall Keeble July 1.
learned that the school is more
than just buildings in which
you meet. The school is more
than the bricks and mortar that
make up the classrooms. It's
the people. And you fall in love
with people. Like many children,
you don't realize the
impact that someone is having
on your life until you look
back,” Rose said.
Looking back also helps to
illuminate one's place in history.
He said that studying the key
figures in the Restoration
Movement, he realized that
brother Keeble “did as much
for the Restoration Movement
as any of the other people we
read about in history.”
Robert Woods, minister for
the Monroe Street Church of
Christ, Chicago, illustrated the
fact that brother Keeble's teaching
didn't end when his students
graduated. Woods took a
low-paying preaching job with
the small Chicago church that
grew into the Monroe Street
church, but also took a second
job as a clothing buyer making
“lots of money.”
“Brother Keeble heard about
it and called me to come to
Nashville. He thought I was just
PHOTO: AMBER R. STACEY
selling clothes, but I was a
buyer for that store. And he
said, 'Woods, you're going to
sell your way out of Heaven.
You're going to have to give up
this job.' … As it went, I gave up
the job and went to work full
time for this little church that
just began to grow and grow
and grow. And I fared all right.”
Vernon Winfrey graduated
from NCI and did not become a
preacher, but has led an influential
life in the Nashville community
that included service on
the Metro Council. He may be
better known today as the
father of Oprah Winfrey.
“There was so much love
within that school,” Winfrey
said.
He recalled that brother Keeble
would “climax his speeches” with
the challenge, “Send me a boy
and I'll send you a man.”
“He sent quite a few men from
that school, men who stood for
something,” Winfrey said.
“And I remember sister
Keeble, the days that I would
have to go into the office …
keeping the records of everyone
with that big smile, and she has
that smile today.”■
—G. DAVID ENGLAND

MARCH MADNESS
BISON ATHLETICS
Bisons look to first postseason play in four years
BY MARK MCGEE (’79)
Lipscomb University’s men’s basketball
team gets the chance to do something this
season that it hasn't been able to do the past
four years — compete for postseason tournament
play.
The Bisons, set to start their second season
in the Atlantic Sun Conference, learned in
April that an NCAA rule change would allow
the team to compete for an automatic bid to
the NCAA Tournament in the 2004-05 season.
Under the old rule the Bisons would have
had to wait until the 2005-06 season to be eligible
for postseason play.
“For the last four years we hadn't talked
very much about February and March
because we knew we weren't going anywhere,”
said Lipscomb coach Scott
Sanderson, who is entering his sixth season
with the Bisons. “Postseason play is a carrot
for all the hard work.”
The Bisons open their regular season Nov.
21 with a road game at the University of
Minnesota of the Big 10 Conference.
“Opening up at Minnesota there will be a
packed house with 19,000 fans,” Sanderson
said. “It will be interesting to see how our
guys respond, especially our new guys.”
The Bisons will also be on the road
against a Southeastern Conference foe, the
University of Arkansas, on Dec. 20. Other
non-conference opponents this season
include Savannah State, Fisk University,
Nicholls State University and Rust College.
Sanderson’s squad this season features
two seniors, six juniors, three sophomores
and two freshmen.
The most intense competition will be in the
backcourt, especially at point guard where
junior James Poindexter will be challenged by
junior Corey King, freshman Labrian Lyons
and sophomore Brandon Hartwell, a transfer
from Rend Lake Community College.
“We all know James can shoot the basketball,”
Sanderson said. “I think his confidence
this year will soar because his body
has changed. I think the added strength will
give him confidence.”
King is coming back from arthroscopic
surgery on his knee during the summer. He
had some solid efforts, especially in the latter
part of last season.
“Corey is a pass-first, shoot-second point
guard,” Sanderson said. “He knows how to
run a basketball team. I think he will make a
big jump from what he did last year.”
Sanderson expects great things from both
Lyons and Hartwell.
“There is no question that talent-wise
Labrian is good enough to play,” Sanderson
said. “I like him because of versatility. He
can play the post. He is a big, strong post
player. He can really pass the ball and get to
the basket and score. He can play the No. 2
and No. 3 spots and guard the point, No. 2
and No. 3 spots.
“Brandon is what I call a glue guy who can
orchestrate what is going on. He is a bigger
guard. He understands how to play. He can
score. He knows where to get the ball to people
to give them the opportunity to score. He
has some toughness and grit about him.”
Brian Fisk, the leading scorer for the Bisons
last season with 11.5 points per game, and a
member of the Atlantic Sun All-Freshman
Team, was the most consistent. He will hold
down the No. 2 guard spot. Also vying for
playing time there will be the players who do
not get the chance to play on the point.
“Brian is so competitive,” Sanderson said.
“He is not satisfied with what he did last season.
He makes the guys around him better.
He plays both ends of the floor. He can
score. He is a very, very good defender. And
he can rebound the basketball.
“He was the most reliable player that we
had. The difference for him this year is that
teams know about him. They are going to be
keying on him a little bit. That will be an
adjustment for him. We look for big things
from him his sophomore year.”
Other key players for the Bisons this season
could be junior walk-on guard Joe
Peters, junior guard Clay Tate, a transfer
Smith added to Bisons basketball coaching staff
Long-time basketball coach
Hubie Smith has joined the
Bison basketball staff.
Smith, a veteran of 19-years
at Bartlett High School in
Memphis, was director of basketball
operations at Belmont
University before moving down
the boulevard to Lipscomb.
“Hubie Smith is well-regarded
in the coaching community,”
Bison head coach Scott
Sanderson said. “He brings a
lot of assets to the table.”
Smith directed Bartlett to a
440-190 record during his
tenure. Bartlett participated in
four TSSAA Tournaments from
1997-2003. In addition to his
coaching duties, Bartlett was
athletic director at Bartlett from
May 2001-Dec. 2003.
Smith’s duties will include
on-the-floor coaching, player
development and scouting.
“He will do a little bit of everything
for us,” Sanderson said. “He
is a great addition to the staff.”
Smith played basketball and
golf at Harding University,
where he was named Athlete of
the Year in 1983. He was a firstteam
NAIA All-American in
both golf and basketball.
Smith earned a B.A. degree in
education at Harding and a master’s
in athletic administration
from the University of
Memphis. He spent one season
at Memphis as a graduate assistant
with the basketball team.
Smith replaces Malcolm
Sophomore Brian Fisk is set to lead the Bison charge
this year. Last season, Fisk led the team in scoring
with an average of 11.5 points per game.
from Transylvania University; and Eddie
Ard, a medical red-shirt last season as a
freshman due to a broken femur. Jason
Guyette, a junior college transfer from
Kaskaskia College, and Stephan Bolt will
probably see playing time at both the No. 3
and No. 4 forward spots.
Senior Matt Jarboe is looking to become
more of a factor in terms of scoring at the
No. 4 position.
“We know he can shoot the ball,”
Sanderson said. “He has been around for
awhile and has some toughness to him. He
has to put the ball on the floor more. He is
a guy who should figure in there big for us.”
Sanderson said he is also looking for contributions
from junior Cameron Robinson, who
sat out most of the A-Sun portion of the season,
playing in only 12 games overall. Filling
out the Bisons roster are Mike Forster, a freshman
from St. Andrews High School in
Sewanne, Tenn.; Shaun Durant, also a transfer
from Kaskaskia; and junior Charlie Jenney. ■
Montgomery,
who took an
assistant coaching
position at
Cumberland
University
Lebanon.
in
Smith and
his wife Dee
Anna have
Hubie Smith
three children: Adam, Rachel
and Rebecca. Adam is a student
at Lipscomb University. ■
FALL 2004 | 19
PHOTO: ANTHONY ESTES/LIPSCOMB ATHLETICS

20
BISON ATHLETICS
Lady Bisons hope to build on last season’s success
BY MARK MCGEE (’79)
Coach Frank Bennett and his Lady
Bison basketball team will find out this
season if the old adage is true that it is
more difficult to repeat as a champion
than to become one the first time.
“It is easy when you have had success to
relax and forget what made you successful,”
Bennett said. ”We have to continue to
work even harder to stay where we are. We
don't get any head start because we won
last season. We are starting at square one.
We have to earn everything over again.”
Last season was filled with honors for
the Lady Bisons as they earned their share
of a four-way tie for the regular season
Atlantic Sun Conference and won the A-
Sun Tournament Championship, becoming
the first team to earn a berth in the
NCAA Tournament in its first year of eligibility.
The Lady Bisons ended their season
with a 20-12 record after losing 76-45 to
Vanderbilt in the first round of the NCAA
Tournament at the University of
Tennessee-Chattanooga.
Wing Courtney Boynton was named
first team All-Atlantic Sun and first team
All A-Sun Tournament. Center Katie Beth
Pate was named A-Sun Tournament MVP
and was a second team All-Atlantic Sun
selection. Bennett, who will be entering his
25th season as head coach at Lipscomb,
was named A-Sun Coach of the Year.
Last season the Lady Bisons were tabbed
by the coaches as the No. 8 pick in the
league. This year they are the preseason
No. 1 with five first place votes from conference
coaches.
Bennett knows his team won’t be sneaking
up on anybody.
“We were pretty much an unknown last
year,” Bennett said. “We were new to
Lipscomb’s Kristin Peck has been named a
state finalist for NCAA Woman of the Year.
Finalists are selected from each state,
and the District of Columbia and Puerto
Rico. Peck was one of 30 NCAA Division I
athletes selected as a finalist. There were 11
each from Division II and Division III. The
prestigious award honors the outstanding
female student-athletes who have excelled
in academics, athletics and community
leadership, and have completed their collegiate
athletics eligibility.
“Kristin Peck epitomizes all that is good
about intercollegiate athletics,” said
Lipscomb athletic director Dr. Steve Potts.
“A talented two-sport athlete with an
impressive academic record and an impeccable
character, Kristin is very deserving of
this honor.”
| THE TORCH
Division I. Teams might have had a tendency
to overlook us. That was an advantage
the first time around, but teams were
gearing up for us after that. I'm sure the
teams we beat three times last year are
going to be focusing in on our games.
Teams will have ideas about how they
want to approach us this year. They will be
more motivated.”
Bennett isn't too worried about that No. 1
preseason rating. His regular season goal is to
be in the top eight that qualify for the A-Sun
Conference Tournament in Dothan, Ala.
“Getting into the tournament is the key
thing,” Bennett said. “One thing we learned
last season is that we have to win the close
games. Most of your games are going to be
close games. Winning those games makes a
big difference between a good season and a
mediocre season. A lot of our wins were
close games. The tournament is a great
example of winning close games.”
While Boynton and Pate made names for
themselves in the conference, Bennett will
once again depend on a team approach.
“We are very dependent on our team
play,” Bennett said. “Most people will tell
you we are not the most athletic team in the
league as far as speed, quickness and jumping
ability. We are more dependent on helping
each other get open and helping each
other on defense. The biggest things for us
are our execution and team play.”
One of the keys for the Lady Bisons is to
find a replacement for point guard Kendra
Ramsey. Bennett is looking at several candidates.
Junior Karli Osborn has been in
the system for two years. She is known for
her defensive skills and played mostly in
those types of situations last season.
“Karli is one of our quickest players on
the ball defensively,” Bennett said. “She
Peck named state finalist for NCAA Woman of the Year
Colleges and universities nominated 276
student-athletes for the award. A committee
comprised of representatives from
member schools selected the state winners.
Peck graduated in December with a bachelor’s
degree in health and physical education
with an emphasis in teaching. She finished
with a 3.97 grade point average. Peck
is studying for her master’s degree at
Lipscomb while serving as a graduate assistant
coach in both softball and volleyball.
Peck excelled in the classroom while starring
in two sports. She played centerfield
and shortstop for Lipscomb’s softball team
earning All-Conference and All-Region honors.
She was an outside hitter in volleyball,
earning second-team All-Conference in
Lipscomb’s first year in the Atlantic Sun
Conference. She led the conference in kills.
plays better and shoots better in games
than in practice. She has to get more of a
grasp on offense and understand what we
are trying to do.”
Dana Carrigan will play at either the
point or the No. 2 guard spot. She is
known for her shooting ability. Two freshmen
— Catie Woods from Lawrenceburg,
Tenn., and Katie Foster from David
Lipscomb High School — will also be
assets for the team, Bennett said.
Bennett said he is also looking for contributions
from Boynton, who played the
No. 2 guard spot last season she averaged
five rebounds per game last season. He
said that senior Lynn Roller is a good longrange
3-point shooter and at feeding the
post. Also expected to log a great deal of
playing time are sophomore Keirstin Head
and sophomore Julie Martin.
Senior Lindsay Daly returns as the most
experienced player at the No. 4 forward
spot. Penny Jones, a red shirt last season
after transferring from the University of
Hawaii, is also expected to contribute.
Returning at the post is Pate, who sets a
new school record with every blocked shot
she makes. Sarah Woods will serve as a
back-up at the post.
The Lady Bison roster also includes
freshmen Kaleigh Gossman from
Newburgh Ind., and Rachel Davis, from
Hendersonville, Tenn. Also providing
depth on the wing will be junior Lindsey
Mooney.
“We have more good players up and
down the roster than we have ever had,”
Bennett said. “We have more good players
than we have playing time. But this team
has great chemistry. They are very
unselfish. They really like each other. That
is going to be a strength for us.”■
“This couldn’t have happened to a better
person,” said Lipscomb volleyball coach
Brandon Rosenthal. “Kristin personifies
everything about what we want our volleyball
team to be in terms of hard work, dedication
and ultimately, the selflessness.”
Peck is a member of Alpha Chi Honor
Society in recognition of her academic
achievements. She also received the
Whitfield Future Teacher Award for Grades
K-12 which is presented by the Lipscomb
Department of Teacher Education and also
received the James R. Byers Award given
annually to a female and male Lipscomb
athlete for Christian leadership as well as
academics and athletics excellence.
A national winner was selected by the
NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics in
September. ■
LOG ON TO WWW.LIPSCOMBSPORTS.COM FOR COMPLETE SCORES AND HIGHLIGHTS.

Gift boosts ‘Book, Chapter, Verse’ campaign
BY G. DAVID ENGLAND
A $500,000 gift has provided a real
“boost” to Lipscomb University's launch of
the “Book, Chapter, Verse Campaign” to
complete funding for the new Bible building.
The gift, from a donor who asked to
remain unidentified, raises total giving for
the project to $6.7 million. A total of $9.5
million is needed before construction can
begin next spring.
About $700,000 has been raised since
the Book, Chapter, Verse Campaign was
announced, all in response to $1.5 million
in matching funds donated to the project.
The matching funds have been committed
in a pledge of $750,000 from another
anonymous donor and $750,000 in gifts
from members of the Board of Trustees,
said William Tucker, executive vice president/advancement.
“These matching funds should be an
encouragement to all who have an interest
in providing this much-needed new academic
building because they serve to multiply
every gift,” Tucker said.
Construction is scheduled to begin next
spring if funding is complete. The 75,000square-foot
facility will be built on the site
of the current intercollegiate softball field.
The softball field will be relocated to the
large parking area on the south end of cam-
pus along Belmont Boulevard, and parking
will be relocated to the north end of campus.
The result of the entire project will be
the first new academic building constructed
since the Axel Swang Center for Business
Administration opened in 1984, a new softball
complex appropriate for NCAA
Division I play, and new parking that will
better serve campus residents. The softball
and parking projects are, as yet, unfunded,
and offer additional opportunities to university
patrons, Tucker said.
The building will house the College of
Bible and Ministry, and several departments
from the College of Education and
Professional Studies — Communication,
Education, and History, Politics and
Philosophy.
It will also house the McCaleb Mission
Center, and three of Lipscomb's four professional
centers: Character Development,
Leadership Excellence, and International
Peace and Justice.
Completion of the new Bible building
will permit “reinvention” of the Burton
Building for use as a fine arts center. Burton
is actually Lipscomb's third-newest academic
building, constructed in 1947.
McFarland Hall of Science was completed
in 1967.
“This new academic building will allow
Ezell named ALL director
BY G. DAVID ENGLAND
Carole Ezell, conference coordinator for
Willis Corroon in Nashville, has been
appointed director of the Associated
Ladies for Lipscomb.
Ezell succeeds Gerry Sciortino, who has
served as A.L.L. director for six years.
Sciorino is retiring from the director’s post
but will continue to serve as president of
the Nashville chapter of the A.L.L.
“We are very fortunate that Carole has
chosen to join our work at Lipscomb. She
has the kind of energy, enthusiasm and
personality necessary to be a great fit as
ALL director. In that regard, she is a lot like
Gerry, who has done a marvelous job of
leading the A.L.L.,” said William Tucker,
executive vice president/advancement at
Lipscomb.
Ezell said the A.L.L. is “in a great spot”
thanks to Sciortino’s leadership.
“My mom [Marian Ezell, ‘54] and I
have always said Gerry was so wonderful
we hoped she would always be there,”
Ezell said.
She said she was attracted to the posi-
tion because of the opportunity “to help
students get an education, but more than
that, to help them get a Christian education.”
Ezell, a graduate of Nashville’s
Goodpasture High School, is a member of
the Lipscomb University Class of 1984.
She has extensive experience in retail,
serving as assistant manager for The
Limited stores in Florida and Nashville,
and at the Disney Store in Nashville. She
has served as conference coordinator at
Willis Corroon since 1999.
The Associated Ladies for Lipscomb
include 26 chapters, all designed to generate
scholarship funds to help students
from chapter regions attend Lipscomb.
During Sciortino’s tenure, A.L.L. chapters
have awarded more than $800,000 in
scholarships.
A.L.L. chapters are supporting 113 students
for the 2004-05 academic year with
a total of nearly $167,000. The overall
endowment for A.L.L. is nearly $870,000.
Chapters raise funds in a variety of
ways, including golf tournaments, fashion
shows, pansy sales, Lipscomb ornament
our enrollment to grow and will provide
instructional spaces designed for their
intended uses. It will also pave the way for
providing facilities that are worthy of the
quality of our arts programs through reinvention
of Burton,” Tucker said.
The Book, Chapter, Verse Campaign
encourages giving at several levels - from
the $1 million “Old Testament” level and
$500,000 “New Testament” level down to
$50 per “word.”
“We need every Lipscomb alumnus and
friend to help us achieve the goal of this
campaign. Every gift to this project, regardless
of size, is a declaration that the word of
God is vital to the well being of individuals
and our society at large, whether it is taught
through a daily Bible class or through the
faith-informed instruction in other disciplines
to be housed in the building,” Tucker
said.
For full information about giving to the
Bible building project, visit http://advancement.lipscomb.edu
and click the link to the
“Book, Chapter, Verse Campaign,” call
615.279.6220 or 800.333.4358, ext. 6220,
or e-mail debbie.haislip@lipscomb.edu. ■
Carole Ezell
ADVANCEMENT
sales, yard sales, chili suppers and auctions,
luncheons, Watkins products,
Lipscomb log cabins and the Avalon gift
shop.
Nashville chapter volunteers operate
the Avalon House on campus, generating
between $1,000 and $2,000 per month for
scholarships. ■
FALL 2004 | 21

We welcome these recent additions to the
Lipscomb “family.”
Births included in this issue were submitted
from May 2-Sept. 1, 2004.
Turner Caldwell Alsup, born Aug. 12 to
Katherine (Lucius ’96) and Thomas Alsup (’95),
Nashville.
Kelta Marlin Barnett, born June 7 to Kristie
(Marlin ’91) and Phil Barnett, Nashville.
Skye Marie Bendheim, born June 6 to Kristen
(Shulenberger DLHS ’88) and Andy Bendheim,
Nashville.
Dakota V Daniel Bentley, born June 24 to
Cantrell (Wilde ’95) Bentley, West Valley, Utah.
Brielle Christine Betit, born April 5 to Kelly
(Smith ’98) and Bill Betit (’97), Newark, Del. Bill
is a senior account executive for EquiFirst Corp.
Kelly is a stay-at-home mom.
Alexander Ryan Bolton, born Aug. 22, 2003 to
Melissa (Lancin) and Patrick Bolton (’93),
Henderson, Tenn.
Logan Grace Brown, born May 15 to Carrie
(Pierce ’94) and Jay Brown, Brentwood, Tenn. Jay
and Carrie both work for Cowan Benefit Services
in Franklin, Tenn.
Rayna Drew Buher, born April 16 to Lita Fuller
and Brad Buher (’94), Juliett, Ga. Brad is marketing
director for First Data.
Sydney Kay Bull, born June 22 to Sarah
(Bassford ’98) and Kristopher Bull (’00), Pegram,
Tenn.
Chloe Elizabeth Butler, born July 20 to Cynthia
(Riden ’88) and Charlie Butler (’90), Nashville.
Charlie is a computer programmer at Healthcare
Management Systems. Cynthia is a stay-at-home
mom. Their other child is Connor, 2.
Jacob William Butler, born April 21 to Stefanie
(Boyd) and Brad Butler (’92), Old Hickory, Tenn.
Brad is vice president of The Butler Company,
Inc. in Nashville. Stefanie is a commercial marketing
assistant for The Butler Company. Their
other child is Morgan Mae, 3.
Daniel Thomas Callahan, born Feb. 29 to Jana
(Herndon ’90) and Mark Callahan, Lexington, Ky.
Isabella Ruth Cantrell, born May 3 to Melissa
(Ausbrook ’92) and Nick Cantrell (’93),
Nashville.
Christopher Dean Carrico, born May 23 to
Claire (Moore ’99) and Chris Carrico (’98),
Nashville.
John Patrick Chaffin, born May 10 to Gabrielle
(Staggs ’97) and Patrick Chaffin (’96), Nashville.
Grant Lee Colson, born June 18 to Nicole
(Knight DLHS ’93) and Marc Colson, Nashville.
Their other child is Riley Marcus, 5.
Jordan Elizabeth Cook, born May 5 to Jessica
(Haffner x ’99) and Robert Cook (’97), Mt. Juliet,
Tenn. Rob manages the Wealth Management
Center for AmSouth Bank, Cool Springs. Jessica
is a registered nurse at Summit Medical Center.
22 | THE TORCH
BABY BISONS
Their other child is Zachary, 2.
Sally Jane Coomer, born June 17 to Melissa
and Andrew Coomer (DLHS ’87), Hermitage,
Tenn.
Ian Christopher Coultas, born July 6 to Sally
(Hughes ’89) and Kenneth Coultas (’90),
Lawrenceburg, Tenn. Kenneth is a character education
teacher at E. O. Coffman Middle School and
also color guard director for the Lawrence County
High School Band. Sally is a stay-at-home mom.
Jackson Tilley Craun, born Aug. 9 to Rebecca
(Tilley x ’97) and Clinton Craun (’97), Nashville.
William Michael Dugan, born May 14 to
Amory (Smith) and Michael Dugan (’89, DLHS
’85), Nashville.
Madelyn “Reese” Dugger, born July 5 to Kelly
(Hicks) and Neal Dugger (’91), Nashville.
Jackson Parrish Duncan, born April 29 to
Mary Alice (Campbell ’97) and Phillip Duncan
(’99), Nashville.
Jacob Carter Durham, born Aug. 10 to Angela
(Long ’99, MBA ’04) and Andy Durham,
Charlotte, Tenn.
Elizabeth Jane Duvall, born May 28 to Jennifer
(Robb ’98) and Jonathan Duvall (x ’98),
Nashville.
Samuel Cole Edwards, born May 10 to Starla
(Pitt ’87) and Henry Edwards, Franklin, Tenn.
Baker Robert Elkins, born March 6 to Kim
(Whitworth x ’97, DLHS ’93) and Todd Elkins
(’94), Nashville. Their other child is Jackson, 4.
Kyle Thomas Endsley, born January 16 to
Tammy (Fulton ’89) and Chuck Endsley,
Murfreesboro, Tenn. Chuck is an accounting manager
for Keystone Automotive Industries in
Nashville. Tammy is a stay-at-home mom. Their
other children are Carson, 4, and Clark, 2.
Katherine Anne Faulkner, born May 3 to Jamie
(Evans DLHS ’94) and Louis Faulkner, Duluth,
Minn.
Caroline Keegan Freund, born June 7 to Lisa
(Williams ’89, DLHS ’85) and Lawrence Freund,
Brentwood, Tenn.
Jackson Emery Guthrie, born April 28 to
Shannon (Emery ’93) and Dr. Scott Guthrie (’95),
Hendersonville, Tenn. Scott is in his final year in clinical
fellowship in neonatal medicine at Vanderbilt
Children’s Hospital. Shannon is a homemaker. Their
other children are Emma, 5, and Grace, 2.
Conner David Hall, born April 14 to Julie
(Lusky x ’97) and Jerry Hall, Brentwood, Tenn.
Isabella Claire Hall, born April 7 to Melaney
(Butler) and Chad Hall (’99), Nashville, Tenn.
Savanna Laine Hall, born March 14 to Mandi
(Shannon ’00) and Clancy Hall (’00),
Hendersonville, Tenn.
Maelee Anne Hamlett, born April 13 to
Jennifer (Nobles ’98) and Richard Hamlett,
Lawrenceville, Ga. Richard is a software develop-
er and Jennifer teaches junior high French at
Greater Atlanta Christian School.
Thomas Richard Haraway III, born June 19 to
Melanie and Richie Haraway (x ’94), LaVergne,
Tenn.
Will Denning Harder, born May 3 to Kimberly
(Hereford) and Denning Harder (’98),
Tullahoma, Tenn. Denning is a physical therapist
in Fayetteville, Tenn. Kimberly is a registered
nurse in Tullahoma.
James Camden Helms, born May 13 to
Rhonda (Ragan ’90) and Ted Helms (’88),
Lawrenceville, Ga. Ted is divisional IT manager at
Georgia-Pacific in Atlanta. Rhonda is a stay-athome
mom. Their other children are Spencer, 2,
and Collin, 1.
Elijah Lance Henson, born Jan. 21 to Becki
(Edgeworth ’99) and Jonathan Henson (’98),
Muscle Shoals, Ala. Jonathan is a financial advisor
for American Express Financial Services in
Florence, Ala. Their other child is Alexis (Lexi), 2.
Joseph Reed Henson, born July 27 to Tracey
(Hemby ’93, MBA ’03) and Joseph Henson (’95),
Waverly, Tenn. Joey works for Armstrong Wood
Products in Dickson, Tenn. Tracey is a teacher at
Waverly Central High School. Their other child is
Brooke Elizabeth, 5.
Mallie Marie Higgins, born March 3 to
Candace (Parsons) and Jim Higgins (DLHS ’86),
Brentwood, Tenn.
James Donald Hinson III, born May 6 to Joy
(Sutton) and James Donald Hinson (’96), Jr.,
Nashville.
Austin Jacob Holt, born July 2 to Suzanne
(Seyfried) and Jacob Holt (DLHS ’94),
Goodlettsville, Tenn.
Lori (Thompson) and Paul Hounshell (’91)
welcome the arrival of Claire HuanMing
Hounshell on June 18, 2004, Franklin, Tenn.
Claire was born in China on May 10, 2003.
Dean Robert Huffman, born April 5 to Missy
(Ragan ’90) and Paul Huffman (’91, DLHS ’87),
Brentwood, Tenn.
Katelen Suzanne Hunter, born June 8 to
Denise (Fortner ’99) and Jack Hunter,
Watertown, Tenn. Jack is a supplier quality engineer
for Federal Mogul in Smithville, Tenn.
Denise is a stay-at-home mom.
Holt David and Clay Daniel Jackson, born
May 6 to Jennifer Eve (Daniel ’94) and Dale
Jackson, Nashville. Dale is an engineer for Nissan
in Smyrna, Tenn. Eve is a stay-at-home mom.
Their other child is Seth, 5.
Brianna Noel Janbakhsh, born May 19 to
Alicia Diane and Mahan Janbakhsh (’98),
Brentwood, Tenn.
Elisha Patrick Jordan, born June 14 to Holly
(Barnes) and Jonathan Jordan (’01), Nashville.
Trevor Eli Keele, born April 4 to Teresa (Young)
and Evin Keele (’85), Hendersonville, Tenn.
Anna Elizabeth Komisek, born May 13, 2003
to Ashli (Sain ’93) and Rick Komisek, Knoxville,
Tenn. Rick is employed with the University of
Tennessee. Ashli is a stay-at-home mom. Their
other children are Abby, 6, Paul, 5, and Luke, 3.
Kai Thomas Lancaster, born June 15 to Lisa
(Sheffield ’90) and David Lancaster, Steamboat
Springs, Col. Lisa is business manager for the
Steamboat Grand Resort Hotel. David is sports
director for KBCR Radio.
Conner William Lee and Carter Wayne Lee,
born May 21 to Janet (Warren ’85) and Wayne
Lee, Mt. Juliet, Tenn.
Stephen Palmer Leonard, born May 2 to Dr.

Martha (Price ’94) and Stephen Leonard,
Nashville.
Laura Anne Ling, born June 27 to Susan
(Langham ’00) and Jonathan Ling (’00), Helena,
Ala. Jonathan is a teacher for Jefferson County
Schools in Alabama. Susan works for Liberty
National Life Insurance Company in
Birmingham.
Prady Camille Martin, born May 6 to Donna
(Mansfield ’94) and Jamon Martin (’93, DLHS
’89), Brentwood, Tenn. Jamon works for
Communication Components in Brentwood,
Tenn. Michelle is a homemaker. Their other children
are Gunner, 6, and Addison, 3.
Ella James Masterson, born April 14 to Jennifer
(James M.Ed. ’97, ’92) and Brian Masterson
(’95), Alexandria, Va. Brian is an attorney with
Venable LLP in Washington, D.C. Their other
child is Blythe Carolina, 2.
Aspen Riley Matosky, born January 25, 2003
to Amy (Vanover ’95) and Chris Matosky,
Johnson City, Tenn.
Samuel Austin Mayer, born July 23 to Tonya
(Goforth ’89) and Dr. Daniel Mayer (x ’80),
Nashville.
Lofton Marshall McConnell, born June 19 to
Carmen (O’Dell ’99) and Phillip McConnell,
White House, Tenn.
Maggie Sylvia Morgan, born Aug. 29, 2003 to
Kelly (Ramsey ’95) and Dr. Justin Morgan (’96),
Little Rock, Ark. Justin is a resident physician with
the University of Arkansas Medical Services
Otolaryngology Dept. Their other child is Kelsey, 4.
Samuel Isaiah Morgan, born May 20 to Anna
and Dave Morgan, Nashville. Dave is director of
testing at Lipscomb University. Their other child
is Emma, 4.
Anna Kathleen Nance, born June 26 to Shelley
(Linam ’93) and David Ralph Nance (’89, DLHS
’84), Brentwood, Tenn.
Walter Finley Neese, born June 19 to Erin
(Reed ’95) and David Neese, Nashville. Erin
works for Greenwich Transportation
Underwriters, Inc. in Nashville. David works for
the State of Tennessee Treasury Department.
Emily Elizabeth Nelson, born May 26 to Kelli
(Buttrey ’91) and Mark Nelson, Mt. Juliet, Tenn.
Ruby Gabrielle Nicholson, born May 16 to
April (Draine ’00) and Kenneth Nicholson,
Knoxville, Tenn.
John Burton Orum, born March 19 to Melissa
(Dickson ’96) and John Orum, Franklin, Tenn.
John is systems administrator for Dollar General
Corp. in Goodlettsville, Tenn. Melissa is senior
designer for Dalmation Press in Franklin, Tenn.
Bailey Ann Osborne, born May 19 to Kelli
(Taylor ’94) and David Osborne, Gallatin, Tenn.
David is a database administrator for the
Department of Education, State of Tennessee.
Kelli is a stay-at-home mom. Their other child is
Gracen Elizabeth, 2.
Ezra Livingston Phillips, born June 23 to
Jessica (Haslam ’00) and Micah Phillips (’98),
Nashville. Micah is a Children’s Case Manager
with Centerstone. Jessica is a stay-at-home mom.
James Stewart Phillips, born May 4, to Jenny
(Stewart ’98) and James Phillips (’98), Nashville.
James is a financial analyst for Nissan North
America in Smyrna, Tenn. Their other child is
Carson Ainsley, 2.
Connor Cline Pigg, born June 22 to Leslie
(Moran ’98) and Russell Pigg (’97), The
Woodlands, Texas. Russell is chief operating officer
at Conroe Regional Medical Center. Leslie is marketing
manager with Black-eyed Pea Restaurants.
William Jacob Pittman, born May 3 to Miriam
(Pittman ’87) and Billy Pittman, Helena, Ala. Billy
is an art director for Marathon Apparel in
Childersburg, Ala. Miriam is a clinical dietitian for
Shelby Baptist Medical Center in Alabaster, Ala.
Ellery Grace Price, born July 6 to Amanda
(James ’97) and Bill Price (’91), Nashville.
Bennett Thomas Ragan, born May 2 to
Gwendolyn (Gray ’92) and Russell (Todd) Ragan
(’89), Dickson, Tenn.
Henry Hardeman Ragan, born July 27 to Becky
(Erranton ’93) and Alan Ragan, Dickson, Tenn.
Their other children are Carrie, 4, and Erran, 2.
Isabella Nicolette Reininger, born March 4 to
Melissa (Ericson ’90) and David Reninger, White
House, Tenn.
Grace Elizabeth Ring, born April 8 to Julie
(Golden ’95) and John Ring, Chattanooga, Tenn.
Their other child is Caroline, 3.
Riggs Gabriel Rowe, born May 7 to Kristy
(Riggs ’99) and Jay Rowe (’99), Nashville, Tenn.
Abigail Irene Salisbury, born June 10 to Heather
(Woollard ’98) and David Salisbury (’96, MAR ’99,
M.Div. ’01), Hohenwald, Tenn. David is pulpit
minister for Lomax Church of Christ in
Hohenwald. Heather is a stay-at-home mom.
Kaitlyn Ann Sanders, born Oct. 29, 2003 to
Janita (Fancher ’90) and Chris Sanders, Antioch,
Tenn. Chris is employed with Fujitsu
Corporation. Janita is a homemaker. Their other
child is Jantilyn, 3.
Lilian Dechen Sekeres, born Aug. 28 to
Rebecca (Moss ’95, DLHS ’92) and Tad Sekeres
(’95), Nashville, Tenn. Their other children are,
George, 4, and Henry, 2.
Jordan Elizabeth Senn, born March 3 to
Valarie (Vester ’97) and Jonathan Senn,
Hendersonville, Tenn.
Mae Burton Sherrod, born Jan. 15 to Kimberly
(Kirincich ’96) and Bryan Sherrod (’88),
Nashville. Bryan is a sales representative, field
sales trainer for Cordus Neurovascular. Kimberly
is a homemaker.
Lila Joy Shipp, born July 3 to Sherrise (Herring x
’01) and Preston Shipp (’99), Nashville. Preston is
an assistant attorney general for the State of
Tennessee. Sherrise is a stay-at-home mom.
Brooklyn Elaine Smith, born May 22 to Lisa
(Andriano ’02) and Sam Smith (’01), Nashville.
Sam is head-resident of Sewell Hall at Lipscomb
University. Lisa is a stay-at-home mom.
Elsie James Spivey, born May 21 to Robbie
(East ’97) and Randy Spivey (’98), Nashville.
Randall Bryant Staats, born July 6 to Bethany
(Smith ’98) and Brad Staats, Hermitage, Tenn.
Their other child is Monet, 7.
Nathan Alexander Steen, born April 7 to
Nicole (Luther ’95, DLHS ’90) and Ronald Steen,
Jr. (’92), Nashville.
Allison Dawn Stone, born March 25 to Valerie
(Westlund x ’96) and Christopher Stone (’96),
Westland, Mich. Christopher is director of
Finance for STATPROBE, Inc. in Ann Arbor,
Mich. Their other children are Bryan, 5, and
Allison, 4.
Sarah Elizabeth Sullivan, born July 31 to
Rachel (Powell ’96) and Peter Sullivan (’96,
DLHS ’92), Antioch, Tenn. Peter is an unemployment
consultant for U.C. Consultants in
Nashville. Rachel is a stay-at-home mom. Their
other child is Joshua, 1.
Maxwell Albert Thweatt, born June 14 to Susan
(Moore ’96) and Albert Thweatt, Jr. (’98, M.Ed.
’04, DLHS ’94), Nashville. Their other child is
Carter, 2.
RECORD BABY ENROLLMENT
BISONS
Gracie Elizabeth Tiller, born Aug. 7 to Paula and
Matt Tiller, Nashville. Matt is human resource
director at Lipscomb University. Paula is a stay-athome
mom. Their other child is Grant, 2.
Harper Sue Tolle, born July 30 to Noelle
(Wiggins ’90) and Jeff Tolle, Pegram, Tenn.
Luke Andrew Tucker, born Aug. 8 to Laura
(Bussell ’93) and Jonathan Tucker (’93, DLHS
’89), Nashville.
Kealan Paige Waldron, born April 27 to Wendy
(Watkins ’96) and Jonathan Waldron (’97),
LaVergne, Tenn. Jonathan is a general contractor/home
builder. Wendy is a homemaker. Their
other child is Jon Tristan, 2.
Braden Aaron Walters, born May 10 to Jana
and Aaron Walters (MBA ’02), Franklin, Tenn.
Emma Rae Weber, born April 19 to Jennifer
and Josh Weber, Nashville. Josh is an elementary
school teacher at David Lipscomb Campus
School.
Kimberly (Clark ’96, DLHS ’91) and Kevin
Wells welcomed the arrival and adoption of
Connor William Wells born April 20.
Luke Isaac Westerman, born Feb. 3 to Amy
(Anderson ’93) and Scott Westerman (’97),
Nashville. Scott is senior product manager for
Global Healthcare Exchange in Nashville. Amy is
a stay-at-home mom.
Melissa (Smith ’02) and Jeffery Brian Young
(’01) welcomed the arrival and adoption of
Jonah Brian Young, born Jan. 15, 2003. Jeff is
employed with Alstos Co., Galesburg, IL. Melissa
is a stay-at-home mom.
Alumni News
Here’s what’s going on in the lives of
your Lipscomb classmates.
News included in this issue was submitted from
May 2-Sept. 1, 2004.
Dr. Bailey McBride was recently selected
56for induction into the Oklahoma Higher
Education Hall of Fame. Dr. McBride has served
as a faculty member, academic dean, academic
vice president, provost and past director of the
honors program for Oklahoma Christian
University and as editor of “The Christian
Chronicle.” McBride lives in Edmond, Okla. with
his wife, Joyce (Warren ’56) McBride.
Dr. Edwin S. Gleaves was recognized at
58the 2004 Annual Conference of the
Tennessee Library Association in Knoxville, Tenn.
for his dedication and service to his profession as
the namesake for the TLA Scholarship Program.
Gleaves lives in Nashville.
Dr. Prentice Meador, Jr. (’60, DLHS ’56)
60served as guest chaplain on the floor of
the U.S. Senate, June 8, in Washington, D.C.
Prentice lives in Dallas, Texas, with his wife,
Barbara (Morrell ’60, DLHS ’56), where he
preaches for the Prestoncrest Church of Christ.
Jim Alderdice retired from Auto Owner’s
61Insurance Brentwood, Tenn. Jim and his
wife, Margaret, live in Eddyville, Ky.
Congratulations to Cynthia (Bailey x ’64)
64Watson who was a 2004 winner of the
Profile In Courage award. She stood up to the
powerful hog industry in her state in order to
protect the environment, health and well-being
of her constituents. “The John F. Kennedy Profile
in Courage Award is presented annually to public
servants who have withstood strong opposition
to follow what they believe is the right course of
FALL 2004 | 23

ALUMNI NEWS
action.” Cynthia and her husband, Ebern Watson
Jr. (’63) live in Rose Hill, N.C.
Bert Bryan is the client delivery executive
70for the Saturn account with Electronic
Data Systems in Rochester, Mich. Ann (Freeman
x ’72) Bryan is field experience coordinator for
the education department at Rochester College.
The couple lives in Rochester.
Linda (Nicks) Nash and her husband, John
Nash, are enjoying retirement in their new community
at Mountain Home, Ark.
Tom Reed (DLHS ’65) and his wife,
71Shirley, have returned to the Nashville
area after having been away for 25 years. Tom is
regional manager with Harleysville Insurance.
They reside in Springfield, Tenn. and worship at
the Skyview congregation in White House, Tenn.
Joy Anstey is a federal officer working for
72the Department of Homeland Security in
Honolulu, Hawaii.
Tommy Doty received the Doctorate of
73Ministry in Marriage and Family Therapy
from Southern Christian University in 2003.
Tommy is executive director for the Tennessee
Children’s Home in Knoxville. He and his wife,
Mary Louise, have four children, Rachel, 17,
Lydia, 15, Sarah, 13, and Adam, 10.
Joan (Murphy x ’73) Dowlen of Ashland City,
Tenn. has been elected District VIII Director of
the International Association of Workforce
Professionals (IAWP). The district includes
Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi.
Carol (Weir) Morris and her husband,
74Larry, live in Grayson, Ga. Carol is a teacher
for Gwinnett County Public Schools. Larry is a district
forester for the Georgia Forestry Commission.
Their children are Mandy, 17, and Katie, 13.
David Carrell is executive director of
75Lighthouse Family Ministries, Inc. He has
written a book entitled Lure of the Liar, published
by Power Source Productions. His wife,
Marti (Gangluff x ’75) Carrell is office manager
for Frasier, Dean & Howard CPA’s. Their children
are Jason, 24, and Brian, 21.
Bill Elrod and his wife, Diane, have moved to
Ventura, Calif. Bill works on rockets and radars
for the U. S. Navy. Diane teaches math.
Kevin Rachel and his wife, Denise
76Cassetty (’79) Rachel live in Fairfax, Va.
Kevin is manager of collective bargaining and
arbitration for the Labor Relations Department
of the U.S. Postal Service Headquarters in
Washington, D.C. Denise is a homemaker. They
have two daughters, Melissa and Amanda.
William Hugh Caldwell (x ’78) is a service
78executive-assistant administrator with
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter. William lives in
Tampa, Fla.
Kent Cleaver is a commercial banking
79executive for Regions’ Middle Tennessee
Banking Group in their retail banking division.
Kent and his wife, Stephanie, live in Franklin,
Tenn.
Myron Schirer-Suter (M.A.R. ’99) is director of
library services for Jenks Library & Learning
Resource Center at Gordon College in Wenham,
Mass. Myron and his wife, Cordelia, live in
Beverly, Mass.
Holly Locke is presently serving as gover-
80nor of the valley district of Civitan
International. Holly is also a CPA and lives in
Franklin, Tenn.
Kevin Arvin is senior partner and chief
operations officer at Wheless & Associates
81
24 | THE TORCH
Class of 1954 Golden Circle Reunion
Class of 1954 members who attended the Golden Circle Reunion in October included Martha Joy Anderson, JoAn Holley Banks,
Joyce Brown Brackett,Emma Thomas Brown,Betty Cheatham Brown,Don Brown,Maurine Breeding Duggar Cahela,Charles Arnold
Carpenter, Geraldine Carver Carpenter, Nancy Cohoon Cochrane, Joan Crawford Cooper, Martina Campbell Davis, Evelyn Silveman
Davy, Verdean Evans Dobkins, Marian Fish Ezell, Martha Jones Frost, Betty Sharp Funck, Mary Lynne Gilmore Fussell, Catherine
Goodpasture Halsey, Vivian Wilson Hanvey, Joyce Moon Haworth, Edwin Bruce Headrick, Jewell Gregory Hearn, Carolyn Scobey
Hinson, Thomas Hayes Holland, Robert Hooper, Patricia Fogarty Jurek, Nadine Dabbs Keith, Bettye Knox Layne, Glenda Ralston
Major, Charles William McDearman, Twyla Ellis McKee, William Parrott, John Shoun, Clarence Sparks, Otis Doyle “Springer, Jr.”,
Richard Waggoner, June Carol Waldon, June Carol Dunn Waldon, Leland Whitney, Irene Duff Womack and Van Mabry.
and serves as administrator for Education Search
Services. He also serves as deacon of youth and
family ministry and worship leader for the
Riverchase Church of Christ. Kevin and his wife,
Susan (Green ’80) Arvin live in Pelham, Ala.
Susan is commercial marketing support manager
for AmSouth Bank. Their children are Chris, 20,
Nicholas, 19, and Mary, 13.
Lee Ann (Farley) Burney, CPA, president-
82
elect of the Tennessee Chapter of
Healthcare Financial Management Association,
has joined Horne CPA Group as institutional
healthcare manager in Nashville. She and her
husband, William Burney (’86), live in Nashville.
Keith Fussell received an M.A. in counsel-
83
ing from Harding University Graduate
School of Religion in Memphis, Tenn. in May
2004. He is an adjunct instructor at Harding and
is the family life minister at Sycamore View
Church of Christ in Memphis. He and his wife,
Kimberly, live in Bartlett, Tenn.
John Gott and his wife, Ruth (Griffith x
85’86) live in Smiths Grove, Ky. John is a
chemist for Test America, Inc. Ruth is a registered
nurse at Bowling Green Medical Center.
Tammy Barrett is working for Responsive
86Management in Harrisonburg, Va. as a
research associate. Tammy lives in Staunton, Va.
Lauren (Hicks) Burman and her husband,
88
Major Mark Burman, live in O’Fallon, Ill.
Mark is stationed at Scott Air Force Base in the St.
Louis, Mo. area. Their children are Drew, 8,
Cailey, 5, and Lainey, 2.
Michael Felzien and Cynthia Thompson
91
were married June 19. Michael is
employed by White House High School. Cynthia
works for Skyline Physicians Management. The
couple lives in Cottontown, Tenn.
Dr. Cindy Stockton is a physician for the
Maryville Pediatric Group. Cindy lives in
Maryville.
Derek Bell and Angela Hackney were mar-
92ried July 3. Derek is employed by
Symbion. Angela works for Metro Schools at
Sylvan Park Paideia Design Center. The couple
lives in Nashville.
David Hicks and his wife, Heather, have
moved to New Orleans, La. and are working with
the Carrollton Ave. Church of Christ there. Their
son, Caleb, has begun pre-school this year.
Philip Thomason and Melanie (Cabaniss
93
’98) were married June 19. Philip is a
sales account manager for Bonus Building Care
in Birmingham, Ala. Melanie is a high school
counselor for the Hoover City School System in
Birmingham. The couple lives in Birmingham.
Dr. Stephen Heffington has started his
94
own practice in urology at Middle
Tennessee Urology Associates in Columbia, Tenn.
He and his wife, Emily (Phillips ’95, DLHS ’92)
live in Columbia, Tenn. with their children,
Jessica, 4, and Ashley, 2.
Dean Lenz is completing a one-year urologic
fellowship in oncology at Monash University
Medical Centre. His wife, Lisa Petty (’95), is a
homemaker. Their daughter, Macy, is 1 year old.
Kathryn Rowland and Zachary Martin were
married June 13. Kathryn is a teacher at Percy
Priest Elementary. Zachary teaches at Rockvale
Elementary. The couple lives in Bell Buckle, Tenn.
Dr. Joel Wynne is in private practice as a doctor
of optometry in Hendersonville, N.C. He and
his wife, Denise (Mayo x ’97) Wynne live in
Sylva, N.C. with their children, Abbey, 5, Joel Jr.,
3, and Bethany, 1.
Edwin Moyo is a missionary at the
95
PHOTO: AMBER R. STACEY
Pelandaba Church of Christ in Bulawayo
Zimbabwe. He asks for our prayers for their work
in Zimbabwe. Edwin and his wife Nobuhle have
three children, Noma, Sane, and Andile.
Barry Phillips is working as a lighting technician
for Ringling Brothers and Barnum and

Bailey Circus. Barry lives in Winter Park, Fla.
Jennifer (Tillman) Norris is senior vice president,
senior credit products manager for the commercial
loan risk management of Wachovia Bank.
Her husband, Lee, is a CPA and technology consultant.
The couple lives in Dallas, Texas.
Bradley Brandt (x ’96, DLHS ’92) and
96
Toni Robbins were married June 26. Brad
is an insurance agent for Stewart Hubbard &
Associates in Brentwood, Tenn. Toni is a senior
programmer and analyst for VHP Community
Care in Brentwood. The couple lives in Nashville.
Jason Havens has become editor of the
“Technology: Probate,” column of Probate &
Property, the primary practice-oriented publication
of the American Bar Association’s Section of
Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law (“RPPT”)
as announced by the law firm of Havens & Miller,
P.L.L.C. in Destin, Fla. Jason and his wife, Daphne
(McDermitt x ’96) live in Destin, Fla.
Heather Holland (DLHS ’92) and David
Helton (DLHS ’91) were married May 20.
Heather is restaurant manager of Martha’s at the
Plantation. David works for Technological-
Computer Sales. The couple lives in Nashville.
Carl Matthew Moss and Sara Bradshaw (’01)
were married Aug. 14. The couple lives in Nashville.
Kara Adcox and Jeff Krinks were married
97
May 29. Kara teaches physics at Martin
Luther King High School in Nashville. Jeff is a
public relations specialist at BioImaging in
Nashville. The couple lives in Nashville.
Phillip (x ’97) and Rachel (Cauthen x ’00) Barr
live in Jonesboro, Ark. Phillip is a real estate
developer with Barr Investments, Inc. Rachel is
owner of Private Edition Beauty Salon.
Angela (Eaton) Clemons lives in Houston,
Texas, with her husband, Larry. Larry is a claims
team manager for Liberty Mutual. Angela is a
homemaker.
Luvell Glanton Jr. and Pierrecia Lyons were
married Aug. 9. Luvell is anesthesiology resident
in Buffalo, N.Y. Pierecia is an attorney with Lewis
and Lewis in Buffalo. The couple lives in
Williamsville, N.Y.
Gregory Wade Smith, a member of The
Tennessee National Guard, has been deployed to
Iraq. The family has requested our prayers for his
safety. His wife, Jaclyn (Sherman) Smith remains
in Mt. Juliet, Tenn.
Donna Wynder and Fabian A. Sohtera were
married Oct. 2, 2003. The couple lives in New
York, N.Y.
Hansel (Rip) Clayton Jr. (DLHS ’94) and
98
Mary Pulliam were married May 15. Mary
is the director of research at Neurological
Surgeons, P.C. Rip is an account manager at
Document Solutions, Inc.
Betsy Nelson and John E. Sloan III were married
July 24. Betsy is employed by Bowie Reading
and Learning Center. John is employed by Renal
Care Group. The couple lives in Franklin, Tenn.
Jon Suttles (MEd ’03) and Johanna Woollard
(‘99, MBA ’02) were married June 5. Johanna is
director of adult studies at Lipscomb University.
The couple lives in Nashville.
Christopher William Adams and Theresa
99
Delores Crague were married June 19.
Chris is an investment sales associate at SunTrust
Bank. He is also a candidate for the master of arts
in history at Middle Tennessee State University in
Murfreesboro, Tenn. Theresa is majoring in elementary
education at Tennessee State University
in Nashville. The couple lives in Hendersonville.
Jason Holt (MBA ’01) was recently promoted
to financial systems manager at Ardent Health.
He has also opened Ginger’s Health Foods with
his mom in Hendersonville, Tenn. He and his
wife, Jennifer, live in Hendersonville.
Daniel Cober and Mary Petrea (’99) live
00in Ann Arbor, Mich. Daniel is an internal
medicine resident at the University of Michigan
in Ann Arbor. Mary is a pediatric pharmacy resident
at the University of Michigan.
Amy Pike and Ron Davis were married June 5.
Ron is a professor at the University of North
Alabama. The couple lives in Muscle Shoals, Ala.
Chad Johnson and Kathi McPherson (’99)
were married April 24. Kathi is an adjunct teacher
in the College of Arts and Humanities at
Lipscomb University. The couple lives in
Nashville.
Kim Puckett (MBA ’01) works for Cat
01Financial as Information Technology
Manager I. Kim and her husband, Jeff, live in
Goodlettsville, Tenn.
RECORD ALUMNI ENROLLMENT
NEWS
Sheffield enjoys variety in life
Down time is something Dorcas Sheffield
(’83) doesn’t know much about. In fact, if she
doesn’t have several projects going on at one
time, Sheffield grows restless.
She is a writer, a business consultant, a business
owner, a playwright, an active church member, a
wife and a mother of three. By day, Sheffield is
manager of the Opry Mills Career Center, a first-ofits-kind
joint venture with the government to connect
employers with job seekers. There, job seekers
learn how to look for a job, how to interview and
other tips for finding employment. These services
are free through government funding. Employers
can post jobs, participate in customer service training
and learn how to interview prospects correctly.
“It’s been very successful in the community
and the mall vendors have been very helpful,”
said Sheffield, who was born in Benton, Ark.
In her “spare” time, Sheffield pursues her
other interests. Most recently she published her
first book, You Know They Say ... A Collection
of Old Wives Tales (Light House Press).
“A few years ago I started collecting old wives’
tales. I was fascinated by the lessons that could
be learned from the tales of those around me
and from the history associated with these stories,”
said Sheffield, who majored in communication
at Lipscomb.
“It’s a fun book to read and was a stress reliever
for me to work on. I really wanted to complete
this project. I just didn’t want to grow old and
someday wish that I’d published a book.”
Sheffield is also a playwright and founding
director for NewBirth Players.
“I feel there are actors in all of us. In my productions,
I try to use people who haven’t acted
before,” she said.
Sheffield’s most recent play, Beyond
February, made its debut last February. Written
for Black History Month, the play focuses on
inventions that African Americans have contributed
throughout history. She said through
the play she hopes “to encourage children to
• Athletic Trainer Reunion Reception
Homecoming 2005 • Feb. 5. During halftime of the men’s
basketball game. Contact chrissnoddy@msn.com for
more information.
UPCOMING REUNIONS
Dorcas (Wiley ’83) Sheffield
study about their heritage.”
In addition, Sheffield is executive director
and consultant for Gazelle Productions,
through which books and plays are produced
and that also focuses on motivational speaking
and business consulting. She is a college counselor
at the Shrader Lane Church of Christ and
runs a household of five. She and her husband,
Philip, have three children, Philip Jr., 3; Lenita,
6; and Brandon, 15.
What makes Sheffield fill every waking
moment with activity? “I want to give people
something to enrich their lives. I want to help
people. God has given me talents and we’re supposed
to use those talents. I believe God places
things in my path to help me do what He wants
me to do,” she said.
One of Sheffield’s next projects is to compile
a second edition of the wives’ tales book.
Barry Tunks (MBA ’01) is director of sales for
the Marriott Residence Inn in Bethesda, Md.
Barry lives in Abingdon, Md.
Shelby Webster (MBA ’01) is human resource
manager with Coke Consolidated in Nashville.
Cindy Wilson (x’01) and Chris Garton were
married July 17. The couple lives in Mathison,
Miss.
Susan Armstrong and Andy Donald
02Smithson were married May 15. The couple
lives in Rockvale, Tenn.
Kimberly Beckham and Golden Hand were
married Aug. 7. Kimberly is employed by Frist
Cardiology. Golden is in the Army. The couple
lives in Nashville.
Catherine Best and Michael Davis were married
April 17. Michael works for Service Master
Clean, product development, in Memphis, Tenn.
Catherine is in graduate school at Harding
Graduate School of Religion in Memphis.
Autumn Chilton and Dustin Kendall (DLHS
• David Lipscomb High School Class of 1950
55th Reunion • May 13-14, 2005
FALL 2004 | 25

’00) were married May 29. The couple lives in
Nashville.
Alan Collins (MBA ‘02) and Misty Paris were married
June 12. Alan is a machinist at McMinnville Tool
& Dye. Misty is a family nurse practitioner for the
Warren County Health Department. The couple
lives in McMinnville, Tenn.
Amber Everson and Jeffrey Hammond (x ’98)
were married June 25. Amber is a teacher with
Metro Nashville Public Schools. Jeffrey is a civil
engineer at Neel-Schaffer, Inc. The couple lives in
Nashville.
Will Logue received the Master of Accountancy
degree from Belmont University in August. He
joining the accounting firm of Deloitte and
Touche as a consultant in the Enterprise Risk
Services practice in September.
Reuben Mason and Rachel Thompson (’01)
were married July 31. The couple lives in
Nashville.
William Osburn and Shelly (Clark’04) were
married July 10. William is a fitness trainer at
Delta Fitness Center. The couple lives in
Nashville.
Daniel Palk and Janaina de Paula Araugo were
married Nov. 28, 2003 in Recife, Brazil. Daniel
and Jana are working with the school of Bible in
Recife and are in charge of the Bible correspondence
courses there.
Robert Parker (DLHS ’97), and Bria (Baker
’03) were married June 26. Bria is attending Ohio
State University School of Music. Robert received
a master’s degree from Western Kentucky
University in 2004. The couple lives in
Columbus, Ohio.
Ryan Roller (DLHS ’98) and Melia (Cotham
’01) were married May 31. Ryan is branch manager
for National Bank of Commerce in Green
Hills. Melia works for Le-Nature’s, Inc. The couple
lives in Old Hickory, Tenn.
Julie Steele has finished her second year of law
school at Louisiana State University. Julie lives in
Baton Rouge, La.
Sidney Jackson Ware III and Leslie Poole (’03)
were married Oct. 25, 2003. Sidney works for
Dell, Inc. Leslie works for Lipscomb University as
a payroll assistant. The couple lives in Nashville.
Megan Barnett (MBA ’03, DLHS ’95) and
03
Ken Geon were married Aug. 7. The couple
lives in Nashville.
Brad Brooks and Katherine (Kimberly ’04)
were married May 22. The couple lives in
Nashville.
Rebekah Bryan and Joshua Tate were married
Dec. 13, 2003. The couple lives in Woodbury,
Tenn.
David Buffington (DLHS ’99) and Christie
Chadwick (’02) were married Aug. 28. Christie is
employed by Lost Highway Records. David works
for JRS Investments. The couple lives in Nashville.
Claudia Calderon (MBA ’03) is assistant to the
chair of the biostatistics department at Vanderbilt
University. Claudia lives in Nashville.
Brian Cromer and Heather (Swilley x ’06) were
married May 22. The couple lives in Atlanta, Ga.
Thomas Crosslin and Ursla Hicks (’04) were
married July 10. Thomas plans to enter The Ohio
State University College of Medicine this fall.
Ursla is a graduate student in Musicology at Ohio
State. The couple lives in Columbus, Ohio.
Kathryn Dousette (MBA ’03) has been promoted
to manager-in-training with AIM
Healthcare in Nashville.
Debbie Drake (MBA ’03) has completed her
26 | THE TORCH
ALUMNI NEWS
MSN at Vanderbilt University. Debbie lives in
Nashville.
Rachel McCumsey and Gavin Hammers were
married May 14. Rachel is a student at Vanderbilt
University in the Nurse Practitioner’s Program.
Gavin is a student at Lipscomb University. The
couple lives in Nashville.
Jay Miller (MBA ’03) and Julie Bowers (MBA
’03) were married May 16. Julie works at
Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville.
Shelley (Sims ’02) and Brittain Douglas Little
(DLHS ’99) were married May 29. Brittain is a
student at the University of Tennessee College of
Medicine in Memphis, Tenn. Shelley is a student
at the University of Tennessee College of
Pharmacy in Memphis.
Lee Warren (MBA ’03) is a marketing representative
for CAT Financial in Nashville. Lee lives in
Nashville.
Christopher Douglas Wiles and Ashley
Michelle Williams were married June 5. The couple
lives in Nashville.
Benjamin Zeller and Hillary Ware (’04) were
married May 15. Benjamin is employed with AIM
Healthcare. The couple lives in Brentwood, Tenn.
Tony Anderson (MBA ’04) is director of
04
Horticultural Development for Southern
Land Company in Franklin, Tenn.
Jenny Ashby and Matt Barker were married
May 14. Jenny works for Atkinson Public
Relations. Matt is a free-lance video-editor. The
couple lives in Nashville.
Chelsey Bason and Aaron Riemann were married
Aug. 1. Aaron is continuing his education at
the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. The
couple lives in Knoxville.
Elizabeth (Beth) Batson (’04) and Michael
Deming were married June 19. Beth is employed at
Frank Batson Homes. Michael is owner of a landscape
company. The couple lives in Nashville.
Julie Bigler is admissions representative for
Southeastern Career College. Julie lives in
Nashville.
Christy Chadwell and James Mullens were
married July 10. Christy teaches second grade at
Carter Lawrence Magnet School. Robert is
employed by Mark Sullivan Builders. The couple
lives in Nashville.
Elizabeth Hallman (MBA ’04) is a Medicare B
credentialing specialist with Cigna.
Jill Harris and Jeff Tyson were married June 12.
The couple lives in White Fair Lake, Minn.
Kristen Nelson and Barton Norman were married
July 10. The couple lives in Nashville.
Nate Sylvester and Amanda Ferrell were married
May 22. Nate is a computer programmer at
AIM Healthcare. The couple lives in Franklin,
Tenn.
Shane Whittington and Stacy Lawson were
married May 10. The couple lives in Nashville.
HIGH SCHOOL
Angela Alexander (DLHS ’97) and Brent
Logsdon were married June 6. Angela is
employed by Schatten Properties. Brent works for
Carrabba’s Italian Restaurant. The couple lives in
Nashville.
Katherine Chester (DLHS ’02) and Mitchell
Wiggains were married Aug. 14. The couple lives
in Searcy, Ark.
Joshua Cunningham (DLHS ’94) and Jennifer
King were married July 24. Joshua is employed by
Enesco. Jennifer works for Sumner County Schools.
Allison Dobbs (DLHS ’96) earned her J.D.
Alumni in Action
• The Nashville Sounds have
announced the promotion of
Brent High (’96) to vice president
of sales.
High has been the driving
force behind the success of the
Sounds’ nationally-acclaimed
“Faith Night” series. He recently
completed his second season
with the Sounds after joining
Brent High
the team in December 2002 as church and
youth programs manager with the task of
increasing group sales to churches and little
leagues. High will direct the overall ticket sales
strategy for the Sounds as they head into the
2005 season.
“I feel very blessed and honored by this
increased responsibility,” said High. “I caught
my first foul ball at a Sounds game when I was
ten years old. I got my first autograph hanging
over the left field fence when I was 13. Now I
feel like I’ve been given an important stweardship
in making sure those scenes continue to
play out in Nashville for many years to come.”
• Doug Howard (’78), senior vice president of
A&R/Lyric Street Records, was recently elected
to a two-year term as president of the board of
governors of the Nashville Chapter of the
Recording Academy. He is also a member of the
Academy’s national board of trustees. Before
joining Lyric Street in 1997, Howard was vice
president and general manager of Polygram
Music/Nashville.
Established in 1957, the National Academy of
Recording Arts & Scienes, Inc., also known as
the Recording Academy, is an organization of
musicians, producers, engineers and recording
professionals that is dedicated to improving the
cultural condition and quality of life for music
and it’s makers.
• Kim Chaudoin (’90), has
been promoted to director of
marketing and public relations
at Lipscomb University.
Chaudoin, formerly director
of marketing at Lipscomb, succeeds
G. David England as
director of the office. England
Kim Chaudoin
was appointed to a new position
in the university's Advancement Office
Aug. 1.
“Kim Chaudoin is one of the most talented
professionals employed by the university in a
long time. She is well-respected by the faculty.
She is creative, insightful, and sensitive, which
makes her a marvelous fit for what we're doing
here,” said Dr. Jim L. Thomas, interim vice president
for enrollment and marketing.
Chaudoin earned a master of science degree
from Middle Tennessee State University. She
earned her bachelor of arts degree from
Lipscomb in 1990 in political science-communication.
She was a marketing associate at Deloitte and
Touche in 1990-91 before returning to Lipscomb
as assistant director of public relations, a position
she held until her advancement to director of
marketing in November 2002. In addition,
Chaudoin serves as president of the Tennessee
College Public Relations Association.

degree with honors from The University of
Tennessee School of Law in May. She lives and
works in Knoxville, Tenn.
Beth Evans (DLHS ’87) and Todd Vessel were
married August 14. Beth is an attorney with
Waller, Landsen, Dortch, & Davis. Todd is a night
desk supervisor with The Associated Press. The
couple lives in Brentwood, Tenn.
Donna (Gardner DLHS ’76) Kinnane was a
volunteer instructor at Presidential Classroom in
Washington, D.C. for the March 13-20 National
Defense in a Democracy Program.
Kennita Jobe (DLHS ’99) and Marcus
Ferguson were married Aug.14. Kennita is pursuing
a Ph.D. in pharmacology at Meharry Medical
College in Nashville. Marcus is working toward a
master’s degree in chemistry at Middle Tennessee
State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn. The couple
lives in Antioch, Tenn.
Scott McCormac (DLHS ’01) and Laressa
Daniel were married May 15. The couple lives in
Abilene, Texas.
Gail Oakley (DLHS ’97) and Troy Hillis were
married June 12. Gail teaches first grade at
Paragon Mills Elementary in Nashville. Troy is
employed by Applebee’s. The couple lives in
Antioch, Tenn.
Jessica Orman (DLHS ’95) and Scott Williams
were married June 19. Jessica is employed by
Metropolitan Public Schools. Scott is employed
with the Metropolitan Nashville Fire Department.
The couple lives in Goodlettsville, Tenn.
Amber Padilla (DLHS ’99) and Robert Lee
Hatchett Jr. were married July 24. The couple lives
in Nashville.
Jeremy Pharr (DLHS ’94) and Rebekah Beasley
(DLHS ’94) were married July 16. Jeremy recently
received law degree from Vanderbilt University
and is executive director with Trustcore
Charitable Strategies, Inc. Rebekah graduated
from Middle Tennessee State University and is
employed by Monroe Harding Children’s Home
as Development Coordinator. The couple lives in
Nashville.
Tara Pharr (DLHS ’97) and Brian Layton were
married May 22. Tara is pursuing the master’s
degree in education at Lipscomb University.
Brian is employed by K-Shaw Construction. The
couple will reside in Colorado.
Allison Preston and Jeremy Barber were married
Aug. 7. Allison is a head start teacher at Berry
School. Jeremy is employed by Travis Electric Co.
The couple lives in Joelton, Tenn.
Erin Prillaman (DLHS ’98) and Mitchell
Greggs were married Aug. 7. Erin works for Alpha
Omicron Pi International Headquarters. Mitchell
is a third year law student at Washington and Lee
University School of Law.
Kristen Saunders (DLHS ’00) and Adam
Spencer were married May 29. The couple lives in
Dallas, Texas.
Fletcher Douglas Srygley IV received the M.D.
Degree from the University of Texas,
Southwestern, in June 2004. He and his wife,
Megan, live in Durham, N.C.
MEMORIAL GIFTS
Gifts were given in memory of the following
from May 2-Sept. 1, 2004.
Lewis Akin
Mr. & Mrs. Lynch B. Corley Jr.
Henry (Buddy) Arnold
Mr. Jim Bill McInteer
Mr. & Mrs. Henry D. Stroop
Mr. & Mrs. R. Edward Wiggins
Copeland Baker
Mr. & Mrs. Michael King
James Benton (Ben) Baxter
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Ivie Cook
Mr. & Mrs. C. Myron Keith
Mr. & Mrs. Barry Moss
Mrs. Pat Beamer
Mr. & Mrs. Wavell P. Stewart
Lyle Bean
Mr. & Mrs. John J.Beauchamp, Dr. & Mrs.
Ryndal E. Bouldin, Dr. & Mrs. Gary Clark Hall,
Dr. & Mrs. Doy Ott Hollman, Dr. & Mrs. Carroll
Glenn Wells
Mr. Word B. Bennett, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. J. D. Elliott
Everett Bizwell
Jim McKinney’s Class
(Fourth Ave. Church of Christ)
Mrs. Jeanne Bowman
Mr. & Mrs. Walter Arthur Jr., Mr. & Mrs. Cecil
A. Boone, Mr. & Mrs. Fred Metcalf, Mr. & Mrs.
Ronald T. Winfree
Eugene (Fessor) Boyce
Dr. David Lee Adams
Henry N. Boyd
Mr. & Mrs. James R. Byers III
Mr. & Mrs. T. M. Braswell
Mr. & Mrs. Charles W. Braswell
Mrs. Sara D. Brown
Miss Margaret J. Batey, Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Bittles,
Ms Alice Conner, Mr. & Mrs. Lynch B. Corley Jr.,
Ms Anita Ferrell, Mr. & Mrs. John Koerner
Mrs. Isabel Buterbaugh
Mrs. John M. Crothers
James & Ruth Byers
Mr. & Mrs. James R. Byers III
J. B. Campbell Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Joel B. Campbell III
Ann Chapman
Mr. & Mrs. S. Russell Brown
Mrs. Julia Cooper
Mr. & Mrs. David Hanes Jent
Arline & Jim Cornette
Mr. & Mrs. James C. Stone Jr.
Mrs. Frances Craig
Miss Janette Welden
L. Freeman Crowder
Mrs. Rita M. Hill
Joey Davey
Mr. & Mrs. Alfred Weinberg
W. Lipscomb Davis
Dr. & Mrs. Perry Glen Moore
Marshall N. Dennison Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. John M. Dennison
Connie Binkley Dorris
Mrs. M. N. Dennison Jr.
Wilma C. Downey
Mr. & Mrs. Gene Barker
Miss Susan Edgin
Dr. & Mrs. Mark A. Miller
Dr. Carroll B. Ellis
Church of Christ at South Jefferson St.,
Cookeville, TN
Lucille Ellis
Mrs. Plomer E. Hunter
Allen Erwin
Mrs. Carolyn T. Wilson
Barbara Eubanks
Mr. & Mrs. Charles Ray Gamble
Mrs. Marjorie Evans
Dr. & Mrs. Thomas Ray Duncan
Mrs. Maudean Farley
Ms Johnnye F. Diemar, Mr. & Mrs. Donald
RECORD ALUMNI ENROLLMENT
NEWS
Ray Frick, Mr. & Mrs. Pete T. Gunn III, Mr. &
Mrs. Neal Haley, Ms Doris Harper, Dr. & Mrs.
Robert G. McCrory, Mr. & Mrs. Fred T. Miller,
Ms Juanita Miller, Mr. & Mrs. Billy B. Morgan,
Dr. & Mrs. Paul W. Schaper, Ms Ruth Ellen
Shumaker, Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Sparks, Mr. & Mrs.
Robert D. Speers, Mr. & Mrs. Jack M. Telle
Mrs. Lu T. Flatt
Mrs. Rita M. Hill
Clyde & Constance R. Fulmer
Dr. Constance Marie Fulmer
Richard Gann
Dr. & Mrs. Kenneth Rutherford
Mrs. Pat Goldsmith
Mr. & Mrs. David Hanes Jent
Tom Hanvey
Dr. David Lee Adams
Mrs. Frances Harris
Mr. & Mrs. Donald M. Bowen
Mrs. Jessie Gentry Harris
Mr. & Mrs. C. Myron Keith
Mr. & Mrs. Lloyd A. Linton
Miss Ava F. Sellers
Bobbie Lee Holley
Mr. & Mrs. Homer D. Stroop
Mr. & Mrs. Kinnard White
Mrs. Carolyn T. Wilson
Margaret L. Hooper
Mr. & Mrs. Lynch B. Corley Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Homer D. Stroop
Mrs. Virginia Hooper
Dr. Robert E. Hooper
Mr. & Mrs. William T. Looney
Steve Hubbard
Mr. & Mrs. Darryl Pate Hubbard
Mr. & Mrs. John M. Dennison
E. Jean Hunt
Dr. & Mrs. Barry D. Bender
Mrs. Mildred Hunt
Mr. & Mrs. Roger B. Shacklett
Mrs. Dorothy Jones
Miss Janette Welden
Mrs. Christine Kincaid
Col. & Mrs. Joseph L. Methvin
Dr. Morris P. Landiss
Dr. & Mrs. Matthew G. Hearn
Mrs. Aldameda S. Landiss
Let’s Start Talking Ministry
David E. Lavender
Ms. Geneva B. Connor, Mrs. M. N. Dennison
Jr., Mr. & Mrs. Kerry Evan Roberts, Mrs. Emily
Young Hartman, Mr. & Mrs. D. J. Shoemaker, Ms.
Karen S. Ward, Mr. & Mrs. Ronald T. Winfree
Walter Cody Leaver Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Roger B. Shacklett
Ms. Garnetta Lovett
Mr. & Mrs. G. Hilton Dean
Thomas J. (Jim) McMeen Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Joel B. Campbell III
Mr. David Patrick Orr
Thomas J. McMeen Sr.
Mr. & Mrs. Joel B. Campbell III
Margaret & Prentice Meador
Mr. & Mrs. James C. Stone Jr.
Mrs. Margaret S. Meador
Dr. Linda Margaret Meador
Mr. & Mrs. Homer D. Stroop
V. O. Mitchell
Dr. Villa M. Mitchell
Sarah H. Moore
Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Brown, Mr. & Mrs. James
E. Neal, Ms Carole W. Sheppard, Mr. & Mrs.
Joseph M. Wilce
FALL 2004 | 27

ALUMNI NEWS
Charles Morris
Dr. David Lee Adams
Crystal Murphy
Dr. & Mrs. Mark Murphy
Louise L. Neely
Dr. & Mrs. Perry Glen Moore
Shannon Neely
Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Neely
Dr. Marvin Nikolaus
Mrs. Doris W. Nikolaus
Keith & Sharon Nikolaus
Dr. Julian Olsen Jr.
Dr. & Mrs. Michael R. McDonald
Mr. & Mrs. Louis A. Ross
Dr. & Mrs. William H. Tucker
Corinne Ormes
Mr. & Mrs. C. Myron Keith
im McKinney’s Class (Fourth Ave. Church
of Christ)
John Watson Parker
Miss Janette Welden
Norman L. Parks
Dr. & Mrs. Robert Broadus
Dr. & Mrs. Richard C. Goode
Mr. & Mrs. George K. Parkman
W. B. & Eloise Parman
Mr. & Mrs. F. E. McKennon
Mrs. Katie Petty
Mr. & Mrs. David Hanes Jent
Mrs. Joy Platz
Mr. & Mrs. Scott T. Price
James “Buck” Putney Jr.
Mr. H. Newt Spence
Mrs. Louise Reynolds
Mr. & Mrs. Haldon Lane Arnold
Bill Rhodes
Jim McKinney’s Class (Fourth Ave. Church
of Christ)
Dr. Douglas Rives
Mr. & Mrs. Dan Easter
Edward Bay Roberts
Betty & Jim Brown
Mr. & Mrs. David Hanes Jent
Larry & Janice Strohm
Mrs. Ginger Sandifer
Miss Janette Welden
Mrs. Ida Mae Seals
Dr. & Mrs. Thomas L. Seals
Miss JJ Share
Heidi & Drew Hanks
Mr. & Mrs. David Nix
Duane Slaughter
Dr. David Lee Adams
Mrs. Corinne Collins Slayton
Mr. & Mrs. James E. Lamberth
Richard Smith
Dr. & Mrs. Perry Glen Moore
Mattheau Spencer
Miss Lisa Lenora Lancaster
Bonnie Price Stamps
Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Dean Mayes
In Memoriam
The Lipscomb University family has
been touched by these recent losses.
Deaths included in this issue were submitted
from May 2-Sept. 1, 2004.
Lewis Gerard Akin died June 30, Franklin,
Tenn. Survivors include his sons, Lew Akin,
Charles Akin (DLHS ’65), and daughter, Elissa
28 | THE TORCH
William Ed Stephens III
Jim Bill McInteer
Herman W. Taylor
Mrs. Carolyn T. Wilson
Poyner L. Thweatt
Dr. & Mrs. Perry Glen Moore
Brad Walker
Mr. & Mrs. Dave A. Walker
D. Ellis & Eloise Walker
Dr. & Mrs. David E. Walker Jr.
Mrs. Elizabeth Showalter Walker
Mr. & Mrs. Gary T. Baker
Effie Warbritton
Mr. & Mrs. Phillip F. Dark
Fred Watson
Mr. & Mrs. Charles E. Thompson
J. Robert White
Mr. & Mrs. Charles E. Thompson
Roy Whitehead
Beersheba Springs Church of Christ
Mrs. Ellen Wilkinson
Mr. & Mrs. C. Myron Keith
Mrs. Edith L. Wright
Dr. & Mrs. John D. Conger
HONOR GIFTS
Gifts were given in honor of the following
from May 2-Sept. 1, 2004.
Larry & Kellene Adams
Mr. & Mrs. Bayron Binkley Jr.
Mrs. Anne Batey
Mr. & Mrs. E. G. Burgess III
Mr. & Mrs. D. Gerald Coggin Sr.
Mr. & Mrs. John Carroll Frost
Mrs. Carolyn S. Holmes
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph C. Mayes
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Thomson Webb
Joanne Coggin
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas E. Batey Sr., Mr. & Mrs. E.
G. Burgess III, Mr. & Mrs. John Carroll Frost,
Mrs. Carolyn S. Holmes, Mr. & Mrs. Joseph C.
Mayes, Mr. & Mrs. Robert Thomson Webb
Mrs. Ruth M. Collins
Dr. & Mrs. Perry Glen Moore
Lipscomb Crothers
Mr. & Mrs. Lynch B. Corley Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Harold Daniels’ 50th Wedding
Anniversary
Mr. & Mrs. David Hanes Jent
Earlene Demonbreun & Family
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas V. Burris
Mrs. Colleen Dixon
Mr. Justin Louis Scott
Mrs. Trudy Frost
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas E. Batey Sr.
Mr. & Mrs. E. G. Burgess III
Mr. & Mrs. D. Gerald Coggin Sr.
Mrs. Carolyn S. Holmes
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph C. Mayes
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Thomson Webb
Omohundro. Several grandchildren and greatgrandchildren
survive him also.
The Alumni Office has been notified of the
death of Frances (Neal ’40) Austin, Lebanon,
Tenn.
The Alumni Office has been notified of the
death of George F. Baker (’40, DLHS ’38),
Chattanooga, Tenn.
James Benton Baxter died May 3. He is survived
by parents, Karen (Keith ’78, DLHS ’74) and
Timothy Dwight Baxter (’79), brothers, Timothy
Keith Baxter (DLHS ’00) and Rusty Baxter, grand-
Barry & Connie Harrison
Mr. & Mrs. Bayron Binkley Jr.
Mrs. Carolyn Holmes
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas E. Batey Sr., Mr. & Mrs. E.
G. Burgess III, Mr. & Mrs. D. Gerald Coggin Sr.,
Mr. & Mrs. John Carroll Frost, Mr. & Mrs. Joseph
C. Mayes, Mr. & Mrs. Robert Thomson Webb
Dr. Robert Kerce
Mr. & Mrs. Richard S. Chambers
Dr. & Mrs. Gary C. Hall
Dr. & Mrs. Mark A. Miller
Mrs. Kathy Gann Millson
Mr. David Patrick Orr
John Platz
Mr. & Mrs. Scott T. Price
Mrs. Martha Riedl
Greg & Linda Hardeman
Keith & Sharon Nikolaus
Mr. David Patrick Orr
Paul E. Rogers
Mr. & Mrs. Jerrie Wayne Barber, Mr. Douglas
T. Bates III, Mr. & Mrs. Richard T. Craig Sr., Mr.
& Mrs. Phillip L. DeWire, Mr. Kenneth Dotson,
Dr. & Mrs. Robert Hughes Kerce, Greg & Linda
Hardeman, Mr. & Mrs. C. Myron Keith, Mrs.
Willie E. McDonald, Mr. Jim Bill McInteer, Dr.
& Mrs. Carl McKelvey Jr., Mr. & Mrs. Alan Keith
Parker, Dr. & Mrs. Thomas G. Pennington, Mr.
& Mrs. James G. Pounders, Mr. & Mrs. Carl D.
Rodgers, Mr. David G. Rogers, Terry D. Sawyer,
D.D.S.; Mr. & Mrs. Roy Hanes Shannon; Mr. &
Mrs. J. W. Tolley; James & Faye Vandiver
Meredith & Dot Shepherd’s 65 th Wedding
Anniversary
Mr. & Mrs. Scott T. Price
Meredith & Dot Shepherd
Mr. & Mrs. M. Edward Binkley
Bill & Margaret Smith
Mr. & Mrs. M. Edward Binkley
Dr. Fletcher D. Srygley IV
Miss Rena Carolyn Rogers
Mrs. Peggy Foster Rush Stephens
Mr. & Mrs. Harrison S. Davis
Dr. Axel Swang
Dr. & Mrs. Perry Glen Moore
Mr. & Mrs. Melvin White
Mr. & Mrs. Fred W. Cunningham
Martha Whitelaw
Mr. & Mrs. Lynch B. Corley Jr.
Dr. Sara W. Whitten
MAJ. & Mrs. Leroy D. Chamness
Dr. Oliver Yates
Mr. & Mrs. Ron Nevin and Family
Have news?
If you have moved recently or have news,
please e-mail that information to
Sherry.Cunningham@lipscomb.edu or visit
alumni.lipscomb.edu.
parents, C. Myron Keith (’55), Lois (McGill ’53)
Keith, and James and Dorothy Baxter.
James William (Billy) Boyd (’52) died June 5,
Elgin, Ill. Survivors include his wife, Geraldine,
son, Kenneth Boyd, daughters, Linda Neff and
Barb Westbrook. Several grandchildren and one
great-grandchild survive him also.
Leonard K. Bradley Sr. (‘36) died July 20,
Lebanon, Tenn. Survivors include his children,
Lt. Gen. John A. Bradley, Bill Bradley, Leonard K.
Bradley, Jr. Tom Bradley, and Mary (Bradley ’77)
Ogren.

The Alumni Office has been notified of the
death of Dr. William Russell Brown (’56, DLHS
’51) on Aug. 14, Florence, Ala.
Isabel Buterbaugh died July 10, Indiana,
Penn. She is the mother of Betsy (Buterbaugh
’75, MA ’01) Piper. Betsy teaches eighth grade
English at David Lipscomb Middle School.
Joseph Lamar Casey died June 4, Snellville,
Ga. His daughter, Robin (Casey M.Ed. ’98)
Rosch, teaches Spanish at David Lipscomb
Campus School and is an adjunct faculty member
for Lipscomb University.
Charles E. Cobb Jr. (’38) died July 8,
Bridgeport, Ala. Survivors include his wife,
Charlene, and five children.
Jack Cochrane (x ’53) died Aug. 21,
Nashville. Survivors include his wife, Nancy
(Cohoon, x ’54, DLHS ’50), son, Michael
Cochrane (’78, DLHS ’75), daughter, Linda
(Cochrane ’88, DLHS ’85) Bates, grandchildren,
Chad, Lora, and Kyle Cochrane, and Kaitlyn and
Nicholas Bates. A brother, Tom Tanner survives
him also.
The Alumni Office has been notified of the
death of James C. Crabtree (’43) on March 25,
Aiken, S.C.
James Michael Compton (x ’81) died Aug.23,
Madison, Tenn. Survivors include his son, James
Ashley Compton, parents, J.R. and Sarah
Compton, and sister, Linda Compton.
Lori Ellen Crownover (DLHS x ’77) died July
11. Survivors include her father, Leonard L.
Crownover, and sisters, Rena Harding, Lana
Ward, and Cheroyl Lehnig.
Louise (Pullias ’45) DeJarnatt died May 27,
Fayetteville, Tenn. Survivors include her husband,
Robert, and sons Dr. Dan DeJarnatt (’79),
and Dr. Alan DeJarnatt. Sisters, Gene (Pullias
’43) Totty, Shirley (Pullias x ’55) Headrick, a
brother, John Clyde Pullias, and several grandchildren
also survive .
Helen (Henry ’53) Dobson died June 22,
Long Beach, Calif. Survivors include her husband,
Dr. Paul V. Dobson (’52), daughters,
Paula Renee and Beth.
James “Jimmy” Dorris (’57) died Aug. 11.
Survivors include his wife, Christine, daughters,
Judy Perkins and Suzan Walling; sons, Charles
Dorris, Michael Dorris (’80), and Jim David
Dorris (’85) and several grandchildren.
Marjorie Evans died May 11. She is the mother
of Glen Evans (DLHS ’57) who teaches in the
Raymond B. Jones School of Engineering here at
Lipscomb University. Several grandchildren also
survive.
Lu Thomas Flatt died May 10. She is survived
by husband, Leamon Flatt (’64), daughters,
Cynthia Phiffer, Phyllis Cooper, and Jennifer
Hilsher. Her brother James Thomas and several
grandchildren survive her also.
Elbert Guy Gastineau died May 16. Survivors
include his wife, Mary Frances (Shepherd ’42),
sons Kenneth Gastineau, Jerry Gastineau, stepson,
Rick King, daughters Mariana Lawson and
Judy Weger.
Leo Curtis “Curt” Greer, Jr. (’79) died June
20, Goodlettsville, Tenn. Survivors include his
wife, Kristi, sons, Josh and Zach Greer. His parents,
Leo and Evelyn Greer, a sister, Cynthia
Greer (’76, DLHS ‘72), and brother, Billy Greer
(’82), also survive.
Mary Griffin died June 2, Nashville. She is
the wife of Walter Griffin (x ’50, DLHS ’46).
The Alumni Office has been notified of the
death of Lawrence O. Grimes (x ’39), Aiken, S.C.
The Alumni Office has been notified of the
death of Edna (McKnight ’30) Gupton,
Woodburn, Ky.
Will Frank Halcomb (x ’41) died May 1,
Russellville, Ky. Survivors include his wife,
Hazel Mims Halcomb, son, Don Halcomb, sisters,
Ann Levinson, Nancy Church and Betty
Rouse. Several grandchildren also survive.
The Alumni Office has been notified of the
death of Donald Wayne Hamrick (’54, DLHS
’51), Pace, Fla. He is survived by his wife, Sue
Hamrick, and son, Scott Hamrick, and a sister,
Kathryn (Hamrick ’41, DLHS ’39) Bumgardner.
Jean (Groce DLHS ’48) Hart died June 16,
Nashville.
The Alumni Office has been notified of the
death of Ethel (Overstreet ’30) Hatchett on May
3, Columbia, Tenn.
Scott Heath (’88) died May 29, Goodlettsville,
Tenn. Survivors include his wife, Alicia, son,
Collin, and daughter, Cassie Heath, his parents,
Jack and Cheryl Heath, and grandparents, Walter
and Irene Heath, and Tina Roaden. He is also survived
by brother, Kevin Heath, and sister, Celeste
(Heath DLHS ‘90) Clifton.
Martha Neil Houston (’43) Gaer died May
25, Atlantic, Iowa.
Frances (Horn x ’44, DLHS ’42) Jackson died
May 25, Nashville. Survivors include her husband,
Charles Powell Jackson Jr. (x ’40, DLHS
’38), children, Linda (Jackson ’69, DLHS ’65)
Rainey, Charles Powell Jackson III (’72, DLHS
’68), and David Ernest Jackson (DLHS ’74).
Several grandchildren and a great-grandchild
also survive.
David Lavender died March 7, Smyrna, Tenn.
Survived by wife, Mary Jane (Hostetler x ’71)
Lavender, sons, Dr. Earl Lavender (’77), Tim
Lavender (’71), Tom Lavender (’83), and
daughters, Jan (Lavender) Shoemaker, Nancy,
and Jane (Lavender ‘70) O’Neal. (Dr. Earl
Lavender is professor of Bible at Lipscomb
University.) Fourteen grandchildren survive
him, nine of whom attended Lipscomb, and six
great grandchildren. David was preceded in
death by his first wife, Edith (Reed) Lavender.
(This is a correction to the summer edition “In
Memoriam” section of The Torch Magazine. We
apologize for this error.)
James Walter Lenoir (’59, DLHS ’53) died
June 1, Huntsville, Ala. Survivors include his
wife, Jane (Lowrey ’60), children, Cathy (Lenoir
’84) Poyner, Billy Lenoir (’88), Carol (Lenoir
’87) Hunt, Bobby Lenoir (x ’90), Brian Lenoir
(’92), Brandon Lenoir (x ’93), Audrey Lenoir (x
’91), and Carolyn Lenoir. Also survived by sisters,
Martha (Lenoir x ’53, DLHS ’49) Hogue
and Lucy Lenoir (x ’55, DLHS ’51), and a brother
Eddie Lenoir (’71). Several grandchildren
also survive.
Donna Matheny died June 3. She is the mother
of Dr. Mike Matheny who teaches Bible here
at Lipscomb University.
Thomas Benson McKinnon died June 13.
Survivors include his wife, Jane (Mabry DLHS
’62) McKinnon, sons, Mel, Mike, and Mark
McKinnon, daughter, Elizabeth McKinnon, and
several grandchildren. He is also survived by a
brother, Don.
Crystal Nicole Murphy (’02) died May 20 as a
result of a car accident. She is survived by parents,
ALUMNI NEWS
Dr. and Mrs. Mark Murphy, brothers, Mark II, and
Daniel Murphy. Her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs.
Eddie Garth Sr. also survive.
Marynelle (Hartman ’61) Ortiz died May 19,
2003, Phoenix, Ariz.
Dr. Edward Lucien Palmer (x’48) died July 8.
Survivors include his wife, Ida (Coates x ’48)
Palmer, son, Edward Lucien Palmer, Jr. (x ’69),
and a daughter, Patsy (Palmer x ’72) Pleasant,
several grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
His brother, Jeff Palmer (’50), survives him also.
Mabel Patterson (’38) died Aug. 8, Linden,
Tenn.
Joyce Ann Rankhorn died June 15. Survivors
include her husband, Cecil Wayne Rankhorn
(’70), daughter, Christie (Rankhorn ’95) West,
son, Jeff Rankhorn (x ’98). Several grandchildren
also survive.
Mary Alice (Merritt ’40) Drummond
Richards died May 27, South Charleston, W.Va.
Peter Robinson (x ’82) died July 15,
Nashville. Suvivors include his mother, Rosaria
Robinson (’81), daughter, Megan Robinson,
brothers, Dan Robinson (’77), David, Barry,
and Nick Robinson, and a sister, Gina
(Robinson ’92, DLHS 85) Hayes.
Alton Ray Simmons (x’75) died July 15,
McMinnville, Tenn.
The Alumni Office has been notified of the
death of Michael Glenn Smith (’74) on July 13,
Hendersonville, Tenn.
Richard Hartman Smith died May 12. He is
survived by wife, Ruth (Brown) Smith, daughters,
Sherri (Smith ’76) Hoskins, Gayle (Smith
’79) Lawson, Cindy (Smith ’81) Charlton, and
Donna (Smith ’85) Carnahan. Two granddaughters
survive him also.
The Alumni office has been notified of the
death of Dr. George Dillard Spivey (’55), on
July 25, Cookeville, Tenn. Survived by wife,
Rosemary, children, Cameron, Cathy (Spivey)
Haynes, and Christy (Spivey) Seibel, and nine
grandchildren.
Marvin Paul Vining (’49) died May 9. He is
survived by daughters, Kay Arnette, Beth Baker,
Kim (Vining ’85) Thetford, and Jill (Vining
x’86) Morris, and their mother, Mavis Vining.
Several grandchildren also survive.
Elizabeth (Showalter ’31) Walker died May
22. Survivors include her children, Raymond
Clinton Walker, Jr. (’57), Eleanor (Walker x ’62)
Hurst, Timothy Walker (’65), and Alice (Walker
x ’57) Boyd. Several grandchildren and greatgrandchildren
also survive.
Sherry (Young) Walling died Aug. 7,
LaVergne, Tenn. Survivors include her husband,
Gary Walling (’89), children, Kaylea, and
Cassidy Walling and Brittney Dodd, parents,
Wayne and Donna Young, sister, Kara Wheeler,
brothers, Chris and Kerry Young, and grandmother,
Vada Young.
Tammy Wright (’89) died July 30, Nashville.
Survivors include her parents, Jimmy and Joyce
Wright, and sister, Mindy Raines.
In Memoriam includes notices regarding the deaths of
alumni, their spouses and children, and Lipscomb
employees, their spouses or former employees. To submit
your news, write to In Memoriam, Advancement
Office, Lipscomb University, 3901 Granny White Pike,
Nashville, TN 37204-3951 or e-mail sherry.cunningham@lipscomb.edu.
Be sure to include a phone number
for verification purposes.
FALL 2004 | 29

The Final Word
BY GARY HOLLAWAY AND EARL LAVENDER
“Spirituality is not the latest
fad, but the oldest truth.”
— EUGENE PETERSON
Spirituality is “in.” At the largest
general interest bookstore here
in Nashville, the section formerly
labeled “Religion,” now
sports a sign saying, “Spirituality.”
There are countless videos, tapes, and
workshops on spirituality. Even Oprah
speaks of spirituality.
So is Lipscomb simply jumping on
the spirituality bandwagon? What
makes spirituality “Christian?” Is
there a general category “spirituality”
with “Christian” as a specific type?
Some may want a general spirituality
that improves life, leading to self-actualization
and self-awareness. For
them, something like Transcendental
Meditation will do.
Christian spirituality, however, is
uniquely centered in a relationship
with God-Father, Son, and Spirit-and
relationships with others through
God. We can even define spirituality as
“the mysterious process of God at
work in us.” As mystery, we cannot
fully explain this process. God cannot
be fully explained, but he can be genuinely
experienced. And so we ask,
who is this God at work in us? What
kind of person is he?
An Active God Who Pursues Us in
Love
In the Bible, God reveals his true
character (that's why we sometimes
refer to Scripture as “special revelation”).
God pulls back the thick curtain
of our misconceptions to walk
boldly on the stage of history and
make himself known. From Genesis
to Revelation, the picture of God is
consistent. He is a God who loves his
creation forever. He created all things
out of love. He lovingly molded
humans from the ground, breathed
life into them, and made them in his
image (Genesis 1:27; 2:7).
But we humans soon rejected the
love of God, preferring our own
desires to his, wanting to be our own
gods (Genesis 3:1-7). But God does
not reject us. He continues to pursue
humanity in love. From creation,
people have hungered for God,
because he hungers for us. God alone
can satisfy our deepest longings, but
we try to satisfy them in countless
ways. We pursue pleasure, success,
security, wealth, romance, and
numerous other ways to fill the deep
longing within. We worship other
gods.
God clearly condemns idolatry,
but does not condemn that craving
for something to make us whole.
Indeed, when Paul goes to Athens, the
30 | THE TORCH
city that epitomized the “spirituality”
of his day, he finds it full of idols.
Asked to speak about his God in front
of a group of philosophers, Paul does
not condemn their hunger for gods,
but praises it. Having found an altar
inscribed “To An Unknown God,” he
says, “Now what you worship as
something unknown I am going to
proclaim to you” (Acts 17:23).
The God Paul proclaims is the loving
God who made heaven and earth.
He created humans so he could have
relationship with them. “God did this
so that men would seek him and perhaps
reach out for him and find him,
though he is not far from each one of
us” (Acts 17:27). Paul then quotes not
the Bible, but pagan poets who say,
“'For in him we live and move and
have our being.' As some of your own
poets have said, 'We are his offspring'”
(Acts 17:28).
So what's wrong with pagan spirituality?
It's not simply that these
idolaters are wrong about God. What
is devastating is that their erroneous
view of God kept them from fully
embracing his love. Although they
do not know it, these idol worshippers
are beloved children of God.
Our God is not distant, angry, or
powerless. He is a God who is near to
us, near to all. He wants us to come
close to him in love. He became one
of us in Jesus to captivate us with
gentle, endearing words, and self-sacrificing
acts. At our births, he placed
within each of us a hunger for happiness,
wholeness, and meaning. A
hunger for him. God loves and wants
us for his own.
Participating in the Kingdom of Love
In a world full of competing “spiritualities,”
it is important to clarify
what makes Christian spirituality
unique. Christian spirituality is a
lived relationship with the God
revealed in the Bible. He is a God
with a story, a history with humanity.
He made us, pursued us, and even
died for us. He wants to be our God
and for us to be his people. He wants
to rule our lives in love, for our own
good. Falling in love with the
Almighty Ruler of the Universe
means we participate in the very life
of God. In him, our lives take on a
cosmic significance. The Bible tells
the story of our relationship with the
God who reigns over everything,
often describing this cluster of spiritual
relationships as “the good news
of the kingdom of God.”
Good news here is more than the
death of Jesus on the cross so we
might have life after death. It is the
good news that through Jesus we have
the opportunity to live in God's kingdom
now. The purpose of Jesus was to
give us the gift of living as God originally
intended, not to forgive us of
sins and “save us” to continue to live
in self-centered rebellion. Even
Christian spirituality can be twisted
into a technique for personal happiness
instead of the long path of obedience
to the purposes of God.
The purpose of spiritual growth is
to know God's will in a deeper and
more compelling way so that we
might more fully realize the life for
which he created us. Spirituality will
enhance the self, but only in relationship
with God.
We live out the will of God in relationship
with him and with others.
This life in community is what God
means by “church.” The church is
not an institution but a living,
breathing relationship. As church,
we become spiritual friends with one
another and with God. Since God is
Trinity, he has never been alone. To
share in God's life means we too are
never alone. Christian spirituality is
both personal and communal.
God's Invitation to Love
Why begin an article on spirituality
with an extended discussion of
God's love? Didn't we already know
all this? Perhaps. But many
Christians may use spiritual disciplines
and practices as techniques to
make themselves better, holier, and
more spiritual. They forget that God
gives these practices so we may seek
him. It is God we want, not religion,
spirituality, meaning, or even happiness.
But to truly desire to “seek the
face of God” (Psalm 24:6), we must
be assured that he is seeking us. God
wants us more than we want him.
The eternal, almighty Father, Son,
and Spirit deeply desires a relationship
with me.
Christian spirituality is falling in
love with the God we see in Christ.
That mysterious process of God lovingly
at work in us is not a trick, a
shortcut, or a technique. It is a way of
life. Spirituality is living our faith. It
is believing from the heart, the very
center of our being, believing that we
are loved by God. It is living in that
place of deep trust and acceptance.
God wants all that we are. There is
no corner of our hearts and lives he
does not desire. But he desires them
because it is truly good for us.
Ultimately, he does not want to fix
us, reform us, or save us (in the narrow
religious sense of “save”).
Instead, he wants to receive us, accept
us, and love us. ■
Gary Hollaway is the Ijams
professor of Bible.
Earl Lavender is professor of
Bible.
Gary Holloway and Earl Lavender
teach spiritual formation at
Lipscomb. This article is adapted
from their book, “Living God's
Love: An Invitation to Christian
Spirituality” (Leafwood Press,
2004).

november
November 18-28
Faculty Tour: “In the Steps of Paul” The Best of
Greece and Rome. Led by Dr. Michael Moss,
professor of Bible and associate dean, College of
Bible and Ministry
615.279.6051 • 800.333.4358, x. 6051
mike.moss@lipscomb.edu
december
December 2
University Jazz Band and Vocal Ensemble concert
6:30 p.m. • Shamblin Theatre
615.279.5929 • 800.333.4358, x. 5929
marilyn.smith@lipscomb.edu
December 2
University String Ensemble concert
8 p.m. • Ward Lecture Auditorium
615.279.5929 • 800.333.4358, x. 5929
marilyn.smith@lipscomb.edu
calendar
December 6
A Cappella Singers, University Singers and
Concert Band holiday concert
7:30 p.m. • Collins Alumni Auditorium
615.279.5929 • 800.333.4358, x. 5929
marilyn.smith@lipscomb.edu
December 7
“A Mediterranean Christmas” featuring the Early
Music Consort. 8 p.m. • Christ Church Cathedral,
900 Broadway, Nashville
615.279.5929 • 800.333.4358, x. 5929
marilyn.smith@lipscomb.edu
For a complete schedule or more details on
these and other coming events on campus visit
www.lipscomb.edu
Lipscomb University
Distinctively Christian. Premier Academics.
january
January 21
Battle of the Boulevard @ Belmont
615.269.1795 • 800.333.4358, x. 1795
sherie.eubanks@lipscomb.edu
february
February 4-5
Homecoming
615.386.7635 • 800.333.4358, x. 7635
alumni@lipscomb.edu
February 8
Artist Series featuring the Orlando Consort and
the Lipscomb University A Cappella Singers
8 p.m. • Shamblin Theatre
Tickets: Free with Lipscomb ID, $10-adults,
$5-children
615.279.5929 • 800.333.4358, x. 5929
marilyn.smith@lipscomb.edu
February 21
University Concert Band concert
8 p.m. • Collins Alumni Auditorium
615.279.5929 • 800.333.4358, x. 5929
marilyn.smith@lipscomb.edu
February 22
University Jazz Band and Vocal Ensemble concert
6:30 p.m. • Shamblin Theatre
615.279.5929 • 800.333.4358, x. 5929
marilyn.smith@lipscomb.edu
February 22
Battle of the Boulevard
7 p.m. • Allen Arena
615.269.1795 • 800.333.4358, x. 1795
sherie.eubanks@lipscomb.edu
www.lipscomb.edu • Lighting the Way • 877.LUBISON
Fall is a magnificent time on the Lipscomb campus.
march
March 10-12
Singarama 2005
615.279.7004• 800.333.4358, x. 7004
sarahkeith.gamble@lipscomb.edu
on-going
Bison Athletics Events
For a complete listing of Bison Athletics
sporting events and schedules visit
lipscombsports.com.
upcoming
Summer Celebration 2005
July 6-9, 2005 • “Until He Comes”
This annual lectureship features a variety of
classes, keynote speakers, worship opportunities,
special dinners and much more. There is
something for everyone!
DLCS is a college
preparatory school,
grades PreK-12, that has
been shaping lives and
opening doors to the
future since 1891.
NNooww aacccceeppttiinngg aapppplliiccaattiioonnss
ffoorr 22000044--0055..
For Information call 615.279.6409 or DLCS@lipscomb.edu

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
August 5, 2004
Homecoming 2005
February 4-5, 2005
3901 GRANNY W HITE P IKE
N ASHVILLE, TN 37204-3951
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
IGNITE! rolled into the Café La Cave in Chicago Aug. 5.
The evening was hosted by board of trustees member
William Thomas and his wife, Deidre. Clockwise from
top: Matthew and Debbie (Schmittou ’88) Allgood
and their five-week-old son, David Lawrence Allgood;
Daniel Dennison (’96) and his wife, Susan, and Dr. Jim
L.Thomas (’69), vice president of enrollment and marketing;
President Steve Flatt talks with Charles (’81)
and Susan Underwood; Carol (hunt ’76) Leaver visits
with Roger (’74) and Joyce Poe of Kalamazoo, Mich.;
From left to right,Deidre Thomas,Joanne Coggin (’73)
and board of trustees members Gerald Coggin (’73)
and William Thomas.
Activities are planned for alumni of all ages. Some of this year’s highlights include: A
Diamond Rio concert • Class of 1995 and 1980 reunion dinners • Alumni dinner theater
• a 5-K fun run • a reunion brunch for all alumni • social club reunions • inflatable games
for the kids • basketball games • an A Cappella Singers performance • a Baby Bison
reunion and much, much more! Visit alumni.lipscomb.edu for more details!
IGNITE!
Coming soon
to a city near
you!
• Atlanta, GA
• Birmingham, AL
• Blairsville, GA
• Bowling Green/Franklin, KY
• Centerville/Dickson, TN
• Chattanooga, TN
• Cincinnati, OH
• Clarksville, TN/
Hopkinsville, KY
• Columbia, TN
• Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX
• Dothan/Troy, AL
• Florence, AL
• Florida (East Coast):
Daytona/Orlando/
Jacksonville
• Florida (Panhandle):
Destin/Panama
City/Pensacola
• Florida (West Coast):
Ft. Myers/Tampa/Sarasota
• Houston, TX
• Huntsville, AL
• Lexington/Louisville, KY
• Murfreesboro/Lebanon, TN
• Richmond, VA
• Tullahoma/Manchester, TN
For details on how you
can participate, e-mail
IGNITE@lipscomb.edu.
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Nashville, TN
Permit No. 921