...the Future of McMurry - McMurry University

...the Future of McMurry 

T H E A lu m n i M ag a z i n e o f 

M c M u r r y U n i v e r s i t y

From the 

President 

T H E A lu m n i M ag a z i n e o f 

M c M u r r y U n i v e r s i t y 

F A L L 2 0 0 7 

Dear McMurry Alumni and Friends: 

As you receive this issue of the Chieftain, McMurry’s 

Class of 2011 is on campus and is becoming fully 

engaged into the McMurry Family. It’s always an exciting 

time when the energy level of 

our lives steps up…a new school 

year, with the presence of new 

and returning students, provides 

that energy pulse. One can only 

imagine with excitement how the 

coming year will unfold. 

Gerri and I are now into our 

sixth year at McMurry. Neither 

of us could have imagined how 

the McMurry Experience would 

impact us. But it has! From the 

moment we arrived, the McMurry 

campus, the McMurry mission… 

and the McMurry Family have 

conspired to make our first five 

years most fulfilling. But more 

importantly, the McMurry Family 

has inspired us to make the next 

five years the best years of our lives. 

And here’s why! We are excited by the opportunity 

McMurry has to shape the future of our students. And 

through them, we can only imagine how McMurry 

University will shape the future of our region…and the 

future of our nation. As you walk across campus, or visit 

with the students in this Chieftain, you’ll quickly come 

to share the enthusiasm with which Gerri and I look 

forward to the future. The leadership provided by the 

deans and faculty of our six schools sets a grand stage 

for the intellectual preparation for that future. And like 

their predecessors, McMurry’s deans and faculty serve 

as living templates for the social, physical and spiritual 

maturation that is so important a part of the McMurry 

Experience—that’s inspirational! 

And here’s another reason why we’re excited about 

the future! The witness of alumni 

who are “products” of the McMurry 

Experience cannot be denied. They 

know the impact of a nurturing higher 

education experience. In them you see 

that leadership, excellence and virtue 

were cultivated by a caring and engaged 

campus community. Through them we 

are all better equipped to imagine the 

possibilities that lie before McMurry 

students of today…and tomorrow. How 

could we not share the excitement of 

these alumni featured in this Chieftain? 

And we imagine a bright 

future because of our friends. We are 

inspired by friends who share our 

passion for McMurry and its students. 

Friends, whose sense of service 

and commitment to the McMurry 

mission, energize us. They clearly see the role McMurry 

University will play in shaping the future…and want to 

take part in enabling that future. They inspire us with 

their conviction! 

Enjoy this Chieftain. And take the time to get to 

know some of the folks, members of the McMurry 

Family, who inspire Gerri and me. I am confident they’ll 

inspire you like they inspire us…they’re shaping the 

future! 

With Warm Regards, 

John H. Russell, President 

4 

8 

22 

Published by the 

McMurry University Office 

of University Relations 

Box 938 McM Station 

Abilene, Texas 79697 

©2007 

Contributors 

Jan Boles 

Steve Crisman 

Greeley Myers ‘93 

Steve Crisman 

Gary Ellison 

Kyle Robarts 

Gary Ellison 

Sheila Kitts 

Dr. 

‘01 

John H. Russell 

Dale Evers ‘82 

Melissa Lindville 

James Shelton 

Dr. Paul Fabrizio 

Greeley 

Bishop 

Myers 

Dan 

‘93 

E. Solomon ‘58 

Amber Gilbert 

Kyle Robarts 

Nancy Smith ‘79 

Dr. Perry Kay Haley-Brown 

Dr. John H. Russell 

Erin Stevens ‘06 

Sheila Kitts ‘01 

Erin Stevens 

Dr. 

‘06 

Christina Wilson 

Dr. K.O. Long 

Dr. 

‘70 

Christina Wilson 

Dr. Gary Wilson 

Cover Photo by Amber Allen 

Featured Stories 

the currency of the kingdom 

Bishop Dan E. Solomon, Bishop-in-Residence, explores McMurry’s 

relationship with the United Methodist church. 

The deans of McMurry’s six academic schools discuss their perspectives 

on McMurry’s future in relation to their respective disciplines. Also, meet 

stand-out students in each school and their plans for the future. 

Capital Campaign Leadership Spotlights 

Meet four of the many men and women who will lead McMurry into 

its Capital Campaign. 

Letter from the President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 

Athletics 

Letter from 

Update 

the President 

. . . . . . . . 

. . . . . . . . . 

Inside 

. . . . . . 

Cover 

. . . 30 

Development 

Athletics Update 

Corner 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

32 

32 

Friends 

Friends & 

Family 

Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

33 

34 

Homecoming 

Class Notes . . . 

2007 

. . . . . 

Photos 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

34 

38 

Class 

Friends 

Notes 

We’ll 

. 

Miss 

. . . . . 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 

44 

McMurry PRESIDENT and and OFFICERS OFFICERS 

Dr. John H. Russell 

PRESIDENT 

Dr. Beverly Lenoir 

VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS 

Dave Voskuil 

VICE PRESIDENT FOR ENROLLMENT 

MANAGEMENT 

Lisa Williams 

VICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCIAL AFFAIRS 

Steve Crisman 

VICE PRESIdenT FOR INSTITUTIONAL 

ADVANCEMENT 

Brad Poorman 

VICE PRESIDENT FOR INFORMATION & 

Support SERVICES

“Whatever you imagine 

Can one day come to be……” 

In a higher education institution, you expect to find a laboratory for the 

mind…. A place where the possibilities are only limited by the creative ideas 

of visionary leaders, the energy and courage to explore the unknown and 

the belief and trust in the people who can make dreams come true. 

“There are dreams to awaken, 

Roads to be taken….” 

McMurry University is constantly evolving into such a place where the 

emphasis is on developing the potential, dreaming and planning for the 

future. In this issue of the Chieftain, we ask you to Imagine with us, to share 

in our vision. The world is open to our students, and their preparation for a 

world without boundaries should likewise be unfettered by limitations. 

“There are worlds filled with treasure, 

Time without measure, 

To learn whatever you may need to know.” 

As we journey toward our centennial celebration in 2023, McMurry 

is poised and prepared to move out of the realm of idea incubation 

into dream realization. This issue of the Chieftain is dedicated to the 

birth of a grand dream and a future reality of a McMurry University 

unsurpassed in academic excellence, and dedicated to graduating 

generations of enlightened and humane leaders for tomorrow. As 

alumni and friends, we invite you to join us as we imagine McMurry’s 

role in making dreams come true. 

“There are miracles waiting, 

So keep concentrating 

And I promise you that if you do…. 

Whatever you imagine can come true….* 

*“Whatever You Imagine”, 

words and music written 

by Wendy Moten 

 


thecurrency 

kingdom 

of the 

bishop dan e. solomon 

bishop-in-residence 

If United Methodists were to 

mint a coin it would have 

“knowledge” on one side and 

“vital piety” on the other. 

These words were given to 

us by Charles Wesley in a hymn he 

wrote for the opening of Kingswood 

School—the first education effort of 

the early Methodist movement in 

18th Century England. 

“ O u r h e r i ta g e r e f l e c t s a pa s s i o n f o r i n f o r m e d m i n d s a n d f a i t h - f o r m e d h e a rt s . ” 


the currency of the kingdom 

Our heritage reflects a passion for informed 

minds and faith-formed hearts. Such “currency of the 

kingdom” represents an important investment that 

equips persons to help the world become a place of 

healing and hope. 

Moving toward its centennial in 2023, McMurry 

is even now in the right place and the right time to 

leave the imprint of “knowledge and vital piety” upon a 

generation of students who are yearning for deepened 

spirituality in companionship with academic excellence. 

Taking its mission seriously has led McMurry to launch 

the “Shaping the Future” campaign. As a result of 

the successful completion of this visionary endeavor, 

scholarships will be funded for discipleship training, 

mission outreach endeavors, interdisciplinary learning 

opportunities and expanded religious life experiences. 

Whether it is direct scholarship assistance 

or the building of facilities in which learning will 

be enhanced, McMurry students are worthy of the 

generous investment of financial resources by all who 

cherish moral values and academic excellence. When 

individuals and foundations participate in the “Shaping 

the Future” campaign, they can be confident that their 

funds are helping to shape a generation of students 

whose intellectual achievement is combined with service, 

leadership and character. 

Valuing its relationship with The United 

Methodist Church, McMurry is partnering with 

congregations and Annual Conferences in creating 

settings for academic inquiry and ministry training 

for clergy and laity. In addition, students who enroll 

at McMurry are discovering that a journey of spiritual 

maturity can be embraced in classroom, chapel, 

community life and servant ministry. 

Learning happens by absorption 

and acquisition. Persons learn and 

mature because of the context in 

which they live and also because of 

the content they study. What makes 

McMurry special is the way 

in which “context” and 

“content” are present in 

such lively and formative fashion. 

McMurry students come from their communities 

of origin into a community that is inclusive and 

affirming. From first year student orientation through a 

myriad of campus organizations and activities, students 

experience a family of caring and encouragement that 

pushes them toward academic excellence and shepherds 

them in leadership development and servant ministry. 

“Knowledge and vital piety” are not only 

imprints on the coin of our heritage—each one reflects 

the substance of a life anchored in the kind of “essential 

currency” needed to be morally, spiritually and 

intellectually solvent in these fractured times. 

“These are the times that try men’s (and women’s) 

souls” is an apt description of this era, as well as the 

one in which it was written. Whether or not McMurry 

students can live in these “trying times” with clarity of 

purpose, sensitivity to the needs of others and a grasp of 

the intellectual insights needed to function effectively, 

depends, in great measure, upon McMurry faculty, 

staff and students being united in the cultivation of 

“leadership, excellence and virtue in every student every 

day.” There is an abundance of evidence that McMurry is 

succeeding in shaping students to shape a future worthy 

to be lived. 

United Methodism and McMurry are in a 

providential partnership. Loving God with mind and 

heart and loving neighbor in ways that bless and build 

up require all the insights and competencies that can 

be claimed and nurtured by church and campus. From 

the church, McMurry is enriched by a strong Christian 

heritage, a clear appreciation and affirmation of the role 

of Christian higher education and a moral compass 

focused on the life and teachings of Jesus. 

Conversely, from and through McMurry, 

the church is blessed to have faculty, 

staff and students who can inform and 

shape its life and mission. The academic 

integrity that articulates the truths of 

faith, literature, science, the arts and 

business constructively serves the church 

in its mission of making disciples for the 

“ B o t h 

c h u r c h a n d 

c a m p u s a r e 

l i n k e d i n a 

m u t u a l i t y 

o f m i n i s t r y 

w i t h o u t 

w h i c h 

e a c h 

w o u l d be 

d i m i n i s h e d 

i n v i ta l i t y 

a n d 

r e l e va n c e . ” 

transformation of the world. Faculty, staff and students 

care deeply about contributing to a healthy and hopeful 

world. Such a mission requires all the “knowledge and 

vital piety” that we can embrace. 

Both church and campus are linked in a 

mutuality of ministry without which each would be 

diminished in vitality and relevance. Being enriched 

by each other creates a dynamic setting in which 

students are positively equipped to live productively and 

faithfully. Consequently, McMurry is uniquely poised 

to shape students who can, and will, shape an exciting 

future. • 

 

M c M u r r y U n i v e r s i t y 


S c h O O L 

O F 

Arts ANd 

LEttErs 

M C M U R R Y U N I V E R S I T Y 

Dr. Christina Wilson 

Dean, School of Arts and Letters 

How do you view your role in strengthening McMurry University’s academic 

programs as we approach our Centennial in 2023? 

I believe my role as Dean of the School of Arts and Letters will be 

to help achieve, through expert direction from the Arts and Letters 

faculty, a significant place for the School at McMurry’s centennial. More 

specifically, it is my desire that the Arts and Letters disciplines will help 

define what, and who, McMurry will become during the next 16 years. 

The School of Arts and Letters should take its place as a leader in campus 

interdisciplinary approaches and liberal learning models. 

Most importantly, the School of Arts and Letters can serve as an 

interdisciplinary learning role model for the other five schools. Arts and 

Letters disciplines, by their nature, lend themselves to more than just 

educating well-informed people. These disciplines are a unique aggregate 

of components of the psychological, the intellectual, the physical, the 

o u r a c a d e m i c f u t u r e 

Born in St. Cloud, Minnesota and raised in Slaton, Texas, by his single 

mother, Brian Hecimovich has always had dreams of becoming a high 

school band director. Brian participates in the McMurry Band and 

will be the Drum Major for the fall semester. He is also a member of 

the McMurry Chanters and is the Bass Section Leader. After being 

hired at Aldersgate United Methodist Church as the choir director, 

Brian made a commitment to help church members dedicate their 

talents to glorifying God. As the full-time music director at Aldersgate 

UMC, Brian conducts the chancel choir, handbell choir, children’s 

choir and the Aldersgate Brass Ensemble. He leads congregational 

singing, directs the choir on Sunday mornings and holds rehearsals 

throughout the week. And, in addition to his school work and choir 

practices, Brian teaches music lessons to local high school students. 

Brian hopes to stay involved with church music after college. 

“Church choirs today are dwindling, and my hope is to instill 

excitement for choral music in any church where I may work or 

attend. Music is such an important part of one’s worship. It’s a 

universal language that brings people around the world together,” 

Brian said. 

emotional and the imaginative capacities. They are truly 

distinctive from other disciplines and naturally lend 

themselves to interdisciplinary learning approaches, 

collaborative efforts and liberal learning concepts. 

For example, art, music and theatre have important 

connections to literature, math, science and modern 

languages. The School of Arts and Letters is a rich place 

to make many interdisciplinary connections. 

We must build on strong programs already in 

place at McMurry, and endeavor to find ways to help 

shape the future of not only Arts and Letters, but the 

future of the institution of which we are a part. We must 

go beyond simply making a place, to truly defining what 

that place will be in 2023. 

According to A.N. Whitehead, “Culture is 

activity of thought, and receptiveness to beauty and 

humane feeling. Scraps of information have nothing 

to do with it. A merely well-informed man is a useless 

bore on God’s earth. What we should aim at producing 

is men (and women) who possess both culture and 

expert knowledge in some special direction. Their expert 

t h e f u t u r e o f o u r s t u d e n t s 

knowledge will give them the ground to start from, and 

their culture will lead them as deep as philosophy and 

as high as art” (The Aims of Education and Other Essays, 

1923). 

How will the new restructuring of the academic area into 

six schools change the way McMurry educates its students? 

Ultimately, McMurry’s current and future resources are 

its students. Departmental and institutional reputation, 

success and financial viability all rest on whether or not 

students succeed at McMurry and in their choice of 

careers. All McMurry students need to be well-equipped 

to succeed (and be excellent) not only in their discipline, 

but in possible careers outside of their discipline. 

Responsive academic programs that incorporate 

interdisciplinary learning approaches and liberal learning 

concepts help ensure the success of McMurry students. 

I believe McMurry’s new academic structure will allow 

the University to build on currently strong academic 

programs and to foster new, innovative ones focused on 

interdisciplinary approaches and student success. • 

When asked how McMurry is preparing him to reach his dreams, Brian credited 

the resourcefulness of the McMurry music faculty. “Most of the faculty are involved in their 

own church’s music ministry,” he stated, “so they can provide ‘real world’ examples to their 

classroom.” Though Brian’s curriculum is geared toward music education in public schools, 

he can apply what he is learning to all facets of teaching music, regardless of the venue or 

situation. “The McMurry music faculty has many years of teaching experience and can 

address any situation that future teachers and music leaders may find themselves 

in. They often provide real life examples and are always available for further oneon-one 

discussion,” Brian said. • 

C l a s s o f 2 0 0 8 

S l a t o n , Te x a s 

M u s i c E d u c a t i o n M a j o r 

M c M u r r y U n i v e r s i t y M c M u r r y U n i v e r s i t y

Dr. K.O. Long 

Dean, School of Business 



While it is not an exhaustive list, I believe that my role in strengthening 

academic programs in the School of Business by 2023 should include the 

following, in no particular order: 

• Increase the level of participation among alumni of the Business 

School. Certainly, the sharing of financial resources is important, but the 

contribution by alumni of their time, their expertise and their contacts, 

is a valuable addition to the business program. Business alumni have a 

wealth of experiences they could share with current and potential students 

by speaking to classes, participating in teleconferences, or serving on the 

School of Business Advisory Board; 

• Encourage creative approaches to “hands-on” experiences for business 

students. Those experiences could include additional internship 


opportunities, as well as employing other innovative 

approaches. These types of invaluable opportunities enable 

students to see the connection between their classroom 

studies and the “real world” of business; 

• Assist more students to study abroad. Because of the 

cost of the trip, many students are unable to participate in 

travel courses. It is an extraordinary opportunity for our 

students to travel to one of the world’s business capitals 

and to meet with representatives of major companies in 

a small group setting to discuss issues of international 

management and marketing. Enabling students to 

participate in such activities will better prepare them for 

the competition of current and future global markets; 

• Insure that our business program is challenging, 

relevant and evolving, in order to prepare our students 

for employment and for graduate or professional schools. 

This will require periodic review and evaluation of 

core business courses and business concentrations to 

determine their relevance and rigor; 

• Advocate for the business program. This could involve 

such things as assisting in efforts to attract and to retain 


quality students, providing assistance to business faculty 

and cultivating relationships for the School of Business. 

How will the new restructuring of the academic area into six 

schools change the way McMurry educates its students? 

Although much of the impact of restructuring into 

six schools will be administrative in nature, the 

reorganization will increase the opportunities for 

student contact with deans, and it should result in better 

communication between the deans and their students. 

Under this format, deans will also have teaching 

responsibilities, which will allow the deans to maintain 

classroom contact with students. Even students who 

do not have classes taught by “their” dean, will see the 

dean more frequently. This increased familiarity should 

encourage students to communicate with the dean of their 

school, if they deem it necessary. 

Increasing the number of deans should create 

additional opportunities for professional development, 

which can result in new and creative approaches to 

student learning. These ideas will be shared by the deans 

as they work collaboratively to benefit their students. • 

S c h O O L 

O F 

BUsINEss 


M C 

C l a s s o f 2 0 0 8 

A b i l e n e , Te x a s 

B u s i n e s s M a j o r 

Emily 

MITCHELL 

Originally from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Emily Mitchell and her 

family moved to Abilene in 2004. Emily’s husband, Justin, 

is a specialist in the United States Army and is currently 

serving a tour of duty in Iraq, with hopes of returning 

home before Christmas. In addition to Emily’s school 

work, she is kept busy with her three small children, 

Kristin, 5, Matthew, 2, and Autumn, 9 months. 

Emily began her McMurry tenure in the fall 

of 2004 as a nursing major, but after taking her first 

accounting class, she was convinced that this was the 

career she wanted to pursue. After graduation, she plans 

to sit for the CPA exam. According to Emily, “I look 

forward to having a better way to provide for my family 

and to be able to do things with them that I wouldn’t 

otherwise be able to do. It’s taken me a little longer than 

most to attain my bachelor’s degree, but I feel like I’m 

following God’s plan for my life and He will reward me 

accordingly.” 

Emily believes that she is very lucky to have 

received such a high quality education from some of the 

best instructors and professors on any college campus. 

“I walked onto campus that first day of class in August 

2004, not knowing anyone or anything about the school,” 

stated Emily, “but I felt welcome, and I sensed that the 

professors were there to help me and that they genuinely 

cared about my success.” According to one of Emily’s 

professors, Clara Richardson, “Emily is the kind of 

student who makes teaching a joy. Regardless of what life 

dishes out, whether it’s a sick baby or a problem at work, 

she has a smile on her face and her class work done.” 

Before Emily moved to Abilene, she attended the 

University of Arizona in Tucson. “I felt lost in the crowd 

there; I’ve never felt that way at McMurry, and for that I 

am grateful.” • 

10 M c M u r r y U n i v e r s i t y M c M u r r y U n i v e r s i t y 11

Dr. Perry Kay Haley-Brown 

Dean, School of Education 



The School of Education will constantly work to meet new laws, 

rules and standards from the State of Texas as they apply to teacher 

certification. The Dean and Assistant Dean constantly update the 

department on trends and issues in education. We also receive guidance 

from our School of Education Advisory Board and the McMurry 

Education Advisory Council. Our goal is to prepare excellent classroom 

teachers whose students excel in public and private school classrooms. 

We expect to constantly restructure our programs and goals to meet 

public and private school expectations. In doing so, we can continue to 

be one of the best Schools of Education in the state of Texas and maintain 

that reputation to the year 2023, our centennial year, and beyond. 



The restructuring of McMurry University into six schools 

will improve communication and collaboration. The 

State Board of Educator Certification and the Texas 

Education Agency often make changes in teacher 

certification rules and teaching fields that require a quick 

response from the University. The restructuring will 

enhance those processes, and our students will benefit 

from our ability to move quickly to update programs. • 



S c h O O L 

O F 

EdUCAtION 


Maghen Martinez was born and raised in Abilene. Currently 

pursuing a degree in Multidisciplinary Studies with an emphasis 

in Early Childhood and Bilingual Education, Maghen is looking 

forward to her final year at McMurry and student teaching in the 

spring. She is a member of ATPE (Association of Texas Public 

Educators), where she serves as the parliamentarian. In addition, 

she serves as historian for Kappa Delta Pi, the Education Honor 

Society. 

Because of the critical need for bilingual teachers, Maghen 

sees a promising future with her degree. “I am excited about 

stepping out into the education field,” she said. After graduation, 

Maghen plans to teach here in the Abilene area, preferably 

in a lower socio-economic school. She expresses a desire and 

commitment to use her talents wherever God places her. 

Maghen chose to come to McMurry because her sister 

is an alumnus and because she was drawn to the atmosphere on 

campus. “It seemed like a campus that was more about its students 

than about the glitz and glamour,” she observed. 

She applauded the McMurry Education Department’s 

efforts to help students accomplish their dreams of 

working with children. “They teach students how to 

look past the lifestyle that children bring to school 

and focus on helping them overcome and learn,” 

Maghen said. “I feel that McMurry excels at preparing 

its teachers to enter the classroom. We are exposed to 

many situations that can occur and are taught how to 

be prepared.” Maghen enjoys the small classroom sizes 

and compliments the faculty on their willingness to 

prepare future teachers for classroom success. She said, 

“We are taught the meaning of cooperative learning, 

which I believe is the foundation of 

teaching. You have to learn how to 

cooperate with others.” Through 

her influence on her students, 

it is evident that she will do her 

part to shape the future for a new 

generation of McMurry students. • 

C l a s s o f 2 0 0 8 

A b i l e n e , Te x a s 

E d u c a t i o n M a j o r 


Dr. Gary Wilson 

Dean, School of Natural and Computational Sciences 



At a meeting I attended several years ago it was stated that our 

sophistication in technology doubles every 15 to 18 months. Even if this is 

a horribly overstated statistic, we can expect that many of the jobs in 2023 

will involve knowledge and technology not yet dreamed of. How do we 

prepare our students to be competitive when the target has not yet been 

drawn? 

We will strengthen our future science programs by embracing 

several truths. First, the laws of nature are immutable. We cannot go 

wrong if our School of Natural and Computational Sciences (SNCS) 

programs provide a solid understanding of the basic laws of science. 

Solid training in math and the fundamentals of a science discipline is the 

essential foundation upon which tomorrow’s successful scientists will 

be built. Second, we have to recognize that science is becoming more 

interdisciplinary in nature. It has been said that all of the interesting 


science takes place at the intersection of disciplines, 

where the perspectives from chemistry and physics and 

computer science, for example, all contribute to “the 

next breakthrough.” We will have to insure that our 

science programs continue to support one another and 

aggressively pursue fields where faculty from different 

SNCS departments share a vision and work together 

in their research and training of students. Finally, we 

have to remember that how science and technology 

are applied will be a moving target. Today’s USB jump 

drive will go the way of yesterday’s 5¼-inch floppy, and 

today’s DNA fingerprinting similarly will be replaced by 

a cheaper, easier, faster and more powerful alternative. 

This inevitability requires us to remain involved in 

research and teach our students “what is to be” through 

their involvement in our research. Science spectators will 

never be as marketable or prepared for applying their 

foundational skills and knowledge as those who have “game 

experience.” 

If we succeed in transforming our culture to 

embrace these truths, McMurry’s science graduates of 2023 

will have a very bright future. 


How will the new restructuring of the academic area into six 

schools change the way McMurry educates its students? 

The new structure for the schools differs most in having a 

dean and assistant dean overseeing operations instead of 

a dean and department chairs. We will capitalize on this 

change by spreading the responsibilities among all science 

faculty so each contributes to the success of the department 

and school. 

The programs of SNCS are heavily influenced by 

Project Kaleidoscope (PKAL) and its emphasis on doing 

“what works.” Restructuring allows us to more intentionally 

implement that model throughout our curricula, and 

in doing so, to improve the success of our students and 

retention in their majors. More emphasis on students 

“doing science” will be central to our success. Such work 

is rarely done without collaboration outside a department, 

and so our students will see that each science discipline 

does not exist in a vacuum. We can retain more students 

by having departments provide options to pursue science 

and math from either a basic or an applied perspective. I 

believe our innovative approach to teacher preparation will 

result in outstanding teachers with unmatched levels of 

understanding, breadth and experience. • 

S c h O O L 

O F 

NAtUrAL 

ANd 

COMPUtAtIONAL 

sCIENCEs 

01010101000010101001011 

01010101010101011010100 

10101010101010101011111 

01010101100100110101011 

1001101001 


Born in Guanajuato, Mexico, and raised in Merkel, Texas, 

Salvador Prieto is the middle of three children and 

the first in his immediate family to attend college. 

Entering his junior year at McMurry, Salvador is very 

involved on McMurry’s campus, having served in 

numerous organizations, including junior class senator 

in McMurry Student Government, secretary for the Tri- 

Beta Biological Honor Society, a Tribe Guide, a member 

of the Chemistry Club and a Teacher’s Assistant for the 

Chemistry Department. 

Salvador envisions a bright future for himself 

after his graduation from McMurry. He hopes to enroll 

in medical school and work towards his M.D. According 

to Salvador, “I know it will be tough, and I will have to 

work to overcome my limitations; but in the long run, it 

will be such an accomplishment.” 

Salvador believes that McMurry challenges and 

simultaneously rewards him each and every day. He has 

gained independence and built a substantial number of personal relationships 

with his fellow students and professors. “The knowledge and success I have 

acquired are the result of the core values which are instilled here at McMurry,” 

stated Salvador. “McMurry has given me wisdom, compassion and the 

capacity to use them in life.” • 

C l a s s o f 2 0 0 9 

M e r k e l , Te x a s 

B i o l o g y M a j o r 


Dr. Jan Noles 

Dean, Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing 



The administration of Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing through 

McMurry University will facilitate academic excellence through three 

avenues: First, we will continue to maintain active communication 

processes with faculty involved in teaching foundational courses for the 

study of nursing. Because a strong foundation is vital, nursing faculty 

continually reinforce to incoming students the need to “hang on” to the 

information presented in those courses. We will continue to focus on 

any additional concepts that could be included in those foundational 

courses which will strengthen student success in nursing studies, as well 

as support those faculty members in maintaining the academic rigor of 

those courses. Second, the administration will support nursing faculty 

involvement in various academic committees to allow for increased 


knowledge of the mission, purposes and outcomes of 

baccalaureate education at McMurry University. Third, 

the administration will continue to improve and update 

the nursing curriculum to insure the preparation of safe 

and competent McMurry nursing professionals to enter 

the workforce, to make a positive difference in the lives 

of patients and their families, and ultimately, to promote 

health and wellness throughout the world. 



Partly because of its geographical separation from 

the universities in Abilene, the School of Nursing 

has historically been somewhat autonomous in its 


operational structure. Therefore, the nursing school 

will likely experience less of a change in its educational 

policies and practices than some of the other schools 

within McMurry University. The School of Nursing will 

remain an integral part of the overall academic plan for 

students in the University and, hopefully, will become 

a more active player in some of the new courses that 

will emerge as a portion of the new academic core. 

The School of Nursing will make a commitment to 

remain aware of academic changes as they emerge and 

encourage active participation by students and faculty 

within the new academic structure. • 

The daughter of McMurry alumnus, Jason Fry ’81, Sarah Fry graduated 

from high school in Kingsville, Texas. Her parents now live in Victoria, 

Texas where her father currently serves as the pastor of the First United 

Methodist Church. Sarah followed in her dad’s footsteps by attending 

McMurry and, in the spring of 2007, Sarah and her dad both received 

their Official McMurry Class Ring together. During her McMurry 

career, Sarah has been very involved in organizations 

such as Campus Activities Board, Gamma Sigma Social 

Club, Religious Life Council, Tribe Guide, the Honors 

Program, Chanters and Alpha Chi. After starting 

nursing school in the fall of 2006, she has been serving 

in the Student Nurses Association and the nursing 

honors society, Sigma Theta Tau. 

Sarah will graduate from McMurry in May 

2008, and plans to take the nursing licensure board 

exam to become a Registered Nurse. In the near future, 

she will make a decision 

regarding the hospital 

C l a s s o f 2 0 0 8 

Vi c t o r i a , Te x a s 

N u r s i n g M a j o r 

where she will work. A successful summer internship 

as a patient care technician in the newborn nursery at 

Hendrick Medical Center has led Sarah to consider a 

specialization in pediatric nursing after graduation. 

Crediting her McMurry experience with 

shaping her as a person, Sarah said, “McMurry awarded 

me the funding through an honors scholarship that 

made it possible for me to come here. The University has 

also given me a wonderful community of friends and 

has helped me transition from being a teenager out of 

high school into a prepared adult, ready to pursue my 

career. My professors were an asset to my education, and 

I know that all the friends I have made at McMurry will 

be friends for years to come.” • 


Dr. Paul Fabrizio 

Dean, School of Social Sciences and Religion 



The development of the “life of the mind” is the ultimate objective of the 

academic programs here at McMurry. Through rigorous and creative 

faculty teaching, research and advising, students can develop their Godgiven 

talent of thinking. As Dean of the School of Social Sciences and 

Religion, my role is to encourage the faculty in their endeavors and to 

help strengthen the climate of thinking here on campus. Students who 

can think will become leaders in their families, churches, careers and 

communities. The cultivation of excellent thinkers who can practice 

virtuous leadership is what McMurry’s academic program is all about. 



The new restructuring of the academic area into six 

schools allows for greater freedom for the faculty to do 

what they do best—teach, study, research, publish and 

advise. I hope the easing of the administrative burden 

on the faculty will give them more freedom to be 

faculty. The students at McMurry will benefit from their 

interaction with faculty who are more focused on the 

academic mission of the University. • 

S c h O O L 

O F 

sOCIAL 

sCIENCEs 

rELIGION 


ANd 


Sarah Sonnen’s passion for missions has truly made a huge impact on 

the McMurry community. As Missions Ministry Team Coordinator 

for the Religious Life Council, Sarah helps plan and design mission 

trips for the McMurry community on the local, national and 

international level. Through hard work and persistence, Sarah 

planned McMurry’s first school-sponsored mission trip to the 

Navajo Reservation in Shiprock, New Mexico during the 2006-2007 

school year. In addition, Sarah organized a two-week mission trip 

last summer in Curico, Chile. Crediting God with helping her to 

accomplish such a task, Sarah stated, “As a novice, I had no prior 

experience in planning any type of mission opportunities; however, 

through much prayer, support and patience, God showed me the 

power of humility. I no longer planned trips according to my will, 

but God’s will.” 

Sarah credits the McMurry community with having a 

tremendous impact on preparing her to reach her dreams in 

three areas: preparing her for her career, providing her ministry 

opportunities and developing her self-confidence. Sarah 

knew before coming to McMurry that she wanted to be a 

history major. “The history professors here make my classes 

challenging and exciting,” commented Sarah. “They love history 


and it shows; as a result I admire the passion they put into their work.” She is planning on 

graduating from McMurry and attending graduate school to become a history professor. 

When Sarah was presented with the offer of becoming Missions Ministry Team 

Coordinator for Religious Life, she felt overwhelmed, but honored. “The process was 

challenging, both spiritually and mentally,” she confessed. “However, I experienced a 

deeper passion for those who will be served and for those who did not know how much 

they could do for someone else.” She feels that McMurry has given her confidence, 

not only in her school work and social 

life, but also in planning her future. In 

addition to being a college professor, 

she has aspirations of becoming a 

motivational speaker, 

reaching out to those who 

have a passion for missions. 

“I have bigger dreams for 

C l a s s o f 2 0 0 8 

S a n A n t o n i o, Te x a s 

H i s t o r y M a j o r 

myself,” Sarah admits. “McMurry 

has had a hand in molding me 

into what I have become.” • 


DEVELOPMENT 

CORNER 

McMurry University is moving forward in its planning and execution of a comprehensive capital campaign. Campaign planning 

began in the spring of 2006 with a feasibility study to determine goals and action steps needed to accomplish a successful 

campaign. Trustees approved the conducting of a $53 million dollar campaign last October (2006). Strategies quickly were 

finalized and volunteer leadership (Campaign Cabinet) of McMurry alumni, friends, faculty and staff was recruited. 

Bynum 

MIERS ‘59 

c a m p a i g n c o - c h a i r s 

You will be hearing more about 

our co-chairs’ stories in the 

spring issue of the Chieftain and 

other mailings. 

Dian 

STAI 

The campaign’s overall goal is shaping student lives 

with a “McMurry Experience” that challenges them 

daily to achieve and develop character, leadership and 

academic success. The result will be students prepared 

and empowered to shape the future. The Campaign 

addresses four areas: 

CAMPAIGN UPDATES 

• enhancing academic achievement by creating 

endowed merit and need-based scholarships and 

creating endowed scholarships that support mission 

and interdisciplinary trips; 

• creating an ideal living and learning environment 

through the expansion of church relations and 

construction of a Leadership Center; the expansion 

of the Student Wellness Center and improvement 

of athletic facilities; and the renovation of Radford 

Auditorium and Bynum Band Hall; 

• developing a faculty for the 21st century by creating 

six endowed chairs and a faculty development 

endowment; and 

• building on strength in science and math through 

the expansion of programs in a newly renovated 

Science building. 

To achieve success, the campaign will need to attract 

new resources to fulfill its vision to shape students’ lives 

while remaining true to its mission and core values. 

This campaign is the largest initiative the University 

has ever embraced and will require alumni, students, 

parents, faculty, staff, friends and trustees to invest in the 

future. Ultimately, this campaign will refine McMurry’s 

uniqueness so that it will continue to remain the college 

of choice for students who want to be challenged to 

achieve and become the leaders of the 21st century. 

This issue features just a few of the alumni committed to this campaign. 

Leadership of the campaign consists of alumni, friends, faculty and staff who are passionate and committed 

to McMurry and the campaign’s success. Monthly Cabinet meetings are being held and, in addition, many 

more hours have been contributed to planning strategies, donor development and solicitation. A public 

announcement of the Cabinet members will be made during Homecoming 2007 in October. We believe that 

this leadership group will be an inspiration to everyone currently connected with McMurry and will serve as 

a catalyst for new McMurry friends to join us! 

The campaign has already achieved several of its project goals, including improved athletic facilities 

to support football, track and tennis; a new Welcome Center (housing Alumni Offices); and a renovated 

Bynum Band Hall. These projects were accomplished with generous individual and foundation gifts totaling 

over $17 million to date. Donor development activities will continue throughout the remainder of 2007 

and into the spring of 2008. The campaign will launch its general appeal strategy in March of 2008 and will 

successfully conclude in March of 2009. 

M c M u r r y U n i v e r s i t y 21

ALUMNI 

LEADERSHIP 

SPOTLIGHT 

Giving Back to a University That Gives 

Donna 

Dougherty ’79 

It is no surprise that Donna Dougherty ’79 is serving 

on the Cabinet of the upcoming Capital Campaign. 

As a McMurry student, she experienced the caring 

nature of the faculty at McMurry. 

“My McMurry experience was different than a 

traditional student’s might have been. I got married my 

freshman year in college and worked until Chester (`69) 

graduated.” When Donna returned to McMurry, her 

life was quite different from that of a traditional student. 

“When I went back to school, Chester was a coach at 

Cooper High School, so I was involved in attending 

sporting events, and I had two small children. Juggling 

my family responsibilities and going to McMurry full 

time were about all I could manage.” 

Despite the challenges, Donna recalls that she 

was encouraged by the caring nature of the faculty 

and staff at McMurry. “They were always willing 

to work with me and go the extra mile.” This was 

best exemplified when shortly before graduating in 

December of 1978, Donna was offered a full-time 

teaching opportunity at a local school. “My professors 

worked with me so I could take the job, and still finish 

all my coursework to graduate.” 

Now as the owner of a State Farm Insurance 

Agency in Abilene, Donna gives back to her alma mater. 

She has served as a member of the Board of Trustees 

since 2005 and is happy to take a leadership role in 

this campaign. “McMurry is competing with other 

colleges and universities for students. In order to recruit 

good students to McMurry, I feel it is vital that we 

have the facilities to compete with other universities.” 

In addition to the emphasis on improving facilities, 

Donna supports the goals of the campaign to increase 

the number of endowed scholarships. “I am pleased 

that our Capital Campaign includes both endowed 

merit scholarships, as well as endowed need-based 

scholarships.” 

Almost thirty years after her graduation, Donna 

still believes in that same spirit of giving and service she 

experienced as a student. “We have some of the very 

best faculty here and when students come to McMurry 

and get involved, I believe they will catch the McMurry 

spirit. First we have to get them here, and I believe the 

Capital Campaign will address that challenge.” • 


ALUMNI 

LEADERSHIP 

SPOTLIGHT 

A Message to Past and Current 

McMurry Generations 

Dr. Ralph Turner ’74 is proud to serve on the 

Cabinet of the upcoming Capital Campaign. 

Dr. Turner’s attitude of giving and service to 

McMurry has been shaped by his family’s strong ties 

to the university and by their example. “The concept of 

giving was instilled in my brother and me by my parents 

and grandparents,” says Turner. That example influenced 

one of the first financial decisions that he and his wife 

Karen (ex ’72) made, and that was to tithe. “God has 

blessed us in many ways,” Dr. Turner said. One way 

that Dr. Turner’s family has shared with McMurry is 

through the Turner Family Professorship in Religion and 

Philosophy. An additional focus of the family has been to 

endow memorial scholarships on behalf of both sets of 

grandparents. In addition, the Turner family is working 

on a scholarship in memory of Dr. Turner’s father, Rev. 

Frank L. Turner, Jr. ’43. 

When asked why he chose to serve on the 

McMurry Campaign Cabinet in the midst of a busy 

career, Dr. Turner responded, “This campaign will 

provide an opportunity for the McMurry family, friends 

and alumni from past decades to come back and see 

something that rekindles their spirit and love for 

‘dear old McMurry’.” In looking toward the future, he 

applauds this campaign’s commitment to science and 

mathematics, in building on the historic strength of 

our university and providing a facility for 21st century 

scientists. In addition, he believes the Campaign’s 

emphasis on Christian discipleship will make McMurry 

unique among United Methodist institutions in the 

country. 

Dr. Turner would like to encourage older 

members of the McMurry family to “come home.” “You 

will find something on the campus that will remind 

you of what you remember about McMurry—excelling 

through hard work, dreaming, determination and 

accomplishing what you can ‘imagine’!” Dr. Turner also 

has a message for younger members of the McMurry 

family, stating that “the McMurry family has a wonderful 

opportunity during our lifetime to build the great 

university that we want McMurry to be…through what 

we can ‘imagine’!” Dr. Turner believes that this is a 

great time in the life of the university, and growth and 

rejuvenation are evident. “There is a wonderful spirit on 

campus,” continues Dr. Turner. “I want to tell all alumni 

that this campaign is comprehensive and addresses all 

of the areas of the campus.” Dr. Turner cites the recent 

success of the Band Hall campaign and the renovation 

of athletic facilities in attracting new contributors who 

have not played a major philanthropic role in the past. 

He also commends the new Furr Welcome Center as a 

gift that “heralds a lifetime of Christian stewardship and 

dedication of talents in educating West Texans.” 

Dr. Turner is honored to have this opportunity 

to serve on the Campaign Cabinet. “I am humbled to 

accept the opportunity to serve ‘our dear McMurry.’” • 

Cabinet Member/ 

Alumni Feature 

Ralph 

TURNER ’74 

24 M c M u r r y U n i v e r s i t y

ALUMNI 

LEADERSHIP 

SPOTLIGHT 

Sara 

HernaNdez 

graham ’63 

Giving is a Way of Life for Sara Graham 

Growing up in the Rio Grande Methodist Conference 

as a preacher’s kid with three brothers and two sisters, 

Sara Graham’s mother and father instilled in their 

children the idea of giving back for a good cause. Sara’s 

mother believed in making life better for others and 

taught her children the same. Sara has a long history of 

involvement with the United Methodist Church. Her 

mother was the great, great granddaughter of Policarpo 

Rodriguez, one of the earliest Mexican Methodist 

preachers in Texas. Sara’s family moved to El Paso, 

where she attended two years at the University of Texas 

at El Paso. Then, as a junior, Sara came to McMurry. She 

stated, “My father felt that it was a safe place for me to be 

since I didn’t have any brothers living at home anymore 

to chaperone me. McMurry was a natural fit, and once I 

got here and became involved, I became more insistent 

about giving back to the University.” 

Sara was involved in Wah Wahtaysee Service 

Organization and T.I.P. Women’s Social Club. Since Sara 

graduated, she has served McMurry in many capacities. 

She served on the Alumni Association Board of 

Directors and is currently serving the Board of Trustees 

where she is in her ninth and final year. In addition, she 

agreed to serve on the Capital Campaign Cabinet. Sara 

works for her husband’s company, Graham McAlister 

Co., where she serves as a trustee. 

Sara has fond memories of her college 

experience at McMurry. Her ability to make McMurry 

her college home was made possible with the help of 

the work study program and a scholarship from the Rio 

Grande Methodist Conference. Sara recalls that when 

she was in high school, it was uncommon for Hispanic 

girls to go to college; however, since her mother had 

a degree, she encouraged all of her children to receive 

a higher education degree. Between Sara and her 

five brothers and sisters, they have earned 11 postsecondary 

degrees. To honor her parents’ influence, Sara 

established the Reverend Richard and Sarah Herrera 

Hernandez Scholarship, to be awarded to a Hispanic 

female from the Rio Grande Conference. Sara has 

also passed the same philanthropic commitment on 

to her own children. Sara’s son, Eugene Hudman ’92, 

established the Dr. Victor E. Hudman Scholarship for 

the Science Department in honor of his father. 

When asked why she is serving on this 

campaign, Sara said, “I have lived in Abilene for 30 

years now and I have seen all the wonderful changes at 

McMurry; but there is still a need for more, and I want 

to be a part of that.” • 

26 M c M u r r y U n i v e r s i t y 


ALUMNI 

LEADERSHIP 

SPOTLIGHT 

It’s Time…to Imagine the Possibilities 

“It is time!” These three words described the 

enthusiasm of Mark Miller ’78, when asked why 

the upcoming Capital Campaign is so important to 

McMurry University. To understand Mark’s passion and 

energy for McMurry, we must go back to his McMurry 

experience. 

Mark’s emphasis on the importance of giving 

and service was shaped by several influences while he 

was at McMurry. Mark admits that, as a college student, 

his attitude of service was somewhat lacking. He credits 

his roommate, Charles “Chuck” Bell ’78, for helping to 

transform that attitude. “Chuck’s father was a Methodist 

missionary in Brazil, so he taught me a lot about being 

humble and concerned for others.” He believes that his 

entire McMurry experience shaped his attitude about 

service and giving. The faculty had a profound impact 

on him, including two of his coaches, Spud Aldridge 

and Tommy Estes. Mark also remembers a certain 

professor who went out of his way to build relationships 

with his students: “Homer Laxon was my Statistics 

Professor, and he loved to fish. As a way of reaching out 

to students, he invited us to go fishing with him.” 

Now, almost thirty years after leaving 

McMurry, Mark exemplifies the alumnus who gives 

back to his alma mater. After graduation, Mark 

established his residence and career in Lovington, New 

Mexico, but he always wanted to return to Abilene. “I 

always told myself I would love to get back to Abilene, 

where I could be close to McMurry and be involved.” 

Mark is now an Investment Representative for Edward 

Jones here in Abilene, and his office is located just down 

the street from the University he loves. Since his return 

in 1991, he has remained true to his promise and has 

been involved with, and has supported, McMurry in 

many different ways. He has served on the McMurry 

University Board of Trustees since 2003, and has now 

accepted a position on the Campaign Cabinet. He 

eagerly accepted these positions in order to “influence 

people to get involved with McMurry’s cause.” 

Regarding the upcoming Campaign, Mark 

believes the timing is perfect, and he stresses its 

importance: “In planning for the next twenty-five 

years, we need resources to make the right decisions to 

catapult McMurry forward.” Mark also believes that the 

results of the Campaign are important in order to retain 

and recruit students. He explains, “If we are competing 

for solid students, we need to have top facilities, strong 

endowed academic programs and a top flight science 

building.” The Campaign’s importance and urgency has 

spurred Mark Miller to action, and he encourages all 

alumni to do the same. “It is time!” • 

Mark 

MILLER ’78 

28 M c M u r r y U n i v e r s i t y

“A school ring is a visible symbol of the commitment to undertake and complete a 

monumental task—recognized by all with whom the graduate comes in contact. In 

another sense, the school ring is a constant reminder to its wearer of the knowledge, 

skills and relationships cemented during the university experience. ” 

- Dr. John H. Russell, McMurry President 

The Official Ring 

of McMurry University. 

The official ring is reserved exclusively for alumni and enrolled students in good standing who have achieved at least 75 credit hours. 

For ordering information, visit the Alumni & Friends section at www.mcm.edu 

or call 1.866.BALFOUR (1.866.225.3687). 

McMurry 

Golf 

Classic 

Benefiting the McMurry University Men’s and Women’s Golf Programs 

Sponsored by the Indian Club 

Friday, October 5, 2007 

(Homecoming Weekend!) 

Diamondback Golf Club 

Abilene, Texas 

Please make check payable to McMurry University Golf Program 

Mail Entry to: Russ Evans, Jr., Box 188 McM Station, Abilene, TX 79697 

Deadlines: Entry and Hole Sponsorships - October 2, 2007 

Questions? Call Coach Russ Evans at 325.691.9607 

(REF CODE: 3040 (BK06248-16/TX2702) 

Time 

Cost 

Flights 

Prizes 

Format 

Lunch - 12:15 p.m. | Golf (Shotgun Start) - 1:30 p.m. 

$100 per person – team or individual entries welcome 

includes green fees, cart, beverages, lunch, tournament and entry prizes 

Open Flight 

Hole Sponsorships 

- Plaques for members of First and Second place teams 

- Closest to the pin on every Par 3 

- Set of irons on first hole-in-one on #3, #8, #11, and #14 

- Longest Drive on #9 

Four-person scramble open to men and women 

Entries limited to the first 100 players 

$500 - includes team (4) entries and your name or 

company name will be placed on a sign designating 

you as a hole sponsor 

$200 - includes one entry and your name or 

company name will be placed on a sign designating 

you as a hole sponsor 

(1) Name____________________________________ HDCP_ ___________ 

Address ______________________________________________________ 

(2) Name____________________________________ HDCP_ ___________ 

Address ______________________________________________________ 

(3) Name____________________________________ HDCP_ ___________ 

Address ______________________________________________________ 

(4) Name____________________________________ HDCP_ ___________ 

Address ______________________________________________________ 

Yes, I plan to play. Please find enclosed $100 per individual. $_______ 

Sorry, I am unable to play. Please find enclosed my donation. $_______ 

Hole Sponsorship ~ $200/$500. Please call in your information. $_______ 

Help us find McMurry’s Class of 2012! 

Know a high school junior or 

senior who might be interested 

in attending McMurry? 

Tell us about them! We will contact 

them to see if they would like to 

receive more information. 

Please fill out as much of this form as you can and 

mail to: McMurry Admission, Box 278, McMurry 

Station, Abilene, Texas 79697. 

Your Name_ ________________________________________________ 

Your Relation to McMurry: Alumni Current Student Friend 

Prospective Student’s Name_ ____________________________________ 

Address_ __________________________________________________ 

City, State, Zip______________________________________________ 

Phone (_______)______________Cell Phone (_______)_ _____________ 

Email address_______________________________________________ 

You may use my name when contacting this prospective student. 


is coming 

to a 

college fair 

near you! 

Would you be willing to 

be an ambassador 

for McMurry by being 

present at a college 

fair during any of the 

following weeks? 

If so, please call the 

Admission office at (325) 

793-4700 or richardson. 

amy@mcm.edu. 

Sept. 10-14 - Dallas 

Sept. 17-21 - Dallas 

Sept. 24-28 - Costal Bend 

Sept. 24-28 - Panhandle 

Oct. 1-5 - Central Texas 

Oct. 1-5 - West Texas 

Oct. 8-12 - San Antonio 

Oct. 22-26 - Houston 

Oct. 29-Nov. 2 - Houston 

Nov. 5-9 - Ft. Worth 

Nov. 5-9 - El Paso 

Please do not use my name when M ccontacting M u r rthis y Uprospective n i v e r student. s i t y 31 

Fall07

ATHLETICS 

For the full athletics update, please visit us on the web at 

www.mcm.edu/athletics/. 

UPDATE 

For the full athletics update, please visit us on the web at 

www.mcm.edu/athletics/. 

Danielle Kelton 

ATHLETICS 

UPDATE 

The Spring in Review 

Track The McMurry track team sent 13 athletes to 

the national outdoor meet in May and came home with 

several All-America honors, and reached a milestone 

when the men’s 4X100-meter relay team became the first 

male relay team in school history to win a national title. 

Baseball The McMurry baseball team shrugged off 

a slow 8-6 start to the season by winning 21 of its final 

32 games. The team reached the American Southwest 

Conference Championship game, but fell to Texas 

Lutheran, who won its third-straight ASC title. 

Tennis The McMurry tennis teams had one of the most 

successful seasons in the school’s history. The women’s 

squad made the first American Southwest Conference 

Tournament appearance in school history for either the 

men or the women. The team, under head coach Mark 

Hathorn, responded by winning its first round match 

over LeTourneau before falling to nationally-ranked 

Hardin-Simmons. 

Men’s Golf For the second time since joining the 

American Southwest Conference, the McMurry men’s 

golf team was selected to participate in the NCAA 

Division III Golf Championships. After dominating the 

fall and spring with 

several tournament wins and a second place finish in the 

American Southwest Conference Championships, head 

coach Russ Evans and the team received an at-large bid. 

The team was in a tie for fifth place in the opening round 

of the national tournament, but the quick start didn’t last; 

however, the team did make the final cut and placed 16th. 

Women’s Golf The women’s team placed third at 

the ASC Tournament Championships and sophomore 

Barbara John was the runner-up in the individual race. 

Fall Previews 

Football Excitement is brewing for the upcoming 

2007 football season. After a 3-7 season, newly appointed 

head coach Donny Gray has overhauled the coaching 

staff and expects to make an impact this season on the 

American Southwest Conference. Gray, a long-time 

assistant, will be one of the youngest collegiate head 

football coaches in America at age 32. Gray spent six 

years as an assistant at McMurry before receiving the 

promotion after former head coach Joe Crousen stepped 

down following the 2006 season. 

Soccer McMurry Soccer will get a new look for both 

teams as the men and women 

will have new leadership. 

Steve Allan, who had the 

duties of coaching both the 

men and women in 2006, 

moved to Michigan for 

family reasons. 

Athletic 

Director Bill 

Libby hired 

Tim Grove 

2007 National Track 

Relay Champions: 

John Mikalik, Chris Kelley, 

Hanneus Ollison, 

Bert Green 

to lead the men’s team over the 

summer, and also hired Stan 

Levrets in June to head the 

women’s program. 

Volleyball Second year 

volleyball head coach Jason 

McAden had 

a solid 

recruiting 

off-season and 

hopes to bolster 

a squad that went 6-26 last season. 

The volleyball team will open with 

Home Field Advantage 

Perhaps when Donny Gray was hired as McMurry’s head 

football coach, some may have speculated that he was 

too young to be a head coach. What most don’t know is 

Gray began the journey to 

his first head coaching job 

much earlier than most. On 

September 13, 1974—just 

three days after he was born— 

he was at his first football 

game witnessing his father, 

Dwayne, coach at Amherst 

High School in his first year as 

a head coach. 

Though Gray may not 

have been aware enough to 

know what was going on at three days of age, it wouldn’t 

be long before he was immersed in the game of football 

and in the world of coaching. 

“In my elementary days, instead of going home after 

school, I would go to the practice field,” said Gray, whose 

father was a head football coach in Texas for 28 years 

beginning in 1974. “Growing up, whenever he would go 

a tournament in Greensboro, North Carolina, August 30 

- September 1. 

Cross Country McMurry’s cross country teams 

promise to have another strong showing in 2007. The 

women’s team will look to defend its first-ever American 

Southwest Conference title after winning it in 2006. The 

men’s team placed second at the ASC Championships; 

however, the team’s fifth place showing at the NCAA 

Regional Meet was even more impressive. The team 

will play host to two meets in 2007, including the 

Texas Division III Championships Sept. 22. McMurry 

introduced a new home course in 2006 at the Abilene 

State Park in Buffalo Gap. 

to playoff games or go to scout games, he would always 

take me with him. I was charting film and watching 

games from the time I can remember.” 

As the son of a head coach all his 

life, Gray learned from his father 

early on that there was more to 

coaching football than wins and 

losses. 

“He was the greatest influence 

in my life,” Donny said of his dad. 

“Growing up I got to see him 

influence players’ lives and alter 

the course of their lives for the 

better—not just on the field, but 

in life. There were a bunch of kids 

who might not have amounted to anything, but he helped 

them to be really good people in the world.” 

Gray said that his father showed him what it meant 

to work hard and what it meant to care about his 

players. Dwayne had a simple solution to the problem of 

balancing his job and his family: bring them together. 

continued on page 43... 


Join the other McMurry alumni on MySpace at 

www.myspace.com/mcmurryalumni/ 

FRIENDS 

& FAMILY 

FRIENDS 

& FAMILY 

Dear Alumni and Friends, 

Greetings from the Office of Alumni Relations. As 

we begin a new academic year and approach another 

Homecoming, McMurry University is truly on the 

move! In this issue of the Chieftain, you can see that 

McMurry continues to make 

tremendous progress, while daily 

impacting the lives of our students, 

faculty and alumni. 

Not only does this issue of the 

Chieftain highlight McMurry’s 

success, but our stories emphasize 

exciting possibilities as we Imagine 

the future of our students, academic 

programs and campus. As we 

embark on a comprehensive Capital 

Campaign that will address many 

areas of our campus, it is a time for 

all McMurry alumni and friends to 

join together in this endeavor. 

We are thankful for the examples 

of alumni highlighted in this issue 

who have answered the challenge 

to give of their time and treasure to 

this campaign. As we look at those 

examples, I challenge all of us to become more involved 

with our alma mater. You may wonder, “How can I do 

that in the midst of my busy schedule?” In past issues 

of the Chieftain, I have discussed many ways to become 

more involved. One example is to wear a McMurry 

shirt out in public or in large gatherings. You will be 

surprised how many people will ask about McMurry; 

in turn, this provides you the opportunity to tell them 

about your experience. You may find yourself running 

into a fellow McMurry alumnus or alumna in places 

where you never thought you would. 

Another fantastic way to get involved is to volunteer 

to help recruit prospective students to McMurry. 

This past spring, we began an initiative in which 

McMurry alumni wrote letters to 

prospective students encouraging 

them to choose McMurry. This 

letter-writing campaign produced 

great results! This fall, we will be 

asking alumni to help our Admissions 

staff at college fairs in areas like San 

Antonio, Dallas and Houston. In 

addition, our plan to establish alumni 

chapters is underway. I encourage 

you to volunteer to help with these 

programs. 

By being involved with your 

alma mater, I believe you will see the 

importance of our efforts in shaping 

the future of McMurry. With our 

growth and success, the time to 

become involved is now! Join us at 

Homecoming 2007…Please Pardon 

Our Progress. This is an appropriate 

theme as we not only celebrate cherished traditions of 

the past, but we also celebrate our growth and Imagine 

our future. I hope to see all of you there! 

Ala Cumba! 

Greeley Myers `93 

Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving 

Established in 2000 by the 

McMurry Alumni Association, this 

award is given to strengthen the 

relationship between McMurry 

University and the United 

Methodist Church by recognizing 

individuals for service to their 

churches and to the university. 

N O R T H W E S T T E X A S C O N F E R E N C E 

A W A R D R E C I P I E N T 

Dr. Darris Egger ’42 

(posthumously) 

Dr. Darris Egger was a strong 

advocate for McMurry 

University for more than 60 

years while serving as a pastor and 

District Superintendent in the United 

Methodist Church. Through his life, education and career, Dr. Egger 

dedicated himself to strengthening the relationship between the 

church and McMurry University. 

Darris Egger came to McMurry University in the fall of 

1938 after graduating from McAdoo (Texas) High School. While at 

McMurry, Dr. Egger served as President of the Ministerial Forum, 

the McMurry Volunteer Mission Band, President of the Methodist 

Youth Fellowship of the Northwest Texas Conference and was 

named the Northwest Texas delegate to the National Uniting 

Conference of Methodist Youth of the Methodist Episcopal Church 

and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. 

After graduating from McMurry College in 1942, Dr. 

Egger attended Southern Methodist University’s School of Theology 

and graduated in 1947 with a Master of Divinity. Dr. Egger was 

awarded the honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from McMurry 

in 1973. 

Dr. Egger served the Northwest Texas and North 

Texas Conferences of the United Methodist Church for more 

than 45 years, including service as a pastor and as Abilene 

District Superintendent for 11 years. While serving as District 

Superintendent, Dr. Egger occupied an office at McMurry where 

he counseled McMurry faculty, staff and students as well as student 

pastors. He also served as Conference Program Director and 

Conference Historian in Northwest Texas, and was the former 

Chair of the Northwest Texas Conference Archives and History 

Committee. He was a former Vice President of the Texas United 

Methodist Historical Society. 

Throughout his career, Dr. Egger supported McMurry 

by encouraging students to attend the University and was a strong 

advocate for McMurry Sundays at his churches. A scholarship 



FRIENDS 

& FAMILY 

FRIENDS 

& FAMILY 

award in his honor was established in 1980 for McMurry 

College through the Texas Methodist College Association. 

Dr. Egger authored many books including Prairie Parsons 

I, Prairie Parsons II, Butman Methodist Camp in Mulberry 

Canyon and A Church Named St. Paul. At the time of his 

death, Dr. Egger was working on a biography of McMurry’s 

founder titled The J. W. Hunt Story. 

Dr. Egger served as president of the West Texas 

Genealogical Society and was active in the Taylor County 

Historical Society. He served as a trustee at McMurry 

University for 14 years and Sears Methodist Center 

in Abilene for 11 years. He also served as a trustee for 

Methodist Home in Lubbock and Methodist Mission 

Home in San Antonio. He was also an active member 

of the McMurry University Retired Fellowship (MURF) 

organization. 

Dr. Egger married Helen Joy Davis of Okmulgee, 

Oklahoma, in 1942, and they raised two sons: Darris Jr. and 

Charles (deceased). 

N E W M E X I C O C O N F E R E N C E 

A W A R D R E C I P I E N T 

Bud Reynolds ’57 

Since the time Luther 

“Bud” Reynolds graduated 

from McMurry 50 

years ago, he has dedicated 

himself to a life of serving the 

United Methodist Church and 

McMurry University. 

A native of Ada, Oklahoma, Bud is a 1957 graduate 

of McMurry University with a Bachelor of Business 

Administration. While at McMurry, Bud was a member 

of Ko Sari men’s social club and a member of the Circle 

K service club. In addition, he was a member of the band 

and served as a Senator in McMurry Student Government. 

Following his time at McMurry, he attended the 

University of Texas where he received a Master of Business 

Administration degree in 1959. 

After graduating with his Masters degree, Bud has 

spent his entire professional career in the field of financial 

management. His career included holding positions as 

Executive Vice President and Vice Chairman of First 

National Bank in Albuquerque and President of American 

Federal Savings and Loan Association. Since 1990, he has 

served as President of Reynolds Financial and Management 

Service, Inc., which provides consulting services to clients 

in real estate, wholesale distribution, retail, environmental 

services, assisted living and construction industries. Bud has 

also served as a member of the Board of Directors of First 

National Bank of Albuquerque, Joe G. Maloof and Company, 

George S. Maloof and Company and Phillip Maloof and 

Company. 

Bud and his wife, Marilyn, are currently members 

of First United Methodist Church in Albuquerque. A 

life-long Methodist, Bud has kept his promise to support 

the churches to which he belonged with his prayers, his 

presence, his gifts and his service. Those churches include 

Means Memorial Methodist Church of Seminole, Texas, 

First Methodist Church of Pampa, Texas, First Methodist 

Church of Brownfield, Texas and Christ United Methodist 

of Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was also an associate 

member of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Abilene 

during his years at McMurry. In all of these churches, Bud 

has served on various ad hoc committees and performed 

the necessary process of auditing financial records when 

requested to do so. Rather than long-term commitments in 

various positions, Bud is that rare behind-the-scenes church 

member who can always be counted on when advice is 

needed in the areas where Bud’s considerable experience is 

unique. 

Bud’s dedication to McMurry has also been 

evident since he graduated. Since 2003, he has served on the 

McMurry University Board of Trustees. His participation 

as a McMurry trustee is performed with the same interest, 

excitement and dedication, which symbolize his involvement 

and expertise in every project he undertakes. In 2006, Bud 

and Marilyn were inducted into the Heritage Circle of the 

McMurry John Wesley Society for including McMurry in 

their estate plans. 

Bud and his wife, Marilyn, married in 1962, and 

they have one daughter, Kristine. She and her husband, Paul 

Bernard, live in San Ramon, California. 

A T L a r g e A W A R D R E C I P I E N T 

Dr. C. Girvin 

Harkins ’60 

In order to expand and 

strengthen the relationship 

between McMurry and 

the United Methodist Church, 

McMurry is pleased to announce 

the first at-large recipient of the Cross and Flame Award, Dr. 

C. Girvin Harkins of Boerne, Texas. 

Girvin is a life-long active member of the United 

Methodist Church, dedicating much of his time and talents 

in service to local churches wherever he has resided. He has 

also been an advocate for McMurry University, recognizing 

the value of a quality liberal arts education, undergirded by 

religious and spiritual values and principles. 

Girvin graduated from McMurry College with a 

double major in Physics and Chemistry in 1960. Following 

completion of his baccalaureate degrees, Girvin attended 

Johns Hopkins University where he completed the Doctor of 

Philosophy degree in Physical Chemistry. He continued in 

education as a postdoctoral fellow in Chemical Engineering at 

UC Berkeley, Stanford and Rice. He has remained committed 

to McMurry during the years since graduation, serving as 

president of local and regional alumni associations and 

participating in the Math and Science Advisory Board. He 

has also served on the McMurry University Board of Trustees 

since 2006. In 2001, he was named McMurry’s Distinguished 

Alumnus. 

Girvin has served in both leadership and lay 

capacities in the local United Methodist Churches where he 

has resided. He has taught Sunday school classes for college 

age, young adults and older adults. He participated in local 

church organizations, including membership in Commissions 

of Education, Finance and Evangelism/Outreach. He has 

served for more than five years as the Scoutmaster in the 

church-sponsored Boy Scout troop at St. Luke’s United 

Methodist Church in Houston. In this role, he has had the 

opportunity to share his experiences as a student and faculty 

member in colleges and universities. It has also allowed him 

to share with his colleagues, as well as the scouts, some of the 

benefits of attending McMurry University. Additionally, in his 

church in Boerne, Texas, he has served as a mentor and tutor 

for high school students in sciences and math. In all of these 

venues, he has been a role model and a McMurry advocate 

for students who are anticipating high school graduation and 

college selection. 

Girvin worked for Hewlett-Packard and Agilent 

Technologies in Palo Alto, California for 23 years. He remains 

active in church-related functions, including service as an 

alternate Sunday school teacher for large adult classes, the 

Methodist Men’s organization, the Cardiac Arrest Response 

Team (a volunteer group of church members trained to 

respond to emergency situations anywhere on the church 

grounds) and other organizations. He met his wife, Ann Stone 

Harkins ex ’62, while at McMurry. 

Girvin’s commitment to family, church and 

McMurry remains a guiding standard in his life, and he is 

continuing in service to both his church and McMurry. • 



From the Alumni Association 

As we embark on yet another year 

at McMurry, I want to take this 

opportunity to say how much I am 

looking forward to serving you 

as your Alumni Board President. 

Thirty years ago I, along with some 

of you in the class of 1977, entered 

McMurry as a freshman. We took part in the many 

opportunities that McMurry had to offer. From 

the awesome residence hall life, strict pledging, 

campus organizations and Christian Life Fellowship, 

McMurry gave me the opportunity to be an 

individual and the experience has shaped my life. 

Now the tables have turned. It is time to 

return that commitment. I have served on the Alumni 

Association Board of Directors for many years and 

have chaired various committees and projects. Now, I 

am committed to McMurry in another way—as your 

president. 

On behalf of the Alumni Association Board 

of Directors, I would like to express our sincere 

appreciation to Robert Gillette for his excellent 

leadership. Through his influence, our association 

has grown ever stronger and has made great progress. 

As a freshman, Bob was an encouragement to me 

as a dorm supervisor in the “Pit” of Gold Star. He 

made a Central Texas guy feel welcome within the 

McMurry family. To this day he continues to give 

encouragement to those around campus. 

As you return to McMurry this year for 

Homecoming, you will notice we are a campus 

undergoing much development— so Please Pardon 

Our Progress. You will be welcomed to campus 

by the Furr Welcome Center adjacent to Radford 

Auditorium. In the fall of 2008, McMurry band 

members will move into the newly renovated Bynum 

Band Hall which will be a state-of-the-art facility. 

As you have read in this issue of the Chieftain, we 

are beginning a campaign to address many needs of 

our campus, including the renovation of Finch Gray 

Science Building and the continued renovation of our 

athletic facilities. 

See you in the construction zone! 

Ala Cumba, 

Dale Evers ‘82 

President AABOD 

FRIENDS 

& FAMILY 

1976 

Kirk Edens `76 and his wife Pam `74 have been 

married for 32 years and live in Midland, Texas. 

Kirk is the CEO of a bank holding company with 

six offices located in Monahans, Midland, Lubbock, 

Spring Branch and New Braunfels. They have one 

daughter and son-in-law, and two grandchildren 

who live in Lovington, New Mexico. 

1977 

Major Joe Carvajal `77 now lives in Alexandria, Virginia. 

While at McMurry, Joe served as president of the Phi Beta 

Lambda fraternity during his senior year and served as vice 

president of the Phi Beta Lambda fraternity during his junior 

year. 

1984 

Robert Holden `84 lives in Santa Anna, Texas. He and his 

wife Kayla have six children: Chase, 22, Ashton, 17, Wade, 

11, Averey, 6, Aubrey, 5, and Landry, 5. 

1987 

Bradley DeHaven `87 lives in San Antonio, Texas. He 

graduated in May 2007 with the Doctor of Ministry degree 

(with Honors) from Perkins School of Theology at 

Southern Methodist University. He is 

beginning his seventh 

year as Senior Pastor 

of St. Andrew’s United 

Methodist Church in 

San Antonio, Texas. 

Dr. Jim Smith ’65 visits with 

Tim Kennedy ’99 at the 

McMurry Alumni and Friends 

Gathering at the Northwest 

Texas Annual Conference. 

Current and former members of the 

McMurry Women’s Basketball 

Team gather in Dallas in June. 

1989 

Jeff Brokovich `89 is in his 

18th year with the Abilene Independent School 

District and is currently the Executive Director of 

Federal Programs. He and his wife Laura continue to 

enjoy life with their four children: Katie, 11, Kari, 8, 

Andrew, 4, and Aaron, 2. 

Jeff Matsler `89 is the Battalion Chaplain for 53rd 

Transportation Battalion, Fort Eustis, Virginia. He is 

married to Michelle Matsler and they have two children: 

Mary Elizabeth, 8, and Charles Taylor, 5. 

1990 

Julie Sechrist Goodloe `90 and her husband Boyd 

moved to Lubbock to be near her family where Boyd is 

the new youth director at First UMC, Lubbock. Julie is 

teaching English at Coronado High School. They have 

two children: Curran, 14, and Luke, 6. 

1993 

Jack Wilburn `93 lives in Carrollton, Texas, with 

his wife Amy, daughter Caroline and son Carter. 

Jack recently opened an office for the 

practice of law focusing 

on probate, 

guardianship and 

estate planning. 

Alex Reyes Sagissor ’01 and her 

husband enjoy the Twenty-Thirty 

Club gathering in Houston. 

Aubrea Aragon, daughter of Abran 

Aragon ’00, displays her McMurry spirit. 

FRIENDS 

& FAMILY 

1994 

Jorge Montoya `94 and his 

wife Shannon Ward Montoya 

`96 are pleased to announce the 

birth of their son Finley Ander 

on February 25, 2007. Jorge and 

Shannon report that their oldest 

son Logan, 3, reminds them quite often how much he 

enjoys being a big brother. 

1995 

Allen Gradnigo `95 was promoted to the rank of Major 

in the United States Air Force on May 1, 2007. After 

his promotion, Major Gradnigo moved to Washington, 

D.C., for a position at the Pentagon. 

Karla Wilbanks Kahler `95 states that she is now in 

her dream job of a stay-at-home mom to her three kids: 

Bethany, 8, Josiah, 3, and new baby boy, Judah Paul, 

born in November 2006. 

1996 

Sandy Allen `96 and her 

husband Phillip 

Barnhart 

are pleased 

to announce 

the birth of 

their son, 

Mitchell Allen- 

Barnhart, in 

September 2006. 

MarJoe Bigbee ’99, 

Sheila Kitts ’01 and Tamara Dille ’03 enjoy themselves at the 

Twenty-Thirty Club Tailgate Party and Rangers baseball game. 


FRIENDS 

& FAMILY 

2004 

Graham Bloodworth `04 lives in Midland, Texas, where 

he is employed by the Midland Police Department. 


Coach Wilford Moore is pictured with many of his former players at the dedication of Wilford Moore Stadium on May 13, 2007. 

1999 

After living in the Nation’s Capitol for 3 years and 

serving as Deputy Chief of Staff for Congressman Kenny 

Marchant of Texas District 24 in the U.S. House of 

Representatives, Chris Edwards, DDS, `99 has moved to 

Las Vegas, NV to begin a residency in Orthodontics at 

the UNLV School of Dental Medicine. 

Josie Bassham Howe `99 and her husband are finally 

adjusting to life back in the U.S. at Fort Rucker, Alabama, 

after a four-year stay in Germany. 

Symbri Tuttle ’07, Carli Engelke ’06, Abran Aragon ’00, 

Tamika Thurman Brunetti ’02 and Dedra Brittain 

Peacock ’00 pose for a picture at the Alumni 

gathering in Dallas. 

Jill Jaquess `99 lives in Lubbock and received her M.Ed. 

in Educational Administration in May 2004 from Texas 

A&M – Commerce. She currently serves as Assistant 

Principal at Terra Vista Middle School in the Frenship 

Independent School District. 

Michael Meador `99 and his wife Jenni (Carter) ‘00 

recently moved to Fort Worth, Texas, where Michael is 

attending Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine. 

2000 

Jason C. Burgess `00 is the Dean 

of Students at All Saints Episcopal 

Christian Academy in Tyler, Texas. 

His wife, Katie, teaches Social Studies 

and Geography. 

Jamie Tyree Mings `00 is pleased 

to announce the birth of her daughter, Lillian Joy Mings, 

on January 18, 2007. She has two older 

sisters: Kasey, 5, and Katie, 3. 

Chris Montoya `00 was recently 

promoted to Vice President with the 

First Financial Trust Company in 

Abilene, where he lives with his wife, 

Jennifer. 

Ysau Flores ’73 visits with Eric Luette ’92 at the Alumni gathering in San Antonio. 

Alumni along with new 

Women’s Basketball Coach Veronica Snow are 

pictured at the Alumni Twenty-Thirty Club gathering in Houston. 

Adam Samuels `00 now lives in Abilene where he serves 

as Minister of Music at St. Paul UMC. 

2002 

Monica Blank Espedal `02 married David Espedal in 

April of 2006. She currently works as a speech pathologist 

for the Plano Independent School District. 

2003 

Elaine Dispo `03 received her Master’s of Arts degree in 

Communication Systems Management from Angelo State 

University in 2006 and relocated to San Francisco to join 

the leadership team at Banana Republic, a division of Gap 

Inc., the company for which she has been employed since 

2000. Soon she will return to Texas, where she will put 

her M.A. to use by teaching in the Communications and 

Creative Arts department at South Texas College in the 

Rio Grande Valley. 

The Alumni Relations Office and your 

former classmates are always eager to 

know what you are doing and where you 

are doing it. 

Let us know about your life, your career, 

your family and other news by sending 

this form (with a photo!) to: 

Alumni Relations Office, Box 938 McMurry 

Station, Abilene, Texas 79697. 

Ryan Higley `04 graduated Summa 

Cum Laude with his Doctor of Dental 

Surgery degree on May 20, 2007, from 

the University of Texas Health Science 

Center in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. 

Higley is now enrolled in the residency 

program in Oral and Maxillofacial 

Surgery at the University of Oklahoma 

Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He 

and his wife, Ashley `04, will live in the Oklahoma City 

area for the next four years, with plans of returning to 

practice in the Texas Panhandle. 

2007 

Joseph Cervantez `07 has moved to Fort Worth, Texas, 

where he is coaching and teaching at Fort Worth Paschal 

High School. 

Symbri Tuttle `07 is attending graduate school at Eastern 

New Mexico University where she serves as a Graduate 

Assistant Coach for their Women’s Basketball Team. 

Name_________________________Maiden Name__________________ 

Address ______________________________Graduation Year__________ 

City ___________________________ State _____ Zip_______________ 

Phone_________________ Email Address__________________________ 

Notes of Interest:_ ____________________________________________ 

________________________________________________________ 

________________________________________________________ 

________________________________________________________ 

________________________________________________________ 

M c M u r r y U n i v e r s i t y 41 

Fall07

“He made everything about family,” said Donny. 

FRIENDS & FAMILY Amy Bell-Falco ’05, Zach Johnson ’06, Bill Libby, Janet Chandler ’00 and 

Members of the Twenty-Thirty 

Club enjoy the Texas Rangers 

outing in June. 

McMurry student Stephanie Work 

receives her McMurry Official Ring 

presented to her by McMurry President, Dr. John Russell, 

and President of the McMurry Alumni Board of Directors, 

Dale Evers ’82. 

A group of alumni celebrate the wedding of Justin Tabor ’04. Pictured from 

left to right are David Chavez ’05, Ellen Bell-Enright (holding baby Claire) ’03, 

Kyera Tabor-Smith ’05, Braegan Enright ’03, Justin Tabor ’04, Gian Falco ’05, 

David Chandler ’00. 

McMurry Vice-President for Institutional 

Advancement, Steve Crisman, is pictured with Rick ’66 

and Karen ’66 Kirkendall, along with Tom ’59 and Jane ’57 McIntyre 

at an Alumni Dinner in Boston this past June. 

Help create scholarship opportunities for our students 

with a gift to the McMurry Fund! 

Yes, I would like to contribute to the success and future of McMurry students 

through the McMurry Fund! 

Please make your check payable to McMurry Fund and send it with this form to Institutional 

Advancement, McMurry Station Box 938, Abilene, TX 79697. Thank you! 

I am making a pledge of $____________ with $___________ to be paid now and the 

balance to be paid 

Annually Semi-annually Quarterly 

To make a gift using a credit card, please visit www.mcm.edu/give/ and click on the Give Online link. 

Name _ ________________________________________________________________ 

Address_ _______________________________________________________________ 


City, State, Zip___________________________________________________________ 

GRAY ...continued from page 33 

“I grew up in the field house and the players were like 

brothers. If my sisters and I weren’t at the field house with 

them, they were at our house. His team was like a family.” 

It didn’t take long for Gray to be emotionally invested 

in the teams that his father coached with all the time he 

spent with the players and the staff. 

“I don’t remember exactly when or where it was, 

I just remember it was a big game and he lost,” he 

recalls. “I ran down onto the field after the game and I 

was heartbroken. I’ll never forget it. I was just crying. I 

thought it was the end of the world. I went up to him mad 

and upset, and the first thing he said was, ‘It’ll be okay. 

The guys played hard. It just didn’t work out today.’” 

This was just another of the lessons that Gray learned 

at an early age from his father. He watched how his dad 

treated his staff and players through victory and defeat. 

After a childhood filled with watching other kids get 

to play for his father, the time came where Donny was 

able to experience what it was like to be a player under 

his dad’s tutelage. 

“One of the greatest honors I’ve ever had in my 

life was my senior year in football,” he recalled. “The 

Amarillo paper did an article on me and my dad. It 

was titled, Like Father Like Son. Dad was a high school 

quarterback and so was I. And in the article, Dad said 

that me playing for him was the greatest experience of 

his life. It was one of the greatest things that has ever 

happened to me.” 

Gray said that he had always wanted to be a coach, 

but that playing for his dad only made that passion 

stronger. He had planned on being a high school coach 

and working his way up much like his father. However, 

when Gray left the high school ranks to play in college, he 

found a new niche. 

“I got the opportunity to play at Hardin-Simmons 

[University],” he said. “Somewhere during my collegiate 

playing career, I fell in love with Saturdays.” 

After his career at Hardin-Simmons ended, Gray 

was given an unusual opportunity to begin his coaching 

career earlier than most. Before he had even finished 

his undergraduate work as a student, Tarleton State 

University’s head coach, Craig Wederquist, offered him a 

job on the Texans staff to coach special teams at age 22. 

In the spring of 2001, Gray would be reunited with 

two familiar faces and a familiar town. Then McMurry 

head coach Steve Keenum, who was at Hardin-Simmons 

as an assistant when Gray was a player, hired Gray to 

coach defensive backs. Thus began a six-year stint as an 

assistant at the institution where he would eventually 

become the head coach. 

“I always thought McMurry was a different type of 

atmosphere than a lot of places I had seen at this level,” 

said Gray. “I really gravitated towards it because of the 

way the school functioned and how personal the campus 

was. I really felt at home and thought this place had a lot 

of potential and a lot of opportunity to excel.” 

It was a good thing that Gray felt so at home at 

McMurry because the football side of the school was 

an uphill battle. In his first two seasons as an assistant, 

McMurry failed to win a game going 0-19. 

In fact, since joining the staff at McMurry he hasn’t 

experienced a winning season, even though the program 

had success in the late 1990s. When Joe Crousen became 

the head coach in 2005, Gray moved back to offense 

for the first time since his tenure at Cisco, which was a 

welcome change for him. 

Gray recruited and coached Ty Sellers, a NCAA 

Division II transfer from Panhandle State and McMurry 

snuck up on its competition and posted a 5-5 record for 

its first non-losing season since 1999. Sellers passed for 

over 2,000 yards and nearly rushed for 1,000 in his only 

season with the team. 

However, in 2006, the program was unable to build 

on the previous year’s improvement and went 3-7. When 

Crousen stepped aside following the season, Gray was 

immediately named the interim-head coach. 

Sixteen days later, athletic director Bill Libby made 

Gray official. The decision-making process was a nobrainer 

for Gray, and after much discussion with his wife 

Tracy, former coaches and friends, he turned to his most 

familiar, most trusted and most respected mentor: his 

father. 

“He told me I shouldn’t take it if I didn’t believe in 

it,” said Gray. “I told him without hesitation there was no 

doubt in my mind that [McMurry] can be as successful as 

we want it to be.” 

Read the rest of Donny Gray’s story at 

www.mcm.edu/athletics/ 


FRIENDS 

WE’LL MISS 

FRIENDS 

WE’LL MISS 

Dorothy Wanette Hart Armstrong ’38 of Abilene, Texas, died March 27, 2007. 

Paul Banner of Midland, Texas, died August 16, 2006. 

J.T. Bartee ’49 of Burleson, Texas, died September 29, 2006. 

Nancy Maude Milsap Bartlett of Anson, Texas, died April 7, 2007. 

S. Duane Bruce ’41 of Carlsbad, New Mexico, died April 16, 2007. 

Norma Burk ’50 died May 7, 2007. 

T. C. Campbell of Abilene, Texas, died February 22, 2007. 

Francys Case, mother of Roger Case ’73 and Marc Case ’73 of Abilene, Texas, died 

April 19, 2007. 

Danny Conklin of Amarillo, Texas, died January 1, 2007. 

James Garfield Conlan, of Dallas, Texas, died January 24, 2007. 

Marilynn Cox ’77 of San Antonio, Texas, died January 15, 2007. 

Norma Joyce “Kitty” Burk Cummins ’50 of Midland, Texas, died May 7, 2007. 

Geneva Davis of Amarillo, Texas, died August 4, 2007. 

Winford Drake ’54 died July 19, 2006. 

Harrace Floyd Dunn ’37 of Abilene, Texas, died October 12, 2006. 

Owen Frost ’67 of Plano, Texas, died September 13, 2006. 

Louis Goeke ’75 of Bedford, Texas, died July 14, 2007. 

Cecil Hardaway ’47 of Lubbock, Texas, died January 1, 2007. 

James L. Harrison of Abilene, Texas, died April 16, 2007. 

Luella Baldridge Higley ’29 of Fort Worth, Texas, died May 17, 2007. 

Marvine Cook Williams Hogsett ’77 of Abilene, Texas, died May 5, 2007. 

A. J. Hoover ’56 of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, died May 25, 2007. 

Kenneth W. James ’75 of Midland, Texas, died November 13, 2006. 

Modena Maurine Pair Johnson ’48 of Tyler, Texas, died May 20, 2007. 

Clara Livingston of De Leon, Texas, died July 11, 2007. 

Elias Felipe “Eli” Martinez ex ’76 of Abilene, Texas, died April 9, 2007. 

Sarah E. McCoy of Abilene, Texas, died May 23, 2007. 

Donald Winfield Duke Moore ’45 of Albuquerque, NM, died January 23, 2007. 

Obituaries 

Gail Biagioni 

Gail Biagioni, friend and colleague, passed away July 31, 

2007, surrounded by her family. Gail brought her zest for 

life and many talents to the McMurry Jay-Rollins Library 

in 2002, where she ran the Circulation Desk. She also 

sponsored Pi Phi and managed the Friend’s Closet. Her 

enthusiasm and perseverance enabled her to finish her 

B.A. in Sociology through McMurry, and her degree was 

awarded by California State University at Hayward this 

Christine K. Morrison of Balmorhea, Texas, died September 19, 2006. 

Gene Murrell ’67 of Llano, Texas, died April 12, 2007. 

Edgar N. Payne ’51 of Lubbock, Texas, died April 11, 2007. 

Marjorie Parmelly ’57 of Abilene, Texas, died January 16, 2007. 

Connie Parmelly Petree ’65 of Abilene, Texas, died January 16, 2007. 

Elizabeth A. Phaneuf of Arlington, Texas, died December 26, 2006. 

Jim T. Pickens ’48 of Wylie, Texas, died February 18, 2007. 

Mary Ann McCollum Pickens ’48 of Wylie, Texas, died December 31, 2006. 

Eugenia Pittard, mother of Gary Pittard ’69, Robert Pittard ’79 and Nancy Pittard 

Smith ’79, of Coleman, Texas, died on February 6, 2007. 

Georgia Frances Lawlis Raymond ’42 of Levelland, Texas, died July 26, 2007. 

Fay L. Reeve of Friona, Texas, died July 17, 2007. 

W.A. Rembert of Dallas, Texas, died January 1, 2007. 

Louis Schowengerdt of Denison, Texas, died January 1, 2007. 

William H. Schultz ’47 of Cleveland, Tennessee, died June 7, 2007. 

Eddie Sequeira ’58 of Rancho Cucamonga, California passed away. 

Virginia Woodall Simmons ’47 of Houston, Texas, died December 4, 2006. 

Alvin G. Smith ’56 of Sweetwater, Texas, died October 11, 2006. 

Frances English Stanley ’59 of Abilene, Texas, died July 24, 2007. 

Patty Jo “Pat” Stephens of Abilene, Texas, died March 7, 2007. 

Cathryn Stone ’36 of Artesia, New Mexico died July 22, 2006. 

Curtis Randolph “Randy” Strickland ’69 of Abilene, Texas, died March 6, 2007. 

Mary Verlyn Trantham ’39 of Glen Rose, Texas, died July 9, 2006. 

Marjorie Hendrick Urban, wife of former McMurry Dean of Students, Walter 

Urban, Abilene, Texas, died July 24, 2007 

James L. Wells ’57 of Onalaska, Texas, died July 23, 2006. 

Linda Kay Wilson ’58 of Lubbock, Texas, died July of 2006. 

Mary Wineinger ’37 of Shreveport, Louisiana, died December 4, 2006. 

spring, where she started in 1967. While pursuing her 

degree, she was a member of the Phi chapter of Alpha 

Kappa Delta, the international sociology honor society. 

Gail’s positive attitude and courage during her 4 ½ year 

battle with cancer will be remembered by all who knew 

her. She will be missed. 

Dr. Bervin Caswell ’38 

Dr. Bervin O. Caswell passed away March 30, 2007. 

He was a long-time United Methodist minister in New 

Mexico and West Texas. Born in Sunset, Montague 

County, Texas on March 25, 1917, he moved with his 

family in 1926 to Lynn County, Texas, south of Lubbock. 

Bervin graduated from McMurry University in 1938, the 

year he married Etha Mae Sherrill, his wife of nearly 70 

years. He received a Bachelor of Divinity degree from 

Southern Methodist University in 1943. For 45 years he 

served pastorates in West Texas and New Mexico, retiring 

in Abilene in 1984. 

He was a long-time supporter of McMurry 

University. McMurry bestowed upon him an Honorary 

Doctorate of Divinity in 1964, and he served on the 

McMurry University Board of Trustees from 1976 to 

1985. In addition, Dr. Caswell received the Distinguished 

Alumnus Award from McMurry University in 2004. 

He is survived by his wife Etha Mae; a sister, Fern 

Barnes of Draw, Texas and a brother, Noel Caswell of 

Lubbock, Texas; their four children: James (Dallas), 

Leonard (Carlsbad), Karen (Carlsbad) and Jon (Dallas); 

three daughters-in-law: Jackie, Kathy and Linda; six 

grandchildren: Angela Secrest, James Robert Caswell, 

Toni Clark, Benjamin Caswell, Shannon Ingram and 

Joshua Caswell. 

Noel Chapin 

Noel Ray Chapin of Dallas died Sunday, February 25, 

2007. He was the husband of McMurry ex-student, Anita 

Chapin, who preceded him in death in 1999. Anita and 

Noel were faithful supporters of McMurry and provided 

the funding for the construction of the Noel R. and Anita 

H. Chapin Art Building. This building houses ceramics, 

pottery and jewelry classes, as well as offices and studio 

space. 

Dr. Darris Egger ’42 

Dr. Darris Leon Egger ’42 died June 2, 2007. Darris 

Egger came to McMurry University in the fall of 1938 

after graduating from McAdoo (Texas) High School. 

After graduating from McMurry College in 1942, Dr. 

Egger attended Southern Methodist University’s School 

of Theology and graduated in 1947 with a Master of 

Divinity. Dr. Egger was awarded the honorary Doctor of 

Divinity degree from McMurry in 1973. 

Dr. Egger served the Northwest Texas and North 

Texas Conferences of the United Methodist Church for 

more than 45 years, including service as a pastor and 

as Abilene District Superintendent for 11 years. While 

serving as District Superintendent, Dr. Egger occupied 

an office at McMurry for 11 years where he counseled 

McMurry faculty, staff and students, as well as student 

pastors. He also served as Conference Program Director 

and Conference Historian in Northwest Texas, and was 

the former Chair of the Northwest Texas Conference 

Archives and History Committee. He was a former 

vice-president of the Texas United Methodist Historical 

Society. Throughout his career, Dr. Egger supported 

McMurry and served as a trustee for 14 years. At the 

time of his death, Dr. Egger was working on a biography 

of McMurry’s founder, titled The J. W. Hunt Story. Prior 

to his death, he was named the 2007 recipient of the 

Cross and Flame Award, in recognition of his service to 

McMurry University and the United Methodist Church 

Dr. Egger was preceded in death by his son Charles 

’73. He is survived by his wife, Helen Joy Davis Egger ’73, 

his son Darris Jr. and his wife Cheryl Egger and their four 

children. 

J.T. Moseley 

J.T. “Jake” Moseley died February 12, 2007. 

Mr. Moseley, the son of Troy H. and Johnnie 

Williams Moseley, was born in Eustace, Texas. He lived 

in Monahans from 1950 to 2004, when he moved to 

Temple. He received a degree in petroleum engineering 

at Texas A&M University in 1950. He was a 1942-1946 

veteran of the U.S. Navy “Seabees.” 

He served on the McMurry University Board of 

Trustees during the years 1982 to 1986 and 1992 to 

2001. He was the 2000 Cross and Flame award recipient, 

which recognizes service to McMurry University and the 

United Methodist Church. 

His wife, Theresa Moseley, preceded him in death. 



Please 

Pardon our 

Progress 


Homecoming 

2007 

s we gather for Homecoming 2007, it is time to reminisce, rekindle 

friendships and continue cherished traditions like Tipi Village, Beating 

of the Drum and Coronation of Chief and Princess McMurry. This year 

we also commemorate the outstanding growth of our alma mater 

as we celebrate the new Furr Welcome Center, see the renovation of 

the Bynum Band Hall and Imagine the future of McMurry. So join us for 

Homecoming 2007, and… Please Pardon Our Progress! 

Office of University Relations 

Box 938 McMurry Station 

Abilene, Texas 79697 

Non-Profit Org. 

U.S. Postage 

PAID 

Lubbock, TX 

Permit No. 49

...the Future of McMurry - McMurry University

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?