A Church and a <strong>University</strong>—Influencing Each O<strong>the</strong>r and Connecting People 10 M c M u r r y U n i v e r s i t y
One might say that in certain lighting, <strong>the</strong> soft tan bricks of Polk Street United Methodist Church take on a certain maroon hue. From generation to generation, <strong>the</strong> connection between <strong>McMurry</strong> <strong>University</strong> and Polk Street UMC continues to streng<strong>the</strong>n. Here are <strong>the</strong> stories of some of <strong>the</strong> people whose lives have become intertwined through this connection and who have <strong>the</strong>mselves become catalysts in growing and cultivating future connections. Clifford ’51 and Irene Trotter Clifford and Irene Trotter planted one of <strong>the</strong> first seeds for <strong>the</strong> Polk Street–<strong>McMurry</strong> connection. After high school, Clifford joined <strong>the</strong> Army Air Corps, where he served as a radio operator on a B-17 in Europe during World War II. After he returned, he farmed for his fa<strong>the</strong>r and attended Wayland Baptist for two years. He also served as pastor for Cone/Carr’s Chapel during that time. Knowing Clifford’s dream of becoming a fulltime minister, W.C. Hines, <strong>the</strong> District Superintendent of <strong>the</strong> Plainview district, asked him if he would be interested in going to Hawley and Hodges (north of Abilene). “He said it would allow me to go to <strong>McMurry</strong>,” Clifford shared. “Irene and I were happy to be able to go. But as happy as we were to go to <strong>McMurry</strong>, we were sad to leave our parishioners at Cone/Carr’s Chapel.” Clifford and Irene came to Abilene in 1949, and he graduated from <strong>McMurry</strong> in 1951. Clifford began his two year probation for <strong>the</strong> Methodist clergy, and <strong>the</strong> couple moved to Trent from <strong>the</strong>ir appointment at Hawley/Hodges. “Trent had asked for a full-time pastor. The parishioners felt <strong>the</strong>y were not as connected as <strong>the</strong>y wanted to be with student pastors leading <strong>the</strong>ir church,” said Clifford. Clifford was appointed to <strong>the</strong> church. However, a promised salary increase did not materialize, so <strong>the</strong> District Superintendant moved <strong>the</strong> Trotters to Fair Park Church in Abilene. The challenge from <strong>the</strong> leadership was to “ei<strong>the</strong>r close it gracefully or make it grow.” Through a lot of hard work and determination and despite a number of difficulties, <strong>the</strong> Trotters did indeed make it grow. “After three months, every Sunday somebody joined <strong>the</strong> church,” said Irene, and when <strong>the</strong>y left, <strong>the</strong>re were more than 500 members. Their time at Fair Park allowed <strong>the</strong> Trotters to keep in close contact with <strong>McMurry</strong> and allowed Clifford to take master’s classes at <strong>McMurry</strong> in Religious Education. His success in growing Fair Park led to <strong>the</strong>ir next appointment at First United Methodist Church in Dumas, Texas, which lasted for eight years. Clifford served for five years in Hereford, Texas, and <strong>the</strong>n was asked to serve on <strong>the</strong> Bishop’s Cabinet as District Superintendent for <strong>the</strong> Amarillo district. After two and a half years, <strong>the</strong> Trotters moved to Lubbock for 18 months as District Superintendent before Clifford took over as Senior Pastor at Polk Street in Amarillo, <strong>the</strong> Northwest Conference’s largest congregation. The Trotters served <strong>the</strong>re for ten happy years. Clifford was <strong>the</strong>n appointed Amarillo District Superintendent for four years before retirement. After leaving <strong>the</strong> active ministry in 1989, Clifford was asked by Dr. Tom Kim in 1990 to work for <strong>McMurry</strong> in <strong>the</strong> church relations office, and he eagerly accepted. When he would go to churches, Clifford would ask for meetings with students and <strong>the</strong>ir parents and bring information on financial aid resources. In addition, he worked with <strong>the</strong> advancement office. He stayed at that job for two and a half years working from Amarillo before “retiring” in 1993. He <strong>the</strong>n worked for <strong>the</strong> Texas Methodist Foundation for seven years and was instrumental in getting gift annuities for <strong>McMurry</strong>. After “retiring” once more, Clifford again stepped up for <strong>McMurry</strong> in 2005 when Dr. John Russell asked him to work again on a part-time basis. He decided to retire for good in 2007. Clifford served as president of <strong>the</strong> <strong>McMurry</strong> Alumni Board in 1966 and as a member of <strong>the</strong> <strong>McMurry</strong> Board of Trustees for many years. He was honored by <strong>McMurry</strong> with an honorary Doctor of M c M u r r y U n i v e r s i t y 11
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